Beany Brain
Posts
Beany Brain #118: I Vote for a Few Laughs

Beany Brain #118: I Vote for a Few Laughs

Abigail Munday
November 03, 2026

Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!

Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope today’s newsletter will bounce us up as we contemplate the upsides and challenges of being neurodivergent, a little beauty, some creativity, and just general yeehawesomeness.

Beany Brain: loving our jumping-bean brains!
- Welcome to this issue of the Beany Brain! I hope t …
Let’s Give ‘Em Something To Laugh About

Photo by Abigail Munday

Let’s Give ‘Em Something To Laugh About

“The Beast of Mossy Bottom,” or as it’s known in Japan, “Hitsuji No Shohn Kabochabatake No Kaibutsu,” could easily be in the Yeehawesome section, but given that it’s midterm week in the US, I thought we could use a whole section of funnies.

I went with my sons to see the film, and let me tell you, I actually got tired from laughing so much. A really good kind of tired.

If you need some extra hilarity, please go see it. Please.

You know he’s one of a kind.

And life’s a treat with Shaun the Sheep.

(Just the stop motion animation itself is incredible.)

Anyhoudini, let’s escape from the reality of politics for a few minutes and untie ourselves from the knot of election anxiety, shall we?

(source unknown)

Ha Ha Haiku

A funny haiku for you every week in every newsletter, whether it’s one of my own or one I curate for you. HA. Ha. Haiku.

Fall leaf in shower

Nope, broken red shampoo lid

Without my glasses

Abigail Munday

Untouched Photo by Abigail Munday (scene first noticed by our older son)

Yeehawesome!

Yeehawesome! is a happy-brain roundup in each issue of Beany Brain. What’s happening that’s good in brain land? What’s bringing me joy?

Yeehawesome this week is all stuff for our ears and head (OK, and heart). First up, an original Beany Brain Spotify playlist for you called Hygge in My Head. I promise you that this one doesn’t have 100 songs like the last one. Just the right amount for some deep breaths.
Next, try The Memory Palace podcast, written and hosted by Nate DiMeo. Each episode is a true story and about 10 minutes long. He’s an excellent writer and a great podcaster. There are deliberately no descriptions on each episode, so it’s a grab bag of goodies. Specifically, start with the 8-minute-long The Case of the Box. I promise you’ll love it.
I’m kind of a nut about the novel Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, which is strange because normally I don’t like scary stuff. I like the Netflix adaption too (yes, there are some changes from the novel—I should know, I’ve read the novel many times). The Book Club podcast did a great episode on it.

Quote of the Week

Beany Brownie Points and Extra Bonus Funniness

Wonderful Wednesday

Wonderful Wednesday was a day once a year in college when they would suddenly and surprisingly call off all classes and we’d play all day. The cafeteria provided special fun food and we’d do stuff outside like slip ‘n slides and jello wrestling in sumo suits. This segment of Beany Brain is dedicated to that memory of silliness and fun—no words, just a photo from the week that I’ve taken or found that reminds me to let the joy in. Since Beany Brain is published on Wednesday every week (at least, Wednesday in Japan), I hope you enjoy this Wonderful Wednesday.