Year in Review...

Ahhh....Christmas! That time of year to reflect on the essential and eschew the irrelevant.  That exercise was made much easier this year with a 10 day off-continent to Centro America returning Christmas Eve.  What's essential? Family, friends and a grateful heart for the goodness of this last year.  

I'm still living in Orem.  The house was on the market for 6 months (six months of a made bed and no dirty cloths on the floor!) but while the neighbor's home which was smaller sold at asking price for more than I started at (and I dropped the price three times), it didn't sell so I'm settling in for another spell with a couple of 20-something roommates.  I work with one of them and they're both very tech savvy and up on the latest technologies.  I think our TV has eight devices connected to it! Great guys.  Between them and being in a bishopric at BYU as a ward clerk, I'm around a younger group most of the time--can you say, "Arrested Development?" 

Work has been and continues to be exciting.  I'm still doing Product Management (software requirement specifications, project management and product marketing) for a high tech firm called HireVue.  We facilitate video interviews for job applicants.  Our 27 year-old CEO--after 7 years leading the company--turned the reins over to a tech exec veteran a couple of months ago and with the addition of some industry power players, things are really moving.  I'm hoping I can survive the ride--lots and lots of work to do and I'm feeling that 2012 is going to be eventful.  I just saw one of our presentations that indicates there are 60 million job hires per year in the US with approximately 600 million interviews--company goal is to be in on a lot of those!  

Family is expanding and doing well! My siblings, parents and nieces and nephews are doing well and always a treat to connect up some or many but not often all of them at one time anymore.  Three weddings this year and each were special events.  Frank & Melissa announced that grandchild #50 is going to be born in just a few months so Sophie is looking forward to a sister.  Missionary nephews out in Florida, Spain and Mexico at the moment.  The nieces and nephews are growing up and great to see them becoming good people.  Being in Utah Valley, the house is sort of a hub and glad to have them drop by or stay for a few days between residences. 

I continue to enjoy my retreats to Idaho where I now have a tractor (Kubota with bucket, scraper and backhoe!) and have continued to improve the little farm I bought last year.  I'm currently writing from the living room with a picture window view of the snow covered valley and my feet propped up near the fireplace. Great to spend more time near my parents and those siblings living in the area.  

Not a lot of travel this year but did spend a week in Ukraine in the old city of Lviv where our software development team is located.  They treated us royally and we were there at a very nice time of year.  The trip to Costa Rica was with my good friends the Hulme family where we zip-lined, soaked in volcano hot springs, saw a lot of the country and then chilled on a wonderful beach for a few days--see the attached shots--some of them were taken by pro photographer Alan Bailey who we connected up with and stayed a few days at his place in Esterillos. 

So great to hear from many of you at this time of year.  Feel so blessed to have support of family and a network of wonderful and dear friends.  All the best through the next 12 months!

Love,

Peter 

Update....

WOW! An entire month without an entry! Not for lack of things going on.  I'll try to be brief.

Between the CA wedding and the ID reception, a weekend in Idaho.  So wonderful to spend time there with Grandpa & Grandma.  I finished my bathroom painting and we cleaned Mom's carpets. We got a copy stand set up (table with lights) so that we can photograph all the old family documents and journals. Paula & Jessica came while there and we all did a road trip to Last Chance Dam and the Black Canyon.

Awesome time at the Webbs for Hayden and Madeline's reception--wonderful hosts! Soups and breads and so glad I was able to bring home a container of each type of soup and several loaves of bread--cut in perfect slices by the automatic bread slicer.  See Paula's entry from a couple of days ago for more detail on the Webbs. 

Carnage and destruction in Fruit Heights!!! Horrific winds and big trees came down in Dan's cul de sac.  They were without power for several days. Most of the damage was on Wednesday but when we drove through there on Saturday, it still looked like a war zone with fences down and cut trees all out to the curb.  Kent came with help and Dan spent hours and hours helping neighbors.  

