Spatial-sequence : or being a weirdo

I have self diagnosed myself recently with an interesting condition.

Synesthesia.  Ever heard of it?

According to research, ahem...aka wikipedia, it is a "neurologically based phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway".  The most common form is color synesthesia where letters or numbers are perceived as intrinsically colored or even have personalities.  

Another form of synesthesia is called spatial-sequence, where numbers, months of the year, or days of the week have precise locations in space or may have a three-dimensional view.  

I'm pretty sure this is what I have.

I've tried to explain how I view numbers, years, and weeks to others and I usually get strange looks.  I never realized it had a name until a few years ago when I stumbled across synesthesia on the internet.  Researchers say that many who have synesthesia have excellent memories, trouble telling left from right and its common for them to have a poor sense of direction---umm yup that's me.  

I decided to draw out what I saw in my head.  Its not easy and even my drawings aren't perfectly what I see.  Its all in a three dimensional space but 2D will have to do for today!

I read my days right to left.  Sometimes Thursday is brown and sometimes a dark navy blue.  Sunday is more of a "glass" or clear color.

Starting at 7, I go "uphill" until I hit 11.  For some reason this range of numbers makes me happy. 11-20 are very dark. 40 and numbers after follow the same pattern of right to left

Because this is the first time that I've ever written and drawn what I see it makes me even more curious to know why I see numbers and time like this.  I do not have dyslexia so why do I read so many of my numbers "backwards"?  hmmmm...

I'm sure there are a million more studies I can read, but for now I'm kind of enjoying this small exploration into my brain :)

CD Release Party

Last night was the result of hours and hours {and hours} of hard work.  The band Palo! held a concert for the release of their latest cd that Bobby mixed and mastered.  They always put on a great concert and last night was no exception. 

I brought my friend Juan along and we had a great time-- seeing Bobby in his element, watching all of the Cuban women (young and old) in their stilettos dancing with their cigar smoking husbands, standing under twinkle lights on a perfect Miami night--

Nope.

Let me tell ya', this week has been nothing but one irritant after the other.

Do you ever have those weeks?  Where one blah day turns into another, then another.  You would think with a holiday on Monday I would be starting my week of right.  4 days of work is always a good week!  But Tuesday morning started off with a bang --left the carpool keys at home, made myself and co-workers late to work, lost my coffee mug I've had since my sophomore year of college {so sad}, spilled coffee on my dress,  broke the office toilette--you know, your typical Tuesday. The rest of the week I just haven't been able to get myself together.  I looked in the bathroom mirror this afternoon and gave myself a silent pep talk, " P U L L yourself together K A T E!"  And then I looked down and noticed the sweater I was wearing all day had a nice big hole near the elbow.

print by Gemma Correll

I'm not one to just live for the weekends, but it is happening this time.  This week is almost over and I'm yearning for Saturday.  My boss may find me on my office floor tomorrow like this and I'd be just fine with that.