Mon Sep 9 08:25 EDT 1996 Weekend Update, September 6-8 School's in. We're all busy. Andrew lost his first tooth. ------ This year's transition into 11th, 9th, 5th, and 3rd grades is as smooth as any I can remember. The older ones grumble a bit; the young'uns are delighted. Mom takes it the hardest for most of it, but dad takes it on the chin when Miranda signs up for driver's education class. All I am thinking of is increase car insurance and crumpled fenders. Well, that and separation anxiety (already) for when she flies the coop for college. (A co-working colleague of mine offered that he had "separation anticipation" from his kids (younger than mine). It was meant to be funny, I suppose, but I find it tragic.) On Friday night, we went to the home of Eric and Renee Pape for "game night." Now, here's a young couple opening their home for whoever wants to enjoy themselves in the company of good friends. Eight of us played Pit after which we played four teams of Nerts. In Pit, you go hoarse. In Nerts, your blood pressure rises to dangerous levels. I wasn't overly concerned because I was sitting next to a recently-certified RN. Saturday proved to be the busier of the days starting out with the Choir Kickoff gathering at the church to hear of the year's Christmas musical. I have been asked to narrate and I have negotiated to minimize my memorization. The older one gets, the more difficult it becomes to retain the text. Following the rehearsal, several member of the choir followed the choir director to an Irish Pub called Maggie's for lunch. We did not have any alcoholic beverages, and did not do La Macarena, La Bamba, or the Conga. And if anyone tells you we did, don't listen to them. After lunch, we sped home to pick up the kids to speed back to Mark and Tricia Burgess' home for a picnic outing. (They are coming up on their first anniversary. I hear that you're a bride for a year; two if you've been really good.) We had a wonderful time pitching horse shoes, playing croquet, volleyball, pinball, and other things. Good food, good play, good people - what else could you ask for? I stumbled home around 9pm and felt like going to bed, but my wife insisted on losing a few more games of Dr. Mario before retiring. Sunday morning. Our Sunday School class got a new teacher for the quarter. Church was good. Chinese food for lunch with the Gonzalez family. (Rich fell asleep on our couch. Normally this is just fine with me; I want people to be comfortable. However, Miranda and Yolanda thought it would be good to put a nice shade of pink nail polish on one of Rich's fingernails. I was going to not mention it to Rich (he hadn't noticed), as we were leaving for church, but the girl's wanted to witness his reaction. Why did they have to paint the middle finger?! Oh yes, Sunday evening, Linda Magnuson pulled Andrew's first tooth which was dangling in his mouth. "Auntie Linda" has pulled so many teeth from kids' heads in the church that she may rightly be called the real tooth fairy. It's about time. My son is 8-years old. By the way, when I get together with some of you and have nothing to say, it is because you're on my weekend update list! :-) Mark P.S. If you want to read about David Shaw's work and witness adventures to Peru, and how baked grubs have crunchy heads and chewy bodies, send email to PastorDMS@aol.com and see if he'll send you his trip report. I'm not the only one who sends out updates, you know. And I'm glad to receive them! (He actually ate one! Yuk! or is that Yukka, Dave?) Cadence Design Systems, Inc. ^`. o Sometimes you eat; 270 Billerica ^_ Road MS04 \ \ o o sometimes you get Chelmsford, MA \ \ { \ o eaten. 02184 { \ / `~~~--__ { \___----~~' `~~-_ ______ ____ , \ /// ` `~._(_||___)________/___ \_0__, / /~~~~-, ,__. , /// __,,,,) o ______/ \ M \/ \/ `~~~; ,---~~-_`~= \ \------o-' .|\. / / / / Mark Metcalfe '._.' _/_/ Tel: (508) 446-6451 ';|\ Fax: (508) 446-6351