Noggin

Each August Reno has this thing called “Hot August Nights“. Most years we are out of town for the festivities as they tend to coincide with our anniversary and we’re often down in the Bay Area visiting my family. But this year, we were down there in July for BlogHer and (gas costing what it does) we weren’t going to be going back. So, we figured if we had to be in Reno during “Hot August Nights”, we may as well join ‘em.

First, we thought we’d go catch a “Show n’ Shine” at the Grand Sierra Resort. That was an Epic Fail on our part because the place was a ginormous clusterfuck. No one could get into the parking lots unless they were driving a classic automobile (but people in normal cars were leaving? I have NO idea.) There were cops there directing (or trying to direct) traffic and there were no signs telling anyone where to go and the best we could figure out was that people had to find somewhere else to park and then WALK in. Which, if you’ve ever seen the Grand Sierra Resort (formerly the Reno Hilton), you realize that’s about a JOKE. So yeah… no.

We headed southwards towards the Atlantis. As luck would have it, we found an AWESOME spot very close to the casino doors (this was after some assholes seriously stole a spot out from under our noses and then we were able to get one just as good so it ended up being a FACE ON YOU sort of moment). We were all feeling a little stressed at that moment because OMG, there were so many people and they were all OBNOXIOUS. But before we knew it, we were over at the other lot ogling at nifty cars so it was all good. Here are some of my favorite pictures, you can see the rest of the set here.

Truly, “Hot August Nights” is for anyone that can appreciate a shiny car. Oh, and who doesn’t mind crowds of OBNOXIOUS people.

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I drank the Kool Aid and bought “Twilight” the other night. As soon as I finish the book I’m reading (”Born in Death” by JD Robb), I’ll start in on it. I’m a little worried that I’m going to find it wholly ridiculous. That or incredibly addictive. I’m not sure which would be worse.

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I kinda love Laurie Berkner. This is what Noggin has done to me. I’m seriously having to prevent myself from downloading some of her stuff on iTunes in favor of using that $ for “Dr. Horrible” instead (which I haven’t seen yet. I KNOW.). What would I do without Jack’s Big Music Show, Blues Clues and The Backyardigans? I might have to watch Oswald or Yo Gabba Gabba (or horror of all horrors: Nickelodeon).

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Okay, I just got “Dr. Horrible” off of iTunes. It’s about time I watched it, don’t you think? Now here’s the question: can I resist watching it until I get my iPhone or should I just watch it now and be done with it? Also: why am I wanting to wait until I get my iPhone to watch it anyhow? Does that make me painfully nerdy?

Wait. Don’t answer that.

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I saw a quick blurb on The Today Show this morning about Hillary Clinton’s campaign against Obama and how her advisors wanted to portray him as so foreign because he spent so much of his youth in Indonesia and… ahem… HAWAII.

Now, I’m sorry, I don’t often get political on this here blog and all but… SERIOUSLY???

Yes, Indonesia I get… but Hawaii? Uhm, last I checked, Hawaii was one of the 50 states in the United States of America so how does having roots there (and taking a vacation there, to boot) make him either elitest (according to McCain’s campaign) or unAmerican?

It’s crap like that that seriously makes my brain want to turn to jelly and dribble out my ear. I’d like to think that we’re all smart enough not to buy such crap but then considering the 2000 and 2004 elections, I’m having my doubts.

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Lordy, is it Tuesday already? What the heck, yo?

I have zero concentration this week. I have about a bazillion things buzzing around my head but I feel like I’ve been unable to concentrate on any one thing at any one time. Even now, I’ve gone and laid Evie down up in her crib in her room (with the monitor within arms reach of me down here, of course) and Liam is distracted by “Jack’s Big Music Show” (LOVE) and a pile of plastic blocks. But do you think I can concentrate long enough to gather my thoughts into a cohesive post?

NOPE!

I feel like I’ve been pulled into a million different directions lately. A little piece of me is needed here, a little piece over there and another piece needs to be thinking about that over there too. Nothing has my full attention and that is worrisome to me. I’m scattered, is what it is. I’d quite simply forgotten what it was like to feel this way. Friggin’ thyroid.

Here’s just a little sampling of what is buzzing around in that empty cranial cavity at the moment:

I’m trying to make an appointment with a new doctor. Our new primary care physician on our new insurance has a web-based appointment maker thingie. I filled it out yesterday but haven’t heard back yet. I hope they haven’t tried to call because our landline is at the mercy of two very f’d up phones that can’t hold a charge for more than two minutes and the charging stations are nowhere NEAR where I sit and nurse Evie. So if they’ve called, chances are I’ve missed it.
You’d think, then, that I would check voicemail to see. But I haven’t. I should probably do that.
Speaking of phones, I won one. You know, nothing much. ;) Those that follow me on Twitter probably saw me lose my freakin’ gourd over it last week. The only thing is that since we’re already AT&T customers, I need to wait until the end of August to renew my contract in order to get the reduced cost. I think. I’m still rather confused by the whole thing, to be honest. But very excited to get my hands on it.
Evie is sleeping in her crib RIGHT NOW. That freaks me out. She didn’t sleep in there very long last night. Only an hour or two and was in bed with us by the time we went to bed but STILL. Baby steps. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not too excited to get this particular milestone achieved just yet. She’s only 4 months old! SHE MAH BAYBEE!!!
I’ve discovered Rockstar in the last week or so and I really kinda like it. MUST GET MORE. May just be the only thing to punch through my Thyroid Fog right now.
Still haven’t seen “Dark Knight”. Am pretty sad about that. Hoping to remedy this little problem at the drive-in this weekend.
Am so glad that Noggin’s monthly theme will switch in a couple days. Am rather tired of the “Are we there yet?” song. Actually, I think I was tired of it after the first day, to be honest.
Where was I?
My anniversary is this month! TEN YEARS, yo. Do we have any plans made? NOPE. Not that I know of, at least. Crap. Should really start thinking about this. Anyone want to take bets on if I can get a DSLR or laptop out of this? (That hysterical laughter you’re hearing is my husband. He thinks I’m SUCH a kidder!)
Liam goes in for a speech therapy evaluation tomorrow. I haven’t really mentioned much about that, have I? I don’t know why we’re not doing Early Intervention or if Nevada even DOES Early Intervention. So in lieu of that, we have to journey clear across town to see this therapist. And pay a standard office visit copay to boot. Oh well. It’s for the Good of the Child, which you can’t ever really bargain away, can you?

I’m sure I’ve got more. But my brain keeps slipping away and thinking of stupid things like, “Should I do diaper laundry before or after lunch? This evening? How about a shower? Should I try to take one today? Oh! Don’t forget to Evie’s prescriptions filled at the grocery store! When should I go to the grocery store? Tomorrow? Yeah, right, as if I’d go by myself. Dang, when’s lunch?”

So… yeah. Sorry about that, folks. I’ll try harder to whip my lazy brain into shape for tomorrow’s post. In the meantime, feel free to read yesterday’s post which I have on good authority is a pretty good one.