Hazy With A Chance Of Slot Machines

July 16, 2013July 1, 2025 / Ally Bean / 13 Comments

On Saturday some friends who live in a small town north of here came to the ‘Nati to play for the day. We get together a few times a year and just goof off.

And the best part? No detailed plans, just hanging out for the afternoon seeing where life would take us. Yeah Team Mellow.

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We drove up a large hill, on the west side of town, into an old part of the city called Price Hill, and stopped at a small city park dedicated to a long forgotten form of transportation, the incline. An incline was a cable railway that took passengers up & down steep hills. In this park there were a few plaques commemorating The Price Hill Incline, which allowed people to ride out of & into the city of Cincinnati from 1874 to 1943.

And the best part? This tiny park was a hidden gem– clean, quiet, providing a city view from a different angle than I have ever seen before. Way cool.

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While we were up on the hill we went to lunch at a restaurant, Incline Public House, located beside the park. We sat out on the deck that looks over Cincinnati, the Ohio River and into Kentucky. Even though it was a hazy day, seeing the buildings, railroad tracks and barges from way up high was mesmerizing. The food was delicious. I had lamb sliders with goat cheese + cherry bourbon chutney, along with a side salad of fresh greens + peppercorn ranch dressing.

And the best part? A shot of Woodford Reserve Bourbon in my iced tea. Yum.

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After driving around Price Hill so that we could admire the architecture of the old homes, we drove down into Cincinnati and went to the casino that opened there in March. Casinos are a new big deal in Ohio. While I’m not much of a gambler, I’m nothing if not a curious person so I was happy to see what Horseshoe Casino was all about. It was much nicer than I thought it was going to be– beautifully decorated, good sound system, a variety of restaurants and smoke-free. [Take that Indiana.]

And the best part? I walked away from the 25¢ slot machines, $5.00 richer! Cha-ching.

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2 Movies, 2 Books & 1 New Name

July 11, 2013May 6, 2021 / Ally Bean / 15 Comments

As part of my attempt to live a more balanced life in 2013, I have given myself the assignment to watch 2 movies and to read 2 books each month. Here is my June report.

2 Movies

Life Happens – Smart + funny. In this comedy, Krysten Ritter, Kate Bosworth & Rachel Bilson star as three very different 20-something women who share a house in a hipster part of L.A. One of the roommates becomes pregnant and after the baby is born all three women try to continue to live their lives as before. Witty dialogue. Fascinating sets. Charming ending. Recommended if you enjoy laughing at the ups & downs of relationships, careers and motherhood.

Brother Rat – Wordy + dated. Set at the Virginia Military Institute, this uneven 1938 movie is a black-and-white classic. Three cadets try to keep one cadet’s marriage secret from just about everybody. Hijinks/whining/confusion ensues. The movie is best known for 2 facts: 1) it is Eddie Albert’s first role in a movie; & 2) Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman met while filming this. Half-heartedly recommended if you are curious about early films and stuck at home on a rainy day.

2 Books

Beautiful Ruins – Wonderful + memorable. This novel by Jess Walter is one of the best that I’ve read in years. Set primarily in Italy and Hollywood, it is a decades long love story between an Italian innkeeper and an American actress. It is alternately amusing, insightful, satirical and heartbreaking. The writing is smooth, the plot is flawless and the ending is just as it needs to be. Highly recommended to anyone who likes to read fiction.

The Year the Music Changed – Clever + sweet. This story is about a brilliant & lonely 14-year-old girl who sends a fan letter to a then unknown country singer named Elvis Presley. He writes back and they become pen pals telling each other their secrets and triumphs. Diane Thomas, the author of this book, does a marvelous job of weaving facts about Elvis into a warm, captivating story of self-awareness and the power of friendship. Recommended if you like coming-of-age stories and music history.

1 New Name

I cannot resist silly, pointless, time-wasting name generators. They call to me. I’m curious. I NEED to know. So when I found the Old West Name Generator, I knew that I had to find out what my name would have been if I had been born between 1860 to 1890.

And here is what I discovered. Back then you would have known me as:

Lily Jessamine Roush.

Pretty name, huh?

My Report On The U.S. Flag Complete With Commentary

June 14, 2013June 14, 2013 / Ally Bean / 33 Comments

{ image from Library of Congress}

Today is Flag Day. On this date in 1777, the Continental Congress officially approved the design of the U.S. flag as we know it today.

