I am not sure if I know how to use a paper journal anymore! I seem to have lost the ability to write. I mean, literally- how do I use this thing called a pen?? (heh, and does it have a back space?)

Anyone else have this problem??

How long have you been writing, in any means??

I sit here with a pen and a plain, lined notebook. It is about a quarter full, with the last entry dating back a month. Entries for the past year are scant, although some things needed to be written there as opposed to here or even over at Live Journal.

I used to supplement my paper writing with an occasional post to my LiveJournal, which I have maintained for five or six years now. I have been writing consistently in a paper journals for fifteen years, and not so regularly for over twenty years. I still have almost all of it. I also have a collection of bad poetry, story lines and other writing attempts beyond my personal opinion/thoughts of everything.

It is wild to look back over the years. I havent pulled out the old journals in quite awhile, although I have been meaning to. It is fascinating to see where I have been, as I have been writing since I was 8 years old, atleast. Ha, imagine the stuff you would (or have?) come up with at eight years of age. What would you have written about??

I called my notebook a "diary" (although hated that word and looked for something else) until I was 14, then switched to the term, "journal" and have stuck with that ever since. Now I have to keep myself from calling it a blog, haha.

Anyway, I was in an off mood for awhile earlier. I wrote a semi rant, which turned out to be really pathetic, as my "bad moods" are really nothing notable. I concluded that I am destined to be mentally stable and lovable 363 days out of the year. Forgive me ;)

I had decided to write this so-called rant in another location, such as my paper journal, but suddenly couldn't function with the blank lines and pen in hand. I used to write all of the time. I think I need to walk into a deserted forest and sit down on the mossy earth and re acquaint myself with the pen. I figured that in this past year (ten months, two weeks-if anyone is counting), I have averaged less than one paper entry per month; albeit that when I do write, it is a locquacious entry, but those who have been on the receiving end, know that my electronic posts, comments and emails tend to run on the lengthy side :)

So here I am, writing in (e:strip) and all is right with my world again. Ahh, backspace, you are my friend.

(e:Paul) , what have you done? ;)

...and whatever it is, thank you very much for doing it, your efforts are much appreciated!