Mon May 13 08:12 EDT 1996
Weekend Update, May 9-12

I'm starting this update in our live on Thursday.  I stumbled into
the house Thursday evening aching from a tough day at work.  My family
had no sympathy for me because they knew what went on at work on
Thursday.  My company was celebrating yet another good quarter
by spnsonring a picnic with team games.  This wasn't push the peanut
with the nose but rather a TV Gladiators type of carnival.  Each
team had a different color Tee-shirt and we rotated among the events
competing against the other teams.  They had human foosball, Velcro
Obstacle course, Human Slingshot, Gladiator Joust, and Motorized
Barrel Racing.  I won every man-to-man event (despite never have
the "juice" for athletics, Steve).  My team, however, fared poorly
in the standings but were mightily heartened and in good spirits
nonetheless.

Last week, Joy and I started to practice a little of what we preach and
invited ourselves over to some people's houses.  They seemed to take it
quite well.

Friday night, we attended the church softball game.  The opposing team
took an early lead and it didn't look good for our team.  One young fan
eagerly proclaimed victory with several choice taunts.  However, our
team clawed their way back a few runs at a time and then holding the
other team at bay - through a couple of squeakers, too, leaving three
men stranded on base!  We had two last innings, too - because we
thought the penultimate inning was the ultimate (last) inning but
they had to go through one more nail-biter.  The home team prevailed
and we had a great time.

On Saturday, Joy and the girls participated in a Mother-Daughter
event at the church, leaving Father and Son with time to shop.
JNoy's not my mother, but May 12 also happened to be our 17th
wedding anniversary and I thought it would be nice to commemorate
it with a gift.  I looked at a Kichen-Aid and thought that blenders
and anniversaries don't mix.  I looked at patio furniture, but I
tabled that idea withouth the Missus' selection of the right set.
I looked at Tennis bracelets... briefly.  The one I liked was $1739.00
Note the decimal point.  I could have gotten a lees expensive one
for about $200 after the 30% discount.  I wound up getting her a
card at Building 19 (an after-market/fire sale item discounter).
(I also bought my Mother's Day card there too!)  The message inside
the card was perfect for my wife so I bought it.  Nevermind that
the bottom of the card read "Happy Birthday."  I wrote above
Birthday the word Anniversary and put a P.S. at the bottom for her
to use this same card in 6 months (November 12 is her birthday).
Oh yeah, the Mother0-daughter event:  I wasn't there so I can only
recount this second-hand.  Several mothers and daughters were recruited
for a dramtic dialogue, which was done according to the stages in
a woman's life.  Miranda (16) was in a wedding dress (not her mother's)
and strolled down the aisle as Joy was to say some lines about
preparing her for this time in her life.  I'm GLAD I wasn't there
because I'm not sure how I would have handled it all.  I'm told a
photo is on the way.  Oi!

On Sunday, after church, we headed to Quincy to spend the afternoon with
Mom.  "M is for the many things she gave me..."  Mom got her 50-cent
card with a million dollars worth of feelings behind it, and some flowers,
too.  We had a lovely afternoon and can't wait to get together again.
We apologize to Poppy for forgetting the Tetris game so that he could
compete against his grandchildren.

That's it for now.  My muscles are just about back to normal after
that difficult day last Thursday.

Mark
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