Being online pays off!

Let me start by saying that I think computers are the BEST THING EVER! I am always plugged in. I have a computer at work, a laptop at home, and Internet access on my blackberry. It is very rare for me to be out of touch. I keep two facebook accounts (work and personal) , two twitters for the same reason, many email addresss but over the years have had everything sent to gmail so I don't have to chase emails down. You get the picture...I'm a junkie!

Just when my partner or family members start to get fed up with my time spent online something GREAT will come of it...I'll reach new clients, win something fabulous or get a better deal because of a deal made online!
Thanks to the Internet I have

• won $50 on iwon.com
• won a FIVE night cruise to Mexico for answering a survey for a local magazine
• got a better price on a car because I contacted them online first
• got much faster service from Comcast because I mentioned them in my blog
• got countless free products and samples from companies just by asking online
• I became a published writer for associated content and the main blogger for our company website

There are many more personal things that the computer has done for me as well...I met Vic online. I have been able to keep in touch with friends and family on facebook that I had lost touch with many, many years ago. Those relationships are priceless to me.

Vic and I went to an art walk in May of 2009 in  Sarasota and while googling my name for this blog I found our picture at that art walk!~

How Times Have Changed

I posted a note on my facebook about how much times have changed since Soaps first aired on the radio back in the 30's & 40's. When Guiding Light went off the air I was crushed because I had followed that show since high school. I was happy when I saw that it was continuing on via Twitter. Then just this week I was watching All My Children and Erica Kain is getting ready to go on her honeymoon (don't ask me how many times she has been married, I just know it's in the double digits!) She mentions to her daughter Brianna that she can follow her on her blog while she is away.

So anyway...after posting this note about how far we've come I started getting comments about the generation today not knowing what it was like not to be so connected to everything.  This is so true.

A few years ago I went on a cruise and was forced to say goodbye to my computer and cell phone for a week. It was the most relaxing vacation I had been on in YEARS just because I had no contact with the outside world (no bill collectors, no problems from work, no heartbreaking news headlines, no spam).

I find it very hard  to go anywhere without my cell phone. I have no idea how we ever did it without them! On the rare times I've left the house with my cell phone sitting on my nightstand I about have a panic attack that today will be the day I have a flat tire or run out of gas.

And then there is facebook,twitter,myspace Etc. I think it is fantastic to be back in touch with so many friends from high school and my family and everyone else I am friends with on facebook. Would graduation not been as sad if I had known I'll still be in touch via facebook?

So some might say the kids today are really missing out on what we had but I'm happy that kids will be in touch more with their families and friends online. I would have loved to have followed my grandparents on facebook! I am thrilled when my dad posts new pictures of what he is doing since he moved to TN last year. It makes me feel closer and a part of his life.