was the first thing I thought of when I thought “eight.” I would say “random,” but I really don’t like that word. I’ll use dumbo instead. I like how that sounds better.

Because I was tagged by Jack, and well. . . who doesn’t enjoy a good meme thing every once in a while?

Eight Things I Am Passionate about:

1. Music. It has to be first, because it has to be here. It just has to. And I can’t explain it, either. I just have to be playing something or singing something or hearing something related to music. I have a constant soundtrack playing in my head, or one line of a song I just can’t forget. I know that this is a cliche thing to be passionate about, because it seems like everyone is loving new music or obsessed with iTunes or something, but I am. A lot. I can’t tell you how hearing a chamber orchestra play Handel’s sonata or a Brahms symphony played in a magnificent hall or jamming with a few friends can make you feel. You just have to experience it. Music expresses what can’t be expressed otherwise.

2. My faith, and consequently,

3. Children. Being with children, teaching children, playing with children. Just children. I love their hearts and their loving spirits, the newness with which they express themselves, and their little hands and voices.

4. My fiance. I love this guy more than. . . well, more than a lot. He’s helped me discover more about who I am, accepts me even when I’m being the hugest asshole on the planet, and loves me when it feels like the world is crashing down around me. I honestly couldn’t tell you all what I would do without the presence of this man in my life.

5. My animals, or more specifically, Babe-Babe (my peekapoo), Zoe and Grey Kitty. They’ve been the comfort I couldn’t find elsewhere, as they continuously give and yet ask for nothing in return. How to tell God really loves us? Find a good pet. I heard from a wise man that we are truly blessed if we have five good pets in our entire lifetime. I’m beginning to find myself over blessed.

6. Nature and being outdoors, whether it is on a roof at midnight staring at the stars for hours (I used to want to be an astronaut) or standing on the top of a mountain at sunrise marveling at the glory of creation, I love rejoicing in the great outdoors.

7. Giving. I am, by nature, a giver. I love giving presents, my time and just generally helping people. I just wish I had more resources from which to give.

and finally, 8. my family. Even though we’ve grown apart these past few years, I know that I always have their support, and that they love me like their little China doll and Bambi.

Eight Things I Want To Do Before I Die:

1. Learn to play the cello

2. Learn the constellations (again, because I’m stupid and forgot them)

3. Travel to Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea.

4. Settle down and have a family.

5. Finish the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan

6. Play in a really awesome chamber orchestra or quartet. . . or symphony orchestra. I really wouldn’t mind either

7. Pay off all debt, and that includes that stoopid student loan.

8. Grow my hair all the way back down to my butt (like when I was little)

Eight Things I Say Often:

1. Um.

2. Really?

3. Um, why? and Um, ok.

4. That’s awesome.

5. Damn it.

6. Hewwo, pweeze. Haha.

7. For real?

8. Honestly, now.

*Man, I am too smart for my own good.

Eight Books I’ve Read Recently:

*Most of the books I’ve read recently have been for class. Because of this fact, I will not subject you to the stupidness that is my reading schedule. Instead, I will attempt to leave you with a list of books I’ve read in the last semester or so for pleasure. I also don’t read much on the NYTimes bestseller lists. I like my series and classics, and given that, I’ve set myself up for quite some time.

1. Bag of Bones by Stephen King – Yes, I like Stephen King, comma splices and all. Lemme alone.

2. Just started 2 Agatha Christie books. . . wanted to see what all the hype is about: Murder on the Orient Express and The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

3. The Great Hunt and The Shadow Rising by Robert Jordan (because his books are massive)

4. Middlemarch by George Eliot (not going to lie: this one was a monster to get through)

5. reread The Chronicles of Narnia series by CS Lewis. I do this about every year or so.

6. about 8000 wedding magazines

7. Lilith by George MacDonald

8. The Small Rain by Madeleine L’Engle

Eight Movies I Have Seen Eight Times:

1. D2: The Mighty Ducks

2. Braveheart

3. The Wizard of Oz

4. 13 Going On 30

5. The Little Mermaid

6. Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and Cinderella

7. Love Actually

8. And because I watch tv on DVD too much, I have to include: The Simpsons: Seasons 1-3 and Gilmore Girls: Seasons 1-4.

Eight People Who Should Do This Meme:

*I’m not quite sure who’s done this and who hasn’t, so if you have and I tag you. . . well, you don’t have to do it again and you can openly mock me for being such a stoopid.

1. LittleSpoon

2. Princess Pointful

3. DuWaxLooLu

4. Novembrance

5. Brainy Jane

6. Amber. . . but only if she still comes here

7. Distracted Spunk

8. Aaand this is like pulling teeth. So, if you wanna do it, you can; if you don’t, you don’t. Simple as that.