Facebook Help or Hindrance inOur Social Lives. . .

A dear friend of mine from high school teaches third grade right here in my backyard.  We had found each other on the almighty Facebook but we had not physically seen each other since high school graduation (I could tell you how long ago that was but I want bore you with dinosaur history)  That is sad. Facebook can connect us to people far and wide but we lose that physical connection to those closest to us.
My very sweet friend reached out via Facebook and asked her friends and family to adopt her third grade class and supply each child with a book and a note of encouragement for that first day of school and prayers throughout the year.   I was thrilled to sign up for that since bringing snacks and surprises for the kids is frowned upon for the Sophomore year of high school.
We decided to schedule a lunch date so that we could catch up and I could bring her some goodies for the class.  It was great to see my friend and find out how she wound up here and to tell her how I wound up here, funny thing was, they were very similar love stories. 
We laughed and cried telling each other our terrific love stories.   We have vowed to keep in touch personally and not just with Facebook.
So back to my title of this post.  Is Facebook a help or a hindrance?  I think it is a hindrance, we like a post and comment here and there and you think you are keeping up with your relationship with that friend.  I think Facebook is driving a wedge between friends and family with all of the political nonsense and all the hate that is publicized that before Facebook we would not have heard about.  I do not delete people for their posts but I might hide a post or two if it is offensive to me.  I have been deleted before and I am not really sure why this person deleted me, I am not political and I do not argue with anyone on Facebook because that is useless.  Arguing with someone on Facebook is like arguing with my Basil, there is no point.
So what do you think about Facebook, help or hindrance? 

Stay tuned, prepping this week for taking Sprat to school. . . .

Weekend Take on Social Media. . . .

This may be a little bit of  a rant but, a few of these have just really irritated me lately.  The back story is I have joined this group on Facebook that is a financial motivational site.  I joined in the hopes of learning something new.  I am a firm believer in reading and listening to what others have to say because I just might learn something new.  I am also a member of a community watch group on Facebook so that I can keep up on the crime situation in my area.  I rarely post in these groups, I just like to stay informed.
Several months ago we had a group of people that were a little sketchy going through neighborhoods ringing door bells and knocking on doors.  If you did not answer the door they would sometimes proceed around the back and side of your home checking doors and windows.  One of my girlfriends had posted a similar situation on this crime watch site and I commented back to her about someone ringing our door bell that same week and that I had sent my hubby to the door.  I shared that comment directly to my friend but within that group.  If you do not know my hubby you would not understand the significance of sending him to the door.  He takes glee in aggravating sales people because that is what he does.  He pesters them with insane irrelevant questions about their products and then after he has worn them down he tells them he is not interested.  The telemarketers do not call anymore because of what he use to do to them on a routine basis.  I do love him though, he keeps me laughing.
So after I had made that comment on Facebook to my friend so man I do not know posts to me and says something in the way of; "how rude, not cool."  So I posted back to him; "Pardon??"  He never responded and I have not seen him post anything else in that group.
I shared all of this to pose this question. Why do people think it is ok to just post something nasty to people they do not know, about things they do not know?   I think it may be this whole anonymity thing, they feel like they can say what ever they want because they do not know you and probably will never see you.  I guess I was raised a little different, I would never speak to people they way some folks do whether I knew you or not.
I am just appalled sometimes by what I read others post on Facebook in comments to news or even personal Facebook pages.  This is where I believe the internet has failed us as a society, we use Facebook as a means to bully, slander, and in general be mean to others.  Why?  Why would someone feel the need to post something nasty or hateful to someone you do not even know.
Today, I was reading some of the posts this afternoon and they were talking about Dave Ramsey, and you all know how much I love him and that I follow his plan.  You know Dave hates credit cards and he does not think anyone should use them.  Someone had posted how they use theirs to get free points and all of the perks and that they pay theirs off every month so they do not pay interest.  Someone else in the group, a loyal Dave follower, responded pretty harshly about using credit cards.  They called this person stupid and how could they be so dumb.   I do not like credit cards but I would never tell someone I did not know that they were dumb for using one.  I do not think I would tell someone that I did know that they were stupid for anything.
I think the election and the news media are also partly to blame.  This past election has brought out the nasty on both sides and it does not seem to be dying down at all.
Why do people feel the need to be this way?  Do they behave this way in their face to face relationships?  Would they act this way to one of their friends?  I think Facebook has caused us to be less social.  They call it social media, I believe that is a misnomer, it is an anti-social media.  We do not have face to face interaction or write letters to anyone you just Facebook people.  I must admit I am guilty of that too sometimes.
My questions for the day:   No judgement here.
Have you posted something negative to someone you do not know on any social media site?

