How many use their pens for Journaling?

[Brilliant Bill]

While I have several different notebooks that could be considered "journals," my most consistent is grocery shopping. Every Friday I go through the supermarket sale circular and note sale items...
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The one pictured is a classic pocket notebook from Story Supply Company. It's hardly a favorite, but they donate to schools so I support them.

In one more formal "journal," I have mostly quotes about photography and art:

"I am at war with the obvious."
-William Eggleston

"The greatest location in the world is the human face."
-Movie director John Cassavetes

Another one is occasional thoughts, often starting with a weather notation.


June 20, 2021
Sunday

The 90-degree-plus days are back, starting today. Humidity too.

So, today is the first iced tea day of the season! Nice --- sweet and cold.

Over the last few years, much of my writing has been done with Google Docs. It's the fastest and most convenient. Also, in sleepless night hours, without even opening my eyes, I can simply tell the Google Assistant to take a note, and when I wake up, there it is, digitized and ready for use.

A more compelling question for me is what happens to written "journals" after death. Some of the intimacy I shared with Betsy is in there, and while it is an honest record of human lives, I do feel queasy about family reading this some days or years after I check out. Prideful, perhaps; as Brilliant Bill says:

We are each as different and individual as snowflakes. Yet we are all part of the same blizzard.

Reading over this, is it really more than just another journal entry?

[VertOlive]

While I have several different notebooks that could be considered "journals," my most consistent is grocery shopping. Every Friday I go through the supermarket sale circular and note sale items...
.
.

.
.

The one pictured is a classic pocket notebook from Story Supply Company. It's hardly a favorite, but they donate to schools so I support them.

In one more formal "journal," I have mostly quotes about photography and art:

"I am at war with the obvious."
-William Eggleston

"The greatest location in the world is the human face."
-Movie director John Cassavetes

Another one is occasional thoughts, often starting with a weather notation.


June 20, 2021
Sunday

The 90-degree-plus days are back, starting today. Humidity too.

So, today is the first iced tea day of the season! Nice --- sweet and cold.

Over the last few years, much of my writing has been done with Google Docs. It's the fastest and most convenient. Also, in sleepless night hours, without even opening my eyes, I can simply tell the Google Assistant to take a note, and when I wake up, there it is, digitized and ready for use.

A more compelling question for me is what happens to written "journals" after death. Some of the intimacy I shared with Betsy is in there, and while it is an honest record of human lives, I do feel queasy about family reading this some days or years after I check out. Prideful, perhaps; as Brilliant Bill says:

We are each as different and individual as snowflakes. Yet we are all part of the same blizzard.

Reading over this, is it really more than just another journal entry?

As far as my son reading my journals when I’m dead, I love to leave Easter eggs throughout the pages to leave him wondering. “Why did she have 8 legal names?”, “When did she spend all that time in North Vietnam?”, or “Who was the detective in Mexico City?”. My husband will never tell!

[Sailor Kenshin]

Anyone keep a 'commonplace' book? Or is that just a word in vogue?

Yes, although any semblance of proper usage is sorely lacking; and of organization there is none.

Most of what ends up in it are notes scratched out on various pads, so it has become more of a binder.

Since mine have zero organization, I stick editorial flags on 'important' pages.

[Bisquitlips]

Thanks everyone for your input! So many creative ideas that I never thought of!

I feel inspired!