Very Random Thoughts

            Random means having no pattern or no aim or something along those lines.

            Well, today, I have a few random thoughts to share.  There’s no pattern to them; all they have in common is that they’ve been on my mind (in my mind?) lately.

            1.  This one is a recurring thought; I have it every two years: Isn’t it ironic that Halloween and Election Day are so close together?  “Trick or treat” seems to fit both days, don’t you think?

            2.  Just the other day, daughter Mandy sent a message asking if I wanted “face time” with her two sons.  I thought maybe it was a request for babysitting (which I love.)  No, it was something like a video phone call on Facebook with a cell phone.  We haven’t done this yet ‘cause she’s still “‘splaining” it to me.  Next thing you know, we really will be able to just reach out and touch someone!

            3.  Mandy’s younger son, Fisher, is looking just like my son, Tree.  He’s just about the spitting image, in fact.  (Tree's picture at a young age is the middle one, dressed in yellow.)

 

            Recently Mandy sent a text message to Tree that said, “My son is beginning to look just like you.” 

            Tree responded, “You just don’t know how many times I’ve gotten that same message from others.”

            Uh-oh!

            4.  Just over a week ago I turned 63.  I don’t mind sharing my age; I’m grateful for the opportunity to grow older.  On each birthday, I am painfully aware that brother Rod didn’t have that opportunity.  He died in 2010 at the age of 56.

            I miss him.

Writing, Drawing and Facebook

I think Facebook is great.


Yes, it has its critics. Yes, it can be time-consuming. Yes, it can be annoying.

Yes, things can go wrong, but, hey, so can life. We can’t go through life avoiding everything that might go wrong. Otherwise, who would ever drive a car? 




Anyway, back to Facebook. Some folks say it is impersonal. I find it just the opposite. I’ve found long-lost friends. We stay in touch in ways we very likely would not do by phone and in ways we’ve never done by letter.

I’ve saved the many wonderful and even funny messages posted on Facebook when Rod, my brother, died just over a year ago. They are a treasure to read from time to time.

That's just one example of how I've found Facebook to be personal rather than impersonal.

The reason Facebook is on my mind right now is that I’m finally writing a book. Actually, I’m working on three books at once, with two others in the wings.

For years I’ve wanted to write a book and even had one planned out in my mind but just never got around to doing it. Once I decided to actually do it, the one that had been thought-out got put on the back burner as I worked, i.e. had fun, on three others.

I love to write; I cannot draw. I can’t even produce a stick figure. Or a ball. Or a star.

So, since the first book needed lots of artwork, I posted a note on Facebook that I was looking for illustrators. Wow! I was totally amazed at the responses.

And now, this little gift/novelty book is nearing publication with illustrations by 16 talented South Carolinians. They are from all across the state and range from young students to retirees.

I’ve met only three of the 16 face-to-face but, thanks to Facebook, I feel like I know ‘em all!




----------------------------------

One of Our Burma-Shave-type Slogans

Be sure to visit our Facebook page: Write In Sherry Martschink.

Odds 'n Ends

Thanks to Harriet for the new banner and design of this blog!  She's been so very accommodating and easy to work with.  Be sure to visit her at I Am Harriet.

This blog and Facebook:  A snippet of each post is carried on Facebook with a link back to the blog for anyone who wants to read the entire post.  Those who make comments on Facebook are typically part of the FB "friends" group.  On the blog, anyone may make a comment.  Up until now, I've allowed anonymous comments.  Because a few comments have gotten out of hand, I am no longer allowing anonymous comments. (In this instance, "anonymous" means without identifying the writer or the writer's e-mail address for contact.) I don't mind criticism and negative comments but I will not allow off-color comments nor rude remarks about my children, all of whom are grown. Sorry to anyone this may inconvenience.

 

So far in September, we've had 54 people playing DO YOU KNOW trivia through this site.  Thanks to each and every one of you.  Here are the stats as of this morning.

