Friday, September 4, 2009

Thank You, Ms Case

I've had 99 followers for quite awhile now, and then yesterday or the day before, Ms Case became my 100th follower. I don't know you Ms Case, but thank you. I hope as a follower you'll be kind enough to start leaving a comment now and then. I'd like to throw you a party.

I've been lazy about writing posts lately. I have some terrible things going on in my little life--my friend Z, who has lung cancer (never been a smoker) has been having a terrible time. She finished chemo and radiation but seemed about to die of the treatment. Yesterday when I talked to her I realized that she might not have long to live, and whatever free time I have to spare should be spent with her. So today I'll be with her.

I do want to let you know that even in Utah, the reddest little theocracy in the Union, with only four days preparation and a very loose network of MoveOn members and this little tweeter we managed to get 350 people together for a demonstration in favor of a public option for healthcare reform. Those of you who know me well, know how I hate to go out in public. It's been years, probably three or four years, since I went out after 5 PM. I think of myself as someone who pretty much hates "people" and likes to avoid them as much as possible. But this crowd was part of my networking and we are in the same boat, so to speak. We are progressives in a state full of reactionaries. The Utah State Capitol is a gorgeous building in a lovely setting. And it was on the Capitol steps where we had our demonstration. I took my camera and have a few photos that aren't blurry to prove that we had a big crowd with homemade signs and little kids, old folks (even older than I) people in wheelchairs and on crutches and walkers, as well as young adults. I loved every one of them. I loved them for their commitment to healthcare reform and their willingness to make their commitment visible.

Twitter is an amazing place if you're trying to pull people together. Word passes from network to network like wildfire on twitter. I'm followed by 600 people there as well a Utah news source. So by tweeting for three days to Utah Progressive and Utah News we had a big crowd and news coverage on KSL, the most Mormon of the local news outlets, as well as Fox news the most reactionary news source. It didn't hurt that I called all four local news channels just before Nick picked me up. If you are not a member of MoveOn.org, might I suggest that you join. It's a very good organization.

I'm loosing readers as fast as Z is loosing pounds. She's over 5' 7" and weights 100 lbs. Please know that at some point I'll be back to writing posts on an obsessive basis, but for now, Z gets my time, and you get crumbs here. When not with Z, I'll be trying to salvage my book. But just because I'm not making the rounds to visit all of you, doesn't mean I'm not thinking about you and wondering what I'm missing.

I might tweet for a minute or two, but that doesn't mean I don't love you best. I'd love to combine both worlds--all you bloggers would make great tweeters, but so far most of you haven't taken to it in a big way. I see La Belette Rouge now and then. Darkblack tweets once in awhile. Liberality is out there tweeting what she's listening to on blip. Where are the rest of you? I probably know what Randal's doing--watching sports and/or pleasuring his wife one way or another. But most of you started tweeting and them gave up on it. For some odd reason, I think of it as Facebook for grown-ups. I love it. I can find networks of politicos, reporters, other writers, literary agents, and publishers. It's one of the rare places I feel completely at home and in my element.

18 comments:

PENolan said...

Utah, with an endorsement like that, I might start to tweet.

Make the most of your time.
T

Unknown said...

Can I tell you that I honestly meant to leave you a post yesterday but got a phone call in the middle of it all. And this post reminded me of that!

YOU ARE MORE THAN WELCOME for me topping off your following list at #100!

I look forward to reading and conversing.

Cheers!

Laura said...

I noticed a little while ago that you had 99 readers and I was going to mention it but forgot for some reason.
Congratulations!!! Whoo Hoo!!!! 100 readers!!There, there's the party. :)

I'm so sorry to hear about Z not doing well. I'll continue to keep her in my thoughts.

I bet Randal watching sports IS pleasuring to his wife. :D

((Hugs))
Laura

Utah Savage said...

PEN, you'd be a perfect twitterer or rather tweeter. I'd show you the ropes, but with your contacts in the political world you won't have any trouble finding followers. I've learned to retweet. Now every time I retweet someone I'm making a friend and spreading their message. I love twitter. If twitter had happened before I started blogging I doubt I have blogged.

