Screw you, Zuckerberg!

Facebook.  I loathe it to my soul, but I can't seem to leave it.  Every day I find a new reason but just can't seem to do it.  Even now, I'm thinking it will be better if I delete my page and just start new with another, being choosier about who I friend, ignoring the games, etc... but we all know how that's going to go.  It shouldn't be this damn hard.

But, it is, and now I realize why.

Back when everyone I knew was jumping on the Facebook train, I was content to just wave at them as they bulleted off into social media hell.  But, then I started getting news about friends, and even family, days sometimes weeks later and only when it was volunteered during real life social situations.  This conversation became all too common:

"What do you mean you don't know about that?  Everyone knows about it!"

"Well, it's not like anyone bothered to call or email me about it.""It was posted on Facebook."

And, no matter how many times I thumped the table with my fist and shouted, "I'm not on fucking Facebook, and I don't want to be!" it never seemed to sink in.  (A lot like after I voluntarily got rid of cable TV.  After being asked the thousandth time "have you seen...?" I nearly replaced "What part of 'I don't have fucking cable' do you not understand?" with a punch in the crotch.)

The final straw was when a rather important piece of news that I really needed to know didn't filter to me until it was too late because It Was Posted On Facebook.

That's when I knew I was beat.  There was no way these fuckers were going to keep me in the loop through normal human communication; it had to be on Facebook.

My very first status very nearly was "I hate all of you fuckers!" but I hadn't figured out the filtering and there were kids...

So, remembering that, I now realize why it's hard to leave: because I know I'll know nothing about anyone or anything important.  It's one thing to not give a shit about what someone had for dinner, but even vitally important matters are posted on Facebook first it seems.  It's like people have completely forgotten how to communicate outside social media, and the idea of someone not using it is now such a foreign concept they can't wrap their heads around it.  This disturbs me, but it also traps me because, even though they have leveled to stupid with how they communicate, there are people with whom I still want and need to keep in touch.  It is the perfect formula for holding people hostage while making them think they are in charge.

They really should just remove the call option from telephones.  It's not like it's being used anyway.

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Don't get me wrong, I'm pretty addicted to texting, but it can never truly replace hearing a loved one's voice.  And, if you think that is wrong, then you should be boiled in your own juices to prevent further propagation of idiots of your kind.  

Oh, how I missed thee...

Here's the thing:

Ye Olde Kumquat has always been a blog for whatever I feel like blogging about.

So far, this year has sucked sweaty donkey balls.

(I know that seems random, but bear with me.)

During years that exhibit higher-than-normal degrees of suckitude, I try to focus on something that which brings me much lovely, demented joy.  Yes, during those years, I focus on Halloween.

I know what you're all saying, "But, Papermasks, it's July!"  Yes, it is, which means it's time to start getting ready.  I have props to build, people to scare witless, neighbors to worry...

Those who build props and who long to have their own home-grown haunted houses understand the need to start early in the year.  Compared to most of them, I'm starting really freaking late.  Late enough for me to think in my head, "Holy shit!  There's only 117 days left until Halloween!"

Some of you might not understand that, but when you see what I have planned, you will.

So, to get us all in the mood, Ye Olde Kumquat is donning its dark and broody attitude.  Light some candles, turn out the lights, listen to the bump in the night.

Let the countdown begin...

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I've had friends joke, "When is it NOT Halloween for you?"  The answer would be "Christmas."

So, Blogger, we meet again...

I honestly didn't think I'd ever be bringing my blog back to Blogger, but after fighting endlessly with other blogging software and hosts, I have to finally admit that Blogger really is the more stable of the bunch. It's not so much an endorsement for Blogger as it's a hearty "Up Yours!" to all the others. If you assholes would make your software actually work then I wouldn't feel the need to give up on you.

By the way, Go Daddy! mixed with Moveable Type equals Hackable Nightmare.

So much for having my own domain name. Well, technically I still have them, but it does little good when I can't fuckin' access the blog to update it!

I could probably fight with it, but I've got enough stress right now.

Yeah, about that. My poor blog was getting updated fairly regularly until about March when my husband pretty much decided he didn't want to be with me anymore. Understandably, I put things on hold. We've come several steps through the impending divorce, so I'm feeling as if I can start writing again. I won't talk much about that subject only to say it blows in ways I can't even begin to describe. On top of said splitting of my marriage, I lost my job. Oh, and let's add to that! I came very close to losing my brother and his family in the Joplin, MO tornado.

So, yeah, adding to my stress by screaming obscenities and various other threats at my blog host is just kind of stupid.

I'm not moving my blog again. It's suffered greatly at all the juggling. Now, let's see if I can revive the poor thing.

CLEAR!

BZZT!

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And, if Blogger tries to use this post as a glowing endorsement of its services, I'll deny it all and claim I was hacked by an informercial host.