Are you using Google+ yet? Here’s why you should be.
Are you on Google+ yet? I’ve been there for a couple of months now and you know what? I love it. Now, is it new and something you have to put a little work into to get rolling? Yes. (You’ll have to put some time and thought into creating your circles and adding people.) If you’re going to roll your eyes at me or bitch about that, well, then, hey. Go back to working on that thing where you’re looking for someone to wipe your own ass too.
And when you figure that out, let me know. Also, the whole doing dishes and laundry thing. Man, do I hate that shit. (Insert: worst.housewife.ever.)
But really, look. Google has created a social media platform in G+ that answers so many of the problems we’ve all had with others. I’ve been on board with SO many social media platforms in the past few years. Notably and largest: Twitter, Facebook, Flickr. (More, but those are the biggest and best of them.) I’ve heard (and had) so many complaints about these platforms over time (especially FB). The smart muthas over at Google have been sitting back taking notes, people.
You know what happens to me all the time on Facebook? I get notifications about crap I have no interest in whatsover. It’s basically spam that is not only tolerated, but supported and integrated into the system by Facebook. Oh look, someone did something interesting and I got notified! Nope, someone asked me to like the Chevy Tahoe Fan Page. Oh, look! Something in my sidebar! Oh. It’s an ad asking me if I’m a Mommy Blogger Who Wants To Go Back To School. Um. Really? Oh, look, someone posted something on my wall! Oh. It’s a request to help their cow birth a calf on Farmville.
On Google+ none of this crap is happening. On G+ I am not limited to 140 characters, conversations can be easily had on every update in comments, images are huge and beautiful in posts and on my stream, nobody tries to get me to help them water their corn or shave their sheep, I don’t have ads in my face, WetBecky8325 isn’t following me and inviting me to her nude webcam, and I’m not forced to go in and turn off email settings every time some yahoo adds me to a new group just so I won’t get spammed ridiculously. Games are there for those who love them (including Angry Birds!) BUT – I haven’t heard a single peep from them in my stream. They are in a separate tab, and you don’t have to become involved.
“Circles” allow you to share your content exclusively with certain groups of people and not with others, publicly, or just with one person. They allow you to filter the content you receive in your stream, as well. You can block OR ignore specific users, based on your needs. You have control over your content, where it goes, and what you see. Oh, that just makes all kinds of logical sense, doesn’t it?
Google+ launched in Beta with a better product because they’re overcoming issues that we’ve all had with Twitter, Facebook, and Flickr for years. And on top of that? They’re actively listening and innovating like CRAZY right now.
Google+ is especially vibrant for photographers, and that is so great! If you are a photographer, you really, really need to be there. Photo sharing rocks, the photography community is bright and engaged – photowalks are happening all the time (and being actively supported by Google Staff) and you just can’t find a better place for photographers on the web right now.
So yay for Photography on G+! But you know what? This can also be an amazing place for Bloggers, Musicians, Videographers, Crafters, etc., as well. The key is getting your community over there, testing the waters, asking for changes relevant to your community and making it happen. The community on a social network is built by… guess who? The members of that community.
The developers will give the burgeoning community the tools they need. You can believe that this time that’s true – I’ve seen myself the members of the Google+ team interacting with the community of users, asking in posts and “hangouts” (awesome video chats on the G+ platform) what ideas we have for making things better, what we want, and talking about what they’re doing. They are hungry to make this product the best it can be, and just what we want.
Feed the machine by not only signing up for an account with G+ but also if you have one USE IT. Engage, consume, interact, add content, and use that “Send Feedback” button at the bottom right to tell them exactly what you think and what you’d like to see.
I haven’t seen anything in social media as good as Google+, and I’m really active in that area, and have been for years. Get in early and help build this thing up. Circle me here on my Google+ profile, leave your G+ profile link in comments – let’s hook up there. Support your community of users, whatever that may be (blogger? Go post your content there and also engage with your peers! +1 their blog links and comment on their stuff).
And if you’re not on G+ yet – click this link and grab one of my limited invites or just let me know you want an invite and I’ll send you one. I have a bunch to give out and I want you there with me.
Like this post? Get in the spirit and click that +1 button right down here on the lower left. 
The best of today.
Because sometimes you just have to take the pulse of your Twitter followers. while you’re drunk and curious about what the best part of their day was and try not to laugh when people say things like “I didn’t crap my pants.”