Did you feel bad after the fact and wish you did not post it?

Have you had someone that you did not know say something mean to you on social media?

How did you react?

I genuinely want to know your reaction so please feel free to comment negative or positive.

Monday, Monday. . .

Went shopping with my niece this weekend.  I was showing her the neat places to shop for clothes.  We had a great day and shopped till we both dropped.  I told her mama she wore me out and she told her mama that I wore her out.  Ha ha ha ha!!!!  We are both like my mother and her grandmother, we go till we cannot go anymore. 

I remember marathon shopping trips with my mom.  We could go to the outlets and shop all day, I would be completely worn out but not mom, mom seemed to have endless energy.   We would always find the best bargains too.  I am still a bargain shopper but I tend to find my bargains online these days.  I also like travel bargains, I am looking for some of those this week.  I would like to take my kids somewhere neat and educational for a couple days since we did not get a beach trip worked in this year.  Football sort of starts to take over our lives this time of year but, I would not change that for anything, Sprat loves his football.   This is when I get creative on family fun.  Life would be so boring if everything worked out all of the time.    I am keeping my fingers crossed that we can work something out and, I will share our trip with you.  

One of Sprats friends called last night to go practice lacrosse since his friends' mom and I are friends too, we dropped the boys off to practice and we went for TCBY and a chat.  It is nice to have girlfriends to be able to just go for some yogurt and a chat from time to time.  The boys had a workout for sure, Sprat was soaked to the bone.  

The hubbs has some phone calls this week so everyone keep your fingers crossed and I will be posting updates on him as we find things out.

Hand Made Christmas Gifts. . .

I love making goodies at the holidays especially Christmas.  I also enjoy sharing what I have made with others.  I used to make trays of goodies for my neighbors: different kinds of cookies, bars, and chex mix.  I would buy an inexpensive tray or plate and use that to deliver my sweets, my neighbors were to keep the tray as part of their gift.   My mom used to make all kinds of goodies and do something similar for her friends and neighbors and I guess that is where I got the idea.  Most of the time my sweets are well received but, one time one of my neighbors responded, I don't have anything to give you or I cannot repay you.  I do this because I like sharing with others not because I want something in return.  It really hurt my feelings that someone would think I expected something from them.  A simple thank you and Merry Christmas would have been wonderful, anything except  a question of my motive.   That next year I didn't bake my sweets for my neighbors because I felt so bad.  The year after that I decided I did not care what anyone thought and I made even more sweets to share.   Do me a favor, if someone in your neighborhood or office bakes you goodies just respond with a simple thank you and Merry Christmas.  
I also enjoy making ornaments with the kids.   I helped my nieces make some glass ornaments one year when they came to visit.  We took clear glass ball ornaments and we drizzled glue in the ball and rolled it so it would cover the inside.   Then we took glitter and shook it inside the ornament and shook it around to cover the inside.  They make beautiful ornaments and the kids can make them with adult supervision.   My sister made me some ornaments out of her sheeps' shearing.   She took the same type of glass ball and she put the sheep's wool in the ball.  You can buy those glass ornaments at AC Moore or Michael's or any craft store.   Below are some pictures of those ornaments and my tree because I just finished decorating today.  Wheww! 

Mom on Monday. . .

