That's Hot

Why is it when I tell people that Sam and I are moving to Arizona in a week the very first thing they say is, “Oh it’s so hot! Especially now.”
This is not new information.
Arizona = HOT
Summer= HOTTEST
I guess they are just trying to be ‘helpful’. Or maybe they are like me and just say the first thing that pops into their head.
Despite the sweltering heat Sam and I are both really excited for our new life.
If you have something wonderful to say about Arizona, I am all ears. I mean it’s good enough for Stephanie Meyer right?

Too much of a good thing.

I think I will miss Bay Area radio a lot when we move. There are 5 bands played pretty constantly. At any given time you can find one playing on Live 105, Alice 97.3 or 104.9:
5. Pearl Jam (usually Daughter or Jeremy)
4. Incubus
3. Nirvana
2. Foo Fighters
1. Red Hot Chili Peppers (usually Californication)
All bands I love, all bands that get A LOT of Bay Area airtime.

Drum roll please

In case you were wondering what the future holds for the Ashby's here it is, big announcement: We are moving to Glendale, Arizona in 2 weeks.
Sam will be attending Mid Western University to become a doctor.
I got a job working for PetSmart Headquarters, furthering my career in distribution (I start 7/13).
We are looking to purchase a house in Glendale ASAP.
Soooo much to do, so little time.

Twins?

There is a woman at my work named Kelly. Her desk is near my desk, although we have almost no interaction. She works in the ECom part of our business, I work for Mainline stores. She and I have a similar hair color and we might be similar in height as well (I'm probably a bit taller, of course) but those are the only similarities in our appearances.
I was in the kitchen at work and this woman came up to me and started chatting with me about brisket and how she was looking for a good recipe. Although I didn't know the woman, I do love to share a good recipe so I offered to send her mine, since I have the best brisket recipe EVER (thank-you Grandma Ducks). I went back to my desk to email her but could not remember her last name. I went over to her desk and asked how to spell it and she started talking to me about some meeting conflict. I had no idea what she was talking about and then she called me Kelly. I was confused but understood she must have thought I was Kelly and I went and told Kelly what happened to let her know about the meeting conflict. Thinking the woman had recognized her error I assumed the mistaken identity had been resolved. I have now run into this same woman several times and each time she asks if I am Kelly, stating that she cannot tell us apart. It's kind of hilarious but also a bit annoying. I'll try to snap a photo of Kelly so you can see the "similarity".

In other updates my work best friend, Heather, quit last week and now time drags on so slow... I miss her.

And in case you wanted my brisket recipe here it is:

Ingredients-
Brisket
Brown Sugar
2 PK Lipton’s Onion Soup Mix
2 Bottles Heinz Chili Sauce
1 onion, sliced

First rub a little brown sugar on the brisket.
Cover the brisket with 1 packet of onion soup mix.
Cover it with one bottle of chili sauce.
Layer on about half of the sliced onion.
Sprinkle the 2nd packet of onion soup mix over top.
Cover it with the 2nd bottle of chili sauce.
Layer on the sliced onions.
(you have 2 layers of the same stuff happening here)

Cook in a crock pot on low for approximately 6 hours. I believe you can also cook it in the oven around 300' for 6 hours, make sure it is covered but I really like making it in the crock pot. It never dries out that way.

Note: The sauce makes for excellent gravy!

Baby Grill!

I would like to officially welcome the newest addition to the family, Gracie!!
Grace Josephine Nielsen was born June 1, 2009 at 10:55pm 8lbs 7ozs 21 inches.
Ambyr and Gracie are all doing well!! Not to mention Gracie already shows signs of curly hair, dark eyes, and mama's lips. Sorry the quality of this photo is not amazing, I took it on my cell phone. I'll post more photos as soon as my mom (Gram Gram) emails some to me!!

PS. Luke seems to be adjusting very well! He is already very protective of Gracie and did not want to leave her side. He'll be the best big brother in town.

Brush and Brush and Brush?...

Many of you know I work for Levi Strauss in Inventory Management. Sounds exciting right? Believe me it is. That's why I mention it so much on my blog :)
Well I mention it today because I have noticed a new trend in the office. People are brushing their teeth after lunch. I mean I appreciate the effort. I think it's very hygienic and all, and I am sure they all have father's for dentists or whatever, but answer me this:
Is it a bit much?
Is this something I should be participating in?
Is it really Bazaar?
Wouldn't a piece of gum suffice?

Not a sympathy ploy, I swear

While attending BYU Sam lived in a little place known as AG 11. Sam, Ashton, Nate (boo), and Paul shared 9 wonderful months living in the same house. These months were full of teriyaki chicken, spore infested basements, and after hours all male dance parties. Since the days of AG 11 most of the guys have gone their separate ways. Nate is finishing his masters at BYU in Chemistry and prepping for medical school at UH this Fall. Paul is attending dental school at USC. Ashton is about to begin his career as an investment banker with Credit Sweese, and you know where we’re at J. Well, last weekend the boys were back in town! Sam was so excited to have all his friends together for the whole weekend. Friday evening, we all went to dinner at a lovely Mexican restaurant. Apparently it is a Fjeldsted favorite, and it did not disappoint. We then went to the Fjeldsted’s home and played Cranium and had the best lemonade I have ever tasted. We made our plans to do some San Francisco sightseeing the following day, along with a trip to the Cal Academy, followed by a BBQ.
The next day we got up got all ready to go, and around 1pm we got a phone call from our friends saying they were down stairs waiting for us. (This is where it becomes all about me.) I sat down on the bed, put my shoes and socks on, stood up and felt the worst pain I have ever felt in my life shoot through my lower back. Had someone later told me I’d been struck by lightening, I’d have believed them. I screamed and screamed on the top of my lungs, you know the horror movie screams. Sam rushed over not knowing how to help, since I was then yelling at him not to touch me. I sat in the same position which was my body doubled over my bed, crying, while Sam rushed down stairs to inform our friends we’d sadly be sitting this trip out. After a
about twenty minutes Sam moved me to the bed, but I still couldn’t move myself. I couldn’t sit up, I couldn’t roll over, and I certainly couldn’t stand. By 6pm I had taken Ibuprofen, 2 Vicodin, and a Skelaxin and I still could not move an inch which is about when we decided it was time to go to the hospital.
The drive over was painful with every pot hole and speed bump but I made it without shedding anymore tears. When we got to the ER we thought it was our lucky night. There were only 2 patients there and they didn’t look very serious. We checked in and waited, and waited, and waited. After about an hour and a half we were called in to the back where again we waited and waited and waited. Turns out the Doc forgot about us L. The exam was really painful, he lifted my legs which KILLED and pressed on my lower back which of course was really painful as well. He then gave me a shot of dilloted (which is REALLY strong) and miraculously I could walk again. So 5 hours later we went home and all was, better. I am still working on healing my back. That was the 4th time in 4 weeks I have had a back spasm and I really don’t want to have another one, ever. I worked from home for a few days but now I am working in the office again.