True Colors

I was discussing Six Sigma with a friend this week.

Wait–you mean you don’t talk about popular methods of business management strategy in casual conversation?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of Six Sigma, it as a program to ensure quality in corporate processes. A significant feature of the system is that knowledge in Six Sigma is measured in belts. A person with limited experience with this philosophy is a certified green belt and a manager with much more expertise is honored with black belt status. Which brings us back to that friendly chat.

We were listing other potential colors for belts, like Turquoise, Magenta and Burnt Sienna. You know, the classic crayon colors. Suitably inspired, later, I checked Crayola’s site.  Did you know…

• Crayola debuted an eight-crayon pack in 1903.  Crayola’s name was developed by the owner’s wife who combined the word “craie”, the French word for chalk and the word “ola”, which, I believe, is the Spanish word for “Timmy, take that out of your mouth!”  (Actually, it stands for oleaginous…or oily…I looked it up)
• In 1958, Crayola introduced the mother lode, the hope diamond of the crayon universe and one of the seven wonders of the world, the box of 64 with…a sharpener on the side.
• 1990 saw eight colors retired to the Crayola Hall-of-Fame, including the classics Blue Gray, Green Blue, Orange Red, Orange Yellow (it was a bad year for combo colors) and Raw Umber.  If I have a choice, I like my umber raw.
• Three years later, Crayola opened up the naming process to the public, which resulted in Asparagus, Macaroni & Cheese and Granny Smith Apple

While I enjoyed looking at the names of the new crayons (Atomic Tangerine, Mango Tango and Neon Carrot), I clicked one too many times.  On my computer screen I saw that in 1994, Crayola introduced a 16-crayon line called Gem Tones, honoring precious gemstones.  The traditional ones were there:  Ruby.  Emerald.  Amethyst.   Oh no–they wouldn’t overlook January’s birthstone, would they?  Yes, they would. 

Although they did include Moonstone, Lapis Lazuli and Jasper.

Jasper?

That’s the name of a prospector, not a crayon.

I’m so disappointed.  At least I still have the crayons named Inch Worm, Manatee and Beaver to comfort me.  Maybe Six Sigma will introduce the garnet belt for the person who knows too much trivial information.  I can only hope.

Keeping the faith and waiting for the garnet

Sincerely,

Aquamarine

Life

Life
A cereal made of whole-grain oats, popularized by the famous commercial featuring the adorable “Mikey”. His friends or brothers (It’s never quite spelled out) treat the bowl like it’s radioactive and pawn it off on Mikey saying, “He won’t eat it, he hates everything.” The cute actor mows through the bowl of cereal and his friends or his brothers or maybe strangers are amazed and one proclaims “He likes it! Hey Mikey!” A popular urban legend was that the kid who played “Mikey” died after mixing pop rocks and soda. There has been no proof that combining the two would be lethal and at last check John Gilchrist, the man who portrayed the serial cereal eater, is still alive and well and enjoying life (lower case “L”).

Life
A popular board game from Milton Bradley that took you through all of the bigger movements of your life. Marriage, having children, going to college and starting your career. The game of Life has been updated several times since its debut in 1860 (that’s not a misprint), including larger salaries and the higher cost of higher education. I always enjoyed spinning the wheel, but I was bothered by the spaces that listed things like, “Get married, but don’t receive any wedding gifts”. Did I not register? Or did I plan my wedding on Super Bowl Sunday? Or do all of my friends and family really hate me that much? Plus, there’s always the classic “Inherit uncle’s skunk farm”. As if that would ever happen. My uncle would NEVER part with his skunk farm.

Life
Something which needs to be cherished, because you don’t know when it will be taken away. Make the most of every moment. Say “I love you” before it is too late. Life truly is the greatest gift of all.

Except for a skunk farm.

Keeping the faith and enjoying life.

Garnet

Gary Carter 1954-2012

We lost a fighter today. For a great retrospective on Gary Carter please click here.

Still keeping the faith.

Garnet

One more thing

After I hit “publish”, I routinely think of something else I could have included, whether it is a link or another joke or something else.

As soon as I hit “publish” on the previous post, I immediately said “Gosh darn”*

Here is what I forgot.  The classic valentine from Ralph Wiggum to Lisa Simpson, in an animated sign of unrequited love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aaaah.  Now I feel better.

Still keeping the faith.

Garnet

*You weren’t here.  You don’t know that I didn’t say that!