• About

Kayla's Only Heart

~ Always learning. Always progressing.

Kayla's Only Heart

Tag Archives: Kansas City

Book Review: Lonesome Dove

07 Sunday Oct 2018

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in books, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

book club, book review, books, characters, Great American Read, Kansas City, Larry McMurty, Lonesome Dove, Missouri, reading, western

I have finished reading the book brick known as Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty for a buddy read with some fellow Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club members, and boy do I feel blown away by this classic western. It has all the elements of a great story: rich setting, great cast of characters, tension and growth among the group members, a tinge of romance and more as the men route their cattle herd from Texas to Montana.

This book has the feel of an epic and vaguely reminds me of The Lord of the Rings. The group sets off for a long journey where they face numerous trials involving the settings and people they encounter along the way. They also develop a greater understanding of themselves as the battle their perils. I feel thankful I don’t live in this time period as it seems even the women faced their own struggles to have happiness and a sense of independence in this world. I most relate to the scenes on Clara’s homestead as they build a home and welcome travelers, even inviting a couple new people into the extended family. They too face death and heal from it and other disappointments, but they show how they can support each other. My favorite character Lorena might not survive without her friends to stick by her side and remind her she has a place and help she can offer. Augustus offers her a safe place on the journey, and Clara provides a safe place in the home she shares. Most the men, however, have to work together to keep each other safe from the elements so they can become the first herdsmen in Montana.

McMurty writes such vivid scenery and characters. Though western falls outside my normal reading realm considering the last one I read was just over ten years ago, I fully appreciate this book. The characters feel authentic, and their dynamics remind me those tensions exist in any setting. The border war comments they hear in Missouri about Kansas remind me of what they still say in Kansas City; I even remind people of that when they mistakenly say I hail from Kansas and I correct them to say Missouri (unfortunately now it seems I reside on the wrong side of the border in Kentucky, but that can change). These pages take you to another world while reminding you of the present. It certainly deserves its spot on The Great American Read.

I give this book 5 stars and recommend it to readers of all genres. I’m glad this group supported each other in tackling a large book outside their normal reading genres.

Image

Holiday Sunset

03 Wednesday Dec 2014

Tags

city, clouds, Country Club Plaza, holiday, holiday lights, holidays, Kansas City, lights, Photo, photography, sky, sun, sunset

IMG_5040.JPG

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart | Filed under Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Team Kayla

02 Wednesday Jul 2014

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in Journal

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

career, downtown, frat parties, Kansas City, Power & Light, USA, work, World Cup

I finally made it to a World Cup watch party at Power & Light in Kansas City yesterday, and boy was it fun! Some of the fans’ outfits made me feel like I was at a frat party, but the energy stayed high. I had fun, and it just happened to coincide with a win for myself on the career front. I turned in my notice at my current job and got the details set for training at my next job.

20140702-200741-72461243.jpg

I don’t normally like to be surrounded by people, but I enjoy the energy of crowds coming together to cheer on a team.

20140702-200805-72485731.jpg

Speaking of frat boys, this guy reminded me of Zac Efron in Neighbors. He even had the paparazzi surrounding him!

20140702-200951-72591008.jpg

I, on the other hand, had my friend Nick with me to keep all the passerby at bay.

20140702-201040-72640017.jpg

In case it wasn’t already evident, I enjoyed people watching.

USA may have lost the game, but they put up a good fight. The game was fun, and I ended the day successful at my goals.

20140704-103841-38321238.jpg

What What What Wedding

27 Sunday Oct 2013

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in Journal, Photography

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

brother, clothes, family, flowers, Kansas City, maid of honor, marriage, mother, party, photography, slumber party, wedding, wedding reception

As of last weekend, my mom and step-dad are married! I have a few photos I managed to snap throughout the course of the events.

IMG_2150

My mom and I looked snazzy in our sweaters at the meet the families gathering she hosted.

My mom and I looked snazzy in our sweaters at the meet the families gathering she hosted.

My brother and I had our own little slumber party the night before the wedding. Coincidentally, we matched in our blue v-necks.

My brother and I had our own little slumber party the night before the wedding. Coincidentally, we matched in our blue v-necks.

Then the next day we dressed up to be maid of honor and best man at the ceremony.

Then the next day we dressed up to be maid of honor and best man at the ceremony.

I was quadruple fisting by the end of the reception. I might be able to have one cup per time someone referred to my brother as my date too.

I was quadruple fisting by the end of the reception. I might be able to have one cup per time someone referred to my brother as my date too.

The bride and groom fed each other the cake very cleanly.

The bride and groom fed each other the cake very cleanly.

I got one last picture with the beautiful bride before she departed on her honeymoon with her sweetie.

I got one last picture with the beautiful bride before she departed on her honeymoon with her sweetie.

I got to bring home my beautiful bouquet to enjoy the rest of the week as I recalled all the new memories.

I got to bring home my beautiful bouquet to enjoy the rest of the week as I recalled all the new memories.

Thus begins my fall of holiday and fun festivities. I got to be the maid of honor at my mom’s wedding right after my cousin requested I be a bridesmaid at her wedding when she announced her engagement to me recently. I love all the wedding bliss surrounding me!

My next exciting event is the Justin Timberlake concert with my honey in just over three weeks!

