Many years ago, in art class, I learned about mixing different colors to get the one you want. How complimentary colors mix together to make brown and that black is what happens when all colors get together. The one color we couldn't make was white, because white is essentially no color.
This hurt my brain at the time, because humans obviously figured out a way to make white paint and white crayons out of this no color. Then I learned that what we think of as white doesn't exist in the natural world. If you run around the woods with a piece of copy paper and compare, the white flowers are really more yellow or blue and the white butterflies really aren't.
Since this topic hurts my brain, I keep it (and other koan-like thoughts) stashed away for times when I get a little too smug about my ability to solve puzzles.
My fevered brain decided it was a topic worth dreaming about and so my latest round of napping had me visiting various artists' studios throughout time and asking how white paint and white crayons were made. I know artists used to have a rough time creating paint. They managed it somehow, but they wouldn't tell me.
In dream-land, these old artists' studios were making me cold, so I decided to fly to the center of the sun to watch how things were created. And also to warm up (though in real-life I was wrapped up as a five-layer burrito involving two sets of flannel pjs). I watched matter melt and explode and saw all sorts of colors, but the white was more yellow-y than the white of a crayon. I was also sadly disappointed about how cold the middle of the sun was, but that might have been the fever interjecting some commentary.
At that point, I decided to come back to earth and be one of those generic white butterflies you see bopping around all summer. It was lovely to flit around in the hot, hot sunshine and see the world from butterfly eyes. As the sun set, I started to get cold again, but felt I had my answer.
I woke up still wrapped as a fiver-layer burrito, shivering, and not really able to articulate the answer to my white crayon question, but that's how fever dreams go sometimes.
An Erinku:
In times
of too-hotness
I break out
ice-cream medicine
Monday, April 16, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Blue Men in Red Hats, the Third Round
I've realized that Aprils for the past three years (and this year makes four) have been pretty stressful and awkward and unpleasant. As I was thinking about this, I ran into my Blue Men in Red Hats posts. It's technically a year early, but that's how things work out sometimes.
**In April 2003/2008/2012**
How old were you?
2003: A robust 25
2008: GAH, I'm 30
2012: 34 and staring down my mid-30's
Where did you go to school?
2003/2008:Naropa University. I drank the inconsistent chai, I ate the hummus, I learned I'm not tragic enough.
2012: In my final, final, final quarter at DU. I'm on my 11th quarter in a row without a break (including summers). Bleh.
Where did you work?
2003: The den of evil. Also known at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Shop. GAH!
2008: An herb shop by day and at the local choir by night.
2012: At the university by day and still at the local choir by night.
Where did you live?
2003: "The Normal House" in Lafayette with Chris, Kristin and Tom (and the kitties). It was an eerily normal house with a fenced back yard and multiple levels. We created odd artwork to off-set the normalcy.
2008: Dana's garage. She hates it when I say that. It's also known as the "Hobbit Hole."
2012: "The Aquarium." Complete with neighbors who scream-fight, do/sell meth, and steal my Jane Austen Netflix, which is why deadbolts are awesome! I'm going to guess that meth gives them the magic ability to tell which Netflix of mine are Jane Austen vs. every other possible Netflix I get.
Where did you hang out?
2003: Dolan's with school folk, downtown Boulder with work folk, and that one Mexican restaurant with the killer margaritas in Lafayette...I forget the name, the margaritas are that good.
2008: Niwot Tavern with orchestra folk, Mountain Sun with Kristen, Woody's (love that name!!) with the other Hobbits, downtown Boulder with day job people, Dark Horse (for some reason) with choir people.
2012: Practice room. Occasional margaritas at the Pioneer and awesome beers at the Vine Street Pub (Denver Mountain Sun). And the practice room. Spice China and Avery Brewery with my Boulder friends. And the practice room.
How was your hair style?
2003: Very long and straight and mildly red.
2008: Long, straight, mildly red.
2012: Chopped off it all dramatically for a change in 2009 (and donated it all to Locks of Love again), but it's now all long, straight, and mildly red again.
Did you wear glasses?
2003/2008: No. Was I supposed to? You bet.
2012: Contacts now. It fixed my Jan Brady complex completely.
Who was your best friend?
2003: Kristin & Kristen. I like everyone to have the same name. It makes it so much easier for me.
2008: Here in Colorado: Kristen, Dana, Ducky.
2012: Here in Colorado: a bunch, but I mostly see Bubbles and my cello more often than the others.
Who was your regular-person crush?
2003: Huh? Is this like squishing your head?
2008: Huh? Like love interest or more like worried fascination? Either way, I'm going to say Papa Smurf.
2012: Huh. I still have a thing for David Boreanaz. Hotness.
What car did you drive?
2003: My zippy, often broken, 1990 Ford Taurus. That thing is still going.
2008: Ha! Still the 1990 Ford Taurus. The new car is a fancy Lexus. Both cars were presents (thank you, moms!!)
2012: The Taurus died a fiery death with every single warning light turning on at the same time as a smoke cloud engulfed the whole car. So I now drive around in the zippy Lexus. It's got a lot of miles but likes to go, go, go.
What was your worst fear?
2003: Never leaving the quiet horror of working in a retail chocolate shop.
2008: Aside from skidding off an ice-packed road into a mountain stream near Boulder and dying because my power windows short out? Hmm. BLACK HOLES! I'm terribly nervous about them. No, seriously, it's been an obsession of mine for the past few years how galaxies spin wildly around them. AH!
2012: (shudders) still black holes.
