… and made me so very, very tired.

I know the world of social networking is a must in many industries and being apart of the shiny Web 2.0 machine is alluring and inviting if it makes things easier for us to network and all that crap that goes along with it.

Recently I signed up for Facebook. I wasn’t really sure I wanted to - but I got caught up in the hype and signed up… and now I’ve got 39 “friends”. These people, some of whom I’d not been in contact with for years - I’m now suddenly in contact with. This part is awesome. The not so awesome part is that much of the people I knew, I don’t particularly want to know anymore. I’ve MOVED ON! Go figure. But I get caught up in searching for people, adding widgets, adding more crap to my profile. I’m sorry to admit… but I’ve become addicted. It’s voyeristic in a way… because I’ve got friends and with Facebook - I can see what they’re doing, photos, their lives without necessarily talking to them. A window if you will… into their life. As they have one into mine.

I was listening to the radio the other day on TheBeat94.5 and they were talking about Facebook and how you really have to be careful about setting your profile limits. Because ANYONE could read about you, your photos, your life that you’ve got on display. Even your employer could find you - or potential employer. You have to be so freakin’ careful. Now I’m pretty much a “keep my cards close to my chest” sort of gal - who doesn’t really like to share too much - and for the most part I haven’t. I added photos… then I took them down. I don’t want to share - I’m paranoid. LOL. I put things up, then on second thought took them down. I just don’t feel comfortable with it. I keep my profile up, because there are some friends there that I want to stay in touch with and they’re all over this program… so I hang around.

Mostly I don’t like it.

I’ve not really come across anything else that I’ve particularly liked/loved Web 2.0-ish either. So many new shiny programs and websites… and I think I’ve missed the train. Even these social networks like Technorati, Dig, Stumbleupon - missed them… I’ve signed up. Lost interest. Re-thought it and realized I should show more interest… but I’ve not been overly motivated to do it. Which may or may not affect this site. May or may not affect my other sites as well… I don’t know.

I’m just tired of it all. It’s completely exhausting to keep up with every latest Web 2.0-ish thing that hits the Internet. It’s hard to be dedicated to any one of them, because there are so many on the go… what’s popular seems to change with the amount of times I change my underwear. I can’t keep up.

My sad Twitter account goes unchanged for DAYS… I’m up to 6 right now. I just can’t be bothered. Sad really. Many good things out there… and I’m sitting here completely overwhelmed. Too overwhelmed to enjoy any of them. Realizing that some fit what I need more than others - and yet not one fits all my needs. So I’m floating through the sea of Web 2.0 sites.

… on a rambling note: Jeremy Zawodny talks about Web 2.0 thingys here.

I think many of the programs out there could be so powerful - but I’m having a hard time to decide what to do next. What to invest time into. Should I even bother? (I’m leaning more towards the latter). But I’m kind of that way…

So do you think I’ve completely lost it? Are you feeling the same way?

… maybe I need a beer.

Popularity: 1% [?]

I guess we’ve all been wishing, dreaming, working like mad, not really working to make our way into the realm of “top blogger” status.  Even working on getting out of the rat race and going it alone.  Over at Mark’s blog he’s asking when we figure we’ll get out of the 9-5 and go it alone making money online… check it out.  Let him know.

Now that was rather interesting because I stumbled upon “How Top Bloggers Earn Money“ and it gives a rundown of the top bloggers and how they’ve done it.  I found it rather interesting (mmm… motiviating?)  but realize that they’re not giving away any secrets.  Hard work and a lot of luck play a big part of this list of Top Bloggers and how they’ve earned the money to give them the status that we’re all dreaming of achieving one day.

Popularity: 1% [?]

On my Fansite #1 I put a forum up along with the blog, photos and that was it.  I had no idea how hard it would be to maintain a forum - since I’ve never had a forum before on any site for any amount of time, this was new ground to cover.

I used the free PHP forum script, instead of paying for vBulletin.  I am not making money = not going into the negative for it.   Also I had no idea if the forum idea would fly with this site or not.

I can say - spammers LOVE my forum.  They get as far as registering, then I can nuke ‘em if they are.  They can’t post until I approve them.   I thought that might slow them down.

It didn’t.

As the blog becomes more popular at Fansite #1 so has the forum - for spammers.  I think so far since I started the forum at the beginning of May I’ve had 3 legitimate signups.  How sad is that.  Out of those 3 signups - none have posted.

I know it’s hard to start a forum.  I know it’s hard to maintain a forum.  I’m thinking with the blog I have - if people want to comment they can and that can replace the forum.  It’s taking up too much of my time - I spend too much time deleting the bogus accounts… too much time.  It’s boring.  I hate it.

I suppose I could try to find a moderator.  Hell, I could even try to buy some forum comments, thoughts, etc, from those companies that specialize in populating forums.

But I don’t. I don’t want to waste my money.  I don’t want to spend more money than I’m making with this site.  It is just something I’m trying to impliment this time around.  I am working on my budget.  What will I spend re-investing in my sites to make them better.

I’m thinking the forum has to go.

Popularity: 14% [?]

The past week has been really hard for me to get at the computer to do any work.  I’ve been pleasantly distracted with a few days off sunning myself at the beach.  I don’t regret taking the time off, in fact, it’s really helped in getting me back in the saddle and focused and have a few ideas to go along with it.

But since the holiday it’s been hard.  Not easy to turn on the computer and get things going.  It sucks, because I’ve heard we’ve got a PageRank Update coming up soon and I’d love to get a few things done before that happens.  Since I’m not sure exactly WHEN that’s suppose to happen.

So I’m in a panic.  My own, self-induced panic.  But it’s my panic and I’m sticking to it.

I know I’ve got to roll with it, and just get stuff done when I can.  But when I’m itchin’ to get on the computer, but 12 loads of laundry are also calling my name it gets a bit difficult.

Yesterday I did manage to check my fan site #1 keyword stats yesterday - and I’m still bouncing all over the place with those keywords.  I’m not sure how to keep them in line and on track and in the top 100.  Unless that’s a normal thing to see keywords come and go daily?

Well, enough of me rambling on…. back to work!

Popularity: 1% [?]

… and because it reminds me that it is the summer! Elise Estrada… Insatiable song. No actual video for it yet… but you get the drift. It’s got a fun beat and it’s just something to listen to on a Tuesday afternoon.

Enjoy!