ZSC

Two years ago Courtney and I worked at a place called Zions Securities Corporation. It was THE lamest job in the world. But we're so glad we worked there, because we made some pretty awesome buddies that we still hang out with 2 years later. And a lot of awkward stories that we get to re-live.

This is us at our usual hangout spot. Freaky Dee's. Good times, good times.

From left to right: Liz, Matt R, Me, Court, Allen

Hate is a strong word, but I really really really don't like spiders

Let me tell you a story:

Last night I had a pretty vivid dream about spiders. One of my guy friends was killing spiders (well, trying to). They kept leaping around-defying gravity (oh, you know, like spiders usually do). And I can't really remember the end of the story. Or which guy friend was doing the 'killing'. All I know is I wasn't the one doing the killing (which will come into play later) and that there were spiders.

Anywho. I woke up this morning and went into the bathroom to do my usual routine. AND guess what. There was this MONSTER spider crouching on the wall above the toilet. Apparently dreams do come true. So, I avoided the toilet. Which means, I waited to go to the bathroom until work. Yes, I go to extremes to avoid spiders.

I left the spider in peace and washed my face--when I opened my eyes the spider was ON THE COUNTER next to me!!! Why did it want to ruin my life?! I watched it, making sure it wouldn't pounce on me (it was moving one of its legs back and forth like it was wanting to jump on me). ugh. So I did the first thing that came to my mind. I grabbed a paper cup and trapped it! WOOT. Go Berk.

I got to work and texted Courtney warning her about the cup with the spider (secretly hoping she would take care of it while I was gone).

Nope. When I got home the cup was still there!! 9:00pm rolls around and Courtney finally gets home from visiting a friend in Provo. By this time, I'm kind of hoping the spider is dead (who can survive 15 hours being trapped in a cup?). There was NO way I was getting near the cup, so Courtney picked it up. It was gone! (gasp).

Just kidding. Apparently it was crouched at the top of the cup like the freak it was!!! Courtney screams, drops the cup and the spider lands in the sink. I was screaming in the hallway, cheering her on--at a safe distance--trying to get her to kill it.

She takes off her flip flop, but decides its too big of a spider for a flip flop to kill--so I run looking for a bigger weapon. I find a platform flip flop (eh, good enough) and give it to the Court. Woot! She accepts the weapon and decides she cant kill it yet. She grabs some air freshener and starts spraying the HECK out of the spider! I peek around the corner and see the spider flying around in the sink. Yup (later, after discussion, Courtney thought the spider was flying, but I think it was from the force of the spray).

Spraying done with, Courtney finally kills the spider with the platform flip flop. And I dont know what happened after that. I ran into the kitchen.

Now, here it is, 10:30pm and I still cant shower. The bathroom reeks like air freshener-and I like to breathe when I shower. That spider officially ruined my day.

And thank you to the Courtney for killing it.

The End.

p.s. sorry that this story bounces from present tense to past tense. When I get excited I accidentally start doing play-by-play present tense.

Finally-a real pic

I decided to post a real picture of my brother and Alyssa so you can see how freaking adorable they are (without crackers falling out of their mouth)...

oh-and if you want to see the rest of their engagement pictures, go to heartphotos.net

--dang photogenic couple.

I'm getting a new sister!

Woohoo! My brother Jordan and Alyssa Offill are getting married April 25th! I'm so excited... My family curse has been BROKEN (this is the first sibling getting married)! But anywho-i'm stoked, and I wish them the best in their new life together.

And please enjoy the pic... yes they are a crazy couple. haha

Before I die

I get to look at a map quite often at work and lately I've noticed some places that sound pretty dang awkward:

Gulf of Bothnia - sounds like a little kid with a lisp trying to say Bosnia
Belcher Islands -no comment needed

**I will add to the list as I notice new and awkward places around the World (the Gulf of Bothnia is a body of water in between Sweden and Finland, and Belcher Islands is in Northern Canada).

Before I die I want to go to both places, just to say I did.

Winter Wonderland

SNOW!!! My Ma needed us to shovel our driveway so she could get out and run errands... it took us a while. Our driveway isn't the shortest..... This first pic is us shoveling the driveway. Good times.

I was sooo excited. woohoooo. Actually, it was kind of fun.

My sis Moriah knocking some snow off a tree.

I'm not a fan of cats, but our cat Tigger can be cute sooometimes.

Pretty mountains. Ahh there's nothing better than the Bitterroot.

Christmas 2008

Grammer wanted us to take a picture all together so she could send it to our relatives off in China (they're teaching or something) and I gladly volunteered to take the pic since I hadn't showered yet for the day, or done anything to make myself presentable since I flew in the night before. haha tricky/lazy me.

Pictured is Grammer, my family -minus me and my older sis (who didn't come for Christmas), and our Aunt Julie (bottom right).

Grammer's Family

Here are all the pictures that I received. Thanks everyone for sending them! They're off being printed right now-I decided to put them in a slideshow so the whole fam can see (and enjoy) all the pictures I got. We have one CUTE family!! :) And it's not too late to email me pictures. If you noticed anybody that didn't get into the slideshow (and have a pic for them), send it to me!!!

For people not in my family-we have the coolest Grammer Hughes EVER. So I thought she might like a photo album of her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids for Christmas....

ENJOY!

***disclaimer: Grammer wont see this slideshow-i'm printing off actual hard copies of all the pics for her... haha. So dont worry about the music! Jordan was worried... it was a valid worry, though. I dont think she would have liked the music, either. :)

Shout out to Nicole Sheahan

My buddy Nicole Sheahan is a new singer/songwriter and I wanted to give her a little shout out so all my other friends can enjoy her music! She is great. Yay for Montana girls.

Her CD is on itunes, and here are a few links to get you started (if you're interested)...

http://mormonartist.net/issue-2/nicole-sheahan/ (magazine interview)

http://www.yldsr.com/segments/new-artist-show .html (radio interview)

http://www.myspace.com/nicolesheahan

http://www.nicolesheahan.com

Jon McLaughlin Show

I really enjoy going to concerts, seeing musicians in their element. You can tell some people were just born with an awesome gift of music so it's fun to hear them sing and perform, and just know that they love what they do.

I heard on the radio (our very own 99.5fm) that Jon McLaughlin was playing at a store in SLC to promote his new CD 'OK Now', so I went to check it out. There wasn't a huge crowd there, so it was a cool experience. His voice is incredible and he was so intense on the keyboard that he reminded me of Schroeder from Peanuts, the little piano dude.

If you haven't heard of Jon McLaughlin, definitely check him out. Some of his more famous songs are 'So Close' from Enchanted, Beautiful Disaster (which was on the radio a while ago), and Beating My Heart (which is currently on the radio). Very talented kid.

Knittin Time

I'm so excited... some girls and I are going to learn how to KNIT! Random, you ask? Yes, very. But I'm stoked!

Expect to see some pictures of the finished products on here soon.... so put in your orders now for what you want.

p.s. Have any rad ideas for knitting projects? Let me know!

Booya Grandma.