Summertime And The Blogging Is Easy

May 25, 2012August 28, 2018 / Ally Bean / 14 Comments

I’ve decided that it’s time to shake-up things here on my sweet little bloggy. I wanna do something light & fun & whatever-ish. Something more spontaneous than recording the details of my life.

So this summer instead of my usual blah, blah, blah, I’m going to post once a week about something that interests me. A topic that I’ve always been curious about, perhaps. Or some photos taken during my week, maybe. Or a things-that-I’ve-learned sort of post.

I’m sure that given the freedom to do whatever I want, I’ll dream up something each week. Then I’ll write about it here on The Spectacled Bean every Tuesday or Wednesday.

Sound like a plan? Sure hope so ’cause that’s what I’m going to do from Memorial Day [May 28] to Labor Day [September 3].

I’ll talk at ‘ya later everyone. Summer is calling to me.

Confirming Your Worst Fear About FB

May 20, 2012August 28, 2018 / Ally Bean / 10 Comments

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The stock market certainly didn’t take kindly to Facebook. I’m not entirely surprised. In fact, I’m rather pleased to see that enough people in this world are aware enough to not waste their money on a company that uses other people’s information somehow to make money.

That being said I’ve spent a good part of the last couple days reading about/listening to friends & acquaintances talk about leaving FB now that we’re all learning more about FB’s business model. And because I’ve left Facebook not once, but three times, I have become a voice on this topic.

Just call me a Facebook Rejection Early Adopter.

[FYI- I joined FB first in 2006. I lasted a few weeks, decided there was nothing there & left– as did all my friends at the time. Next, I joined FB again in 2009 because two friends, who I later realized were very lonely people, prodded me into trying it again. I lasted 6 months before I decided that FB was too much of a time suck for me. So I deleted my account again. Again, I joined Facebook in 2011 when I decided to create a FB account for this blog. I maintained the account for about 5 months, but realized that I was dividing my time between something of value (writing on the blog) & something of marginal value (interacting via FB). Seeing the writing on the wall {pun intended} I closed that account.]

So here is the one thing that I really want to say today. It is the one question that everyone I know who is still on Facebook wants answered. It is, I believe, the real reason disgruntled Facebookians hesitate about deleting their accounts– because they know deep down they are not going to like the answer. Which is…

Yes, once you leave Facebook you will find out for certain who is your real friend and who isn’t. There will be no doubt about this because the real friends will stay in touch with you via non-FB ways while you will never hear from the faux friends again.

And some of the people who turn out to be faux friends will shock you. Leaving you by yourself to wonder how you ever could have been fooled by them to begin with.

It’s not a pretty thing to find out– but as they say, the truth will set you free. And free I am out here in the world detached from FB.

Watch This If You’re Running Low On Spunk

May 15, 2012 / Ally Bean / 11 Comments

About a month ago I saw this video over at Cheri’s blog, Naples Girl Blog. I watched it, loved it, decided that I should watch it frequently– and then promptly forgot to do so. *duh*

However, last night as I was sitting down to watch TV, I remembered that I wanted to see this video again. So I did– many times, actually. And here’s what I thought:

isn’t it wonderful to hear someone say encouraging things to me as if I mattered to her?
when did this sort of positive & practical attitude become so passé that a video like this one seems fresh & new?
why, exactly, don’t I watch this video every day?

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