I asked:
Which, I fully acknowledge, is a total ripoff from Dora the Explorer. But I PROMISE I won’t ask your kids a question in a minute, and then tell them that I want them to say the answer LOUDER.
(What a cunt! Who authorized that in a children’s show? As if I need my kid saying ANYTHING LOUDER.)
Ahem.
I thought you might like to see the responses I got…
Holy.Shit.
Can I just say, it’s really freaktasting hard to do all those damn image captures and links when you’re drunk? Because, um, yeah.
I’m not even going to tell you how many times I had to correct the typos in that last sentence. The first time I typed it, it said something about fromage crimpage when I’m stank. Or something of that nature.
During my quest to find out what the everyone’s favorire part of their day was, @undomesticdiva queried the same back at me. My asnwer was:
It’s true. And it works pretty much any time you try it, in case you’re wondering.
What was your favorite part of today?
Because I am kind, polite, and always helpful.
I’m here to help you all out with a bit of friendly information for bloggers and those who use social media applications for business or networking with others. This is also good information for halfwits who have access to a computer and whack at the keys in random order.
Having some type of contact information on your website and your social media pages is a good idea if you’re interested in interacting with the outside world. And I’m assuming that if you use things like Twitter, etc, then that is most likely the case. Especially if you send out @’s to people.
One might want to contact you about something – elaborate her feelings. Maybe relate to you something FYI. (By the way, since I’m being helpful today, FYI means “For Your Information.”) A person might want to do that privately, between you and her, out of respect for you. Because hey, that’s the decent thing to do, right? So she looks for your email address.
But if you don’t leave your contact information anywhere, this becomes difficult.
It doesn’t have to be your personal email address – set up a business account, whatever.
I can’t find an email I need right now. And I can’t shut this.
So here I am! Lucky, lucky you. You feel so lucky, don’t you? Come on… tell me you do.
And by the way, I have a general rule of not calling out specific people on my website, but damn it, if you belittle my friends publicly? When you stand up in a public forum and go out of your way to put down someone I love – someone who is a damn fine person, both intelligent and compassionate? You’re pushing me.
This was brought to my attention yesterday:
And it is bullshit.
Because, hai! You can follow and unfollow whoever the hell you want on Twitter. But announcing it as a Tweet is about the most STUPID ASS THING you can do. You deserve an immediate STFU when you do that.
I was not happy. Leslie is a close friend.
photo credit: Angie
*cough*
So, anyway, she is a close friend and she doesn’t deserve that kind of treatment.
So. I checked out this Keyboard Whacker. Here is her bio:
And you know, I have no problem with that, whatsoever. I want to say that at the outset here. I am not a Believer Basher or a Jesus Hater. If you know me, you know that. But, and here’s another FYI moment for you, know this: Your Twitter Bio represents who you are, and everyone visiting your page will take it as that. Because this is how you’re representing yourself in a nutshell. So, hey, if you write it there, people are going to refer to it. Doubt that not.
Ok. Taking out the name, but I’m well aware you can easily find it. Just don’t see the need for it here.
So -
from @SarcasticMomLC
from @VDog
from Keyboard Whacker
Someone forgot the daily challenge they typed in their own bio. Rut-roh!
Oh, and this was the offending snatchiness.
As far as I can gather, he didn’t separate himself from sinners, either.
from @SarcasticMomLC
from Keyboard Whacker
from Keyboard Whacker
Just for FYI. You know, in other words, just for for your information.
Man, I think those might just be the most sincere apologies I’ve ever seen.
from Keyboard Whacker
Pioneer Woman Blog College? LMMFAO Oh, my.
from @VDog
from Keyboard Whacker
You might want to revisit the process.
Wait. What the? Hold on. Okay. “you got did from my bio…” *scanning, scanning* Nope. Does not process.
from @VDog
That is, more or less, what unfolded. It’s ridiculous, and yes it’s drama. Oooh, the gossipy drama. Which, yeah. But I had to go there this time. (Please to be scrolling back up and reviewing the Flinger Kissing photo and the part about she’s mah beesh forevah.)
And then the rest of that crap just left me needing to talk to this woman a little, but not really out there, or only in 140. But I couldn’t nail down her damn email address.
And so here goes it, the open letter to Keyboard Whacker.
