I know, I know . . . you're thinking that MySpace is just for teenagers.  NOT SO!  It actually has some pretty cool features that are worth checking out.  Even for us grown-ups.

I was dragged, kicking and screaming, into signing up for MySpace because of my sister and our best friend (yes, my sister and I share a best friend.) I'm finding that it's actually a great way to find old friends -- when you add your schools (I added my high school and college), you can then search by clicking on the school from your page, for anyone else who has added those schools!  I've found all sorts of interesting stuff. LOL.

I'm not using MySpace as a blog, because I've been blogging for two years with Typepad and am quite happy with it -- but it's more of a "hey, here I am, here's what I'm doing, here's where to find me" kind of thing. Pretty fun, actually.

I found out yesterday that a good friend of mine I hadn't talked to in a year is remarried with a new baby! LOL. and that other people . . . well, let's just say I've been having some laughs. heh.

and the best part? Unlike Classmates.com, it's totally free.

Some tips and thoughts:

-- You have to use an e-mail address to sign in, instead of a user name.
-- You have to be signed in to do almost anything.  LOL
-- MySpace experiences "technical difficulties" a LOT.  Just don't worry about it when it happens; try again later.  LOL.
-- You can set your profile to private so that only approved people can view anything but your picture and a small amount of profile information.
-- Underneath everyone's profile picture (top left) is a box for "contacting" that member.  Here is where you click to "add to friends" or send a message.

-- the MySpace format takes a little getting used to, especially if you're used to regular blogging.  When in doubt, click on the "home" link on the top left to get back to your manager page.  This is where you go to edit your profile, add photos, add a new blog entry, etc.
-- I don't recommend MySpace as a main blog, as you're limited to options (can't upload pictures to entry, but you can click on image and insert a URL) and especially because you can't edit entries once you save them.  For an edit-happy writer like me, that just doesn't fly.  You CAN delete blog entries, though.  Since I'm using MySpace as a "hello, here I am," I just put up a few blog entries to tell people more about my life right now, then linking them to my main blog.
-- you CAN use HTML language in blog entries, but first you have to check the box that says "view source" or something, so you're switched to HTML mode.  Otherwise, it reads the HTML as text.

-- now in the boxes for your PROFILE, use HTML to your heart's content.  This is actually the only way to make it cool.  :) 
-- if you want for there to be hard returns (instead of everything in one paragraph), use this HTML: <br />
In HTML, that's just like hitting enter.  So one <br /> starts a new line, one more will give you a blank line before the next text.
-- if you want to link some of your text, use the <a href="link"> text </a> tags.  So linking to my Digi-Scrappin' with Jen would look like this:
<a href="http://www.jenjen.typepad.com"> Click here for link </a>

-- you can use www.Slide.com or other slideshow hosts to create cool photo bars for your blog.  Just go to the slideshow website and build and save your slideshow.  Slide.com actually has directions for how to put your slideshow in MySpace (they're nifty that way.)  Pretty much figure out on your page where you want it to be, copy the code, and then go to "Home" and "Edit my profile" and paste the code under the text in the profile box you want.  You might want to use some <br /> before and after the slideshow code to give it some space.  If you change your slideshow and want to update it on your MySpace, copy the new code and go into where your old code was.  Highlight all the code (will start with "<embed allow . . ." or "<div>") and delete it.  Then paste the new code and click on "save all changes."
-- MySpace WILL allow you to upload 16 pictures to your account and build a slide show out of these.  From "Home," click on "Add/Edit Photos."  Upload your photos one by one, choose one for your profile picture.  You can add captions to the photos, too.  If you want to replace one, just delete it and then upload again.  For the slideshow, look for "Click here to select your slideshow style."  Make your changes and then highlight and copy the code.  Then just follow the directions above for placing it. These pictures are also what will show up when someone clicks on "View my Pics" under your profile pic.

-- "Edit Profile" is where you'll do most of your adding/changing things.  I didn't notice at first that there is a text sub-menu under the title, with things like "Interests & Personality, Name, Basic Info," etc.  This is where you can add a school to your profile so you can be linked to everyone else who has added that school.  It's a pretty cool way to find old friends.  Once you've added your school, view your profile and scroll down to where your schools are listed.  Click on one and you'll get a new page -- "Find a Friend
Results for "school."  That's just fun stuff.

-- Your "Friends."  You have to approve people to be your "Friend" -- when you get a Friend request, click on their profile picture to view their page and see if you know them/like them.  Don't feel bad about rejecting someone random -- it's YOUR damn webpage!  You can do whatever you want with it!
-- You can only leave comments for people who are your friends.  You can do HTML in comments, too -- a lot of people include pictures in comments this way.  :)
-- Once you've added your friends, you can customize which ones show on your main page.  From the "Home" page, scroll down and look for the Friends section and "edit top friends."  You can choose how many to show on your profile page, and then select which ones.  Hit "save top friends" before exiting.

Pretty much just go in there and start clicking on things.  Playing around on a site is the best way to learn how to use it.  Those are my top tips to help you figure out MySpace.