should i be concerned?

1. I have a facebook account. I rarely use it. I did try for awhile, because I have a good friend who loves it so, but I just keep getting too many notifications and then I feel guilty when I don't notificate somebody back or give good karma or hugs, or etc. I have major, major guilt complexes and when these set in, I just find it's easier to practice my Policy of Avoidance (TM) (don't use that without permission anybody; I'm planning to market it and make a babillion dollars off it) than go deal with anything head on. So now, when I do log on to facebook? I use my Avoidance Techniques (TM) (don't use that without permission either) to keep from looking at all 254 (and rising) of my notifications.

But here is my Facebook point: Facebook is cool because occasionally a blast from your past will find you there--for instance, I just got found by an old high school friend I haven't heard from in years. But now, for some reason, I'm getting loads of strange Facebook friend requests. From people I don't know. Which is kind of like what happens a lot at MySpace, particularly when you first sign up, except it does seem the Facebook people are not soft core porn star wannabes trying to be the next Tila Tequila or desperate, lonely men pimping themselves all over the internets for a date. Which is probably why Facebook has a much classier reputation.

But now my dilemma is: do I add these people? Just to be nice? Because 9 times out of 10 I'm a pretty nice person...way too nice if you ask me (which you didn't, but I had to say that...to be nice). I've added a few of the odd requests because Facebook has reassured me they are friends of friends and I always figure: wow...YOU know So-and-So?? Well then...welcome to my special club! But others I'm not so sure about are just waiting forlornly, wondering if I'll ever accept or finally just reject them. My guilt complex is screaming: IGNORE IGNORE IGNORE about these Facebook potential friends. Because to click Decline just seems so...rejection-y. And un-nice. And I really hate having to be un-nice and reject people. It's why I deal with 1st graders...in 1st grade, the motto is If you had fun, you won. So nobody feels excluded.

I'd make a terrible editor/publisher, wouldn't I? And yet I'm STILL getting Facebook submissions.

2. When I pick up my last class of the day, I always see "Rosa" (not her real name). For awhile, every day, Rosa asked if she could be in my class. Rosa is in Ms. C's class, and so no Rosa, you can't be in whichever class you want to because part of an American public education is learning to toe the line and follow the rules so that, later? When you get a real job with a real paycheck so you can pay real taxes and file real income tax returns, you don't get fired for being a goofball and doing whatever you want, whenever. George W. says so. And look at him: he's not a goofball at ALL.


Then she switched to asking if she could come live with me. No, Rosa, I said. I don't have any toys or fun stuff at my house. You'd be so bored. Rosa promised she had her own toys; she'd bring them with her. Well, let me ask my husband, I told Rosa. He might want me to pick one of the boys from your class instead...what if he doesn't want a girl? So Rosa said that was cool. She'd just bring her brother along...that way, my husband can have a boy and I can have a girl. I told Rosa I'd think about her proposal and get back to her in May. Also, she'd need to ask her mom if this was okay because maybe her mom would be sad about it. Rosa says her mom is all for it--according to Rosa, Rosa's mom can't WAIT to get rid of her (and her brother).

Today, Ms. C informed me that Rosa has been signing all of her papers as "Rosa Samson." And so clearly, I am being stalked by a 7 year old. Tonight I plan on double checking my phone number and address to make sure they're still private AND unlisted.


Kids can be soooo freaky.