I’m Polar Vortexing Here

January 28, 2014January 28, 2014 / Ally Bean / 19 Comments

AS YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW… this part of the USA, the midwest, is experiencing arctic temperatures. Records are being broken. Schools are being closed. Furnaces are being taxed. Prayers are being said. Et cetera, et cetera.

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BECAUSE I’VE DECIDED TO STAY AT HOME DURING THIS WEATHER EVENT… I am now in charge of:

running water through all sink/shower/tub faucets so that the pipes don’t freeze;
opening and closing blinds/curtains to allow sunshine + warmth, when available, to come into the house; and
monitoring the thermostat, so that I can fret over the furnace’s every clink and whoosh and thunk as it continues to heat the house.

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NOW THAT I HAVE A BIT OF UNEXPECTED TIME ON MY HANDS… I’ve started reading three books:

The Hare with Amber Eyes: A Hidden Inheritance, by Edmund de Waal. After inheriting from an uncle a collection of Japanese netsuke, the author researches his ancestors and their involvement with these objects. Fascinating.
One Thousand White Women: The Journals of May Dodd, by Jim Fergus. Using a few pieces of real history, the author creates a novel about a white pioneer woman who, courtesy of the U. S. government, goes to live among the Cheyenne, with the express purpose of helping the Cheyenne assimilate into white culture. Compelling.
Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life, by Shauna Niequist. By examining the details of her days, the author writes a charming personal memoir filled with gentle guidance for living a better life. Uplifting.

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OF COURSE LIFE ISN’T JUST SERIOUS PURSUITS… which means that I’m playing Candy Crush Saga as often as the game will let me play. By using this cheat, I reigned victorious over a particularly difficult level 77 in Easter Bunny Hills, but now I’m unable to progress past level 80, waiting to complete my 3 quests so that I can move across the lake to level 81 and the next episode. Stuck in the game, stuck in the house. 😉

So What Ticked Me Off Yesterday?

June 20, 2013June 20, 2013 / Ally Bean / 19 Comments

I am a kind person so most of the time I overlook bad manners + rude behavior. But not every time.

There are limits. There are moments.

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People occasionally misinterpret my mellow attitude, thinking that I’ll put up with anything. That they can continue to misbehave + to complain ad nauseam.

This surprises me. Every lousy time.

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However, if someone continues to behave in a way that I deem inappropriate + selfish, I will detach myself from said person. Never to help him or her again.

And I will remember.

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So you see, that is what yesterday was all about. Me. Being clear + decisive about my expectations. Me. Drawing a digital line in the sand.

Me. Embracing my own authentic self.

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Confounded By Group Photos

May 14, 2013May 14, 2013 / Ally Bean / 32 Comments

“Time can change me, But I can’t trace time.”

~ David Bowie

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A few months ago I was talking on the phone with a friend who happens to be in her eighties. She is a delight– mentally with it + honest to a fault. In other words, exactly who I want to be when I get to be an eightysomething.

In our conversation my friend mentioned that her granddaughter had emailed her some photos of herself with her friends. The young women had gotten dressed up and gone out to brunch together somewhere pricey. The photo of was of all of them in front of the restaurant.

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I asked my friend how her granddaughter looked in the photo and my friend said: “Cute, I guess. All the girls look alike to me, so I can’t tell which one she is. They all have long, stringy hair and carry huge purses. I think that my granddaughter is one of them.”

As we talked a bit more about kids.these.days. I chuckled to myself about me humoring a delightful older woman who was clearly confused by the obvious. I mean, how could she not know which girl was her granddaughter? Really.

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A younger friend of mine, who is not on Twitter, has a high school daughter, who is on Twitter. And as you know, I’m on Twitter. So, every once in a while I check to see what my friend’s daughter is doing on Twitter.

What I have discovered is that this girl is a good kid. She has pleasant friends, likes ice cream, doesn’t like schoolwork, likes sports, goes on dates. Nothing scathing at all– unless you consider a few swear words once in a while to be trouble. Which I don’t.

