“Tumblr makes it effortless to share anything you find or create. Post text, photos, quotes, links, dialogues, audio, video, slideshows, and more…”
In 2007-ish, I approached my IT go-to-guy, Dylan at the University about wanting to do a website, but not really knowing what it would be or why and told the upkeep of a website/blog was “intense” and sometimes burdensome. After I decided to open a Facebook account and then watched my children’s faces launch into a horror akin to watching “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” at the drive-in (which I did!), I went to Dylan with my dilemma to just chat about all things techie.
As expected, good ‘ol Dylan, immediately said, “Do a Tumble-Log, its perfect for you Lori, and its FREE!” What? What the heck is that? He whipped over to the Tumblr site, early in its development and showed me how cool it all was. And boy, is it ever. It was PERFECT! I was on it like white on rice. Next thing I knew, I had followers and was listed as a “Top Tumblette”, haha! I’m sure I’m not a Top Tumblette anymore, as it has grown worldwide with way more fancy, cool, Tumblrs out there now than I have. But I enjoyed my brief moment of internet glory. (Again “Get a Life!” comes to mind…”)
What really made it all work for me later on, was StumbleUpon. What? What’s that you say? Well it is THE ONLY WAY to SURF.
(As an aside, my husband was called years ago by Vincent Cerf, the true Godfather of the Internet, for a meeting. Not knowing how Mr. Cerf spelled his last name, I stupidly thought “Oh Cool! That why we call it Surf the Net!” Techie husband sighs, “No Lori, its just a coincidence the reason we call it Surfing the net is….” That’s too bad, I like my story way better!)
So StumbleUpon is a program that is also FREE. You make an account and then select a wide array of topics that you are interested in. I have things like Photography, Cooking, Arts & Crafts, Travel, Humor, Science, Education, etc. Then you put a StumbleUpon button on your browser. At the time, and because I’m a Mac User, Firefox was the option for me, as they didn’t have it for Safari (that may have changed since). So now what. Well you also put up a Share on Tumblr button and man you are ready to Rock and Roll! You hit the StumbleUpon button and it quickly takes you to all manner of things in your criteria that are cool and on the web. If you fall in love with something, you “Like” it and it will be in your StumbleUpon Account for later retrieval, you bookmark it, OR you hit “Share on Tumblr!” Boom! You have a beautiful archive of all manner of things you think are cool, inspirational, funny, obnoxious, WOW, whatever strikes your fancy. Then you can share those links on your Tumblr with your FB account or send a link to your friends instead of the video/photo attachment.
And you don’t have to try to save all your stuff that you find on your computer’s hard drive. UGH! Have enough crap to organize on my computer.
So my tumblr site should you decide to have fun and take a peek is:
Beware, this becomes very addictive. When you begin to see the same StumbleUpon sites you have seen recently, its really time to get outside and take a walk and put it away. I’m embarrassed to say it takes a lot to get that into it, and sadly I have, but only twice! Then I saw how EVIL it can all be if not done in moderation! However, I will let on to a little secret about having a Tumblr, it WAY IMPRESSES anyone under 35-ish! I can’t tell you how funny it is to see my high tech husband wonder what all the hooplah is when at a party or gathering and a bunch of good looking young men are freaking out that I even know what Tumblr IS, let alone have one, from its early days! WOOoooooo, Booyah Dave!
What is also interesting for me, when I venture back into a ways, is what was going on at a particular time in my life in the world or in my own life. Its a bit like an online pictorial diary. Political Cartoons, Stories, photos, etc. Anyway, check it out and if you decide to do one, let me know and I will be honored to be one of your “followers”!
