Still Hunting For Journal, Thoughts and Metallic Zucchini?

[L.]

We went to the bookstore yesterday--the journal I'd been researching was in reality, a lot smaller than I envisioned!!  Boo.  It's supremely difficult to find a journal as large as I want without paying some binding company an absurd amount of money--well, as I've found so far.  I'm about to just call it quits and grab some of my old college ruled paper, tie it together really tightly and strongly with some super glued ribbons stuck through the holes over a cut piece of plastic for kind of a stable binding, and call it a day.  It'd be interesting if I could maybe fold a really good piece of cardboard or hard plastic into a book shape around the paper and then punch holes in the makeshift spine to connect to the 3 holes in the paper and then thread ribbon through all 3 holes and superglue them to the outside of the spine...that would make it all a lot more secure.  I don't know if it would be as solid or stable as something professionally binded though--and it is a journal after all, I am not writing it for no reason, I'd like it to last.  What to do! >.<  I really do want a big one, as I write so much I feel like a small one would be a bit fruitless, because I'd be constantly worrying about making my text shorter simply because of the size of the journal.

Supposed to go to lunch with dad, but haven't heard from him.  Not really sure what's going on, but I am pretty sore and don't feel like going anywhere because of it anyway, so I won't be sad if he forgets.  I texted him 20 minutes ago, but still haven't heard back.  This is kinda typical for him lol.  He tries though.

Got along better with my bf yesterday.  I love him and am grateful for him but he truly can drive me crazy.  I think we are learning though.  I don't know what he likes about me, I feel like we're constantly having differences.  And he doesn't relate to my passion at all, he often calls it, "being mean," which is completely lacking in truth-- I just feel so whole-heartedly invested in everything I believe in, so strong about my beliefs (because I think about it all constantly and dearly love doing so and feel like it's the most meaningful thing in the world to do with your time, to constantly try to improve yourself, work on yourself, think of ways to help the world/others, be more balanced--and I can get aggravated when other people clearly value such lesser things, and depressed when they're too stupid to realize it--see, passion--whereas he thinks the opposite, and that it's okay to like those things and not care about the rest----I wholeheartedly disagree.  The world is in shambles because of that kind of thinking) that I do come off strong, and he takes it the wrong way.

I think he's starting to get it though.  Hopefully.  Slowly but surely.  I just can't believe how difficult this has been--I shouldn't be having this problem at all.  It shouldn't be THIS difficult.  Yet I feel lost as to what to do about everything really.

Got a text back from dad--he emailed me.  I don't know why he didn't just text, I guess he's busy.  I should email him back because my text back he might have taken the wrong way, lol, I just said, "no, I use my phone."  I was annoyed--who emails to cancel plans?!  Anyway I'll email him back.

Time to make lunch :)

Oh dear--I bought beautiful looking zucchini at Trader Joe's yesterday, and something terrible happened--it tastes metallic!!!  I am not sure how on earth it does--I've NEVER experienced that before.  I've heard of people saying that about cilantro--one of my favorite herbs of all time-- but zucchini?  I've eaten tons of raw zucchini and never had this problem.  What gives?  I was eating all the normal stuff I usually have while I eat zucchini too (guacamole, broccoli, etc), and I peeled it completely before even eating it because I could see it'd been waxed, so I'm not sure why that happened.

[Kamala Raab]

You may want to check out the book by artist Misty Mawn titled Unfurling-a mixed media workshop. It has a section on journal making. It has a list of supplies & how to bind the pages together. This seems like it would be the only way that you could have what you really desire for a journal and it would be so personal and creative. Post a photo if you make one!

[L.]

Oh, I didn't even think about the cover possibilities!!! That sounds divine :). I really don't care about portability, I just want a gigantic journal because right now I have tons of little ones all scattered about my room and I know it will be impossible to sort through if I keep at it :). Thanks so much for the lovely suggestions!

[Kamala Raab]

I love your idea of making your own journal. You could create a beautiful cover for it. One other thought would be to use a smaller journal for each week or each month (easier to carry with you). Have fun with it!

[L.]

Thanks so much for sharing :). I looked up both and they each only have around 30 pages. Is there some way to customize them so they would have 300+? Couldn't find anything on the website but I am known to miss silly things like that!! :p

[Janet Carol Ryan]

don't know about the zucchini - but sure do know about journals! 

look online for Blick art supplies - there is a basic black journal that is wide spiral bound so that it opens up and lays flat - blank pages perfect for sketching, collaging, drawing writing - it's called a Canson Field Sketchbook.

or a newer product called the Visual Journal (by Strathmore). If you have an art supply store in your area I am sure you will find these - or they could order for you. 

Happy Journaling!