Update

So much has happened in the last month. Here's an update:

-One of my best friends had a bridal shower and wedding. She was gorgeous! It's so uplifting to see two people get together that are so kind, beautiful, talented, and in love. At the wedding I met the adorable baby of one friend, and learned yet another good friend had just had a baby!

-An aunt and uncle returned home from their mission, and it's great to have them back.

-I celebrated Thanksgiving twice, once with my aunt and uncle's family and again with my family!

-Work is going really well. I love what I do. I'm getting involved with recruiting new nurses to work at my hospital. I went up to BYU-Idaho to talk to the nursing students, and it went really well. They had plenty of questions and seemed interested in coming down here.

-For the first time I 1) Went to a Jazz game! Those are some seriously tall boys! 2) Saw the lights on Temple Square, and they did not disappoint. It was gorgeous. 3) Sang in the ward choir voluntarily. My mom ALWAYS made us go to ward choir practice when I was growing up. Back then I dreaded it, but now I really enjoy it. Go me!

-I've signed up for classes starting in January to get my BSN. I have mixed emotions because I really want to get my bachelor degree, but school means less time to do everything else. As it is, I feel plenty busy now without the added stress of homework. I just need to jump in and DO it so I can stop thinking about.

Happy Holidays to everyone! I hope all you BYU fans can recover in time to really enjoy Christmas :), and that my Utes can withstand Alabama.

Snow and Spiders

I apologize for the lack of pictures. As soon as I find my digital camera, I promise to post some pictures--that's my favorite part of other people's blogs.

The adventures with spiders continue. I found the Grand-daddy Hobo on my wall a few days ago; when I mashed him there was what looked to be actual blood left over. Probably mine. Today I did the dishes and there was one in the SINK!! What am I going to do?! I seriously cannot go on living like this. My roommate is so funny--she saves them! Of all the weird creatures to show compassion to...all I can say is there will be NO spiders in my Eternity.

It snowed like it was January today, which put me in such a good/romantic mood. I may have to find a man for the holidays... :) I've been listening to Christmas music since Halloween and can't seem to get enough! Between Harry Connick Jr and Michael Buble's delicious voices singing sweet words to me, I don't quite know what to do with myself.

Last but not least, I've been quite the domestic goddess today. My roommates came home to the sensuous scent of banana-nut bread in the oven, a clean kitchen, and me in an apron sweeping the floor. Impressed? I am. I actually ENJOY it, which is something I never thought I would say. Tomorrow's challenge will be Sauteed Chicken and Broccoli over Angel Hair Pasta. I'll let you know how that turns out.

Unpleasant Surprises

Last night I was contemplating what my first blog entry should include when I was rudely interrupted. As I walked into my bedroom, my spidey-radar alerted me to an intruder. Poised on the floor next to my bed was a Hobo spider! No, I'm not joking--I've become adept at identifying dangerous arachnids. He was brown with that pattern on his back, "boxing glove fangs," eight legs, and very, very sly. This last characteristic I've learned from vast experience killing such vermin.

Allow me to back up and familiarize you with the situation. When I moved in a month ago, I killed two large spiders the first two nights. I swear they were some rare breed I'd never seen before. I soon after bought a pack of sticky traps and sprayed, or rather doused, the perimeter of my small but wonderful 9x10 room. The package of traps contained six sticky pads; I set all of them up . That comes out to one trap per fifteen square feet (I think). I figure that should be enough to keep me safe and ignorant of the spiders. Have not seen another spider until last night...

Back to my Hobo. When I set my sights on him, my heart began to race, my palms began to sweat, but I contain my scream considering there are four sleeping girls above me. Realizing he could bolt under my dresser at any moment, I grab the shoe specifically designated as Plan C, should the poison and trap fail. I crouch within arms reach to assess my foe. He is still as death, but I'm not fooled. Dead spiders' legs curl up tight to their body, they shrink, and they don't flinch when blown upon. I've gotta live one!!! The cowardly/desperate side of me wants to crawl into bed and pretend I didn't see anything. But then he'd breed or murder me in my sleep. So I must be brave. It takes several minutes to actually take the first strike and I MISS!! AHHHH! Words I don't say are flying through my head trying to make it out between my clenched teeth as he crawls farther under my bed! This is good because he's headed straight for a trap, or so I think. No, no, remember Hobo's are very clever. They'll even fake death. Seriously. This one crawls UNDERNEATH the sticky pad. I run for the spray and drench the carpet around the trap, so he finally crawls into it to escape the rain of death. I prematurely celebrate victory until he crawls OFF the sticky goo! What a waste of five bucks.

As a last resort he makes a run at me, so it's back to the shoe. I grant him a quick death as I smear him into the carpet several times. Through all of this I hear Gramma's chiding tone in my head assuring me the poor, defenseless spider is more afraid of me than I am of him. Yeah, right. Love you Gramma! Wish you would have been here to save me from that spider. Nonetheless, I've accomplished my purpose and can now rest peacefully because I am Xena, Princess Warrior! Spiders beware. . .