First 20 Daily Winners in September

Silky

Skullfullamush

Mvaughan

Buddy

Mvaughan

Scmom

Scmom

Silky

Fireatwill

Sally

Papabear

Par2323

Scmom

Jinxed

Silky

HLMeeks

Silky

Sherry

Betty

Silky

Rankings So Far for September – Cumulative Points

Silky

Mvaughan

Papabear

Sally

Scmom

Wavemama

Jinxedu

Sherry

Par2323

Skullfullamush

Gardener

Rougebird

Singz4fun2

Betty

Fireatwill

Cheesecat

3M

Nitebird

Planetjimbo

Buddy

Grandmacat

Kitopila

Mgburtonjr

Rosie7

HLMeeks

Jude

LOL

Meme

Valentine

Xray2u

Top Scorers in Average Points Per Game

Silky

Skullfullamush

Scmom
Mvaughan

wavemama

jinxedu

Sherry

Papabear

Sally
Singz4fun2

Some of these players are people I know; some are totally unknown to me.  All are appreciated!

Is Social Networking IMPERSONAL?

Is social networking impersonal?

Critics often complain that we are becoming a society of recluses, hidden behind computer screens, fearful of human interaction.

I absolutely and strongly disagree.

There’s no question that I spend a lot of time at the computer. In fact, I’m beginning to believe the laptop is an extension of me. Borrowing Karl Malden’s words, I’d say I "don’t leave home without it.”

I’m addicted to the computer; I have withdrawal symptoms if I have to do without it.

I use Twitter, Facebook and Blogspot, currently updating three public blogs and one private blog.

Do I fear human interaction? Oh, no. I love human interaction.

Social networks have allowed me to find old friends, people with whom I had lost contact. Social networks have allowed me to make new friends, some of whom I’ve never met face to face but who seem just as close and familiar as some others. Social networks have allowed me to keep up with what friends and family members are doing, even those things I'd rather not know.

Sitting at a computer doesn't inhibit conversation any more than reading book, working a crossword or perhaps even being engrossed in a TV program.

Many of us are more personal with our writing than we are with our speaking. Perhaps we get to know more about others and share more of ourselves this way.

When Mom sends an e-mail to all of the family members, we know exactly what she's thinking! She writes the same way she talks.

When “The Dawg” got sick and was hospitalized several times, I kept a blog about him to let family and friends keep up with his condition. It was so much easier than calling 20 to 50 people, especially since I was usually in the hospital room and he was often sleeping or watching TV. We posted pictures of hospital staffers and got to know them much better by doing so.

His last days were described on the blog and even his death.

(http://www.carrollsmith.blogspot.com/)

I shared my heartache at losing my husband and soul mate but also shared his desire not to linger and suffer. These were bittersweet postings, of course.

At the same time, I heard from hundreds of people, first wishing him well, offering prayers and then expressing condolences. Yes, there were some “traditional” cards that came through the mail, but there were many more expressions of sympathy on his blog and on mine, on Facebook, on Twitter and through e-mail.

These were no less personal than hand-written cards. What’s more, they were instantaneous and helped with the grieving process, just as writing helped me with the grieving process. I wouldn’t trade those communications for anything. I felt caring and concern from the senders.

When my dad died of cancer just over 8 years ago, I didn’t have a blog; there was no Twitter or Facebook, but there was e-mail. I notified loads of people about his death by e-mail and received many sympathy messages by e-mail.

One good thing about the e-mail communications was that I was able to print copies of the messages for each family member. That’s something I couldn’t do with traditional cards and phone calls.

In some ways, social networking has advantages and may even be preferable.

Etiquette experts may frown on the use of a computer for anything connected with emotions. I don’t, but, of course, as those who know me will attest, I’m certainly no etiquette expert!
Social networks are convenient. No trips to the post office. No worrying about calling someone who may be sleeping or busy. Messages are sent at the sender’s convenience and read at the recipient’s convenience.

One person sent an e-mail expressing sympathy when Carroll died but also apologized for using e-mail, saying she couldn’t find a current mailing address. I assured her this was fine. Her message was the same, regardless of the format. I felt no less comforted by words that were typed rather than hand-written.

What do you think? Do you offer sympathy, greetings, congratulations, best wishes and so forth by way of computer?

