Rainbows

London 2004












Who doesn't love rainbows?

I love them in the sky, in my car, in an oil slick on the road, in a sprinkler on a sunny day, and on it goes.

I especially love rainbows in my office.

I have been trying to capture the rainbows in my office every time they make an appearance and they are soooo hard to capture on a digital camera (with a shutter delay).

But I did manage to capture these.


rainbow splatters

handheld

rainbow in motion

rainbows in the office have been provided courtesy of a double rainbow maker provided courtesy of my good friend Richard.

The rainbow maker hangs in a window and rotates by solar power.

Travel Gizmos

As I sit here watching the snow keep coming, and coming, and coming, my mind turns to warmer climates and travel.

Thought I would share these travel finds. Two I currently have in my possession, one is on my list to get.

Richard Torcino collaborated with Design Edge, Austin, TX to design and produce the idea he had for his "spy brush".







It's convenience and cool design on the go. The toothpaste stores in the handle, the top is a rinsing cup and the brushes are replaceable.

After rejecting more than 50 names — Spybrush wasn't among them — they named it OHSO because someone wandered in, wondered what it was and said, "Oh, so it's a toothbrush."

This little gadget by TUMI has an innovative design: it has 4 adaptor configurations in one unit.

Works for laptops, cell phones and small appliances in 150 countries. Features a replaceable electric fuse and convenient case.





For me, nothing says "home" better in a hotel room than fresh flowers. Both of these vases work great, they fold for storage, and pop open to fill with water. The plastic is moldable into different looks and the paper vase has a liner inside to hold the water.

Moldable plastic vase.




Paper vase

Love Parade

Psychedelic Pop















Jenna and Mike came home last night.

Mike's band, Love Parade, played at Mezzanottes in Little Italy. (Yes, Syracuse has a Little Italy. All 3 blocks of it)

It was a nice venue, the place was busy, the band rocked and the crowd boogied.

Friday Fact or Crap?

Redd Foxx was the first man to utter “hell” and engage in an interracial kiss on primetime television.

Fact or Crap?

Crap!

answer to yesterday's fact or crap question









William Shatner was the first to do both on the sci-fi hit series Star Trek.

His character, Captain Kirk, kissed Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Nyota Uhura) on the “Plato’s Children” episode and said “Let’s get the hell out of here,” in the episode entitled, “City on the Edge of Forever.”

Skin Baby HNT

Showing some skin for half-nekkid Thursday


New Skin






Old Skin










Wet skin







Cold Skin








Wench Skin

Three Things in my Car

There are three things in my car that make me happy.

The first one is Hula Dude Guy.
A gift from Richard after his trip to Hawaii.
He is an amazing dancer. (Hula Dude Guy that is, I've never seen Richard dance so couldn't say)

Hula Dude Guy rocks out with me daily.

The second one is a rainbow making crystal. Hanging from my rearview mirror. Bought at the The Great New York State Fair last august. On a sunny day it makes oodles of rainbows thoughout my car. Dancing, floating, rockin' rainbows.

and the third, currently playing The World at Large by Modest Mouse, with the temperature gauge set to 90 because it is frickin cold here - cdplayer/radio/thermostat - making my traveling experience most enjoyable and comfortable.

Three Photos of Chase

Yesterday Chase and I gathered up the cameras and went outside for a bit. His canon rebel, a holga, a 1 second - 4 shot fun camera, and my kodak digital.
These are from the digital.

Maybe it's just because it's Monday.

Do you ever wake up thinking something is wrong?
I do it more often than I like.
(More than once is more often than I like.)
Usually at 3:00 a.m.
Sometimes at 5:00 a.m.
And the "something wrong feeling" is different than when your thoughts take over and you get the "too many screaming demons" feeling. Which I do quite often as well.
This is the unexplained feeling of something wrong.
Usually it passes within a few minutes of getting up but this morning it hasn’t passed.
It is still with me and I have no clue what it is.
I've gone through the check list in my head - children, other family members, friends, pets, work. Can't come up with anything.
It’s making me grumpy.
Maybe it is just because it’s Monday.
I hope it is just because it’s Monday.