I definitely don’t hold Christians to a standard of perfection. However, most “followers of Jesus” generally aim to be more like Him. Is that not what you are challenged to do every day? Enlighten me to your different way of following Him if that is not the case. If you are announcing these things about your relationship with and to Jesus on your Twitter page, you might want to try harder to represent his ideals appropriately to the public as you use your account. You make a very poor example for others if you can’t even filter yourself enough to avoid attacking other people for minding their own business and being themselves on their own turf. Jesus’ aim is to deliver us from sin, not belittle us for it. I have high doubts that he would say to anyone “You cuss, I can’t hang with you because I don’t like foulness.” Instead, I’m thinking He would show that person love and compassion. Do you think he would publicly humiliate a person for their sins? Personally, I don’t. So get a clue. You’re not perfect, we get it. But I’m calling bullshit on you this time, because it needs to be done. Even your apology to Leslie (mrsflinger) is a cop out – you apologized “if you offended her” – you didn’t apologize for belittling her. And you claimed she needed to know why you were unfollowing her – as if she needs to change who she is comfortable being so that she doesn’t lose followers. Some things are more important to people in life than their number of Twitter followers – Leslie is secure in who she is, and she doesn’t need your “for FYI” comments. But if you really feel the need in the future to connect with someone and let them know why you are unfollowing, I suggest you email them. Most of us have really easy to find contact information on our websites. And that’s probably the decent thing to do. I’m thinking it’s likely what a modern day Jesus would do. So your challenge continues – and yes it IS your mission, unless you were lying on your Twitter bio. So I hope you’re better able to accomplish it today, tomorrow, and every day after, if that is what you find fulfilling.
Peace.
So that’s that. And I feel better having gotten it out.
But I saved something delicious for you to end with.
There’s a Tweet Bot that auto-retweets certain user tweets – somehow I ended up on this list. (I know, I’m SO HONORED. Yeah.) Well. It retweeted my earlier messages to Keyboard Whacker.
And? She actually talked back to it.
from Keyboard Whacker
from @SarcasticMomLC
The End.
Thoughts?
being out of touch and kind of an emotional wussbag
You could call me asleep since the 90s a completely clueless old fart slightly out of the loop, and you’d be right. I don’t stay current with all the hottest new music, the best new technology, or the latest fashion trends. I notice some things, much I do not.
I feel like being online, especially on Twitter, does keep me up to date with things, but it still seems like I miss a lot. I’m constantly having this conversation in email with my more observant, hip friends:
Me: Huh? Dur.
Hip Friend: What, Bitch? You didn’t know?
Me: Huh? *fart*
Hip Friend: Yeah, it’s been around for ages now. Where have you been?
Me: Huh? Dur.
Hip Friend: I have no idea why I even talk to you, loser.
So, yeah. I am kind of a ditz in that “doesn’t know what the hell is going on” kind of way. Lingo, for example, hits me from weird places. I was on the phone with my husband last night, telling him about how Braden was sick and having a hard time sleeping.
John was between shows downtown. He was driving to the second show, and after we’d chatted briefly, he told me, “I’ve gotta jump.” Uh, okay? It took me a minute, but I got it. Still, I had a hard time not quipping, “There better be something just out of your reach, over your head, because if you’re on a bridge, I hope you rot in hell. You could at least wait until we have something in savings before you kill yourself. I’d have to get a job and everything, you selfish, insensitive bastard.”
Yeah. It’s a loving, gentle relationship.
But, “Jump?” WTF? Is this what the kids and trendy young adults are saying now when they want to get off the phone? Yeah, I’m feeling a bit like I have cobwebs. Not in my house, but ON ME. And for the record, that jerk is older than I am but HE GETS TO LEAVE THE HOUSE REGULARLY. AND DO STUFF. WITH PEOPLE.
Ass.
Anyway, totally wandered away from the actual thing I wanted to talk about.
I’ve seen a commercial put together by a local news station several times now. I am drawn into the commercial every time because the way it is shot is really cool (black and white, different speeds) and the song always pulls my attention. I had no idea what it was, and kept wondering if this was a popular song I have just missed (would not surprise me).
I saw the commercial again tonight, hit YouTube and found it, and listened to the whole song while watching the video.
Really, actually listened to the words, felt them.
Got the deeper meaning, was moved. A couple of tears slipped down my cheeks.
I kind of like it when something has the power to move me like that, with no warning.
What song(s) have the power to move you?
Also, I should probably check PMS Buddy… I totally haven’t kept track of my cycles anymore and this could be a sign that I need to be protecting my underwear soon. Because The Red Crotch is, I’m pretty sure, not the latest fashion trend.
