Date: Mon, 13 Aug 2001 15:20:54 -0400

The story of last week was the heat all across the USA.  It was
hot but I was stuck in an air conditioned office.  I try not to
complain about the heat of summer because I dislike the cold of
winter. Andrew spent his week at camp, enduring and enjoying 90+
degree heat each day.  To me, it has been a summer as summers
should be.  We're not drought-stricken and the summer is passing
peacably (if a bit busy) and enjoyably.  The pool temperature also
reached a tepid 90 degrees but still did its job of cooling off a
number of friends, including nearly 20 of them last Thursday; or 
so I am told, since they were all gone by the time I returned from
work.  :-(

Miranda went with Jeff Lane and two other teens to visit camp
on Friday.  It was the final kids' camp of the year and between
either attending camp as a worker or a camper, it seems we've
had less than the full complement of six at home most of the
summer.  I humbly request an extension.  Someone asked the
forbidden question of Miranda yesterday: "When are you going
back to school?"  We know it won't be long and will need to
begin preparations in that area, but not now; not just yet.

After a few lazy chores Saturday morning, Joy and I took Jessica
to Boston's Logan International Airport where we dropped her off
at the curbside and sped away.  Several weeks back, Jessica's big
sister snitched on her telling us that what Jessica would like
more than anything for her birthday would be a trip to Virginia
to see her boyfriend, David Young. She gets embarrassed just
even mentioning it and was angry with Miranda for telling us 
but has Mandy to thank for putting this in motion.  I have
accumulated enough frequent flyer miles that I could make it
happen without much sacrifice at all, except the one of my
heart.  I was delighted to be able to give her a gift that
she really, really wanted.

Jessica's flight was delayed (unbeknownst to us; remember, we
left her curbside at the United terminal) and she didn't get
to her destination until midnight - four hours later than
scheduled because of thunderstorms in Washington D.C.  She did
phone to keep the worry gene at bay, for which I am grateful,
but not before checking with David's parents about the inconvenience
my daughter would cause them.  They assured me all would be
fine, and the phone call Sunday afternoon confirmed that it
was just that.

We went from the airport to the Hunts on Saturday for a surprise
party for Andrew Crawford's completion of school.  It is going to be
interesting to see what Andrew is like without the added burden
of studies.  His wife, Melissa, has wondered the same thing!  We
pitched horseshoes and engaged in lengthy conversations; things
adults like to do.

It rained on Sunday, keeping the summer Sunday crowd down.  Emily
invited three of her friends home for keilbasa.  Joy and I took
the opportunity to take Miranda out to lunch and visit Brice and
Donna Allen for the afternoon; always worth skipping a nap for such
good people.  When not a host, I don't mind being a guest!

Mark
-- 
+---_-----------+ Mark Metcalfe, metcalfe@cadence.com
| c a d e n c e | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.    Phone: (978) 446-6451
+---------------+ PCB Systems Division, Technical Communications Manager