News of the family....Paula's filled you in on them.  Steve and Shannon had a good break in Hawaii with their friends the Bodily's. I met Spencer at the hospital to visit my friend's son and Spencer is his home teacher.  Great to spend a little time with Spence and his roommate eating tacos and also exercising our Priesthood.  Wyatt was in the BYU choir concert which Ben & Janet said was just incredible.  The rest...I haven't talked to, or did and can't remember! Everyone needs help from on high so your prayers are appreciated for Erica and those that are trying to make marriage and career decisions as well as those on missions. 

Four weeks now of a new CEO.  He's a good guy and helping to raise awareness and money for the company.  We spent two days in an offsite this week which were productive.  He's a major social networker and is posting frequently on Linked-In and Facebook.  There's a shot of the leadership team attached.  

I'm leaving Tuesday for ten days in Costa Rica with the Hulmes which I'm looking forward to.  It's not a really good time for work but it never is so I'm not going to stress about it.  I'll update you with a few posts from there.

Good luck to all of you as you go through the frenetic, commercial, consumer-driven 12 days to Christmas! As Frank fondly quotes from some ad, "Sounds hard...I'm going to Barbados!!!"

PS...don't know how many of you have seen this photo of Grandpa & Grandma that I caught last summer in the evening sun.  I have it as part of my background set and it makes me happy every time I see it.

Evening Moos

Good Evening from Webb Basin Dairy here in Raft River, Idaho.  The current temperature is 21 degrees above zero.  Our home is pleasantly littered with the remnants of Hayden and Madeleine's wedding reception; 4 lit up Christmas trees grace the corners of various  rooms and the mantle of the fireplace is covered with greenery, candles and red berries.  We were surprised and awed at how wonderful the evening went.  Especially were we grateful for Peter, Amy, Ben and Janet and family, Don and Greshen and family and Kent and family who traveled here to enjoy the evening with us.  We missed all of you who couldn't make it and wanted to come. Our love goes out to all of you. 

Highlights in our lives here at Raft River are:

1. Foremost, Jessica will be meeting Clayton at the El Paso Texas airport Friday Dec. 9th (tomorrow) at 4:45 pm.  His tour of duty in Iraq completed for now. Pres.Obama made a power decision to send all troops home before the end of the year thus cutting Clayton's time there short.  Jessica noted yesterday that her calendar indicated he originally had over 200 days left.   We consider it a miracle he will be home for Christmas.

2.  The wedding and subsequent reception of Hayden and Madeleine in Los Angeles have been a grand adventure for us.  An especial highlight at the wedding was Aunt Eloise gracing us with her presence. She looked beautiful and brought a sense of calm to us as she sat in for the Grandmother on Hayden's side. She knows her way around the Los Angeles Temple very well and helped us out. Virginia and I, Kayla and Paisley were also privileged to attend the bridal shower of Mike Shuffert's fiancee, Linden.  She's a beautiful young woman and it was fun to see Shannon and Caroline as well as all Aunt Eloise's friends we've heard about through the years.  
Getting back to reality, Hayden and Madeleine moved into their new little apartment in Rexburg this Monday.  Gordon, Boston and I helped move them in and they treated us to their first supper of homemade pizza by Hayden.  We've had a wonderful time meeting Madeleine's family and showing them around the farm.

3. Larsen is doing well in Oaxaca, Mexico.  Already, 1/8 of his mission has  passed.  He takes showers with a bucket and dipper as well as washes his clothes by hand.  He maybe able to Skype for Christmas.  Yahooo!!!

4.  I am the proud owner of my very first laptop. I am writing this letter on Peter's laptop he sold to me (a MacBook Pro).  How lucky can I get? So now I'm just like all you people who sit around and stare at their computer where ever they are.  How do you people do this...sit and write with it on your lap?  My head and shoulders feel all cramped over. 

