Mon Aug 11 07:42 EDT 1997
Weekend Update: August 8-11

Some of you know that there is a telephone pole next to the
entrance of my driveway, but none of you know it as intimately
as our good friend Judy Mattoon, who visited us last Friday.
It seems she overshot the driveway (it being her first time
to the Manor) so she decided to back into the driveway,
misjudging the entrance.  I await to hear the prognosis on
the left rear bumper.  Making matters worse, some irresistable
force made her stick her finger on her hot muffler when she
went to check her bumper.  OuCh!  Her first impression of the
Manor was discolored by pain and suffering.  We usually like to
save that for later impressions.  Just like Judy to cut to the chase.

We headed out Friday evening for our annual trek to "Parker Farms
Resort and Labor Camp."  (It's my wife's sister's place - not a commercial
resort.  I confused some of you last year.)  For the past several years,
the young and flabby have been playing the old and creaky in an annual
grudge match of badminton.  This year, the Metcalfes remain undisputed
champions, having had to call the match this year because of the summer
heat.  Instead, we pitched horseshoes - a new event recently added to
the Parker-Metcalfe Olympics.  I handily won the first couple of
games, then they fed me.  Try as I might, thereafterward, I could not
get closer to the peg than John who even snookered a double ringer at one
point.  What doppleganger replaced him from games 1 & 2 to games 3 through
6? In a game of closeness, I'd be close enough to score points only to have
them erased by sneaky pointers buried underneath the dirt.

Anyone having a slow summer?  Not us.  We're late with a lot of things
including my birthday card to Joy's sister Faith.  She and I have been
hammering each other in the mail come birthday time for a few years.
SHE STARTED IT!  I know I shouldn't have been late this year because
at her age, she doesn't buy green bananas.  Nevertheless, I was able to
get it out.  The card?  A referral to Sunny Acres Retirement and
Rehabilitation Home.  B^)  Sometimes Hallmark just doesn't say it
like I want to.  B^)

The roofers are on the job this week.  I'm also going to be building a
slate flooring in the barn on which to set a wood stove.  Oh, and the
blueberries are still being picked, as well as blackberries, and our first
plums last night (which Joy said was the sweetest she'd ever tasted!).
Peaches are next, so if you like them "off the tree" (or bush), come
spend a summer afternoon at the Manor.

Mark
                                  @       Mark Metcalfe, Sr. Writer
               (__)    (__) _____/         Cadence Design Systems, Inc.
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