Blog Post #901: What We Have Here Is A Tuesday-type Situation

/ Ally Bean

IF AFTER 900 POSTS on The Spectacled Bean you know anything about me you know that I adore images that summarize what’s going on.

While it’s true that I’m a wordy girl at heart, I’m not a word-exclusive snob so I find a visual image, such as the one I’ve shared here, can get to the point of a situation quickly and accurately.

Make it snappy, I say to my wordy self as I compose posts for this blog;  tell the story in whatever way conveys your message clearly, I remind myself before I add an image.

Yep, that’s how I talk to myself when writing a personal blog post.  Scintillating? Not so much.

ALSO, FOR THE RECORD, I found this image in a file on my old computer and realized I’d made the image in order to learn how to make a Venn diagram but had never used the image for anything because, I guess, once I’d learned how to make a Venn diagram I had no need for said image.

Until today.

A Tuesday, a day of the week that sometimes can be difficult to embrace wholeheartedly.

A Tuesday on which I want to return to blogging after a long hiatus but am feeling awkward about how to start writing again.

This particular Tuesday to be exact.

THUS IN KEEPING WITH the concept of SIMPLIFY, my #OneWord365 for 2020, I thought for blog post #901 I’d write something light and easy, something sincere but a bit silly. Something that acknowledges that it’s a new year on the calendar but confirms that I’m the same old me.

Something, in fact, that might be construed as a catalyst for comments and conversation about your approach to blogging OR your word of the year OR your opinion of Tuesdays.

What’s new with you, kids? I’ve been away far too long.

157 thoughts on “Blog Post #901: What We Have Here Is A Tuesday-type Situation”

  1. My approach to blogging is like fly paper. I hang it all out there and see what sticks.
    Word for the year. Just one? Impossible.
    What’s new? Back from Xmas vacation in Williamsburg just in time for snow, ice and sleet…. and am wading my way through (oh so many!) photos to share.
    Welcome back!!

    Liked by 2 people

  2. I dilly-dallied with #oneword365 website and failed to be the first to post – ha!
    Congrats on moving past the 900 mark in blog posting.Wow! At that rate, you can afford to take time off blogging. Welcome back!

    Here’s to Venn diagrams and my “oneword365” to be revealed on Wednesday’s b log

    Liked by 2 people

    • marian, investigating the #OneWord365 website is important so I understand how you ended up dilly-dallying. I look forward to learning about your word of the year tomorrow. Will there be a Venn diagram? They are the snazziest images, don’t you know? 🤓

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Simplify… a good word for many aspects of life. Glad to see you back Ally Bean!
    As to Tuesday, in my case it simply means day 2 of 5 days covering extra work while a coworker is on vacation. I find nothing simple about that 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Deb, this year my #OneWord365 just came to me. Some years I struggle finding one that fits. Overall I actually like Tuesdays, but getting started back into blogging today was not so easy to do. Sounds like you’re in a similar situation at work.

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Welcome home! I have missed you. I did not make any resolutions or decisions for the New Year. I did sign up for a great online class. It is simply writing for the first 37 days. It is light and though provoking. Easy Peasy.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Maggie, thank you. I missed being here in the blogosphere, but felt it was time for a break. Your writing class sounds encouraging. I’m all about going with the flow when it comes to writing.

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Most of my posts are stories (shocker, in a memoir blog about 1 aspect of life). I also remind myself constantly to edit: “Does it advance the main point of the story? No? Delete it!”

    But perhaps the cut section will reappear later, in its own post. Like your Venn diagram.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. I need to get up to speed and learn what this #OneWord365 is all about. As for what’s up with me, nothing new. I just find new ways to spin the same-old-same-old.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jean, I like how you spin your same-old-same-old. I often feel like I’m doing the same thing here. It’s all about seeing things from a different perspective.

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  12. Good to have you back! I don’t do the one word thing but if I did it would be “kind.” When I retired from my position as the head of Human Resources I told my staff to always err on the side of kindness. I still try to do that (although some people can be very trying). I don’t know how I blog. I walk around and something comes to my mind and it sticks. Sometimes the good ideas get away before I can get them down on paper. Maybe that’s a hit or miss style. Very similar to the flypaper approach.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Kate, I like your idea of kindness. I attempt to be that way, too, even though people are getting less hinged every day.

      I don’t have an editorial plan for the topics here, but I do think of my posts as being structured as observational &/or details about a project &/or informational. Just that little bit of planning keeps me on track. Most of the time.

      Liked by 2 people

  13. You’re back!
    Excellent!

    I was just thinking about you yesterday and decided I would swing round to your blog this morning to reread your last post to see if it was about time (or past time) for you to come off your extended hiatus. And, instead, I saw you in my in-box. Huzzah! Talk about Linky Love ~ I was thinking of you while you were thinking about this post. We are In Sync!

