Opinion : Praying for rain -- til Saturday night

The extra batteries are in the camera bag; the spare knee brace in the suitcase.

As I prepare for a late week trip to Tennessee and Kentucky, I have one huge fear: That something big will happen in the news while I am away.

So, I pray for rain.

As I write this, the VS baseball team -- according to the Facebook updates from parents watching the VS/East Marshall double-header in Le Grand. Tomorrow, the Vikings are scheduled to play another two games, at home vs. Independence. If they win them all, it will be the 500th game for Coach Jim Struve.

And I will be 12 hours away.

So, I pray for rain on Thursday night. Maybe the Vikes can get No. 500 next week.

On Friday morning, Mr. Alexander Vasquez will put on his uniform and lead his 8th grade students through some Civil War drills, with his best students carrying his historic weapons.

At that time, I hope to be exploring the Lost River Cave near Bowling Green, Ky.

So, I pray for rain on Friday. Maybe Alex will have to postpone his march until Tuesday.

I won't pray for rain Saturday night; my friends from the Iowa Pyrotechnic Association will be gathering at Chuck Yedlik's place near Vinton, preparing for future events, including the August Boomtown, as well as and their international convention and sharing their latest projects after dark. I hope to maybe see them a bit on Sunday.

I also hope that any big news waits until Sunday to happen.

So please, if you plan to engage in any activity that is likely to land you on our daily email, wait a few days, OK? Try not to break any federal laws that will make you the target of search warrants. Pay attention on the highway and don't cause any 8-car pile-ups. Turn off the stove before you go take a nap.

Yeah, I know: These are good choices to make any day. But please, make sure to do these things for the next couple days.

I will be accompanying my daughter, Leah, to Smithville, Tenn., where she will spend the summer as a volunteer camp counselor. And if history is any indication, she will also spend time in the kitchen, baking breads, cakes and other goodies that will surely get her on the Volunteer State Weight Watchers Most Wanted List.

My latest writing project is the Civil War; I hope the cave I plan to visit Friday offers some insights into the history I hope to help share as the Union approaches the 150th anniversary of the end of that war in just under two years.

In the meantime, enjoy your weekend. Let the fire department members have a holiday weekend without having to respond to any pages. Keep yourself out of jail, if you can. Don't dance around trees during a thunderstorm. And look both ways twice before crossing the street.

I plan to see you this weekend, at graduation and/or Memorial Day.

Hopefully, I won't see you in the news -- unless its for hitting home runs.