A friend posted on Facebook she wanted someone to go with her  to Zumba to keep her motivated.  I have been wanting to try a zumba class so I volunteered.   What in the world was I thinking?  I love my friend and yes I want to help her, but zumba. 
Friday two weeks ago we went.   I have never felt so uncoordinated in my whole life.  I cheered all through high school and part of college and we had complicated routines and had to balance in the boys hands.  I guess all of your coordination goes away after giving birth.  That has to be the reason why I looked and felt so awkward these last two Fridays.    I am a trooper though, I shall not give up, I will defeat this beast of zumba.  I must say I did not know the classes were an hour either.  The time does go by fast, we have some great music to jam to. 
My sister always tells me working out  alleviates stress and she is right.  I do not feel as stressed and on edge after I have worked out.  It is kind of relaxing,  burning that nervous energy.  A big thank you to my friend for posting that request.  She asked for help and she is the one helping me.  Hmmmm I think this is the good Lord sending me what I need yet again.  
Moms, do not forget in all the rush of taking care of the family to take care of you.  Remember nobody can replace you in your family.   Take time to rejuvenate yourself so that you can be there when you are needed. 

Funny thing happened on the way to the lake. . .

Dear hubby wanted to go fishing on his birthday.  I was all for it and so was Big T.  He was so excited to get to go fishing with his dad.  They didn't leave real early, it was going to be a leisurely trip.   Just when you think it is safe to relax, don't, cause the phone will ring and you just don't want to hear what is going on.   My big red truck gave up the ghost on the ramp into the lake.   You really know who your friends are when you're stuck on the ramp and your truck won't start.   Thankful to ours for looking out for my hubby and Big T.     The truck got towed and we finally got the boat home and we missed celebrating the birthday.  Ughhhh  Wife fail.
Last night we had a birthday do over.   Remember all the beer hubby bought at WalMart for my drunken turkey, well I fixed the beer boiled shrimp for my sweet husbands birthday do over.   I also picked up a red velvet cake and made some more beer bread and garlic butter.   This does not make up for the not getting to go fishing trip but it did help.   The shrimp were so good.   We fixed the kids burgers, they don't care much for cold shrimp  like my hubby and I do.   Cold boiled shrimp have always been a favorite for my hubby and I.   We have not had them in quite a while though, I guess because the kids don't like them.  It was a nice evening.  Happy Birthday to my sweet, hard working man.

A Challenge to My Self. . .

A friend of mine gave me a challenge to pray for ten people.  I have decided that I cannot pick only ten.  I have decided that I should pray for everyone on my Facebook friend's list.   As I said in a previous post, I don't just friend anyone.  Each person I am friends with on facebook I am friends with face to face.  Some are long time friends from school and church, some are more recent friends I have made through interaction with my kids.
As this month moves along I will be covering each of them in prayer.   Some people do not take friendship very seriously this day and age.  It is just something you say or something you do on facebook.  I guess I am just old school, I take saying someone is my friend very seriously.   I would do anything for my friends.  As my dad always says, "you can only go as far as your friends will let you go".  

Book Club this weekend. . .

I am hosting book club this weekend.  I have been cleaning all week to get my house half way presentable for my lovely book club ladies.  I can now see my floor in the living room.  Why can I not keep my house clean once it is clean?  I know there are people out there that keep their houses clean and do so on a regular basis.  My excuse has always been my kids but, let's be honest, it's me too.  It is just so frustrating to clean and then have your kids or husband come behind you and leave things laying around.   I have enough laundry that I could wash every day and still not get caught up.  My dishes are the same, with everyone eating at home during the summer my sink can pile up in an afternoon.  It is amazing how big my living room is when it is not covered in shoes, book bags, sweatshirts, books, dog toys, and anything else that doesn't seem to have a home.
I have read some books and seem some things on social networking boards about organization and cleaning. I have tried to use those tips but I always get behind and end up trying to do a months worth of cleaning in a day or two.  I am beginning to think there is no hope for me and organization.  
I have a couple things left to do tomorrow and I should be ready for my book club party.  I may have to have the family over since my house is already clean.  I give it a week and it will be cluttered with new stuff, especially since we are getting geared up for school.

Summer School is done . . .

