Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Go Lump Yourself

I completed 9 assignments at work today. 

I listed them out on a piece of paper, 1-9.

Check! #1, done... Check! #2, finished... Check! #3, history... Check! #4, eat my dust... You get the picture. While observing my list, I'm thinking about the numbers (1-9). I visualize their personalities, what color they are and how they relate to each other. For instance, do they like each other? Male or female? Are they friends? Which number's the popular kid and which one gets his ass kicked on a weekly basis? You know, that clicky stereotypical stuff. These visual thoughts or sensory associations (assigning colors/genders/personalities to inanimate objects) have occurred since my childhood, remain consistent yet naturally evolve, becoming more refined in detail with age, relational experience and human interaction. The mental associations involuntarily happen, it's nothing I conjure up. Some objects definitely stir up a stronger sense of it than others. Numbers more so than letters, silverware more than plates etc. The number-color-personality association is often the most obvious, for me anyway. See my examples below...yes, they are highly stereotypical but it's all in good fun.


The number...

0 - White - He's wise. Silent observer. Calm. When he speaks, listen. Werther's Original candies and dental floss in his pocket at all times.

1 - Dark Grey - He's shy, highly intelligent but not expressive and somewhat robotic. Very clean. Works in the accounting department. Goes home alone and settles down with Reader's Digest and Sudoku. Introvert. The weird neighbor. Cat person.

2 - Scarlet Red - She's pretty and smart, yet bossy and a bit of a diva (by the way, I can't stand the word "diva" but I used it anyway). Lots of guys ask her out but she tends to pick them apart in her mind and steamroll them. As a child she always told her friends what to wear and how to act. "1" had a crush on her all through school yet lacked the guts to tell her.

3 - Crayola Box Yellow - Female. Think "Thelma" on Scooby Doo. That is all.

4 - Pea Green - He's Bizarre. Usually quiet but waves a freak flag if the mood hits him just right. Probably went to school dressed like a ninja in February and obsessively played Dungeons and Dragons. Loves World of Warcraft and makes most of his money selling junk on eBay. Makes out with "3" on occasion.

5 - American Flag Blue - His country club dad is proud of him cause he's good at sports....Athlete, letter-jacket, trophies, the whole works. Super outgoing, cold beer, Chevy Blazer. Thinks Nickelback is effin awesome. 

6 - Pumpkin Orange - She prolly has tattoos but only a few. Doesn't need to be noticed or crave attention. Dry yet quirky sense of humor. "5" bores her to tears but she'll make out with him a few times cause he's cute. Loves the occasional slasher flick. 

7 - Ice Blue - It's a boy! A very confident male in fact. He's a natural leader. Loves kids. Mom and dad approved. He's razor sharp and straight edge. Likes to pat backs and encourage others. "Mom, this meatloaf is delicious!"

8 - Black - He likes to shake magic eight balls, wear trench coats and stare at people from dark corners. Loves saying the word "debacle" cause he likes the clicky sound it makes on the roof of his mouth. Ticking bomb. Buds with "4".

9 - Brownish - He wants to hug...all the time...bear style. Sometimes he doesn't shower but the manly odor suites him well. He loves you. He loves everyone. Makes a mean grilled cheese sandwich. Jam bands.

Now you get the idea. So like most sheeple (right?), I turned to Google.. And you know there's gonna be a gazillion others who beat you to the search, further proving your self-imposed idea of unique and creative grandeur is just another wad of gum under a chair...in the mall. Alright, that's a gross exaggeration but it sounded kinda neat. So anyway, I search "numbers have personalities" and Wiki tells me it has a name, Synesthesia - a "neurological condition". Say huh? Why have I never heard this term? I mean, I'm fairly artistic. Granted, I'd never can my own feces and call it art (this has been done) but I am wee bit out there. Oh well, guess this fun way of thinking was bagged, tagged, and sold to the butcher before I ever slept through psych class.....nurh......Hooray for another category to put or not put ourselves in.