Mon Mar 24 08:28 EST 1997
March 21-23

We've had special services this week at our church.  On Thursday night,
one of our people (Phonexay Xayachack) left church and hit a telephone
pole after slipping on black ice.  He tore four muscles off the bone
where the neck meets the back between the shoulder blades.  Ouch!  But
thankfully, he didn't suffer any broken bones or worse.

On Friday, the evangelist came over for dinner (to be served at 5pm).
Brian Wallace, a single guy enjoying his vacation, was invited to
enjoy Joy's home cooked lasagna.  I called his place at 4:30 and left
a message.  He called at 4:45 telling me that he was on the way and hold
dinner for 10 minutes. I think, yeah right; you won't make it here in
25 minutes! But I ask the evangelist if he can stall dinner for 10 minutes.
He reluctantly agreed but dinner must have smelled too good.  At 5:07,
the evangelist suggested we begin and let Brina catch up on the left
overs.  (We had plenty for Brian.)

My most manly event of the weekend involved using my chainsaw to cut down
a fir tree that was too close to the house.  The chainsaw made quick work
of the tree which we dragged to the back to be someday burned.

We also had the pleasure of having Tom and Erin (nephew-in-law and bride)
over for Saturday and Sunday.  Tom had had his four wisdom teeth pulled
on Friday and looked a bit like a chipmunk.  Poor guy had to eat gruel
while the rest of us had steak.  But Erin doted over him and I think he
was milking it, too.  What red-blooded male wouldn't?  (I think I'll
stuff cotton balls in my cheeks to see if Joy will dote [even more]
over me!)

We've invited the former owners of our house over for dessert next Friday
(Good Friday).  They may be Unitarians.  If so we wouldn't want to get them
mad or they might burn a question mark on our front lawn.  Anyway, we don't
want hard feelings and are extending the hand of friendship.

The house is as neat as it will ever be, I suspect.  We are making preliminary
plans to have an Open House Celebration on April 19 (somebody's birthday
on this list!).  I just have to settle on the goodies to make or obtain
and then work up some invitations.  (Watch this space.)

Have a great week.  This time next week, I'll be sipping Coke again.

Mark
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