Took my last test yesterday and class is done.  I did want to share something I found interesting with this class in security.  The last chapter dealt strictly with risk.  It even had one section for social networking, Facebook.  Here are some of the things you need to be aware of, as far as security goes, while using Facebook.  This next part is out of my book, Security + Guide to Network Security Fundamentals, by Mark Ciampa.

"Social Networking sites like Facebook, are popular with attackers for several reasons:"
They provide a treasure trove of personal data.  Your profiles contain employment history, where you have lived, birthdays, spouse and child information.
Users are generally trusting.  Someone joins the network and after several weeks you are sharing most everything with them, including when you are going out of town.  How many times have you seen people post things like, "On our way to the beach for a week, loving life."  I have to say that one I could figure out with out the book.  You think that only your friends can see what you post but, who ever your friends have friended can also see what you post.  I have had people comment on something I posted that I did not even know.
"Consider carefully who is accepted as a friend."  I do not accept people as friends if I do not know them face to face.  Sometimes this is bad because I have a terrible memory and people I went to high school with have tried to friend me and I have not done it because I don't recognize the name or their face.  Attackers pray on this in the hopes that you will think you know them and accept their friend request.  I have had this happen and I know I did not know this person.  I pulled up their profile and they had 3 friends that made me very suspicious so I did not accept the friend request and blocked that person from asking again.
"Disable options and then reopen them only as necessary.  Users should disable options until it becomes apparent that option is needed, instead of making everything accessible and restricting access after it is too late.  Many attackers engage in Facebook scraping by gathering personal information from a user's Facebook site that may appear to be harmless yet may be very valuable."  Here is a good example, if an attacker is trying to steal a password they could very easily find out your challenge password answer to the question, What high school did you attend?"   This course gave a lot to think about.
Per the book, you should limit who knows when you are online, who sees your profile, and pictures.
This is just the tip of the iceberg that we went over for this class but, I thought this needed to be shared.  I want everyone to be safe on the net.

Book Club. . . Insurgent. . .

New book for the club is Insurgent, the second in the trilogy by Veronica Roth.  I liked the first one, Divergent and I really like Insurgent.  I read it in record time.   It is really one that you cannot put down.  These are all based on Dystopian society.  They are very violent books so if you are the least bit iffy on violence I would not recommend them.  Certain parts of the first one did bother me just a bit but I was able to move on.  I am not sure when the third book is due out, but I cannot wait.  I like these characters they seem like real people.  They battle with their own emotions and their own demons just like anyone has to in life today.  Their demons may be a little more far fetched than what we face but I could relate.  
I don't like the Vampire books or movies, have never been able to get in to those.  I don't like mushy romance novels.  I guess I like the mystery, murder, and gun blazing novels.  I do like a little romance in my gun blazing novels though, just a little.  I don't know if book club will pick the third one to read or not, but I am hooked and will have to read it when it comes out.  I heard that they are making a movie about this series too.  I might have to check that out.

The family all back together. . .

We picked Sprat up at camp yesterday morning and then had to jet to an All Star baseball game.   They got beat but, it was a good game and a tough loss.  We are still in though, it is double elimination so we play again next week sometime.  We had great weather, it was overcast and breezy.  It was not supposed to be that way but I was so glad it was.  Dear hubby, Big T and I sat under the trees on a hill and watched the game.  I felt bad for the boys though because it was hot on them down on the field.  They played well out in the field but we could not buy a run to save our lives.  I think they can beat the team we play next, I hope so anyway.  You just hate to see these kids practice all this time and then not be able to pull one out.  Sprat is getting to play with one of his friends this time and they are having fun.

