Thanks, But I'm All Set With Blessings From God

I must be getting grumpy in my old age.  I used to spend hours every day playing Tetris on my first computer.  In the office, I misused the intra-office "IM chat" function to gossip with friends on a daily basis.  Palm Pilot Solitaire was my constant companion when I had an hour-long commute on the train.  I can definitely understand the appeal of getting caught up in some form of on-line entertainment, either with others or alone.  But when the on-line habits of others waste my now-precious free time, I find it highly annoying. 

Home with 3 kids, I allow myself 5 minutes at a time to check email or Facebook...if I have to spend the first minute of Facebook time  scanning requests for me to donate "untraceable cell phones" (Mafia Wars) or "grab a boyfriend" (Sorority Life), it bugs me.  Today I found myself hiding "Blessings" and "Inspirational Quotes", and I wondered if maybe I am unreasonably irritated. 

So far, games I've hidden from my "News Feed" include Sorority Life, Mafia Wars, (Lil) Green Patch, Bejeweled Blitz, Tiki Farm, Farmville, Fishville, Daily Horoscope, Cafe World, Pet Society, Petville, and Pillow Fight.  Every day a new game seems to pop up...there seems to be no end to the stream of add-on applications.  Before I figured out how to hide the specific game from my news feed, the page would be clogged with entry after entry about lost sheep and found lambs (Farmville), extra food (Cafe World), and the latest high score at Bejeweled Blitz.  No offense FB friend Bill, but unless your Bejeweled Blitz involves a design on Project Runway, I don't want to hear about it. 

I'm also an equal opportunity hider.  I've ignored multiple requests to join "Circle of Moms", even though (1) it sounds like it would be right up my alley and (2) I have no idea what it is.  Still, the idea of having yet another activity to eat up my precious time is more than I can bear.  Facebook is already cutting into my laundry time, and I really don't have any more to spare for another time suck.

Perhaps I would enjoy raising schools of fish in Fishville if I just gave it a chance.  Maybe when my kids are older, I won't mind watering a virtual tree in a virtual Green Patch once in a while.  But for now, if you send prayers my way via Facebook app - just know that my receiving prayers function is currently disabled, so I won't hear about them.  Come to think of it, it'll be just like the old days, when prayers were sent quietly before bed at night - recipients blissfully unaware.

This is an original NYC Moms Blog post.