e-verwhelmed

I consider myself to be a fairly techno-savvy individual--for a middle-aged person. For example, I:

• have the electronic mail, a weblog, and a wireless phone
• have a laptop computer, which I can take with me to meetings, enabling me to take notes and connect to the Internet when necessary
  
• text message
• instant message
• buy and sell on ebay
• have an ipod (I even download weekly podcasts of "This American Life")
• have Google Reader down, as well as other Google applications
• can program my DVD player, and know how to adjust the sound on the CD player in my car
• watch instant movies on Netflix
  
• use cell phone applications for my personal organizer, including my morning wake-up alarm
• use a digital camera, and post photos on Flickr
  

My point here, is that I feel comfortable with technology. This week though, I may have hit the wall.

I got a Facebook account. I did it so I could see what Lola was up to (and keep tabs on who might be stalking her, pretending to be a fourteen-year-old girl). I also thought I might be able to find some friends that I've lost touch with. After I accidentally invited every single person in my address book, including a bunch of legislators and school board people to become my friends, I got to my home page and just stared. I think I may have felt something like . . . despair.

Something short-circuited in my old-lady brain, and I just sat there, staring, feeling despair. I can't even begin to comprehend what to do with this thing. One too many ways to communicate with others, I guess. Now all I want to do is sit in my rocking chair and knit, while listening to John Denver albums on my record player. I wonder if all my Facebook friends will help me by organizing an e-ntervention.