Evidently, I forgot to turn on my alarm, because my husband woke me at 7:58, 28 minutes later than I'd planned. While I was frantically getting ready, he said that instead of taking him to the university at 8:45, he thought it might be better to take him to an urgent care facility he'd found. He was concerned that he had pink eye. I didn't believe it was that, because the eyes have been bloody looking at least one other time in the past year since his cornea transplants. However, if that was where he wanted to go, fine. It did mean that I'd have to change my plans for today, as it would make it difficult for me to go so far away.
We were in the car at 8:59 and reached First Med, just 4 miles away on Iowa Street next to the CVS I'd visited for him yesterday, at 9:11. I read all the nice responses to my anniversary post. I read a magazine, but found I was just getting sleepy. The doctor was thorough, according to my husband, and even called an eye doctor. It was not pink eye, just something that happens. We were back in the car at 10:44.
I delivered him to Murphy Hall for his rehearsal for the professors choir concert tonight at 10:52. I then sat in the car under a grey sky programming the GPS to go to the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. With 10374 on the odometer, I headed off at 10:57.
I picked up the toll ticket at 1:03, just 2 miles away. As I drove to Topeka, I contemplated lunch, but decided it was too early. I paid the $1.20 toll at 11:22, having driven 19 miles. At 11:36, I arrived at the Kansas Museum of History, having gone another 8 miles.
"The Great White Buffalo" by Lumen Martin Winter:
The museum had an entrance fee of $8. There was a lot to see and a lot to read. They started with pre-historic times and went to he1980's.
It was frustrating, however, because it was often difficult to follow the chronology. In a big open area, there was a Consetoga wagon. Go left or right? I had to look at the time span on the wall for the Santa Fe Trail on the left and the California-Oregon Trail on the right. Left was earlier.
Then, Bleeding Kansas was at a T-intersection. I saw more on it to the left and only much later realized that the right was also on this topic. I did learn that the jayhawk, the KU mascot, is a mythical bird said to steal from others. This was a derogatory term applied by the Missourians, but evidently adopted with pride by the Kansans.
I liked the restored Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe train engine and cars. I did not like having to climb up to them. My knees really objected. I also found out that each train company had its own style of depot. The A,T& SF style had a bay window with a gable over it.
There was a special exhibit next to the main gallery. It was about a Kansan who'd served in WWI and II, and was a POW in Japan in the latter. I didn't spend as much time here, as I was wearing out.
I picked up some things in the gift shop, before taking a look at the outside of the missionary school for Indians that was outside. It was showing some signs of clearing, which sealed my not following another trail.
I left at 2:30 and it was 84 degrees. At 2:47, I got the toll ticket (10419). I stopped 7 minutes and 5 miles later at the Topeka Service Area to get gas. I'd gone 307 miles on this tank and put in 9.29 gallons @1.959. I tried cleaning the windshield to no avail. I was back on the road at 3:01.
At 3:15 (10440), I paid the toll, which was $1.40. This change surprised me and I should have asked about it. But, I was tired and just wanted to get back. It took 6 minutes to drive that last mile.
Before going in the hotel, I walked down to the end to see if I could see the river, but instead, I was rewarded with seeing one of the trains that goes through between the hotel and the parking lot, albeit at a lower lever.
Before going in the hotel, I walked down to the end to see if I could see the river, but instead, I was rewarded with seeing one of the trains that goes through between the hotel and the parking lot, albeit at a lower lever.
I ate some of the Chocolate Gooey Bar from last night to make up for no lunch and then I laid down for a nap. I didn't think I'd slept, but, suddenly, it was 4:20. My husband got back as planned at 5, having taken his first Uber trip.
When we left at 5:13, it was sunny. We put his instrument in the trunk and walked to the restaurant 715 on Massachusetts Street, which had been recommended to him.
We had a bit of a time crunch, he told the waitress, when she took our order. He had iced tea, while I sampled the white wine sangria, which was $7. It came in a mason jar, while he got an extra carafe of iced tea. The sangria had lemon, strawberries and one slice of apple in it. It was refreshing.
He ordered gnocchi with corn and crab ragout ($18). I decided to try the special for the day Duroc pork chop for $23. I also ordered the day's special sweet corn cake, but without the pecans. I didn't realize it was a dessert, until it didn't come out with the meal. I said something about it and she said she'd put it right in. His gnocchi had a nice crab taste. I was shocked when my meal was simply a very large, thick pork chop with blackberries on top and a few bits of bacon or something. To make matters worse, it was basically a medallion of meat with a lot of fat around it. It was delicious, but I am not enough of a foodie to pay that kind of money and just have meat for dinner.
The corn cake came out just as I finished. It was a long rectangle, with 4 thin peach slices on top, a glob of unsweetened, thick whipped cream in the middle of the plate and three slices of peach standing up in a honey base. It was terrific and well worth the $7.
We paid quickly, walked as quickly as my legs would allow to the car and headed for the Lied Center for the concert.
We arrived at 6:42 (10445) and he hurried inside. I took my time and took a couple of pictures.
When I reached the outer door, an usher opened it and welcomed me to the Lied Center. (Most of the ushers were older folks.) The first thing that hit me as I entered the lobby was an incredible musty odor. I was very surprised by this. It was fainter in the auditorium.
The professors choir didn't have a huge audience, but they were appreciative. I had no program and saw no one consulting theirs for the names of pieces. I suspect, that they weren't in there, in which case, they should have been announced. It was a good concert. It would be followed by an awards ceremony and the evening concert, but I left at 7:49.
When I got back to the hotel at 7:59 (10448), most of the green spots had been taken. I did manage to get one and saw a sign inside warning the folks at the wedding reception here on the second floor not to park in green spots, as they are for hotel guests.
My husband has just returned and says the pieces were listed in the program.
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