Eight Things. A meme.

In honor of my kid sleeping eight hours last night (!!!!!), I’m borrowing this lovely meme from Must Be Motherhood.

8 TV Shows I Love to Watch:
=> Dancing with the Stars
=> Boston Legal
=> Lost
=> Grey’s Anatomy (but I’m losing patience with it.  Izzie & Alex?  Puhleaze!)
=> Dexter
=> Weeds
=> Californication
=> Local news

8 Favorite Places to Eat:
=> Chili’s Grill & Bar.  It’s all about the chips & salsa.
=> Grazie’s Italian Grill for Spicy Garlic Chicken, made not spicy.
=> Nakashima’s of Japan.  The flaming tower of onions makes it all worthwhile.
=> Taste of India.  Best chicken tikka masala & naan bread this side of New Delhi.
=> Bentley’s Food & Spirits.  Their mushroom & swiss burger tickles my pickle.
=> Mandarin Garden.  The egg rolls are divine, and the cashew shrimp & chicken is perfection.
=> Tie between Red Lobster (for the biscuits) & Olive Garden (for the salad).
=> My own kitchen.  3 words.  Papa Murphy’s Pizza.

8 Things That Happened Yesterday:
=> The Husband invited his mother for a visit in November.
=> I began plotting The Husband’s slow, painful death.
=> I renewed my script for birth control pills.
=> Burger King shortchanged me two chocolate chip cookies.
=> I kissed the $2.39/gallon gas pump.
=> I spent all day craving Jiffy Pop popcorn, with real butter.
=> The post office machine dispensed lickable stamps.  I haven’t licked a stamp in about ten years.
=> I listened to my ipod for the first time since I had Mason.

8 Things I Look Forward To:
=> My wretched mother-in-law going home.
=> Warm weather.
=> Financial stability.
=> My son taking a bottle without spitting up and/or crying from the pain.
=> A family trip to Sesame Place in Pennsylvania.
=> Owning a family business.
=> Thanksgiving.  I have so much to be thankful for this year.
=> This damn election to be over.

8 Things I Love About Fall:
=> The spectacular beauty found only in the woods.
=> The smell of a roaring fire.
=> Warm apple pie with a cinnamon crumb topping, and a scoop of real vanilla ice cream.
=> Sweaters.
=> Huge bowls of chili.
=> Putting the lawnmower in storage.
=> Going an entire day without sneezing.  Or, the end of allergy hell.
=> Wearing gorgeous leather boots with a 2″+ heel.

8 Things on my Wish List:
=> Mason’s tummy to feel better.
=> No more soldier deaths in this godforsaken war.
=> Gas prices to stay below $2.50/gallon.
=> For my mother-in-law to develop a sudden, inexplicable, untreatable fear of airplanes.
=> Getting off this emotional roller coaster once and for all.
=> Winning the lottery.  Not even the big prize.  Just $100,000 to erase our credit card debt & pay down the mortgage.
=> Buying a small business.  Or finding the self-confidence to start my own photography studio.
=> In a few years, a daughter.

8 Things I’m Passionate About:
=> My family and friends.
=> Photography.
=> Infertility.
=> Writing.
=> Clipping coupons & shopping at garage sales to save $$$.
=> Quilting.
=> Ebay.
=> Cooking.

8 Words or Phrases I Use Often:
=> SHUT UP!
=> Oh my God.
=> Jesus H. Christ.
=> Dillhole.
=> Seriously?!?
=> Whatever.
=> Hey.
=> Where are my keys?????

8 Things I Have Learned From My Past:
=> Don’t burn any bridges, no matter how angry you are when you leave.
=> If you stare at the sky long enough, you can see heaven.
=> Always trust your instincts.
=> Working with my dad was one of the greatest experiences of my life.  I got to know him as a person, rather than a parent.
=> Admit the truth, no matter how hard it is and how much it hurts.
=> A college degree is not indicative of intelligence.
=> Be careful what you wish for.
=> If you said no, press charges.

8 Places I Would Love to Go or See or Visit:
=> Heaven.
=> Hawaii.
=> Australia.
=> Alaska.
=> Lake Tahoe.
=> A family trip to Sesame Place.
=> The Bahamas.
=> Swimming with the manatees.

8 Things I Currently Need or Want:
=> Strawberry milk.
=> Black socks.
=> Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods to move into Wisconsin.
=> More sleep.
=> A housekeeper.
=> Egg salad.
=> A happy baby.
=> Earplugs.  Or a husband who doesn’t snore.

If you decide to play along, leave me a note in the comments & prepare to see your name in lights.  Right here.