Subject: Weekend Update: August 11-14
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2000 11:05:23 -0400

"My visit to Portland was both informative and productive but we have
a bit of work that we still need to get done."  At times, I feel the
management jargon thick upon my lips, using words that mean different
things to different people, but words (like "moving forward") that
seem to convey what we all think it means.

The flight home from Portland on United was much less difficult than
my added 6.5 hours in Denver on the way out.  The Denver flight back
was delayed by not quite an hour but the flight crew made up for some
lost time in the air.  I coined a new phrase while several miles up in
the air.  The in-flight movie was nearing its end, when most
passengers decide that they've stored too much fluid.  Sensing the
impending rush, I turned to my colleague and announced "Carpe Peeim,"
which being translated from the Latin means "Seize the lavatory." Got
to go before the credits run.

On the ground, my transportation was no where to be found.  I should
have been home by 6PM but didn't get home until just before 8PM.
However, the ride proved to be very interesting because my driver
indicated that he lived in the Lowell Highlands.  I told him that I
had lived in Pawtucketville and still went to church in that area.  He
knew the Nazarene church and said he went to the old Nazarene church
(back in the 60s).  I started recounting some of the names he might
remember; people who had been in the church ever since the 60s.  Some
of them had moved on, some had passed on, some had stayed on.  He told
me that he remarried a Russian woman who spoils him rotten - even
meets him with a towel that she's warmed from the oven when he gets
out of the shower.  There is more that isn't for this forum but it was
really weird to find that connection with my driver, Dick Ferrera.

On Saturday, Joy and the kids headed out of the house early to the
Magnuson home to display stuff for a yard sale.  I came to the yard
sale later that day, sleeping off some jet lag and getting the lawn
mowed after more than a week of growth.  I haven't noticed anything of
mine missing so I suppose whatever Joy sold is okay with me.  The
Magnusons live on a busy road so it is prime selling space.  I
consider it a successful yard sale if we can buy pizza and drive home
with less than a quarter of what we came with.

Between Saturday and Sunday, we picked about 27 cups of blueberries
with more just a day or two away from being picked, and more after
that yet to ripen.  We also had to finish up some yardwork.  The
weather all summer has been unusually mild - good for the plants, poor
for swimming and sun fun.

Miranda and Jessica count down to college in less than two weeks.
We've kept ourselves busy enough to suppress what it all really means.
I'm thankful for the trailblazing firstborn because I am more
comfortable about sending the two of them off together.  But I haven't
really considered what a house of four will be like, and those two
being in their early teens.  Yet another transition: here we go again!

Mark