Subject: Weekend Update: August 19-20, 2000
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 12:12:41 -0400

Saturday was Jessica's 18th birthday.  (And Paul Beausoleil turned
50!)  The girls welcomed Holly, their friend from Uxbridge, to stay
the weekend with us. Also on Saturday, Cadence sponsored a family
outing at Canobie Lake Amusement Park on that day at a drastically
reduced price and we took advantage of the opportunity although I'm no
longer terribly amused by many of the rides. Joy and I won't go on the
round-and-round scramble-your-brains-and-guts rides anymore.  Even
Miranda was lamenting that they held less appeal to her than they once
did; she must be getting older!  It's kind of funny because the kids
worry that we aren't having a good time because we choose not to go on
the rides they do.  But we know that we'll be much happier to chat
with each other while we wait.  Sometimes, watching the roundabout
rides is enough to make one a little woozy.

I did take Andrew on several sit-in-the-car-while-it-travels (through
water, dark rooms, or water tubes); oh, and bumper car jousting, as
well.  We had a lot of fun with that.  However, I got drenched on one
water ride and lost a sticker that was supposed to be affixed to my
shirt so that I could get into the pavillion for our company-provided
food.  I discovered later that I was not alone because I was able to
peel a similar sticker off the pavement and gain entry by that means.
Good thing.  A glass of Coke at the consession stand was $2.10 plus
tax, and I won't pay that for 2 liters!  I wondered where the "ride"
was that turned you upside-down to shake the money out of your
pockets.  But then again, those rides were all around!  By 5PM we'd
had enough and after our last circuit on the Ferris Wheel, we boarded
the Magic Green Van ride that took us home.

Miranda made a "death-by-chocolate" birthday cake for Jessica.  The
ladies of the house also rented a chick flick for the evening's
entertainment while I caught up on some flight missions in space
(computer games).

Jessica's birthday wasn't over on Saturday, though.  Joy had planned a
surprise party on Sunday afternoon.  Jessica was dished up several
clues from various persons so it wasn't as much of a surprise as Joy
had hoped, but Jessica's friends came over for burgers and dogs and
enjoy the afternoon at the Manor.  This must be the Year of the Rose
because this was the second party of the summer dedicated in her
honor.

Summer is just about out of gas as the back-to-school activities begin
to occupy most of our spare time. In less than a week, both Miranda
and Jessica head off to ENC and we start setting four places around
the table. We will try to adapt to the new routine.  At least this
next routine should last us four years before Emily and Andrew begin
to fly the nest.

We have a substantial Fall project planned at the Manor and will be
working out the details of that and let you know how things go.  Part
of that means moving a lot of plants out of the shade garden, so if
you (locals) are looking for some plants to transplant, come see us
first.

Mark