Don Clegg family update

From Greshen - Thanks for the Q1 Review!!!  (kleptoed some photos from Facebook and attached...some of us don't look at FB that often but some great shots there!)


We have had a lot going on the past couple of months. 

Emily has been getting ready for the Caribou County Distinguished Young Women program for the last 3 months. She has been to a Friday practice all three months. With the last two weeks being every day. The end of the program was this last weekend, where she participated in doing a fitness routine, talent, interview, and self expression. For her talent she sang an old song from the 40s called " Dream a little dream of me". She did very well and enjoyed her experience in doing it. She gained some new friends and a lot of new skills that will help her in life. Check out Greshens facebook page for pictures of the event. Emily also was in the schools Musical at the beginning of March. She played the head orphan "Duffy" in Annie. She did well in this also. She got a Superior at the district solo ensemble which was last Tuesday. She sang an Italian Song. Emily is now giving her voice a rest and getting ready to compete in the track and field. 

Grant has been our babysitter while the family taxi is driving to music lessons, sporting practices, games, shopping trips, etc. He also has been working on his merit badges and hoping to advance soon. Grant has started track for the Junior High this last week. Its good to see him active again. 

Our Abigail has been busy with basketball the last two months. She played in the city youth league and did very well, enough to have her selected to be on the all star team. She played in three different All Star tournaments in March and her team won everyone of them. She can be pretty aggressive, and has found herself getting a few baskets in the game. It's been fun to watch her learn and grow. She enjoys it. As soon as basketball was over she grabbed her mitt and bat and his preparing for the upcoming softball season. We have had unseasonably warm weather and its been nice to be able to get out. 

Macie has passed off her ABCs and 123s in preschool and is now reading and doing a very good job at sounding out letters  to make words. She is dancing and does very well with it. 

Don has been busy with work and last week got to make a trip to SLC. He stayed with Dan and Jill, got to see the new addition at the Frank Clegg home and have lunch with his siblings. He is preparing for a big shut down coming up the first part of April. 

Greshen has been the taxi driver making sure everyone gets to where they need to be and at the time they need to be there. We are looking forward to not being as busy as we have been these past two months. It has been a joy to watch our children enjoy what they are doing and to learn and grow from them. 

--

Greshen Clegg

Designsbygreshen.com

No two are alike!

Family Crossings

6:40 pm and waiting for that red line of traffic congestion through American Fork on Google Maps Traffic to disappear before heading home.  Traffic in Utah County has been terrible the last few days! Saturday from point of the mountain to Springville it was 15 mph...and I was in it the whole way! This morning, 30 minute delay due to a semi that went over and closed off all southbound lanes at Alpine--horrific winds I think.  

Anyway, wanted to catch you up on what I know about the family this week.

Friday was pulling out of the office for lunch when Paula called.  "Are you just leaving for lunch?" she asked.  Apparently, she, Jessica, Anna, Francie, Boston and Gordon were all going past 123rd south exit on their way to Texas and happened to see my truck pulling out on the way to get a sandwich! It was like I was being watched from somewhere in the sky and I kept looking around to see the spy!  Before that, the girls invited me up for a lovely evening of make-it-yourself sushi was was absolutely wonderful! They had bought all of the ingredients and it was delicious (see shots).  Anyway, we got a photo this morning of all of them happy and smiling in Texas! 

Talked to Steven and he's just finishing up their fiscal year at NetScout--which means lots of pressure to end the year well.  But then they're headed out for a week in San Clemente where they've rented a place near the beach and are just going to hang and enjoy.  So envious!  They must go to Los Golondrinas for burritos! And maybe for Thai food on the pier.

Didn't talk to Dan this week but in scanning some of the pictures that Kent sent down, I came across this one.  He was such a happy baby!  Speaking of scanning, with part of my income tax return, I went on the prowl for a new scanner and found one at Office Max that was marked of 1/3 as it was a floor model.  When we got to the counter, we found it was actually 2/3 off and it works great.  I can scan regular and legal sheets with a sheet feeder and right to PDF file.  Will be working through photos and documents and uploading them to a Dropbox folder you can all have access to.  

