Subject: Weekend Update: April 23-24
Date:    Mon 4/26/99  8:06am

I took my car back to the service station for its second emissions
test, after adding dry gas to the tank and running it on the highway
for over 20 minutes, and it failed again!  The next inspection would
cost me another $15 plus whatever repairs I needed.  I was told by my
mechanic that the O2 sensor was gone (diagnosis was fully half of the
$168 repair); which I had replaced not terribly long ago; in the last
couple of years or so.  I unhappily paid the bill and got my blue
sticker for the year.

Along the same lines of "thank you for not hurting me more than you
did", I took some trash to the transfer station where construction
material is taken for 6-cents per pound.  Now, there is nothing to
weigh the trash with - some yokel comes down and estimates how much
everything weighs.  I tossed in a window casing (and some other small
stuff) figuring it had to be about 60 pounds or so.  He thought it was
about 100 pounds (like I could heft that) and charged me $8.  I know
what you're thinking because my math come to $6 too, but I just smiled
one of those disingenuous smiles as I handed over my money and
consoled myself with the thought of having the eyesore out of my yard.

Our Spring cleaning is getting closer to Summer partying as Joy,
Andrew, and I spent another Saturday preparing the grounds.  Jessica
and Emily were helping out at our district camp, preparing their
grounds for the Summer season, too.  At the Manor, we took the cover
off the pool and dumped a gallon of algae killer to change the color
from lush green to cloudy bluish green.  We'll get the pump hooked up
this week and begin short intervals of filtering soon after the
initial cleanup.

The plum trees are loaded with blossoms and alive with activity.  They
almost scintillate with hundreds of little hungry bees shopping from
blossom to blossom.  Andrew walked within inches of the bees without
noticing. I didn't tell Andrew until after he'd finished his task that
he'd come so close to death by stinging, but I knew that the bees were
so intent on their feast, they didn't notice Andrew either.  Of
course, after he noticed the movement in the tree, he decided to be
elsewhere.  Last year, we had eleven days of rain at the worst
possible time for the plums but this year the pollination activity is
in overdrive so we are very hopeful.

I also did the manly job of bringing some power tools out of
hibernation, cleaning, sharpening, and revving up the chain saw and
lawn mower.  I've gone to the 4-step program for my lawn this year.
Last year, we had a local service come in to care for our lawn.  We
were unimpressed so we are trying to do it ourselves.  We can fail as
easily and more cheaply than they can.  So far so good, because I've
had to cut my dark green grass (and ignored my large brown spots for
now).  However, I think they should call the machine that cuts grass a
"lawn moaner" by the way I grunted and panted up and down the slopes.
Each year, I think of how nice a riding lawn mower would be, but then
Joy takes over the mowing and I think of how much money we've saved!

Perhaps I'll need to mow the lawn several times after Joy and I get
back from our second honeymoon, just to work off the 24-hour pizzeria
aboard the cruise ship Inspiration.  WOOHOO! With less than a week to
go, we're getting very excited and making our preparations.  I just
have to get a few things done here at work and endure a couple of
work-related parties and then we're off!  I hope you have a good week!

Mark

Mark Metcalfe            Phone: 978-446-6451         !!         O
270 Billerica Rd. MS04   Fax:   978-446-6351       \O/  O  O    #=\
Chelmsford, MA 01824                              __#___<__<____|_ \
metcalfe@cadence.com                          _  (   :   \  \ :   )(\
Cadence Design Systems, inc.               v//~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~