Addicted to facebook?

You may or may not know that I am going on a mission trip over Spring Break with my school. We are going to San Sebastian, Spain to work with missionaries over there with the Basque people. We are helping them make contacts with high schoolers in the area. I have started to get very excited about it- I've never been to Europe! Daniel and I were blessed to lead a trip to Panama in 2005, and he went to Argentina in 2006 and South Africa in 2007. (I was taking care of Emma those years- both inside of me and out! :) )

Anyways, one of the ways that we prepare is to fast two things for 40 days beforehand. Kinda like Lent for all my Catholic/Episcopal/Anglican friends. We are fasting one food and one activity. I will be getting a MEGA Dr. Pepper in the airport. ;)

My activity has been Facebook. I have gotten to really enjoy Facebook because I have caught up with so many friends from elementary school, high school, college, family, and beyond. Sometimes I get so caught up in my little circle of teaching and family, I cut myself off from others. So anyways, it has been really, really weird these past couple of weeks not accessing it. (Although it is easier when you don't have a computer at home anymore, and Facebook is blocked on my computer at school!) I feel so out of touch--which in the way a fast is designed, it helps me refocus on my relationship with God, my husband, my child.

But this is not a serious post. I found this article on the web a few days ago. By now, I don't remember who posted this or where I got it from, so I apologize for the lack of citation. Please forgive me English teachers. However, it is not mine--so no plagarism problems here.

Pretty much everyone I know has a Facebook account. I use it for emailing, messaging, sharing pictures, and more. That sounds pretty reasonable, right? Well, Facebook has a way of creeping from something useful into a major contributor to carpal tunnel, burning eyes, procrastination, and mindless clicking.
Haven't seen people you went to high school with in ten years or more? With Facebook it's no problem. Since you can view everyone's friend list as soon as you connect with one person, the floodgates open, and you're back in your hometown, for better or worse.
Want to see what people are up to but have no interest in really talking to them? No problem with Facebook. If someone has an open profile you can click around on their page like you are their BFF, seeing all their pictures, friends' comments, and status updates. You can locate exactly where someone is and how they're feeling today in 3 minutes or less.
Got something to promote? It's no problem with Facebook. Set your favorite site as your status, create a link to your project and your friends will surely check it out. Got a new business? Create a Facebook group and your friends can join and keep in contact with all the updates of your company.
Ok, obviously I am a Facebook user. I enjoy seeing a picture of my friend when I send them a message. I am a fan of the status update. I even like notifications and am only mildly concerned when I am friend-requested by a total stranger. I enjoy clicking through pictures of my long lost friends' houses in the suburbs and seeing their kids covered in spaghetti. It's sort of exotic to a country girl transplant like me.
So here is the problem, well, my problem. And I am assuming I'm not alone on this one. I'm on Facebook all the time! I go to the site not even conscious that I am going to it. I turned on my computer this morning with the intention of opening Word first thing, and where did I find myself? You guessed it. Facebook. I am addicted! Admitting is the first step to recovery (bankers take note). Sign me up for Facebook rehab.
Pope Benedict XVI has warned us about getting in a pickle with Facebook. Now I'm not one to go around quoting any kind of Church, especially if you knew the extent of my Catholic grade school story, but this was sort of interesting. The Associated Press brought us his thoughts about how Facebook (and MySpace, a whole other topic mostly about kids and bands) can foster friendships and understanding, but warns that they also can isolate people and marginalize others. Benedict welcomes as a "gift" new technologies such as social networking sites, saying they respond to the "fundamental desire" of people to communicate. But he warns that "obsessive" virtual socializing can isolate people from real interaction and deepen the digital divide by excluding those already on the sidelines. He urges producers to ensure that the content respects human dignity, and of course the "goodness and intimacy of human sexuality."
What about burning eyes, carpal tunnel, hunched shoulders, stiff hips, and monkey mind? Those issues are more interesting to me as a health, yoga, and psychology geek.
I would friend-request the Pope. What would his status updates be? "Slipping into Prada loafers getting ready for mass."
So here I am, busted by the Pope! On one hand, he's got a point. Cyber-bullying is not a joke. The horrific suicide of 13-year-old Megan Meier from Missouri in October of 2006 was the direct result of her former friend's mom taunting her through MySpace. Being a teenager is hard enough. I can't even imagine what kids go through now. There are so many new ways to torture each other. I know a few teens in NY that have problems with teasing each on Facebook too. It's a mess.
I'm sure adults have had problems with taunting and other social blunders on Facebook too, but the majority of problems adults face is just plain over-use. Let me reference my "25 random things." If you're a Facebook user, you are well aware of the "25 random things" that have been going around in the last few months. Maybe you've written yours. Or, maybe you think you won't get pulled in. Good luck.
I should be writing at this moment. July 1st deadline will be here soon. FB is one big distraction really, but I do firmly believe in its usefulness. And its ability to deliver BlockBuster-esque horror, comedic, and dramatic episodes in the disconnected yet intimate way only the modern web experience can.
Correct me if I am alone on this one, but the reality of our lives displayed on Facebook splattered with debauchery is a big part of the fun!
I've come up with some warning signs here. This may be the start of developing a support group for Facebook addicts. The group will be listed on Facebook, where you can become a fan of the group, add pictures, look at pictures of other cute people who are in the group, and write on the wall.

