The most difficult thing of living in the United States is how far away I am from most of my family. Social media has bridged the gap a little bit but on day’s like today, Facebook wall messages, e-cards, Twitters, email and Skype phone calls don’t always cut it. But then I thought, “Hey! Don’t I have one of those blogs?”

Here is a little somethin’ somethin’ about the greatest woman in my life. I figured a blog post in her honor would get me closer to letting the whole world (or the 10 people that read this blog) know how much I love her.

Yesterday I caught a guest blog post on TwitTip (some great Twitter 101 gems in this blog by the way) about Twitter backgrounds and why I should change mine. I had intended to update my Twitter background some time ago but I never got around to doing it because I wanted to list some of my other social network accounts; however, due to the nature of social media, I have yet to come up with the ONE list of my social networks. Since Twitter backgrounds are JPG images, I didn’t have to go back to Photoshop every time to update my ever-growing, ever-changing list of social networks. I think I’m not alone in this.

No joke. The world population is 6,706,993,152 according to a July 2008 estimate. So the iPhone App store hitting one billion downloads is pretty significant, especially considering the fact that the it has only been a little more than two years since the iPhone was first introduced and less than a year since the iPhone 3G and the App Store were launched.

I have nothing against mainstream culture. In fact, I am very immersed in it. I watch a few TV shows pretty religiously – some good and some just plain awful, I listed to good music as much as I listen to ridiculous hip hop, I am a huge movie buff and , living up to my stereotypes, I can probably tell you about the latest celebrity gossip if you asked.

Full disclosure complete.

This blog post (and the 29 more to come) is part of ProBlogger’s “31 Days to Write a Better Blog” challenge. Feel free to judge.

Write a List Post [Day 2 - 31DBBB]

One of my most brilliant moves ever was when I created an “offbeat” category for posts like these

In March 2009 I traveled to Las Vegas for 4 nights and 5 days. This was my second trip to Vegas and, because I learn new things every time, I have vowed to go there every year. Also, Las Vegas is in essence – escapism – and for five days out of the year, who can’t use that?

Last night Stephen Colbert (who else?) devoted a big chunk of his show to narcissism in America.

A friend once told me that writing is one of the most narcissistic professions, hobbies… things to do in the world and I agreed wholeheartedly. I still do. And today at work I mentioned to my co-worker that everyone and their moms have a blog now, maybe even two or three.

So, seeing as how I’m a part of the legions that blog, tweet and do everything in between…

A post on Mashable today, reposting the news about  Birmingham City University’s new social media graduate program got me thinking about the implications of more universities offering courses in new media, social media and all of the above.

I have a great passion for education and, especially when it comes to communications, I believe there is nothing better than when scholars’ work goes hand-in-hand with that of those who pratice the profession in order to improve best practices.

Here is the thing… we’re too high maintenance.

But here is another thing… these days, we can afford to be. Or can we?

Clearly, I’m not about to write a post about the economy. If that was the case I would not have made either of the two statements – not even jokingly… No, I’m talking about the one luxury we can all afford because it is oh, so free – at least for now and for the most part – social media.

My longest post title yet!

A little story – A co-worker was meeting a fellow Twitterer for real-time lunch. I was sad I couldn’t join them so I tweeted that I may just crash their next lunch date….

Actually, I’ll just let Twitter do the talkin’

Don’t you just love how Twitter makes things happen?

Announcing the San Antonio Media / PR / Business St. Patrick’s Day Tweetup!

(Hint: Click this link for the official TWTvite and to RSVP)

When (exactly?): Tues., March 17 at 12 p.m.

Where: Paloma Blanca Mexican Cuisine (map below)

I started to think about writing this post as I was watching the Superbowl and was following (or doing my best to follow) the real-time conversation that was taking place on the [many] Twitter hashtags. Then I REALLY wanted to write this post after watching the Oscars and – more succesfully – following my Twitter friends’ updates and replying to a few of them while contributing to the hashtag with some of my own. 

The plan was to write about how great real-time conversation on Twitter was but I took too long.