Had you smoked a cigarette yet?
2003-present: But of course!
Had you been arrested?
2003-present: Why, yes. Thanks for asking and reminding of that lovely day!
Had your heart broken?
2003: Yes. Bono never calls, he never writes...
2008: Yes. Orlando Bloom never calls, he never writes...
2012: Yes. Which is why I stick with loving music written by dead, Russian composers. :)
Still talk to any of your old friends?
2003-present: Why yes. With the magical power of the internet, I can keep in touch with old friends, buy airplane tickets and check the local weather. What a wonderful invention!
How many piercings do you have?
2003-present: Let's count. One in each ear would count as two, yes? So then (2, 3, 4, 5). Hmm. I thought it would be more than five. I keep thinking I need another one; pierces hurt and require a bit of bravery, so I'm currently stockpiling bravery.
How many tattoos?
Sadly none. I've been thinking about one for years. I'm such a whimp when it comes to pain though. It took several years to have enough bravery for the nose piercing. So maybe in another few years...
**In April 2003/2008/2012**
How old were you?
2003: A robust 25
2008: GAH, I'm 30
2012: 34 and staring down my mid-30's
Where did you go to school?
2003/2008:Naropa University. I drank the inconsistent chai, I ate the hummus, I learned I'm not tragic enough.
2012: In my final, final, final quarter at DU. I'm on my 11th quarter in a row without a break (including summers). Bleh.
Where did you work?
2003: The den of evil. Also known at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Shop. GAH!
2008: An herb shop by day and at the local choir by night.
2012: At the university by day and still at the local choir by night.
Where did you live?
2003: "The Normal House" in Lafayette with Chris, Kristin and Tom (and the kitties). It was an eerily normal house with a fenced back yard and multiple levels. We created odd artwork to off-set the normalcy.
2008: Dana's garage. She hates it when I say that. It's also known as the "Hobbit Hole."
2012: "The Aquarium." Complete with neighbors who scream-fight, do/sell meth, and steal my Jane Austen Netflix, which is why deadbolts are awesome! I'm going to guess that meth gives them the magic ability to tell which Netflix of mine are Jane Austen vs. every other possible Netflix I get.
Where did you hang out?
2003: Dolan's with school folk, downtown Boulder with work folk, and that one Mexican restaurant with the killer margaritas in Lafayette...I forget the name, the margaritas are that good.
2008: Niwot Tavern with orchestra folk, Mountain Sun with Kristen, Woody's (love that name!!) with the other Hobbits, downtown Boulder with day job people, Dark Horse (for some reason) with choir people.
2012: Practice room. Occasional margaritas at the Pioneer and awesome beers at the Vine Street Pub (Denver Mountain Sun). And the practice room. Spice China and Avery Brewery with my Boulder friends. And the practice room.
How was your hair style?
2003: Very long and straight and mildly red.
2008: Long, straight, mildly red.
2012: Chopped off it all dramatically for a change in 2009 (and donated it all to Locks of Love again), but it's now all long, straight, and mildly red again.
Did you wear glasses?
2003/2008: No. Was I supposed to? You bet.
2012: Contacts now. It fixed my Jan Brady complex completely.
Who was your best friend?
2003: Kristin & Kristen. I like everyone to have the same name. It makes it so much easier for me.
2008: Here in Colorado: Kristen, Dana, Ducky.
2012: Here in Colorado: a bunch, but I mostly see Bubbles and my cello more often than the others.
Who was your regular-person crush?
2003: Huh? Is this like squishing your head?
2008: Huh? Like love interest or more like worried fascination? Either way, I'm going to say Papa Smurf.
2012: Huh. I still have a thing for David Boreanaz. Hotness.
What car did you drive?
2003: My zippy, often broken, 1990 Ford Taurus. That thing is still going.
2008: Ha! Still the 1990 Ford Taurus. The new car is a fancy Lexus. Both cars were presents (thank you, moms!!)
2012: The Taurus died a fiery death with every single warning light turning on at the same time as a smoke cloud engulfed the whole car. So I now drive around in the zippy Lexus. It's got a lot of miles but likes to go, go, go.
What was your worst fear?
2003: Never leaving the quiet horror of working in a retail chocolate shop.
2008: Aside from skidding off an ice-packed road into a mountain stream near Boulder and dying because my power windows short out? Hmm. BLACK HOLES! I'm terribly nervous about them. No, seriously, it's been an obsession of mine for the past few years how galaxies spin wildly around them. AH!
2012: (shudders) still black holes.
Had you smoked a cigarette yet?
2003-present: But of course!
Had you been arrested?
2003-present: Why, yes. Thanks for asking and reminding of that lovely day!
Had your heart broken?
2003: Yes. Bono never calls, he never writes...
2008: Yes. Orlando Bloom never calls, he never writes...
2012: Yes. Which is why I stick with loving music written by dead, Russian composers. :)
Still talk to any of your old friends?
2003-present: Why yes. With the magical power of the internet, I can keep in touch with old friends, buy airplane tickets and check the local weather. What a wonderful invention!
How many piercings do you have?
2003-present: Let's count. One in each ear would count as two, yes? So then (2, 3, 4, 5). Hmm. I thought it would be more than five. I keep thinking I need another one; pierces hurt and require a bit of bravery, so I'm currently stockpiling bravery.
How many tattoos?
Sadly none. I've been thinking about one for years. I'm such a whimp when it comes to pain though. It took several years to have enough bravery for the nose piercing. So maybe in another few years...
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