Subject: Weekend Update: June 14-18
Date:    Mon 6/19/00  4:18pm


Today was Andrew's last day of school; my kids are all out for the
summer.  I recall one last day of school where my brother Stephen and
I got up early, made peanut butter and jelly snadwiches and walked to
school to be the first ones there.  I was too young to remember what
time it was but apparently it was very early; we arrived before the
janitors did to open the school and sat on the front steps.  I don't
know how long it was but a Country Squire station wagon came zooming
around the circle in front of the school.  Our parents weren't too
happy about two young boys venturing off without telling anyone.
(They were asleep!  Why bother them?) We got back home in time to take
the school bus, so you know it had to be early!  It wasn't the last
time I listened to my big brother; that came later when he increased
my vocabulary and told me to display my new-found knowledge to my
father.

All last week, I was in San Jose where we experienced record
temperatures in the 100s each day I was there.  Of course, I was
locked away in some conference room for much of the time.  Some of you
act like I sit under palm trees and sip Cokes when I go away on these
business trips.  It's hard work sitting there, listening to people
present ways to improve our business, and harder work having to
present them myself!  But there are some nice things, like driving a
car that hums along instead of shakes along, and eating out at
restaurants every night. (But how many steaks can a man eat? I was
looking forward to spaghetti when I got home!)

After business, I planned on an early flight, in time for Emily's
eighth grade graduation.  Things went well, at first.  I arose at
3:30AM PST to ensure my presence at the required time.  Most flights
were packed solid because of earlier cancelations (due to eastern
weather).  Asking if people are willing to get bumped for ticket
values is pretty common practice these days. I got into the very last
seat of the plane and headed off to Cleveland on the first leg of the
trip home to Manchester, NH.  I had almost two hours to wait in
Cleveland but that turned into six and a half hours because the plane
I was supposed to get on failed one of its safety checks and they
needed to find a part.  I was on the phone several times trying update
people at home; once calling Eric Magnuson to IM (Instant Message)
home to free up the phone. To make matters worse, my laptop decided to
get sick; it is being repaired now.  Eventually, after a complimentary
dinner of chili dogs, they put the passengers on a different aircraft.
Too late for Emily's ceremony.  Joy picked me up after 9 PM and I was
in bed by 10:30 PM.

On Saturday, Joyce Hamlin called us about a yard sale that was right
up our alley. (We act on tips, folks, so keep us in mind.)  We headed
out to Pelham for the girls to grab up crafts and sundries at bargain
prices.  Later in the day, we headed over to our third graduation
party (for Randy Xayachack - zi-a-chak) in as many weeks.  The
weathermen were off the mark and some rain came through during the
middle of the party worrying poor Debbie.  You got to figure that you
invite friends to these events so it is perfectly okay to squeeze us
inside until the storm passes by - and it did pass through.  We came
early, and left late!  We had a great time.

On Sunday evening, our church held a dinner service for five
graduates.  Akiko Long did a splendid job of scanning in photos of the
graduates when they were children.  She put them in a powerpoint slide
show.  Each parent was to prepare and deliver a letter for their son
or daughter.  I confess that I had a lot of difficulty with dealing
with the topic that I have been psychologically buffering, like I had
before Miranda went off to college.  I did pretty well in reading my
speech but didn't make it through before becoming emotional, despite
mighty attempts to contain my composure.  I thought it was
particularly cruel to show the slides of the children BEFORE the
parents had to speak.  Afterward, Rachel Silva consoled me by calling
me a big baby.  Perhaps I'll send out the text of that speech later on
in the week.

Back at work, I found a pile of emails and fifteen different
directions to run in.  Par for the course.  But vacation is around the
corner.  Woohoo!

Mark
Mark Metcalfe, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.                \
270 Billerica Road, MS04                                    \  O,
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, 01824                     (_______\/ )_______/
Phone: (978) 446-6451 Fax: (978) 262-6363          -----------\--------------