10 warning signs that you may be addicted to Facebook
1. Facebook is your home page.
2. You update your status more than twice a day.
3. You have over 500 "friends" half of whom you've never actually met.
4. As soon as you step away from your computer you're on FB on your phone.
5. You are a FB stalker. You qualify as a FB stalker if you
a) click on someone's profile more than once a day even if they haven't messaged or tagged you in a photo.
b) have dragged and dropped more than 3 FB photos (not from your own profile)
c) actually go to a place mentioned on someone's page in hopes of seeing them in real life...creepy!
6. You change your profile picture more than a 12-year=old girl.
7. You have checked your FB page while reading this article.
8. You clean up your "wall" so it looks like you spend less time on FB.
9. You are a member of more than 10 groups and respond to every event invitation "attending" even if you have no intention of going.
10. You change your relationship status just to mess with people.

Luckily, I do not exhibit any of those signs!

Emma....the photographer

Emma has become obsessed with taking pictures with my camera. Here are some of her better shots!

Fridge letters (notice the finger in the bottom left corner!)

Who wouldn't want to take a picture of the trash can?

Or perhaps the trash inside a trash can?

A blue ball.

Our friend George.

Sometimes, she doesn't realize that the camera is facing the wrong way and we get self-portraits.

Once she took the picture of the mop bucket, though...I took the camera away.

Update on life.

We don't have too much of an update on our lives at this point. We haven't heard back from the police, and at this point, we don't really expect to. Unless something comes up with identity theft issues, we are not going to claim the break-in with our insurance, because between the deductible and increase in premium, it is just not worth it right now. We have been uplifted by the generosity of our friends and from those we never would have expected it. We were especially touched by two letters (real, snail mail letters---those are the best!) that were so encouraging to our spirits- one from a college friend and one from a former student. Their words and giving spirits meant so much to us.

The office is still a mess....it's like we can't get ourselves to face the disaster that was created. Maybe this weekend. I need to get taxes underway, so I really need to do it soon.

The night of the break-in, we finally ended up at my parent's house to sleep and spend a couple of days until we could get a new door. Friday night, we played the piano and Emma was, of course, very interested. We danced and sang and had a great time. Here's Emma playing at the piano with her Nana:
And then she was very curious to figure out how this piano-thing worked! (just like her mommy in that regard!)

Daniel decided to go ahead and go on his annual Montgomery-brothers ski trip at the end of January, and the day he left, I came home from school to this:

Emma was given a special green bath crayon by my best friend. We thought it was just like her other crayons, but nope...it's soap that turns the bath green! She has enjoyed it so!

I was blessed to have two days off due to icy weather, and spent those two days cleaning, cleaning, cleaning! Emma helped...occasionally!

I also took my last tests for Texas licensure two weeks ago. I'm still waiting for the results, but I should be licensed to teach 8-12 mathematics and chemistry with a gifted and talented supplemental certification. Phew.

This past week, Emma has not fallen asleep!!! She is staying up until 10 consistently...even when we are putting her to bed at a normal time of 8! She isn't getting up and playing (for the most part) she just lays there...and doesn't fall asleep!!! Then she keeps on getting up at the same time (7 ish). Poor girl....poor mommy and daddy!

OK....those are the random thoughts for the evening!

Stock Show!

Two weekends ago, while Daniel was skiing with his brothers in New Mexico, Emma and I headed to the Stock Show with Mom and Dad. We were able to see my brother, Em, compete with his palomino, Foxy, and then we checked out the rest of the grounds for a few hours! Of course, Emma wore her new cowboy boots she received from her daddy at Christmas!

Waiting for the pony ride, getting a prime seat to watch the action! (No, we did not spend $10 for a picture....)

We did, however, spend $10 for the neccessry Cowboy hat from the Stock Show. Pink (of course), witha princess tiara on top.

She rode this truck ride all by herself! What a big girl!

At the petting zoo, she really liked the chicken!

...and the goats, of course! It was great to see that this year, she was really interested in petting the animals and feeding them. Last year, she was a little scared of them!

Uncle Em waiting to show Foxy!

At the 4H barn, looking at all of the animals!

...and seeing Foxy up close with Uncle Em. Notice Emma's expression on seeing Foxy eat the carrot! (Not that I blame her....)