A Is For Artichoke, A Good Place To Begin

April 1, 2016May 6, 2021 / Ally Bean / 25 Comments

Okie-dokie, artichokie

… is a slang phrase that I’m guessing everyone has heard, read, or said. It’s one of those goofy ways to communicate agreement without committing to too much interest.

I use the phrase from time-to-time because there are moments when it is appropriate.

For instance, when your husband is telling you a detailed analysis of his current sock situation, and you would prefer that he get to the bottom line of this sock soliloquy, because if he wants you to buy him some more socks, just say so.

But there he is staring into his sock drawer, reflecting upon his hole-y, muddled mess-o-socks, while you stand by patiently, not caring at all about the finer nuances of his sock preferences, but pretending that it matters to you.

That’s when a wise woman says “okie-dokie, artichokie,” then goes to Kohl’s and buys him whatever socks are on sale that day.

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{ SOMETHING TO DO FOR FUN }

Take the Can You Identify These Vegetables? Quiz. Helpful hint: the first answer is artichoke.

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I’m Doing The A To Z April Challenge 2016: For Better Or Worse

March 29, 2016May 6, 2021 / Ally Bean / 45 Comments

Just the facts, ma’am…

I’ve joined the A to Z April Challenge 2016. I’m in the mid-1500s on the list, should you care to find me. There’s still time for any of you, my gentle readers, to join in. Never let it be said that I didn’t invite you.

I’ve never tried to do this challenge before. When it comes to The Spectacled Bean, I tend to fly by the seat of my pants, so following a schedule, which this challenge requires, looks suspiciously like work to me. But I’ll do my best to keep on track.

My theme for this challenge will be FOOD: Talking The Talk. I plan on sharing sayings, such as proverbs, idioms, or slang phrases, and a few quotes or product names as examples of how we talk about food, even when we’re not necessarily talking about food.

I promise, as I go through the alphabet, that I will not be pedantic. In fact, I imagine that this sort of challenge will allow me to flaunt my natural tendency toward flapdoodle and twaddle. With a little snark thrown in for good measure. And occasionally, a few facts.

… That is all.

The First Day Of Spring: Blue, Yellow, Orange, Green

March 23, 2016July 1, 2025 / Ally Bean / 39 Comments

The skies were unbelievably clear on Sunday morning. Memorable, even. The colors of our world looked spectacular.

Because of this we decided to go for a walk around a city park.

The park was almost deserted, despite it being a beautiful day. No one else wanted to enjoy nature, I guess.

Here are few photos. Just because.

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I’ve got a busy week going on here.

I’ll end this post by wishing you, my gentle readers, a Happy Easter.

Catch up with you next week, kids.

What Say We Try Kindness?

March 17, 2016August 5, 2020 / Ally Bean / 49 Comments

I’ve blogged for a long time.

In fact, while messing around the other day in the Internet Archive Wayback Machine for something unrelated to this blog, I found a logo from 10 years ago for an online group of bloggers who committed to using words kindly.

Although I’d forgotten about it, I was part of that group.

• • •

We were an optimistic bunch.

We sincerely thought that blogging would evolve into a source of respectful understanding and positive connections among people in this world.

I’m charmed by the naiveté of it all. Especially in light of the past few week’s endless noise on FB and vitriol on Twitter.

But of course those social media didn’t exist when this group formed, so we had no idea about what was coming.

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I rarely long for the good ole days.

I realize that it’s easy to idealize remembrances of times past, and that these remembrances are often irrelevant when it comes to the issues of the day.

I’m a realist. What was, isn’t.

But in this one case, regarding social media, I’m going to suggest that stepping back from how we as a society now do things would be a good idea. The 24/7 insatiable need to be noticed and adored, which is how social media works currently, is not the best way to connect.

In contrast, looking back to 10 years ago, I remember how early blogging worked. It was a heady experience that focused on authentic connections with other people, rather than the care and feeding of your ego.

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I know that I’m preaching to the choir here.

And that my small voice of reason is going to be drowned out by the selfie-absorbed, the narcissists, the haters, the trolls. But occasionally I like to believe that I might influence someone in a positive way that encourages him or her…

To re-connect with their heart.