Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2001 14:54:11 -0500
Subject: Weekend Update: November 2-4, 2001

On Friday evening, we finally got a change to take in a local High School
football game so that we could watch Emily march in the band.  She looks
so cute in her blue uniform.  The game itself was very lopsided because
it seemed that our team's only experience with tackling involved
cow-tipping, and there is a big different between a fast-moving teenager
and a cow.

I sat in the stands leaning back on Joy who kept my ears warm by resting
her elbows on my shoulders.  Emily got a break after halftime and joined
us.  I offered her some of Andrew's soda but she declined saying that the
boosters give the band members a free soda at the games.  A woman near us
overheard this and exclaimed that she had been giving her son money each
game for drinks.  I pointed at her and laughed.

Saturday started out wet so I was unable to finish up the leaves around
the yard. That's okay because I still have a couple of small trees that
have yet to yield up their bounty.  Joy practiced the kid's Christmas
musical with the children during the morning.  While she was away, I
talked Andrew into helping me demolish the wooden swing and play sets
back near the basketball court. (If they were in good condition, I'd
have kept them for visiting children but I have had a growing concern
that they were just becoming more of an attractive lawsuit hazard.) We
started with hammers and rachets but soon learned that a circular saw
was much more effective.  By the time Joy returned, we were done and had
a short time to relax before people arrived for a worship team meeting
that would go well into the evening.

On Sunday, Miranda, Emily, and Andrew headed north to Vermont with
the teen group to deliver an electrical generator to a family in need. 
Joy stayed home in bed with a nasty cold while I headed south to
Manchester, Connecticutt. Ken Stanford is being warmly welcomed in
his new church; he was off on a men's retreat, enabling my dad to
supply the pulpit for the morning. (When I can, I like to hear my
dad preach.) I had the added privilege of singing again in Manchester
with the added bonus of being accompanied on the piano by my mother. 
Afterward, I had a nice lunch with Mom and Dad made nicer because they
treated!

Back at the homestead, Joy was feeling a little better with the help
of over-the-counter cold remedies.  She pumped herself up enough to
hold yet another rehearsal during the Sunday evening service. Another
weekend done.  Today, I reported to a new boss; reorganizations are a
part of corporate life.  I anticipate good things with this new boss.

Mark
  Pictures sent separately to the Pictures distribution list.
  (1) Emily in Band Uniform
  (2) Dad in the Manchester CT pulpit

P.S. For those of you in the Lowell Church: This Saturday (11/10) will
mark the 10th anniversary of Jack Cove's passing.  You may want to get
a "thinking of you" card out to Irene Cove, if you're so inclined.
-- 
+---_-----------+ 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