a precautionary tale

Bean is doing a great job of making sure he and his swine stay healthy during this pandemic. They do things like wash their hands, cough into their sleeves, and get plenty of vegetables.

Bean, how about we clean piggy out after you fill him with his veggies? He might start attracting bugs if we don't and that is not healthy.









*with swine flu all over the news, I had to do a post illustrating Bean's understanding of it.

don't wade in the water

Don't you even think about taking those galoshes off, Bean. When the streets flood, sewer water mixes in with rain water, so you keep those boots on your feet.

















*The flood waters are pretty much gone but it just kills me to see news footage of parents letting their kids play around in the water on the street. Don't they know that is sewer water with tons of bacteria!

shake, rattle and thunder rolls

Bean had a rough night last night; he isn't used to thunder and lightning so strong and loud that it rattles the windows. I think it's because he didn't grow up with Texas storms or this song.



















*The storm in Houston woke me up at 4am with lightning so bright I had to squint to watch it. It was pretty to watch the sky light up like it was high noon; but I couldn't stop picturing lightning hitting a tree, catching it on fire, causing the tree to fall on my house and then burning my house to the ground. So I guess you can say I had a rough night, too.

Bean and his peeps

Bean, I understand if the one peep I let you to eat got lonely in your tummy, but did he really need all his friends to keep him company? Let's hope your tummy doesn't get upset at the onslaught of bunnies it now has to subdue.















*Bean's "Aunt Susan" gave me a pack of half-priced leftover Easter peeps for him. And this is what happens.

beam Bean up

Bean also likes the eye wear the "Reading Rainbow man" wears on the "outer space tv show". But can you even see through those, Bean?




















*Sitting in on a script read through for a production that featured "space pirates", I let my mind wander as I tried to picture what such costumes would look like. I imagined the space version of the pirate eye patch would be these.

poor pupils

The lack of human ears keeps Bean's options of UV protective eye wear limited to things that sit on top of his head. But this allows Bean to explore the vast varieties of hats available on the market. So far he is fond of the ones with mesh in the back.

Hopefully Ray Ban and Persol didn't have their hearts set on having Bean as a spokesperson.















*It's a bright sunny day down here and as I eyed my sunglasses collection, I realized sunglasses cannot be worn if you don't have ears (or a nose for that matter) with which to support them. Mind-blowing, I know.

old habits die hard

Every now and then, Bean will get the urge to pay me after we have driven somewhere. Of course, this is money he has removed from my wallet so I smile and take it, hand him a tiny piece of paper I call his "receipt" and put the money back in my wallet.
I think I'll let this go on for a while.

















Many people have asked me how I come up with my ideas for Bean. In general, I take circumstances from my own life and then add Bean into them. And even though I may come up with ideas ahead of time, I always draw him in the morning right before I post him. From now on, I will try to add the story behind every Bean at the bottom of the post for your added enjoyment!...

*One of my friends from NYC called me this morning on her way to work. I thought she was walking to work but after overhearing her conversation with her cab driver about the credit card machine not working, I realized she was in a cab. And then I fondly looked back on the time I paid people in yellow cars to drive me places while I occasionally endured awkward conversations and bluetooth phone calls in other languages.

sticky

Bean does not like Houston's 100% humidity. It makes him feel all sticky. He says it's like swimming but without any of the fun.

Perhaps some Houston kolaches will help take his mind off the weather.

leftovers

Bean loves leftover Easter candy. Actually, he loves all candy regardless of the holiday or occasion. If it's candy, he loves it. Except Tootsie Rolls. Those aren't candy because candy is supposed to taste good.

that day

It's April 15th, and everyone knows what that means...

Grab your party hats and celebrate Dan and Ashley's Birthdays!

Bean wishes he could celebrate with both of you over a Pomodoro Pizza and a game of Scene It,
but maybe it's a good thing you two are on opposite ends of the continent (San Diego and NYC),
America can't handle so much goodness too close together!

(and for those of you not fortunate enough to know these two fabulous peeps, turn your taxes in already!)

fyi: baking

fyi: If you plan on having Bean help you bake cookies, prepare for the recipe to yield about 10 fewer cookies than noted.
Bean swears he doesn't know how that happens.

nothin'

Bean hates it when things are empty... like when he needs chocolate and there is nothin'...or toothpaste and there is nothin'...

or chocolate and there is nothin'...

But Easter morn is a totally different story. He loves finding things empty on that day!

"Faster, you guys, faster! Just think, we're working up a sweat for nothin'!"

(this is my favorite painting ever. it's of Peter and John rushing to the tomb to see what has become of Jesus. I love the apprehension and excitement in their faces. it's in the Musee D'Orsay in Paris if you ever want to see it!)

tgi(g)f!

"Don't worry, Pet; they aren't talking about you. That's Jesus they talkin' about."

clean feet

It's Maundy Thursday and Bean wants to know if you want your feet washed.

Bean, just do me a favor, when you are done, don't put that sponge back by the sink. Go ahead and throw it away when you finish using it.

bad days

When it comes to missing New York City, some days are good and some days are bad. Today is a bad day. Bean burnt his bagel and keeps asking me why we have to make our own bagels now and why can't we just go to the place where they know him and make his bagel for him just the way he likes it and wraps it in foil and then cuts it in half and gives him "coffee" (hot chocolate) in little a little blue cup that says it was a pleasure serving you...

It's hard to explain why there aren't any delis in Texas.

churning out chores

Bean is helping me out with chores around the house. He's super good at separating dirty clothes by color but calls me in every time he comes across a tricky one.

the bluebonnet king

Over the weekend, Mom, Bean and I took a road trip to peruse the antiques in Round Top, Texas. While Bean was not much of a shopper, he loved taking pictures in the bluebonnets!

in the hot seat

Bean loves the sound and feel of peeling his legs off the hot leather seat.
And he's learned that if he does it too many times, I will roll up the windows and start to crank the AC.

car toys

Bean, don't use all my nice Bath & Body Works hand sanitizer. You know we need that for our bi-weekly trips to thrift stores.

some friendly competition

Gee whiz! Your dad was strong!












happy april fools.



(sorry for the trauma. but i have friends waiting for the day i would post this Bean. here's to you guys!)