Sunday, August 23, 2009

Something About School Supplies

I like school supplies. I always buy extra when August comes around and stores are selling them for pennies. There is something so pleasing about a box of unused crayons--with the tops in perfect cones. And crayons are really important at my house. I'm always glad when one of my kids chooses to color, because it is one activity that we can do together where I don't have to pretend I'm a car or a kitty. Parley has changed into an artist lately, so we've been doing a lot of coloring together, especially since his best pal, Hazey, is now at school for what seems to be a long, long time.


Coloring with Parley has reminded me of something. Violet red crayons make me angry. Does anyone like violet red? Does anyone purposefully use it? I mean, actually choose it--not accidentally pick it thinking it is red? I always pick it and think it is red. Then I start coloring and realize it is violet red, that nasty mix of sort of pink, sort of purple, but definitely NOT red. And since red is my favorite of all colors, I always choose to color the biggest and most prominent object in the picture red. So, it makes for a terrible picture when you've got violet red tomatoes or a violet red Santa Clause or violet red Lightning McQueen.

I think, in hell, if you're terrible enough to wind up there, you only get violet red crayons. And you have to color things that are supposed to be red with your violet red crayon. And after that, you have to take written driving tests at the hell DMV. With your violet red crayon.

12 comments:

No Big Dill said...

You hit the nail on the head. With a violet red crayon.

Janssen said...

When you read violet that many times in a post, your eyes start to read it as "violent" instead. Maybe that's appropriate. . . .

jed said...

satan's tights are violet red.

megan said...

Jayne, you crack me up. I also hate that blue one that is really not blue at all, but actually a bright teal. Cerulean. Gets me every time. Guess it's a good thing I am most certainly not going to hell. I think.

{Erica} said...

I found myself nodding in agreement while reading this post and smiling when reading the comments - especially Jed's.

Then in an after thought I remembered that segment from Mister Rogers where the kid stares at an orange crayon and then WHAM! you're in a crayon making factory and you watch how they are made. Remember that? Loved it...and still think of that episode when I use the orange crayon.

p.s. Stay away from the crayons that are scented. My kids craft boxes now smell like a mix of Jessica McClintock perfume and old lady. Can you imagine...scented violet red?!

jayne wells said...

Erica- I Love that crayon factory episode! Scented crayons? Oh, now that is terrible.

Janssen-I agree, violent may be an appropriate substitute.

Shana said...

In hell, there are violet red cock roaches for sure.

Lindsey said...

I also LOOOOVE that crayon episode!

This is why I only try to buy the 8-pk of crayons. I might might 5 of them just so I have all the "regular" colors.

Oh, and Shana...cockroaches is ONE word. :S

em kawasaki said...

I like the violet red crayon. I'll take all of them if you don't want them and I'll use it to color you a gigantic "thanks for being my friend" card.

sheena said...

In the second grade, for some reason, my mom bought me the OFF BRAND CRAYONS (who does that?!).....Sargent?? is that right?? Anyway, their "RED" was actually the most hideous pinkest violet red you have ever seen (and not to mention they are soooo waxy)....and I had no other red option. no red!!

I don't think I realized I was still so traumatized by this event of my childhood until I read your post....off to call my mother.

Lisa said...

I LOVE SCHOOL SUPPLIES TOO!!! I ALSO LOVE YOUR VIDEOS. DO YOU FEEL ANOTHER COMING ON? HOPE SO jaYnie!
THEY MAKE ME LAUGH AND CRY AT THE SAME TIME. I NEED BOTH.

HUGS FROM MAINE

Kim said...

There is something about the smell of a freshly opened box of crayons that says "fall" to me. I love it.

And then I get rid of ALL the purple crayons. My hell is filled to the rim with purple...and that stupid purple dinosaur too. ;)