Old School New School What School? -- We Just Like to Make Fun of You

"Octo-Anne" by Mike ... for my 27th birthday invitation. This "photo" is now framed in my mother's office.

This funemployed morning, I was playing some songs from my beloved 100 Pop Hits of the 90s on my piano. I was so passionately involved in the Easy Piano versions, that I began to pound more dramatically and sing loudly. Enough for my jury duty summons to vibrate and fall onto the floor next to me. Buzzkill.

I thought, "gosh, what could I possibly do at jury duty so that I wouldn't completely lose my mind? No bicycle. No 100 Pop Hits. Oh, but I might just have my iphone." Hours of games and Facebook. I'm addicted and I'm not afraid to judge. (probably why I qualified to be a juror) After all, aren't we putting our best (if not digitally improved) face forward on the world wide web? Oh wait ...

In recent BBQ history, my wonderful friends have shared news, jokes, and more importantly, innovative new ways to embarrass each other using internet networking. And sure why not? We all make it so easy! Our youthful narcissism is a mobile target! Thanks to Twitter and Facebook and FourSquare on mobile devices, I can often find the location and/or kryptonite of the most extraverted of internet junkies with a matter of clicks. But then digi-savvy buddies and I came to realize how much we hate having our photos published without our permission, but hey that's part of the deal.

I most certainly cringe when I see photos like the one posted up or old photos from high school are made accessible to my current boss or family members. And ooh nothing makes me want to punch sheets of glass more than a dose of internet humiliation. Unfortunately there's really no avoiding that feeling. Even the most remote cavedwelling families make fun of eachother. And I'm sure the emotions are all the same -- angry, yet hilarious.

While I can't stop every person from throwing electronic darts at my electronic persona, my only real line of defense is to have a sense of humor about these things. Surely there are things that can ultimately hurt my feelings or "cross the line" (and yes, I've been on the other side) but when it comes to face to face interactions and being around loved ones, none of that internet rubbish matters. Enjoy who you are outside the internet because you're volumes more dynamic and interesting. Plus, it's harder to insult you to your face!

So amidst the other potential jurors, I will most likely be admiring and laughing at "so and so" who just checked-in at "some place funny" before noon ... in order combat my true foe, internet or internot, BOREDOM.