Turkeys Before Trees: In Theory, A Good Idea

November 27, 2013November 27, 2013 / Ally Bean / 28 Comments

I hesitate to even bring this topic up because…

Someone, somewhere is going to read what I’m going to say here– and that somewhere someone is going to start judging me. I just know it.

However, a bit of negative energy directed my way is not going to stop me from sharing with you, my gentle readers, the fact that:

Our home is already decorated for Christmas.

{ source }

I know that it’s early. In fact, I think that the #turkeysbeforetrees idea is a good one. Timely. Putting the emphasis on what is important. But here’s the thing, and there’s always a thing when it comes to Christmas, we are having a large house party the first weekend in December.

How large you ask? Well, at last count, 50 people have RSVPed “yes.” And this means, in practical terms, that the sooner we get the house decorated and organized, the sooner we can start fussing around with the food and drink.

So despite being a person who doesn’t like the idea of forcing Christmas, this year I am a person who, for once, is ahead of the curve on this Christmas thing.

I justify this by remembering three things:

the more organized I am about this party, the calmer I will be prior to it;
the calmer I am prior to it, the better the food and drink will be during it; &
the better the food and drink are during the party, the happier our guests will be.

And who among you, I ask, doesn’t want happy guests at his or her party? Hmmm? ‘Nuff said.

So, How ‘Ya Been?

November 12, 2013August 29, 2018 / Ally Bean / 19 Comments

When I decided to take my blogging hiatus, I thought that I’d be back to The Spectacled Bean within a few weeks. But things happened. Obstacles presented themselves. And in the course of it all, I lost my blogging mojo.

So what happened, you wonder? Well, I think that this is one of those blogging moments when only a list can explain things. To wit, I give you…

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THE LAMENTATIONS OF ALLY

• Our internet connection stopped connecting. Without going into the details, suffice to say that we are no longer using the less-than-reliable phone company for our ISP and are now using the cable company for our ISP. And getting this worked out? Why, it only took 55 days, during which time I couldn’t get to my blog.

• Our kitchen sink drain pipe developed a leak that we discovered after said leak had partially destroyed the sub-flooring and was dripping into the basement. While in and of itself this is not a reason to stop writing, it bothered me. And a bothered Ally Bean is a scattered Ally Bean– and a scattered Ally Bean can’t focus long enough to write a list, let alone a blog post.

• We had new carpeting installed upstairs and on the stairs, which created the most cluttered home I’ve ever lived in. All of the upstairs stuff had to come downstairs– and then, of course, go back upstairs. The mess was everywhere and lasted for about a month because that’s how long it took us to have the time [and energy] to move the stuff all around. During that time I couldn’t even get to the computer which was trapped inside our home office turned storage warehouse, so no writing for me.

• Our property was invaded by stink bugs– whose sole mission was to get inside our house. For about 3 weeks they were all over the screens, peering into the house, just waiting for the opportunity to wander in and die. And here is what I learned from that experience: when creepy bugs are looking for their final resting place within my home, I become unnerved and cannot write a word.

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So that’s it from here. It’s just the same old, same old in a whole new way. Certainly something more interesting has been happening in your world, my gentle readers. Spill the beans in the comment section below. I need to know what’s up with you.

Existential Suburban Angst: Deciding What Color Armchairs To Buy For The TV Room

August 21, 2013January 25, 2024 / Ally Bean / 18 Comments

My mind is a swimming mess of colors now. Pity that this isn’t because of a Reiki session; then I’d be all mellow with the colors in my mind.

Grooving on the Infinite.

Instead, the reality is that we have finally gotten to the point of deciding on new armchairs for the TV room. Thus I have fabric swatches from Pottery Barn positioned all over the TV room.

As one does in these situations.

I have some swatches pinned to the drapes. I have some swatches sitting on the floor next to the rug. I have some swatches stuck to the back of a kitchen chair placed in the TV room so that I can see what the colors look like from afar. In other words, I’m looking at color in all its fabulousity from every angle possible because I know how easy it is to pick the wrong shade.

Been there. Done that. Many, many times.

To add to this dilemma, we already have all the walls painted and the sofa purchased [called ocean blue, but I’d call it more blue-gray] and an antique rug in place [basically maroon/ruby-red, navy/blue-gray, gold/tan with bits of peach and aqua]. All of which means that these chairs have to fit within a rather complex color scheme dictated by an old faded rug.

Charming? Yes. Difficult for me to do? You betcha.

So that’s what is going on around here this afternoon. And will probably be haunting my dreams this evening. And plaguing my brain for the next few weeks because decisions like this one come slowly to me. But when I finally figure out this conundrum, all major decorating decisions in this house will be a thing of the past.

And won’t that be an exciting day for all concerned?!

The V-beam Laser: Looking Puffy, Feeling Angsty

August 14, 2013 / Ally Bean / 27 Comments

HERE’S WHAT’S UP with me this week: I’m at home hiding inside my house. This is because I had a V-beam laser treatment at the doctor’s office a few days ago and now my face, as it heals, is a puffy mess.

Yes, I look like a cross between a jack-o-lantern and a piglet. Well, not orange or pink, but structurally that’s what I look like. In bright red. Like I spent the day at the beach without sunblock.

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SO WHY DID I have another V-beam treatment? Good question. Glad you asked.

I suffer from rosacea. This means that my face gets all red and blotchy because of annoying spider veins, blood vessels and broken capillaries which show through my pale skin. ‘Tis not pretty.

And it is embarrassing because I look like I’m embarrassed even though I know that I’m not. This, in turn, makes me flush red because I’m embarrassed about how I look embarrassed when I’m not really embarrassed. [With me here?]

# # #

THE PROPENSITY FOR rosacea occurs within anyone with a northern European heritage. It’s genetics, people. And as such you have three options.

Ignore it and pretend that looking like a drunk all the time is exactly the image you want to project;
Avoid certain trigger foods and drinks while taking daily antibiotics to tame the redness; OR
Have periodic V-beam laser treatments at the doctor’s office to zap those annoying ugly red veins, vessels and capillaries out of existence.

# # #

BUT ROSACEA IS a condition for which there is no cure; one can only manage the symptoms. To wit, each round of laser treatments destroys some of the veins, vessels and capillaries, but there are always more just waiting to make their appearance on your face.

Which is why I’m once again at home avoiding the sun, dodging all mirrors and waiting for my face to not feel fat. If experience holds true, the results will be worth it… but the wait is making me angsty.

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[Not my doctors, but some V-beam laser information if you’re interested.]

University of North Carolina

University of Virginia

YouTube video of doctor doing procedure like the one I had done.