Mon Mar 31 07:42 EST 1997
Weekend Update: March 28-30, 1997

For those of you on my lists outside our area, today and tomorrow are
stark contrasts to the gorgeous Easter Sunday weather we've had.  Where
I am, we're getting a steady rain which is supposed to change over to
snow... up to a foot of it in Boston and MORE where I live.  I'll be taking
work home tonight.

The week's update actually began on Thursday with a trip the
Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles.  I had Joy and Miranda
drive down to Lowell so that we could do it all at once.  We were
turned away because we didn't have proof of MA residency; like someone
from New Hampshire would WANT higher insurance premiums and stand in
bureaucratically long lines.  We left the RMV servicing 601 out of 675
and decided to go to Leominster the next day; a more rural RMV outpost.
By the way, proof of residency is a bill from the electric company (duh!).

On Friday, we steeled ourselves for the RMV once again (not too well
on my part, I am afraid).  The Leominster RMV was better than at Lowell
but not much.  We waited in line to renew our licenses (taking a number).
Miranda, not yet 17, couldn't get her valid NH license transferred.
We have to wait a week for her and send some paperwork to Boston.
After we paid double the renewal costs (for each of us) because we'd
been out of the state for more than five years, we had to take ANOTHER
number to wait in line for plate registration.  They were going to give me
TWO numbers for me to register both of my cars!

Leaving that behind, on Friday night we had the Bagby's over for dessert.
The Bagby's are the former owners of our house.  They live in Pepperell
on the west side.  I mentioned this to some of my colleagues at work and
my boss was particularly piqued because he thought these people were our
mortal enemies after all that happened with the sale of the house.  But
the business side of people and the personal side of people are sometimes
different enough to be deceiving.  Plus we wanted to extend the hand of
friendship .  They stayed until after 11pm chatting and discovering that
we had much in common (hopefully not in the business sense!).  They told
us more about the property.  It seems we also have a sweet cheery tree
and (when it grows up) a walnut tree, too.  They felt strange at first,
coming into their house with our furniture, but it was good for them.
Especially the children, who previously thought of us as "those people
who stole our house".  They have three kids, two of which are Emily and
Andrew's age (and gender). The fact that they lingered as long as they
did told us that it was a successful reconciliation.

Saturday morning we arose and headed back to Haverhill to try and put
the finishing touches on a kitchen before Rich and Wendy's baby arrives.
They've been cooking on a grill, an electric wok, and a toaster over for
almost two years now.  The kitchen is almost ready for its paint and
then cabinetry, and then appliances.

Easter morning we arose early.  The children hunted for chocolate eggs in
the barn.  Then it was off to church for an early morning service, a
delicious breakfast, and Easter service.   The Gonzalez' and Bickoms
came over for a big ham dinner. The afternoon was glorious,
and we walked around the yard without our coats looking at all the
plants that are readying themselves to burst open!  We can hardly wait.

My brother Steve drove up from Quincy to visit.  I passed him on the street
on my way to church but left the door open for him.  When we returned, he
had some Chinese food waiting for us.  We had a good time before he and his
troops set off for home and hearth.

Afterward, I sat down to finally trannsfer the moving video tape to VHS
format.  Oy, what a day that was!

We're glad to be feeling settled and itching to get outdoors and
do some raking, but shovelling is in our immediate future I think.
We're planning a big open house celebration on April 19.  You're
all invited.  A more formal (email) invitation will be forthcoming
sometime soon.  We hope you will come and celebrate what the Lord has
done for us.

Mark
Mark Metcalfe, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.     _      metcalfe@cadence.com
                 ___                           (_)           (508) 446-6451
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