Subject: Weekend Update: September 25-27
Date:    Mon 9/28/98  8:37am

The pool is closed.  The annual ritual was completed with a few
foibles.  It seems that I have to bring out every tool...separately.
(Ever reach into your tool box for a flat screw driver and pull out
three philips heads? Unless you're looking for a philips head!)

I borrowed an air compressor to blow out the lines.  I had a great
idea and cut a four inch secion off one of those foam pool noodles
because it had a center hole in it.  I inserted the compressor tube
into the hole, and inserted the carved foam into the outlet pipe for
an air-tight fit.  I got three of the four outlets plugged when the
foam-wrapped hose popped out of the pipe, which let water back into
the system.

Start over.  This time, Joy holds the hose in place while number 4
gets plugged.  Or so it would seem.  After refitting the hose to the
pipe, I am ready for the bubbles to start coming out of the outlets
again.  Soon, Joy informs me that the pressure is reaching 100 psi and
no bubbles are coming out of the outlet. "Turn it off!"  In my haste
to put the hose into the pipe, I accidentally detached the fitting to
the air hose, which was now sitting at the bottom of a 4-foot pipe,
3-feet under ground!  I want to go ballistic because I have this
copper fitting (which I need to blow air through the pipes) in my pool
piping system and we still haven't blown out the pipes!

Joy had a cooler head, though, and suggested that we flush it out with
a water hose.  Other than digging a trench, it was our only option.  I
first let the water back into the pipes because we wanted the fitting
to come straight out at the nearest outlet (and not have to travel to
the other end of the pool).  Next, I fitted the hose with my home-made
foam washer and Joy let the water flow.  The pressure wasn't good
enough, so I placed my hand over the outlet until pressure built up
and then I let it go.  After several of these attempts, out popped the
fitting and we resumed our task.

After reblowing out the pipes, and pouring in antifreeze, we
encountered small bubbles coming from two of the outlets even after I
screwed on the plugs tighter than I should have dared.  Fortunately,
we had extra plugs and switched them quickly, losing a little
antifreeze into the pool.  Closer examination showed that our rubber
ring gaskets were old and cracked.  (So if you're late in closing your
pool, check your rubber rings!)

On Saturday, Joy took a bunch of crafts to the town yard sale (to
benefit something or other).  While she did sell two of her lovely
hydrangia wreaths, she learned the lesson that a target market is
important no matter how good your product is.  People were there for
50-cent bargains.  The November Craft Show in Pepperell will be a
better effort.  Still, the day was warm and sunny and it's not a bad
thing to sit around and do nothing for half a day. The other half of
the day, Joy made grape jelly from our concord grapes.  OOoo! Yum!

Called Mandy last night.  I expected to leave her a "daddy loves you
and misses you" message on her machine but she was surprisingly in her
room.  It was "Open House" and the guys were coming over to the girls'
dorm to check out the - um - rooms.  I told her I was making home
fries with our after church repast and I got the reaction I was
looking for.  We'll see her in a couple of weeks when we make our
annual trek to Casco, Maine at the generous behest of Don and Elva
Reed.  Can't wait!!!

I hope your Fall preparations are going well.  Eighty-eight days
left until Christmas.  B^)

Mark
Mark Metcalfe, Cadence Design Systems, Inc.                \
270 Billerica Road, MS04                                    \  O,
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, 01824                     (_______\/ )_______/
Phone: (978) 446-6451 Fax: (978) 446-6351          -----------\--------------