Things We Don’t Want to See on Facebook

According to Facebook.com, there are currently over 500 million active facebook users and 50% of those people log onto the site every day. The average user has about 130 friends and people spend an average of 700 billion minutes on the site every month, according to the site’s press page. Wow. Those are some very big numbers. Although I was not one of the first people to join the ever so popular site, I ultimately joined when I learned that some of my old friends from Spain were members. I was excited to reconnect with them. Facebook allows people to really stay connected in the face of the fast paced, busy world we live in, where it is easy to lose touch with people. Unlike many, who seem somewhat addicted to it, I am not on the site every day; I check it out every few days. In many ways, it seems as though it has taken over some people’s lives. And, despite all the hype about being careful on the Internet these days, it appears that many people feel safe enough to expose the intimate details of their daily lives. There are certain pieces of information that just don’t need to be made public. I have compiled a list of some of the common items and things people do not need to share with the rest of the world. See if you agree and if there are any you can add!

• Depression: Life is hard enough for everyone. I’m sorry you are not thrilled with life right now, but please don’t bring me down with you!

• How wonderful your significant other or children are: While I think it’s ok to mention something kind about these important people in your life, once in awhile, I don’t need to read it every time I pull up my facebook page. I mean really, are all of these people that perfect?

• Couple fights: People are at their worst when they are fighting. Why do you have to give 500 people (literally) tickets for a front row seat at your verbal boxing match? What happens between you and your significant other should stay between you and them.

• Farmville, Mafia Wars and Pokes: What is that? Do people really have that much time on their hands that they have nothing better to do than annoy friends by filling up their inboxes with these weird games? And why is it so hard to just send a message that says hello to the person rather than sending them an absurd message that tells them they’ve been poked?

• Tagging people in a horrible picture: Why would you post a bad picture of someone and let the whole world see it? Well, I guess it can be funny to onlookers, but it’s embarrassing when you see people making fools of themselves in pictures. Posting it for the whole world to see is just mean.  

• Status updates that provide information on where you are every moment of the day: You are probably not a celebrity and we are not the paparazzi, so why do we care where you are?

• Annoying people from the past friend you: While it’s nice to reconnect with people, there are others you no longer know because it’s better that way. So why would you want to be their friend on facebook? Some things are better left in the past.

• People leaving obscene status updates for you: Don’t leave your computer screen logged onto facebook so co-workers or significant others can post some embarrassing updates about you. I don’t mind reading them because they are usually funny, but you might not think it’s so hilarious.

Vocabulary

Currently (adverb) – at the present time

Popular (adjective) – regarded with favor, approval or affection

Reconnect (verb) – to become connected, joined or united

Addicted (verb) – to cause to become physiologically or psychologically dependent on

Hype (noun) exaggerated publicity; hoopla

Intimate (adjective) – associated in close personal relations

Absurd (adjective) – utterly or obviously senseless, illogical or untrue; contrary to all reasonor common sense

Hilarious (adjective) – arousing great merriment; extremely funny

Fill in the Blank

1. We are ______in the month of May.
2. Justin Beber is ________ among young girls.
3. She went to the reunion to _______with old friends.
4. He is _______ to his new video game.
5. The movie did not live up to all of the _______.
6. We did not need to know all of the _______details of the couple’s argument.
7. The assignment for the class was completely _________ and pointless.
8. The show made us laugh all night because it was __________.

Grammar Point

I have used a variety of sentence types in this blog. Write a paragraph about an activity that you like using at least two simple sentences, two compound sentences, two complex sentences and one compound complex sentence?

Happy Mother's Day!

This Sunday is Mother’s Day. I remember making cards and little presents for my mother every year when I was little. I was so excited to give them to her, and she always loved whatever I gave her. Now, as a mother of three young boys, I appreciate my mother in a whole new way, and I love the gifts my children shower me with, especially the ones they make. My mother has been an inspiration, a mentor, a friend, and someone who is always there to offer words of advice and encouragement. I can only aspire to be as great of a mother as she has been to me.  

