by Maxi

Laura “Hawkins” Grimes is a 40-year-old sex therapist who lives in Chicago. Yet every chance she gets, Laura can’t wait to steal away to her rural spread outside the city.

She’s so proud; designed it herself. There are three dairy farms, two ponds and a log cabin. Scarecrows stand constant guard over her prize-winning blackberries. And yes, it’s surrounded by a white picket fence.

The therapist built her farm, tends it and wins rewards — without ever leaving her computer.

Now, I gotta tell ya. I’m not a Facebook user but this is impressive. Here’s how it works: The game FarmVille gives you a parcel of land to develop and “trick out” to suit yourself. If you work hard and the place does good, your bank balance grows. If you’re lazy, your crops shrivel and die along with your bank account.

This is the part I really like. If the neighbor’s scare away critters, help fertilize, feed animals or whatever on your place, they get rewarded with points and gold.

We all relate to farming, don’t we? Sort of like grandma’s garden on a larger scale. Then there’s the pride factor, developing your own farm. Most of all, the millions who are playing this game love the camaraderie … that heart-to-heart connection.

I gotta tell ya, I’m not a Facebook user but this is impressive. Actual farmers love this game. A 31-year-old bachelor in Illinois was tending crops on Farmville ’cause it was too soggy to harvest his real field.

You can make the connection at:

FarmVille      http://www.farmville.com

Zynga              http://www.zynga.com

SlashKey       http://www.slashkey.com

May Your Glass Always Be Half Full

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If you’re following my new novel Over the Edge this is a must read chapter maximalone.com