There's No Off-Position on the Genius Switch (D. Letterman)

Lilac Hill Farm? Nah, we decided. We don't have any lilacs and we're not on a hill. How about Rose Valley? No valleys, no roses. From there, we went through a series of uninspired ideas. Then our respective genius switches (which evidently do have an off position) flashed to red at the same moment. Dancing Bean Ranch! A graphic artist had already done camera-ready artwork from the drawings on Chris' letter of years before. The logo was obvious.

So there it is, the saga of the Dancing Bean Ranch. My most recent guests asked how we happened upon our name. "It relates to a college nickname," I told her. "It's all on my blog."

Dancing Bean Ranch? Seriously? Part I

Where did that name come from? people ask. And what about that logo? Generally I answer, "It has to do with my college nickname."

With the caveat that what happens in college stays in college, here's (some of) the story:

Back in the early 70s I was Bobbie Baker, a student at the University of Oklahoma. A friend and fellow history major named Michael Masterson, (who has grown up to become an LA-based creative consultant) invited me to a party. He told me to bring food to share. He failed, however, to mention it was to have been finger food.

I showed up with a pot of baked beans. With no forks, spoons or plates in sight (this was a college party, after all) people ate my beans with taco chips. I even received compliments on my "dip."

Michael, never one to resist the opportunity for alliteration, began calling me Baked Beans or Bobbie Baked Beans Baker. The name caught on, especially among our circle of friends. They included an organ major named Gary Johnson, now an LA based editor/writer and musician (www.conjuntojardin.com). Elementary education major Nancy K. Dillon, now a Seattle based musician (www.nancykdillon.net ).And finally, art history major Chris Knop, now Chris Kallenberger, Director of Exhibition and Collections, Philbrook Art Museum.

Chris is responsible for our logo. But that's part II.