Labor Day!!!...Followed by a Boring Post

Oh Labor day. A day to rest from our labors. I would like to thank the Central Labor Union of New York for convincing Congress in 1894 to give everyone the first Monday in September off. So in other words, a tip of the cap to the Central Labor Union.

This last weekend was a fun time. Carly's dad Doug came out for Jaqueline's (Carly's cousin) wedding up in Salt Lake. We stayed Thursday night up in the bustling city of Malad, Idaho to hang out with Carly's Grandma John. Malad is always fun considering we eat amazing food and help out around the house. Doug and I may open a tree trimming business as we honed our skills on a crab apple tree. Carly and Alicia (Carly's sister) picked enough fresh vegetables from the garden to last us a month.

On Saturday Doug and I hooped it up in the morning and Carly and Alicia went to some art sale where Carly got an awesome painting for 60 bucks (we must have really needed it). It is pretty big too. After that we went to the football game which was fun except for the ridiculously hot first half, but overall it was fun with the mighty cougars coming out on top. After the game we went and ate at this little burger place in downtown Provo called Sammy's I think, but I would recommend it for the good food and quirky crowd. Sunday was pretty laid back, we had dinner with Steven and Meredith who just got back from Hawaii and then went up to family gathering in Salt Lake.

Anyway as the weekend comes to a close we are getting ready for another school year, only this time neither of us are in school. Instead we are working at them. Carly seems excited to start work tomorrow. I guess that she is excited since she has already laid out her first day clothes and packed her sweet new Toy Story lunch box (those of you that really know Carly will get that reference). Ok so she hasn't really done that, but I wouldn't put it past her to do it later. Well I figure I have bored anyone who has read this far, so if you are still reading give yourself a pat on the back and if you quit a while back then you were smart.

One last thing, we want to give a shout out to Doug for hanging out with us all weekend. It is always a fun time when Doug is around.

Summer of George

Yes I am ripping off the name from Seinfeld. And yes I am using another Seinfeld reference. And yes I am that much of a loser. The problem is that no matter how many different names I tried to come up with to name our summer I just couldn't top George Costanza's self titled summer (lazy Scranton did come close because we were so lazy and the obvious office reference). Anyways the whole point of this post is give this summer the respect it deserves. Now let us recap the Summer of George in no particular order.
-We got things started right with a cruise a week before school was even out. I should have known then that this summer had a lot of upside. Carly had some great poses by people making out, I got a sombrero, and we ate tons of good food. And our wives are really mean to us.
-Carly and I started playing tennis. She made me look bad many times, but my day is coming. At some point I wont suck anymore and then I will be able to show my face in public again.
-Carly turned down every job in Utah so that she could chase her dream of becoming a BFI or book fine investigator (see the actual bookman above). She really is something special.
-We went to Boston just in time to see the Celtics win the championship. Going to the parade was one of the best moments of the summer. The drunk people yelling at Matt on the subway was hilarious. Maybe one day I will be a part of a team that wins a big championship, but being as I am a Nielson that might not happen. If you are aware of the Nielson curse you will understand.
-I worked at camps, slept a lot, and managed to continue the streak of coming in second in intramurals. I seem to be good at that. At least we always have fun in the process.
-We went to Texas and had a great time at the Guadalupe river. Between the rope jumping, watching Arrested Development, eating a mighty fine burger, and a Ray Wylie Hubbard concert, it was a trip even a magician named Gob would have liked.
-The highlight of the summer was a trip to Playa Del Carmen, Mexico filled with days at the beach, Mayan ruins, and snorkeling. It was amazing and Doug didn't even get pulled over!!!! Oh and I managed to scare Hillary and Alicia into thinking we were some of the locals hitting on them while they were on a walk.
-We watched every possible second of the Olympics and that included getting up at 6 am to watch the redeem team play. I haven't mentioned this on here yet, but I now have a new most hated player and he is Marc Gasol. That greasy Spaniard is a no talent hack, but he is 7 feet tall so he gets to play (don't cry too much Marc with a C). And Phelps and Bolt are amazing, absolutely unreal except that I am pretty sure I could give Bolt a run for his money...if he only can use one leg that is. Oh and one last thing, the Olympics only made me hate China even more.