5.  Jason Lugo, owner and publisher of Southern Idaho Living  magazine called and asked me to edit the magazine.  I consider it a privilege as I think it's such a good, wholesome magazine.  I've written several articles for it but this past issue was fun to read as I edited all the articles. You can see this month's issue (edited by me) at http://southernidaholiving.com/. Feel free to make comments on any of the articles. I also learned the art of .sig (creating an automatic signature at the end of each email), hence the "Writer/Publishing" at the end of the letter.

6.  Out of 600 cows that needed to be sold because of the staff infection, the dairy is down to its last 60 needing to go to market.  It's been a long haul (to the market) but the elimination process has gone well.  Beet harvest was exceptional as well as grain harvest.  There are a lot of good things happening and we are thankful.

It's quiet now as there is only Boston, Gordon and I. Stuart comes and goes daily from Pocatello to work here on the farm. Other than that we are now a little, little family.

And that's it for the latest update of the Evening Moos here on the farm. 

     

--
Paula Webb
Writer/Publishing

Performance Schedule

Hello Family,

     I have several performances over the Christmas holidays.

Join the fabulous Mapleton Chorale for an inspiring evening of Christmas music you won't soon forget.  The free choirside concert will be held on Sunday, December 11 at 7:00 pm at the Canyon View Stake Center, 989 South 2550 East in Spanish Fork.  The Chorale will also perform at 7:30 pm on Sunday, December 4 at the Assembly Hall on Temple Square, and at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, December 14 at Mapleton Mountain High School.  Tickets for the Dec. 14 Carols & Confections concert are $10 and can be obtained on-line at www.mmhs.nebo.edu, by calling 801.794.6740 or at the MMHS Finance Office.

Poster - See the attached pdf.

http://mapletonchorale.org/concerts.html

 

Thanks
Michael Hunter
CTO friendlytek.com
801-709-1801

Photos....

Jumped the gun!  Here are all the photos: 

http://techmarketingink.com/photos/111111_webb_wedding/

Wonderful Webb Wedding on 11-11-11

The handsome Hayden and beautiful Madeline are now Mr. & Mrs. Webb!!!  

It's Sunday evening and I'm just writing while stretched out on the couch after the 11 hour drive today back from the beach house in Oxnard, California.  What a wonderful weekend we had!!!

On Wednesday, I was still firming up plans at the last minute but so glad that Don and Grant decided to come with me.  Don had the stars align with some meetings dropping out at work and with Friday being Veterans Day, Grant only missed one day of school.  I had planned to drive as far as St. George or Mesquite but Don took over driving while I slept and the next thing I knew, we were in Las Vegas! We drove on through and arrived in Canoga Park to surprise Aunt Eloise on Thursday morning.  Great to see her and we spent part of the day napping and helping her with a few odd jobs like fixing her sprinklers and hanging drapes.   She kindly took us to lunch and after we visited with Carolyn and kids for a little while before heading to the beach house that the Hunters had arranged for in Oxnard.  

What a treat! The house is RIGHT ON THE BEACH! And a beautiful beach it is!  It was overcast but with a full moon, still light enough for a walk with small rollers coming in.  The house is owned by Michael's other Hunter cousins and really appointed well for families.  Sleeps 20 and includes games, wetsuits, boogie and surf boards and just comfortable for all of us.  Don and Grant got up early and hit the waves as we thought we were going to need to drive home on Saturday so Don could be at meetings on Sunday. Fortunately he got a text from the bishop who was recovering from knee surgery but was going to be able to go to church so they dropped bags and we headed for the wedding.

Almost a 2 hour drive to the Los Angeles Temple but an absolutely beautiful day for a wedding!   Madeline has a wonderful family and we all gathered in the Celestial room for the sealing.  A very nice ceremony and while we missed having Grandpa and Grandma, felt that we had other relatives there to witness the creation of a new family.  Hayden and Madeline just "strolled ahead, confidently....."  (that's the phrase he used when he just walked past the guards with guns on the Costa Rica border without showing his passport because he wanted to say he'd been to Panama).  Afterwards, photos then a joint family luncheon in the rec room at the temple apartments where many had stayed the night before.  

