Facebook down...now what?

Amazing how some aspects of modern life, non-existent until recently, can become integral to our daily routines. Obviously the internet is one (the vehicle to which I am communicating with you), mobile phones (I cannot even image being off the grid for more than a day anymore...more about this in a future post), and, of late, I am re-evaluating my connection to facebook.


Facebook is a phenomenal social networking tool. As previously posted, I LOVE being connected to far-flung family and friends. I make plans with those near and far, share video and pics of the kids and enjoy quips with all the people who enrich my world. So...it's down today - uh, now what?

can't get back to Mike & Cathy to find out when they're in town for dinner

can't shut down Sorority Life while I still have the conviction

can't post this note to most of my people, because I haven't yet created an alternate distribution

In summary...it's become one of my favorite communication tools that's becoming increasingly less reliable.


I've started to blog more to lure myself away from the pretty and distracting aspects of facebook, get back to more meaningful exchanges that involve more than 140 characters, and hopefully instill more discipline into my thoughts that have been very scattered and lack the depth and clarity they previously had.


Certainly not to be mistaken with quitting Facebook or going off the grid...but definitely food for thought as facebook works through their technical difficulties on the Monday am.



Til next time,
It's a BusyLife
- Danielle

Facebook is wonderful...Facebook is evil

I've been conflicted of late about my relationship with/relationships via facebook.

Wonderful
On the one hand, facebook is wonderful! I have reconnected with long-lost friends, kept up with those wide and far, and am able to keep family up-to-date like no other tool has allowed. Family, especially grandparents, get almost daily photo and video of the kids. I've been part of some great debates with family and friends. On a good day I can share my happiness. On a bad day I have garnered great support.

Last month I posted a comment of how I had returned to a vegan diet (for the record: I'm flexi-vegan i.e. vegan until some good meat dish lures me out of retirement for a few meals), and this was met by a wonderfully thoughtful and interesting response from a woman I'd met via my husband (our husbands are long time friends). She sent me a message of her own thoughts on food philosophy and her successes with changing diets as well as providing hearty encouragement (thanks Cathy)! Also as a result of this one post, a very thoughtful co-worker lent me some fab cookbooks (Liza, I PROMISE they will come back to you so so soon! Making mushroom fajitas tonight!). So...facebook is a great social networking tool that can be a positive addition to some already great relationships in one's life. As a bonus, my Scrabble/Wordscraper skills have improved - I'll take my turn after work Mehala!


Evil
On the other hand, facebook is an evil time-consuming vacuum to whom many hours have been wasted away playing supposedly social games (how "social" can sorority life be if most of your sisters are strangers and you can attack and slap people?), endless quizzes (do I really need to know that much about the 80s?) and all kinds of gift engines flying around (sorry...no more sweets for me please). I adore the people with whom I play these games, but I feel like I need to get off this crazy ride! It's difficult enough getting over "mommy brain" as my son just reached 9-months old, but with ever less time available to get things done, the high quality activities in life seem to get missed...reading, writing, sleeping.

Therefore, I am committing anew to wean off the less value-added aspects of facebook (I'll miss all my fellow farmers!) and keep active with the truly great things Facebook has to offer!

'til another time,
Danielle