The ridiculous ideas are always the fun ideas.

About a week and a half ago Gene e-mailed me and said it would be a great idea to get everyone together in his backyard for a cookout, a twi-night movie screening,and (gulp) an overnight campout.

Brilliant, I said. I'll dig out my 50-foot extension cord and we'll set up the daquiri bar.

Well, here we are. This is fantastic -- I've eaten about 17 s'mores by now, and it's still daylight. The wine is almost gone (but that's my fault). The kids are running about like little maniacs -- which means all is right with the universe.

Once night falls I shall post more (unless the wine causes me to fall first).