Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 15:00:40 -0400
Subject: Weekend Update: September 28-30, 2001

I had a stressful week last week, dealing with a cold that someone left
behind at the house, and events at work that occupied much of my attention.
I snatched whatever moments of rest I could, believing it to be one of
the requirements for recovery.  Everyone is bound to have such weeks
where a lot of things happen all at once and you have to plod through
anyway.

Part of the activity invloved trying to knock down a number of projects
before the weather turns too cold.  Last November, Joy purchased three
replacement windows for the ones in our closet and master bath.  Well,
it was too cold to deal with them last year, and unnecessary to deal
with them in the Spring.  Now that the leaves are changing and the cool
air has finally arrived, I am left without reason to tackle this task.
It has caused me not-a-little anxiety because if anything went wrong,
I'd not only not have the existing inefficient windows, but a big hole
in the side of my house.

Fortunately for me, our barn has a similar replacement window in it,
which I deconstructed to get an idea of what I was up against.  It seemed
really straightforward and my only concern was whether we measured right
last November.  Most of the antique windows in our house are in good shape.
The energy commission told us that they were better than most modern
windows.  However, these three windows were an exception with practically
no glazing on some and cracked panes on others.  We got by each winter 
by putting up plastic.  

With only some minor filing of some corners, the windows installed snugly
in about 45 minutes each.  Joy made a big mistake of telling me about some
other projects she wanted to get done when I was nearly finished with only
the first window.  "Don't you ever learn?" I scolded her.  "I'm sorry!
I'm sorry!" she feigned.  When the final window went in, I was very
relieved and gratified with the outcome.  She and I worked together all
day and so we decided to go out to dinner just as Miranda, Emily, and
Mandy's friend Melissa were returning from an afternoon of shopping.  It
was a small reward that put us close to the church to pick up Andrew from
his day of activities.  Believe it or not, working together with Joy is
a reward in itself (if she just learns to keep the new projects to herself
until the present toil is past!).

On Sunday, I did my best to sight read the choir number (missing practice
last week because of my cold).  I decided to lend a voice unless and until
it gave out. It held up fairly well, despite that I may have equally enjoyed
the rest.  Sunday afternoon we watched New England Patriot look-alikes
stomp all over the Colts - perhaps they switched jerseys.  A double
burger off the grill capped the evening after church, and now it is
back to the job on Monday.  Andrew is on a field trip to the Boston
theater district.  He was required to wear a tie, which I tied for
him.  Perhaps I'll teach him sometime.

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