Social Media Experiment: Disengaging

EDITOR’S NOTE: This was written Oct. 5, 2010, as part of a social media experiment that I decided to document along the way. I had dreams of creating this “scientific journal” but it turned into eight pages of babble. Click here to see introductory post.

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I used the phrase “walking away from social media,” but it was not that easy.

With smart phone applications, e-mail alerts and bookmarks – it was like I had to severe an umbilical cord.

I decided that “disengaging” is a lot more appropriate way to describe it.

I had to delete, cancel and enable features that had embedded themselves into my life. As I was removing all of this functionality, I seriously considered deleting my accounts. I thought it might be easier.

But the thought of that made me feel like a crack addict, debating on whether or not I should throw my pipe off the nearest bridge.

I got cold sweats, suffered from the shakes and thought of EVERY excuse I could muster NOT to do it. All of this while I laid on the floor in the fetal position.

“This is only temporary!”

“Experiment. Experiment. Experiment.”

“They really ARE my friends!”

“I’m not addicted.”

“Why is everyone screaming at me?!?!?”

“I want my mommy!”

Needless to say, I left the accounts active – just removed any reminders or temptations. It was like I put my crack pipe in my sock drawer, praying that I would forget where I hid it.

Example: I use a desktop application to manage my Twitter accounts – Seesmic Desktop. It is designed to sort my Tweets by followers, subjects, etc. It used to automatically launch when I logged into my computer. There were these little chirpy beeps that made me stop shaking.

It was my fix.

Now, Seesmic Desktop has a temporary home in my computer’s trash can and there is silence when I open my laptop.

It’s taunting silence.

Purging all these applications confirmed one thing: The warning signals of addiction were definitely real.

This was apparent again this morning.

I could have sworn that my 8-month-old son rocked a definite “DaDa” when I picked him up out of his crib.

Instead of jumping up and down and bragging to my wife, I looked frantically for my laptop.

“I have to update my status!”

“I have to Tweet about this!”

I snapped back to reality when my boy continued his morning declaration. “Blah da ma me blub a ma poo,” he said smiling and trying to put his foot in his mouth.

It was like he was saying, “Hey, Dad! I thought you weren’t going to Tweet anymore!”

I stopped cold and abandoned my quest for my laptop and/or my Blackberry and/or my wife’s computer and/or any other electronic device I could find to type 140 characters.

I started to ask myself, “But how will anyone know” – but I quickly returned to the moment. I ran into our bedroom and started talking trash to my wife. (Reminder: He said “DaDa” not “MaMa.”)

This incident did give me an idea, though. To help with my “social media detox,” I would jot down what I would have posted and/or Tweeted for that day, and include them in this journal.

Is that cheating?

HOLIDAYS CHEERS AND JEERS COMPLETE CHAOS

EDITOR'S NOTE: I've decided to start my first-ever week 

of blogging – small nuggets posted everyday for seven straight days. I will start today, looking back at the Christmas holidays, and finish up next Monday.

Some of the posts will be fun and light-hearted – like today's glimpse at my "Christmas Chaos" – while others have the potential to be a little more poignant. 

I will definitely stick to the theme of my blog, though: My big adventure in life and business.

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cha·os \ káy òss \ n 1: disorder 

2: earliest condition of universe 3: apparent disorder 4: Drew's annual Christmas holidays, usually from Dec. 10th to Jan. 2nd or 3rd

Everybody has their own holiday stories – each one with their own special flavor of chaos. 

These stories usually involve a significant amount of driving, distant relatives you barely know, one or two random gift exchanges, tons of food and beverage, and a lot of snapshots....

Here is my "Christmas Chaos" captured 

through those very photos:

DECEMBER 10th: 

Big Brothers Big Sisters 

event at Great Wolf Lodge

HIGHLIGHTS: Anthony, my little brother, and I were part of the corporate partnership announcement at the Grapevine Resort ... we were first inside the indoor water park (for photo op – Star Telegram photos below) ... had a T-shirt made with a huge picture of us on the back.

DECEMBER 12th: 

"Ugly Christmas Sweater Party" 

(hosted by Chris Stacey)

HIGHLIGHTS: My sister Allison made the photo backdrop (big hit) ... there ended up being A LOT of pictures of me when all was said and done (very weird) ... Tanya's "ugly sweater" actually belongs to my grandmother ... some lady let me wear her velvet red pants towards the end of the night.