-There was quite a bit more, but I will leave it at that. All in all I think it was the best summer we have had yet. I think we are ready for things to get started though. I am ready for the season to start and I know Carly is ready to start work. Anyways hopefully this upcoming few months will be as exciting as this summer was.

Happy Anniversary

Happy 2 year anniversary to Anthony and Carrie! I think the photo below is probably an accurate snapshot of their marriage. Anthony is confidently striding forward with no worries about the stairs that could cause him and his new bride some trouble. Carrie is moving ahead looking both elegant and cautious, making sure to safely make it down 4 steps in a heavy dress and heels. You figure out what it means!
We love you both! Although we do like Carrie more. I think most people do.

And the winner is...

I accepted a job today with UVU (formerly UVSC) as the financial manager of their library, aka digital learning center. I am both excited and nervous. I start one week from today!

A digital rendering of the library from the west side. The library just opened 2 months ago and it is gorgeous. It definitely stands out as you drive by on I-15 (maybe that is just because the main architectural detail is not cement slabs). I get my own office too!
The view from the south side. The job is everything I wanted: challenging, 10 minutes from home, amazing benefits, competitive pay, and a sarcastic boss (at least he seemed like it in the interview). After 6 years at BYU, it will be fun to get a change of scenery. I may even see some shoulders, extreme hair styles, and above-knee leg!

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What Carly left off of this little post is the most important part of her job...she is the library fine collector. I mean seriously if she showed up at your door demanding money to balance her budget wouldn't you give it to her. I think I will start calling her Bookman (Seinfeld fans will enjoy that one).

On this day in 1993...

I am starting a new segment of our blog with journal entries from my earlier years. Keep in mind that I addressed my journals as an animate object, but not quite a person, until I was probably 14.
Here are a few good ones:

• July 22nd, 1993- "I now take tennis lessons. I have learned to balance my racket on two fingers, to do forehand, ready position and for right now the last thing is foot fire. Our teacher's name is Chris. I hate him. He is stupid. My mom is a better teacher than him."
• August 12th, 1993- "I hate my mom. I won't explain what happened. Anyway yesterday we went to Walden Pond. Today we are going again with the Porters. My mom said you couldn't come. Well she didn't say you couldn't come but she said I couldn't get mad if someone read you over my shoulder. I know you didn't want someone looking at you except me. Sorry about when Meredith opened you. Anthony got home yesterday. Meredith and I made a basket and filled it with candy and tissue paper. Have you ever had a Watermelon War Head? They are awesome!"

Those are just a few entries. I had a lot of hate!!

Funny

I can't stop laughing at this commercial. Every time I see it I crack up. Sorry, I can't figure out how to insert the video into the blog. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=198okcxeF74

Creepy or Insightful Camera?

Look closely at this picture. Click on it. I dare you. Our camera has this inexplicable ability to see right through people! Look at Garrett and Kaylie on the left. Garrett's head should be blocking part of the building behind him. Daniel has no eyes! Our digital camera could either be creepy or incredibly insightful. My explanation is the latter; the camera has the ability to sense the artificiality of people. Garlan and I are the most real, seeing as our entire bodies are solid. Garrett's head is gone. Maybe the camera can sense that horrible time when Garrett's hair and eyebrows were dyed from strawberry blonde to black. Nick's mouth is gone. We all know Nick speaks falsehoods regularly. That is why he is going to be so great in MBA school. Daniel's eyes are missing because his contacts artificially enhance his vision. I'm not sure why the top of his head is gone; perhaps a fake brain, fake hair, or both. Beware when you pose for pictures taken with our camera!!