Subject: Weekend Update: Labor Day Weekend 1998
Date:    Tue 9/8/98 10:27am


On Friday evening, Jessica and I dined at the sumptious Food Court of
Nashua.  After dinner and some price shopping, Jessica took her first
spin behind the wheel in an empty parking lot around a church in
Dunstable.  Yes, Jessica is learning to drive and so far we both have
been learning from our past experiences with watching Miranda learn.
I'm a little more at ease and Jessica is perhaps overly cautious.  I
am sorry that Mandy and I gave each other conniptions and I hope
she'll forgive me.

Saturday evening, we sponsored an improptu Toonerville Rook Tournament
at the behest of visitors from Arizona (actually returning friends).
Joy took the crown in a close contest for some.  I played for the
fellowship from the start, being set heavily in the first round.

We picked the last of the blueberries, believe it or not, and things
are gearing up for the winter already.  We're pricing wood for winter
barn heating. We've begun to list the projects that need to be cared
for before too many leaves turn and fall.  The pool won't be closed
until 9/21, stretching that luxury as far as we dare.  We cut down the
apricot trees (they bore no fruit and all of our cursing did not
shrivvel them up).  In their place we planted another apple tree.

We puttered around for the rest of the long weekend.  Puttering can be
rather enjoyable, especially when what one does for a living is sit at
a work surface at a workstation to read and type all day long.

Now begins the frantic sprint to Christmas through some quick season
changes here in New England.  Brace and pace yourselves to do the
important things first.

Mark
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                                  @       Mark Metcalfe, Sr. Writer
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