racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

Got my Moleskine notebook in the mail last Friday. It was sent in by a generous US-based Pinoy reader who read about my interest in the notebooks. I was actually putting off going to the post office as I thought the notice was for my latest batch of Ubuntu CDs (Dapper Drake), which I already have a copy of (care of Jason), and thus could afford to wait. But I was also expecting the notebook. Good thing it had already arrived.

I can say it’s teh cool and it’s teh sexy.

Actually, what makes the notebook cool isn’t the material or construction itself, but the way people are so passionate about their using their Moleskines, whether for writing, drawing or getting-things-done. Well, the paper and the binding are teh sexy, too. It’s in the way you can lay the notebook flat on a table (perhaps while drawing or sketching) and the way that the paper absorbs ink or pencil graphite.

At any rate, I think pictures speak louder than words. So I’ll just post a few photos here.

The package itself. Okay, nothing interesting.

Still in plastic wrap. Can’t wait to open it.

Out of the plastic cover. Feel the texture of the cover and the paper. Mmm … sexy paper.

The notebook comes with a set of stickers (or a postcard). Great for sticking on your laptop lid or wrist-rest, to remind you to write, write, write. Wait, what are we going to use the notebook for, then?

Laid flat on its back, the pages stay still. Told you so.

The back cover has an expanding pouch, for keeping those tickets, stamps, cards, or perhaps some currency or even a pencil.

If you’d like to learn more about the Moleskine, I found a blog that regularly features stories, artwork and testimonials from artists and writers who use (or used) the notebook and Moleskine enthusiasts alike. Do mosy over to Moleskinerie.

As for my notebook, I’ve yet to decide what to use it for. Am mostly online/electronic these days, but having something on paper would be cool for a change.

It’s great to stumble upon old photos at home. You get to reminisce about days past (perhaps not too long ago), and you get to marvel at how thin and young and perhaps foolish you used to be. Never mind that you’re currently still considered to be young, being in your quarter-life stages, but ten years ago is ten years ago. And you’d feel O-L-D comparing yourself to 15- or 16-year-old self.

Sometimes you also reach a point when you just ask yourself “What the heck made me wear that?” or “What was I thinking?” Remember the 80’s? Fortunately I still wasn’t in my teens during those times. Otherwise, I’d be wearing stuff that’s just so … tacky. That’s not to mention the hair. Mullets, anyone? What about teased hair?

Reminiscing

Remember the days when digital cameras were toys for the rich boys or for the professional photogs with the dough to spend? We used film-based cameras and had to have the prints developed at the local photo shop. And then we’d be digitizing them using our trusty ol’ handheld scanners (and later on those big, bulky, expensive flatbeds).

Having no handheld nor flatbed scanner these days (don’t need them anyway), I just resorted to taking digicam-captures of these old prints. Not perfect, as there are some distortions owing to the prints’ not being laid flat, but it’s probably good enough for sharing over the Web.

Right now, just the thought of not having a digital camera makes the shutterbug in me shudder.

And here they are!

Here’s a random selection. You may also wish to visit my Flickr site itself for photos tagged with ‘oldpics’ .

Ah, the good ol’ days. To quote from the Pet Shop Boys, Life is much more simple when you’re young.