Last week while answering Cee’s questions I told you, my gentle readers, that I was looking forward to planting some pansies in a pot. Here is a photo of said pansies in said pot. Aren’t they pretty?
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• Does your first or middle name have any significance (or were you named after another family member)?
This is a tricky question for me to answer because I write this blog under a nom de plume. Yes, Ally Bean is my nickname. It evolved from the old saying: “Know what I mean, Jelly Bean?” Back when I started blogging in 2004 no one used his or her real name when writing online, so I went with Ally Bean. As for this name’s significance, all I can suggest is that it might mean, FRIEND LEGUME. I guess.
• Music or silence while working?
Almost always silence when working. Quiet focuses me. And a focused me is a productive me.
• If you had a special place for your three most special possessions (not including photos, electronics, people or animals), what would they be?
Not sure if this question is asking me what are my three most special possessions OR what is my special place for them? No matter. I’ll answer the latter question by saying my most special possessions, of which there are many more than three, are in our house. Ergo our house must be a special place, right?
• The Never List: What are things you know you never will do?
I will never do cardiac surgery, ride on a Segway again, write a textbook on quantum physics, collect dolls, imbibe any rum-based drink again, travel by submarine, buy a pair of Jimmy Choo pumps, teach a class about car repair, OR needlepoint a pillow cover.
• Optional Bonus Question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week’s gratitude award goes to Season 3 of Grace and Frankie, starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. I’m grateful for anything that makes me laugh and this TV series does that. Over the weekend I watched half of Season 3, released on Friday, and I’m still smiling about the characters, the plot, the settings, the humor. So funny + smart.
This week’s looking forward to something goes to an Ikea chest of drawers, now in three large heavy flat boxes leaning against the wall in the upstairs hallway. Next weekend Zen-Den and I hope to remain married while we build this chest of drawers that, when assembled, will give me one place to put all of my foldable clothes.
This is a photo of hail, pellets of frozen rain that fall in showers from cumulonimbus clouds, as seen on our deck. There is nothing inspiring about hail, yet there it is. Hello, spring.
Spring is here and I’m ready for a change of pace vis-à-vis blogging.
So starting today and in the coming weeks instead of me dreaming up something to write about here, I’m going to do Cee’s Share Your World Weekly Writing Challenge wherein I’ll answer her questions on Tuesday or Wednesday of each week.
I may post a few other things along the way, but for the most part I’m going to see where Cee’s questions take me. ‘Cuz, you know, why not?
And now, onto the main event…
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• How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?
It depends on the time of day. If it’s morning, say 9:00 a.m. when I’m caffeinated and alert, then I’m 35 years old. However after a normal day, by 9:00 p.m. in the evening, I’m 85 years old. This means, quite logically, that I age a little over 4 years every hour of the day.
• So, you’re on your way out and it’s raining. Do you know where your umbrella is or do you frantically search for it all over your apartment/house?
I know where my umbrella is. It’s red and in the backseat of my car. No one except me may use my red umbrella without written authorized consent, submitted in triplicate 24 hours before the proposed using of my umbrella.
I wasn’t always so selfish with my umbrella, but *true confessions* I married an umbrella thief + hoarder whose behavior has led me to institute a strict protocol about all umbrellas, use of said.
• Do you recharge your energy by going out with friends for a good time or by spending with quiet time alone?
To recharge I need quiet time alone, about 2 hours of quiet to every 1 hour of socializing. Unless it’s Christmas-time, then it’s 3 hours of quiet to every 1 hour of socializing.
• Name three things you and your spouse, partner or best friend have in common.
Zen-Den and I: 1) look good wearing the color blue; 2) prefer mustard potato salad; and 3) enjoy Ruth Galloway mysteries written by Elly Griffiths.
• Optional Bonus Question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
Last week’s gratitude award goes to Olly, the doggo featured in the YouTube video below. His energy combined with his disregard for the rules made me laugh more than I can tell you.
This week’s looking forward to something goes to the yet-to-be planted pansies, sitting inside our garage. IF there’s no frost, THEN I’ll plant them in pretty pots, and place the pansified pots by the front door and on the deck, adding some color around the outside of the house.
When it’s a glorious day outside and it comes to finding something to photograph, I’m nothing if not persistent.
• PLAN A: HORSES I drove to the horse vet wanting to photograph the horses that are usually standing around in his fields. However, when I got there not one horse was anywhere to be seen, so I kept driving.
• PLAN B: HISTORY I drove to a tiny 200-year-old village that, when photographed while standing on its bridge over the river, would make for an interesting photo. However, when I got there the river was high, the sidewalks were muddy, and the wind was gusting. Standing on the bridge didn’t seem safe to me, so I decided to go someplace else.
• PLAN C: HAPPINESS Dreamed up on the fly, I decided to drive to the canoe rental place and walk the bike path that runs by the canoe rental place, using the opportunity to photograph the blue sky above and whatever might be underneath it. As the following four photos show, this plan worked.
When it’s a glorious day outside and it comes to finding something to photograph, I’m nothing if not persistent.
THE SPECTACLED BEAN 