Mike Hall: For Sale

So I am really struggling to blog as extensivly as my wife does. She’s a pro. But I figured at least once a month would be okay so here is my September update! Woo hoo! oh and for those of you that have gotten lost while trying to find Nikki’s blog it has moved to a new location. It can now be found at http://thehallzblog.blogspot.com/.
September has been a ultra über fun month filled with so many good times. So let’s start at the beginning… At the start of the month.
Lately I’ve started working with one of the most amazing men in the world on a few little film productions. Working with the perfection that is Phil Hudson is amazing. We’ve been working on a few screenplays for a while now and this was the first project that we actually got to almost fully run the development and production. All in all, it was an incredibly fun time. Thanks again to everyone that helped us get it rolling.

For Labor Day, Nikki and I started the celebration by hiking Mount Timpanogos with; freshly home from Iraq, Payden, the amazingly beautiful Colby and his fantastically fun girlfriend Heather. Hiking Timp has been a tradition that Payden and I started oh so many years ago and now that he is home from his mission and then Iraq we can continue to fulfill it. We left around midnight on the 7th and got up to the Saddle around six in the morning. Nikki and I froze for a couple hours at the Saddle waiting for the sunrise while Payden, Colby and Heather headed up to the peak to get the “full effect.” Overall the hiking was amazingly painful and cold but worth it. We had a blast.

After hiking Timp we headed to the Taking Back Sunday and Blink-182 with Payden and Phil. Thanks to State Farm Insurance we got our seats upgraded from the ‘nose-bleeds’ to the fourth row! The concert was amazing! Nikki’s posted the rest of the sweet pictures and even a pretty stellar video on her blog. Check it out!

On 9/9/9 I got The Beatles: Rockband! We have had a blast playing! If you guys didn’t already know I am pretty much obsessed with the Beatles and love everything about them so 9/9/9 was a humongously huge day for me.
Let’s see… some other fun things we did this month…
We had the greatest barbeque with almost all of our best friends from High School. Some people sadly could’nt make it but we know in our hearts they were there in sprit. Everyone was, Brittany and Jay, Sam, Phil, Aubrey and Jason and their beautiful darling boy Boston, Payden, Lacey, and of course Colby and Heather. We love you guys! Had a blast, can’t wait to do it again soon!

On September 10th our great great great friends Brett and Alexis tied the knot. Seeing them married warms my soul. I’m so happy for the two of them. Good on ya guys… good on ya.

The rest of the month was filled with the business of starting school and continuing to work full time. of course Nikki and I found time to golf a few times. She’s getting really good. I’m impressed more and more each time we go. Maybe if she’s good she’ll even get her own clubs soon!

Oh and Nikki and I finished a mean “Finding Nemo” puzzle the other day. But Nikki covers all the things like that.
As for things coming up in October… well… Nikki and I leave this week (October 3rd) for our cruise through the Western Caribbean! We can’t wait! We’re going to have a blast! Really the thing I’m the most excited for is to go to three new countries I’ve never been… the Grand Cayman, Honduras and Belize! I can’t wait.
After the cruise we have Halloween! Which of course mean… the dancing skeleton’s return to Supersonic Car Wash! Hooray! It’s going to be an amazing month.

Check out Nikki’s awesome posts on our latest vacation to Las Vegas and then Zion!
Here are the links: Las Vegas Zion
Here are some of the pictures…

Las Vegas - 3.19.9

Zion - 3.21.9

Yes, yes indeed. You heard correct. Yes that’s right. Yep, I’m engaged. I know I know, you thought it would never happen. You all said that I would never find someone that could handle the many mysterious ways of Mike but wait wait wait wait! I haver! Yes that’s right. I’m finally engaged to Nikki Parry. My best friend and true love. Now sit back, relax, but keep your eyes open and enjoy the story…

Think of Aladdin… “It begins on a dark night! Where a dark man waits… with a dark purpose…”
Okay okay so there isn’t a dark man or a dark purpose but there is a dark night. Nikki and I had been planning on going up to see the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake for a few weeks now (clever planning on my part, thank you mucho mucho). So I have her convinced that we will go up to Temple Square, enjoy the lights and celebrate the fact that school is over for the semester. So, sure enough we make our way up and everything is going well. I have talked to her father, went extremely well, I have the ring in my pocket, and I am with and in love with the girl of my dreams. We park and start walking. I soon realized that I couldn’t zip up my coat or the box the ring is in would bulge too much. Now, I’m okay with a little bulge here and there but it really was bulging too much. Trust me… too much, it was totally obvious. I’m lucky that she didn’t see it. Anyway, we walk into Temple Square and we slowing make our way around the temple. I offered to take a tour but Nikki said no, thank goodness, and we kept walking. Nikki was kind enough to give me her personal tour which turned out to be very informative. For those of you that didn’t know, the Salt Lake Temple was not built in 1853 but rather in 1803! I know crazy huh! Who would have known that the church could have been wrong about this fact for so many years. It’s a good thing I have Nikki to keep me on track. Love you babe!
Gawsh, I’m sorry, I’m really starting to ramble here. So… then we walked over in front of the reflection pond in front of the temple and walked away from the crowds a bit onto the snow covered opening in between the church office building and the Joseph Smith Memorial building. See Figure A.