Right?
A new day, a new gig, a happier me.
Things are looking up; my mood is lightening a little more each day, and the sunshine and warmth that’s been poking around these parts lately has had more than a little to do with that. For a stretch of days last week and the beginning of this week, it has been sunny and in the 70s, and that is RIGHT up my alley. I’ve had the opportunity to prepare garden beds and plant flowers. The physical work, time outside, and thoughts of beautiful gladioli, dahlias, cosmos, and yarrow bursting open some time in the future all swirl together to make my step a bit more sprightly.
When I haven’t been playing in the dirt, John and I have taken Braden here and there to various parks and playgrounds around our area. I have really missed doing that, and so has Braden. It’s not that you can’t do that kind of stuff when it’s cold – that’s what jackets and hats are for, after all – but my kiddo happens to have a serious HATE relationship with his face getting cold.
And I wasn’t too keen on seeing how he’d feel about a ski mask, so yeah.
But for days recently, we’ve been riding down slides and pumping our legs on the swings, and I’ll be damned if that doesn’t make me a gagillion times more giddy than a glass of red wine.
I do not forsake thee, red wine. I just place you aside for a short time. We shall join again, I promise thee.
Monday night, I was able to hang out with some lovely blogging ladies at the UBP IRL in Nashville, snarf some red wine and cheese, and have my husband and kiddo not far away from me. That was pretty freakin’ nice, too.
And I’ve just started a new writing gig, to which I was referred by the always lovely Sarah (Imaginary Binky).
It’s helping me find my “big girl” journalistic voice, which is kind of cool, in a challenging and frustrating way (can you say, “Lotus has to learn how to get a point across without droning on and on and on for eons?). Yeah, you could say I’m not the Queen of Brevity. And then you could say it again, scream it, and finish by stamping it on my forehead.
So I’ve been setting things up and writing my very first articles as Nashville Parenting Examiner. I’ll be writing a lot of locally flavored items, as well as many general parenting pieces. I’m planning on writing about events and activities that will be of interest to people in this area, and also publish a regular spattering of opinion pieces that anyone can get their head into. In addition, I’ll be hosting giveaways there, and giving general information that is helpful for all parents.
On top of all that, I’m planning on spotlighting Parent Bloggers I know and love (could this be you?) that I’ve built relationships with during my time on this website. Groovy, right? I think so. I’ll be counting on page views and subscriptions to keep me afloat, so anyone subscribing, visiting, and commenting? Will make my day.
The RSS feed is http://www.examiner.com/RSS-6205-Nashville-Parenting-Examiner
The related Twitter account is nashvilleparent
So, warmth, sun, fun, productivity, accomplishments… laughter, mirth, time with family… I’m seeing good things. It’s feeling pretty good.
Why, I’ve been so inspired by happiness lately that I even shaved my legs for the first time in over a month, trimmed the ole’ 70s bush and frolicked in the sheets with my husband. And while you may think, “UH 1) TMI and 2) So?” it’s a big deal here, considering that the last time that happened we conceived a baby. Yeah. Read the archives a little and do the math. You’ll see that it’s been an awfully evil long time.
Psychologically crippling fears resist logic and desire and can put you in places you don’t want to be for even a second. And then they keep you there for indefinite amounts of time. You even start feeling that the pain that’s being caused you and your most beloved is all your fault; you should just wake up, break out, get better, damnit.
It just can’t be forced. Something’s gotta give, one way or another.
It’s giving. Finally, it is caving in and crumbling away. Bit by bit.
And as it falls off of my shoulders, I’m feeling that shine again, the one that comes from inside. Not the same shine as before, from the same girl as before, but that’s okay.
Every day of this adult life, I’m learning. I’m always in process; this is a journey. The waiting for the completion of who I am and where I’m going is pointless. I am ever changing. It is time I accept that and who I am right now, ready to welcome the next change, whatever the moments that pass may hold.
Just be, right?
I’m workin’ on it.
The ironic post that wasn’t really ironic but was more just dumb.
Sitting on my couch right now rather vegged. It’s 11:10pm on Monday night and I’m blinking as I notice the time because, uh? I usually post the next day’s post at midnight, and well, that’s less than an hour from now, and as you are reading this you realize that I have not written more than 2 sentences of a post and it’s about nothing but my current predicament. Which is really a rather lame way to start a post. I meant, which is really an AWESOME way to start a post. (I am so lazy that is the extent to which I’m going to go to convince you. Not convinced? Me either.)