Interested in Feng Shui? Here are some tips for 2006

Clean the stove top and burners in your kitchen frequently. Clean and properly working burners symbolize an abundance of food and prosperity in your home.

Add an amethyst crystal to your office. It will activate knowledge as well as prosperity.

Don’t have your fish tank in the kitchen or in a bathroom. The pumping water symbolizes the departure of wealth from the family.

Especially for 2006, the year of the Dog, look at these areas in your home.

Random Website

I am snuggled under a blanket on my comfy couch watching the snow fly outside the window. Sitting with my laptop (on my lap - how appropriate) I'm browsing blogs. I love how you get from point a to point z in no time flat with no idea how you ended up where you did!

This is where I ended up this morning - The Song Tapper

This site lets you search for a song, by tapping the rhythm of its words (lyrics).

Once done tapping it will give you a list of possible songs.

Right off the bat it got American Pie and Duke of Earl.
It didn't get Rocky Racoon but got Let it Snow right away.

Good for a few minutes of fun in the home of the easily amused.

Crap!

Answer from yesterday's Crap or Fact?
Sinatra did always carry a roll of dimes, but it grew out of the kidnapping of his son, Frank Jr., in 1963. The kidnappers told Sinatra to call only from pay phones—and during one call he ran out of coins. He vowed never to be without dimes again. He ended up paying the ransom of $250,000. The kidnappers were eventually caught, and Frank never stopped carrying a roll of dimes. (I bet he also carried brass knuckles and soap in a sock).

Fact or Crap?

Frank Sinatra always carried a roll of dimes in case he had to “knock some punk out.”

Fact or crap?

Survivor Mink Island

Here is the rest of the photo from yesterday. The half-nekkid ritual was a coming of age ritual called Survivor Mink Island.


(a highlight, for me, was seeing the sunset from the middle of the bay.)

Happy HNT!

What's this half-nekkid ritual then?

It's Good to Be Home

Late flight
Airport mazes
Sleepy husband
Valentine Flowers
Piles of laundry
Dirty Dishes
Alarms ringing
Boys Sleeping
Missed buses
Dust bunnies
Wet dog kisses
Cups of tea
Piles of paperwork
Phones ringing
Cars speeding
Clocks ticking
Doors slamming
Hugs given
Fighting boys
Snacks eaten
Laughing boys
School stories
Computers clicking
Homework helping
Doorbells ringing
Supper cooking
Hot baths
Good books
Cozy blankets
Snuggly boys
It’s good to be home.

Cowgrrrrrl Words of Wisdom

If you want to say no, it's best to say it right away.

Oil all the wheels on your wagon, not just the squeaky one.

The time to dance is when the music's playin.

Be sure to taste your words before you spit em out.

You can't keep trouble from vistin' but you don't have to offer it a chair.

If you've done it, it ain't braggin.

If you don't have a good reason to do something then you have a dang good reason not to do it.

Not all fillies ride well the first time out.

Virtue is its own punishment.

A heart must be given to gain the heart of another.

A promise made is a promise kept. That's how it is on the cowgrrrrrrl trail.

Random things I've learned in Austin

Here are some random things I've learned in Austin although not necessarily about Austin.

There are 300 days of sunshine in Austin, no state income tax, and it is smoke free.

The faculty member I am traveling with was the background artist for the comic strip "Brenda Starr" for two years when he was in high school.

Nutrasweet causes brain tumors (no really it does). I had heard this before but it was confirmed today from a woman who went to Washington, DC and saw the reports on file herself. Nutrasweet's own team of scientists put these findings in writing. No more diet coke for me.

The University of Texas has 70,000 students.

Cab drivers in Austin are the nicest I've met anywhere.

Never ask a man the size of his spread.

How to make a Sittin on the Porch cocktail.
1 and 1/2 ounces Southern Comfort
1 ounce of peach schnapps
1 ounce cranberry juice
wedge of lime for garnish
Recommended listening while sipping - "Come a little bit closer" by Jay and the Americans.

My Friend Karen

This post is for Karen.

My cheerful, roadrunnerless, fun, loving, and (now) sick with pneumonia grrrrrlfriend.

For anyone who doesn't know her (and not too many don't) she is on the right. My mom is on the left (hi mom). This photo was taken last spring in Florida.

