Beth and I just got back from camping at Chain O' Lakes State Park over near Columbia City. We went with a group of people from church; apparently it is a tradition at church that a group goes somewhere to camp over Memorial Day weekend. We stayed with friends in their 5th wheel overnight. Overall I think there were 6 campers or 5th wheels all parked in lots pretty close together. It was a lot of fun. The park has a bunch of lakes all connected by narrow channels, hiking trails, nature center, playground, etc, everything a state park needs. It was very relaxing, I tell you, just sitting by the campfire, playing volleyball or card games (or Spider-man on Jim's xbox), or doing nothing, or something. I also find that camping makes me hungry. Everyone seemed to eat a lot more than normal. And something about camping makes hamburgers and hot dogs really really good. And smores....can't beat 'em.

Last Wednesday night (actually Thursday morning) I went to see Episode II at midnight for the opening show. It wasn't as big a deal as Episode I in Virginia...not nearly as many dress-ups (although we did have a Jedi master and a Darth Vader) or as many other things like a pre-show SW character imitation contest. The show was on 4 screens (out of 6) and all were sold out. I was pretty wiped Thursday morning at work. The movie was...well, disappointing. I agree largely with Roger Ebert, except I think the show was visually excellent. But the script....awful! The love story...abysmal! The acting... terrible! Oh well, at least Jar Jar was only a very minor player this time. The cough finally petered out a while back but the rib still hurts. Not as much though. It actually is getting better except if I try to sleep on that side. I went caving for the first time in about 10 years last weekend. I went with the grotto trip (4 other guys from the Elkhart area) down to Langdon's Cave and Mauck's Cave down near Wyandotte Caverns not too far from Louisville. I'll put up some pictures soon. It was a lot of fun. I hope I can get out caving more in the near future. I need some rappelling gear though. A couple of the other guys went down a pit I couldn't because I don't have the gear. I also need some neoprene socks. They made things so much more pleasant. The final X-Files is tonight, which means I can't watch the final episode of Survivor: Marquesas tonight. Beth and I are going to a friend's house for an X-Files party, which mostly means we're going to watch the show and eat dinner in the forms of Hot Doggetts, Potato Skinners, Scully Snacks and Mulder Munchies. Ought to be fun. The softball team won a game last Tuesday! Big time, too, 21-6. We're 1-4 overall now, and I'm 7-of-17 batting.

That sick thing I posted about a month ago is still there, only completely morphed. I've been feeling well for a few weeks, only with a cough I can't shake. And today I was in serious pain in my ribs. So, I go to the doctor again, and I have a cracked rib! Yay. From coughing so much for so long. Maybe I'll be completely better someday. Bowling is over; Beth and I got free bowling balls for being first-time leaguers. The alley where we bowl does that. Nice balls, too. I wound up bowling a 188 the second to last time out and that was my high score, Beth's was the 156. And now that bowling is over, softball is on! We've had 2 games so far, lost both (get used to that), and I've gone 3-for-8, 1 run scored, 2 rbi so far. Not real impressive, but I've had some bad luck too. Clobbered the ball just a wee bit foul two different at-bats, both times with 2 strikes, which counts as an out in this league. Still haven't gone caving yet, but I bought a helmet and headlamp. The kitchen is finally put back together. A friend from church came over last Saturday and helped me put the cabinets back on the wall. Beth is so happy to have that done. The kitchen is so much better laid out now, the fridge can open all the way, and the recessed lighting I replaced the fluorescent light with is soooo much better. Saw Spiderman...it was good but no better than that. I'm really looking forward to Episode II. It looks so good! I'm psyched. Laura rescued a stray dog.