8 passions in my life
reading
good food (simple, local, organic)
education
being outdoors
community
music (singing, playing, performing, listening)
travel
family & friends

8 things to do before I die
become an organic farmer
travel to all seven continents
find a job (or several kinds of jobs) that I love
become fluent in Spanish
live in another country
attend the World Cup
build something substantial
sing Verdi's Requiem again

8 5 things I often say (just 3, actually)
"dude"
"noooo" [very sarcastic tone]
"I feel like..."

8 7 books I read recently
The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urrea
High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
The Right Attitude to Rain by Alexander McCall Smith
Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquirel
By the Light of My Father's Smile by Alice Walker

8 songs that hold some meaning for me
La Pared
Love You Madly by Cake
Bicycle Race by Queen
Mr. Mastadon Farm by Cake (what can I say...Cake is good for all moods)
Kingdom Come by Coldplay
Gold from the Once soundtrack
Closer to Fine by the Indigo Girls
Podemos Hacemos Dano by Juanes

8 qualities I look for in a friend
sarcastic sense of humor
good listener
active conversationalist
enjoys being blatantly weird with me
enjoys a good cry and gives a great hug
sense of adventure
able to understand my mood swings