Lions, and Tigers, and Bears, don't cry

I'm going to be totally honest: I was having a bad day. I was going to drive down to Columbia for Tap Day. My plan was to leave late thursday night or really early friday morning, the catch is, i would have to be back first thing Saturday. Tap Day is one of my favorite memories from Mizzou and QEBH means so much to me. Yet, at the last minute on Thursday I decided it would be really hard to drive six hours only to turn right back around. Basically I would have been driving longer than I would have actually been in Columbia. I did that a couple weeks ago for Stuth's wedding, and while it was totally worth it, gas is expensive and it took me like a week to get caught up on sleep. I thought i would be ok with the decision, but once i had made up my mind and offered to work for someone else, I immediately regretted it. Too late by that point. As the night went on I got even more angry with myself for not trying harder to go. And not to pull others tragedy into my on life, but i think its been a rough week for everyone. How can you not relate to the tragedy at Virginia Tech? Now more than ever i just really wanted to be back at Mizzou, among other students and the friendly comaradery of the University. Plus, I just really really miss my friends. I've made some great friends here in Chicago, don't get me wrong, but I just miss the people I can totally be myself with. It took four and half years to get there, i know these things don't happen over night. None-the-less, i just miss them.
I'm getting to my point, don't worry.
So, now i have all day friday off. I knew i needed to do something to keep my mind off of not being at Tap Day. It was a beautiful day, so i had decided that whatever i did, it was going to be outside. Out of no where I decided the best thing to do would be to go to the zoo! Yeah, i'm aware that I am 22 years old, but its free and just down the street. So Nina and I hiked up to Lincoln Park Zoo and spent the afternoon with the animals. It worked! maybe i just needed some sunlight, what ever it was, i don't care. Plus, we were older than everybody there by a good twenty years, but it was cute to see all these little kids screaming when they saw a giraffe or getting to pet the seals. You know where i'll be the next time i'm having a bad day.
It continued to get better. Since I had the night off anyway, i figured I would take advantage of it. My friend Nicole and I went to see our other friend Mary Beth in the opening night of her show, "Cowlick! The Musical!" I am thoroughly impressed. It was an hour-long show of completely improvised singing. Kudos. Next we hit up the playground theatre, where we saw my friend Dave's two man show "Baby Diego". Also quite funny. It definitely makes me want to work harder, these kids are good. And so, it was a day well spent. Things are good and I don't feel so bad about missing Tap Day. about 5 of the 7 Q's couldn't make it either. I will try harder next time. While I will always bleed black and gold, chicago is growing on me.