I have three journals that I'm currently keeping up:

A dream journal, which really is interesting and helpful (for evaluating the health of my psychological state, hah). I've only really started focusing on maintaining it for this last month.

A day-to-day journal, which just holds my average retelling of my daily encounters. I've had this one for several months, but never had the patience to maintain it. I also throw in any poetry or stories I write, and I keep it on me most of the time for that purpose.

And finally a reading journal, which isn't really as sophisticated as it sounds. I mostly just use it to keep track of books I'd like to read, and crossing them off as I finish them. It's satisfying to see my progress on the list. I've had this one for over a year, and it's the one I use and read most frequently.

After I wake up, if there's a dream I want to record and remember, I'll do so in the little journal I keep on my nightstand. I'll clean up and get dressed, feed my cats (and myself) and go for a 2 or 3 mile run, depending on my mood.

But that's the elegant way of putting it.

It's more like I wrestle myself out of my sheets, brush my teeth (and refuse to look at the reflection of the mess I've become), scare the shit out of my cats (who are subjected to my grogginess) and stare outside longingly, while wishing I had the motivation to go for a run.

This is actually a thing?

What am I saying, of course it is. This is the internet.

I think it'd be cool. Or if there was some way to follow someone directly from their comment, and then have them be alerted of your follow and indicate the comment that encouraged it?

Could that happen?

Very true. Didn't think about it that way.

Nice, thanks!! That sounds very interesting, I'll definitely look into that. :)

It's funny that you say that, I was just mentioning Infinite Jest to a friend.

Nice, thanks! I'll definitely check that out!

Of course, how could I not?

Jeez... Just read it through and was thrown completely off guard. I was convinced it was just a fictional story for the first couple paragraphs, and I'm still not sure.

Well that's embarrassing, heh. Perhaps your sense of humor was too refined for my unappreciative, immature taste?

Yeah, our tired alternate selves always seem to be getting in our ways, huh? Well, good luck getting her to run anyways. I remember the only motivation for me to start running for the first time was my new mindset: the stereotypical "New Year, New Me" phenomenon every New Years. If it hadn't been that external motivation, I'd never have started.

I actually legitimately lost where I was going with that, perhaps you should wait until New Years? Or design a time machine? Or that if she's anything like me, it's gonna take a lot to get her started? Regardless, it's almost 6:00AM where I am so I feel justified in leaving it at that, and good luck! :)

I do run, I'm just not religiously devoted to it as some other people I know are. It really is refreshing, and it is worth it as long as you time it correctly and don't overwork yourself. As long as I do a run that I can handle pretty easily, then it is definitely worth waking up a bit earlier.

I really hope my comment on scaring my cats wasn't misinterpreted (and I'm just terrible at social relations) but I didn't mean to imply that I scared my cats on purpose, I just meant I'll fumble around my house and drop things and my cats are subjected to the loud noises. It's hilarious how much of a not-morning person I am, running has really helped with waking me up and keeping me up throughout the day too.

I remember, my parents, and even my friends, would become cross with me("It's a serious problem!") for reading so much (just in general, not specifically during the early morning hours). They've finally given up with the relentless interventions, thank god, and they leave me alone about it now.

I'm glad my username has brought happiness to someone other than my own lonely self, hah. I have to admit though, I'm faking it with the latin. I just googled interesting latin words and came up with this (there's an awesome poem by the same title too, you should check it out if you haven't already).

Oh yeah, I guess I should've mentioned that by the time I get around to throwing my iPhone on my nightstand, it's usually around 2 to 3 AM before I force myself to stop, and that's on a good day with a decent book. Good point.

I'll just read really, although lately I'm less likely to keep the lamp on and read a book than use an e-reader during bedtime (an iPhone app, or something with a backlight). It's easier to just turn it off and throw it on my nightstand than worry about turning off the lamp and taking care of the book and saving my page. If I do this, I usually end up being shaken out of my grogginess and lying in bed thinking about the universe and the inevitability of death, which in turn keeps me awake...

So yeah, e-reader with a backlight.

I hate to get stereotypical and say the Percy Jackson series, but here I go:

I've always found it fascinating the way the characters remain undetected from the masses, and would love to see just what a random civilian would see. Like, for example, what the monsters or weapons look like and just how odd the "mist" (the supernatural force that twists mortals' sight from seeing monsters, gods, etc.) would change things to look like.

Other than that, maybe the Harry Potter series from the perspective of another student?

:)

That's definitely true, I never really considered that before.

I definitely have, but I can't seem to tell if that was from keeping the journal or not. I've had several dreams where I'd perform reality checks that would lead me to the conclusion I was dreaming.

The concept is that if you make a reality check (like checking the number of fingers you have) a normal, frequent part of your life it will logically begin to appear in your dreams, making you realize that you are in a dream and ultimately lead to becoming lucid. I wanted to try this out, but I never was able to maintain the constant reality checks, and dream journalling has always led to vivider dreams I could actually remember (and requires a bit less commitment).

I'm almost 90% positive that the movie is based of the poem. I think you'll enjoy it (I enjoyed it and I'm not really a poetry person), it's very motivational. :)

I stumbled across that post! I'll definitely check it out again now

Nice!

I'll probably just work on straightening out my sleep schedule before my next school term. I need to get that done.

Nice! I've always been so interested in those kinds of things. Wish I had pursued studies in Astronomy and such, but I was never able to.

Perfect! I'm glad someone is benefitting from my odd comments! Have fun, and good luck again. :)

$526 For no particular reason other than it being my birthday.

Seems like that's pretty much it, yeah.

I've been meaning to get around to reading this, and your post hit me with a wave of inspiration. I think I'll go grab a copy of it as soon as I can and finally read it.

My favorite mug has the quote "just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly..." colorfully printed on it. That's cute and all, but I remember that what stood out to me the most about it was the texture (it has this interesting matte-like finish) and the large handle size. Found it brand new and still boxed at a garage sale for a dollar.