What are you supposed to do when you’re such a raging lazy douche that you know you need to write your post, and it needs to be done immediately, but you’re still all, “waahhh, I’m too lazy to do this…” ?
Well, if you’re also an attention seeking whinebag, you Tweet your lamentations.
And then people respond.
You laugh. Then you go, uh, but really… what am I going to write about tonight?
And then you write about how you didn’t have anything to write about and it was almost midnight when you usually post and you didn’t really feel like writing about something so you Tweeted about it and then you got responses and then you laughed and then you wondered what you were going to write about.
Yeah. I totally went there.
And the most awesome thing is that when you’re done typing up your pathetic excuse for a post, and you wonder, “What photo could I possibly use on this post?” You decide that the best photo of all for this post would be a photo of the post.
So there.
I think the mayo was spoiled or something…
So, if you came by my website sometime on January 2nd, you probably got the feeling that something was not quite right.
You were given that strange feeling either by the huge black background and prominent red scorpion on the front page, the pictures of crying children and declaration to stop the killing in Palestine, or the approximately eleventy-million popup windows that tried to open so your computer could be infected with viral slime.
I mean, I’m just guessing. It could have been something else. Maybe you just ate a bad sandwich that day.
Hoping that the new year will bring with it change for the better is not met well with getting online for the first time in over 24 hours only to find that your site has been COMPLETELY hacked and replaced.
I almost threw up. I cried. I thought about just shutting down the website forever. Seriously.
I climbed the walls. I was VERY ANGRY.
I Twittered like crazy. Remember the other day when I said how great Twitter is? PEOPLE, TWITTER IS GAAAAHHHH-RATE. I found help from people there! The site is back up. Security measures have been taken, and more are being researched/planned/undertaken.
I wanted to apologize to anyone who experienced any inconvenience because of what happened. I mean, it really wasn’t my fault (I didn’t make that bad sandwich you ate, yo), but I still feel pretty bad that the ugly happened on my turf, ya know?
I’m throwing out that bad mayo, and I’m hoping you never get a rotten sandwich here again.
Can we still be friends?
Bet you didn’t know you had wings.
On Monday I sent John to get us a Christmas tree.
I like real trees. I know that many people have their own, good reasons for having fake trees, but I just can’t have one. I need the smell of a real tree. I need the mess of annoying real tree needles to scatter the carpet. I need the real tree sappy bark and the real tree prickly branches.
I like it when things are real. They hold more meaning for me, somehow. I am alive when I feel.
Real.
Monday evening, I opened a large storage container. In fact, last year, I closed myself up in it entirely, which is a humorous thing for me to recall. What’s even more amusing to me is that, in true camera-obsessed form, I had my Kodak in there with me.
Instead of a dork, it now contains our Christmas decorations. One of the things inside was the Angel we top our tree with each year. We have owned her for about 4 years. Her arms, held open with ribbons and ornaments streaming from one, are posable. I have never moved them, however, and I pack her carefully each year so she that remains in the same position.
So I was more than a bit taken aback when I pulled her out of the box on Monday evening like this:
It was a striking image, her arm thrown across her face, ribbons and ornaments still streaming from her hand. As if the Reality of the family that she was joining this year was too much to bear.
Was she shielding her eyes from my pain? Weeping for us; unable to bear witness.
Tuesday morning, looking down at my own hand, I was reminded of my Angel.
And I realized that I had misinterpreted the message I’d received in her the previous night.
Others are not shielding themselves from this hurt I’m sharing. My pain is not being avoided – it is being shared by and divided amongst all of my “angels.” Without them (you guys), the burden would be heavier, because I would carry it practically alone.
You are my Angels, so to speak.
Every message you send me. Every comment you leave. Every email I get. Every @SarcasticMomLC you shoot my way on Twitter. You are bearing witness, standing with me, and sharing my pain – you are lessening my burden by supporting me. All your messages do this.
Please forgive me if I have not the strength or words yet to reply to them all… but know I see them all. I see all of you.
I see you, throwing your hands across your faces with me, the ribbons streaming from them beautifully as you each take a little piece of my pain so I do not feel alone here in “the abyss.”
Sometimes it hurts when things are so real. But I wouldn’t have it any other way, really.
Thanks for letting me feel safe being real.
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