Kansas City BBQ Tour: Four Stops, Endless Flavor

We’ve been talking for years about doing a BBQ tour in Kansas City—hitting a few different spots in one day. This year, we finally made it happen on the Friday after Christmas. The goal was to visit four places and sample burnt ends, sausage, pulled pork, and ribs. Of course, we planned to get sides at each stop too. The challenge was making sure six of us could enjoy a bite or two of each meat and side without filling up too soon. Mission accomplished!

Stop 1: Slap’s BBQ

We arrived at Slap’s around 10:45 and waited for them to open at 11. By the time we left, the line was even longer than when we first arrived. The burnt ends were disappointing—no bark and lacking flavor—so we all rated them low. The ribs were tender, and the smoked turkey was excellent. For me, the sides were the highlight here. The potatoes were fantastic!

Stop 2: Joe’s KC BBQ

Most of us had been to Joe’s before, but this was my first time at the original location inside a working gas station. We waited about an hour to order. The ribs are a must—they don’t fall off the bone, but they don’t need to because the meat is so flavorful. The burnt ends were far better than at Slap’s, with a nice bark and just enough fat for extra flavor. The ribs were also better here. The sauces were great too—I stuck with the hot sauce, and it was perfect.

A Quick Break

After Joe’s, we took a break at Boulevard Brewing and then J. Rieger & Co. for a few drinks. At Boulevard, I had my favorite Wheat beer a couple of times and sampled some seasonal brews—all delicious. At J. Rieger & Co., we enjoyed cocktails; it’s always a great spot for an Old Fashioned or a G&T.

Stop 3: Q39

Most of us had tried Q39 before, but not at this location. Unlike the first two counter-service spots, Q39 offered table service. Our waiter was excellent—helpful and fun while we debated what to order. Everything was good. The ribs were delicious, and the sauce was solid. The burnt ends had great bark and flavor. The sides were good overall, though the corn was forgettable.

Stop 4: Jack Stack BBQ

Jack Stack was our final stop, and we had reservations for 8 p.m. We arrived two hours early, but nothing else was open, so we waited. Luckily, they seated us around 7:30. Another great waiter—friendly, helpful, and even treated us to a free dessert. The sides were as good as we remembered, and the ribs, burnt ends, and pulled pork didn’t disappoint. I tried the sausage but realized I’m just not a sausage guy when there are so many other great options.

Selfie at Slap's BBQ

Selfie at Joe's BBQ

 

Selfie at Jack Stack BBQ

I realized as I was posting the pictures from the BBQ trip that I missed getting a selfie of everyone at Q39. Oh well, we will have to do it again.

The Sweet Finish

After Jack Stack, we swung by Cheesecake Factory to grab dessert for home. It was a wonderful day with beautiful weather—chilly at our first stop but perfect for sitting outside at Joe’s and comfortable by the end of the night.

Next week, I’ll share the overall ratings from our group of six for the KC BBQ tour. Have a great week—and get some BBQ if you can!

Merry Christmas Eve 2025!

As the year winds down and the lights glow a little brighter tonight, I’m reminded how much these quiet moments matter. Christmas Eve has always been about slowing down—pausing the rush, savoring the warmth of family, and reflecting on the blessings that carried us through the year.

Tonight, we’re gathered, music playing softly in the background, and the smell of something delicious coming from the kitchen. Tomorrow will bring laughter, gifts, and maybe a little chaos—but tonight is for gratitude. For the people who make life meaningful, for traditions that anchor us, and for the hope that the season brings.

Wherever you are, I hope you find a moment to breathe, smile, and soak in the magic of Christmas Eve. Wishing you peace, joy, and a heart full of light as we step into Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Reflecting on Progress and Setting New Fitness Goals

As the year comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on my health and looking ahead to the future. I don’t think I’ve shared this before, but since October 2024, I’ve lost about 45 pounds. I’ve maintained roughly the same weight since August 2025, fluctuating slightly but staying in the same range. The next step toward reaching my goal weight is adding exercise to my routine. I was riding the bike as recently as this past summer, but I fell out of the habit and haven’t been on it at all this fall.

My goal for 2026 is to make exercise a regular part of my week. I’m planning to start working out consistently, and I think going to the gym at work will help me stick to that goal. I’ve been losing weight thanks to Mounjaro, which I was prescribed in October 2024 after being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Before that, I was on other medications following my diagnosis in 2023 and early 2024, but switching to Mounjaro has been life-changing. Since starting it, I no longer need a CPAP machine, and with the weight I’ve lost, I feel great.

Mounjaro has helped by curbing my appetite. I usually take my shot on Sunday evening, so on Monday, Tuesday, and often Wednesday, I eat very little. My doctor gradually increased my dosage after I started, and at one point we tried to go higher, but insurance denied the change, so I stayed at my current dose. Now, the next step is exercise, which will support further weight loss and overall health.