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One day last week I was glancing at the photos that my friend’s daughter had added to her Twitter feed and I saw a group shot of a bunch of teenage girls. They were all wearing skinny jeans and white t-shirts and pumps with 4″ heels. And I thought: “What a cute photo. I wonder which one is my friend’s daughter? They all look alike.”

Then it hit me. *BAM* I had just said exactly what my older friend said about her granddaughter and her friends. And I realized that I had morphed into an old woman who couldn’t distinguish one child from another.

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This means, of course, that now I must admit to my younger friend that I can’t recognize her daughter in the photo. I can’t help but wonder if my friend will politely listen to me on the phone while chuckling to herself about humoring me, a delightful older woman who is clearly confused by the obvious. I mean, I would understand where she was coming from… as I was in that same situation only a few short months ago.

Oh yeah. Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

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The “Ray Of Sunshine” Meme

June 19, 2012June 19, 2012 / Ally Bean / 8 Comments

Last week Polly of caughtwriting tagged me with a lighthearted award known as The Sunshine Award. It’s a fun little award/meme that lets me tell you, my gentle readers, a bit more about myself.

The rules are as follows: 1. Thank the person who gave me this award; 2. Answer the questions below – its all about favourite things; 3. Pass on the award to other sunshine-y bloggers and tell them about it.

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1. The Thank You.

Thank you Polly for thinking of me. It’s always fun to find out what other bloggers have to say about the same topics. I think that’s why I like memes so much. They are a pleasant little peek into someone else’s life.

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2. The Questions.

Favourite colour

Today it is aqua + cyan + teal. Turquoise jewelry. Ocean waves. Soothing and relaxing colors that seem to call to me as the heat of summer is upon us.

Favourite animal

Cats. First of all I think that cats are very handsome animals. Then, of course, I like how a cat with one disparaging glance can put anyone or anything in its place. Good looks + attitude. What’s not to admire?

Favourite number

Eight. What I think is really cool about eight is that if you write it numerically, then lay it on its side, you will have the symbol for infinity. Such versatility charms me.

Favourite drink

Vodka. Preferably Grey Goose on the rocks with a twist of lemon. It’s a simple and straightforward drink– easy to make, nice to sip, pretty to look when served in a cut crystal tumbler.

Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter, definitely. I find it more informative than FB. I like how Twitter’s 140 character limit forces everyone to get to the point. And it just seems more fun to me. In the moment. A little wacky.

Your passion…

Interior design. Over the years I’ve gotten more interested in knowing about design principles & color combos & furniture styles. Then using what I’ve learned I’ve been slowly redecorating our home so the it is more inviting + cheerful + livable. When I’m not stressed out about all the expensive choices I’m making, I rather enjoy being an active amateur interior designer.

Giving or receiving presents?

I find the idea of giving or receiving presents problematic. I don’t enjoy shopping for anything, ever– nor do I feel like anyone needs to give me a present for anything, ever. All of which means that I’m uncomfortable with both the giving and receiving of presents. Truthfully, I’d rather spend time with the people who I love than spend time messing around with presents for them.

Favourite day

Tuesday. Don’t know why. I just like it.

Favourite flower

Lately I’ve been on a daisy and zinnia kick. The former because they seem to grow anywhere– and the latter because I’m determined to get them to grow somewhere.

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3. The Award Ceremony.

As for passing the award along to other sunshine-y bloggers, here’s what I’m going to do.

If you are a self-described ray of sunshine [or you’re looking for something to do on your blog], then by all means do this meme. It’s fun. It’s light. It’s a perfect sort of meme that puts all other memes to shame. YES, gentle readers, this is the meme for you.

And with that, I have fulfilled my obligation regarding Rule #3. See you later, meme-a-gators. It’s beautiful outside today– and this little ray of sunshine wants to be out in the garden.