Gotcha, didn’t I? You thought I was going to write about Nicholas Sparks’ novel. Nah. I am really writing about my love of notebooks and the particular one I am in love with right now.

The first thing you need to know is that I have always LOVED notebooks. I have had notebooks as long as I can remember, probably since I went with my grandmother to her third grade class at East Flat Rock elementary school. When I go in Rite Aid or Staples or Target, I am drawn to notebooks. I never leave without looking to see what’s on the shelves: small memo books, 5 x 9s, 5-subject notebooks. I adore them all.

When I recently moved my office, I had to pack up and move the stacks of notebooks I have kept at work for the last ten years. They have my daily to do lists, phone messages, notes from meetings, and little reminders that come up during a workday. Here are a few of them:

And they are just the tip of the iceberg. I have many more notebooks at home, stashed under my bed, in the closet, and packed in storage boxes.

But now I need to tell you something. I had no idea what I was missing until I discovered the Moleskine Cahier Extra Large journal. It costs $18.95 for three of them….and to me, a notebook aficionado, they are worth every single penny. I love the sensuous experience of opening a Moleskine, running my fingertips across the smooth, acid-free paper, and starting to write. I have been using them the past three months while taking my MOOC through Penn State, writing my blog post drafts, and brainstorming with my assistant, Allison. I have never been happier while writing, and I am beginning to think that because I am using Moleskines, the ideas in them may just be my best ideas ever.

Or not. It doesn’t really matter. I am writing again and loving the experience. That’s what’s important, right? (Does that mean I am comfortable in my own “Moleskine”?)