Do it yourself? Why?

I come from a family of NDIYs. Meaning whenever possible, never do anything yourself if you can pay someone else to do it for you. My mother couldn't sew, knit, or crochet. And she loathed cooking,  cleaning and grocery shopping. I don't hate any of those things and I'm a passable cook, but I have absolutely no other domestic skills.  Once, when I was really broke, I refinished the wood floors in my house. A floor sander is like a bucking horse. I finished the job without injuring myself. The baseboards were less fortunate and the soft fir floor was scarred with swirly skid marks. My current and only DIY project is book marketing. Between you and me, I prefer sanding floors.  Publishers help, but unless you're really famous, authors have to supplement their publishers' efforts by building a platform via an active presence on social media. I am a "digital immigrant." (I recently learned this term and it fits me to a Tee). When I started out, I thought platforms belonged on shoes. And getting loaded, up or down, was something I abandoned years ago. I started with FB and, truth be known, I've gotten rather nimble at it. Although I find it creepy how much FB misunderstands me. What other explanation is there for getting ads for membership in AARP and pole dancing lessons on the same day?  I did manage to build my own very basic website with software provided by Author's Guild. It's pretty easy, I can change the entire look with one click. But when I asked for help embedding (I think that's the right word) buttons that link visitors to my FB and rarely used Twitter page, the instructions were coded in Java. I have no idea where Java is, let alone have the ability to speak it. The result? I have links,  but not those  cute little blue buttons  - badges of the digitally cool and connected - that I was lusting after. Please, no tears. I'm making progress. Sobbing less than I used to. Maybe it's me or maybe the software designers are taking pity on us immigrants.  Blogging with The Lady Killers has actually been easy. I'm grateful. It took only one lesson - my first ever Skype session with Lady Killer Ann Parker to get the hang of it. 

 

 

 

Comments

[Priscilla]

I love this, Ellen! Laughed and related!

[Michael A. Black]

From the sound of it, I'd say you were an "intrepid digital immigrant," Ellen. I'll keep you in mind if I ever need my floors refinished. ;-)

[Ellen Kirschman]

Mike: You definitely don't want me to refinish anything. Especially anything you hold dear.

[camille minichino]

So nice to have you with us, Ellen. You certainly don't need help coming up with a great blog!

[Ronda]

Ellen, you are braver than I am! I'm not brave enough to sand floors. Most other things I'll try!