Just For Uncle Paul
'cause we all know what happens when someone double-dog-dares me

8 Things

8 TV shows I love to watch

1. The Office
2. The Biggest Loser (while eating snacks)
3. What Not to Wear
4. Jon and Kate plus 8 (makes me grateful for my life)
5. Lost
   

Okay, sorry, I'm out. It's not that I don't watch a lot of TV, I'll watch whatever is on. I just don't have that many must see shows.

8 Favorite Restaurants

No worries; I've got this one covered.

1. Ottavio's
2. El Azteca
3. Cafe Rio
4. Kneaders
5. La Carretta
6. Olive Garden
7. Texas Roadhouse
8. Puerto Vallarta
9. Ruby River
10. ...What? You only wanted 8? But I've got more. No Thanks? Okay.

8 Things that happened yesterday

1. Pumpkin Patch field trip (Where Sam got teased by some Kindergartners about his Halloween costume. These rotten little boys called him a "stupid pirate" and asked "Where's your stupid bird, stupid pirate?" Sam had no clue and was all like, "whatevs", but I went all Momma Bear on them with, "No you di'n't. Aw snap. Use your nice words." I showed those 5 year-olds.
   
2. Sam took a too short nap and I tried to join him, but couldn't sleep
3. Had my yearly evaluation at work
4. Planned what to make for dinner
5. Decided it involved a trip to the grocery store
6. Planned where to eat out instead
   
7. Went to the church Halloween carnival where there were several pirates, but none as cute as Sam and none had a parrot. So there, Kinderbabies! (Why am I still kind of bothered by them?)
8. Daniel and I listened to our Camry make a coughing death-like rattle and decided I would take it to the mechanic in the morning. Which I did today.
   

***Sidenote Alert*** I don't really trust mechanics. First off they treat me like an idiot. Granted, I don't know how to "pop my hood", I can't say with complete certainty what year my car is, and I don't know the mileage off the top of my head, but I can tell when I'm being talked down to, I do know where the serpentine belt is, I know the difference between a timing belt and a timing chain, and I'm pretty sure I could tell if someone was completely making up the name of an engine part (which a mechanic tried to do to me a few years ago), and I know for sure that this noise isn't my tires.

Me: My car is making a funny noise. It's coming from under the hood and I'm thinking it might be related to this belt because it gets faster when I accelerate.
Skinny Dude: (Rolling his eyes at the other guys at the counter). I'll come check it out. (Walking outside.) It's probably your tires.
Me: I don't think so. It's coming from under the hood.
Skinny Dude: You probably don't do a lot of work under the hood, do you.

So then he takes it back for a "diagnostic" and comes out to tell me that my 2 and a half year old Honda (it's a Toyota, skinny dude) has a broken water pump and that if I try to drive it out of the parking lot it's "gonna seize up" on me. And that it will cost $271.oo-331.00. I think this guy is a moron and using all kinds of technical jargon (BS) to prove that he knows more than me. I'm just about to call him on it when "Butch" walks into the room.

Butch: You the one with the Toyota?
Me: Yeah.
Butch: The bearings are out on the water pump. It's a pretty new car, so you should call Toyota and check on your warranty. It's probably covered.
Me: Thanks. Am I okay to drive it home?
Butch: Oh yeah, just don't take it too fast and get it fixed soon.

Butch is dressed in a jumpsuit and is head-to-toe grease and I am immediately relieved. Turns out skinny dude is basically just a receptionist. I hope he doesn't do a lot of work under the hood.

8 Things I'm looking forward to

1. My Birthday
2. Christmas
3. Going home for Christmas
   
4. The Office tonight
5. A walk to the park this afternoon
6. Someday moving out of this house
7. Daniel coming home from work
8. Sam's bedtime
   

8 Things on my wish list

1. new shoes
2. more money
3. warm weather
4. finished house
5. sold house
6. new house
7. a free fixed car
8. housekeeper
   

8 Tidbits about me
Oh come on! Isn't this entire blog about me.

8 Pet Peeves

1. People who break rules
2. Mechanics who lie and treat me like I'm stupid
3. The sound of Styrofoam. Just thinking about it squiks me out.
4. People who tell me before I've even poked them: "I'm a really hard stick", "I have bad veins", "you'll have to use the baby needle on me", "I want the doctor (manager, charge nurse) to do my IV" etc. Just so you know, telling the nurse how to do his/her job pretty much guarantees you an uncomfortable venipuncture experience. And by the way, the doctor hasn't done an IV since med school and I've probably done 10 just today, so chew on that.
   
5. People who come to the ER for really minor things (example:chapped lips. No, really.) or for a cold they've had for 2-3 days. Seriously? You decided it was an EMERGENCY right now? At 11:30 PM.? Why not earlier today, WHEN YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE WAS OPEN!
6. Reruns
7. My neighbor's chimney which blows smoke directly at my house. WHY?
8. Children unrestrained in a vehicle

Wow! That was a lot of work. I may not be able to blog again for at least a few days. How will you all go on without me.