Sure, You Can Do That

January 15, 2013January 28, 2021 / Ally Bean / 19 Comments

“In vino veritas est.” ~ Pliny the Elder

“God bless the honest, for they shall make my days more entertaining.” ~ Ally Bean

~ • ~

As I have mentioned here before I am a good listener. I am also the “go to” person in my social group for how to start a blog. And, as you have probably already figured out, I get tickled by the darnedest things. To wit, the following real life vignette.

An acquaintance, who I see about once every 3 years or so, asked me about how to start a blog. We were at a fancy reception and there was much wine being served.

I told her my standard response* to her question. She seemed intrigued and started asking a bunch more questions about blogging. In the flow of the conversation I told her that I thought that she’d be good at blogging because she is smart and articulate. [Which all bloggers are, right?]

Of course, I wanted to know what she thought that she might be blogging about, so I asked her. Knowing a little bit about her I figured that she’d say something like: my kids, my love of interior design, tips on antiquing, tips on cooking, my conservative political opinions. Subjects that I know she cares about.

But what I did not expect her to say is the most unanticipated, yet delightful, reason for blogging that anyone has told me to date. She told me that she didn’t care what subject she wrote about. That didn’t matter to her at all. No, what she wanted to do in her blog was to: Tell people what to do. Her way. So that they wouldn’t bug her with their stupidness any more.

Now this is an approach to blogging and a point of view, which you have to admit, is both authentic and could be fun to read about, subjects be damned. Plus, I suspect, that in our heart of hearts there isn’t one blogger [or person] out there who hasn’t thought the same thing, but just never had ~~the amount of wine necessary~~ the gumption to say it. So clearly. And so loudly.

~ • ~

* When you start a blog you need to consider three basic questions.

Do you have something to say? Can you say it in a way that other people will understand? Hmm?
Where will you put your blog? That is, when you decide on your platform will you pay money for it or will it be free?
Will you commit to showing up to your blog on a regular basis? If not, you’ll tick off your friends and readers. And you don’t want that, do you?

I Have Seen My Future & I Like Who I Am

November 28, 2012 / Ally Bean / 14 Comments

I was getting out of my car in the parking lot in front of a strip center yesterday, when I noticed an older woman getting out of her car. The woman was probably 75-80 years old. She was slender, not emaciated, and was moving with a slow ease.

I was immediately taken with her. She was, I do hope, what I look like when I am her age. My future doppelgänger of sorts.

Here’s what I saw:

• white wavy hair, sans frizz, cut short & styled in a relaxed flattering way – not glued into place

• rectangular medium-brownish-gray framed glasses – that fit her face size

• a bright red parka that would make a stop sign blush at its own dull inadequacy

• a jazzy-patterned multi-colored silk scarf around her neck – peeking out from within her parka

• medium tan corduroy boot-cut pants – hemmed just right

• dark tan flat leather shoes – rather nondescript, but in the perfect shade to blend with the pants

To say that I was smitten is an understatement. Part of this was because it was refreshing for me to see a little old lady who embraced color and wore styles from this decade. She wasn’t a Q-tip, which is the way so many of the older woman around here dress. Not flattering.

But what really intrigued me about this woman was that she was driving a VW Beetle Convertible— bright red on the bottom, black on the top. A bold car, no?

And one that, combined with her ensemble, made me love her upon first sight as I became hopeful for my future as an old lady. I’m gonna look damned good, aren’t I?

I Was So Wrong About Going To The Grocery

November 21, 2012January 28, 2021 / Ally Bean / 18 Comments

I was dreading my trip to the grocery yesterday afternoon. I even tweeted this before I left.

• • •

However, once I got inside our Kroger, which was hopping, I realized that they had things well in hand. Lots of carts available. Shelves stocked. Oodles of samples. Extra cashiers. As well as…

a woman employee dressed in her usual uniform…

wearing a white silk sash a la Miss America & a glitzy rhinestone tiara on her head…

wandering around the store helping everyone find what they needed.

• • •

Who was this woman with the gracious demeanor, sincere smile, wave of a beauty pageant contestant and endless knowledge of the store?

As her sash clearly stated, she was: Miss Information. Of course!