Good stuff.

FYI I was trying to make myself look like this guy. But my webcam doesn't have a timer so I could never get my eyes big and creepy  enough in time. 

Darn, because I was a dead ringer (you can't see in the picture but I'm wearing Nike shoes and a mock turtleneck.)

 I also put flour on my lips to make them look dry and ashy like his.

I should've hung up a sheet behind me.

I love me the Internets.

It's how I stay connected to home. It's how I take stupid pictures of myself. It's how I contact teachers/neighbors/church peeps/etc. It's how I figure out how to do/make/find almost everything. I have thousands of pictures and documents saved online. I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, JDate, Instagram. I have 3 blogs (2 of which I update regularly.)  I think most things are better/easier and more useful in digital format. But I'm sad my kids will be missing out on a couple of the tangible things I grew up with, most noteworthy:

 Newspapers! Now, I get that I'm a total news nerd. I remember reading the newspaper religiously from the time I was at least in 4th grade and not just the comic strips, I read it all, even the boring finance section. As a grade-schooler I remember reading about the Oklahoma City bombing and the Hale-Bopp comet cult (still creeps me out.) I also remember the day I realized how much I despised the mysteriously unfunny Family Circus. Yet, I never missed it. Curse you Billy and P.J.

Nowadays I'm probably as up-to-date on current events as a human could possibly be. I mean we all are. We can get news almost instantaneously, it's amazing. But I still miss ink-and-paper newspapers. You can't cut out funny articles from  the internet and tape them on your mirror (I know you can print stuff off, but who does that?) The kids can't (because I won't let them) sit around the computer with a bowl of cereal and read the comics. And how are people in the future going to protect their sidewalks while spray painting stuff?

It's not like I want to go back to Amish times* (And yes, I do know for the Amish those times are now.) It's sad to say it but getting a hard copy of the news just seems like an unnecessary luxury in a world-brimming with free digital news, even my parents haven't gotten the newspaper in 5 years.

I'm not the kind of girl who wants pricey shoes or a fancy car, but when/if I'm ever filthy rich I'll spring for a newspaper subscription just for nostalgia.  It may seem frivolous or redundant but for William Randolph Hearst sake that is how I will know I've finally made it big.


*Speaking of the Amish: You must read this. Isn't her story fascinating? I want to know more about her journey.



Please forgive me Internet, I don't want to fall out of your good graces. Xoxo Amanda