Just write.

February 23, 2011 was the last time I posted anything on this, my very own blog. Today is July 13, 2011. As far as I know, I have been awake during the months in-between. I've even been typing on a computer keyboard, writing tons of e-mails, letters, memos, reports, just about anything but writing for this blog.

Why the heck don't I write on this blog?

The answer is oh so clear: I am lazy. Further, I am not disciplined. At all.

Every morning I look forward to reading OTHER people's blogs, especially my friend, Jo's. (Do yourself a favor: read Smiling Heart. It's a treasure, filled with art, music, and daily observations that bring laughter and, sometimes, tears.)

Bloggers such as my friend Jo care enough to make time either every day or at least, consistently, to write. I salute them. What's more, I want to be like them.

So, let's give this blog another go, shall we, Jan?

I'll start with this comment from Cory Doctorow. I discovered Mr. Doctorow over at Boing Boing, where he is Co-Editor. Mr. Doctorow(craphound.com) also is a science fiction author, activist, journalist and blogger. His latest short story collection is WITH A LITTLE HELP.

Some other poor sod asked Mr. Doctorow for advice on writing. Mr. Doctorow responded, "Write even when the world is chaotic ... you just need ten minutes and a writing implement."

I think that's a nice way of saying: No excuses. Just write.

I bought a Moleskine notebook. No lines. Just blank pages. I take it that the objective is to fill the blank pages with something. So I fill.

I write down book titles and authors that appeal to me or that have been recommended. Sometimes I even read these books.

I write reminders, e.g., Call Car X for tires rotation. Imagine my satisfaction when I cross through these reminders once I actually have completed tasks.

I write down quotes that touch me in some way. Here's one: "If an apple's called 'delicious,' it's not." Susan Stewart, writer & poet, evidently said that at some point. She may well be right.

I especially love writing down websites and blog addresses noted in my readings as worth checking out. Some are as interesting as I'd hoped; many are "blah."

I jot down ideas, work-related and personal, in my lovely Moleskine notebook. By the way, I read somewhere that Moleskine notebooks were cool so that's why I started using one. As if there aren't a thousand other kinds of journals and notebooks to write in. Cheaper, too.

But what other writing journals come with a little informational brochure written in seven languages? You can read the history of the Moleskine notebook which, it turns out, is the "heir and successor to the legendary notebook used by artists and thinkers over the past two centuries: among them Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, and Bruce Chatwin."

I'm sold.

Folks, I just wrote down in my lovely Moleskine notebook an idea for a future blog post. This, I believe, is a good sign.

'til then.