Apparently this addiction to the internet, e-mail and neighborsgo.com is not uncommon. I have received dozens of e-mails from various friends, mothers, housewives, tennis players and writers who have come out of the closet to admit their addiction also. The good thing about coming out of the closet is they say now they have more room  in the closet for the vacuum and various cleaning supplies and tools that will remain unused for extended periods of time. It's a win-win.....

    

     I have to admit it. Admitting and recognizing your addiction is the first step they say.

     I am sitting here at the computer, still in my jammies, bed un-made, house a shambles, dishes piled high in the sink. So what is my addiction. THIS!!!!!!!!

     The first thing I do in the morning is check my e-mails and check out neighborsgo.com. This is coming from one of the last hold-outs of technology. I never wanted a cell phone, I refused to use the computer and my VCR always blinked 12 o'clock. As a matter of fact, it has been blinking now for 3 days from when the power went out.

   But, alas, I learned the vice of e-mail when my son went off to college a few years back. That was the only form of communication known to college sons who don't feel like listening to their mother nag about eating right and drinking less. Then the flood gates were opened.

   Now, my e-mail address book looks more like the local phone directory and I keep meeting new people every day. Thus, requiring more e-mail correspondence and less housework. This is my addiction.

    I seem to spend hours at the computer e-mailing and finding out what's happening around Town. I don't watch the news on TV or know what's going on in the world. But, ask me what's going on in McKinney, that I know all about.

     So, my vacuum has been sitting patiently smack -dab in the middle of the front entry hall for 5 days. I may actually vacuum today, if I get off the computer before noon, or I may just walk it back over to the broom closet where it normally resides unused and unappreciated.

     Well, signing off here. More stories to read, more e-mails to write, more fuel for my addiction. ADIOS!

    

   Well, in Friday's Neighborsgo section for McKinney, Ms. Shari Corely bid farewell to her readers. She is cutting back and hopefully going to cut-loose a little and spend some fun time with the family. It was very sweet of her to mention me and Lynne Weinberger as some of the writers she will miss coressponding with. But, unwisely, she gave me her personal e-mail address and she will be hearing from me none-the-less.

   Neighborsgo is a wonderful venue for local folks to get their stories told. I think the readership is increasing and if they ever get it to be a little more user friendly, it will really be superb. (I've had quite a few folks complain to me that they have trouble getting in or posting.) I am computerly challenged, but still manage to get in. Some folks must be slower than me.

   Anyway, Miss Shari will be missed and I'd like to thank her and all the great writers, editors, etc. for the great job you are doing. THANKS!!!

The Girlfriend Network was on the road this week, "solita" (by myself-thought I'd throw in some Spanish) this week. I met several new women or "girlfriends" at the Senior Center of McKinney. I am dropping in at the Lofty Painters art group that meets on Wednesday at 10:30 am til 1 or so. I think I might just have to feature a new artist every week and show off her work.

OH YES, the Artists of McKinney will have their first Fall Meeting this Thursday, Aug.14th at the Heard Craig House on Church St. in downtown McKinney at 10am. Everyone is welcome to stop in and get a chance to become a member of this great group.

Lynne was busy all week with band camp, feeding the hungry and heated band members during their practices. Hope everyone stayed healthy.

Have a good week! Toni

Saw the new Batman movie today. I wish someone would have warned me. I guess they did. My sons both said, "It's not a Mom movie." Meaning, not my cup of tea, and they were right. It may have made a lot of money at the box office and probably will win all kinds of awards, but it's pretty sad when they make a Batman movie that you can't take your kids to until they are in their twenties. Too dark for me.

   Our Meet-up Group, Ladies who Lunch met today at Bill's Cafe in McKinney. Oh my goodness. They give you enough food to choke a real big horse. I didn't even have room for the pie that was the size of a small Central American country.

   If you haven't been to Bill's, you really need to check it out. It's on 380 right across from the courthouse or building where you get your license stuff. I'm real good with directions.

   Today I was sitting alone with the TV on and the dogs nestled by my feet. I had a cup of tea in one hand and a Family Circle Magazine in the other. What an exciting Saturday! But the doorbell rang, as it does many times during the week, but very rarely on a Saturday. It was little Rebekah next door.

   Well, Rebekah is not so little anymore. She is 8 going on 9 and has grown up right before my eyes from a little squeaky voiced 5 year old to a sophisticated young lady about to go into 3rd grade.