Is this a way to show joy at someone's good news and celebration? Is this kind of communication less personal?

Is it okay? Is it acceptable? Or, are we really humans fearful of “personal” communications and interaction?

Do You Remember the Party Line? (This Means the Phone, Not Politics!)

Brother Rod is an oddity of the human race. If you're a long-time reader of this blog, you've met him before. He's been interviewed by PBS, written about in Harper's and talked about in smoke-filled rooms.

Among his other ventures, he writes a weekly column. Today, I'm sharing his most recent column, just 'cause I think it's hilarious and because I can identify with it:

Facebook Friends
By now, you’ve probably heard of the Internet phenomenon called Facebook, even if you are “Old People” like Yours Truly.

To most of the Young Folks, keeping up with the latest Internet fad is easy. It’s second nature. They grew up with the Internet. They understand how to use the Internet. They get it.

But to us Old People, it doesn’t come so easily. It pretty much has to be drilled into us before we even come close to catching on.

There’s too much, and it moves too fast. We can’t keep up.

And if we TRY to keep up, it makes us dizzy, and we end up having to take an extra dose of our medication….or an extra afternoon nap.

Most of us Old People first learn about these new Internet innovations after they’ve caused some trouble, forcing the National News Media to write about them.

Many times, they’re a factor in some sort of violent crime, even murder.

I never knew there were websites that taught people how to make bombs until some wacko used a bomb made from Internet instructions to blow somebody up!

But then, I read about it in the National News Media.

After a website is connected to a murder or two, the whole world hears about it.

And, if you believe everything you read, these websites are killin’ people: MySpace seems to have killed some people; Craigslist is reported to have killed some people; and now, Facebook is said to have killed some people. (It should be noted, however, that GUNS do not kill people… criminals do!)

Anyway, because of all their notoriety, lots of new Old People have now heard of these Internet websites. But, for the most part, the Old People still don’t have a clue what they really are.

So I thought I would offer you a bit of explanation about Facebook, in which I happen to be a participant, so therefore I am qualified to explain it – one Old Person to another. (If you are reading this column in a your local community newspaper, incidentally, the odds are very strong that you are an Old Person. Remember this fact: Young Folks read the Internet; Old People read newspapers. It’s true.)

So, pay attention, Old People – and elbow the Old Person sitting beside you to wake ‘em up – while I explain the Facebook Friends phenomenon:

1. It’s a computer thing. (If I’ve lost you already, stop reading, and go back to reading your newspaper.)

2. It’s on the Electronic Internet, also known at the World Wide Web. While the Internet is still a mystery to most Old People, I have invented a way of explaining it that most Old People can understand: Think back to the old days of the Telephone, and remember what was known as a “Party Line”. Now just imagine that everyone in the whole world is on the same party line… except instead of talking, we’re sending each other words and pictures. That’s the Internet…the World Wide Web.

3. Now, to understand Facebook, think of a Telephone Answering Machine. When somebody calls you, if you don’t answer, they get a recorded message from you, and then they leave a message. Facebook is just like that on the Internet, ‘cept, once again, instead of TALKING, it’s just written words and pictures… and when a friend tries to contact you on the Internet, instead of leaving a voice message, they leave their message in words and pictures.

4. If it’s a Party Line with everybody in the world on it, other people would get to see all your messages, right? Wrong! That’s where your Facebook Friends come in handy.

Facebook allows you to choose the people you will allow to read your messages and see your pictures. Those people are your Facebook Friends. You can ask anyone whose email address you happen to know to become your Facebook Friend… and if they accept, you will now be listed on each others Facebook page as Friends… and you’ll be able to keep up with each other by checking in from time to time.

Now that you know what all the hubbub is about, I’ll invite you to become my personal Facebook Friend, with all the rights and privileges accorded thereto, herewith, whereas, hither, thither and yon.

And, now that you understand the essence of this Internet fad, next week I plan to introduce you to a few of my Facebook Friends, and tell you what they’ve been up to lately. They’re characters, they are. A hoot.

That’s all for this week. It’s 2:00pm already… time for a nap before I eat supper at 3:30 pm…. like Old People do.