I left the house this morning for the first time since getting back from Beloit Saturday. I had to go to Hays for an eye exam with Dr. Jones. It had been scheduled since my previous appointment in December, so I knew it was coming and I was ready for it. Got my work done for the papers last night so I didn’t have to worry about it with my eyes dilated.

I really didn’t feel like going anywhere in the heat, and since I didn’t have to Sunday and Monday, I didn’t. I left early this morning so I could get everything done before it got too hot, and also to avoid having to go in with my eyes dilated. Besides, I’ve got back-to-back appointments at High Plains Mental Health Thursday and Friday, so I’ll be in Hays regardless.

My eyes are fine. I’m thinking seriously about switching to daily use contacts. Right now, I’m changing them every two weeks. I have to weigh the costs.

I stayed up too late last night and this morning to watch the end of the Texas A&M-TCU baseball game. The Horned Frogs won in the bottom of the 16th to clinch the final spot in the College World Series. The game lasted over six hours and was the second longest super regional game since the NCAA went to the four-team regional and super regional format in 1999. .I’m not making the same mistake tonight.

TCU plays LSU Sunday at 2, with the other game in that bracket Cal State Fullerton vs. Vanderbilt at 7. Saturday’s games are Virginia-Arkansas at 2 and Miami-Florida at 7.

The official high in Russell today was 96 degrees (35 Celsius), the hottest so far of 2015. The century mark cannot be far off. If it doesn’t happen tomorrow, then I give it until June 21, Father’s Day, and the first day of summer.

When I was waiting in Dr. Jones’ office today,the TV was tuned to The Weather Channel. I noticed the record high for Hays was 105 degrees in 1988. It reminded me I was in Russell with my family on June 9, 1988. It was the last day of our four and a half day visit to Kansas, where we stayed at 1224 North Brooks. On that last day of the trip, we ventured to Lucas, 33 miles northeast of Russell, to visit my great Aunt Sharon. Her children, Alan and Kala, were in town with their families as well.

In 1988, the building which is currently the Mexican restaurant in Russell was a Dairy Queen. There was a Fina gas station at the corner of Wichita and Fossil. There were two grocery stores, Klema’s and Boogaert’s, which was at the corner of Fossil and Eighth, not too far from Russell High. The A&W restaurant and McDonald’s were in town, but no Sonic, and Meridy’s was under different ownership.

Today is the 30th anniversary of the Lakers’ victory in the Boston Garden which clinched the 1984-85 NBA championship. It marked the first time the Lakers defeated the Celtics in a playoff series after going 0 for the previous 11, including the 1984 championship series. Boston won the first game of that series 148-114, and the experts thought the Celtics were going to romp. But Los Angeles won four of the next five games, and the only one Boston won came when Dennis Johnson hit a lucky shot at the buzzer. The 1985 Lakers are often forgotten, thanks to Magic Johnson’s sensational Game 6 as a rookie in the 1980 championship series, as well as the back-to-back championship teams of 1987 and 1988. But to finally shake those demons had to be sweet.

Tomorrow doesn’t promise much. I got my work done for the Russell County News tonight, so I don’t have to wake up so early to get it done. I’m thinking about a trip to Salina for Buffalo Wild Wings and trivia. I’ve been away too long. But will it rain? And I have that 9 a.m. appointment in Hays Thursday.