In my house, Mother’s Day and birthdays are an event. My kids love these days, and I treasure their excitement. This past week, my seven year old had a timeline project for school. He had to mark the special events in his life that have happened each year from the first year he was born, through the present. Looking through all of the old photos served as a reality that my children are growing up fast. I remember the first time I held each of them in my arms and now, I am in awe of the things they do and the things they say. Raising them, working part time and going to school is a recipe for chaos. Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate all of their energy and youthfulness because it is so crazy. And I know, that one day I will look back and miss the little things, like the hugs and kisses they will one day be too cool to spoil me with, the way they pretend they are super heroes, the way they try to surprise us by making breakfast and even the occasions where my children were acting out in public and I was “that mother.” Each one of them adds something very unique to my life, and so on this Mother’s Day, I simply want to enjoy them, treasure them, and love them. I am truly blessed! Happy Mother’s Day to all you!

Vocabulary

Excited (adjective) - stirred emotionally

Appreciate (verb) - to be grateful or thankful for

Mentor (noun) - a wise trusted counselro or teacher

Encouragement (noun) - praise, support, boost, lift, endorsement

Aspire (verb) - to long, aim or seek ambitiously; be eagerly desirous, especially for something of great or high value

Awe (verb) - an overwhelming feeiling of reverence, admiration, fear, etc.  produced by that which is grand, sublime

Chaos (noun) - a state of utter confusion or disorder

Fill in the Blank

1.      They are _____for the party tonight.

2.      I _______my children.

3.      My mother is my ________.

4.      My husband gives me a great deal of ___________.

5.      He _______ to be a lawyer.

6.      We were in ________ of her amazing voice.

7.      After the game, there was complete _______ in the parking lot.

Grammar Point

I have used the past and the future tense in this story.  Can you write a story about something you will do in the future. Be sure to use as many adjectives as possible.

Justice

I have a story that seems to follow me everywhere I go. I wasn’t planning to blog about it, but then the circumstances changed this week. In a previous blog, I mentioned that my husband and I will be married ten years on September 8, of this year. It was such a beautiful wedding. On the night of the tenth, we flew into Aruba to start our honeymoon. It was dark when we landed, but when we woke up the next morning, we were so excited to see such a beautiful white sandy beach right out our door. In that moment, it really was “the happiest place on earth,” as the saying goes, and we were anxious to start our day. As we started to get ready, we turned on the television and saw what I initially thought was the movie, “Armageddon,” but quickly learned it was the scary reality of the twin towers collapsing. We were instantly overcome with terror. Both of our fathers, my brother-in-law, my aunts and uncles and almost our entire bridal party worked in Manhattan. As we struggled to snap out of shock, all we could see was people running for their lives. Sadly, we found out later that my father-in-law, Jim Corrigan, was killed on that day and we were suddenly stuck in the “happiest place on earth,” for five full days, since all of the American airports were closed. Our wedding was the last time we saw him.

My father-in-law was a retired Captain of the New York City Fire Department, and worked as the head of fire and life services for the twin towers. He died a hero that day, rescuing an entire day care center before he died. We now have three children, who never got to know their grandfather personally and every milestone in their lives, and every anniversary we celebrate is tainted bitter sweet as a result of 9/11. This week, when I heard the news that Osama Bin Laden was dead, I was happy. Justice has finally been served, but that won’t bring him back. There is still a gaping hole in our hearts and a feeling that he should be here with us and his grandchildren. I have to say, the unity among Americans in recent weeks is reminiscent of the weeks that followed 9/11, and it is inspiring. In some ways, it eases the sadness. I can only hope and pray that Jim is resting a little more peacefully now that his murderer has a hot seat in hell right next to the devil.

Vocabulary 

Previous (adjective) - coming or occurring before something else; prior

Mention (verb) - to refer briefly to; name, specify, or speak of

Honeymoon (noun) - a vacation or trip taken by a newly married couple

Anxious (adjective) - earnestly desirous; eager

Collapsing (verb) - to fall or cave in; crumble suddenly

Reminiscent (adjective) - awakening memories of something similar

Overcome (verb) - to overpower or overwhelm in body or mind

Fill in the Blank

1. We needed to fix up the house because the  ___________owner had not done any work in years.

2. She did not _________ the time of the show.

3. The new couple went to Hawaii for their _________.

4. After all the stress of planning a wedding, they were ________ to go on vacation.

5. The buildings were ________ because they were old and not well kept.

6. She was _______with sadness at the death of her friend.

7. The wedding was _______of the 1940s.

Grammar Point

This blog is written in the past tense. Many verbs in the past tense end in –ed, however their endings may sound different. Words that end in –ed can have an ending sound of “d,” “ t,” or “id.” Write down these past tense ending sounds in three sections at the top of your paper. Find all of the words that end in –ed from this blog and write them in the column that matches their ending sound.