DECEMBER 13th: 

Birthday party 

for my buddy Hatton (no pictures)

DECEMBER 20th I: 

Extended family Christmas 

at "Brazos House" (my grandmother's house)

HIGHLIGHTS: This event is ALWAYS a mad house, but love and family ALWAYS win out in the end ... we had an amazing steak dinner 

(I manned the grill) ... theme of gift exchange: "Trash to Treasure" (Instructions from my mom: "Go through your closet, attic, cedar chest and find something that you don't use any more, or it doesn't match your new decor, or you are tired of it, or someone gave it to you and you have never used it, or you used it a lot - but now you are too old, too tired, too fat, etc. I'm not talking "white elephant" gifts, or gag gifts, or old junk... but if you think someone else could use it or would like it - wrap it up.") ... photos by Ted Kieffer.

DECEMBER 25th II:

Cowboys vs. Ravens 

(last game at Texas Stadium)

HIGHLIGHTS: Received tickets through BBBS (thanks Cheryl) ... sat on Row B, which is in front of Row 1 ... even though Anthony was battling strep throat (didn't know it at the time), he pushed through ... temperature dropped to below freezing by the fourth quarter ... sat next to Big Black, star of MTV's "Rob and Big" (I had NO clue) ... Cowboys forgot how to play defense and got whipped.

DECEMBER 22nd:
First Annual Safe Haven 

Christmas Extravaganza (original blog post)

HIGHLIGHTS: Thanks to the help of 20 sponsors – including Rosa's Cafe – e-Partners in Giving made Christmas extremely special for a handful of Fort Worth's homeless ... each Safe Haven client received a stocking ... e-Partners purchased a computer for the entire complex ... "party food" was served.

DECEMBER 23rd I: 

Gift Exchange 

with Anthony (no pictures)

HIGHLIGHTS: Anthony got me a greeting card with his recorded voice, "...I've really had an awesome time hanging out with you the last couple of months. I hope you have a merry Christmas..." ... Tanya gave him a Brett Favre figurine, while I made him a book of every Division I college football logo (example below).

DECEMBER 23rd II:

TCU Bowl Game Watch Party

HIGHLIGHTS: Hosted by friends Mike and DeeDee ... TCU rallied to defeat Boise State, 17-16 ... GO FROGS!

DECEMBER 24th: 

Baptism of Baby Jake (nephew)

HIGHLIGHTS: Tanya and I were proud, honored, and excited to be Jake's God parents and be a part of his initial spiritual journey ... baptism incorporated into Christmas Eve mass at Incarnation in Dallas ... had family dinner afterwards ... only wished it wouldn't have been held the morning after "TCU Bowl Game Watch Party" (see above).

DECEMBER 24th and 25th:

Volunteered at 

Presbyterian Night Shelter (no pictures)

DECEMBER 26th:

Myers Family Christmas

at my Mom and Dad's

HIGHLIGHTS: 10th year to celebrate homemade Christmas gifts 

(blog post) ... other traditions (photo at the top of the stairs, etc.) continued as well ... spent entire day at Mom and Dad's, instead of running 18 different directions ... watched all 3 1/2 hours of "Doctor Zhivago" ... were only missing John and KoKo (brother and sister-in-law) and Karla and Tom (friends).

DECEMBER 27th:

Riley Family Christmas 

(Tanya's extended family)

HIGHLIGHTS: Held in San Antonio at Tanya's aunt Carolyn's house ... typical "Dirty Santa" gift exchange ... Tanya and I made out with a great fire pit for the backyard (thanks to her cousin-in-law Patrick) ... drove to Houston afterwards.

DECEMBER 28th:

Kalinec Family Christmas 

(Tanya's immediate family – no pictures)

HIGHLIGHTS: Held outside Houston at Tanya's brother house ... drew names for gift exchange ... fried a turkey ... played one round of "Rock Band" (I sang "Say It Ain't So" by Weezer and was named "Top Performer" with a score of 97 percent. I ROCK!)

DECEMBER 29th:

Bowling Birthday Celebration 

(for Tanya and my sisters)

HIGHLIGHTS: Bowled at 300 in Addison ... I finished No. 2 and No. 1 in the two matches (I RULE!)

DECEMBER 31st:

New Year's Eve Celebrations

HIGHLIGHTS: Started the evening at neighbors house, enjoying gourmet nachos and playing Taboo ... brought in 2009 with friends Paul and Jessica around their fire pit.

JANUARY 4th:

40th Birthday Celebration 

(for Tanya's brother and sister-in-law)

HIGHLIGHTS: Held in Waller (outside of Houston) at Tanya's Mom and Dad's house ... complete with DJ, dancing, and a lot of good food ... Tanya did the Chicken Dance.

It was ALL wonderfully great, 

but I'm wonderfully thankful it's over.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!