If I can get back into exercising, I know it will make a big difference. I want to incorporate weights into my routine and add cardio as well. I enjoy running, so the treadmill will likely be my go-to, along with weights and other gym activities to keep things interesting and challenging. As the weather improves, I’d like to start running outside again since I really enjoy it.

I’m curious to see how running feels after losing 45 pounds. I know it can be tough on the knees and joints, but I expect it will feel different, and I’m looking forward to finding out. I don’t have any plans to run races like I did years ago—my goal is simply to get back into running shape and build up to longer distances.

That’s my health update, as I haven’t shared one in a while. Until next time, have a great week and enjoy preparing for the holidays.

Leadership, Sports, and Reading Goals: A Midweek Update

Another busy weekend with a quick trip to Kansas City. We went to celebrate November birthdays for Erin and Eddie. Joan and Eddie arranged a vacation rental and treated us to a wonderful weekend of fun. We even squeezed in some game time Saturday afternoon before getting ready for dinner. Unfortunately, no pictures from the fun weekend.

When we got back to Topeka Sunday afternoon, I wasn’t feeling well—so much so that I took Monday off work. I simply needed a day to recover and get back to feeling better. Going to bed at 8 p.m. on Sunday cut into my writing for the week. I think this was the first time I haven’t written something in over two years. So tonight is about catching up on my weekly post. As it turns out, this is more of a meandering post on different topics since I’m starting it on a Wednesday night.

A few months ago, I was nominated to participate in Leadership Greater Topeka. I’m happy to report that I was accepted, and class starts in January. We have our orientation session this Thursday. I’m looking forward to the process and appreciate the opportunity to serve with fellow Shawnee County participants. I’ll be interested to see what we accomplish when the program ends in May 2026. I think it will be fun and a great way to make connections with fellow residents.

Sunday was the last chance the Kansas City Chiefs had to make the playoffs, and it did not go well. After several years of making the postseason, we’re eliminated. I know fan bases for other teams are happy that it finally came to an end. I’m hopeful we can still finish out the season without completely imploding.

Washburn sports is going strong. The basketball team is still doing great, sitting at 13-0 on the season. Carrie and I have missed the last couple of home games since we were out of town. We don’t play at home again until January 3, so we have a bit of a wait. The team just finished a tournament in Texas, where they handled the games without any problem. Related to that, you might recall that two weeks ago we went to St. Louis to watch the Washburn soccer team play—and we won. I’m sad to say that we played in the Final Four last week and lost after being ahead for most of the game. A great season, but tough to see us lose.

My reading journey continues as we have just a few short weeks left to finish out the year for the reading challenge. I had set a goal of twenty books for the year, and right now it looks like I’m going to come up short once again. No, I’m not giving up, but I think it’s going to be tough to meet my twenty-book goal for 2025.

That’s about all I have for tonight. Posting midweek instead of over the weekend, but I’ll get back on track this weekend. Have a great week!

Washburn Soccer’s Big Win and Our Quick Weekend Adventure

Game Starting

Last Thursday, before heading to the Washburn basketball game that evening, we decided to take a quick trip to St. Louis to watch Washburn soccer play in the NCAA DII Elite Eight. We booked a hotel, ordered tickets for the game, and scouted out some places to eat after Saturday night’s match. It was a quickly planned trip, and we had a great time!

We left early Saturday morning to make it to St. Louis by the 1 p.m. start. We arrived with plenty of time before the game started, so we found a wonderful spot for lunch—Russell’s Café & Bakery. After finishing lunch, we headed to the soccer game with time to spare.

Ticket Punched!!!

Washburn started strong, going up 2–0, but early in the second half, the score was suddenly tied 2–2. The Ichabods battled back and won 3–2 over the University of Missouri–St. Louis. It was exciting to cheer on Washburn in their NCAA DII Elite Eight appearance—and even better to leave with the win! We were able to make the game because everything came together perfectly for this spontaneous trip.

President Mazachek and me

Up next for the Ichabods: the Final Four in Colorado Springs, CO, on Thursday. If they win, they’ll play for the National Championship on Saturday, December 13.

After the victory, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the evening, which included a speakeasy and then dinner. The speakeasy—None of the Above at City Foundry—was a new spot for us. We love speakeasies, and this one did not disappoint! After a few drinks, we took a Lyft to our dinner destination: Paul Manno’s Italian Restaurant. We had been there a few years ago and were glad to return for another great meal.

Following a long day, we made the wise decision to call it a night by 10 p.m. On the way back to Topeka, we stopped at another favorite spot in Columbia, MO—Shakespeare’s Pizza. We arrived home late afternoon and had an early night.

Drinks and Fun

It was a fun, quickly planned trip to St. Louis to follow Washburn women’s soccer. Everything worked out great! Congrats to the Ichabods on their win and advancing to the Final Four. I’ll be following Thursday’s game via stream instead of in person.

I was a day late posting this update since I went to bed early Sunday night. Until next time, have a great rest of your week!