The Zimmer Zoo

So, I joined one of those – what I think of as – teeny boppers sites. More than a few friends had asked if I was there, and after saying “nope.” a few too many times, I decided to take the plunge. Yikes.

I’d like to think I’m technically inclined. (I *do* document highly technical software for a living.) But I should have waited until I had a pretty big block of time available to me because things started flying my way as soon as I signed up. Wow.

On the one hand, it’s pretty cool that you can find all of your class mates from high school and college. On the other hand – that means THEY can find you too. Not necessarily a bad thing, but I have thought to myself with more than one invitation to be a friend, “I didn’t talk much with her before…but, uh, Okay.” It’s pretty cool to be back in touch with people I haven’t talked with in about 15 years though. And I figured out it’s pretty much the only way to get my 17 year old sister to reply to me. And I’m now in touch with one of my brother’s “famous” friends. (Our neighbor growing up – who is Jim’s age – now works for Pixar. How cool is that??) But then I start thinking too much. Like “what if that person *I* remember from way back when doesn’t remember me?” Or if I happen to see an ex-boyfriend on there, do I contact him?? Would he think I want more than I do? (uh, hello – happily married here, thanks.) Or, geeez – am I then considered a stalker?? Too. Much. Pressure. 😛

One of the time-suckers of the site is that you can play games. The two that I like (word games, of course), you can play in “ladder mode” – see how you stack against all of your friends who play in the same mode, or you can play against specific friends – extend a challenge and take turns until the specified number of rounds has been played by both parties. I tend to play these when I should be doing laundry. Or one of my second jobs.

The strangest part is that you can send virtual “gifts” to your friends. Like flowers, star wars action figures, 80s games, salads, “flair” (buttons…like they make Friday’s employees wear – or Jennifer Aniston in Office Space), and monkeys doing karate (I’m not even kidding). The most interesting (terrifying??) thing that’s happened is that a friend now “owns” me. Apparently, you can purchase your friends and then auction them off. Uhm. Okay.

For now, I’m dabbling over there…but (I can’t believe I’m saying this after only 2 months), I’m much more comfortable with my blog!

Filed under: deep thoughts, me | Tagged: facebook, myspace, teeny bopper sites, time-sucker | 3 Comments »