You Can't Tell Someone's Tone Over the Internet

“You can't control other people's behaviour, but you can control your responses to it.”
― Roberta Cava

I don't remember the first time I heard this quote (or a version of it), but every once in awhile, something happens, I think of it, and I am calm with whatever happened.  This quote came to my mind this morning because of something that happened over the internet in a "conversation" with me and a "friend".

Lorenzo is a former co-worker and we have kept in contact since he left Westfield quite a few years ago.  We have talked on the phone a couple of times, but mostly it's via the internet - either Facebook or Twitter.  The great thing with the internet is that you can keep in touch with former co-workers.  Depending on the person, I have the tweets go directly to my phone so I keep up with the person and can start a "conversation" (that is what Twitter is for).

Anyway....Lorenzo tweets alot - mostly retweets (RT) and comments about what is going on around him at that time (like during a commute on the metro, etc) or comments to other people he follows.  The tweets are usually for like an hour straight and sometimes I'll reply or check out the RT.  Hubby made a comment that my phone kept going off one day and I said, "oh, it's just Lorenzo" and explained.  Thanksgiving, we were at our neighbors and my phone was going off, and comments were made about how often it was going off.

So, to me, it's a joke - it makes me smile - when the phone starts "blowing up" I know Lorenzo is on.  Nothing bad about it.  Anyway,  I made the comment to Lo and obviously, he didn't like it.

 

                 rmcwentz Ronalyn

                When my phone is blowing up with twitter notifications, I know @AyeDisLo is on

                23 Nov

                AyeDisLo goLo Evans

               RT @rmcwentz When my phone is blowing up with twitter notifications, I know @AyeDisLo is on< #settings

               23 Nov

I didn't think anything of this - I meant it as a smartass remark.  I probably could have put a smiley face at the end so he knew I was laughing at it.

Here's what happened yesterday:

           rmcwentz Ronalyn

          phone is blowing up = @AyeDisLo is tweeting... :)

          17 hours ago

          AyeDisLo goLo Evans

         RT @rmcwentz phone is blowing up = @AyeDisLo is tweeting... :)» you should change your settings or unfollow me #annoyed

         17 hours ago

          rmcwentz Ronalyn

         @AyeDisLo #notannoyed sometimes you tweet some good stuff - puts a smile on my face.

         17 hours ago

Smiley face - it means you are happy.  Explaining that I didn't mean anything bad by it.  So, yesterday evening it bothered me and I mentioned it to Dan.  He just shook his head.  This morning I thought about it and it bothered me.  I think it was the "unfollow me" part that bothered me - basically, you don't want to interact with me anymore.  The other part, the RT - This went out to ALL of Lorenzo's followers - 390 people.  If you have an issue with me, you don't have to broadcast it to all of your followers.  Take off the RT and @me directly.  Then the quote came to me and my attitude changed.

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I really want to retire SOON!

So after having 4 days off at home and accomplishing things that I just haven't gotten around to in forever (like steam cleaning the upstairs), I start thinking, I need to focus if I really want to retire by the time I am 50.  At this rate, it's not going to happen.

I was thinking of maybe doing a "Saving Summary Saturday" - how I saved and earned extra money during the week.  I just don't know if it will keep me focused - I'm hoping it will!  I'm taking this idea from Thrifty Ways and Ideas.  Each week, Maria (the owner) posts what she has done during the week to save.  I enjoy seeing how Maria saves during the week and it motivates me (unfortunately, I haven't been keeping up on reading her blog!).

MAYBE, just maybe, this will motivate me.  So, here's the starting point.....

MyPoints (personal account) -  6,217 points
MyPoints (coupon account) - 2,435 points
Swagbucks -  1,812 points
Listia - 330 credits
Postpoints - 2,180 points
mycokerewards - 3,523 points
Bondrewards - $20.31
Upromise - $11.47
Capital One Rewards - 8,781 miles

These are the accounts I have been most active in lately (except Postpoints - I'm getting back into that).  Most of them are just a clickthrough site or are linked to credit cards.  Listia is going to cost some money because of shipping, but we'll see how I come out on it.  At least I'm getting rid of stuff.

To learn more about the programs I use to "earn money" please see the tab "How We are Saving to Retire Early"

Meet Me on Monday

Questions:

1.  I really need to clean my _________?
     Well, if you had asked me this last week, it would have been our shower (I hate cleaning it).  However, I cleaned the bathroom this weekend.

2.  What food makes you think of Christmas?
     spaghetii aglio e olio  This is what we would always have on Christmas Eve growing up and hubby and I continue this tradition.  This receipe is not the one we use.  We use Aunt Helen's receipe. : )

3.  If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be? 
     Depends if you just mean in body or in mind & body.  If just in body, I would say like 24.  I was in my best shape ever - working out (because it was free and my friend was my "trainer").  If in mind, I would say probably about 35.  I think that's when I started to realize I didn't care what people thought about me; that I couldn't control how other people act or react;  and started to speak my mind freely.    

4.  What was your first paying job?
     Cleaning a doctor's office with my neighbor (in 8th grade).

5.  Have you read the Twilight series?
     Yes - I read all 4 books in 2010 when on vacation for 2 weeks.