Grant wanted to see Beverly Hills and Hollywood so off we went! Drove past a lot of mansions, looked at exotic cars, walked around the Hollywood Bowel and then wound our way through streets to a horse trail that got us up near the Hollywood sign on foot with a nice view of the city.  A quick drive through downtown LA and then onto the freeway with 5 pm Friday night traffic....aaarrrrggghhh! But we made it in time for the reception which was held at the beautiful home of a neighbor of the Rossell's.  A wonderful setting with canopies, lights, pools, music food and heaters to take off the slight chill.  A light buffet dinner of gourmet salads, soups and rolls with pie and wedding cake.  

Hayden was stylishly handsome and Madeline was strikingly beautiful! Everyone enjoyed themselves, ending the evening with dancing and a send off to the bride and groom who were headed to Costa Rica for a two week honeymoon! We're all wishing them a wonderful life together and looking forward to the conclusion of the festivities on December 3rd in Raft River! 

The rest of us returned to the beach where we put in a full day on Saturday.  Most donned wetsuits and pounded their bodies going through the rinse cycle in pretty good sized waves!  They would come in saying, "I'm done!" But then would soon be out there again.  The rest of us enjoyed walks, watching the pelicans surf the wind above the waves and the occasional spotting of a dolphin silhouette inside a cresting wall of water.  The weather was clear enough to see a couple of the Channel Islands.  Later, Don and I went in search of the Monsanto seed plant there and then on to tour the Camarillo airport and a military flight museum.  Checkin out all the angles for flying my plane in there for a few days--"you can park her for free as long as you buy gas from us!" they said. 

Virginia and Paula kept us in ample and delicious food, and Paula awoke at 4 this morning to fix us sandwiches on our return.  Which brings me to right now...It was a suck marrow weekend!   We did a LOT of stuff--but great to be with family, especially as another new family begins.  It was a highlight to see and play with little Jenny and Francie--and watch their proud (in a good way) grandparents.  Check out the shot of Paula dancing with the two little girls! 

http://iklanfree.co/sagvfjnkj.html

Morning Moos

Morning Moos:  The farm has put itself to bed for the winter.  The crops are all harvested, the pivots are drained of their water and the employees are settling down for their winter work; cleaning and storing equipment and getting things ready for Spring.  Only the milkers continue their daily hum of activity at the dairy; herding cows into the barn, cleaning off udders, applying the machines and sending them out of the parlor when they're done.  The feed trucks mix their daily rations of corn, hay, grain and minerals feeding off the hard earned summer crops to the milk producing cows..  

 

Here at home the garden sits idle with tokens of pumpkins, beans and beets left.  The landscape out the kitchen window has turned from vibrant green to sudden shades of brown as the harvestors pull out of the fields with their booty in tow.  And so the fall has gone.  

 

Today, we pack for California.  Hayden and Madeleine will be married in three days.  I wish you were all going.    "Are you nervous?" I ask from the speaker of a cell phone.  "Yes" he answers across the airwaves.  They will fly out to Costa Rica for their honey moon for 2 weeks before coming to Idaho for the Open House Dec. 3. 

 

Larsen also counts down to a major change in his life.  It's less than a week before he flies out to Oaxaca, Mexico to complete his mission.  He's enjoyed his time as  zone leader and student of the gospel but he says,  "My companion and I have gotten up at 5:30 for the last few days as we have been checking districts out in the mornings and sending them off on the mystical bus to the airport.  I have to admit, i get pretty tired here."

 

And may we announce our third grandchild arriving in May, 2012?  It's Kendrick and Megan. We're excited as the baby will come just after Kendrick graduates from U of I in Moscow.  

