Why Social Media Matters

Within the last six months I've developed an affinity for online social media and networking. I know that it honestly drives some of my colleagues nuts. Good thing I have a slew of friends on Twitter that share in my passion and my desire to spread the works of my new love.

Mostly people want to know what they'll get from using sites like Twitter or Facebook. I think many people have come to realize that MySpace tends to be a fun place and with LinkedIn is easy to see the business connections and networking. But Twitter? Facebook? And seriously, why would anyone over the age of 15 want to join any of these or even Second Life for that matter?

And a few weeks ago everything changed. Twitter suddenly mattered. Twitter mattered to Susan Reynolds and the host of friends that follower her Twitter posts and blog and artwork. Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer.

In addition to being an avid Twitter poster and artist, Susan dabbles in other fun things like Second Life and various other social media. Susan is not 15. Susan is way past 15 and I'm sure she doesn't mind me saying so.

Susan has become our friend, our sister, our confidant, our playmate.

And Twitter rallied.

Many people who call Twitter one of their social networking sites of choice decided to make a stand against cancer by creating a site and a movement based on one of Susan's postings about frozen peas. Frozen Pea Friday began last Friday on the Frozen Pea Fund site and all money raised each Friday goes to the American Cancer Society's initiative Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

I had already had the opportunity to participate in November in the Austin Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and personally raised over $200 in donations, one donation actually came from a Twitter friend of mine. Around the same time I followed others on Twitter also participating in Race for the Cures around the U.S. So, the thought that the good people of Twitter would create such an effort for one of our own really didn't surprise me.

But what it should prove is the power of online social networking.

Any more questions?

Goal accomplished

One of my goals, okay one of my goals last year, was to complete a 5k event and today marked that day. Today was the Susan G. Komen Austin Race for the Cure. And wouldn't you know it, it was also the day that we set our clocks back for Daylight Saving Time. Silly people.

I use my Treo 650 for everything including my alarm clock and I was concerned that although it would change time on its own, what if it didn't change it correctly and I woke up late and missed meeting up with my team mates for the event. Not wanting to take chances I asked Charles, who is off work today, to set his alarm for the normal 5:30 am. No questions asked, he did it. Good man.

I slept okay, but started waking up on my own around 5:00 am probably simply because of the adrenaline. Once awake I dressed quickly and surprisingly for me, I'm not one who is often early or on time, I made it to our groups rendezvous location 20 minutes early. Woohoo!

Shannon was there already waiting with her horse of a dog Otis, then came Kellie, Dan, Lisa, Leon, Isabel, Heather, Kate, Jeff and Mike. We kept looking for Sueann and Michael and Ahmed to join us, but they never did. We ventured from our meeting spot to the start line.

My goodness there were a lot of folks and lots of pink. I overheard estimates of about 25,000 people. That's a lot of bodies. After a couple of crowd waves and watching the first folks from the timed race whiz by, we were off. I was off on my first 5k ever. Oh, lordy, perhaps I should have started an exercise program . . .

Lisa was kind enough to lag behind with me as the last of our pack. I had no idea how hilly downtown Austin was, nor did I realized how many things I've missed visiting, shopping or dining at in our beautiful capital city. Hmm. Note to self: Get out more.

Afterwards, Kellie, Dan, Mike and I went to brunch nearby at Threadgills. Walking back to the car was especially painful. After I got home and woke from my nap and explained my heel pain on Twitter, joec0914, suggested that it might be Plantar fasciitis and I think he might be right. So, I've taken some naproxene sodium (Aleve) and been icing my heel. Fun. Fun.

Overall it was an exhilarating experience and one I would take part in again.

Oh, and can't forget to mention these two cool gals we met at the finish line. Boy, they understand exactly what this is all about - the boobs!

One for the Cause

Realized this morning that I forgot to post yesterday and just two days ago I signed up for NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). Wow. What a loser!

Nah, really not being that hard on myself, because I actually totally unplugged when I left the office at the end of the day yesterday and didn't open the computer again until around 5 this afternoon. That was about 24 hours offline which hasn't happened in some time.

Most days I suspect I'm online at least a minimum of 12 hours. It's crazy ridiculous. I've truly begun to understand that the fact of the matter is I've become a techno geek. I'm loving this blogging thing. I'm a Twitter addict and as of yesterday I've fallen in love with Co-Working.

Co-Working?

Glad you asked. It started in New York and now has locations throughout the world. Austin held it's first Co-Working event yesterday. It's called Jelly Austin. I met some great people there and I suspect several of them will become friends. We're having our next event on November 15 and if you're in Austin and you typically work from home or freelance or consult come Co-Work with us!

In my offline time today, Charles, who happened to have the day off, thought it would be fun to take me to a few garage sales. We must have stopped at close to a dozen houses and you know, I still have the same thought about garage sales, a lot of work goes into them, okay some more than others. But I never really see any transactions being made. Just a lot of junk. We ended our morning driving at IHOP and spurgled on yummy pancakes then came home and took a long nap.

Tomorrow I'm going off line again for a bit to particpate in my first ever Komen event - the Komen Austin Race for the Cure. I'll be walking my 5k, thank you very much, along with thousands of other participants bright and early.

It's been a great weekend so far and I'm really looking forward to the camaraderie I'm sure I'll enjoy tomorrow and meeting some more new friends - offline.