Monday, August 21, 2006

My Past Year in J-Land

  Where do I begin?  I'm never usually at a loss for words but this one is escaping me a bit. 

I started my journal on Oct 5, 2005.  Why?  I have no idea.  I had heard of blogs and clicked on the journal community and thought I would give it a shot.  My intentions were to write some witty entries about the perils of raising three children (nearly grown now) as a single mom.  That's how I began.  I wasn't concernd about readers.  Just sort of a history to keep for my own use.

I needed some assistance and found a message board for journals.  It was a want ads type of thing to promote your own journal.  I started clicking and reading a few.  I actually got a couple of comments.  I liked that.  I then began clicking on the links in other favorite journals and lurked for a while just reading.  I wasn't sure if there was some sort of etiquette about commenting or not...lol

I soon noticed how pretty the journals were decorated and wanted to make mine pretty.  It took me about two weeks and much tutoring to figure it out.  Readers were being added.  LOL...I liked that even more.  My next observation was that some graphics were far prettier than others.  Surprise, many made their own.  My interest was stirred.  I wanted to make my own.  Thanks to dear, Shelly, RoxyMama, who sent me PSP 7 and patiently tutored me, I was on my way.

J-Land is far more than just a blog site.  It is a community that is unique, in my opinion, to the web. My journal has changed courses a few times.  Many times, it is a refuge for me to post things that I probably wouldn't relate to most of my friends.

It has also become a huge, addictive hobby to me...making tags in PSP, which, in itself, is also a refuge at times when the waters are rough in my life.

I value most the friendships I have developed over the course of10+ months I've been a part of this community.  I look forward to many more.  As with anything, there is the good and the bad.  I focus on the good.  J-Land is only what you make it to be for yourself.

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY AOL JOURNALS....thanks for many wonderful memories!

Thanks to Viv and her hardworking team of talent who made all the events for this celebration possible.

Thanks to Krissy and John also....may all our prayers be answered for the two of you.

              Thanks to D and Julie for the wonderful tag!

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

You could not have said it any better.  I started a blog on a whim. I had no idea about posting graphics and pictures and many other things.  People helped me as well and I have been able to pass that help on to others.  There is no community anywhere on the web quite like J-Land.  I am proud to be part of it.
http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

Anonymous said...

It is a great community Chris!!!!! I love it and I'm addicted big time!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I couldn't chat last night.. I was working... hope it went well!!! http://journals.aol.com/shayshaydc/Golfaholic
Sharon:)

Anonymous said...

Right on the money, Chris!  I am glad you are here!  Thanks for all of your help!
Sharon

Anonymous said...

Your entry was perfect!  I'm so glad to have the opportunity to know you!
Missie

Anonymous said...

Oh Chris I love your entrys and your graphics and your comments and most of all our friendship ,....Janxx  http://.aol.co.uk/jeadie05/Serendipity/

Anonymous said...

I believe CHris that we have known each other almost that whole 10 months that you have been journaling! It is really amazing to me to watch people grow through thier journals!

Kara :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you friend for The Healing Garden graphic. It is perfect and a wonderful gift. Tammy
http://journals.aol.com/memes121/AsIAM/entries/2006/07/16/the-healing-garden/711

Anonymous said...

I am so glad that I get to share in a part of your life. Thanks for sharing with us hun!

Hugs,
Chelle

Anonymous said...

Hi there,I guess I have you on my alerts and I was reading your journal and I feel dumb,but dont remember who you are.I am so sorry.I guess I get so many alerts,sometimes it over whelms me,but,I love them and I liked what you had to say.I hope we can get to know one another.Happy B-day J-land((((((((((((((((((HUGSTOYOU)))))))))))))))))))Just to let you know,if your in the post card game,I owuld love to swap addys via email. :)

Anonymous said...

Glad you are here! J-Land rocks!
Martha :-)

Anonymous said...

Awesome!  Happy birthday J-Land!  Love and Hugs and GBU to you friend, Shelly

Anonymous said...

I went on to doing a journal with intrepidation! I was expecting weird nerds to be here! Lol! I was pleasantly surprised by what a lovely groupm of friends I met here! Happy 3rd birthday! Jeannette xx  http://journals.aol.co.uk/jlocorriere05/Welcometomytravels

Anonymous said...

Chris,

Thank you for stopping by my journal and leaving a comment!  I do so appreciate it, and also your very kind remarks.  I am going to put you on alert, because we have alot in common, just by reading your sidebar.  We are about the same age, and my children, like yours, are my life.  I raised my 4 alone too.

Oh, yes, I will definitely be back!

:)
jackie

Anonymous said...

I HOPE YOU DO NOT MIND IF I SNAG THAT J-LAND TAG! IT SURE TELLS IT LIKE IT IS!!!
J-LAND HAS BROUGHT US ALL TOGETHER...AND I LOVE YOUR JOURNAL!!
LOVE YA,
CARLENE

Anonymous said...

{{{{Chris}}} I am so proud to call you a neighbor!  You are awesome!
hugs
d
http://journals.aol.com/nightmaremom/Thisandthatandhockey/

Anonymous said...

Chris, this was such a lovely entry! I`m so glad we started our journals at about the same time. lol, I`m laughing thinking back at us struggling to add pics from our filing cabinets to our journals. You have gotten so good at this PSP stuff. I have met so many wonderful friends throughout J-Land. I`m glad that you and I met. I think we`ll always be friends. At least, I hope so!!
Love you and God bless,
Penny
http://journals.aol.com/pennietoonz/PennysPlace

Anonymous said...

We started our journals around the same time.  It was worth it just meeting you Chris.  You make me smile and I love the heck out of ya.
KJ

Anonymous said...

Glad you are part of our J~Land family ~ have enjoyed reading your journal and hope to for a long time to come ~ Happy 3rd Birthday J~Land ~ Ally

Anonymous said...

I really like your sig tag. You did a awesome job on it!! J-Land It has been a wild ride hasn't it? I consider you one of my bestest buds! LoL

Brenda

Anonymous said...

Neat story Chris - and congrats on winning Best-Dressed, gorgeous! CATHY

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post and great graphics.  I always wanted to learn how to make them.  Is the PSP 7 a downloadable program?  Thanks for visiting my journal and I am putting yours on alert.

                           Julie

Anonymous said...

And thanks to you Chris, for being here, for being a wonderful, kind and patient friend ~ to me, and Kaylee, who keeps bugging you for tags!!! So glad I met you :-) So grateful J'Land, and everyone in it, is here!!
Lotsa love and hugs Debbie ~xxxxxxx~
http://journals.aol.com/debbiewebb4465/TheLifeTimesofanEssexGirl

Anonymous said...

Hey Chris...you are a member of the team...thanks for the awesome birthday cake and for the great idea to have the birthday bash through j-land...and I was delighted to see that you won the best dressed award for your red carpet outfit!  you go girl!!!

Vivian

Anonymous said...

IS YOUR SCREEN NAME NAMED AFTER THAT SONG BY NEIL DIAMOND???? SHERRY

Anonymous said...

You are a treasure, a beautiful loving wonderful friend. I am sure glad i met you thru J Land.
Xo lisa

Anonymous said...

Well, you have accomplished a lot in this last year!  Glad I found my way to JLand and all my new and wonderful friends, no strike that, family.  :o)
Love your journal and your graphics. And YOU.  
Hugs, Barb  

Anonymous said...

Chris~Nicely worded entry. Blessings, Sassy :-)

http://journals.aol.com/sassydee50/SassysEYE