 

Jessica has been doing double duty in Texas while supporting Clayton in Iraq.  Two young mothers delivered their first babies while their husbands are deployed.  Not having family around Jessica is the nucleus for these two little families.  Almost daily they come to enjoy dinner, visit and support one another while learning the art of motherhood. 

 

My latest article is on a Drug Free Pro that travels around the country giving demonstrations. http://southernidaholiving.com/our_people/keith-adams-the-drug-free-pro/    I can't imagine someone having the time to do all the sports he does but it's a way he chooses to keep himself busy. 

 

Hope this news letter finds you doing well.  I so enjoyed the Pumpkin Party this year.  Thank you again for coming.  Love Paula  

 

 

 

 

Gavin on Mormon Channel

Hi All, 

Many of you know that Gavin has been in recording sessions this summer for the Mormon Channel as part of a group of children discussing scripture stories.  The first episode is out and online now here: 

http://mormonchannel.org/programs/scripture-stories-doctrine-and-covenants-episode-1?lang=eng#d

There are a couple of talkative girls so he doesn't get much air time but go  listen to minute 11:04-11:23 to hear one of his responses  (he's a pretty bright boy!).  

Attached are the studio photos and also the audio segment above if your computer will play it.

Great job Gavin!!!! 

Re: Pumpkin Party Declared Wild Success!!!

Great Write Up on a Great Event, Peter!!! Thanks One and All for making it a Great Day! Special Thanks to Jessica (in Texas) who made all the invites, addressed and posted them but couldn't make it. It was the beginning of a Fun, Fun Day!...

Pumpkin Party Declared Wild Success!!!

The 20th anniversary of Paula's Pumpkin Party was declared a wild success by all of those that attended yesterday in Raft River.  It was a beautiful fall day with abundant sunshine and mild to moderate breezes.  The vast open spaces, association of family, continuous flow of delectable food punctuated with football, naps and a hayride made it an event to enjoy and to remember.  

Here's a link to all of the hot dog modeling photos: http://www.techmarketingink.com/photos/111022_pumkin_party/

Cami, Taylor and I buzzed the house in the Mooney as we had picked the the plane in Logan early in the morning.  It was so fun to fly over a solitary building on the first pass and return on the second to see the house had spilled out a whole yard full of occupants waiving to us!  We flew back to American Falls and started making calls to hitch a ride.  First one was to Kent who just happened to be driving past.  

Food was wonderful and started with a breakfast potato casserole.  Catching up, exploring, watching the little ones like Francie and Ryan and touring the Bro Brat mobile kitchen.  Lunch was a "Bro Brat" extravaganza - gourmet hot dogs and brats with homemade buns and everything possible to put on them--including peach-mango salsa and guacamole! Kids played football, jumped on the tramp and Howard slept.  The hayride toured the dairy with pools of organic waste, sheds of feed, corrals of milk cows and rows of baby calf pens.  We passed loads of sugar beets, a potato piler loading out a semi and then toured the new Webb Basin greenhouse of which we were all envious.  Looking forward to fresh tomatoes in February! 

Great to have so many able to attend and missed those that couldn't be there--especially Grandpa and Grandma, plus David and Jordan; Kendrick, Megan and Jenny; Jessica and Clayton, Elder Larson and soon to be Mrs. Webb Madeline; Brandon, Ashley & boys, Jamie of Zagreb; Nick & Kelly, Elders Josh & Joe, Melissa & Erica; and The Ben & Janet fam.  

The finale for send off was Paula's maple bars--freshly made scones smothered in maple frosting.  Those left us all hankering for more and anticipating next year! 

Weekend Update...

A wonderful Indian Summer weekend! I hope you all were able to enjoy some of it.  I was in Idaho on Friday and Saturday and what was thought to have been a rather dull fall for color came alive with not red but orange.  Yellow stubble fields, dried mountain grasses and whatever the trees with orange leaves gave a warming glow to the mountains and canyons.  Blue skies and some really delicate clouds.  

