Subject: Weekend Update: October 1-3
Date:    Mon 10/4/99  9:34am

Finishing the many surfaces of the church roof has been a frustrating
task for our Pastor over the past several months.  He sent out a
postcard to some potential grunts such as myself to enlist as many as
he could to complete the job over the weekend.  My heart sank because
I had planned an apple picking excursion for Saturday.  However, I
resolved to give a few hours of my unskilled labor and headed over to
the church on Friday after work.  A few of us men completed part of
the task of removing the shingles from a large portion in the back.
With less than an hour of sunlight left, the reinforcements (Joy and
Andrew) arrived to help us tote the refuse to the humungous dumpter
that was slowing sinking into the pavement under the weight of 12 tons
of discarded shingles (Pastor's estimate).

Joy and I returned the following morning to lend our unskilled hands,
this time with a crew of nearly 20.  I got to drive the riding lawn
mower (wouldn't call it a tractor) and did so with elan. With a little
guidance from the foreman (yep, Pastor again), we were able to start
some rows of shingles.  Most of the job was done that day, but some
tasks remain for it to be completed before the nippy weather really
sets in.

Speaking of which, nippiness has been pretty much kept at bay here in
New England.  Usually, we'd have a few more of those chilly mornings;
perhaps even a windshield-scraping morning or two by now.  But the
days have been mild, which was perfect weather for our apple-picking
afternoon  I think that the mild weather delayed our annual apple
picking because we arrived to find most of the BIG apples already
picked over.  (However, the downside of big apples is that we would
fill our quota too quickly when just being in an orchard with people
you enjoy is part of the delight of the event.)

I took a big chance going to the orchard we did.  We heard about it on
a tip from a stranger at a yard sale last week.  We drove 20 minutes,
nearly losing one family in our caravan (who stopped for Mickie D's),
but we all found the place well enough.  The orchard is on
non-commercial property and the owners are in their latter years.
Full grocery bags of apples cost us $4 each on the honor system in a
little wooden box.  Wendy Gonzalez took pictures of our families
(Metcalfe, Gonzalez, Pape, Adams).  Joy said that she hoped the owners
will still be around the following year because we intend to return.

We went back to the Manor for a cookout and apple preparation.  The
weather continued to be so nice that Rich and I decided to run down to
the Pepperell Airport and watch the sky divers float in until dusk.

On Sunday, the Patriots won although they're not as good as their 4-0
record indicates.  I know some of you find it amusing that I actually
watch football (a sport) but I can assure you that I have not become a
foam-rubber number-one finger-hand waving face-and-body painting
football fanatic... like Don Silva.

Have a great week!

Mark
                         __________________________
Cadence Design Systems  /_________________________/\   Mark Metcalfe
270 Billerica Road MS04 |  \_______,_____________|__\  metcalfe@cadence.com
Chelmsford, MA 02184    |  /       \_O__,        |  /
(978) 446-6451          | /          M           | /   Score a goal in life.
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