clever title featuring the number 8

Ms. Cami has given me much to celebrate: an award (oh, to balance beer on my forehead) and a meme to share with you. Are you ready?

First the award:

Rumor has it I can share the joy, and bestow it on you. But not today. I'm up to meme-ing and that's about it. Your day will come.

8 things I am passionate about: (See how I just jumped straight to the meme? No transition in sight...I think my brain is broken with holiday cheer.)

1. Greg and Lexi and Zack. I never knew I would love being a wife & mother, the way I do.
2. my extended family - we are small in numbers, big on sticking together
3. my friends that feel like family
4. writing, words
5. spiritual things (I don't know how else to phrase it. For me, this includes: going to a church I love, going on quiet walks, listening to passionate music, doing yoga, prayer & having coffee with friends.)
6. justice
7. cooking & baking
8. art - photography, paint, beads, paper. I need to make time for it in 2008

8 things I want to do before I die:

1. grow old with Greg (sorry Cami, I took this straight from you)
2. know my kids, see them grow strong & happy
3. publish a novel, perhaps I should write it first, no?
4. go to Vermont, to see the foliage
5. go back to school
6. I must not be very ambitious, I'm struggling with this list
7. Sometimes I think I would love to give one sermon, use that education I got years ago
8. Most times I know I don't; I am right where I am supposed to be.

8 things I say often:

1. "What are you doing?" Yes, this is the first thing I say on the phone. Because I am rude.
2. "Oosshie bookiee..." When something is too precious it's the sound I make. I can't spell it. It's often used in a snarky way (see also: mocking). Now my hubs & kids do it.
3. "Do you know I love you?" Lexi just added this one for me.
4. "You're my best boy/girl." Have they figured out they are my only boy/girl? Sure. They still like it.
5. "My eyeballs will bleed." This phrase explains to my kids why I can't watch certain movies with them. It's also used to plead for the bickering to stop.
6. "Chop chop chicken" Lexi also reminded me of this one. It's a call to move it.
7. "Stop it, Sophie." Our dog hates me. She whines outside, I bring her in. She whines in the house, I let her out. But I'm more likely to beg her to stop.
8. "Remember that one time on Buffy?" Ok, I don't say that specifically but I reminisce a little too much about the slayer. I'm one step away from attending conferences.

8 books I read recently:

1. When We Get There - debut by Shauna Seliy. I love reading first time novelists.
2. Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World - Isa Chandra Moskowitz. So pretty, so lovely, so edible.
3. Holidays on Ice: Stories, on CD - David Sedaris. Dear David, I love you.
4. Spunk & Bite - Arthur Plotnik. Me wants to write good.
5. The Used World - Haven Kimmel.
6. Gaining: The Truth about Life After Eating Disorders - Aimee Lui.
7. Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion - Sara Miles.
8. Watercolor magazine. It's time I pick up a paintbrush again.

8 songs I could listen to over & over again:

1. Old, mournful hymns. They speak to me and make me sound like I'm 80.
2. River, by Joni Mitchell
3. Badmotorfinger, Soundgarden (entire CD)
4. Whip-Smart, Liz Phair (entire CD, w/o little Milton ears around. Reminds me of my early 20s.
5. Keith Green. Most passionate, hippy Christian around. His songs make me cry.
6. We Got the Beat, Go-Gos. It's my inner 10 year old. She also likes 'Mickey'.
7. I got nothing. I like a wide range of songs. I am failing.
8. Oh, how about Ave Maria? My favorite Christmas song.

8 things that attract me to my best friends:

1. sense of humor
2. brains
3. integrity
4. passionate
5. kind
6. independent
7. playfulness
8. loyalty

8 people who should totally do this meme: (when holiday cheer doesn't make their "eyeballs bleed")

1. Stephanie
2. Kate
3. Daisy
4. Jessalee
5. Nat
6. JCK
7. Lori
8. Kimberly
   

Mama Milton's meme policy: If you want to play along, please do. If you don't & wish I would stop tagging you already, I understand. I'm easy like a Sunday morning. Which is often a ridiculous statement at my house, but the sentiment stands. You likey Memey, you do. You not likey, you tell me.