Are the chances of getting sick on a spinning roller coaster greater with an empty stomach? We'll soon find out...hopefully not.

-heidi

The piano in the hotel lobby is playing itself, which is really freaking me out watching the keys move...

I guess this means we aren't expected to tip for the music...one benefit to the Ghost of Automation creeping throughout society....

Someone just applauded the absent pianist.

-heidi, st louis

From yesterday's arrival: (1, 2) the Greyhound station and its ceiling (3) the Arch with flowers (4, 5) the view from our hotel room...half of the Arch and all of the Old Courthouse, where the Dred Scott case was heard (6) "Scenes of visionary enchantment" in the hotel lobby

-heidi, st louis

Waiting at the Greyhound station for a bus to St Louis, where we're going to the National Conference for Media Reform. The station shop has a small shelf of odd books for sale: "Pass the time by reading!"

-heidi, kansas city mo

The Roomie and I picked my mom up at the airport and drove to downtown Liberty for lunch at Hardware Cafe. It was an old hardware store on the county seat's town square for a long time until it became the restaurant. Yum.

-heidi, kansas city mo

I didn't bring my umbrella today, I'm at school all day, and the sky is looking ominous.

-heidi

I walked the 4-mile Trolley Run today. The weather was perfect for it: just a little chilly this sunny morning.

(1) The first wave of runners head up Wornall Road as I'm walking to the start of the race. I walked in the "orange" wave for "fitness walkers." (I hate running but love walking.) It was great to hear just the soft thunder of feet on Wornall Road, which is usually busy with fast car traffic.

(2) Waiting to start

(3) Old streetcar bridge up ahead

(4) Cute mile markers

(5) At the end on the Plaza, eating oranges by Brush Creek. By my stopwatch, I walked the course in 1 hour and 37 seconds. I'll get my official chip time later.

My roommate (who ran it in 29 minutes) and I walked 8 miles before noon, with the 4-mile race plus walking to and from the start/finish lines. Once we got home, we both napped. I'm not used to getting up at 6:30 in the morning...

-heidi, kansas city mo

I think this is the first time I've waited this late to do and mail my taxes. My roomie ran me across the state line to the post office that's staying open till midnight. I needed one more stamp but didn't have to wait in line thanks to the vending machine. The line wasn't long any way. I tried filing online and got fed up with the ongoing errors. Plus mail will take longer for the evil state of Missouri to get my check. I get money back from the feds, but I owe Missouri. I always owe Missouri. Sometimes I hate Missouri.

-heidi

I guess I should do my taxes now, huh? Usually I have them done long before the deadline. At least mine are easy.

-heidi

I really would like nothing more than nice huge lake right about now to sit by and stare at. But in between classes, about the best I'm going to get around here is a nearby flower garden. So I'll watch as the sun pattern from a gate fades and returns on the brick walkway.

-heidi