    Liked by 2 people

    • nancy, you’re sweet to take an interest in my return. I was vague about when I’d return to blogging because I didn’t know when I’d be ready for it again. I enjoyed doing the December photo challenge on IG, but blogging is more my speed. More random, more wordy, more me!

      Liked by 1 person

    • Janis, I liked doing the IG challenge, but in social media when someone gives me the prompts I feel like what I’m doing is work-y. I prefer a more independent free-spirited approach to my social media, hence this blog. As for your intentions… I look forward to reading about them.

      Liked by 2 people

    • nance, I love the idea of a Simplify Army! Clearly I’m only a corporal at this point, but maybe someday, with the right kind of gumption, I can make it to sergeant.

      Like

    • nance, I’ve been having difficulties leaving comments all over the blogosphere today. Here’s what I was going to say:

      I know how you feel about your house turning against you. You love them, care for them, then they hit the teenage years, and constantly rebel. The Good Things Jar is brilliant. I’m going to do that too. Thanks for the idea.

      Like

  19. Welcome back. You didn’t miss much at The Nest. Just a catastrophic, extremely expensive plumbing project that went on for a week and a half from just before Christmas to right after New Years that left my kitchen and bathroom temporary disaster areas, kept me from enjoying the modern luxuries of all indoor plumbing for a week, made one of my cats sick… and worst of all, managed to keep me, Mr. Consistency, from posting my usual New Years features on my blog for the first time ever due to all the stress and lost time from this glorious home repair project.

    But other than that, I’ve been hunky dorey!

    Liked by 2 people

    • evilsquirrel13, ok, I shouldn’t be laughing here, but your take on your home disaster is kind of funny… says the woman who had indoor plumbing during the holiday season. I’m sorry for your mess and do hope your cat is feeling better now. May your new year be filled with modern luxuries [that work] and healthy pets.

      Liked by 2 people

    • Susan, I’m unable to leave a comment on your blog, but just wanted to say that I’ve done what you did AND it turned out to be the best teaser ever. People flocked to my post… to see what I really meant to say.

      Liked by 1 person

  21. Lovely to see you here! Some changes made for me in the past few months. If life slows down for a few minutes, I hope to get back to more regular writing. Maybe next week?😂😂

    Liked by 1 person

  22. I’ve been gone a long time, I didn’t even realize how long. I’m working to find my voice again and I’m not sure where I’m going. But I’m back. Glad to see you back!

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    • Zazzy, I find there’s a flow to writing for a personal blog that seems to get hold of your psyche and take over. I’m sure you’ll find your way soon enough. Glad to know you’re back to blogging again.

      Liked by 1 person

  25. I usually blog because I have a burning desire to say or show some things. Sometimes my mind is in such a jumble that I don’t know where to start. Thus, I generally begin with some pictures or an idea for a title that will encapsulate a bit of my post. That focuses me on how to start at least. My word for the year, although I don’t make any New Year’s resolutions is flexibility.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Margaret, considering how long you’ve been writing your blog, it’s clear that your approach to writing a blog post is a winner. I like your idea of finding a picture, then take it from there. That’s what I did with this post. “Flexibility” is a good word for the year because it works both in a literal and figurative way. Carry on, my dear.

      Like

  26. Welcome Back, Kotter! I love a Venn diagram. Nice work there. I haven’t blogged regularly in months. Writing a lot, just not blogging. Thankful the holiday hubbub is over. I have a word for the year, but am contemplating a post about it. Hope the simplifying goes well!

    Liked by 1 person

  27. I’m in sync with you – I’ve been away from my blog too long and while antsy to start up again, I’m in that awkward where to begin phase. You, though, have managed it perfectly, and thus I’m taking inspiration from you.

    While Mondays (moon associations), Wednesday (Mercury associations), and Friday (Venus) remain my favorite days, I do like Tuesdays as well. There’s my weekly CSA delivery of local food goodness and your posts – so what’s not to like there? My word of the year is “radiance” and I’m looking forward to seeing how that unfolds. I’m hoping it won’t be necessary, but should it prove so, I’ll be proving sunglasses to all who come in contact with me. 🙂

    Welcome back to the blogging realm – you were missed!

    Liked by 2 people

    • Deborah, such a kind comment. Thank you. I sense that you understand how tricky it can be to jump back into a personal blog after being away for a few weeks, months.

      I rather like Tuesdays, but I admit that they’re often considered the runt of the litter when it comes to days of the week. Usually I rise above such concerns, but today when I sat down to write this I felt rather Tuesday-ish.

      Looking forward to your 2020 radiance. No doubt we’ll be able to see it clearly. 😉

      Liked by 2 people

    • dawn, I like your word of the year. I agree that it’s a good way to envision how you blog as well as how you get through this day that is often maligned. Ever onward.

