Day 282 ~ Social Networking Has Its Good Side

After the last few days I have had, today was for recuperation, realization, relaxation and rejuvenation!  For some reason I found that funny!  Oh how do I come up with these things!  

If you saw my day, you'd probably laugh too.  

Actually, it wasn't bad.  As I mentioned last night... I have received quite a few comments in the past few days.  Having said that... I am surrounded not only by some amazing role models, but some amazing friends.  Most of which I have met online.

My darling mother in law, or mom as I affectionately call her... made a derogatory remark to someone we were talking to regarding facebook, blogging and social networks in general.  I was in shock to say the least, yet we were not in a position to talk about it.  Boy, if she only knew how many social networks I belong too, she would probably shake her head at me.  :)   

[as a side note, growing up when my father went through wives numbers two, three and four, I was NEVER able to call any of them mom.  I tried once and felt uncomfortable, rather forced...I have never felt so comfortable calling anyone mom.]

In all my years in the computer industry, decades really, on more than one occasion I have come across people who do not like computers, change or modern technology in general.  Some people just do not like change and do not trust the internet, not to mention that they also think that computers are smarter than people.  Well maybe in some cases!  haha  Actually, they are not!  People made computers and can control them.

Anyways... I have shared with my mom how I feel about blogging and what it has done for me.  Not to mention all the friends I have rekindled relationships with, as well as my family in other continents that I am able to communicate like never in my life!  Then there are the new friends I have made.

Don't get me wrong.. if anyone understands internet safety, it's me.  It hasn't been until recently that I have really put myself out there and it is to promote my blogs.  

The point I want to make is that I have met some quality people online.  I have met great new friends and have developed bonds with them. Granted you just don't start chatting with just anyone... it just sort of happens as time goes by.

My friend I spoke to you about last night... I met her on Farm Town a game app on facebook, a couple of years ago.  Granted we have chatted off and on during this time, however it really wasn't until yesterday that we became even closer.  Bare in mind that our relationship has developed over time... and I wouldn't trade this experience for the world.

The younger generation hasn't benefited from facebook like myself (just had my 30th high school reunion last summer), or someone that been out of school or out of touch for some time.  For example my younger sister in law and two brother in laws, two of their ten year reunions are coming up and facebook has been open to the public for at least six of those years... therefore they didn't even get a chance to miss their friends.

Don't get me wrong... history shows that facebook is notorious for changing security settings without letting their users know... I have made it a habit to check my settings every other week or so.  And there are WACKOS out there... I try to take precautions, especially with my blogs.

So to my online family and friends on facebook and voiceBoks... thank you for your inspiring, motivating and encouraging words.  I take all your comments to heart and heavy thought.  I can't tell you how much your words continue to hug and help me.  My Dream Team continues to grow and get stronger!  

Not that I did not appreciate all my comments equally, because I did... but these really stuck in my mind and have been following me around for the past few days...

I used to have a poster in my counseling office (for me and the kids) that said "what would you do if you knew you would not fail?" Maybe your birthday present to yourself could be answering that very question. on Day 279 ~ Something's Gotta Give   Left by Perspective Parenting

Hang in there Carla! I guess this is just one of those 'emo moments'... Don't worry, you'll get your groove back. I know you will! :) on Day 280 ~ No Sugar Coating Here!   Left by Czjai Reyes-Ocampo

Hang in there xoxox One thing that we can be sure of is change - nothing stays the same. Things might be rough now but there is some sun shine waiting for you around the corner. Continue to be a good role model to your kids and a wonderful friend to others, but remember to take time for yourself to recharge xoxo Leigh @oneandoneequalstwinfun.com on Day 281 ~ Doing Our Share

As simple as these words may come across to some of you, to me... they have me looking at the light of the end of the tunnel.  By the way, these ladies are great bloggers... if you have a chance take a moment, click on the links and visit their amazing blogs!  When I read the quote "what would you do if you knew you would not fail?" three days ago... well let's just say I have been nusy thinking!

What would you do if you knew you would not fail?   ~ Robert H. Schuller  

Dedicated to all my friends, My Dream Team.  Thank  you for all your heartfelt words.

Blessings to all!!

83 days to go...

PS... for a, l & c.  You are my sunshine(s).  

Some images courtesy of google and bing images.  U.S Copyright laws may apply.  ©

Day 234 ~ tweet, approve, like, follow, hop..a sequel

When people walk away from you, let them go.  Your destiny is never tied to anyone who leaves you, and it doesn't mean they are bad people.  It just means that their part in your story is over.  ~ T.D. Jakes

While doing my social network roll call this morning, which now has officially become my normal morning routine, I was perusing all the insightful and more times than not, hysterical comments my friends make... and I came across the above quote. 

After reading the quote above... well let's just say it left me dumbfounded.  Actually the quote kept replaying over and over in my head, my entire day.  It left me wondering, actually pondering about all the people who have left me.

I thought about how those people once were such a part of my life.. how they touched my life... then how they left... or in some cases, I would not say that they actually left.. maybe more like our paths forked off in different directions.   you know... We grow up.  Some of us venture off to college, while others decided to travel, and some of us married young and moved... etc...  We grew up.

Then there are the other people, or rather friends, that enter our lives when we are adults.  Some of us get a job transfer and move, others marry and move, and some divorce and move.  Whatever the case... Once again our paths veer off in different directions.

My first friend... my sissy Aleah!  ;)
 I blame her for all of this!  lol!

Which brings me back to my new found addiction... social networking (SN).  A shared addiction amongst most of us bloggers, and anyone else who depends on the internet to get their message out.  