39.099727 -94.578567

Yellow Buggy Road

28 Wednesday Aug 2013

Posted by KaylasOnlyHeart in Essay, Journal

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

California, career, determination, dreams, endeavor, friendship, imagination, Kansas City, memory, New York, travel, vehicle

I enjoyed a new ale in a new mug and some Sara Bareilles music on my stereo while I wrote this. Cheers to the friend who drove the other yellow buggy!

I enjoyed a new ale in a new mug and some Sara Bareilles music on my stereo while I wrote this. Cheers to the friend who drove the other yellow buggy!

 

 

 

 

 

Tonight I decided to try another new drink, courtesy of my friend Meredith. We met up this past weekend when I visited our hometown to sip coffee (or pineapple raspberry Italian soda in my case since I wore a sweater during summer) and catch up. As we discussed what we were up to and where our eighth grade classmates were, we recapped what we had been doing and where we were headed, namely why we and my other friend, her twin sister, Erin were headed to the reality of the big dreams we imagined.

Meredith and I met fifteen years ago when I first moved to Kansas City and were in the same third grade class. We quickly became friends, making a video together with Erin and Erin’s friend Jordan during one of our first sleepovers. Now Erin works at the local movie theater as she develops her own film career, which no doubt will soon lead her back to California.

Even as elementary school kids, Meredith and I dreamed big. We bonded over our shared love of the green jeans we owned in second grade, but we also maintained a mutual desire to develop ourselves and reach those dreams in faraway places. Meredith particularly felt convicted to move back to California where she would be a star, chiefly a singer. It didn’t take us long to decide that when we grew up we would pack up our matching yellow buggies and head to California.

You could argue that we are grown up now that we are both over a year out of college and are embarking on our careers. We both develop our writing and online presence for personal endeavors, and Meredith has even found herself in New York for work. It’s only a matter of time before she finds herself back there on her way to deepening her relationship with the music industry and before I find myself back in a city to widely spread joyful perspectives through writing, social media, and personal interactions.

Meredith recently texted me, informing me that she spotted two yellow buggies on the highway. It brought to mind our young determination, a reminder I needed as I wrapped up my time at one of my recent jobs. Maybe we have had our times recently when we felt discouraged about whether or not we would attain those goals that have traveled with us for so long since it can get difficult to establish a presence. Yet we all must start somewhere. Each of us has scratched the surface in our jobs, paving the way to strong careers.

It may be more likely that Meredith returns to New York to establish herself in the music industry and that I find my way back to Kansas City or another city to grow myself as part of that community, but the dream of packing up our yellow buggies to move to California together remains the same. Even over distances and times where we didn’t talk quite as much, we have still kept in touch. We still share our pop culture references and swap commentary during the MTV VMAs; we encourage each other in our endeavors to write and to succeed.

Fifteen years after we first decided to hit the road with our dreams, we have some good travel stories (even if some are from separate travels and some include seemingly dead ends). The road ahead promises more scenery no matter the direction or destination. Here the vehicle of the dream will determine the route and success along the way. Our articles, books, albums, record productions, and more are our yellow buggies.

To see more about my friends Meredith and Erin click on the links below to read their blogs:

http://theressomuchtosmileabout.wordpress.com/ {Meredith}

http://roamin4happiness.wordpress.com/ {Erin}

 

39.099727 -94.578567

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 890 other followers

You can't make advances if you don't take chances. These posts share my perspectives of my journey as I step forward, walking in the Light.

Recent Posts

  • Book Review: Marilla of Green Gables
  • Book Review: Because of Winn-Dixie
  • Book Review: Keeper of the Lost Cities
  • Book Review: Love Lettering
  • Book Review: The Widow of Rose House

Categories

  • Beauty
  • books
  • Essay
  • Journal
  • Monday Motivation
  • Photography
  • Playlists
  • Poetry/Lyrics
  • Reading Recommendations
  • The Great American Reader
  • Uncategorized
  • Winsome Women Wednesday

RSS my weekly nail creations

  • Starlit Darkness 
              As it felt like I continued to fall deeper into darkness, I reminded myself to keep dreaming positively. My stars matched my pajamas to encourage my sleeping dreams as well.  The following weekend I ventured out with my friends to attend a Taking Back Sunday and The Used concert. Surrounding […]
    KaylasOnlyHeart
  • Falling
          These plain manicures go back to the fall. The season marked a time of change and a new look at my world. Perhaps the perspective in what I held in my hands stole some of the focus and expression I would normally have for my nail art.  I went from a bold […]
    KaylasOnlyHeart
  • Plain Sparkles
    After the Top Shelf plain manicure, I had another plain one with some sparkles added. I just didn’t feel spirited enough to enjoy my me time. I still made myself go through the motions though. I might not have been applying makeup regularly, but I kept my nails polished. The little touches kept me from […]
    KaylasOnlyHeart

Facebook

Facebook

Twitter Updates

  • It's TV Tuesday. I'm ready to celebrate a fictional birthday. 8 hours ago
  • My first Valentine of the season is ready to make its way to its recipients. Who doesn't love love and books? #ValentinesDay #book 1 day ago
  • 4 of 5 stars to This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens goodreads.com/review/show?id… 2 days ago
  • My new student today wore a Valentine shirt to class. I'm definitely not the only one celebrating already. 3 days ago
  • It always feels good when a student likes my class so much after their first lesson they sign up to do a second one the same week. 4 days ago
Follow @KaylasOnlyHeart

Goodreads

No Instagram images were found.

RSS Pendey in Kensia

  • An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.

Blog Stats

  • 9,453 hits

Blog Stats

  • 9,453 hits

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy