Mon Jun  3 08:10 EDT 1996
Weekend Update June 1-2

Friday night's softball game was great!... for schmoozing.  A number of
spectators (mostly relatives of the players) showed and we had a good
time... excpet for the game.  It seems that the umpire was probably
trained as a referee because he made some very lousy calls for
slow-pitch softball.  And I'm not talking sour grapes, because the
opposing team agreed that the calls changed the outcome of the game
(a 5-4 loss for the home team).  But the team is playing better and
happier than it was last year and schmoozing only gets better from
this point on.

On Saturday, Joy took the kids down to Lowell for Caravan roundup
where 7 churches convened to compete in various events.  The two
teenagers headed for a fun-filled day at the teen fundraising car
wash.  Me?  I went yard saling!  Woohoo!

I got a set of Sears weights for free (but I don't know how they
work y; they didn't come with instructions).  I also found a place
that had Precious Moments figurines for $10.  I didn't know what I
should pick up so I went and got Joy and came back.  One of the
figurines she might have liked was gone but she did pick one up.
(We're not collectors for the collection or value - we collect
these figurines for specific family memories. I got two more
giant [Root] beer mugs and two coca cola glasses and some desk chimes,
a back massager, a card shuffler, a nylon duffle bag, a Christmas
music box, and a card game called "Grand Master."

  Seven years or so ago, we gave our refrigerator to some friends
  under the stipulation that when they had opportunity that they
  would give something away to someone else.  And oh, if they ever
  found the Grand Master game (which they taught us to play on their
  beat up cards), they should pick us up a set.  They agreed and I
  finally cashed their debt seven years later at 50 cents!  I loved
  making that phone call!  (Now they have to come and beat up our
  mint condition set!)

On Saturday night, I helped Don Jeffrey write a new resume.  Here's
a guy who works like a dog, is as faithful as a dog, and gets paid
like a dog.  I am hoping that a resume and some footwork on his
part will find him a job where he is appreciated a bit more than
he is.

On Sunday, we returned to the Lowell church.  We receieved a warm
welcome from many in the SMO crowd. (SMO = Sunday morning only.)
It's been two years for them.  We spent the afternoon at a cookout
and with some good fellowship.  In the evening I sang "The Lighthouse"
and the voice held out long enough through the last vestiges of
my cold.  (It's funny how the songs that I feel were "ok" seem to
be the songs that others feel were "really good" - and vice versa.
A friend of mine said that's the way to keep me humble.)  Sunday
evening saw more fellowship with ice cream back at the Metcalfe
abode.

Oh, and while I have your attention: during the summer we extend an
invitation to open our home every Sunday afternoon between church
services for what we call MPC (for Metcalfe Paty Central).  (Those
of you within driving range, listen up; those outside driving range,
I'm sorry, I wish I could set something up via email for you.)
MPC is a BYOM (bring your own meal) time where your family comes
and picnicks with whoever shows up.  We provide the pool, the pinball,
the lawn games, and grill/stove/microwave, even the silverware (as
long as you wash them afterward because I won't), and the fellowship.
In years past it has been fun to see a mix of families come and enjoy
some swimming and other things.  It has also been good to have only
one family show up for some more intimate times.  If you can come,
you're invited!

That wraps up another weekend.  Hope your's went well.  Now back to
transport path delays and pulse handling.

Mark
  .+*+                .....Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
 ***+*+.        __..'''    270 Billerica Road             A house is made
.*+*+**.   _____[]_        Chelmsford, MA 02184           with hands.
'**++**.  /___/\___\    ^  (508) 446-6451     ,
 '*I*'.::/___/__\___\  /*\                    \_0__,      A home is made
 ..I *..: |[] [] []| .:/*\                      M         with hearts.
 ######==################### ._/__=_.          .|\.
 -------------------------- 'O====O='   metcalfe@cadence.com