So, I've decided to write a blog. Obvious, I know. Otherwise you wouldn't be here, unless you are a time traveler, in which case, show me how you did it.
I’ve wanted to do this for some time, for reasons I don't totally know. People say I'm a decent writer, but I don’t think I have never truly believed them. Most of my written works (poetry, story, essay) were derived from some kind of instruction sheet, an assignment, whether for school or some other entity. They all had a map, with a legend, and roads already carved out. The maps for poetry were blurry, so I did have more freedom, but still for a grade. I've always done well, I know how to follow instructions when I want to, or have to.
I haven't written much since I've been in college. My first semester I took freshman writing, but I really didn't think of annotations as writing. Since I'm a math major, most of my classes have been calculus and physics. I've probably written over 90 single spaced pages of lab reports, but I don't think all that technical goop qualifies as writing. If you want to read about the moments of inertia of complex discs and other nerdy things, let me know, and I'll post them...although, I don't know why you would want to...like eating dry turkey.
I have missed writing. Perhaps I only miss it when I get fed up with doing pages and pages of calculations. Or perhaps doing endless math makes me realize what I'm not, but want to be, doing.
I want to do something different. And since I can't board the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E, I guess this blog will have to do.
This blog isn’t “Mauve Rhombuses,” it’s “Blue Rectangles.” ...and for good reason.
I took 11th grade trigonometry with Mrs. Rapson, and I have to say, she was right, the unit circle was the most important lesson covered...that, and SOHCAHTOA. It was my favorite class that year, and probably the most useful...I’ve used trig concepts on every college math and physics homework, and test.
Trig was my second to last class of the day, study hall being my last. It was also her prep, so I stayed in her room and did homework, if I had any. One day in the middle of the year, I didn’t have anything to do, so I decided to do the monthly puzzle posted in the back of the room.
The puzzle was:
How many squares in this 3x7?
I started adding all the blue boxes, then the green and cyan boxes, then the purple, then I continued with 3x1’s, 1x3’s, 3x3’s, 2x4’s, etc. I think I counted 247 total...it took my EA, Brenda, and I a good 30-45 minutes. I wrote the answer on a post-it, gave it to Mrs. Rapson. She said “no.” I think Brenda and I looked at her in complete astonishment. She sat a couple feet away, I'm sure laughing silently, while I fooled around with this puzzle. I may have been a little mad because she didn't interrupt me. She continued, something like "key word, squares." lightbulb! You know how Homer Simpson says "doh?" Well, I said "rectangles." It stuck. Now, anytime I do something completely stupid but overall harmless, "rectangles!" The "blue" is is short for blueberries, and "blueberries" has the same meaning. Not totally sure where it came from, I just know Brenda and I started saying it when we did something dumb and laughed it off.
"Blue Rectangles" seems very fitting for this blog title, cuz I'm bound to make mistakes...grammar, spleilng, composition, content. I do not have an extensive vocabulary either. So, go read a dictionary if you want to get your fill of big words. You ain't gonna find 'em here.
I took away 5 lessons from the square puzzle:
1. Rectangles are not squares, but squares are rectangles.
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| Rule #2 |
3. Even when it doesn't seem like it, people do care and want the best for you.
I was surprised Mrs. Rapson didn't say anything when I was counting rectangles, and a little irritated. After, I realized why she did it, and I respect her more as a result. I still wish I was in her class at times.
4. More enforcement that mistakes are not a bad thing. Perfectionists can't be perfect. 5. Squares are rectangles, but rectangles are not squares.
I've shared the story behind the title, but not what I want it to represent. My hope is to write about my life (duh), the good, the bad, and the untold. Rehashing what many already know about me seems boring, for all parties. Let's talk about something new.
I want to write about music, share interesting quotes, questions, and ideas, and talk about what I'm learning (nothing too technical, I promise). I also want to write about my various writings, the stories and meanings. I get asked a lot, but I almost never share.
Finally, some housekeeping rules:
1. No vampire slayers.
2. Contained liquid nitrogen is fine. Just don't splash it around.
3. Please don't forget a No. 2 pencil.
4. Comment, contact, connect, capture, captivate, care, craft, create. If you wish, contact me anonymously.
6. If you want notifications
about new posts, let me know! I’ll post on the Blue Rectangles Facebook page
too. You can also give me contact info under “Contact Me” if you want some
other type of notification (email, text, tweet, snapshat…etc). No BCC crap from
me!
7. I’m not a shoelace dealer.
8. Visit my art and poetry site: www.dees-knees.com
9. Whatever you do, don’t break rule #5.
10. Do not rip on my Oxford Commas.
Feel free to comment on my Facebook too.
Peace.
