Fire-y Explosion

The original photo I took 7/4/10 out in a random field in Tangent

And the Final photo that started out as a simple GIMP tutorial and turned into an all day passion.

Nicole's Random Pieces Of Information

I have a lot of thoughts bouncing around in my head...a lot.

But usually I either ignore them or ponder them in solitude, rarely do I share them when I don't think they're worth listening to. Tonight one of those random thoughts popped into my head and then another one followed: "Nicole, why DON'T you share these thoughts? Someone might be entertained by them other than you..." and I had no answer for myself. So without further ado, straight from the mind of Stripes, comes some

1) The Sizzler in Albany used to have brown brick in their bathroom and in the far stall in the ladies room there was a cartoon frog drawn on the wall in sharpie. It was drawn very well and all through my child-hood I traced that frog with my finger every time we went to Sizzler, promising myself I would go home and draw it because I liked it so much. I never did and since then they've remodeled their bathrooms and alas the frog is gone. I still think of it every time I go there but I can't remember for the life of me what it looked like anymore.

2) When I'm really bored I think about how strange words are...Most every word sounds weird. Think about sounds, now pick a word, any word, and examine how sounds connect and intertwine to make that word. I especially enjoy the word "fandango" ffff-like a tire going flat. aaaannn-like a defeated scream ddd-like a unbalanced lawn mower idling above a rock aaaannn- also like a defeated scream ggg-like pepsi flowing begrudgingly from its bottle and ooo-like a fan's eternal monologue. Now put them together...a screaming lawn mower with a flat tire and over-cooled engine covered in pepsi.

Now that is definitely not the Spanish dance that is actually defined by the word "fandango"

3) A few years ago, I was opening a DVD case while standing in the bathroom (don't ask me why, I don't know) and I surprisingly managed to get that top sticker off in one piece. So to document my accomplishment I felt the need to place the sticker somewhere... One of my drawers (that holds brushes, q-tips, and so on)  is now labeled "Security Device Enclosed" but apparently my randomness has become the norm because none of my friends have ever commented...

4) Blame my mother. That is all

Demon Sperm Wind Sock

This last week I was at the coast and as everyone that has ever been to the coast knows, it is windy 99.999% of the time. Quite windy.

So because of this fact, wind socks are quite popular there, lining many shop fronts and neighborhoods with their colorful, fluttering. These widely accepted decorations come in many joyful shapes and sizes...and some not so joyful.

Most of these shapes being happy or entertaining things, always appropriate for all ages, and it is because of this standard known in the wind sock world, that I ask you this: What is this wind sock pictured below supposed to be?!

When I was asked this very question by my dear friend Alex one thing and one thing only immediately came to mind; Demon sperm...now you can blame that on a filthy mind cultured from years of crazy friends but you can not deny that that is definitely what it appears to be.

Note: Upon finding a package of this wind sock in the store, it title was simply "Spike Ball"

If you have any other suggestions for what this might be, please feel free to let me know.