      Like

  29. Welcome back, Ms. Bean. The only thing I’ve noticed about Tuesdays is that the mail is lighter generally on those days. My word for this year is Drive, although I have not checked out the #Oneword365 which you know I will now do. 901!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Janet, our mail is heavier on Tuesdays, but lighter on Wednesday. I don’t know what that says about anything, but there you go! Choosing one word to focus on for the year has been a great idea for me. I’m no good at resolutions, but the #OneWord365 concept has me hooked.

      Liked by 1 person

  32. I walked away from blogging for a while and just started back up again recently. I too try to keep my post from getting too wordy. I find that if blogs get super long I get distracted and stop reading.

    Liked by 2 people

  33. 1. It was Tuesday. Totally. I felt it, you know how I do.
    2. I missed your bloggity goodness. Welcome back.
    3. Venn diagrams are the best diagrams.
    4. I’m wordy when I’m wordy which is mostly at blog, but I’m concise at work because they pay me for that 😉

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda, I usually just write something for this blog and get on with things, but deciding what to say here after being away seemed tricky. Still I managed to put together some adequate flapdoodle so I’m back. Thanks for stopping by to say *hey*

      Liked by 1 person

      • Well welcome back and Happy New Year to you Ally. I would be hard pressed to come up with a regular posting schedule if I did not have the nature treks to write about. I have a lot of photos I took in December as we had good weather, so I have enough photos to make posts through at least January and also I’ve got some longer treks taken in the Summer that I’ve never ever looked through the pictures yet.

        Liked by 1 person

        • I try to be here at the blog weekly. I’ve come to realize that if I think about what’s happened in my life lately, then write about it using one of the three categories shown in my Venn diagram I have something to carry on about. Sometimes twaddle, sometimes thoughtful. For me that’s how it works. 😉

          Liked by 2 people

  35. So glad to see you back!! My word for the year is “practice”. I like your word a great deal. I need to do a little of that this year too!!

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    • Katie, I like your word of the year. It seems like it should allow you to try a bunch of things without the burden of needing to be perfect. Smart, smart choice.

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    • Nicole, for me part of the appeal of writing a personal blog is letting topics of conversation find me. I may stick to my Venn diagram categories when I decide what/how I write here, but it’s anyone’s guess as to the topic/details I’ll write about… until I do.

      Enjoy is a great word, btw. I need to remember it as I simplify.

      Liked by 2 people

  38. Welcome back, Ally! You’ve been missed! And congrats on post 901! That’s worth celebrating!

    I’ve been trying to decide what to write for my blog. Hearing crickets right now. I’m pretty much a nonstandard blogger. I don’t have set days for posts or types of posts (like Wordless Wednesdays). Well, occasionally, I’ll revisit a topic (like bathroom reading). Hmmm. Perhaps I’ll return to that topic on my blog.

    Liked by 1 person

    • L. Marie, my only concession to blogging consistency is that I show up here at least once a week. It’s usually on Tuesday, but if it’s another day of the week so be it. In my mind as I sit down to write I categorize my posts as observations &/or projects &/or links I love. Then I fill-in the blank with some details/events from my life. Since I’ve put these perimeters on myself I’ve found it easier to find things to write about. Fewer crickets, but they never go away completely, do they? 😕

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  39. I understand your awkwardness of getting back into writing again. I do the same with my painting. What will I paint? Will it be as good as some of my others, or a complete disaster? I think that’s called FOF, fear of failure.Just do what you do best.

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  40. Cheers – you’re back and sounding steady…”good” being so vague and generic…you just sound comfortable and content with the flow…but that’s wordy.
    Hope you’ll excuse the smushed ground cover/sort of a mud hole at your blog porch where we’ve been sitting like the dog in that one spot in the back yard waiting for the squirrel and finding marginal entertainment picking at the surroundings. It’ll grow back! Really. We meant no harm. HaHa
    Recovering from that darn RSV virus obtained on the Christmas trip. Fun, not.
    Word selection? Maybe “chill”. I’ve run it past the dog and cat and they said “sure!”…only found out they thought we were going for ice cream ( temps around 70’s here). “Chill” – yep, enough flexibility to be useful. Cool enough to be kind. Currently influence for actions and decisions is “In 75 years will it really make a difference?” Clarifies and simplifies a lot of things…especially noise.
    Anyway – glad you’re back

    Liked by 1 person

    • philmouse, I’m thrilled to know that you’ve been waiting for my return. I don’t mind a bit of mud by the porch at all. I’m flattered in fact.

      I’m sorry to read that you didn’t have the healthiest Christmas vacay, but hope you’re doing better now.

      “Chill” is a good word for the year. I think we all will need to remember it as the year progresses. It certainly is in line with my idea of simplify which I shall do chill-fully! 😎

      Liked by 1 person

  43. Welcome back!

    I love and look forward to Tuesday’s! It’s my girls golf day. Tuesday is NOT Monday and that’s all I need to know hee hee.

