I’ve done more driving the past week than I have at any time this year. And there’s more to come.

It began with last Friday’s trip to Norton to see Cailtyn run the first track meet of her junior season. It continued a few days later when I went to Smith Center for the first time in 11 months to see Caitlyn again. 

Today, I went west again, although only to Hays for my bi-weekly session with Crista. Our session was shorter than usual, but that meant there really wasn’t anything bad to discuss, at least nothing I hadn’t alerted her to. She was very glad I was able to redirect my anger elsewhere and not at people. I have a problem of doing that too often. 

After our session was done, I blew right through Russell all the way across Kansas to–you guessed it–Kansas City.

Only this time, KC isn’t my destination–at least yet. 

I’m on my way to Columbia, right in the middle of Missouri, for this weekend’s LSU-Missouri baseball series, which begins tomorrow evening at 6. With some time to kill, I figured I’d stop at Buffalo Wild Wings at Zona Rosa to play trivia, say hello to some of the employees, and meet up with Robb and Dawn. 

I went to Coumbia three years ago when LSU played Mizzou. It was Mizzou’s first year in the SEC, and the BAyou Bengals swept the series 2-0, 8-0 and 6-5. The second game was originally scheduled for a daytime start, but it rained that morning and moved the game to night. It’s supposed to be a night game Friday, followed by afternoon games Saturday and Sunday. 

I’m assuming LSU’s charter flight will be landing in Columbia sometime between 4 and 5, and then the team will practice at Taylor FIeld. I told Bill Franques, the publicity director and my longtime friend, I would be coming in too late to do anything tonight, but would be up for something before the game tomorrow. 

So far today has been a good day. Bully Joel’s “Allentown” is now playing on the jukebox. Stephanie Suggs is tending bar at Buffalo Wild Wings. Jaclyn Blankenship is here, and we hugged. Yeah, pretty good.