Faced With Irony In The Grocery Store Checkout Lane, I Smile

August 12, 2014July 29, 2015 / Ally Bean / 30 Comments

While standing in the checkout lane at Kroger the shopper in front of me, a 70-something woman, told me and the cashier, a 20-something man, about how she downloaded her coupons onto her smart phone all by herself. She was very proud of her success, and both the cashier and I congratulated her on doing so.

She was happy. And so were we.

In passing, the chatty cashier mentioned to us that Kroger was using virtual coupons because that was a way to save paper and help the environment. The 70-something woman said: Oh yes, I’m all about saving paper. It’s such an important thing to do. I believe in that.

She was adamant. And we were impressed.

Then she pulled out her checkbook and wrote a [paper] check for her purchases leaving me to glance at the cashier who looked like he was going bust a gut, not saying a word about her incongruous behavior, as he finished the transaction. Then with a friendly wave to both of us, she pushed her cart through the door and left the store.

She was clueless. And we couldn’t stop smiling.

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Monet, Spiders And Thoughts Thereupon

July 22, 2014 / Ally Bean / 26 Comments

I took these photos while standing on our deck early yesterday morning. It was foggy outside and the world looked like something out of a Monet painting. Nature’s beauty charmed me, but also lured me into a much too contemplative frame of mind for a Monday morning.

Seeing my world in this hazy way left me feeling grounded + old. I realized that I’d seen it all this way before, but was now remembering that there’ll be a finite number of other times that I’ll see it this way again. Feeling introspective, I was.

But as if on cue, when I went back inside the house to refill my coffee mug, I saw this little spider climbing up the inside of the screen. Now here is a critter who’s living in the moment, I thought. Good for him.

He’s applying himself to the task at hand with all the enthusiasm + strength that he can muster. And perhaps he has the real message of this early morning: get out there, start climbing and do something. No need to get stuck in maudlin contemplation when there’s life to be lived now. Spider Wisdom 101.

Improving Ms. Bean: One Step At A Time

May 6, 2014January 24, 2016 / Ally Bean / 21 Comments

And now for something different…

I’VE NEVER been one to talk about medical issues on my blog, and I’m not about to change that policy now. But today, by bending my own personal blogging rules just a bit, I’m going to share with you, my gentle readers, that I am overweight. Not much, actually. But enough for me to decide that it is time for me to change some of my ~~evil~~ less-than-healthy ways.

TO WIT, and finally getting to the point of this post, I bought a fitbit. I chose the Zip one, which is a small pedometer that you attach to yourself each day. Then it does all the work for you by keeping track of your steps. All you have to do is walk. A lot. And have a desktop computer or a smart phone that you use to see all of your stats.

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IF I were a cynical woman, at this point in my post I’d tell you that this little gadget has confirmed that I do move. Most days. More than I can believe. Yet I am plump. Which I kind of like, but that’s the sort of statement that could get my Woman Card revoked, so I won’t focus on the body image topic today. Nor will I be cynical, because I am a paragon of good health and positive thinking.

I’M ENJOYING my Zip. It’s a groovy fuchsia color, and has this cute little [mostly] smiley face on it. Sometimes the smiley face sticks its tongue out at me when I’ve been sedentary for too long. I like that. Technology with a bit of motivational attitude is exactly the sort of thing to get me stepping more. And maybe, just maybe, weighing a few pounds less.

I’ll let you know.

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[A message to the FTC: I didn’t receive any compensation of any kind for my opinion here about this device. I know that you worry about such things, so you can rest assured that, as usual, there is nothing here for you to see.]

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And For My Next Decade…

March 27, 2014August 29, 2018 / Ally Bean / 36 Comments

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This week marks 10 years since I started my first public, somewhat disjointed, totally photograph-free, poorly written blog.

I know, I’m amazed, too.

You’d think that I’d have some pithy, inspirational conclusions gleaned from my experiences along the way, but I don’t.

No, the best that I can tell you is that keeping a personal blog is lots of planning and work, some fun– and a damned good way to find out who is really on your side.

Which, for me, has been enough. So far.

But today I find myself contemplating my blogging future, knowing way too much about how wrong things can go, and trying to decide what to do next.

To wit, here are the questions that have rattled around inside my brain during this auspicious week.

• Do I continue doing the same things here on this blog– keeping it personal and light just like I have been for the last 3 years?

• Do I change this blog into something more opinionated, rather like a newspaper column with an agenda to promote? Or a niche blog devoted to one specific topic? And if so, what would that agenda/niche be?

• Do I start a different, private blog in which I tell more of my story to a select few people who I know will support me? And if so, what does that get me?

• Do I give up on blogging entirely and just walk away from it?

I have no definite answer here.

But I suspect that you, my gentle readers, have suggestions about what I should do next concerning this blog, my blogging career, all things bloggy.

Heaven knows that you always have something to say! And I am grateful for that. 😉