The Petraeus Scandal: When Supposedly Smart People Do Definitely Dumb Things

November 14, 2012November 15, 2012 / Ally Bean / 21 Comments

[Sub-titled: Keep It Zipped, People]

Because I’m smitten with this developing story…

You’re Not Going To Believe The Latest Developments In The Petraeus Sex Scandal

But you know there’s more to this than you might think at first glance…

Clusterf*ck Chart

Then you have to realize that from my laid back point of view it is entertaining that…

Woman Linked to Petraeus Is a West Point Graduate and Lifelong High Achiever

It is, of course, ironic that…

Online Anonymity Nearly Impossible, Petraeus Emails Show

If confused by any of the foregoing, then you need to remember…

General David Petraeus’s Rules for Living

Then there’s this little development…

Classified(?) Information Magically Appears at Broadwell’s House

Also, what’s a military sex scandal without a reporter named Bonk involved?

Paula Broadwell’s License Discovered in D.C. Park

Not to mention that just like in a soap opera there is an identical twin sister…

Jill Kelley and Twin Closely Tied to Top Brass

A twin sister who needed two generals to vouch for her…

Petraeus & Allen dallied as furor over Benghazi raged

And finally, the last piece of this scandal yet to be revealed…

~~WHO IS THE SHIRTLESS FBI AGENT?~~

Meet the Shirtless FBI Agent from the Petraeus Love Pentagon

Can you see why I’m intrigued? It’s RHONY + The Simpson’s + NCIS all in one story. Who’d of thought?!

[Last link added 11.15.12 – YES! I can rest now that I have all the pieces of the story.]

If I’m Chopped Liver, Then You’re Bologna

September 18, 2012 / Ally Bean / 10 Comments

Some situations provoke me to the point of regressing to my EIGHT YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL SELF… mouthing off… under my breath… to myself… about someone.

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To wit, as I may or may not have mentioned before, I live in a suburb that is non-friendly. People are neutral about other people. Pleasant, but indifferent. Aware, but detached. Previously polite to a fault.

This I can live with.

But what I cannot condone is rudeness. And that is what I’m finding more often when I go outside for a walk.

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For example, yesterday as I was walking along – up & down the hills – around the curves, I said “hi” or “hello” to all the people who I passed. I exhibited a modicum of good manners.

I. Was. Nice.

People with headphones nodded at me. People talking on phones waved hello. People with dogs shouted a greeting back at me. People just out for a stroll said “hi” or “hello” back to me as I walked by them.

However, people reading their smart phones as they walked along – up & down the hills – around the curves IGNORED ME.

Besides the obvious fact that it’s foolhardy to not pay attention to where you’re going when you’re walking along – up & down the hills – around the curves, it is rude to not acknowledge the person who is near you in real life.

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As we all know, REJECTION HURTS.

So naturally, being the mature adult that I am, I started talking to myself about this boorish behavior. My muttering monologue went something like this…

ADULT ME [sarcastic, through clenched teeth]: Well, don’t say anything to me. Just. Being. Polite.

CHILD ME [insulted]: Hey, hey– what’s wrong with you, you poopy head?

ADULT ME [irritated]: Boy, I tell you, Ally– you try to be nice & see what you get?

CHILD ME [frantic]: Hey booger face, I’m over here. What am I? Chopped liver? Huh?!

ADULT ME [resigned, with a sigh]: Whatever. Some people aren’t even worth the bother.

CHILD ME [zinging away]: Well, well, well… if I’m chopped liver, then you’re bologna. Cut thick. Just like you, fatso!

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Bottom line truth of this story? I LOVED BEING SNOTTY RIGHT BACK AT THESE PEOPLE. Granted, the conversation was only in my head, but it was lots of fun to mouth off like that. Kind of a forgotten pleasure of childhood– empowering & entertaining.

SO THERE.

Confirming Your Worst Fear About FB

May 20, 2012August 28, 2018 / Ally Bean / 10 Comments

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The stock market certainly didn’t take kindly to Facebook. I’m not entirely surprised. In fact, I’m rather pleased to see that enough people in this world are aware enough to not waste their money on a company that uses other people’s information somehow to make money.

That being said I’ve spent a good part of the last couple days reading about/listening to friends & acquaintances talk about leaving FB now that we’re all learning more about FB’s business model. And because I’ve left Facebook not once, but three times, I have become a voice on this topic.

Just call me a Facebook Rejection Early Adopter.

[FYI- I joined FB first in 2006. I lasted a few weeks, decided there was nothing there & left– as did all my friends at the time. Next, I joined FB again in 2009 because two friends, who I later realized were very lonely people, prodded me into trying it again. I lasted 6 months before I decided that FB was too much of a time suck for me. So I deleted my account again. Again, I joined Facebook in 2011 when I decided to create a FB account for this blog. I maintained the account for about 5 months, but realized that I was dividing my time between something of value (writing on the blog) & something of marginal value (interacting via FB). Seeing the writing on the wall {pun intended} I closed that account.]

So here is the one thing that I really want to say today. It is the one question that everyone I know who is still on Facebook wants answered. It is, I believe, the real reason disgruntled Facebookians hesitate about deleting their accounts– because they know deep down they are not going to like the answer. Which is…

Yes, once you leave Facebook you will find out for certain who is your real friend and who isn’t. There will be no doubt about this because the real friends will stay in touch with you via non-FB ways while you will never hear from the faux friends again.

And some of the people who turn out to be faux friends will shock you. Leaving you by yourself to wonder how you ever could have been fooled by them to begin with.

It’s not a pretty thing to find out– but as they say, the truth will set you free. And free I am out here in the world detached from FB.

Five Senses Friday

May 18, 2012August 29, 2018 / Ally Bean / 7 Comments

~ ~ • ~ ~

Feeling:

tired

~ this has been an emotionally draining week filled with drama [so not me] + sadness [accept it] + introspection [must understand self better]

Hearing:

birds chirping loudly

~ a noisy cute little brown birdie couple have built a nest exactly where they can annoy me when I sit on the screened-in porch & when I’m in the kitchen