Why I Love Social Media & Twitter

Let me start this off by saying that I enjoy social media. In fact, I'm quite addicted to it as I'm not very social in real life. Being the introvert that I am, and an online business owner, I am very drawn to this whole online social media "thing". It keeps me sane as I go several days at a time without any real interaction other than my 2 kids and husband. I know, sad isn't it? ;)

Twitter is by far my social media tool of choice. I can follow and chat up who I want when I want. I can also sit back and just listen in on the conversations. Because I'm a loner like that.

Anyway, I started writing this post about things I didn't like about Twitter then I realized that some of the words I had written were words I wouldn't want to read if the situation were reversed so I changed this into a post professing my adoration for Twitter. Besides, I was most definitely overthinking and that never goes over very well. Either that, or I start to make absolutely no sense at all.

Reasons Why I adore Twitter

I love that I can connect with people from all around the world. It's very cool to be able to connect with people you probably never would have "in real life"/offline.

I love that my questions are answered almost instantly. Again, by a diverse group of people from all around the world.

I love that the majority of Twitterers are REAL & helpful on Twitter. What I mean by this is that they do not constantly blast me with selling/advertising.

For the most part, there is no popular crowd and even the "high profile" twitterers will engage in conversations with everyone. Of course, there are a few elite who do not do anything but tweet among their little groups and some who just throw out their own links all day long but to each their own I suppose. I can't really judge them because they may not like what I'm doing either.

I guess my only gripe is about those Twitterers who think they know everything. They are always right. You are always wrong. While it's very tempting to call people out I will not insert usernames here. That's just not me.

This post wouldn't be complete without sharing some of my favorite Twitter users. These people have made me think, given me advice, connected me to some great blog posts, inspired me, made me smile/laugh or just plain ole' engaged me while I was bored.

@freebies4mom, @momadvice, @unmarketing @chrisbrogan @mashable @problogger @neilochka @thriftymommy @casualeveryday @eMom

There are so many more but I can't name all of you!

Thoughts? Want to see what I'm up to on Twitter?

Our Date

Last Friday night my husband and I went out on a real date. Yes, a real date that didn't involve the kids. The way I had it planned in my mind wasn't exactly how it played out in real life. What was I thinking?

Here's kinda sorta how it went.

1. Eat at a local favorite Mexican restaurant. Feel sort of sick.

2. Drive by movie theater. See crowd and movies that look like they just may suck.

3. Skip movie and go to Wal-Mart instead. A date in Wal-mart. Does it get any better than this?

4. Buy crap we don't need. Here's kind of what was in our cart - 2 wireless Playstation controllers, 213 frozen dinners (give or take 200), too many containers of rice milk, and some crafts for the kids.

5. Try to rescue kittens in parking lot for half an hour with no luck. Something is seriously wrong with my husband. He's been trying to pick up every stray we see for the past 6 months. Maybe he's trying to make-up for me accidentally killing our kitten in the dryer a few months ago.

6. Stop by friends house for an hour or so. Forget we had frozen groceries in car. We're stupid like that.

7. Finally on our way home. Car starts making a weird noise. Husband says to me, "Our wheel is falling off. We are not going to make it home". I'm thinking WTH???? This is crazy and I have to pee. Anyway, I tell him to keep driving but drive slow. At this point I'm really starting to think that our car is going to fall apart and we will have to walk home in the cold and dark because we live in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception. A few moments later, my husband looks over and says, "Umm, the emergency brake was on". Feeling relieved, I then proceed to call him an idiot. Mind you, my husband is normally a very intelligent man. So, I'm not sure what happened. Maybe it was all the excitement from our night out. Maybe we are getting old - like very early onset Alzheimers or something. Apparently, the thought of dating gets us so excited that we cannot function normally.

8. Get home. Yippeee, our groceries are still frozen and a BONUS - we're sans kids for the night!

9. Just as I get comfortable in my husband's lap the MIL brings home a crying child. Our 7 year old has an earache.

10. Date ends.

I think we will stick to sitting beside each other with our laptops from now on and just call it a date.

