Unplugged...

I did it.  I might have just committed social suicide but I am taking the bold step to unplug myself from Facebook. Why?  Because I just can't take it anymore.  I need to start my days without a social media barrage. Without opening up Facebook's home page only to find posts, ad nauseum, basically telling me I'm an apparent moron for not necessarily agreeing with various political agendas. Whatever happened to a civil exchange of ideas instead of a daily Chinese water torture until the victim yells UNCLE?   I need some peace.  I need some tranquility.  I need MY SPACE (and not that OTHER social media gathering spot).  And for the record, I am referring to supposed mature adults who should have enough life experience under their belts to be able to respect each others' differences.  I mean isn't that one of the lessons we TRY to teach our own kids?

"Unplugged"
(Self Portrait Project 32/52)

So I sat with my Wawa Pumpkin Spice coffee this morning and just breathed before taking on the day.  Just me and silence.  Well...me, silence and two dogs.  So I guess it really wasn't that silent.  BUT, they are of the same political party and leanings that I am...so we get along quite famously.   I am what I am.  I believe what I believe. No postings of derogatory cartoons,  agenda pushing "news" stories, or venom filled diatribes is gonna change that.  All it does is make me angry.  Sure wish I was mature enough to rise above it all and not let it effect me. But I guess I prove that just because someone is 52 doesn't necessarily mean they can control their emotions and rise above the fray untouched.

"Hear the Silence"
(Self Portrait Project 33/52)

Call it a self-imposed "time out".  But I am quite content to sit myself quietly in the corner until after the elections, as far as Facebook is concerned. MAYBE even longer (but that is a quite tentative 'maybe').  I had been toying with the idea of a Facebook solitary confinement for awhile now.  But recently two things happened that forced my hand to either act upon my thought, or go ballistic and lose some friends who I might go Chris Matthews or Shawn Hannity all over (I want to remain equal opportunity ballistic here):

1.  I was having a Facebook discussion about one of my favorite television shows "Downton Abbey" which happens to be on PBS.  Before I knew it the discussion somehow morphed from HOW we were gonna survive until January to see what happens to poor Mr. Bates, to  "Romney wants to obliterate PBS".  To me, this is akin to going to a Bruce Springsteen concert and being lectured on the evils of the GOP.  I didn't sign up for this.  I'm being held hostage against my will.  FREEEEEE MEEEEEE PLEEEEEEEESE.  All this girl wants is for Mr. Bates to be happy.  I don't think President Obama OR Mitt Romney have that power.   I quietly left the conversation, but quite honestly...the seething inside me percolated much longer than it should have.

2.  I find myself finding it harder and harder to curb my enthusiasm.  I can't tell ya how many times I've copied links to the BEST posts...and then delete it before I hit "publish".  I came perilously close the other day.  Yep, I found the dreaded PERFECT quote on Pinterest and was gonna slam all my "friends" of the opposite affiliation.  It was definitely time for an intervention.  My name is Kathy, and I ALMOST became a bully.

"Fingertips"
(Self Portrait Project 34/52)

Too much coffee isn't suppose to be good for you.  But now that Facebook is outta my life until at least after the election...I'm pretty sure I can drink as many cups of Joe as I desire and STILL not come close to the jitter levels I was feeling before unplugging.  I'm not sure if this election is different from previous ones, or I'm just getting older and not as comfortable with the levels of dare I say it...hate...that I am seeing from people I consider friends. And I'm unbiased on this because I see it on BOTH sides of the aisle.  I don't want to participate.  I consider myself a well-informed citizen.  I know which candidate I feel is best for the country.  It might not be the same as your candidate.  But I respect that you are passionate enough to have an opinion..whether it is a shared one or not.

God Bless America, Fox News and MSNBC for giving us the rights and the knowledge to make informed decisions. And God Bless Big Bird for teaching us how to be good friends.  But for now...I'm unplugged.  I've made my choice, so it's time for me to find silence.  Not to mention with all the extra time I can finally knock off some of those pesky portraits I need for my dreaded self-portrait project.  God forbid my family think I REALLY just sit around and drink coffee all day.  Only my dogs know for sure.

--Kathy 

P.S.  For those interested, the two color photos are edited using Florabella's new Colorplay actions set.  After doing my "basic" every day edits (sort of like washing my face every morning), I ran the Perfect Color Action and toned it way down (sort of like when I tell Thing #3 to take some of that crap cat-eyed eyeliner off those beautiful eyes of hers)...then I finished it off with the ButterCream Action (yep, that's sort of like spritzing a bit of my fav Thierry Mulger's 'Angel' scent on my wrists).  I'm totally going Bill O'Reilly over Florabella's new collection.


linked to:  In the Picture Self Portrait Project, Sarah Halstead's Wordless Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday, Snap It, Live and Love Out Loud Wordless Wednesday, Wordful Wednesday,, Black and White Wednesday,  Jenni From the Blog WW