Twitter Is Not Good For Me :{

Whenever someone asks me if they should get on Twitter, I always say, "don't". Like Facebook used to be, Twitter is a massive timesuck in which you have "convos" with dozens of imaginary friends. It used to be that I did roughly ten minutes in the morning, ten minutes at night, maybe a little bit during the day. But now I'm hanging around like it's the parking lot behind the grocery store where they have some old benches and a picnic table. Me and my Twitter peeps.

With the "notifications" feature, it has become a major addiction. I already tweet a lot, so to see "notifications" -- ah, the satisfaction of being favorited! Retweeted! A random stranger tweeting "LOL"! 

How else would I promote my novel?  And my fabulous self?

I'm Miss Addictive Personality. After almost 16 years of being sober, having to eat less and drink less coffee, it's like all of my vices are being taken away. But--TWITTER!

This would be easier if I didn't have a desktop PC. So when I'm tweeting I'm confined to my desk; not making dinner, or riding the subway, or lazing on my couch watching TV. On recent occasions I have spent several hours on Twitter. Afterwards my eyes hurt and my brain has that weird fried/empty feeling too much internet gives me.

It's so much fun to post pics like this - HOW CAN I STOP??

I have met some great people on Twitter.  Thoughtful interesting people with whom I can enjoy phone calls and even real life meetings.  How do I stay in touch without being on Twitter, and searching their timelines for fun stuff?  I only interact with people I consider smart, funny, and original.

BUT Tuesday night, after Supernatural's enjoyable episode "About A Boy," I spent two hours on Twitter progressively wrecking my pleasure in the episode. The show has a lot of problems, I know that. But focusing exclusively on the same old same old subjects, getting angry, frustrated where I didn't START that way...the next morning I felt kind of crappy.

I don't know if I can curb my addiction. Any time I have to do something, I click Twitter. There I can make jokes, silly observations, and respond to tweets. I crack up over other people's comments.  Most of you are on Twitter, you know how it is.

It was even hard to write this without clicking on Twitter. Maybe I should deactivate my account--but, but I have 2200 followers!

They like me! They really like me!

I feel pathetic right now.

Gratitude List

I haven't written a personal entry in ages, and I've been thinking about gratitude. I suggested to a friend that she make a list of things she's grateful for.  In AA I learned to do that, and after all of the drama of the past few weeks, it's time to make my own gratitude list.

1) Jeff.  I love him and couldn't be married to anyone else, trust me. We make each other laugh, enjoy each others company, and other private stuff. He leaves cut-up fruit on the kitchen counter before he leaves for work, such as oranges and strawberries. Most important: he puts a cup of coffee on my bed side table every morning. Priorities, people!

2) Fletcher. My crazy little dog gives me all the goodies that dogs give (and no, I don't mean poop). He's hilarious and loves to snuggle. He makes me laugh when I'm down. He likes naps.

3) Cleo and Rupert, my cats.  Cleo demands petting when I wake up at night. She's right there because she sleeps on Jeff's head. Rupert likes to lie next to me when I watch TV. They both like to knock things over, and I live in fear that Cleo will puke into the cable box.  Not so grateful for that.

4) My health. Tremendously grateful for that. Yes, I' m disabled, and mentally ill, but them's the cards I've been dealt. From the neck down, my health is excellent.

5) Our beautiful apartment. Yes, we rent and don't own. But it's large, sunny and comfortable. And it has five huge closets!

6) Being intelligent. It feels like bragging, and it's a mixed bag, but I'm glad I am. It helps me to feel better about what an emotional and social spaz I can be.

7) Confidence in my ability as a writer.

8) The play collection, a validation of my years as a playwright.  The amazing reaction to "The Abortionist's Daughter" from readers.  How much people enjoy my writing, comments, notes, reviews on Amazon.

9) 20/20 vision in my 50s. Boo-yah!

10) Twitter...I am such an addict. I've gotten to interact with House writer Doris Egan, one of my idols, who gave her blessing to The House Dialogues . Also fun silly conversations with friends, Supernatural writers, and many others. An alter-ego is a very good thing.

11) My friends, on and off line.  Some you know how special you are to me.

12) My family, including the DeCarlos I have yet to meet!

Okay, that's enough!