http://www.kceb.org/electioninfo/sb_1108.pdf

This year, I have been a bad citizen. I have only been paying attention to the Presidential election, and not my local elections. When I lived in Omaha, I was still in school, so it was easier to keep track of all of the local elections because the candidates were constantly campaigning on campus, or at least putting up fliers. BUT, now that I am not as involved with the campus community, and there are bullshit billboards and signs everywhere (and ridiculous commercials), I have NO CLUE as to who is running for what positions. I tried searching online for local election information, but could not find anything. I would like to read each candidate's statement and goals so I can make an informed choice, because, after all, the local elections are going to be what effects us most. Also, what issues are we voting for and against? I obviously know about light rail (which I think is a great idea, especially if our economy takes a huge shit for job opportunities.) So this is where you come to my assistant: Where do I go to find out this information?! Also, is there a mayoral election? Oh yeah, and don't spew your bs about me voting for your candidate, I want to make my own decision. Thanks.

I am currently fostering a very sweet dog for Spay Neuter Kansas City named Ollie. She is a 2 year old Australian Shepherd mix and needs a great home!

She was taken out of a situation where her owner kept her outside year round, fed her every other day if he felt like it, and was going to "dig a hole and put a bullet in her." He also had other dogs, one on a 65 lb. chain. What goes around comes around and I'm sure that asshole will get his one day, but Ollie is getting the last laugh as she is very spoiled and probably has a better life now than that scumbag will ever have. (I'm not bitter towards those types of people at all.)

She is completely house-trained and learned to use the dog door the day we got her from Spay Neuter Kansas City. She knows her new name and how to sit. I've only had her for a week. She is smart as a whip! Ollie loves to play fetch and run at the dog park. She gets along with all dogs and loves to snuggle and get petted. She was spayed on July 30 and is up to date on vaccinations.

On Friday night we decided to take it easy and walk up to Westport to try out The Foundry at McCoy's. This latest edition to Westport caught my fancy whilst sitting and looking out the window in One80 one night because of its huge patio.

Even though it was 90+ degrees and humid as all hell, we decided to eat on the patio. The patio was nice with blue and white globe lights strung across the top, two large metal buses on the wall and speakers blasting XM radio with a great mix of old and new alt faves including the Police and David Bowie.

Our server, Mike, greeted us promtly and took our drink orders. My boyfriend asked for a recommendation and Mike brought him a Delirium Tremmens (the one with the pink elephant glass (!)) and I ordered the McCoy's Ginger Shandy.

1. Is it sad that I read KansasCity.com for a good laugh? It's not so much the content of the newspaper (ok, sometimes it is, I know a slow news day can be stressful) but mostly the ass-backwards, close-mided comments of some people. For good laughs check out stories with the following subject matter: Abortion, religion, and Phil Kline (barf, vom, puke.)

2. I am returning to school this fall after a year and a half hiatus. I love school and don't love working (apparently the latter pays the bills.) So now I am returning to school to persue what I found out I wanted to do about a year before I graduated with a bachelor's degree in Journalism, PR & Advertising, for Interior Design. I will be attending Johnson County Community College. I've never been, but I hear it's decent.

3. I went to Warped Tour last week. My first full Warped Tour in four years. I was going to write a review about it, but the guy at Back to Rockville stole my formatting idea, so I didn't want to look like the unoriginal bastard. In a nutshell, Warped Tour is all about weird teens who forsake the comfort of staying cool for fashion (pun is and isn't intended.) I'm telling you, I have never seen so many Ugg boots in 90 degree weather in my life. Kids are odd. Highlight of my day: Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Lowlight of my day: Katy Perry, seriously, who listens to this shit? She fucking sucked live. My friends said she had a single so I had to hear it and it wasn't good. At all.

I'll be the first to admit: I used to be a lot more fun.

Growing up in Omaha, I was lucky to have one of the best local music scenes in the US. We had the Ranch Bowl, Cog Factory, Sokol Underground, Farnam St., too many venues with good music to name. Local music was what defined our small metro area of just under a million people.

Now, in KC, that I have to be grown up and work, my social life has taken a downturn. There really isn't that great of an alternative music scene here, but good local alternative music seems to have gone the way of the buffalo in general (cliche, anyone?) Anyone outside of the city though, probably associates this town with BBQ, Jazz & Blues when they hear about the city, so why not embrace it?

Friday night, before perusing through the galleries open for First Friday in the Crossroads, my boyfriend and I decided to try out Bulldog on 17th and Main for dinner.

Upon entering, I immediately fell in love with the almost-upscale, art-deco decor of the dining room. Each table had a stained-glass light fixture with boxy patterns and the entryway had a matching boxy pattern on the ceiling with the black, turquoise and yellow tones of art-deco's yesteryear. I especially liked the buttercup color of the plaster walls.

Moving onto the food and, more importantly, the drink. I ordered a whisky-lemonade and my boyfriend ordered a Boulevard. Nothing too bad there, you can't screw up a draft beer and a simple mix of whisky and lemonade.

When Shiny Toy Guns cancelled and I heard Everclear was in for Wednesday's free show at Kansas City Live in the Power & Light district, I was elated. This was my chance to see one of my favorite bands of all time live, and for free.

While standing and waiting with anticipation for the show to start, two girls (with Everclear's label, I assume) asked us if we wanted backstage passes to meet the band after the show and stand in the VIP area during the show with free food and beer. Ummm, duh. Yes I would like that very much. Nothing on this night could go wrong.

Until the band went on stage.

I just finally launched my blog at www.fashionably-affordable.com

It's still in the works, but I hope to have everything on and good to go by the end of this month...keep your fingers crossed. I have a lot on my plate at the moment!