Love is a Many Moleskine Thing
“Hello, my name is Gary, and I am a journal addict.” Or so I might introduce myself at the local chapter meeting of MA (Moleskine Anonymous)…if there were such a group.
Packing my briefcase on Monday for yet-another-office-trudge, I noticed the pile of Moleskines on the coffee table next to my shoulder bag I use on weekends for carrying all my crap from café to café. (The life of a nomadic writer is all about creative pack-n-tote.) So there I was, doing the usual Monday-morning chore of gathering up the appropriate office-necessary Moleskines, when I realized (admittedly for the first time) that I am rather dependent on Modo e Modo’s famous product line.
Over a week’s time, I typically use all of these black Moleskines:
- Large ruled (personal journal)
- Large sketch (personal sketching)
- Small accordion (business receipts)
- Small ruled reporter (food journal, todos, notes)
- Small diary (addresses and phones)
- Small cahier (attached to diary in case I need to make notes and don’t have the reporter)
- Small ruled (older, travel journal I still sometimes read or journal in)
And although I haven’t used it in a while, I also have a small sketch somewhere around here (for when the large sketch is too big to take, of course). Also recently acquired an extra-large ruled cahier (included in the picture), although I haven’t figured out what to do with it yet. But it is tres cool.
Sigh.
Now if you are assuming that I only own journals with “Moleskine” embossed on them, sorry to disappoint you. The above list does cover every conceivable journal need I have (or at least the needs I currently know about), and I can safely say I am faithful to the brand for all my working journals, But I am not averse to non-Moleskine temptations (although Lord knows why I need more). Sometimes the urge is, as Robert Palmer sings, “Simply Irresistible.” But it is truly not MY fault. I blame companies like Paperblank for creating tantalizing journals. Who can resist those magnetic closures, outlandish cover designs, or that new journal slim line that calls to my pocketbook like a seductive siren, tempting me to stray across Moleskine borders? I obviously do not need another journal, nor do I plan to stop using Moleskines as my workhorses. But it is always good to know about other options, right? RIGHT?
Despite having all the versions of black journals I can use, I am still drawn to a Moleskine display whenever I venture into a store carrying the line. Like a moth to a flame, like Eramus1 to a book sale, like…well, you get the point. Maybe the pull is merely from innocently hoping a new Moleskine version will magically appear, even though a daily dose of Moleskinerie keeps me abreast of news about anything America-bound from Modo e Modo. Yet I still enjoy seeing “the rack” on such visits. (The photo at left is the display at Blick’s in Chicago…a truly destination-worthy store for lovers of art and journally things.)
So is therapy in order? Intervention? A bigger briefcase?
Nah. Each Moleskine I use fulfills a distinct function, and while I could consolidate (and may when current versions fill up), part of the joy of journaling comes from the tools. Just like selecting the right pen is important for paper and occasion, choosing the right Moleskine is necessary for the utility desired. I do hope the creative ones at Modo e Modo only release new, clever versions slowly, so I am not tempted to further complex an already somewhat confusing array of notebooks. If that happens, then I may just have to get one of those small, sexy buff cahiers to keep track of my Moleskine bad boys.
7 Responses to “Love is a Many Moleskine Thing”
“the right pen”?!
Blasphemy!
I can imagine Ewan McGregor in his little tux, on a giant elephant proclaiming, “Moleskine is a many splendid thing; all you need is Moleskine!”
LOL…I thought you’d catch that! I don’t journal in pencil, but the sketching is (usually) in pencil, as is the date book entries, etc.
Do you remember some of the less distinguished Moleskines? The wool and faux lizard covers from around 2002? I’m sure Modo & Modo would rather forget them. I now wish I had bought one and stashed it away – I’m sure members of the Moleskine clan would pay a lot for these artifacts today.
Yes! I remember looking at those an wondering “why”…but then, different strokes, different folks and all that. Glad they stayed the minimalist course (at least for now). Thanks for visiting!
Hi, My name is Felix Erazo and I’m a journal addict.
Gary, Today I saw your posting on moleskinerie.com and from there I followered the link to your site. I’M GLAD i DID. i’VE bookedmarked it, so I’ll be a back to get my moleskine fix.
Be Good
Felix
I think,therefore I am- like you;-) I have two online journals(blogs),two moleskines notebooks(one for personal records and the other for business) and the latest addition or rather addiction is one from Paper Blanks for my own short stories that I dare not put online.
Hi …Great blog. I see that you are using the Moleskine daily diary.I have used these for the past 3 years and love them as well as the squared journal.I also like the the Exacompta daily diary with one day to a page,so I end up buying both every year ..JUST in case I may want to use thatone…It is a sickenss.Thanks so much for sharing your experience.Have a great day!