Karen, three weeks is a long time for you to be down! Hope you feel better soon.

If anyone wants to email Karen and send her get well wishes you can contact her at kcrisafi@usa.usadatanet.data.usanet.data.netcom.com

and if that doesn't work try kcrisafi@usadatanet.net

Oxymoron

oxymoron (ak-si-'mOr-an) n. a combination of contradictory or incongruous words.

It's a known secret we love our oxymorons.
Two of my favorite comedians are terribly good with oxymorons.
George Carlin and Steven Wright.

Here are a few of my favorites (and least favorites).
Feel free to add to the list.

Act naturally
Holy war
Found missing
Minor Catastrophe
Good grief
Same difference
Almost exactly
Everything except
Living Dead
Pretty Ugly
Alone together

Austin, TX

I am off to Austin this morning.

Two days of presentations.

Two days of visiting agencies.

All work and no play. (ahem, well not quite)





As evidenced by these photos.

This was last year in Austin.




But I am not with my grrrrrlfriends from class of '05.



And I will miss you!!

Mardi Gras Happy HNT

It is Mardis Gras season.

How do you get so many Mardi Gras beads?

By getting Half-Nekkid of course!

Survival Kit in a Sardine Can

I gave these as Christmas gifts this year.

Perfect to throw in a backpack, boat, car, rv, purse, motorcycle, bike, etc.


They are light and little. AND look what is inside:


25 survival items in a genuine air-tight, waterproof, crushproof sardine can... acetaminophen, adhesive bandage, alcohol prep, antibiotic ointment, book matches, tea bag, chewing gum, compass, sugar, whistle, salt packet, energy nugget, duct tape, fire starter cube, wire clip, first aid instructions, fish hook & line, note paper, pencil, razor blade, safety pin, signal mirror, waterproof bag, and the can may be used to boil water.

know someone who would like one? here ya go

The MSNBC 2005 Year in Pictures

These are just amazing photogaphs.

















You can't help but be touched by them.






















They can be found at MSNBC
After checking out both editors choice and readers choice you can vote for your favorite.

(Although good luck trying to narrow it down to one.)

I like driving with you because you don't freak out on me

That's what David said to me today after our 3rd driving lesson.

I like teaching him to drive.

It's fun.
and scary.
and makes me want to drink wine.
and buy one of these signs for added insurance.
But first and foremost it's fun.

For a 16 year old, David is a good listener and remembers what you tell him and doesn't act like he knows it all already. AND he admits it's scary driving. especially in rush hour traffic. in the dark.

Here are the top 10 rules we've covered together so far.

1. Do as mom SAYS, not as dad DOES.

2. The speed limit is just that - a LIMIT. meaning limited to that speed. the one that is posted.

3.Going 5 mph under the speed limit will NOT get you a ticket.

4.Listening to Weezer loudly while driving will not help me "relax".

5. Pedestrians have the right of way even if they run directly in front of your car. Especially if they run directly in front of your car.

6. When you turn left into 2 lanes of traffic you must look BOTH ways.

7. That's great you listened to Queen's "We are the Champions" while driving with dad and "did just fine". Refer to rule #1.

8. Allowing at least 12 inches between you and the car ahead of you at a stop sign or stoplight is a good idea.

9. GRADUALLY slowing down is easier on the neck muscles.

and last but not least.....

10.When wondering who has the right of way when four cars approach a four-way stop at the same time? It is the pick up truck with the gun rack and the bumper sticker saying, "Guns don't kill people I do"

Superbowl Ads

I don't know about anyone else but I found the Superbowl Ads very entertaining this year!

From the humor of the Sprint locker room, to the touching Clydesdale American Dream, to the Budweiser Wave.

Didn't see them or want to see them again?

See them here

or here

(the first site is pretty extensive and also gives you the past 5 years of Superbowl Ads (and some viral ads) but is slower loading)

Enjoy!

Photography by David Johns

The Chain

I happened upon David Johns' blog and fell in love with his photography.

These are two of my favorites.

I was happy to learn yesterday he decided to offer his photographs for purchase.



Trees Reflection




You can see more of his work at Deviantart


This is the link to his ebay store