My Spring Bucket List

 

Hi there, folks. Me again. We’ve got a lot of work to do. So today I think it’s time for me to study my Spring bucket list. What is a bucket list, you may ask?

Well, it’s a personal list of experiences, goals, and achievements a person hopes to accomplish.

Okay, without further ado, here goes.

(Now, where to begin…)

1. Taking outdoor walks

The Ted Ensley gardens at Shawnee County, Kansas.

According to the Shawnee County Parks and Recreation’s website, it says here that it’s a 37.5-acre garden in the west side of scenic Lake Shawnee. And the reason I wanna take a walk there in those gardens is that Stephanie and I love to go for a walk on a beautiful day. I’ve been thinking about doing this for a really long time.

Now while I’m back in Kansas, I’m gonna be taking a walk down Lilac Lane in KU for an hour or two, even when it’s beautiful outside. Maybe I can even do that while I’m listening to my favorite music. Perhaps maybe a perfect walking playlist would be nice. And after that, I can hang out inside the KU Union and play around. Heck, I might even go for a walk inside the museum. It’ll be just the time I took a walk around KU with my dad in 2007.

2. Outdoor picnicking

Whenever I feel like eating out or packing my own lunch on the go while I’m in town, I plan a picnic outside here at South Park. And when I feel like planning one, I can invite my friends to join me. Plus if I can think of a picnic to plan out with my friends or for Best Buddies, I can take them to Kansas City or maybe Topeka for a special occasion. You know how much I enjoy burgers someplace since I love going to Burger King.

3. Ice Cream at Sylas & Maddy’s

Yes, I know exactly what you’re thinking. Wanna go get some ice cream? Sure we can! So whenever I feel like I’m in the mood for Sylas & Maddy’s, that’s the place I can always enjoy.

I remember the first time I went there as a kid. It was that time I had the bubble gum flavored ice cream. The other ice cream flavor I had was the cookie dough. That one I first liked was the Jayhawk kind. So I hope that soon I’ll come back to that place and enjoy this ice cream once again.

4. Tulips at Twilight at Ward-Meade Park

I don’t know if you’ve heard about this, but Tulips at Twilight is something that I wanna do for a special time in Kansas. The event happens every year in the month of April during the spring. And maybe if there’s a chance, Stephanie and I would consider checking it out for the first time. So if you love Alice in Wonderland, then you’ll love Tulips at Twilight here in Topeka. The garden starts glowing at 7PM and you’ll get to walk through the world of awe’s as the setting sun transforms the garden into a magical forest of tulips, animal displays, candles, and lights. If you’re like me, you should try it out. Maybe we can see this for ourselves.

5. Bike rides and hike trails

There’s a lot of things I can do when I come back to Lawrence. First off, I wanna take the time and go for a bike ride down the levee trail where it runs along the flood-control levee on the outskirts of Lawrence. Second, I would also like to go hiking at Clinton Lake in Lawrence. So here’s the scoop. We explore the North Shore Trails (a 28.5-mile system of dirt trails with mile markers and blazes in blue, white, or red, offering various loop and connector trail options. That means we can finally go on a hike just like old times. Stephanie and I would like that a lot. Even the other day, I can bring my friends over to join me too. And maybe pack ourselves some snacks and such.

6. Outdoor lunch at Mass St.

Hungry yet? Well it’s your lucky day. When I’m finally back in Lawrence, I’m going out to eat at Mass St. where I meet up with Lois Orth-Lopes and Sebastian Alfie for lunch at The Mad Greek. Since I’m gonna be thinking about that anytime when I’m considered moving back there, I can make some plans for the time being. I also wanna take my friends and eat out with them at Mass St. for a special lunch outing, then maybe I’ll take my friends for a little downtown shopping and some ice cream at Cold Stone. That would be fun also.

