Ottawa, Ontario ? I’m thinking about what I’m going to write today while reclining in a downtown Ottawa Starbucks on a beautiful Sunday morning, 65 degrees, just a few clouds in the sky.

I’m reading the print edition of the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, sipping a Grande-sized coffee and also gazing at tourists ambling past a Sears Department Store with a giant red Canadian Maple Leaf emblazoned above the entry-way.

And I’m feeling a bit guilty.

Not guilty for using American dollars to pay for my java and snack – actually I handed over a colorful $10 Canadian bill, figuring it’d be an insult to use “our” cash while being a guest in a foreign land.

I felt extremely guilty – even thinking for just a second – how much of a “hassle” it had been Saturday and Saturday night navigating the streets and highways of this Capital City trying to find both Montpetit Hall and Scotiabank Place, where Kansas University’s basketball team played and won exhibition games against McGill and Carleton Universities.

Dana Hedgpeth’s article on the front page of the Ottawa Citizen provided me a much-needed slap in the face.

She described REAL hassles and headaches – ones confronting New Orleans natives fleeing town (again!) in advance of big, bad Hurricane Gustav.

The unimaginable traffic jams on Louisiana Interstate-10 I’m sure have undoubtedly been just a tad more cumbersome than on HW 417 in Ottawa, Ontario.

Anyhow, best wishes to those getting out of Dodge down South.

As far as life North of the Border, it couldn’t be better.

Truth be known it’s a hassle free Labor Day weekend.

Downtown Ottawa is great. Majestic old buildings, like the Parliament and KU’s Castle-like team hotel (Fairmont Chateau Laurier) jut high into the sky with plenty of tourist attractions – some guy will write you a personalized poem for 2 bucks – just two blocks away.

As far as the basketball, it’s been such a pleasant surprise.

KU’s one-point win over Carleton on Saturday night reminded me a lot of KU’s thrilling win over Davidson in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

It took a clutch three by Tyrel Reed, a steal by Sherron Collins and ensuing breakaway dunk by the surprisingly fluid and clutch Travis Releford, plus two free throws by Cole Aldrich to stave off the Ravens.

Earlier in the day, KU rode the 18-point effort of Tyshawn Taylor and 18-rebound (that’s a lotta rebounds folks) outing of Aldrich to a five-point win over a gutsy McGill team.

Of KU’s newcomers, it’s been most fun to watch freshmen Releford and Taylor, who run the court so well.

Yes it was a pleasure, not a hassle, to watch the Jayhawks play on Saturday. And mighty amusing to watch a fan heckle – and get heckled back – by KU coach Bill Self, all in a non-threatening manner.

Believe me as I bat this out in my hotel room, I’m not thinking about what a “hassle” it’ll be driving back to Montpetit Hall in a few hours to watch another great game against University of Ottawa.