   I had to laugh when she said she just had to come over to visit because she was going to Sky Ranch next week and would not be able to visit and she would miss me. This cute little angel has been my little GIRLFRIEND since the time we moved here from Chicago just about 4 years ago. My own little boys are now grown men back in Chicago with lives of their own. I miss them very much.

 So, when the doorbell rings and the dogs frantically bark by the door, I know it's time to drop what I'm doing and take out a little time for a friend.There are always a lot of activities to chose from. We even devised a calendar with numbered possible activities for our visits. Then we can post what we did as not to repeat our activities too often. We bake brownies on an all too regular basis, we eat chocolate, have tea parties, paint pictures, play card games and checkers, and discuss the problems of the world. 8 years old and 55 years old, a very big age difference, but similar philosophies. "Life is short so eat chocolate!"

   There are many times when I feel old and tired or have a million things to do. But, when the doorbell rings and the little smiling face is pressed up against the glass, I stop what I'm doing and take a moment out for GIRLFRIEND time and conversation. There is no age difference, just two girls sitting and chatting and having some chocolate.

McKinney is always doing something fun. The Jazz and Art Festival was great. It was cloudy and hot, but the faithful were out in full force to enjoy good music, great art, good food and time with family and friends. We have a great city! We're only getting better.

 

Move over and step aside, good ol’ boy network, because there is a much bigger and better system of social networking. It doesn’t involve hand shaking in back rooms or computer savvy geniuses. It’s been around for a very long time, and its membership is astounding in numbers.

This worldwide network is very exclusive in some respects, yet very inclusive. The only criterion for this membership is that you must to be a female. I like to call it The Girlfriend Network.

Yes, we are all girlfriends. We may be 9 years old or 90, and we might be called girls or ladies or women, but any way you slice it, we are the largest networking system on the planet.

I believe this system originated as early as pre-historic days. While the early cavemen were out hunting, looking for food or just hanging out with their cavemen buddies, the women were huddled together in the cold dark caves with the children and old folks. They had to help each other survive until their big strong men returned from the hunt.

I also have a theory about the initial discovery of fire. I believe that one day, when the weary cavemen returned from the hunt empty handed, they were not so eagerly greeted by their hungry and exhausted women folk. The women got so upset that they started to hurl large stones and sticks at the men. A few of the sharp stones missed their intended targets and started some sparks on the nearby trees. The huge dried up trees burst into flames and toppled over on several wild boars trying to escape the raging fire. The boars were killed instantly and lay smoldering under the fiery limbs, thus also leading to the invention of barbecue.

See, we girlfriends have been networking since the beginning of time. Women have always helped each other in time of need. Women do not have to be asked for assistance, and they always seem to be around when help is needed. They take care of their own families yet will always be willing to take in strangers and treat them like family.

We girlfriends started networking even when we were little. We gathered all our dolls and doll clothes and shared and swapped until every Barbie had a complete wardrobe. As we got older, we would do homework together and study for tests. We cried over bad report cards and rotten boyfriends. No stage in life is untouched by the network.

The strongest girlfriend network is the motherhood branch. Oh my! When a woman is expecting, the radar goes out and everyone knows about it in 15 minutes. There are offers of help with errands, baby-sitting, cooking, chores, driving, etc. When the baby is born, mothers or sisters come to help with the family. Neighbors are over with food and gifts. The network is quiet and unassuming. The network is strong.

One of the benefits of the girlfriend network is the referral system. Anything you ever wanted to know about anything or anyone is available to you. If you need help with that new baby or an elderly parent, just ask a girlfriend and she will gather information and assistance through the network. If you need a baby-sitter or plumber, ask a girlfriend. If you can’t pick the kids up after school, a rescue is a phone call away. We look out for each other and know the favor will always be returned.

Just recently, I needed to find a doctor for a serious problem. I e-mailed and phoned a few friends and half a dozen women recommended the same doctor in McKinney. They all agreed that she was great. Their advice was correct.

Another time, I had a neighbor and close friend who was terminally ill. The women gathered together, made sure the family had meals every day and took turns visiting during the day while her husband was at work.

The list goes on and on, but the girlfriend network always comes through.

11pt

 

! Toni Armenta Andrukaitis of McKinney is an artist and volunteer, and a Community Voices volunteer columnist. Her e-mail address is toniandrukaitis@sbc global ..net.

mm-summary