• But you knew that, of course. You paid attention in history class and it’s right there on your calendar, in small print.

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In adopting the flag the Continental Congress stated: “Resolved, That the Flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white; that the Union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.” It is interesting to note that the colors of red – white – blue did not have meanings when this resolution was adopted.

In 1818, after 5 more states joined the Union, the U.S. Congress passed legislation fixing the number of stripes at 13 and requiring that the number of stars equal the number of states.

• Smart thinking if you ask me. Have a plan, stick to it.

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In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson declared June 14th as a national day of recognition for the flag. According to this declaration, the flag is to be flown everywhere on this day, not just on government buildings and schools.

In 1949, while President Truman was in office, the U.S. Congress established June 14 as National Flag Day. The next year on June 14th he proclaimed it as such. However, this does not make June 14th an official federal holiday so no one gets the day off from work because of this Act of Congress.

• I fail to see the reason why the U.S. Congress did what they did, but that’s nothing new.

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The U.S. flag has three nicknames: “Stars and Stripes” – “Star-Spangled Banner” – “Old Glory.” And as you can imagine, no matter what you call it, there are etiquette rules for flying the U.S. flag. Reading through them you will discover that We, The People, break these rules almost daily.

• I direct your attention to the Decorative section of the list. ‘Nuff said.

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In 1960, on July 4th, the last new star was added to the flag when Hawaii became the 50th state. That is the last time there has been a change to the U.S. flag itself. But there is more to the story than mere design changes. You see, on June 14, 2004, the U.S. Congress unanimously voted to declare that Flag Day originated in Ozaukee County, Waubeka Wisconsin, thereby acknowledging another little known historical fact.

And with that I have nothing more to add to this report. ‘Tis time for me to go put my cute little red, white & blue flags in my large ~~blue~~ green flower pots filled with dark pink geraniums, so that I can say that I’m [stylishly] observing this holiday.

• How about you? What are you going to do to celebrate Flag Day?

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2 Movies, 2 Books & 1 Complete Blank

June 7, 2013May 6, 2021 / Ally Bean / 16 Comments

As part of my attempt to live a more balanced life in 2013, I have given myself the assignment to watch 2 movies and to read 2 books each month. Here is my May report.

2 Movies

Small, Beautifully Moving Parts – Clever + truthful. A pregnant, techie-oriented woman, who lives in NYC, goes to LA so that her sister may give her a proper baby shower. Once on the west coast, the mother-to-be decides to visit her divorced parents. Her father’s reaction to seeing her is delight, but her off-the-grid mother’s reaction is alternately hilarious or sad. Recommended if you like honest characters + quiet triumphs.

Jesus Henry Christ – Tedious + confused. I wanted to like this movie produced by Julia Roberts, but I didn’t. The premise is that a brilliant 10-year-old boy, whose mother had in vitro fertilization, decides to find out who his biological father really is– and he does. But the plot dragged on and the characters were of the over-the-top-but-supposed-to-be-endearing variety so that nothing in the story seemed interesting or plausible or worth caring about. Not recommended.

2 Books

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Extraordinary + compelling. Rebecca Skloot tells the true story of how one woman’s cells, taken from her without her permission, came to be first “immortal” human cells grown in a medical lab at Johns Hopkins University. Plus, Skloot tells the story of Henrietta’s life, her children’s lives and all the subsequent injustices done to all of them. Recommended if you like medical history + family stories that span generations.

Too Much Happiness – Well-written, but forgettable. I know that Alice Munro is a writer with an enthusiastic following so I decided to read one of her books. This book of 10 short stories was, perhaps, not her best effort– or maybe I don’t get her. I found the stories to be depressing &/or mundane; so much so that even her smooth writing couldn’t overcome it. Recommended if you like glimpses into the darker side of human nature + need something to read that’s easy to put down and pick up as need be.

1 Complete Blank

In this spot I like to share something clever or funny that I saw/read/heard during the month, but I’m coming up with a blank here. Oh well, whatever. If anyone has something inspiring or cheerful that could be in this spot, just let me know & in it goes. If not, I suggest that we all be like Quakers at a Sunday meeting and sit here silently reflecting upon the Divine. The choice is yours, gentle readers.

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[As promised above, I’ve added your ideas to inspire or cheer thus filling in my Complete Blank.]

1) From Polly at caughtwriting, an Emily Dickinson quote: