Thread: Journals

I won't be doing pictures. It'll likely take the form of: shaved with x razor and x lather, did this differently, shaved better than usual. Smoked a Sweet Factory Throwout, lasted for 3 hours, as smooth as the last one. Its main purpose would be to serve as a reminder of what I like, don't like, and why. Something I tell my wife often is "I don't necessarily remember why I don't like someone/something, I just know I don't like them/it". Hopefully this journal will help me rectify that.

I have my hands full with the here and now. My late father kept a diary on and off over the years but to be honest I've never read any of them. Maybe when I retire. I'm not sure I'd want to remember much of what's happened to me over the years.

This is exciting! I was getting on here to post my own thread on journals. I have been wanting to start one for months now, I don't know the reason but I do have memory problems, and family history of altheimers (not that it would matter for 40 more years). I have two really beautiful l,ittle girls and want to make sure that I write down things they do that I love. So I bought one!! I found a lady that does handbound journals, very nice. I got the large size. 9x6. 24lb paper, dark brown leather journal, it won't be a dowel holding mine closed it's gonna be a 375 h&H cartridge.

Then on suggestion of Jockeys I bought today (should arrive before the journal actually) a Lamy Al-Star in Graphite, with a converter, and Joackey had suggested a NOoodler bulletproof ink I chose the United Kingdom series EL Lawrence. the color in pics looks really cool. greyish, brownish, maybe a bit of greenish.

Here's some pics, the journal and the cartridge I'll use to keep it closed.

was my journal just so awesome I killled the thread?!

Red

Hell yes it was! Are you going to pull the power out of the cartridge?

That's a pretty slick journal. You'll have to post pics of it, your pen, and your ink when you get it all together.

I will post more pics. I'm going to leave the cartridge live, one pulling it might, or I should say likely, will mar the finish of the bullet or casing. plus I like the idea that later I may be able to use the cartridge later, say after the journal is complete. maybe in africa, good page end to the journal, then use the casing to close it after that.

Red

Gentlemen,

Keeping a daily journal is also a great way to examine what's going on in your head. To reflect on things in general. You'll be amazed with the conversations you can have with your journal. It does not matter how much you write in it daily as long as it is something.

If by chance you need a bit of inspiration, read "Travels With My Donkey in the Cevennes: an Island Voyage" by Robert Louis Stevenson. In addition to "Treasure Island" and "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," Stevenson wrote a string of other wonderful books.

"Travels With My Donkey . . ." is such a book. It is a journal of this particular journey of discovery he undertook. It is funny, sad, informative, but in your case, it is also sure to be inspiring to begin your journal tomorrow. Good luck.

Regards,

Obie

I got it gents!!!! I just thought I'd put a short review here. I thought about starting a new thread with a review but had no idea where to put it.

It arrived today, in the usual way. actually it was delivered to the front door by the postal carrier and by chance I happened to be home, which was exciting since I had already checked the mail and thought it wasn't coming today. But I had both my girls (the reason I was home) and set the package aside for when I could open it and take a good long look at it.

Beautiful! just like the pictures. lovely leather, and what an amazing smell, just like all good leather. nothing else like it. buttery soft. some slight staining of first and last pages on the edges from the oil I'm guessing was put on the leather, I like it, you can tell it isn't off the shelf. I had to restitch the closure loop (I just gave her a measurement and she had to work off of it, as didn't want to hassle sending a cartridge to canada) and then had to sew the loop side for it (I requested it not be sewn so I could make it fit the way I wanted). so my only picture to add is of the new closure setup.

I wrote my first entry in it today, four pages actually. I've decided to go about it a bit differently. beings I write right handed I've always found it odd when writing in something thick to write on the left side pages, the only solution I've found is placing a book under that side to support it evenly with the rest. so I am doing this, I'm only using right side pages until I get to the back, 160 pages from now, then i will flip it around and go the opposite direction till I fill it.

I got a Lamy Al-Star fountain pen with fine nib at the recommendation of Jockeys. I bought some Noodler El Lawrence ink, which is absolutely kick ass. I was not 100% confident with this pen yet. My first fountain pen and only a week since I got it. but turns out this paper is PERFECT for this pen and ink! it wrote beautifully (the flow and smoothness NOT my handwriting). I would post a pic but I can't capture the color of the ink well. but you could find good pics of it on fountainpennetwork if you are interested. I love this ink, just awesome. appears a dark brown, but with the right light has a bit of green to it. close to the color of used motor oil (coming out during an oil change, not sludge). for me it dries very quickly too, a few seconds at most and dry.

I recommend this lady to anybody that wants a journal. she has many off the shelf but also works with you so well to make sure you get just what you want. her name is Bev and her online shop is http://lapaperie.etsie.com

Big Red,

My good man, that indeed, is a striking journal. The creative juices flow just by looking at it. I can only imagine what it's like to open the pages and write on them. You have done well. Congratulations.

Now, if I may and what it's worth, here is a bit of advice from a writer:

A writer writes. He or she sits down, takes pen in hand, or opens the laptop, and begins. No excuses: fatigue, headache, stomach ache, lack of time, busy schedule, and so on and on, none of it means a thing if you want to write. Whether it's a novel, a short story, a magazine article, a letter, or a beloved journal, it all points in one direction:

A writer uncaps the fountain pen, opens the notebook and begins. Or opens the laptop and begins.

You have my best wishes for your new journal, Big Red.

Regards,

Obie

This is an entry I put in my Moleskine two years ago after a dangerous abdominal infection left me crapping into a bag for a while:

Philosophy of Injury

During a period of adversity lasting nearly three years, I was able to win several awards in prominent art competitions, get the best job I ever had, recover from nine major surgical procedures, train my dog to win fourth place in the world in competative weight pulling, finish my novel, publish periodic comics and maintain myself in a manner exponentially better than average. Imagine the possibilities that await me when I take full advantage of my resources not handicapped by injury or illness.