Family path crossings this weekend included having a wonderful evening with Jessica and the Merkley's tonight.  Dinner was delicious artwork and fun to catch up.  Jessica had just been messaging with Clayton and getting an update on whether troops were coming home from Iraq in December or not.  Sounds like the press may have hyped the story and the withdrawal is not to be as large or rapid as we were lead to believe. 

Steve, Shannon, Jord and Ty were in St. George for a few days.  We had them scouting real estate deals we've been watching from afar but in real life--not as good as the pictures! 

Dan was in Idaho looking at a Simplot job and also working on a job for Don at Monsanto.  Mom said he looked pretty professional!

Kent's minus a dog--I ran over it accidentally with my truck.  The night before, I swerved to scare them as the two pups and Deogee (D-O-G) were chasing intently but yesterday, just driving straight and one of the pups went for the back wheel, missed and died instantly.  Sad but not unexpected!  Listened to Kiana playing Fur Elise--very good! Kent & MIgnon are making plans to add on to their existing casa and we walked around imagining roof lines, entries and windows.  

Amy dropped by her juicer--fixed in Dad-style.  The refuse container and the plunger were missing so she had fashioned a new container out of an ice cream bucket and a bungee cord with a thermos cup for a plunger.  Pretty ingenious! 

Stopped by and visited Ben at the new world headquarters of whatever is the name of the company he's working for (it's not Rocket Engineering).  Lots of shop space and plenty of room for family boats! It's the old Peterson Equipment facility just north of the road where you turn to go out to the airport in Logan.  Nice little office space and good shop.

Michael called enroute to Florida for the SoftServe conference.  SoftServe is the company that we both use for development in the Ukraine and they host a conference in Orlando each year for their customers.  I was thinking of going but cancelled but didn't know Michael was also going. 

Stopped by to get hugs from Macie and see Greshen and Grant for a few minutes while Dad and I were in Soda shopping.  Don was at a game with Abby and Emily was at work.  Grant's finished football for the year.  

Had lunch with Frank and we stopped by Sam Hunter's Vent Racing shop in the same complex that Frank works.  Sam builds custom parts for 4-wheelers and he, Dave and friends are going to race 4 of them in the Baja 1000 in Mexico.  Also got to visit with Frank & Melissa on Saturday night for a while and they are doing good...will find out this week whether child #5 will be a boy or a girl! Gavin's scripture stories will be on the Mormon channel starting on Saturday--at the Pumpkin party! 

A few shots... cantaloupe from my garden; a bowl of corned beef and cabbage soup made from the cabbage I grew in my Orem garden; the magic spot from the bottom of the lane; some clouds and little Jenny in autumn wheelbarrow. 

An update on my back--I've been wearing the brace, going to physical therapy three times a week and stretching at least twice a day.  Tonight it feels MUCH better.  I actually have feeling in the side of my foot for the first time in weeks.  I think I'm going to avoid surgery if I can.  Thanks for everyone that has had me in their prayers and as they attend the temple. Really hoping for good things and a complete recovery without the knife! 

Love you all and looking forward to seeing most of you this weekend at the world famous PUMPKIN PARTY!

Love,

Peter 

Conference update

Hi All.... it feels like I'm "losing" something if I don't mark time with a post every couple of weeks or so.  It's important that we all keep synched and linked to each other in some way so here's what I know of who lately! 

First...me.  :-)  Finally got some insight into what has been happening with my back.  The attached photo with the dark, marble like thing at the bottom left of the cursor is a herniated disc in my lower back.  Doc said normally straight to surgery but because it was lighter color, it possibly could be reabsorbed so now stretching, going to physical therapy and had an injection of steroids to shrink the nerve and hernia.  Hoping for the best! Happened to run into my neighbor at the Dr. office who sells back braces--he hooked me up with one that night that seems to be helping stretch things out.