We hugged for a minute or two trying to keep warm and I told her how much I love her. I told her that I didn’t think she really knew how much I loved her and, sure enough, got down on one knee and pulled the ring out of my coat pocket. Oh I wish that everyone in the world could have seen Nikki’s face. Oh me oh my, it was incredible. She was holding her breath and he eyes just got bigger and bigger, now I mean those beautiful green eyes were huge! And then it started getting wierd. She started crying, which I figured she would do, but then started laughing too! Yep, it was full on crying laughter. That and she still wasn’t breathing. But I finished my little spiel about how much I love her and how I want to spend eternity with her and boom. That was it. She said “I will” and then “yes” and everything was perfect. The cheering from the people around us on the walk ways and in front of the temple made it even more fun. It was so perfect. We hugged and kissed and she cried. It was so great. I have never been so happy in my life. I am so lucky to have not only found Nikki but to have her love me in return. I truly am the luckiest.

“I Will!” -  The greatest words I’ve ever heard.

We left Temple Square, called out parents, sent out some texts. Updated Twitter. Everything went so beautifully. I am so happy that I was able to keep it an entire surprise for her. Nikki had no clue what so ever. I usually can’t keep things from her. She usually finds out. But luckily this day was different. I finally got one over on her. It was phenominal. We went and talked to her parents, mine and my family, her friends, her brothers, everyone. Texted everyone in our phones. Overall it was such a great evening and I thank Nikki so much for saying yes. You can see some pictures from that night on Facebook. Here is a quick picture of her ring. See Figure B. It’s gorgeous like her.

And to Nikki:
I love you girl. You are my best friend and my soul mate. I am so lucky to have you in my life and soon to be my wife! Crazy! I cannot wait, we will have so much fun. Our lives will never be the same but they are only getting better. I love you more than anything babe.

Thanks for reading if you did, if you didn’t well thanks for skimming. Nikki hasn’t proof read this yet so I’m sure some things are either missing or incorrect. Check back soon for more updates and I’m sure… corrections.

Now many of you out there already know the news I am about to enlighten you with but I figured it was still time to tell the people that don’t know. So… about a month ago I got rid of my trusty Jeep. Yes yes, sadly that is correct. Genevieve has moved on to bigger and better things, as have I. So I now am the proud owner of a 2005 Nissan Altima. She’s black, 3.5 liter engine, mighty fast and mighty fine. I love her. So, I am happy introduce you all too ‘Miss Midnight’. She is beauty. Come on by anytime and we can go for a ride.

Nextly… I have done it. I have finally made the fateful switch. Yes indeed, I am now a die-hard Mac user. I know I know! Many of you thought it would never happen! Many of you laughed and said “Oh come now Michael, you will never switch over, it’ll be too difficult for you.” Well… not so fast mister, I have done it! Anyway, I love my Macbook Pro. I got the seventeen inch, I love it so much. I’m so very fortunate to have it. I really am also just very excited to have the right to put the following at the bottom of my Apple forum commentary! Bring it on world! Bring it on!

MacBook Pro 17″ - 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM

iPod Touch - 8GB

AirPort Extreme

Also, before I forget… I am leaving on vacation this next Monday the fifth. Going to England and to Portugal for a couple weeks. Be sure to check back for some new posts! And as my father always taught me… live long, prosper, become the president.

Well as many but most likely few of you know, I went to California for a little vacation with some friendolas at the end of April. Yes indeed, it was Brett Sorensen, Tysin Schaugaard, Nikki Parry, and myself of course. We had a blast of a time, went to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags Magic Mountain. We had a great time and made many a great memory. We took some videos for those of you that might be interested in what a vacation with us might be like. So watchem if you like and leave a comment afterward! Enjoy!

Yes that is Brett, Tysin and myself on the Tea Cups in Disneyland… okay okay fine, the ‘Mad Tea Party’ … but great times ma brothas!

Yes, okay, this one is not the most exciting video from the trip but what they hay, I figured I’d throw it in. It also goes out as a tribute to the Haering Family. I know that they will surely appreciate it.

Ah, Six Flags Magic Mountain… so much fun. We had a great time here this year. Some pretty crazy coasters. But I honestly think that the scariest part of the entire day was when we rode on (what I recall is) the Log Jammer. This was the greatest (scariest) log ride I have ever been on. We we’re honestly scared that we would tip the entire log right over. We we’re so scared in fact… we rode it a second time.

Thats the video blog entries from this year’s Spring trip to California. Sorry the isn’t more (I’m sure you really don’t care much so… forget you!). Below is a little slide show of some of the pictures as well as links to the pictures and videos. Enjoy!

Pictures: Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain
Videos: Vimeo