Friday, January 30, 2009

Facebook

So I got set up on Facebook last week and have been playing around with it. My first impression was meh. Big deal. But as I've been playing with it this week I am starting to understand what a cool tool it is.

When I first got on it I was dinking around pressing buttons and just seeing what was what. I hit the button to go find 'friends' from your email contacts. I hadn't really read what the button was so I was somewhat surprised when it went into my email and pulled all the contacts from there. It's kind of spooky with one application looking into another when your not prepared for it. But that got me set up with all my day to day contacts and bloggers. So now I have a new way to while away the long afternoon hours in the office when it's slow.

I've also been able to track down a few buds that I haven't been able to communicate with in years. It's great to find old friends. But I found one connection that so far is my best example of what this tool can do.

My beloved Lolli (also known as my personal tech support dept.) originally set up my profile on Facebook. I believe she got tired of my procrastination. Well I've known for a while that Lolli has a friend named Kate (Kate's my friend now too, Hi Katy!!) who was good friends with a gal named Julie. Julie just happened to be the granddaughter of a lady who took care of me growing up, Nanny. Nanny lived with her daughter and son-in-law in the house behind ours.

So through Facebook I found Kate & Julie and while looking at Julie's 'friends' I noticed she had a 'friend' who was also her uncle, Nanny's son-in-law. So I 'friended' him, sending a message saying hello and that I remembered he and his wife fondly. It took him a bit to remember/figure out who I was but when he did he sent me a message back saying hello, with a reference to his profile pic with his (then) baby daughter. The profile pic was taken in his old back yard. I looked at the picture closer and realized that behind him stood our old house and my bedroom window framed just above his head.

I have no idea how to end this 'story'(?) Anyway there you have it, Facebook took me back 40 years to my first bedroom window.

Small world indeed.

19 comments:

Ruth Hull Chatlien said...

Wow, that is a small world story. I've been avoiding Facebook, but I just got an invite today (from a third cousin once removed, no less). I haven't decided what to do yet.

KathyA said...

Technology has really made the world smaller! I like Facebook -- I can IM my brothers (one is MS and one in GA) and schmooze with people during the day. It's also been a good way to get to know our blogger friends, too. A lot of my students who are now adults are on FB and contact me. I enjoy that a lot.

Cheryl said...

Some people are really active with their facebook accounts. I go in spurts. You went from someone else setting yours up to finding a long lost friend on your own. Very cool.

Scarlet said...

How cool is that?? I'd love to have that kind of freaky fun with Facebook, but so far, I'm only reconnecting with old high school pals and keeping up with my friends, which I enjoy. I can't complain.

Jay said...

Facebook does take a little bit of time to figure out, but it is pretty cool.

Pretty wild about seeing your old house in the photo.

Summer said...

That is so cool.

C.C. said...

Brad! Glad to have found you! When I saw the sign-off symbol on your old blog, I panicked! I appreciate you commenting after my long absence. Regarding Facebook...it confuses me...sigh.

Smocha said...

I have facebook, but it didn't seem to me like it did anything. My son just "friended me" on there, I don't even remember my log-in info.

I'll have to go look at you. LOL

xoxxox

Leann said...

I have not made the time yet to go in and really play with Facebook, but I should. I so totally should.

Mon said...

I've left you a little gift on my blog!

Mama Llama said...

I tell you, Brad, Facebook has been just what I needed right when I needed it. For a few years now I have felt a strong pull to reconnect with my past, with all who have been so key in forming who and what I am now, with a genuine interest in all they are doing as well. That has all come to be in the past six months, while even coming together via FB to mourn the untimely death of one of our own. It is, indeed, an amazing tool when used right. You can get as deep with applications or as light by ignoring them as you wish...level of involvement is all up to you and I like that a lot.

Glad to see you there, my friend. Be well.

Jamie said...

I agree with Summer, that really is pretty cool. This big, giant world gets smaller by the day.

I haven't decided what to do about facebook, I have been invited by a couple of people but I have resisted. I am not sure why.

I hope your Sunday is a great one Brad. Hugs.

:)

zirelda said...

What a neat story. :)

I have a myspace that I never did anything with. I have never touched facebook.

Moohaa said...

I just love facebook cuz I can go on there, spend 2 minutes checking in on the status updates, wish happy birthday to those who need it and be gone. It's a quick way to stay in touch with everyone I care about. Glad you're there!

tt said...

this big ol world just gets smaller and smaller :)

gotta go 'poke' you now.
luv ya!

( um...sorry, that sounded rather ...um...well...sexual ......sorta...I mean....
never mind...:)

Jenny said...

one of these days I'll break down and finally join Facebook - I just figured out how to use Blogger.

Real Live Lesbian said...

How cool!!!!

Anonymous said...

I LOVE FACEBOOK:))

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