Yesterday* I posted over at Blogher@home about twitter, and some potential uses for it, and some basic guidelines. And then I asked for the readers to post why/how THEY use twitter, and to provide the link, so we could take a peek. (if you would like to play along, feel free to join in!)

Why do I use twitter…I was a blogger before I was signed up for twitter. I started seeing all these “follow me on twitter!” buttons pop up on some of my favorite reads. So I got curious and checked it out.

And then I was hooked. Initially, I followed those bloggers that lured me in to begin with. And my tweets were mainly “look! I posted!”

But then I found myself @replying to other people’s tweets. And having conversations with some really cool people.

And then, because of that tendency to run my mouth, I started posting random things that occurred to me. Usually things that I couldn’t post on my facebook status, because of the large number of siblings and cousins and aunts and so on. (Not that I’m EVER innapropriate…)

So I dabbled in the twitter. Communicated with a handful of people that I followed.
One day, I caught a tweet about the BlogHer conference, and I checked it out. My reaction was, “that’s cool, but not likely to happen.”
Luckily, I spotted a tweet about this on-line party for those of us who wouldn’t be at BlogHer, for whatever reason. And so I headed on over to check out Blogher@Home.

I met a TON of people, and my twitter list exploded. Now I have an awesome group of followers/followed that act as a support network, a discussion group, an idea base and a resource for information. And that’s why/how I use Twitter.

PS You can follow me, too! @thepsychobabble Just give me a holler so I know you’re not a robot, and I’ll follow you back;)

*Yes, I said explanation to come. It will. Eventually. Sorry.

Slightly Similar Nonsense:

• Follow Friday: Easing My Way In
• Follow Friday: The People Twitter Doesn't Want Me To Follow
• Popularity is a bitch, right?
• Things I Learned This Weekend
• Follow Friday: The BlogHer@Home edition

Popularity: 3% [?]

Tags: bhah10, BlogHer, meme, twitter

So I’m a huge slacker. Y’all knew that already, so this? Should come as NO SHOCK at all.
But….the lovely @Anne54304 has gifted me with TWO awards at this point, and I haven’t managed to get them up. #shameface

The first one is the award.

Rules say I need to solve these riddles three, and then harass five other bloggers.

1. What do you love most about blogging?
2. What do you dislike about blogging?
3. What is the one thing you hope to achieve from blogging?

1. I love running my mouth sharing my stories, opinions and feelings. From the time I was little, I wanted to Write (yes, with a capital W. #amdork, remember?) My mom still has these little children’s books that I wrote, and illustrated, when I was in grade school. I wrote more than my share of dark angsty poetry as a teenager. And I wrote steamy, short stories full of way too much improbable sex in those few short years after high school. I write. I have to, or I go a little dead inside. I know, because I’ve tried. Blogging is my way of empty teh crazie out of my head.

2. I hate how exposed it leaves me feeling. Oh, I have no issue laying teh crazie out in the open for the nameless masses. But when that nameless mass started taking on shapes, and faces… When those faces acquired names beyond quirky screen names… When those real names turned out to be real relatives and friends, that I might run into at the grocery store….
Suddenly I felt (feel) a lot more naked. I find myself hesitating before I hit publish at times, weighing my need to lay it all out for inspection (by myself as much as anyone else) with my need to not be embarrassed at the post office.
Eh. Most of the time? My pride loses out!

3. This is a much harder question for me. On one hand, yes, I’d love to discover fame and fortune through blogging. I’d love to be the new cooler, less asshatish version of dooce. On the other hand, I don’t know as I’m that delusional. And connecting with people, and, as previously mentioned, sharing what goes on in my head, is an awesome thing to be able to get out of any activity.

So…on to 5 bloggers that I lurve.
In absolutely no particular order (and keep in mind that I’m trying to name 5 maybe-less-known that oh, redneckmommy)

1) Welcome to My Life by Becky
2)No Longer Quivering (Note: Absolutely nothing like any of the other blogs on my list. The stories of the women who have escaped various forms of patriarchal mind-control can be incredibly disturbing, albeit fascinating.)
3)The UnMom by Keely
4) Taste Like Crazy by Amy
5)SnackiePoo

And then there was award number two,
For this one, I’m asked to link 12 blogs. So take the first five, and repeat. Yes, I am THAT lazy. Actually, I’d totally link the following ones for the first award, too. So yeah. Take whichever award you wish, or both. It’s all good.