Book Club, Book # 2

The second book we are reading for book club is "The Memory Keepers Daughter."   This title reached out and grabbed me, the book has been very different than what I was expecting.  It has it's tear jerking moments and then it has points where you want to smack the main character.  I have not finished but, I am only a chapter or two away.   We have our next meeting on Friday, I am excited about it because I have not been on Facebook since we started the book.  I cannot wait to hear what everyone else has thought about this one.  We wrote comments on Facebook when we were reading the first book and I kinda liked that.  It was neat to see what everyone else was thinking while they were reading the book.  I have missed that about not being on Facebook.  
I was not sure I would do well in a book club.  I read slowly and I really have to be in to a book to read it.  The book we have read and this one were not books I would have picked for my self so, I feel like I am broadening my horizons.  I personally like a good mystery; medical murder mysteries.   The first book we read was "Water for Elephants," it was hard to get around some of it but I am glad I read it.   I cannot wait to find out what we will be reading next.

Book Club. . .

Had our first book club meeting last night.  It was a lot of fun.  I only knew one person going in to this club.  I met three very nice ladies last night and enjoyed getting to know them the way women always do.  We talked about our kids and having kids and what we did when we were kids.    We enjoyed good food and fellowship and discussed our book.  We read "Water for Elephants."
I enjoyed the book.  There are parts of it that are very graphic with regard to sex and hurting animals.  I am an animal lover so that was hard for me to get around.  Overall I did like the book.  I still have not seen the movie.  I tried to watch it before I read the book and I could not get past the animal cruelty.  I am a softy when it comes to our four legged friends.  If you have not read the book I would recommend it.  It does make you think about how you treat others.
Our next book may be "The Memory Keepers Daughter."  I have not read this one yet so I am pretty excited about it.  I have heard good things about it.

A funny thing happened to me on the way to school. . .

The kids are off to a fine start in school this year.  I was concerned for them both at first.  Jack moving to a new school and Thomas getting a teacher I was unsure of.  Jack is loving life at the Middle School.  He thinks he is something else getting a locker, changing classes, going to PE ect. . .   I guess he is since I did not do those things till I was in the 7th grade.   I was worried he would feel overwhelmed at all the changes but instead he is flourishing.  I am so glad.  He also had a Birthday this month  the BIG 12.   He has more pocket money than I do now. 
Thomas is now in the 3rd grade and is doing very well also.  I met Toms' teacher and she is wonderful.  I was concerned at first because I did not know her.  After our meeting for "Making the Grade"  I realized she is going to be a perfect fit for Thomas.  Their personalities should work out very well.  She is very funny too.  A little humor goes a long way.
Thomas has been coming home talking about a new friend, Trevor.  He has talked about how much fun they have playing together.  All I have heard for the past few weeks is Trevor, Trevor, Trevor. . .   While we are waiting in line to pick Jack up Thomas sees Trevor playing in the parking lot next to where we are at a standstill in line.  He says, "Mommy, Mommy, there is Trevor, can I go play?"  I said yes.   This routine continues over the next 2 days  while waiting in line to get Jack.  Yesterday when they got out to play in the Church parking lot Trevors' Mom got out and came back to talk with me.  To my shock, it was my friend Leann that I have not seen in quite some time.  Her daughter and Jack were the same age and took gymnastics together when they were only 2 or 3 yrs old.  Once Thomas and Trevor came along they cooed and oooed at each other in the strollers while we chatted and watched the kids do gymnastics.  We lost touch once the kids were no longer involved in gymnastics.  Now we have picked back up almost where we left off.   So a funny thing happened on the way to school, I found my friend again.

The Wedding. . .

The Wedding was great!  Just fit the couple getting married.  They love their sports.  The men looked dapper in their tux and the ladies looked lovely in their dresses.   The men came out of the first base dugout and stood down the first base line.  The ladies came out of the third base dugout and stood down the third base line.  The groom and the preacher came from the first base dugout with a top hat and cane.  The bride came down from the stands and looked beautiful in her off white, strapless, tea length gown with a faux fur off the shoulder cape.   I must say I cry at most every wedding.  This one I did not.   I think my tear ducts may have been frozen.  It was quite chilly last night sitting out in the stands of the baseball field. 
Here is where it gets interesting.  After the vows and the pronouncing of marriage the groomsmen and bridesmaids leave the stadium.  As they are leaving each one has a baseball that they throw out to the fans or guests of the wedding.  Yes, I caught one.   We then go upstairs to the club floor for food and casino games.  That was a lot of fun.  Mark played craps and had the highest winnings with over $250,000++.  This was only in chips no money changed hands.   He did, however, win a prize for the highest winnings.   