    I love your Venn diagram and glad you used it as a catalyst for getting back to writing.

    I always feel paralyzed before an intention to sit down and write, and then all of a sudden it all pours out… so why do I get anxiety ahead of time? Aah, it’s the tortured writer syndrome.

    Happy New Year to you and I look forward to more words pouring out of you as you feel so moved and inspired!

    Susan Grace

    Liked by 1 person

    • Susan, I agree with you about why I like Tuesdays– it’s not Monday so how could it be lousy?

      You’re onto something with the tortured writer syndrome. I was feeling anxious about posting this post, but once I did I had an ah-ha moment in which I realized all was good. Yet I tortured myself about writing it. 😕

      Happy New Year to you, too. I’m thinking that with simplify as my word of the year and my newfound ability to make Venn diagrams, I’m good to go, seeing 2020 as it were.

      Liked by 1 person

  45. I love your word – Simplify. I hadn’t really felt one that would stick, but I’m going to grab hold of yours and share it. Thank you! Great blog. Found it from Misadventures in Widowhood. Happy New Year.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Wife Goes On, thanks for stopping by to read and comment. Some years my one word just comes to me and this was one of those years. Now how I’m going to simplify remains to be seen. 🤔

      Like

  48. Welcome back, Ally!
    I made a diagram for grins a while back too and didn’t use it. Now I’m curious about what I made. LOL!
    If you write about your WOTY, be sure to link it up to my blog. I’m posting links next Thursday!

    Liked by 1 person

  49. Happy New Year, Ally! Congratulations on 900+! Lots of great reminders in this post. I get it, on returning to the blog. Where and how do I begin again? Just finished a draft, although, it is never good enough and requires editing every time I look at it. I like your word “Simplify.” A word that continues to surface for me is “Trust.” A myriad of thoughts to go along with it. I look forward to connecting in 2020, Ally!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Erica/Erika, where to begin again was the real key to my problem. I found a way, but it was weirdly tricky for me to do. Go figure, after writing so many previous posts. Trust is a good word of the year. I look forward to reading about how it plays into your life in 2020. Thanks for stopping by to comment.

      Liked by 1 person

  54. Glad you’re back to blogging!! And congrats on 900 posts…that’s an accomplishment. I don’t think blogging schedules are necessary at all. It’s better to simply post when we feel we have something to say!

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    • Ann, I’m with you. I understand how some people need more structure and have an editorial calendar, but I post generally on Tuesdays. About whatever I’m thinking about. And if I miss Tuesday, there’s always Wednesday, or Thursday, or Friday… 😉

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  55. welcome back – I like the simplify word – and best wishes with it.
    nice timing to come back for the 901st post –
    and I never really thought of you as wordy – and maybe that is because you have those convos and then keep it scaled – ? hm

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  56. Welcome back – you did take a long time off from blogging. I find it feels awkward after just a week off. Congrats on being able to get back into the groove so easily! I noticed you didn’t take a break from Instagram – did you enjoy sticking with that while you took a break from blogging? Happy belated Tuesday to you!

    Liked by 1 person

  59. Simplify eh? Good word. It’s one I probably *should* choose, but then I’d have to decide what to give up … and I’m not ready to do that yet. I’ve chosen my word for 2020 – Act – but have some secondary words too (Accomplish, Manifest & Thrive). BTW, act not as in act-up or perform, but take action. I did consider action, but I wanted my word to be in the form of an instruction to myself 🙂

    It’s a good thing I selected it before getting distracted by the website by the sounds of it 😉

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    • deb, I’m attempting to simplify in the sense of accepting complexity, then finding a way to make it easier for me. I’m not trying to do less, just do what I do in a way that makes my life smoother.

      I like your word of the year. I didn’t think of it like theatrical acting, but in the way you defined it. I especially like the concept of thrive.

      If you go to the website it’s interesting to see what word other people have picked. Kind of a peek into the workings of the human mind.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Ah-ha! That is an excellent concept and one I could most certainly use. I am making heavy weather of far too many things at the moment, no doubt by over-complicating them. I shall channel a bit of Ally-ness while I’m Acting!

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  60. If you read my blog you’ll remember I had 4 words and they were all to do with writing. I have been doing this for a while but now I want to do the perspiration and get it ready to publish this year. I am asking the members in our writing group to try for the same. The thing with the Word is that it helps you concentrate and notice what you are doing towards that intention so it works where resolutions don’t always last very long.

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    • writingmindmapper, I agree that by focusing on a word, or 4 [!], it seems easier to keep on track through the whole year. Resolutions never stuck with me, but one word I can remember and apply in various situations. We all do what we can to stay true to our goals, don’t we?

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