Subject: Weekend Update: Jan 29-31
Date:    Mon 2/1/99 10:25am

We started the weekend out with Andrew visiting a friend, Emily
babysitting, and Jessica off to a winter retreat... no kids!  So Joy
and I headed for the local mall's Food Court for a romantic dinner for
two.  What can I say?  I'm a cheap date.  

Miranda has just completed her "J-term" (January course) and has a
week of R&R back home before starting the next semester.  We traveled
to Quincy on Saturday, spent a little time working on my Dad's
computer, then headed home to prepare for a party on Sunday.  

Sunday was Emily's 13th birthday.  With three girls in the teens, that
leaves Andrew as the only (chronological) child in the family.  

We hired twenty of Miranda's college friends to attend Emily's party,
although Mandy told them the party was for the Superbowl.  (With
apologies to my Georgian friends, I rooted for the winning team.  It
wasn't as much of a football game as I had hoped.)  I've rediscovered
that college students eat much and rapidly and that tidiness is not
their first virtue.  However, we had lots of fun and it was good to
have them over.

(Mr. and Mrs. Dunlop were to pick up their daughter and were given
directions by one of the aforementioned college students who sent them
east on Route 113 instead of west.  We got a call from Methuen (far
away) where I was able to correct the college student's certain but
errant information.  They arrived at quarter to 11 and in no mood to
come in for a chat and a bite to eat.  File it under "maybe next
time.")

Lastly, I recognize that old-fogeyism is setting in me, especially
after I excused myself and Joy to go upstairs to bed, leaving Miranda
to finish the party with her friends.  Now, I'm in "class" all week,
hence the late delivery of this week's open journal.

Have a good week!

Mark