Friends are the Chocolate Chips in the Cookie of Life

So this week we held a good-bye party for one of my college roommies, Haley. I did not realize how much I missed college life until I was back with old friends reminiscing the good times (we really did have some great ones), AND I’m kicking myself because I brought my camera but completely forgot to take pictures. But on Saturday we met up with Haley and Parker again for a little picnic in the canyon and I remembered to take pictures this time.

Our little party reminded me how great life can be when you are surrounded by wonderful friends. I once heard someone say, “God sent us friends to hug us when he can’t” and I couldn't agree more. When I was 18 years old, the day after I graduated high school, I moved 2,000 miles away from home to a state where I knew no one. As I waved good-bye to my parents and watched them drive away I bawled… I never felt so utterly alone. It was the friendships I forged that lifted me higher, or as I like to say “out of the depths of despair” (any Ann of Green Gables fans?). Anyway, as you can tell this post is dedicated to good friends.

Haley and me.

Our studly hubbies, Parker and Brad.

Parker and Haley
(she waited for him while he served his mission).



"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
-Anais Nin

Did You Know?

In the late l890's Left handed people got the nickname of southpaw. Because most baseball fields were laid out were the pitcher is facing west and the batter facing east, so the sun wouldn't be in the batter's eyes. When a left handed pitcher threw a ball it was with his arm that was toward the south so left handed people started to be called southpaws.

(In case you are wondering, yes, I am a southpaw.)

My Favorite Time of the Day...

Must I say more?

Happy Birthday B-Rad!

HaPpY 29Th SwEeT cHeEkS!!!

Browne Lake 2009

Browne Lake, the annual Nielsen Family Camping Trip. It was a little cooler this year and a little wetter but it didn't damper our spirits we still had a marvelous time taking in the luscious beauty, enjoying each other's company, and getting some R&R.

This year Chris borrowed this baby for the trip. This was our home for the last 5 days.

Sweet Dixie Pix, who could be quite a turd this trip (yes, I called her a turd).



Sydney indulging in the opportunity of getting dirty, and I unable to do anything about it.

Cody and Blue.

TEE TIME!!!

Golf lessons with Uncle Mike

Testing out the dirt bike.

What "up to no good" looks like.

Gone fishin'

Chris with the fish - we ate delicious trout on Monday for lunch. Nothing beats fresh fish.

I actually gutted a FISH!! I was challenged and I couldn't let them win!

Uncle Chris (and yes that is what we call him, as he is quite the dotting uncle to these two as you can tell) took the dogs for a ride in the boat while he fished. Sydney loved it, she preferred standing up at the front, leading the vessel you could say. Dixie didn't quite like it as much.

Chris was kind enough to stop and pick us and give us a ride.

Syd looks in her element, don't ya think?

Cheesy brotherly pictures.

Haha my favorite!

Please, sir, I want some more.

While we were doing our packing for the annual camping trip to Browne Lake, we decided to have some fun, and just like a champ Dixie humored us.

Web Cam + Office = Not much is getting Done

Currently, at work our PC Dept is trying some new equipment, and I got to be one of the testers. One of those pieces of equipment is a web cam (apparently they are for conference phone calls pfft).

Well, as you can imagine I have been hard at work testing away!

I have an idea!

I've tried purple, but never pink.

Masquerade anyone?

WhAt ThE?!?

Attempting to be cute like Dixie.

Meooooow!

Little Julie Whoo

Does my nose look big to you?

Don't you just love my big bright eyes?

Go Figure

Do you remember the story about the “drop bears”? If you don’t or you need a refresher click here.

So today I was doing some research on Australia. I came across a web page that had a “Q & A” segment. Here was the question:

Question: “Where is the safest place to live in Australia? And when I say safest I mean, no snakes, no spiders, no vicious animals.”

There were a variety of answers but there was a particular answer that struck me. As I read it my mouth was a bit agape and my eyes may have been bulging.

Answer: “The only really fatal spider here in Adelaide is the redback, and no one has been killed by one since the antivenom was developed. Snakes aren't normally a problem in the cities, and as long as you don't go sticking your hands under rocks at the beach you're unlikely to have a problem with a blue-ringed octopus.The animal you're most likely to be killed by is the drop bear. They can be found in all the same places as koalas (every state except Tasmania and Western Australia) and, unlike most of the snakes and spiders, they're extremely aggressive. They drop down from the trees as you walk underneath and rip out your throat with their razor sharp claws. The government tries to cover it up (you can imagine the effect it would have on tourism if it got out) so no one really knows how many hundreds of victims these fearsome creatures claim every year.”

What?!?

So I did a Wikipedia search on drop bears

In an online chat I asked Brad about this, particularly if it was in Australia that he learned about drop bears. Here is his response:

“Nope, drop bears are not a Brisbane thing, they're native to Adelaide. Drop bears started as an internet meme back in '01 or so, and I might have played a role in propagating it.”

Go figure.

Father's and Mother's Day Celebration

While we were back in PA, we celebrated Mother's and Father's day. This was a special Father's day because the gift I got my dad was amazing!!! By far the best gift I ever gave, I daresay. My dad is a huge fan of David McCullough, a terrific historian. He is the author of 1776 and John Adams to name a few. (By the way 1776 is a book I highly recommend). David McCullough is an incredible author! He came to SLC to speak at the University of Utah's graduation and the next day he spoke at the Tabernacle which was followed by a book signing. My amazing friend Stephanie has the greatest connections and got tickets to the lecture. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the lecture (but Steph filled me in) and my dear friend Angie waited in line to get the book signed for me. David even personalized the book. Here is the video of my dad opening his gift... priceless.

Here is a photo of the personalized message. It reads: "For Steve From one history buff to another! David McCullough 2009".

(Stephanie thank you so much for thinking of me!!)

Pennsylvania Trip

Over the Memorial Day weekend we were able to make a quick visit to Pennsylvania. Very quick, but we will take anything we can get!

This was our view out of our window, this is what we woke up to every morning - my little piece of heaven.

Here is Brad, we decided to walk to the local Rita's Water Ice and enjoy the scenery and the water ice. Below is one of the horse farms we passed on our walk.

For Memorial Day, we had a family picnic at the "Country" our family's cottage of the Perkiomen.
Nanny and Me.

On Saturday, we decided to visit the first Zoo in the US.

We had a wonderful time!