Free as a Bird

I remember quite a few years back when I was still a kid, my Dad bringing home hundreds of bricks he had purchased from a construction site that he claimed were almost giving them away as they were so cheap.

My mother, after surveying these bricks which Dad had piled up all along our back garden fence, demanded to know why he would buy these useless bricks and much more importantly, what was he going to be doing with them.

For some odd reason, I can still recall my Dads answer at that time to her question.

"Well Dear" Dad announced, sounding very proud of his negotiation skills. "The price was so good I just couldn't turn it down. I don't really know what I need them for right now, but I'm sure I'll figure out what to do with them later."

Well of course 'later never came' and those bricks sat there for years until my mother finally forced Dad to put an ad in the newspaper offering free bricks to anyone who would cart them away. (someone finally did come and take them however, to this day whenever someone mentions the word 'bricks' around my parents, Mom always gives Dad a harsh, stern look and my Dad always seems to wince. Thankfully for my father, this word does not come up too frequently in everyday conversations.)

The reason I recalled this story is that I am sort of doing the same thing right now. Not with bricks, mind you (I am far too practical a man than that) but rather with the program called Twitter.

I signed up for a Twitter account (I wanted to get the name slightlydrunk, of course) but much like my father years ago with his bricks, I don't really know what I am going to do with it and I am now hoping to figure it out, or at least begin to.


I already have a few followers but really have not used it too much other than to announce to everyone when my latest posting is up. (Boring!) This to me is sort of a waste since I am sure it has many more practical and impractical uses than just that, which explains today's post.

If you do a Google search for Twitter uses, tips or programs, an overwhelming number of sites get returned. Far more than is practical to wade through and figure out the good sites from the bad to the extremely useless.

I noticed a week or so back that on the EntreCard blog they had a couple of postings in regards to Twitter. One was to get the readers to share some Twitter tips and the other was to get everyone to leave their Twitter profile so everyone could begin to follow one another.

I found both these postings to be rather useful so I am 'borrowing' them today, hopefully to get to know more of the visitors to my blog.
(as most of my traffic comes from all over and not just EntreCard, I figure this might be a great exercise for everyone to participate in.)

I've also added a new little widget in my sidebar (scroll way down) under 'My Twitter' that will display all the postings on Twitter about slightlydrunk. Feel free to check it out by tweeting about me and watch your message appear.

So today, leave me your Twitter profile and / or any Twitter tips, links, etc. in the comments section so everyone can start to follow each other and maybe also learn a little bit more about Twitter. I am curious how everyone uses this program.

And yes, before I forget, if you're interested you can also follow me on Twitter by going HERE !

Hopefully after getting a few tips from everyone, I will begin to 'tweet' a little bit more responsibly!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think you're already following me, and I am following you...I've got a load of bricks, too...I have not really figured out how to use Twitter, so I'll be interested to learn more as others leave you their comments and insights.

I believe it is easier to tweet than to blog using a mobile phone while slightly drunk...or even more than slightly drunk.

Happy holidays!
Roxy

Anonymous said...

Oh... my Twitter profile is RoxiticusDH...

Roxy

cube said...

heh heh.

Anonymous said...

I'm trying to get the hang of it too. My profile is quarterlifelady.

Anonymous said...

unfnshdrambler

I've been following your exploits here for a little bit through Entrecard and enjoying it so far.

Kevenj said...

I love your blog Slightly Drunk, and being a Friday Night I am just that, maybe a little more!
Don't be so hard on your Dad
although I would know exactly what to do with numorous bricks- being in the trades and all (and therefore can't write worth a shit compared to you), I've also bought more computer BS than I care to mention that I figured (wrongly) that I might have use for. Whoever heard of a construction worker loving to write? Most I know go hunting in their off time.

Btw, so you don't get a big head, one thing that pisses me off about your blog is that you don't post a name. That or I'm not smart enough to catch it...


Ok, SD Merry C.
Don't get in too much CC debt.
Oh screw it, if you do tell them to bite it.
They got a bailout.

Lola said...

I signed up for Twitter also and I can't figure out what the point is either. Heck, I don't even know how to 'follow' someone in Twitter. I do want to learn though.

My profile name is "lolasdiner"

Lola
http://lolasdiner.blogspot.com/

slightlydrunk said...

I thought I should add these "Twitter pages of links" that I received from Rob in an email.

http://socialwebtools.info/2008/06/29/twitter-resource-list-applications-extensions-links/

http://www.helmiasyraf.com/2008/11/17/the-best-twitter-applications-you-will-definitely-amaze/

http://wtips.blogspot.com/2007/04/twitter-tools.html

I also found a rather interesting Twitter profile for you to follow on Xmas eve. It is Norad tracking Santa on Twitter and you can follow here:
http://twitter.com/noradsanta

Cheers!
SD

The Cool Commentator said...

Hello!! Just stopped by your blog to have a read and say hello!! Like what I see and will be back again soon!!! If you get a minute stop by my blog at http://studentad.blogspot.com and have a read and maybe leave a comment! I am in the midsts of attempting to write a short novel so let me know what you think!

Keep up the good work and hope to hear from you soooooooon!
Creativestudent

Anonymous said...

I don't have Twitter but I've been following your blog with interest for awhile now and I enjoy your sense of humour.

I guess I should make an effort to find out what Twitter is all about. I am signed up to Facebook, MySpace and maybe a couple of others that I've forgotten about but I really don't use them - mostly because I can't figure out what they're really meant to do!

Dave said...

Cheers! Prost! Salute!

@ChipperDave from Fermentedly Challenged.

Jena Isle said...

Hello, I'm following you now at twitter. This is my user name there too. I had the same dilemma too before but I'm slowly learning. You could only post at the most two short sentences...lol...happy holidays.

Sly Hoax said...

Lol... I still don't see the point of twitter...

Anonymous said...

I'm not so sure about Twitter myself. I have an account but hardly update what I'm doing as my life is really boring.

My dad also bought bricks because they were practically giving them away. Actually they were giving them away when they paved the streets 40 plus years ago. He died two years ago and when it was time to sell the house (the fourth they had lived in since the brick give away) we had to finally dispose of the damn bricks.

BobbiWired said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BobbiWired said...

this is too funny - I think my Mom and your Dad are some how related - or there is just a 'brick gene' out there that compels people to collect them.
My Mother bought a massive load of used street bricks at " a really great price". She moved 3 times after that, each time having my brother and I move those bricks "I'll find a use for them someday".
When she passed away, my brother loaded up the bricks to take home with him - He said he'd find a use for them someday, that was 4 years ago - To my knowledge they are still piled up by his back fence.....waiting......
Oh and I'm Bobbiwired on Titter too.....

Anonymous said...

Love the brick story. My parents haven't had that situation but my grandparents sure have. I use twitter as well and still view it as pretty pointless. I still need to find a fun way to use it, which is also practical. Happy Holidays!

Deborah Lambson said...

believe me, I buy bricks all the time. I'm still deciding the usefulness of twitter in my life as well, I have to remember to be a better twit.. :-)Happy holidays!
~swdesigns on twitter

Ish said...

Happy Healthy Holidays to you and your family!!!

ish healthassistant.blogspot.com

eastcoastlife said...

Wishing you and your family a Merry Xmas!!

Ali said...

I'm glad you discovered Twitter. You'll surely get more use out of Twitter than your dad did out of those bricks. Watch out though - it's a little addictive.

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