I made it to Smith Center right at 5 p.m. after the stop in Hays at Taco Bell. Hair freshly cut, car fueled, batteries all charged, so I’m good to go until kickoff.

I’m going to take my chances on US 281 south tonight. I’m tired of driving so long. That detour to Phillipsburg and then to Hays takes a little too long. I’ll be ready to go home by time this one ends.

I feel so terrible about hurting Lisa Toebben. She has always been nothing but very nice to me and I’ve really pissed on it.

I first met her in March at Buffalo Wild Wings. She always liked seeing me, even if I wouldn’t sit in the bar area where she normally waits tables. I wanted to sit at table 162 at that time, no matter who was serving, even it if it was a male server. I was set in my ways. She only got to serve

However, I didn’t forget about her one day in May when I went to get goodies from The Cheesecake Factory. I got her a piece of red velvet, as I did for Elizabeth Psenski. She was very grateful, and from there, we grew really close, but I still was stubborn and continued to sit at 162.

That changed the last Sunday of July. After Liz clocked out that day, I agreed to move to the opposite side and sit in Lisa’s section. It was a great success. I agreed to sit in Lisa’s section whenever she was working, with the lone exceptions coming when she and Liz were working at the same time, which I sat with Liz since she had seniority.

I really like Lisa. I really do. But I couldn’t live with myself if I broke up a relationship. Lisa has been with her boyrfiend, Jeff Daniels, for four years. I’ve met Jeff and come to like him, so I really would not want to mess things up. Also, I wouldn’t want to hurt Lisa, because I want to keep coming to Buffalo Wild Wings, and having to avoid her would really make things awkward.

I really regret posting something on Facebook last week lamenting my situation as a single man when she posted happy pictures of her and Jeff. I didn’t mean it as a swipe at her, but if she took it that way, I can understand why. I feel terrible about it.

I’ve done a lot for Lisa. I’ve tipped her generously. I’ve brought her Abita beer. I don’t regret it one bit. I wish I could do a lot more. If I had the means to do so, I would. She means a great deal to me, and I feel awful I’ve let her down. It’s weighing on my heart right now. There’s a football game I’m supposed to be covering in less than 80 minutes, but my mind is elsewhere, to a lovely young lady, a St. Louis native now living in Kansas City, a lady who has been so good to me, but I’ve treated so poorly.