Wonderful conference weekend in Idaho! Loved seeing everyone and spending time with family.  I got the barn cleaned out and did some tractor work plus ate cucumbers, tomatoes and squash from Mom's gardens as well as artisian bread and bowels of soup from the wonderful cooks there.  Plums are ready for eating and thick enough to break branches.  Also had the chimney shroud replaced as the old one was made of stucco and falling apart.  With all the rain last night, comforting to know it was fixed and not leaking!

Dad and Mom are doing well.  They picked me up in Logan (flew the plane up for annual) and we drove home to find the basement with water all over the floor.  A sewer snake and some buckets took care of the problem.

Webbs all came to visit--we ate at least 5 full loaves of bread over the space of a conference session!  Paula sent Larsen a watermelon (one he planted in the garden) at the MTC! No dumb cookies from a girlfriend.... Boston legally drives at night!

Jamie's updated photos on Facebook of her trip from Rome to Zagreb, Croatia via Venice--pretty cool!!!  My roomies told me that a "nephew with a cute girl" stopped by to say hi over the weekend--Spencer, was that you?

Dan, Kent, Kai and Joe have been the great hunters....out at Grays Lake with bow and arrow on the prowl for bucks.

Shane's headed to Tuscon this week for more mission president training.  Sounds like he's booked with travel until Christmas!  Rest of the family's doing well.

Ben's battling a freak acid spill in one of his units that melted the mother boards but I think it's under control.

Hunters have their painted cupboard doors on with new cool handles! Paisley enjoyed her birthday!  Michael was in Las Vegas at a car park convention--hoping for good things.

Don's been managing multiple shut downs at Monsanto--calling in Great Basin Industrial (Dan) to help with a project! 

Frank and Melissa are celebrating their 10th Anniversary this week!!! (10/5/01)  Congratulations!!!!! 

Lissy@college.fun

Amy passed these photos on.  So glad that Lissy's enjoying BYU and drinking in all of the opportunities and spirit of the experience!  Here are a few quotes from her.

"I can't believe I made it to this amazing university, everyday I meet new people form different places, and I feel like everyone is here for a reason.....I feel like this is the funnest time of my life, and I am going to take full advantage of it."

110925 Peter's Week

Fall is in the air...fruit is on the vine...and the branches.  One of my apple tree is LOADED with apples this fall...the other is empty.  Going to borrow Amy's juicer to make some cider for freezing.  I think my back is improving.  I worked from home Thursday and Friday but by Friday night wanted to get out so I went for a haircut.  I kept thinking that it was just nerve pain and I could control it but about three quarters through the haircut, I turned white and started sweating and was either going to throw up or pass out! Kind of freaked out the stylist but standing up and walking 10 steps and it started to go away.  She wanted to cut the rest while I was standing up!  Sitting was torture. 

Saturday was an adventurous day.  Dan stayed over Friday night and we got up and went to the plane.  I laid down in his seat to get there and then buckled in upright to taxi and take off.  Dan then flew all the way to St. George while I stretched out and then took over to land.  We had a good day looking at a few places that might make good investments or places to winter.  Had lunch with Zan and Ricky and saw his parent's house and the pomegranate trees that they planted.  Then flew back the same way we flew with with Dan flying most of the way.  Great shot of the Tushar Mountains.  We still had daylight and fuel when we reached Nephi so Dan shot a couple of landings and takeoffs.  (Trying to convince him to buy part of the plane!).  Landed in Provo just as the sun dropped below the horizon.  Good day! 

Sunday night I went to my friends Jim & Amy's house and they had a book on treating your back. I read through it while there and it perfectly described the pain I had so when I got home, I did the initial batch of exercises and felt some immediate benefit!  I slept well and even though the pain came back anytime I sat today, it wasn't anywhere near as severe.  I'm hopeful that it continues to help.  The book said that most pain will be gone in the first couple of days and then be completely gone in a couple of weeks.  So...very grateful for some progress and looking forward being able to drive to Idaho for conference weekend! (And get the plane to Logan for annual).  

And very excited for the news of Frank & Melissa's new baby, grandchild #50, on the way!