Kent & Mignon got up at 4 and drove down to drop of Dani and I took her to the dentist on Saturday to have her braces adjusted--not fun! She told me how they all stayed up and went to Hunger Games on Thursday night for the midnight showing and then to Walmart.  I don't know how the parents go without so much sleep!!!! Anyway, looking at some of Kent's high school pictures see a little resemblance in his kids! 

Earlier last week at about ten, Clay and I were sitting in the family room and heard women's voices in the front room.  It was Eric and her friend and they had let themselves in to come see us.  Fun to visit with her for a while.  

Friday night was the BYU Men's Chorus last concert of the year and Ben & Janet got a bunch of tickets so I got to go as well as Virginia and Paisley.  It was a fantastic concert and beautiful music! A fun number was the theme form SkyRim--the video game that was playing at my house non-stop for about 10 days over Christmas.  Anyway, we all (including the Burrs) went to Spoon it Up Yogurt and had a great visit afterwards.  Great to see everyone. 

No crossings with Don or Frank this week but hope that they are doing well...especially with the new baby at Frank & Melissa's house. 

As for me, the black truck is now gone.  Sold for $17,750 to a young electrician who was really excited to get it.  The garage was so empty that I decided to fill it with another vehicle so Saturday after looking at used and some other model trikes, decided to get another one just like Dad's.  It was the best deal and most quality for the money and had a fabulous ride!!! So enjoyable to get out.  Have been trying to ride my bike but the back is not liking that but with the trike, no pain so very excited.   

Good week to all of you!

Love,

Peter 

Weekend Update

Big news this week is the arrival of a new baby sister on Green Road in Fruit Heights. I stopped in to Frank & Melissa's just after Frank and all the kids had returned from the hospital to see her and they were pretty excited.  No name for sure yet but she weighed 8lbs 9oz and was 21 inches long.  Frank say's she's beautiful with tiny little features.  Attached are a few shots of the kids. 

I had a quick visit with the doctor on Tuesday to review my latest MRI--good news in that he said the disk had mostly reabsorbed.  "No need to poke a hole in you!" he said which was excellent to hear.  Still a little irritation but good news is that it's healing and should be back to normal before too long! 

Friday night, I drove to Idaho.  It was a beautiful evening and them moon was near full.  You can't really tell from this shot but with the melted, then frozen snow, the moon reflected off the ice like glass.  This shot is from the gravel pit looking towards the house.  Both Friday and Saturday were spectacular with the moon and Venus and Jupiter shining intensely.  

Saturday, Dad and I took his new truck and went on a road trip to Star Valley--just driving and to get out and about.  It was a really nice drive and his truck is a smooth ride. The ice volcano is outside of Afton and looked like it was just made with a garden hose on a very tall pole! Lot's more snow over there than in Grace.  Both Dad and Mother are doing well and have been out riding trike/bike and walking in the warmer weather.  

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

PS - The old truck is all detailed and up for sale if anyone is interested, let me know.  I don't think I'll have a problem selling it but if anyone in the family wants it, I'll give you a better deal. 

Flash mob at the Webbs anyone?

Fresh out of the oven with butter and honey!

Auf Wiedersehen Zat 4

Just staving off tears and trying to beat back that hole of emptiness that I feel. There's a brand new white Toyota Tacoma sitting in the garage and I don't even want to look at it. I just took the Z4 down to the dealership and dropped it off as I traded it in a couple of days ago. Very sad.

As I backed the Bimmer out of the garage, I thought, "Already saved almost $2000! The registration came due yesterday, plus it needs new tires which the dealer quoted me $1800 for and it needs a detail which is probably a couple of hundred. Then there's the fact that it's so hard to get in and out of, especially with my back brace on. And the fact that it rides so hard--or tight to the road…."

