Like most people who shop at the last minute, this week I was out buying "stocking stuffers" for James. These are small gifts that may or may not really fit in a stocking. In this case, without revealing too much and spoiling the surprise for James, I can report they are largely goofy and/or funny. While at the check out counter in the land of goofy stuff, I saw something I haven’t seen in a long time: a mood ring.
Yes, a mood ring. Yes, I’m old enough to remember when they were a novelty, but I haven’t seen one for ages. Yes, I bought it. Yes, it was cheap. (And yes, I’m easily amused.)
So this week, I’ve been monitoring my moods. As any 9 year old can tell you just from watching it, a mood ring records temperature as much as mood. The basic mood ring scale goes from black (you’re a stress ball) to dark blue (you’re blissfully happy). Green is sort of middle of the road.
Of course, right now, my ring is a really pretty purple, which isn’t on the chart anywhere. So that got me thinking…what exactly is IN a mood ring that makes it change color? So I went to the How Stuff Works site to find out. Sure enough, they had a great explanation:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question443.htm
It turns out that liquid crystals (LCDs) are at the heart of mood rings. Yes, the same cool things in flat screen monitors and your clock radio display make mood rings do their thing.
I read on another site that purple is unusual in a mood ring and suggests clarity of purpose. Maybe that’s because I’m ready for three days off.
All Logical Expressions online newsletters are going out a day early this week, so we can spend the holidays with our family. For a little holiday cheer, check out the festive card featuring Cami, the wooly white dog, our company mascot.
Happy holidays everyone 😉