7. Baseball games at KU

Play ball! Thinking about seeing the baseball game this year? Well, get this. If you like this topic, then you’re in luck. Next time when I’m in Lawrence Kansas, I can watch the baseball game in KU. And heck, maybe someday I might be able to control the music and volunteer for the staff who’s in control of the game. I wonder what the players might have for the best score in the outfield. Oh, speaking of the outfield.

If you like special events during baseball season, maybe we can do a special movie showing of ‘Angels In The Outfield’ during the game. That would be a home run to that one. And this ball’s gone!

8. Hanging out

As always there’s one thing that I love to do most. This is to hang out with my friends, including my friend Stephanie Harsin. If I can think of a time to hang out with her and David, it would probably be going to her house to have some fun. It would also be celebrating her birthday on a special time, and maybe take her and David out to dinner. Plus, it can even be going to The Pennant.

9. Taco Tuesday

Great suggestion, Steph! And good thinking too. If you’re wondering why everyone loves Taco Tuesday, then I’ll tell you. I think it’s a wonderful idea to spend my Tuesday night. Whenever I’m back in town, I’ll call my friends and have them come over to my place so we can have Taco Tuesday for a special dinner. Another great way to enjoy it is to go out on a Taco Tuesday. Downtown Lawrence, Kansas City, or Topeka. Even including Stephanie’s place. That way we can enjoy ourselves and watch a movie together or a funny TV show. Or maybe a party somewhere around town. Cool, huh!

And now for number ten.

10. March Madness/KU Basketball

Okay, so let review on this basketball event of the month of March. It's a single-elimination tournament played in the United States to determine the men's college basketball national champion of the Division I level in the NCCA. It's played mostly during March, the tournament consists of 68 teams and was first conducted in 1939 and known for its upsets of favored teams. It even has become one of the greatest annual sporting events in the U.S.

Now get this, KU Basketball is also happening during March Madness games. So I've been thinking when I come back to Lawrence, why don't we go see the basketball game here at KU this March. I would really like to see what the Jayhawks might have in store for this year's tournament games. And I wonder what they'll do next.

11. Earth Day

Every year in the month of April, there's an annual holiday that happens here in Lawrence. That is, Earth Day. Where does it start? It starts with an Earth Day parade, and this is where I watch the parade here in downtown Lawrence.

And after the parade is the Earth Day Fair here in South Park. It's where I browse around and get challenged to some environmental friendly games, enjoy live music, and other stuff and such. It can also teach you the skills on how to make the Earth more greener and how to take care of it. I made a homemade DVD once combining Sing Along Earth Songs and Bill Nye the Science Guy segments in one entire video and sent it to Mrs. Rettig's kindergarten class in Cordley Elementary School. I'm telling you right now, the class really loved it.

12. Art Tougeau

Art Tougeau is a wheeled art parade and wheel-apalooza that happens every year in the month of May in Lawrence, Kansas. It's a lot of fun to enjoy on a beautiful day in the spring especially before the start of summer vacation. If I can think a perfect time to go see that parade, it would be on a Saturday in the 27th. I'm gonna enjoy my first time seeing this awesome art on wheels parade when I'm back in Lawrence. Hey Stephanie, you wanna hang out some time and see this parade with me? If so, let me know! You guys gotta see those artistic cars on wheels.

Okay now before we wrap this up, I wanna take this time what’s been going since my day to move got delayed. There’s been something going on a Sunday, and that is a Mass St. protest against a bad President at noon, just for this year or another. That’s mean people are gathering together and planning a peaceful protest to save American democracy. That also includes our government. It’s happening Sunday at noon though, just to remind you on that. We apologize for the delay that’s been happening since I planned on moving. But don’t worry, my friends are gonna think of a plan to get me back into town. Keep me updated with more details soon.

Anyway, I think that's all for now. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, and check back next time for more stories on my next blog entry and how I can finally be back on Lawrence Kansas. Until later, have a super great day!

Hope to see you soon in Larryville!

Stay tuned on the next upcoming blog as A.J. discusses his summer bucket list.