Subject: Weekend Update: November 19-December 1, 2002
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 08:46:44 -0500

My father-in-law came to visit on Tuesday (11/19).  Friday was his
73rd birthday although he likes to tell people that he is 40 for the
33rd time.  He has particularly enjoyed barbecued ribs at On the Border, so we took him there.  They really have a good T-bone there which I always get and have never been disappointed.  Joy got a salad the size of a basketball.  We walked off much of our dinner at Jordan's furniture store.  They give out free ice cream and cookies, and that was enough for dessert.  At home,  Pop C got his cake and ate it too.

The next day, we invited some local friends over for breakfast on
Saturday morning. The Bickmores are the pastor and wife of the
Pepperell Christian Fellowship.  Emily has made friends with the
teens in their youth group who attend the same school she does
and one of the five Bickmore kids is one of those kids.  We had
wanted to become acquainted before then, but schedules and
circumstances never synchronized.  Pop C really enjoyed their
fellowship.

On Saturday evening, our church held its third annual auction to
benefit our youth group.  David Scalera requested that I reprise
my role as auctioneer and I assented. We started out early with a
spaghetti dinner and an opportunity to view the items up for bid.
The church raised a good amount (their best fund raiser each year,
I believe) and I think we could do even better next year.  After
the auction, Miranda invited her friends back to the house for a
movie. The old folks (that's Joy, Pop, and me) went to bed, even
as the popcorn and vittles came out.  Staying up late isn't my
gig anymore.

We headed back to our church on Sunday morning after being in Nashua
with my Dad for the previous three weeks.  SMOs(*) wondered what
happened to us.  Sunday night, the Hamlins joined us after church
for soup and sandwiches.

I was on vacation all last week.  I was planning on taking the week
off anyway, but Cadence decided that all of its American employees
should have the week off... to reduce their vacation liability
balance.  I spent the week lazing about punctuated by the odd chore.
Monday, we put new tires on the van.  Tuesday, we hung the outside
Christmas lights. Wednesday, Joy and the girls prepared food for
Thanksgiving.  Thursday, we fought traffic all the way down Rte. 128
to Thanksgiving dinner at Steve's place. Friday, the Christmas
decorations came up from the basement and littered the house for several days.

In the evenings: Joy and I went out to dinner with Tom and Vicky
Clark on Monday.  Tuesday, Jan and Meredith were over for a game of
Toonerville Rook (Meredith won!). Miranda had friends over on Wednesday
and Thursday nights.

One of the best times we had last week was at David's Bridal Shop
on Wednesday.  All of us went except Andrew.  They had these nice
leather couches for Pop C and me to park on while the women selected
a half dozen wedding gowns to try on.  I snapped digital photos of
each dress for Jessica to review at home.  She made only one decision:
the color of her wedding dress: white.  The pictures will have
to remain secret from David, her beau. It was a lot of fun to
watch Joy and the girls but we were hungry when we were all done.
I took everyone to lunch when they were done.

The Magnusons came over for Sunday dinner and to look at a house
in Pepperell.  By Sunday, most of the decorations were up.  Joy
did about 80% of the main house decorating, but each of the kids
were responsible for their rooms.  Our annual all-friends Christmas
party is slated for Saturday evening, December 21 (longest evening
of the year), starting at 6:30. If you're going to be near Pepperell
then, you are invited.  (Young Adult party 12/20; Teen party 12/27.)

Mark

(*) SMOs means Sunday Morning Onlies