Mon Jul  1 08:03 EDT 1996
Weekend Update: June 28-30

Friday night's softball game was another rout, but this time, the home
team pumped in the runs.  Funny how the other team seemed to enjoy
themselves anyway.  I prefer a close game, but I love it when the losing
team is still having a good time of it.

On Saturday, we arose at 6:30.  The weathermen all week were promising
a partly sunny with some clouds in the 80s kind of weekend, at least
on Saturday, so it was a great and disappointing shock to hear the
forecast at 6:30am to be overcast with threat of rain!  Talk about
sophisticate weather predicting computer systems!  Why do these guys
get paid?  Anyway, we had hoped that a two-hour drive north would
find us out of the Boston weather, so we continued with our plans to
go to the Basin; a place of beauty and fun in the moutains and waterfalls
of New Hampshire's White Moutains.  We arrived at 10am and the sky was
overcast but pleasant.  "We" included the Metcalfes and guest (7),
the Bickoms and guests (8), the Gonzalez' and guest (5), the
Chronopoulos' and guests (4), Tom Crittendon (1), the Benns (3-1/2),
and Brian Wallace (1) making almost 30 people if you count the baby
inside Heather Benn.  We crawled and hiked and even got in the frigid
water for four and a half hours before we decided that the light rain
was dampening our spirits.  (We actually left before it because wet
and had some touch-and-go sprinkles.)  Some of us were crazy enough to
get into the water which felt like it was about 55 degrees.
Randy Xayachack bounced around the rocks like a superball and I
was sure we'd have to carry him down the mountain with broken
bones.  It goes to show how old I've become telling kids to be
careful "you'll shoot your eye out."

As I said, we bagged the rest of the afternoon by 1:30 at the Basin and
invited everyone to come back to our place for some pool, spa, pinball,
bocce, super nintendo, fellowship, and fun.  (The Benn's left at lunch
time with a young'un who was getting tired.  Sorry they missed coming
back to our place.)  We located our two Super soaker water cannons and
Rich Gonzalez regressed 20 years  The cop in the bunch (Chris Chronopoulos)
had such a good time, he went out and bought a couple of his own
super soakers.  Rich vows to get one with a backpack style water
canister so he never runs out of water.

Sometime during the evening, my nephew Thomas showed up, and then
later my niece-in-law-to-be, Erin showed up.  Our last guests egressed
around 10:30 and we bid the visiting family a good night.

On Sunday, Tom wrestled with the church secretary over signing the
guest book.  I think he convinced her that since he has been there
before under the auspices of his family that he didn't need to sign
the book.  Erin was polite, at least, and will likely get a note
thanking her for worshipping with us.

Sunday afternoon, MPC (Metcalfe Party Central) was in full swing,
despite another overcast and cool day.  The Papes (pronounced poppy),
the Mc-nephew (he works for McDonalds) and his beau, the Bickoms
and the Gonzalez's and their guests had a good time.

Sunday night, we had a small but cozy crowd. Some of our people,
including Miranda and Jessica, were up at Camp Meeting where Ken
Stanford is preaching.  Joy and I sang "Take my life and let it
be consecrated."  After church we went to McDonalds with the Pastors
and discovered that my nephew's job in Vermont did not give us any
privileges at McDonalds in Massachusetts.  Harumph, I thought.

Upcoming event: Fourth of July Metcalfe picnic at my brother John's
home in Framingham.  I have good news or bad news, John, depending on your
perspective.  Mandy and Jessie will be at camp so there will only
be the four rest of us.  Initial weather report calls for possible
rain.  Now, John said that the event is open to other people not named
Metcalfe.  How many people on these distribution lists want to tell
John and Roni that they'll be there!?  B^)  Send email to
JDMETCALFE@aol.com. (Now go and revive Nurse-a-Roni, John!)

Joy is the same but (psychologically) set (for now) on doing her time
on the doctor's plan.

The house is up for sale by owner again. Our second realtor no longer
holds a contract with us.

See you on Thursday, Metcalfe folks!
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metcalfe@cadence.com    Cadence Design Systems, Inc.   Phone: (508) 446-6451