When I was a freshman in high school, my family signed up AOL. It seemed downright magical because it brought the internet into our house with those three glorious words, “You’ve got mail!” I can remember coming home from school and checking my email, of which there would be none because the only people who would send me email had been in school with me all day. Once that task was completed, I would sit there and try to think of something else I could do online. Inevitably I would sign off and wander upstairs to start my homework, unable to justify playing solitaire. My family and I would joke about it, deciding that this whole internet thing is just a phase and that it really isn’t going to catch on. Yeah. So much for that thoughtful insight.

Now I panic if my internet isn‘t working. I sit and tap my fingers and make deals with my computer in return for the internet resuming. I make empty promises of no more diet Pepsi within arms length of the keyboard of my laptop or a guarantee of shut down at bedtime. I promise to change the screensaver to something more entertaining than those ridiculous bubbles and pledge that I will buy a new fancy cordless mouse for the desktop computer. As I contemplate calling my internet service provider and demanding to know what is going on I can’t help but think, how did I survive before the internet?

There are so many things that I use the internet for, I would be lost without it now. I can’t imagine having to go to a new doctor, taking a road trip or figuring out a detour around construction without MapQuest. How did people even get anywhere without it? I have to admit that it isn’t always reliable. My mom and I spent one very aggravating afternoon trying to decipher directions to a pumpkin patch about an hour away. I ended up having to pull an old school move by asking for directions at a gas station. The lady restocking the beef jerky knew what I was talking about and told me to drive until I saw a sign for the local fire station and then make a left turn at the large oak tree. Awesome.

Brad makes fun of me all the time for my “internet acquired” knowledge. I am absolutely ridiculous when it comes to Googling symptoms. When I was pregnant, this was my worst enemy. I had Preeclampsia with all three pregnancies and would drive Brad crazy with my, “Yeah, but the internet says…” stories. Brad has since imposed an immediate three day moratorium on internet usage after any kind of diagnosis or any sudden weird symptom. I guess my Google Medical Degree will be taking a break for a while. I am sure that the kids’ pediatrician will be thrilled.

I like to think that the internet has made my life better. I pay all of my bills online, find new recipes online, shop online and post pictures on my blog so my family can be amazed by my quickly growing children. Since I have no local scrapbook stores, I buy all of my scrapbook supplies online. An added bonus of buying scrapbooking supplies at Scrapbook.com was the message boards here. I never imagined finding a whole website full of people who are interested in the same things that I am. I have made some amazing friends here. Patrizzia was my very first friend here. I still smile when I get an email saying she has added a new image to her gallery. It has been so much fun watching her daughter grow!

I have lots of people who I regularly stalk their galleries, such as Cheryljunegirl, TessaAnn, Queen_of_Paper, Luuuuv2scrap, Toofclnr, Emilie Ahern, PEIgirl and Momarazzi, to name just a very few. I find daily inspiration from these special ladies and there are always some amazing new layouts in the gallery for me to be in love with. Just this morning I found these three layouts that I think are amazing: Summer School by Carbphrek, Fast Car by Aimee Ann and 1984 by Jeniece.

I have been here for almost 3 years and I never imagined how important Scrapbook.com would be for me. I am grateful for a space where I can share layouts, ideas and fun stories with a group of people who truly understand. What in the world did we do before the internet?

That’s my take this week! What’s yours? What did you do before the internet? Are there things that you can’t live without online? And just because I am always in search of new amazing talent, let’s hear the names of your favorite Scrapbook.com neighbors! Whose gallery do you stalk? Leave a comment here listing your favorite artist(s) and I will choose one winner who will receive a $20.00 gift certificate to the Scrapbook.com Superstore!!

AND don’t forget that there is one more week left in the “Brand New” June Contest!! Upload those layouts!