I’m finally at Cliff Hagan Stadium for today’s LSU-Kentucky baseball doubleheader.

The morning was an ordeal. 

In the hotel parking lot, someone pointed out to me my left rear tire was flat. Then Bill noticed it when he came to bring me my media pass. 

I deicded to try to put air in the tire. The two gas stations closest to the hotel did not have air machines. A station a little further down Newtown Pike did have an air pump.

Bad idea.

First, it was in a neighborhood which took me back to my New Orleans and Baton Rouge days, as well as a few places I’ve seen in Kansas City, notably around the Truman Sports Complex. 

The air machine was not good. I didn’t know how to work it. I panicked. Big time. 

I finally said screw it, drove back to the hotel and then called Avis to tell them about the problem. Someone came out to put the spare tire on, then I had to drive to Blue Grass Aiprot on the southwest edge of town to exchange cars. I traded the Cadilliac XT5 for a Ford Expedition. Not bad. 

I made it to the stadium just before 1. I’m parked behind the right field fence. It will be a long walk back, but it won’t be for quite some time. 

I should have been able to handle the tire better, but it’s resolved and I’m back on track. Thank God. 

This will be a welcome respite from my life in Kansas, if only for three days. Need it every so often.