I'm Still Alive...but is the Cake a lie or what?

The rumors are true I still exist. The last few weeks have been crazy all starting with being in Florida from the 7th-19th of July for the launch of Atlantis and the last launch of the shuttle program, which I've still yet to really post about or upload photos/videos. After the launch I went on, I don't know an 'actual' vacation? To Disney World with some long-time friends.

I guess it was really the vacation that lead to my somewhat extended online absence. I won't say it was really intended but I guess it was a combination of just being on an actual vacation and feeling fairly relaxed and carefree and as a result very little compulsion to check-in online or even use a computer. The extent of it surprised me looking back I realized that I hadn't really been online, checking Twitter/Facebook compulsively or even on the net much more than a handful of times in the week I was on vacation. Quite out of character for me over the last several years for sure!

I guess as part of the realization that I didn't need to check-in so often that carried over to when I got back home. Around the same time Google+ burst on to the scene and it started to just feel like so much Twitter/Facebook/Google+ now to all manage? I value many of the connections I've made online certainly but the reality is there is a lot of noise and sifting through it all and trying to manage it can be draining.

So what does all that mean? I'm not sure exactly. A lot of IRL stuff is going on right now and coming to a head and I guess it probably leaves less time for online, and it isn't my intention to just abandon everything. I think part of the problem is a lack of good tools for catching up on things. It would be nice to be able to go away for the day, come back and get a sense of what happened, what things I would really care about and want to see, etc. Some kind of intelligent filter. Where is my AI already?! The reality it seems to me is we have all this information available to us and, as is the age old problem, not enough time to consume it. All these networks, sources of news and information, and we're able to consume 10% if we try really hard? Perhaps the bottom line is that's a discouraging realization and I just became discouraged or defeated by trying.

If any social media adicts out there have felt this way or have strategies I'm curious to hear about it. In the meantime I'll see you out there again soon!