Friday Afternoon, April 23
I spent much of the afternoon looking for excuses to return to the air-conditioned comfort of the high school. "I think I hear the fax machine!" Allegedly trying to keep the Guild wheels turning. What's really going on is that it's hot, and a bunch of the Yankees are starting to look like lobsters.

No matter, much of the pre-building is complete on the concrete, the concessionaires are moving their stuff in, the giant barbecues are erected, the well has been flushed, and consequently the site is acquiring the circus atmosphere we're so fond of. Folks in Huffman from the school to the gas station to the lumber yard to the liquor store seem to know what we're about, and are offering encouragement and discounts (well, not at the liquor store).

We've got an 85 ton crane laid on for Saturday. That ought to do it. The weather gal says it's going to warm up.

One pair of mortises needed to be moved to their rightful positions, a catch made by Muldoon (Curtis Milton) and the FireAnts on the fly.

Everything else looks real good. The quality of the student cutting is very high.

Tonight the evening's ceremonies are being held at Paul Cooper's. --Joel McCarty

Dueling digital cams: Joel takes a photo of Curtis taking a photo of Joel taking a photo ...

Goldy and the local law.

It takes a few good men to carry these timbers.

Next, assembly of the pieces.