6)Princess Jenn
7)Tom The Girl Vixen’s Den
9)A Very Good Year
10)Inverse Candlelight
11)Ain’t Yo Mama’s Blog
and last, but certainly not least,
12)Child’s Play x2

You know how the game works, if you’re so inclined, take and tag.
Love and such,
Jen thePsychobabble

Slightly Similar Nonsense:

• Where I am From
• Quickie Post: Unconscious Mutterings
• Why I am a Twit

Popularity: 15% [?]

Tags: awards, meme, tags

at least, it WOULD HAVE BEEN a quick post, if I hadn’t gotten interrupted approximately 1500 times

1. Up :: and at ‘em. Another day to make it through
2. Scram! :: What I say to the dog when she tries to sneak into the kitchen
3. Smell :: I have multiple pets, multiple kids, and a husband. Something ALWAYS smells
4. Belong :: somewhere, someday
5. Doug :: Duggars-babies-those poor kids
6. Collar :: chain
7. Squirrel :: Super Secret Squirrel
8. Chinese :: Firecracker
9. Tracker :: cowboys and Indians
10. Apartment :: cramped

Slightly Similar Nonsense:

• Where I am From
• The extraordinarily ordinary
• Dreamy
• Randomness, Special Brownies and Killer Cats
• GTT: No Consequences?

Popularity: 2% [?]

Tags: list, meme, random

I stole this idea from the lovely stylings of A Life Less Ordinary, and you can find the original template here.
__________________________

I am from store-brand items, mismatched furniture, JIF peanut butter(because choosy moms choose JIF), and duct tape fixes.

I am from one old farmhouse to another, I am from cramped apartments in less than stellar neighborhoods, because location isn’t everything. I am from Midwest accents, cold winters and sticky summers. I am from changing leaves, and flowers fighting through snow drifts in spring. I am from places off the beaten path, with populations expressed in four digits, or less.

I am from fields and pastures, from the smell of fresh cut hay and old silage. I am from the smell of diesel fuel, tractor fumes and 90-weight. I am from the sounds of frogs chirping in the spring, the wind howling, and the feel of ice underfoot.

I am from church on Sunday morning, from stubbornness and a refusal to give up, or give in. From Debbie, from Brian, Roger, Jean, Barbara, and John and on and on, back to the beginning…from Watts, from Cook and into Phillips.

I am from raised voices, passion expressed through anger, helping hands, and unconditional love. I am from where no matter how far you run, you can go back.

I am from bowling angels that cause thunderstorms, from demons and angels, heaven and hell, Santa Clause, Tooth Fairies and Easter Bunnies.

I am from churches that refuse denominational labeling, from Baptist schooling, from a mix of love and intolerance. From hope and help, and damnation.

I am from the Mayflower, fleeing persecution. I am from Scandinavians, spread across the Midwest. Farmers and fishers. Tractors and boats. Clam chowdah and falafel. From Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New England. From bratwurst and sauerkraut. And beer.

I am from writing letters petitioning PBS to have Sesame Street shown more often in a day, from riding alongside daddy in a grain truck. From tractor driving, hay baling, and driving a stick shift truck straight into the ditch, at very low speeds.

I am from photo albums, and sneaking into mom’s wooden hope chest. I am from journals, and diaries. From hopes and dreams and reality. I am from bedrooms without doors, and one heater vent upstairs. I am from little silver spoons with place names, and glass chickens on the windowsill.

I am from them, they are me. I am from history lost and history told. This is where I am from, and this is where I belong.

Slightly Similar Nonsense:

• Groundhogs and Children
• Quickie Post: Unconscious Mutterings
• Romance: it eludes me
• For This I Am Grateful
• Master of Non-Verbal Communication

Popularity: 20% [?]

Tags: family, grateful, history, meme, origins, random