By this time tomorrow evening, I will have 1224 North Brooks Street in Russell, Kansas all to myself.

My parents are leaving early tomorrow for Nashville, where they will visit my brother, his wife and their two children. They’re going to spend the night in a small Illinois town, then get to Tennessee Friday. The trip also includes a visit to New Orleans.

They won’t be home until two weeks from today, so I can do laundry whenever I want. I also have to remember to take the garbage out both Monday mornings and bring the mail in, but that’s it.

The October trip is a fall rite for my parents. Last year, they went in May instead, but usually, I don’t see them for two weeks or close to it. They miss my birthday, but I’m fine with it. I understand they don’t want to go down in summer when it’s brutally hot, nor do they want to drive in the winter when the roads could be iced and snowpacked.

Even though I’m not covering events anymore, I really can’t leave Russell. I’ve got too much going on this time of year. I do work when I’m on the road in Kansas City and other locales, but there’s a difference between being alone on the road in a hotel room and being with others. When I’m alone, I can budget my time as needed. It isn’t nearly as easy if I had to deal with other people.

Up until yesterday, I didn’t know what I would be doing late next week. I either would stay home and go to the Mid-Continent League volleyball tournament in Hays, where Caitlyn will be playing, or to Kansas City to spend time at Buffalo Wild Wings.

I came up with a compromise. I’ll probably leave for KC Friday or very early Saturday and stay there through Wednesday. I’d be home in time for my birthday, when I’d go to Hays in the afternoon. Next weekend isn’t great to go to KC anyway, since the NASCAR Sprint Cup race is at Kansas Speedway Sunday, Oct. 16. Also, the Chiefs are off this Sunday, meaning Buffalo Wild Wings may not be nearly as packed, although some of the fans who would normally be at Arrowhead might show up.

I got home late Monday after Norton’s volleyball matches. I slept the shortest I have since I got the CPAP machine, but I didn’t fall asleep at all yesterday. I compensated by going to bed at 9:30. Now that my work is done for the week, I can relax.

I have an appointment with Crista tomorrow afternoon at 3. I haven’t seen her in two weeks, and last week was the first time I didn’t see her since the week of July 18. I won’t see her next week, either, going back on the 20th.

Not much to do tonight, except watch the Giants and Mets in the NL wild card game, and Law & Order: SVU at 8.