Summer Solstice

It was the first day of summer, and it was basically just about as hot as any other day this month - which was basically too hot to really do much outside. For Summer Solstice, we heard a story about druids and other pagans assembling at Stonehenge in the UK, but seriously folks: what's up with that?

The real place to go is Carhenge. From there, you can tell the summer solstice just as well, and by gum, it's much, much cooler. Then again, I suppose the druids in Nebraska were at Carhenge this morning, doing their odd chants and such. Those Nebraska druids are something else!

Daddy's been to Carhenge once. It is actually something that I hope to take Madison to some day when she's older (some day when you're older, you'll understand...). Actually, I am so anxious to take her out west to see the country as I did when I was growing up. Grandpa would pile us in his camper and we'd travel across the country seeing the majestic - and the tacky too. It's such a wonderful combination. On one hand, you have the epic sweeping plains of Nebraska, and the nighttime sky filled with brilliant stars. And then there's Carhenge, which is the epitome of tackiness. And yet, it is so tacky that it somehow transcends the corniness, entering a lofty place in my memory alongside other locations like Yellowstone and Pikes Peak.

A recent internet story ran on some of the tackiest places in America, and I'm proud to say I've been to several of them, from the Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota to the House on the Rock to Wall Drug to South of the Border. I love 'em all - and can't wait to take Madison there someday. Mommy too - I think she's been missing out on some of that Americana!

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Anyway, it was pretty hot today. We did some chores, and Daddy finished his devotional. We did a bit of shopping at Wal-Mart for a big conference coming up Friday. Free Chapel is hosting - once again - the Forward Conference. Daddy just might be playing an apostle at the Last Supper again, this time in front of a huge sold-out audience at the Gwinnett Arena. Not that I'm unwilling, but hopefully I can get some other guys to do it! In the meantime, Mommy and Daddy were shopping for plate-ware for this Last Supper, which was somewhat amusing. We got some plastic cups and plates at Wal-Mart, along with some sandstone fleck stone spray paint. It should look realistic, but the apostles won't have to worry about breaking anything if it drops. We were tempted to put tupperware out on the table, but that might be in poor taste...

Anyway, tomorrow, Mommy will search for more costuming for the apostles - tonight she's been ironing a bunch of their robes. We'll have that table set up on stage, and I think Pastor Franklin will be going from apostle to apostle, speaking about the heroism and valor of each one. I usually have to play James the Lesser. Ever heard of James the Lesser? Me neither!

Seriously, I know who he is now. But they might just have well changed his name to "James the Obscure."

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Tonight we played Candy Land again. Madison is getting much better with this game. She's getting better at a lot of things. In fact, she's also getting much better with potty training too. Mommy has decided to get serious about her training, and we've set a timer that basically announces when Madison is to head to the bathroom. We still reward with Tinkle Dots. Can't be without those, that's for sure. The end result is that Madison seems to be getting it, which is good news, of course.

It was a fun and productive day, anyway. Let the druids celebrate however they want. For this family, it's Wal-Mart, Candy Land and Tinkle Dots all the way!