I finally arrived in Hays with Naomi a little over a week ago. As soon as I walked through the door I felt a sense of relief, as if I had been traveling constantly moving for the last three weeks and I finally had a place to rest. It feels good to be home. I mean, home is where the plaid is, right?
What do I mean? I mean, the people who owned this house before Naomi's parents bought it put in plaid carpet. It's not just a little patch of plaid either--oh no. It covers a giant room, and I do mean giant, which we affectionately call the plaid room. Her mom swore to replace the carpet, but it just never happened.
When you first walk in and see the room, you can't decide whether to be amused or horrified, and then it grows on you like a parasite sucking away your aesthetic tastes. This carpet is something of a legend; it looks as if Scotland drank a bit too much whiskey and vomited onto the floor, creating plaid worthy of a kilt. After returning, I walked onto the horrendous plaid carpet, did a few front rolls, and I was surprised at how comfortable they were. I think the tackiness of the pattern gives it a little extra cushion.
Naomi and I have done a lot on this plaid carpet: played music, filmed a video, hosted a plaid party, practiced Aikido, and even unicycled on it (okay, Naomi unicycled, I only succeeded in falling). Strangely, at this point I kind of like the plaid, because in my mind it is equated with play. It acts as a safe zone where you can do stupid activities without being judged (and trust me, the Plaid Room has seen its share of stupidity) because the people who decided to install the carpet will always look dumber than you.
Exhibit A: The Plaid Party.
What do I mean? I mean, the people who owned this house before Naomi's parents bought it put in plaid carpet. It's not just a little patch of plaid either--oh no. It covers a giant room, and I do mean giant, which we affectionately call the plaid room. Her mom swore to replace the carpet, but it just never happened.
When you first walk in and see the room, you can't decide whether to be amused or horrified, and then it grows on you like a parasite sucking away your aesthetic tastes. This carpet is something of a legend; it looks as if Scotland drank a bit too much whiskey and vomited onto the floor, creating plaid worthy of a kilt. After returning, I walked onto the horrendous plaid carpet, did a few front rolls, and I was surprised at how comfortable they were. I think the tackiness of the pattern gives it a little extra cushion.
Naomi and I have done a lot on this plaid carpet: played music, filmed a video, hosted a plaid party, practiced Aikido, and even unicycled on it (okay, Naomi unicycled, I only succeeded in falling). Strangely, at this point I kind of like the plaid, because in my mind it is equated with play. It acts as a safe zone where you can do stupid activities without being judged (and trust me, the Plaid Room has seen its share of stupidity) because the people who decided to install the carpet will always look dumber than you.
Exhibit A: The Plaid Party.
Then there was the time we had three snow days in a row, which is virtually unheard of for Fort Hays. I wanted us to build a blanket fort, and it just kind of escalated from there...
Then there was my birthday party, which I decided to make a tea party. Oh man was there tasty cake.
It seems that all our creativity starts in the Plaid Room, so when Naomi and I started coming up with ideas for videos and finally decided to try filming one, it was only natural that we should call our youtube channel "Plaid Plain Productions." The videos we produce are just supposed to be for fun--both for us and the viewers--and because we don't really consider it art, it gives us a lot of psychological freedom for creativity. We are currently writing the script(s) for our next project; I'm so excited to start filming it!
Unfortunately, Naomi's parents are trying to sell the house, so soon there will be no more plaid. We want to ask the buyers for a section of the plaid when they inevitably tear it up, so we can make it into a rug.
Love the plaid carpet or hate it? Let me know.
Back in Plaid,
Rachel
Love the plaid carpet or hate it? Let me know.
Back in Plaid,
Rachel
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