But…..it sprang to life with that throaty growl when I turned the key. The Xenon headlights laser blast the darkness as I prowl out of Arthurs Court. On 800 north, I dart in and out of traffic--easily springing ahead of everything at the lights. Then on to the freeway, the engine winding up to a whining scream as I shift through the gears and jump well beyond the speed of light and other traffic by the time I reach the top of the onramp. It's beautiful. A simple nudge of the pedal and I'm rocketing past everything--the music rising in volume as the sound outside increases. "What am I doing?" I ask myself, "Trading it off on a practical piece of transportation." As I signal off the freeway…

There have been a few times, when driving the car has been pure joy. It's usually on a warm summer day, top down, sun shining and all the world is right. It happened one morning last summer. As I turned off 800 north onto the freeway onramp, there were no cars ahead of me and I started to accelerate. The car came alive as the wind noise amplified and the radio volume automatically increased to match. As I hit third gear, the pulsating bass and howling harmonica of Led Zeppelin's "When the Levy Breaks" came on, piercing the protective air pocket of the cockpit and rocketing me right back to my sophomore year in high school…my favorite song. I felt chills up my back and a swelling of emotion that actually drew tears. Throttling up, shifting - more speed, more noise, louder Zeppelin…transcendence!!!!

The signal blink, blink, blink. "Practical transportation-- reliable, dependable, safe, sporty, utility, roomy, everything I really need--nothing I really want." Those thoughts going through my head as I start to exit. I punch a preset button on the Harmon Cardon with it cranked up loud, looking for one last drink of premium sound….and there is Zeppelin! It could not have been more poetic. Again, near tears but this time sadness, not joy.

A couple of quick sips of power as I navigate into the dealership. This deal could not have gone smoother. From the time I pulled off the freeway on Wednesday until I was walking out the door with a signed agreement was 55 minutes. I had thought to just look at the lot. They only had four trucks. Oh well, I'll go. Well, just check on prices. Started talking to Chris, the sales guy. Thirty minutes to close. "I have a trade in," I say, thinking that would discourage him. "Give me the keys and I'll have our mechanic take a look." Ten minutes later, he brings out the first term sheet. $5700 over what I would even consider. I say, "No." He says, "Make us and offer." I counter at my low price, he comes back with midpoint. I'm thinking, "I don't even want to do this," and so stick to my first price. "Can't you work with me just a little? Even $700?" "No," I say flatly. "It's late and I know you need to close. I'm just going to wait and come back later…don't worry about it. Thanks for the help." "Just let me ask once more," he says. I say OK and three minutes later, he comes back, sticks out his hand and says, "Congratulations!"

In my head, I know it's the best thing to do. As the truck is at another dealer and I would need to come back. I had a couple of days to think about it. Still, a good thing to do in my head so I determine to go through with it.

But now, I'm mad. Not mad at myself or mad that I did something I didn't want to, but mad that I'm even at this point at all where I'm having to sacrifice--and yes, this does feel like a sacrifice--something not familiar to me because I'm purposely not attached to outcomes--a dream that I've cultivated, grown and seen to fruition because I'm caught in a precarious situation where I have little control over my future financial security! For several months now, I've been working for the equivalent of hourly wage, depending and hoping that the organization I'm working with will get or stay lucky in order to get a future payoff. Minimal control over outcome and definitely limited control over payoff.

The demise of the Bimmer was born out of angst for the future. The thought was that if things go south, having one new car would be better and cheaper than two older cars. Less insurance, less to manage and less to wash. If I must go into "startup" or "teach high school" or "devote my life to writing or music" mode, two cars is an extravagance.

I drive the new truck home. It's white, and clean and not at all visibly different from my other truck. Maybe a titch smoother ride than the older brother with 100k miles but difficult to tell--Toyota's are such well built and practical cars.

And so, I start a new journey--or at least continue the old journey in a new car. But I kept the solid Z4 key ring with it's embossed BMW pinwheel…and I can still listen to Zeppelin!