Hello. My name is Vanessa, and it has been 22 minutes since I last logged in to Pinterest.
I know you're out there, fellow Pinterest addicts. Raise your calloused, glitter-pocked hands.
For those who haven't ventured into the world of Pinterest, it's basically a website loaded with pictures of stuff that people post from blogs, websites or their own handiwork.
The website, pinterest.com, is divided into categories, from art to science to crafts to food and more. I live on the edge, so I click the "everything" option, flooding my screen with pictures of casseroles, fitness tips, Johnny Depp and homemade shampoo.
The danger with Pinterest is that it seems to go on for eternity. You scroll and scroll and scroll, and the page gets longer and longer. And, while you were clicking pictures of Crock Pot meals, inspirational quotes and do-it-yourself shaving cream recipes, three hours of your life passed by.
With Pinterest, you can copy stuff from the main page to your own bulletin board. So, if there's a recipe you want to try or a craft you want to make, you click "re-pin" and it "pins" that info to your own boards on the website.
But the mark of someone truly pinteresting is a finished product. Anyone can re-pin something. It takes dedication to try some of the stuff and be willing to fail.
That's the running joke with Pinterest. You're so busy re-pinning ideas, by the time you're done, you don't want to make those chicken enchiladas or reupholster that couch.
Like anyone with interest in Pinterest, I have hundreds of pins I've never tried, but I'm proud to say there are many I have. Mostly food.
I've made delicious cilantro lime rice, Greek yogurt ranch dressing dip and shredded buffalo chicken. I've made not-so-yummy baked banana chips, copycat Butterfingers and apple crumble.
Whether the ideas are awesome or lame, I love what Pinterest represents. It's a gathering place, where people swap ideas to help make each other's lives easier and more beautiful.
It's strangers helping strangers. The person who posted instructions on how to tile a floor with pennies probably inspired hundreds of copper entryways.
And the people offering laundry detergent recipes are saving cash-strapped families money.
Sure, some of the posts are planted by companies trying to sell their furniture stain or shredded cheese. But, the bulk of the information comes from everyday people wanting to share a little bit of their life with the world.
And I think that's pinteresting.
Vanessa Renderman is a reporter with The Times. You can reach her at vanessa.renderman@nwi.com.
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