Changes

So I did a thing yesterday.  A BIG thing.  I deactivated my Facebook account. 

Those of you who are "friends" with me on Facebook know what a huge deal this was for me.  I have spent the past eleven years of my life sharing (and oversharing!) photos, witty status updates, hopes and dreams.  I've shared family gatherings, my homes, my Larry, our Tabbie Hoffman and our Banjo.  I shared lost jobs, going back to college, my three-year struggle to land my job at the base, trips I've taken, devastating losses of beloved family and friends and of course, happy, happy times like the night I brought my husband home FINALLY and the day my niece made me a great-aunt (although I think I've always been a great aunt).  My LIFE. 

Recently, though, I've thought a lot about leaving.  I really should have a year ago.  Or even before, after our last election, when I had to "unfriend" 300+ people for sheer ignorance and intolerance.  Trumpsters, as I call 'em.  Facebook became a place that I could vent my frustration over this person we have in the White House, a person so vile and repulsive that I will never, ever put President in front of his name, neither in print nor on my tongue.  I still don't understand how anyone (especially women) can continue to support this man.  I don't suppose I'll ever understand.  I've supported people in the past (politically and personally) but I didn't KEEP supporting them when they proved to be something I couldn't abide.  Maybe that's the worst part.  Some people CAN abide him.  That's sad.  And scary.

So when the truth came out about the Russians and the election and how they used Facebook to carry out part of their attack, I was mad.  Furious.  I remember just before the election all of the horrible things I saw on my news feed, stories that I KNEW were not true, I just didn't know where they were coming from.  I had so many "friends" posting that crap that I unfollowed people for the very first time, just so I wouldn't have to see it.  Can't they SEE that this is nonsense??  Don't they check things first before they share it??  No, they didn't.  They still don't.

Recently, more Russian involvement surfaced and we found out that a company called Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm hired by the Trump campaign, acquired private data from millions (87 million, give or take) of Facebook users and used it to manipulate voters and help Trump win the election.  Well, that I just can't support.  Even though (as far as I know, I never got notification) my data wasn't used, I feel that Facebook deliberately jeopardized our privacy for profit and the only reason CEO Mark Zuckerberg is "sorry" is because he got caught. Little punk. 

So I'm gone.  Don't know if I'll be back.  I might, some day.  I might not.  I just walked away from Myspace one day a long time ago and I can do it with Facebook, too.  I downloaded all of my data (948 MB!) so I have all of my pictures and funny statuses and things I've shared.  Eleven years of it. 

You can follow me on Twitter (just know that I am heavily into The Resistance on Twitter and if you're still a Trumpster, you won't like it) or Instagram if you like or you can check out my blog from time to time.  I'm sure there will be lots of fun and vintage goodies to come!

Loggin' out for Lent

That's right.  I am giving up Facebook for Lent.  From next Wednesday, February 13th (which happens to be my and Larry's 14th wedding anniversary.  Woo hoo, go us!!) until Easter, March 31st.  

I was raised a Southern Baptist.  We don't do Lent.  We don't do anything that would require us to give up something.  We go jukin' on Saturday night but still make it to church on Sunday morning and we believe that one reason Jesus came was so that we could eat pork.  And I'm pretty sure some of us feel that we can get into heaven as long as we bring a covered dish and a gallon of sweet tea.

A few years ago, I started really paying attention to the Lent thing.  And not the stuff I clean out of my dryer filter after every load either.  Last year, I gave up fast food, which was becoming waaaaay too easy for me with my school and work schedule.  That worked out great.  

I've been going to a Methodist church since October and I really, really like it.  I've struggled with some things over the past several months and I feel more at peace now than I have in a long, long time.  So this year when I started thinking about what I can give up for Lent, I immediately thought of Facebook.  While it's fun to read what's going on with everybody, some of the things that people post should really be kept private.  And besides, Facebook is such a time sucker.  Time that could be spent doing more productive things. 

Lent is supposed to be a period of self-denial, prayer and repentance, a time to prepare us for the cross, Jesus' ultimate sacrifice for us and His glorious resurrection (which always gives me goosebumps when I think about it!).

So I'm logging off Facebook on February 13th and I'll be gone until Easter.  I'm still planning to blog and my blog posts automatically show up on Facebook so you'll see those.  But there won't be any status updates, 80-point words played on Words With Friends and there definitely won't be any political rants!

Refreshing, huh?  I'm really looking forward to it.