Facebook started it all for me, as I am sure for most of you as well.  It was my sister in law, Aleah, (who is 19 years my junior ~ in other words, much "hip-per" than me,) who first told me about Facebook... I registered my email with Facebook back on December 6, 2007.  [Fourteen months earlier Facebook had just opened to everyone with an email address on September 26, 2006]  


Holy cow!  It just dawned on me that it's been FOUR years since the day I clicked "I accept" to fb!  lmao! 

If I really think about this... four years ago my life was changed for the better, unbeknownst to me at the time... it changed and a new world opened up to me.  When I first signed on and for about another year after that more or less, there weren't many people on.~  I had about 33 friends up until February of 2009... then all of a sudden it was like Facebook went through and explosion!  The word really spread!  Within a months time I added over 130 friends.  Today, I have well over three hundred. 

Why am I telling you all this?  Well my darlin's.. the point I am trying to make...some of those people who left my life [for whatever reason] back then, are now back in my life again ... continuing with a new chapter in my story! 

Somehow the part of my story I share with you in tonight's post, is now part of the legacy I leave to my children [in this blog]... which tells the story of how their mother became addicted to her other world on the internet.  wink, wink.

All of this (as I wave my hand at my laptop's screen- which by the way has like ten windows open for each one of my vices, bwahahaha! lol!) is not just about FACEBOOK... 

It's about reaching being able to reach out and Skype (oh yeah , got one of those too!) to see how my sons are doing in Washington, when I am in Texas... or chatting with a friend I haven't seen since junior high (yes! back in my day it was Jr. High... Not this "middle school" sissy stuff!  LOL!!  another attempt at humor folks!)... or ... how about this one... exchanging knowledge with a new friend in Canada, or Asia, even across the pond in England or down under in Australia.  


If there was censorship, I would not be able to laugh and share  freely with a SN friend about our mutual  SN addiction.  If it takes me a solid two hours to respond to all my SN friends, and read posts, write posts, comment on posts, suggest posts, tweet, approve, forward, send, like, follow, hop... HOLY COW!  dizzy again!  I can only imagine how long it takes a seasoned blogger!  wink, wink.

Sure wish the internet would have been around back when my grandmother was alive... would have been great to communicate with her in Buenos Aires.  Back then it was strictly first class snail mail.. and you had better not take the chance of sending pictures or anything of value- (you took a big chance of the mail being intercepted.)  My family and I would give mail and small, small items to an airline pilot friend of the family.  Once in Argentina, our pilot friend would then forward the items to my grandmother and the rest of the family

So... I write another night, giving thanks to those who take part and contribute in providing us with the wonderful World Wide Web!  The freedom we have to be able to share whatever it is that our mind can imagine...  what a wonderful freedom!

[I am now standing, as I bend at my waist I wave both my arms up and down...] 

I am not worthy... I am not worthy!   (Yes I am worthy... you know what I mean)

wink, wink

One can never talk too much about censorship, or rather the stupids laws our US government are trying to pass.

Let's continue to be aware, stand up for our freedom of speech and tell the government...

Write congress now... it's as simple as clicking here.   

Blessings to all!!

131 days to go...

PS... Sons, I love and miss you.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshine(s).

Images courtesy of Facebook and my profile, Carla Barila Karam.  Copyright laws apply.

Day 233 ~ My Other World

Talk about procrastination... I all but had to pull my teeth out to sit down and write my post tonight.  I think that all these thoughts going no where in my head aren't helping my situation right now either. 

Quite frankly, now that I think about it, I am surprised that I have not complained all week.  lol  Thing is, I have been sick all week... nasty cold, cough etc..  But I've stuck it out... and even if I'm dragging my butt right now, I am getting 'er done!  wink, wink.

It's been an interesting week at that.  Between being sick, missing my exercise classes (sad face,) Calley missing her gymnastics... I've learned a lot about social networking.

Ai ya yai  Having come across and taken the plunge, I have "discovered" new worlds within Klout, stumble upon, pintrest, triberr, and my absolute favorite voiceBoks, and then there's facebook, twitter, google+, bloggers, as well as other blogging social networks I have become affiliated with like social media girlfriend, bloggy moms, SITS girls, and blogher social networks to mention a few... Lord knows what others I have missed at this point ... MY HEAD IS SPINNING!!!  and I didn't even mention checking my emails and posting on my blog. 

By the way, please feel free to click on any of the links on the aforementioned networks if you would like to add me as a friend and or follow me.s!

Holy cannoli!  It's almost a full time job just to get my blogs exposed to the world, so they can be read!  Help me Jesus!  lol!!

No, but seriously... what is going on!  and the crazy thing is that I have an account with each and everyone one of them!  Holy crap! 

The crazier thing is that I am loving it!  I have met some quality people.  Honest to goodness, good people.  People with intelligence, talent and something to teach, something to say.  Passing off advice, sharing stories, teaching and helping others.  Not to mention the peer to peer support!  Some great people have my back out there!  

How amazing!

I could never imagine my world without it!  

What started out being a simple post tonight, has ended up pointing out the amazing other world we have accessible at our fingertips.  The fact that I have friends all over the world... [and quite honestly, I can't say that I would have them without the internet]... Is just amazing to me!!  

I am opposed to any censorship of any kind.

                             




stop censorship 

Blessings to all!!

132 days to go...

PS... Sons, I love and miss you.  To the moon and stars above and back.  You are my sunshine(s).

Images courtesy of Bing images.