Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 16:33:23 -0500
Subject: Weekend Update: January 31-February 4, 2002

My corner of New England has a sheen of icy snow cover, and
an ice block in my driveway.  It is a handsome landscape where
man and beast have not despoiled it.  We got just enough of the
icing to give trees, bushes, and snowy yards a thin coating
that has lasted since Thursday. The roadways are clear but
the cars are now covered with salt or some other chemical
melting substance.

As I mentioned in my last update, Emily's 16th birthday
occurred this past Thursday.  The icing conditions kept us
close to home, ordering chinese food from less than a mile
away and spending an evening with Rich and Wendy (a mile and
a half away).  Emily was able to celebrate turning 16 for
longer than I can remember anyone else in our family
celebrating a birthday.  She had another birthday party
on Friday night with some local Pepperell friends and wants
to know when she can start driving.  Joy and I are arguing
about who takes Emily to get her permit.

On Saturday, Joy and I went to Sam's Club to buy supplies
for our fourth annual Superbowl party for college kids.  We
had a coupon for a day pass.  It rankles me to have to PAY
just to shop, but we expected approximately 40 ravenous
eating machines on Sunday night and HAD to buy in bulk.  Well,
Saturday before Superbowl Sunday was mobbed.  The hawkers
explained that if we joined "today" we'd go through a "special"
check out line, and by the looks of the wait, I was ready to
buy a membership to get through checkout quickly.

Miranda and Jessica hosted 35 of their friends while Joy
stocked the food table with lasagna, onion rings, cookies,
breads, veggies, chips n dip, soda, and little weiner dogs.

Meanwhile, Andrew elected to watch the Superbowl at the
church in the gymnasium on an even bigger screen.  Andrew
is one person I know (beside the Pats themselves) who never
once doubted that the Patriots and Tom Brady would take it
all the way and win the Championship.  Even I was skeptical
while hopeful against Oakland, Pittsburg, and St. Louis,
(now renamed  Choke-land, Pits-ville, and St. Losers).
I checked out a web site in St. Loser today and the sports
reporters are all making excuses and giving only begrudging
acknowledgement of the winners.  The "greatest show on turf"
was plowed under.  In New England, the sound of their whining
makes the victory all the more delicious.  (Good goin' Boy!
You've earned the right to crow!)

Mark

(hope this makes sense - hastily composed)
+---_-----------+ Mark Metcalfe, metcalfe@cadence.com
| c a d e n c e | Cadence Design Systems, Inc.    Phone: (978) 446-6451
+---------------+ Manager, PCB Enterprise Publications