I had the most fun at this wedding.  You just can't beat baseball and casino games.

Getting ready for a Wedding

One of Mark's best friends is getting married this weekend and I have nothing to wear.  What else is new right?  Well this is going to be one of the most unique weddings I have ever attended.  They are getting married at a baseball stadium.  They are saying their vows on home plate.  The bride and groom are both in to sports really big so this is really not unusual for them.  It is unusual for me.  We are going to be sitting outside in the cold for the ceremony and then inside the club floor of the stadium for the reception.  So what do I wear?  Mark said I could bring a stadium blanket to keep me warm and nobody would say anything.   Oh, here is the other cool thing.  The groomsmen all get to go on the field and play ball before the wedding and then they are getting dressed in the locker room .  This is probably the only wedding Mark has been excited about attending and being a part of, including our own.   He hates all the getting dressed up hulabaloo.   Mark's brother is going to be watching the kids for us, poor guy.   Oh, and the reception has a casino night theme.  I am so excited but, I still have nothing to wear.  

The Root Canal. . .

I have had a root canal before but it has been at least a year maybe two.  I have had an infection in this tooth and was in quite a bit of pain up until this weekend.  I had been taking strong pain meds so that I could sleep through the night.  Since Mark is working I asked my neighbor and good friend to drive me to the endodontist  ?(sp) today.  I took one of my stronger pain meds as a precaution.  I thought it would knock some of the edge off.  Well, it did that but it also made me quite chatty.  I was talking up a storm with the office staff and the nurses and my friend too.  I know you guys probably think what else is new.  Well I was talking more today than normal.  I confessed to the staff that I had taken this pain med and they understood and said it was probably a good idea.  The did not have to use the gas and I did not have to get as many shots as I have had in the past.  At least I did not think they gave me as many. 
After my procedure I was feeling no pain at all.  Between the pain meds I had taken and the shots they gave me I was pretty happy.  Weeks before all this I had promised my friend that I would take her to Mark's cousin's jewelry shop which was right around the corner from my doctor's office.  As we were walking to the car I asked if she wanted to go.  She of course asked if I felt like it or not.  I told her I was feeling no pain and that it would be fun.  So off I go, feeling like I had a mouth full of cotton but in no pain, to the jewelry shop.  My friend was looking for those Pandora bracelets that everyone has been raging over.  She was shopping for Christmas for a couple of her friends.  Now my friend is on the right track, working on her shopping through the year and not waiting to the last minute like I sometimes do.  So back to the bracelets, she was able to get her bracelets and things at a much more reasonable price than most of the local jewelry places around here.  Of course Mark's cousin saw that I was a bit incapacitated and wanted to show me his new diamonds he had just gotten in.   I guess he thought I might have been an easy mark.  HA HA!!  Normally I would have been but, I showed great restraint.

Finally Back to Bible Study

I finally got to go back to my Bible study group last night.  Boy, did I miss it.  I have become quite attached to my friends in my group.  I did not realize how much I depended on that fellowship till I had missed three weeks in a row due to weather and Christmas.  We are presenting our Lebenslauf (spiritual autobiography) now, so each one of us takes a turn to give our story.   Mine will be last so I have a few weeks to agonize over how I  will present it.  I have added a few pictures to mine to help tell my story.  While I was at Moms' over Christmas I went through some old pictures trying to find some that related to what I had written in my Lebenslauf.  I was able to find a few.  It was nice to go down memory lane for a while too.  My Mom had kept a letter I had written her from Acteen camp it was pretty funny.   Acteen camp was a Christian camp that was associated with our Church.  We went for a week in the summer each year.  Now, I was only there for a week and in my letter I had asked Mom to send more money.  HA HA!!  I had bought a t-shirt from the canteen and I guess I wanted another one.
I am glad I will be back on track with my group now.  We meet once a week for two hours.   Our meetings really do get my week off to a great start.