photography

Because obviously she fancies herself some sort of photographer or something.  AS IF.  Still, I make no secret that I enjoy taking pictures and my favorite subjects are my little rugrats.  And someday, someday, I will have a “real” camera with which to take pictures.  When that day comes, we shall all be in great trouble.  Because there will be pictures like no body’s business.  But until that day (which, frankly, may or may not exist), you’ll all have to put up with her lousy point-and-shoot pictures that she fuxes with in Photoshop until they look “quasi-fancy”.  That’s my word for it and I’m sticking to it.

So I treat you all, this fine Friday (while I’m trying to ignore my annoyingly runny nose, scratchy throat, pounding head and general state of craptasticness), to a sort of “day in the life” photo blog.  Because I like these pictures, that’s why.

This here is Pup/Poptart/Holly and she’s chewing on a paper towel.  This is the look she gave me when I threatened to eat her if she didn’t knock it off.  I get no respect.

This is “Happy” Liam after he was not-so-happy and I cheered him up on my lap…

And now he’s not-so-happy again.  Welcome to Toddlerhood!  Have you seen my sanity?

It was short-lived, the not-so-happiness because he soon saw “Wow Wow Wubsy” was on Noggin. He loves that stupid show.

Meanwhile, Evie watches from her bouncer seat.  Approximately two seconds after I took this, she insisted I feed her and hold her and generally attach her somehow to my person.

When Harry got home from work school (duh) he said (and I quote), “Hi, I don’t have any homework today can I play Wii?”  Care to take a breath first?  Here he is, honing his golfing skillz.

Liam gets a kick out of watching Harry play the Wii.  As long as he doesn’t stand in front of the TV, no one gets hurt.

It was a year ago, give or take a couple days, that I found out I was pregnant.  By total surprise.  After I had written myself off as an infertile mess.  Huh.  Then, just before New Years, I was surprised yet again to find out I was going to be having a girl.

I’d gotten rather used to having boys.  I sort of just expected that I would have boys.  That was the “default answer” and I was pretty okay with that.  There’s something so sweet about boys.  I’ve always said (and still do) that if I had to have children of only one gender, that I would rather have all boys than all girls.  I think, honestly, that it would be easier.  Girls, particularly more than one girl at a time, freak me out.  There’s a sort of “pack” thing that goes on with girls and I would fear for my sanity especially during the teenage years.

Not that boys aren’t a challenge.  But I’ve always felt that I could probably handle boys a lot easier than I could girls.  And at least I wouldn’t have to explain what a “period” is to a boy, right?

All of this said, I am really enjoying having a daughter.  I am truly amazed that it is a little different.  For me, at least.  She seems to have a different sort of temperment than either of the boys ever had.  Which isn’t to say she is a perfect angel.  Because she can be a needy, clingy, sharp (OMG the fingernails) little creature.  But, oh my stars, I just love her to death.  And I spend a lot of time looking into her eyes and trying to imagine the girl and woman she will become.  I’m truly humbled by her.

Taken with my cellphone after a nursing session in the van, she was interested in anything other than eating.

She has learned about the joy that is the ’saucer this last week.

Liam tries to show Evie how to play with his old ’saucer.

Evie tries to grab the camera from me.

The lace on this dress just KILLS me.  I love it so much.

Taking a wee snooze on the boppy.

OMG, that’s it.  I want to eat her.

I want to hold onto these days forever.

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.

***

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.

***

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).

***

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.

***

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.

***

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

1. Coma Black ~ Marilyn Manson, 2. Baby Shrimp Scampi, 3. can you tie it in a knot - can you tie it in a bow, 4. Purple fingers, 5. YEE-HAWW!!, 6. Appletini Week, 7. Sunset Beach, 8. Cherry Cobbler, 9. Day 106 - I am a librarian, 10. Autumn walk, 11. Bell(AHHHH)gio, 12. Test photo

I’d like to thank Rhi for doing this and causing me to waste nearly an entire hour working on this. All the other tasks I neglected during that time thank her too.

What you do:

1. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
2. Using only the first page, pick an image.
3. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker).

My Answers:

1. What is your first name? Marilyn
2. What is your favorite food? shrimp scampi
3. What high school did you go to? Presentation
4. What is your favorite color? purple
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Owen Wilson
6. Favorite drink? appletini
7. Dream vacation? New Zealand
8. Favorite dessert? cherry crisp
9. What you want to be when you grow up? writer
10. What do you love most in life? My children
11. One Word to describe you. busy
12. Your flickr name. callistawolf

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In other news: I have a review up over at my new review blog. But it’s not just a review, it’s a giveaway too (thanks to PBN!). GO CHECK IT OUT. You too can be considered a rockstar in your child’s eyes!

Also, this is the last day to enter to win the FREE BlogHer ‘08 registration. Better get on that!