Lost Season Five Premiers Tonight

It's time for the headaches and the What The Hell Is Happenings? as Lost returns to TV tonight. Will we get some answers this season? Or will we be just as confused as ever? Considering the series is supposed to end in 2010 I think it's time for some answers.

FYI: For those of you not sure on whether you are going to continue on with season five let me give you one reason to tune in tonight - PROMISES of a shirtless Sawyer. ;)

This insanely addictive show returns tonight at 8pm on ABC. I, for one, will definitely be skipping American Idol for this. Wishing I had Tivo right about now...

365 Project

As I've mentioned previously I'm doing Project 365 on Twitter to improve my photography skills. It hasn't been easy getting a good photo in everyday especially with the bad weather. However, today the boys and I headed outside in freezing cold temperatures just so I could try and get some cute shots. Here's what we got!







You can see my entire photostream on flickr.

No, I'm Not A Twilight Mom

So, I succumbed to the crack that is Twilight after hearing so many great things about it. I've read all the books but have yet to see the movie. It is most definitely on my list of movies to watch when I get a chance. Of course I should probably be watching some of the movies that I'm supposed to be reviewing for work first.

Anyway, here are 5 of my very random thoughts on all things Twilight. As if anymore commentary is needed on Twilight...

1. Can you believe girls as young as 8 are reading a book that's all about sex and vampires?

2. It feels sort of sick/twisted to be enjoying the same book that a tween is enjoying. Am I the only one?

3. Does anyone else believe that the author had someone real in mind while creating her "Edward" character?

4. The books are compelling. Like I said, it's like crack. Well, er, I haven't actually tried real crack but you know what I mean, right?

5. No, I won't be joining any Twilight groups. No, I will not call myself a Twilight mom. That's just not right. As much as I like me some Edward he's still a fictional character. Of course if Robert Pattinson (who plays Edward) were to ask me to be his groupie then I may have to reconsider. ;)

Because It's Fun Making a Fool Of Yourself

Why spend your time writing something substantial when you can just take photos of yourself?

In most cases you will get just as much attention while people look at your photos and wonder if you have completely lost all dignity and/or are retarded. Or, you could be thinking what the hell is wrong with her?

Take your pick. I think I may have gone too far with this whole 365 project thing on flickr.

Excuse Me While I Have My Little Internal Meltdown

No, it's not a nervous breakdown quite yet but close. Oh so close. It seems like I go through this every year...every new year that is. It's quite worse this year because for me 2008 did not live up to my expectations of what I thought it would be business wise. Or, maybe I realize looking back that I didn't do all I could have, or maybe because I didn't realize I was wasting my time on so many wrong things.

Another year means another year older which means less time for my business & personal (both of which are connected) goals to be realized. I don't know if it's just me or what but I feel like I need to do something more with my life. I feel like I need to make a difference. I need to make a statement. I need my life to mean something more than it does at this moment.

What is wrong with me? Maybe I have cabin fever? I need fresh air, need to get out, scream, dance, laugh, cry. I don't know. But, I do know I need to shake this feeling so I can get on with 2009 and make these possibilities I have in my mind a reality.

A Blogging New Year's Resolution Of Sorts

I attempted to do a post featuring the best of this blog from 2008 but everything I wrote in 2008 sucked. We all know it so there's no reason to pretend otherwise.

In 2008, I almost gave up on blogging and more than anything I stopped writing how I really felt out of fear more than anything. Fear of rejection, fear of not being "normal", and fear that those close to me would think different of me with every new post that I wrote. Not to mention it's also very difficult to write honestly when you live in a very small town where everyone knows what you do. I'm not so vain to think that everyone's first thought when they wake up is let's go read Amanda's blog but it still kind of makes me uneasy. Things get misconstrued in writing. And, well people are crazy.

In real life, I'm not so vocal. I'm a loner. I stay in the background. That's who I am. Writing is my way of making sense of this world. I may not be the best writer ( heck, I know I'm not by FAR) but it's what I enjoy doing. And, until I figure out what I am good at I'll keep doing this. Besides, the Internet is a big place, and there's room for all of us, right?

Happy 2009.