Last week, some of you expressed concern over the status of my
laundry, but I assure you that Joy has recovered significantly from
her cold and made clean piles from the dirty mounds once again.  A
husky voice remains as a reminder of a miserable week.  (My brother,
Steve, once taught me how to properly iron a shirt when my wife was
not available to help me out.  I've since forgotten how but I know who
to see if I am ever in a jam again.)

The New Englanders on this list know that we tried to make up for a
summer's drought in one day, adding six inches of rain to the tally
sheet.  I listened carefully to the forecasts which assured me that
all the moister-laden clouds would roll out before Saturday kicked in.
I left the tarp over the barbecue grills just in case I had a repeat
of several other rainy cookouts.  To our delight, Saturday awoke
bright and sunny and the choir picnic planned for that day was going
to be about as perfect as one could hope.  The rain delayed our final
preparations, so we spent the morning getting ready for the three
dozen sopranos, altos, tenors, and basses.

After devouring the teryaki chicken and chinese pork (and other
mouth-watering repasts), we gave the horseshoe pits and basketball
courts a good workout.  Oscar Alley pitched one shoe into the pool
area - fortunately no one was in there at the time!  Coleen Lane's
horseshoe was grabbed by a maple tree branch, which may have protected
some hapless bystanders playing near the swing sets.  No one was
injured, except for the aching muscles of those who spent the
afternoon (4 hours!) playing Knock-Out with others on the basketball
court.  Four hours!

At dusk, the Hamlins helped us harvest most of our seedless Concord
grapes.  They must have read the Scripture that says, "do not muzzle a
threshing ox" because they sampled the fruits of their labors.  Joy
will be stomping out the grapes today for jelly preparation, and "no,
it's all MINE!"  :-9

I'd mention the Patriots-Jets game on Sunday, but I have a friend who
is too sensitive about such things.  (Especially when the Red Sox beat
the Yankees on the same day.)

My dad preaches in Lowell this coming Sunday while Pastor and his wife
head off for some belated anniversary celebration (delayed by their
daughter's wedding).  Treats for everyone!  Have a great week!

Mark
  _________________________________________________  _________________________
 /                                          _      ||                         \
|   .o__|       |__o.             __|     o/ o_|   || Mark Metcalfe           |
| o/  vv`\     /'vv  \o        o  vv`\   / \ vv`\  || Cadence Design Systems  |
|  \      |   |      /      o/        |    |\    | || 270 Billerica Road, MS04|
|  |\     |   |     /|      |         |   / /    | || Chelmsford, MA 01824    |
| / /     |   |     \ \    /\         |          | || (978) 446-6451          |
|         |   |           / /         |          | || metcalfe@cadence.com    |
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