In Multi-Medias Res

I haven’t written a blog in half-a-year (that’s six months to you and me . . .) so I begin anew. In medias res. Or perhaps, more accurately, it’s in multi-medias res. I’ve kept blogs in various places: MySpace, Tribe.net, LiveJournal, Vox, and Facebook. With the exception of a few fossilized entries on Facebook, none of the other blogs remain posted.

I have no theme to this madness; no method to this cyberspace palimpsest. What have my blogs contained in the past? Everything from essays, poems, fiction, dialogues, book reviews, musings, amusings, bemusings, and otherwise confusing musings, surveys, questionnaires, wish lists, anaphoric catalogues, and a variation on the old fashioned, albeit stereotypically pre-adolescent girl’s journal salutation, “Dear Diary.” Some entries were marked “friends only” and some were hoisted in a moment of great emotion, but poor judgment, only to be later marked “friends only” or relegated to back to the semi-private world of My Documents.

A few collected thoughts about keeping a notebook (or a blog)

Reasons why one might keep a journal . . .
1) Scribbling, doodling, scratch pad, and 'note to self' moments are subject to occur at any point in the day. Having a place to jot it down, make a note of it, or sketch it will help one to avoid the dreaded "notile dysfunction" (not to be confused with artistile dysfunction)
2) Having a notebook, diary, journal, field notes, lab book, sketchpad, etc. gives you an additional item to carry on your person along with phone, PDA, wallet, coin purse, key purse (does anybody carry these anymore), compact, leatherman, portable GPS, mace or pepper spray, and collapsible baton.
3) Just think of it, a perpetual to-do list and grocery list.
4) Writing things down can lead to personal fulfillment, or obsessive-compulsive behavior.
5) Some notebooks have a handy little back pocket in which you can put stuff. Often times the advertisements suggest movie tickets, receipts, train tickets, and stamps. In my experience, I rarely go to the movies, never take trains, most stamps are pre-gummed, and reciepts go elsewhere. But it's nice to know there are options.
6) However, one should beware of the law of inversion intention. This law states that the more you pay for a notebook or journal, the less likely you are going to write anything in it.
7) Sometimes it's nice to have a place where you can write down all the things you wish you could say to other people. It's even better when you can draw cartoons with dialogue bubbles that have such text in them. Then scan the image and post it on your Flickr page.
8) In reference to number 7, it is also advisable to remain aware that notebooks can, in some instances, be subpoenaed and subject to the rules of discovery in a legal proceeding. (I say this mainly tongue-in-cheek . . . however, my lawyers also suggest that I emphasize that I am merely writing a parody and they refer the reader to decision rendered in the Hustler Magazine and Larry C. Flynt, Petitioners v. Jerry Falwell decision, 485 US 46, 1988 which held that the creators of parodies of public figures are protected against civil liability by the First Amendment, unless the parody includes false statements of fact made in knowing or reckless disregard of the truth.)
9) Another use of notebooks: to write down legal precedents as well as reminders on things to do like "change oil, pay gas bill, buy war bonds"
10) You can bequeath them to a library of your choice upon your demise or sudden rise to fame. Oftentimes universities will purchase your papers if they deem them cultural artifacts. My personal papers are currently slated to be housed in the humanities and sciences library at the Oakland School of Barbering.

Further thoughts on keeping a notebook . . . (or a blog).

Notebook. No photographer should be without one. --Ansel Adams, The Camera There are quite a few websites dedicated to praising the use of notebooks in general (www.notebookism), or particular brands (http://www.moleskinerie.com/)(http://www.rhodiadrive.com/), or how people have used notebooks (http://www.moleskine.vox.com/), or about the search for a perfect black notebook (http://www.blackcover.wordpress.com/). On the contrary, I do not have a website dedicated to any of the above. Therefore, I might not have anything new to add. However, I have a few more suggestions on why one might carry around an analog data assistant (the other ADA) complete with graphite or ink stylus.

Reason #1 A little black book, preferably in a reporter style format, makes a wonderful conversation piece if you remove it on occasion to give the impression that you are writing down things that others are saying; it’s also quite a conversation starter if you actually write down things that others are saying. A stronger impression is left if you interrupt said speaker with a request to “say it again.” An even bigger impression is left if the people you are taking notes about have no idea who you are.

Reason #2 If you kept your shopping list from week to week, you might discover some interesting things. For instance, I discovered, not by this method, but from looking in the pantry when I was unloading the groceries today that I have six cans of tuna from Starkist, Safeway, Bumble Bee, Lucky, and some non-descript other brand. It’s even better when you use acronyms that mean nothing to you over time. Rachel Ray may have her EVOO, but has she ever gone looking for GVWR? Yes, that would be Glaceau Vitamin Water—Revive.

Reason #3 A lot of people use journals to write down their dreams. Some even interpret their dreams afterward. A more interesting use of a journal re: dreaming would be writing down the dreams you wished you had but didn’t have. Writing a long paragraph about why you think didn’t have the dream may unearth some roots of neurosis well worth taking to your therapist, or to your friends. Calling a friend shortly after midnight to let them in on your discovery is a way of determining the strength of your alliance.

Reason #4 You can always use your journal to paste in a collage, list, meditation, and active imagination exercise to “process” the aftermath of your friendship (see reason #3).

Reason #5 Pocket agendas and account books were once a popular promotional item given by insurance agents, sales people, and bankers to their customers, often mid-western farmers. These account books were used to record transactions and balances due. A fun way to resurrect this past tradition is to create lists of all your bills and then to create lists of your friends and random people to whom you will send these bills so that they would pay them for you.

Reason #6 Another use of your journal will be writing down the name of your credit counselor and possibly attorney in the fallout of reason #5. On the backside of each page, you could write, “Sure, it was a long shot. But you have to give me credit for trying.” Bankruptcy judges may find this amusing.

And things for which you could or should keep a notebook:

The usual kinds of journals / notebooks / diaries people keep

The Dear Diary (Today I was rebuffed by Mr. Darcy; he’s an ass. I shant speak with him forever more.)
Dream journal (Mr. Darcy had the wings of Pegasus and a body like a cross between a Griffin and a common donkey; he sang to me the songs of Mel Torme)
Meditation journal (One, inhale, exhale . . . two, inhale, exhale . . . om . . . )
Project journal (Day one: buy stuff; Day two: try to put stuff together; Day three: hire somebody else to do it)
Baby journal (Day one: ooops, that wasn’t the plan; Month six: This is going to be weird. Month 8: Should I tell him, he’s the daddy?)
Wedding journal (I’m really hoping we can have ice sculptures of swans in flight; then we can also have real swans in flight)
Divorce journal (If we didn’t spend all that money on those freakin’ swans . . .)
Wine journal (This 2008 Boone’s Strawberry Hill is fruity with a hint of grape reminiscent of the 2007 Thunderbird)
Food journal (If you can’t super-size it, fuck it, it shouldn’t be called food)
Travel journal (On Wednesday we continued north. The countryside changed dramatically. There was less graffiti.)
Calorie intake journal: 2 sprigs of parsley, one sunflower seed, one peppercorn does not make a salad.

Journals people could keep, but usually don’t:
Best fried chicken survey journal
Donuts that are unrivaled
Coffee: one cup per page (must include at least one drip or mug ring per page)
The “If I were in Prison right now, I’d be thinking this” Journal
Dreams I had but I was too embarrassed to admit Thoughts I had but I was too surprised to admit journal
Places I’ve been but really shouldn’t admit
Crushes I’ve had that nobody would understand