Back From Camp

Another summer music camp has come and gone...now I'm back home where it's nice and hot (whoopee).

This year's camp was a bit smaller as about a dozen kids we usually get from one particular church did not come this year. Too bad.

We also had a rather unfortunate and serious incident (of which I can't really elaborate) that resulted in sending one camper home. On Wednesday night, Pastor B and I drove back to Phoenix to take him home. Not something I ever want to do again.

Otherwise, it was a really great camp. The children wrote and performed a wonderful little opera. The weather was cool (even downright cold one day), and we even got to have campfires despite the fire danger.

From our church we had three children attend this year - they all had a great time. Their parents and grandparents can attest to that.

As for me, this was perhaps the best camp experience (even with the glitch) that I've ever had. There's just something about that place. I consider it one of my God places. As one of my fellow staff members said, it's a place that helps turn my spiritual life back to normal. Without a doubt, I prayed more this past week than I have been lately. I got to catch up with some old friends and make some new ones, all with whom there was much levity. My friends at church told me today that I looked more peaceful. Well, I sure feel that way. Onward and upward.

Headed Off to Camp

I will be spending the next week at camp, so obviously I won't be blogging unless someone brings a computer with an internet connection. But it is, after all, about getting away from it all, isn't it?

There are some things I won't miss. Like the summer heat in Phoenix (although it hasn't been that bad this year yet). Like hearing about the continuing saga of Paris Hilton (can we serve some cheese with that whine?). Like work.

And who knows, maybe I'll even see one of those elk thingies.

A "Monumental" Vacation

S and I returned yesterday after spending a week's vacation in the Baltimore/ Washington area. The weather was near-perfect, and the cherry trees were beginning to bloom. Here's a brief synopsis:

Saturday (March 24): travel day

arrived at BWI airport

settled in at our "home base" at (my wife's) Aunt L's house in Laurel MD

Sunday: church and family

Monday: Washington DC [photos]

Washington Monument

World War II Memorial

Korean War Memorial

Lincoln Memorial

Vietnam Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

We also saw the new Airbus 380 super-jumbojet landing at Reagan National Airport.

Tuesday: Washington DC/Arlington VA [photos]

Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial

Arlington Cemetery

The cherry trees around the Kennedy gravesites were in full bloom.

Wednesday: Gettysburg PA [photos]

Gettysburg National Military Park

Boyd's Bear Country

We had a special treat; instead of taking the tour bus, we had a guide give us a personal tour as he drove our van around the battlefield. His knowledge was vast, and when I mentioned the defense of the Union left flank by the 20th Maine Regiment on Little Round Top, he took us to very spot where that took place.

Thursday: Washington DC/Arlington VA [photos]

Iwo Jima Memorial

U.S. Capitol

National Air and Space Museum

Lafayette Park

White House

The cherry trees around the White House, the Capitol, and in Lafayette Park were in full bloom.

We spent the evening at Toby's Dinner Theater in Columbia MD where we took in a well-done production of George M, a musical based the the life of George M. Cohan.

Friday: Baltimore MD [photos]

Ft. McHenry

National Aquarium

I got to help raise the flag at Ft. McHenry!

Saturday: travel day - return home.