January thoughts

Into the second half January already. It's been very cold here in North Carolina, probably our coldest winter so far.

January is not my least favorite month, but it comes a close second to February. I have recovered from a stinking cold and like most men made the most of it. Usually when I have the signs of a cold, Gail proclaims that it might be best for her to emigrate. "You've done that twice already," I tell her, so it counts as an idle threat.

Our street was always passable, but with extreme caution

It's hard to imagine that we have lived here for five years. Sometimes it seems just like yesterday when we finding our way round. There is so much of this wonderful state I still want to see. I really must make time to put my thoughts and words into action.

A second cousin of mine recently contacted me regarding our family tree. I hadn't been in contact with her for far too long and we finally got round to having a chat by phone. She was keen for me to see photographs she has stored on Facebook. Hmmm! A dilemma here - I recently made my views of "social networking" well know. Shall I rejoin or not?

Call me a hypocrite (I'm sure you will) but, after a considerable amount of thought, I have done just that. I'm still determined not to be involved with the banal gossip and to strictly limit my time on FB. I'm also determined to spend more time actually having real conversations.

With just ten days of January left, I look forward not in the least to February. There are only three good things to say about this month: (1) my mother and my eldest granddaughter were born in it; (2) we can see the signs of spring giving us hope; and (3) it's the shortest!

Social networking

I wish to offend no one. If this post does that I apologize in advance. You have been warned.

What is the point of "social networking"? Last evening a friend and I were enjoying real social networking - that is talking to each over the phone. Not texting, twittering or facebooking, but actually talking and enjoying our real conversation.

To be fair, I know millions enjoy making their innermost thoughts known to the world and his/her dog, and good for them. I have tried it, thinking it would be a tool for keeping in touch with family and friends worldwide. When I first announced that I was to deactivate my account because of the time spent reading how others (not all) were using theirs, several said how sorry they were to lose me. Lose me? Hello? I'm not a complete dinosaur. I use e-mail, can actually still write with a pen, punch numbers on a phone and I have to assume, they can too?

If, because I deactivate one of these accounts, I am losing "friends", I feel there is something sadly wrong with the human race.

Am I being hypocritical? Of course. After all I do post to this, and enjoy reading a few of the many accessible blogs, so I have related personal views on others.

You do your social networking in your laptop, iPad or iPhone and I'll do mine by sharing a meal with friends, having them come over, enjoying an event with them and if distance makes that impossible, by calling them, wherever they are located, and actually talking with them. Of course that works two ways and I would love to share a hug and a meal with those of my family who live thousands of miles away.

Okay, I'm now donning the flak-jacket!