Ms Case, you are now on my blog roll. Ask these guys what that gets you these days and they'll probably tell you, "This and a dollar will get you a bus ride."

Sunshine. your comment about Randal made me spit my coffee on the keyboard. Very funny.

Honestly, I think the positive energy generated here through you guys has kept Z alive this long. But today she was a lot better than yesterday. I was fearful she wouldn't make it through last night.

Tengrain said...

Utah, you know I would follow you anywhere, right?

At any rate, I gave up on Twitter, it made me frantic and depressed.

My best wishes to Z. I'm rooting for both of you.

Regards,

Tengrain

Utah Savage said...

Tengrain, I miss you on the twitter, but I'm getting to know TexBetsy a bit better. I like her a lot.

Cirze said...

Take care of yourself and Z, Utah. I've been thinking of you both during this time of tribulation.

And thanks for the Twitter endorsement. I've been wondering how I could work that into my blogging time, which is rather limited by the need to chase around a lot after the quickly disappearing small-time job opportunities. Just last night I heard about two other families in my social network who are having to give up their lives in order to pay emergency cancer surgery bills. So sad that so many people who would be enormously benefitted by the public option will not even be able to get close to using it.

Ten, what were the problems you encountered? (asked the Nosy new-to-town Twitterer)

And also, Utah, thanks for the Move On mention. I did a lot of antiwar gatherings (for years) through them which were also very successful.

Best,

S

Randal Graves said...

The only time my wife is pleased is when I leave the house for work.

Best of luck to Z, and sometimes meatworld takes precedence over the realm of electrons.

La Belette Rouge said...

Now you have 101!! But who's counting?
I love seeing your Tweets. I even #FF you yesterday to show my Tweeting love.

I am so sorry Z isn't doing well. I continue to send good thoughts.
xoxo

Comrade Kevin said...

As someone who splits his time between DC and a very red state, I am heartened by how many people turned out.

Gail said...

HI UTAH -

First Congratulations on having 100 followers.
Second - I am sorry to hear that "Z" is not doing well. I so admire you in how committed you are to being there with and for her.
Third - I twitted or tweeted once, and actually it was you I followed over to tweet or twitt - :-) anyway - I got lost very quickly - yet I am quite intrigued by how wonderful an experience it is for you. I have to muster up the nerve to venture to un-chartered waters, again. sigh.

LOve to you
Gail
peace......

Non Je Ne Regrette Rien said...

I am trying hard to catch up with all of my friends after not having access for a bit. I'm truly sorry about your friend and I'm glad you're spending as many precious moments as you can find with her.

as far as twitter. super you love it, just never have taken to it and I don't know how many more social network / online communities / places requiring updates and attention I can handle. so regrets on that, but hope you'll still dig me as much as i dig you (that is dig with just one *g*!)

Mauigirl said...

Congratulations on #100!

You have every reason to be posting more lightly - definitely spend your time with Z, real life takes precedence.

I try to do the Twitter but just don't have that many "bon mots" to put out there. Like Liberality, I tend to just blip songs from time to time. Facebook is my addiction!

denverdoc said...

I'm sorry to hear that your good friend is having such a difficult time. Just because I completely disagree with you on the proposed health care reform in its current appalling HR3200 form doesn't mean I don't enjoy your musings and fiction! Thanks for stopping by across the Rocky Mtns!

darkblack said...

'Darkblack tweets once in awhile.'

An egregious overstatement, dear Utah.

;>)

Utah Savage said...

Dear Darkblack, I stand for nothing if not the egregious overstatement. If you aren't going to post, at least you can tweet.

Life As I Know It Now said...

Hey, I hope some people listen to the songs I tweet...

Sorry about your friend not feeling so great.

Freida Bee said...

Utah- Your priorities are in the right place, I dare say, and I love you. Z is very fortunate to have a friend in her life who values her time and company like you obviously do. Take care of yourself, too. {Hug}

(BTW- My mom was on FB last night and said something to the effect of, "Why do I see 36 of my friends on FB at 9:30 on a Friday night, let's find a party people." And, then she had an Arkansas State Senator (R) reply that he liked her spirit. This electronic world is strange.)