Day 31

I got my computer up and running thanks to Robyn. I slept in today and I must say that it feels good to be back to myself. Accept for this, I didn't write much. It isn't even all finished installing. Tomorrow I really much write some poetry. Page count: 5,593.

Day 30

I went to a poetry reading/memorial with Leslea Newman about Matthew Shepard. I was very beautiful. I have a whole page notes (on used paper) that I'm going to turn into my own poem by the end of the week. I made an agreement and shook on it with another person in a public place at a Matthew Shepard memorial. You don't fake those kind of agreement. Page count: 5,593.

Day 29

I helped Angie, my assistant, find apartment. I copied all the listings she liked into a paper, printed the page, and gave it to her. It felt good to help someone and not kill the diet. Justice prevails even of the diet! I also wrote notes from a poetry reading on a quarter page of one of my own poems. How appropriate! Page count: 5,593.

Day 28

I didn't go to Hartford, because I was ill. I sent most of my fund raising zines to Hartford with my fellow People's Music Network member Jay's friend, who will give them to Jay, who will take them to Hartford.

I printed 6 papers for my assistant, who will turn in 4 for taxes and I will have two backs to write on. Page count : 5,594. I've used 4.17% of my paper, even with printing 50 zines. I proud so far of myself and my discipline.

Day 27

Today, on the diet I separated all of my non-paper diet from my paper diet paper. The non-paper diet paper is still still has useful sheets just needs to be kept out of the diet section. Being a Planet Conscious woman, I can't throw away or those former beautiful trees. I'll just keep this scrap for next year.

I used 200 double sided pages to make 50 copies of the People's Music Network's benefit zine. It only cost $12. Thank you, Hampshire College Duplications! By the way, anyone can use there services and Michelle, who runs the place, is the best!

So after my first zine order on the diet. Page count : 5,599. This is seemingly more and more doable even for a paper addict like me!

Day 26

I'm sick today, so an early paper diet and then it's off too bed. I want to feel better. Page count: 5,799.

Day 25

I used 19 pages today. I reprinted the People's Music Network benefit book and checked it out before sending to Hsmpshire College for printing. I also used 12 pages to print an excerpt for my child-oriented writing group (I printed 4 copies for the 6 other writers; it was a small group tonight. At least now I have 19 backs to use! Page count: 5,799

Day 24

I used no paper, but my PCA wrote on an envelope. But I was to sick to go to the doctor much explain/enforce the paper diet. When I woke up, I copied some dates and events into my calendar. I also wrote the names of the PAC-10 women's gymnastics team into the back of a quarter page poem. Page count still: 5,818!

Day 23

Almost forgot to post here tonight. Wrote Amtrak information on the back of a quarter page poem and wrote a press release without printing it first, a major improvement. My new monitor really helps! Page count still: 5,818.

Day 22

I got so little work done it's shameful, but I used no paper. That's good at least. Page count still at:Page count still: 5,818!

Day 21

No paper usage, but got a lot of work done! Even though my period interfered with my work output. Gotta honor the bleeding, however. It's only a week, after all. I need the time off. Page count still: 5,818!

Day 20

I used half a sheet of paper writing on a library agenda. I excited to plan an event for the local library. I now have three pages of scrap paper. Tomorrow is a work day- blogging, examiner, and the press release for the library event. Page count: 5,818!

Day 19

Page count still: 5,818.5! It's easy to save paper if you just set your mind to it. The Karma restaurant in Northampton. The give you huge portions and it's basically cheap vegan eats. I got brought two coupons, but they didn't even collect the coupon, so I might just reuse that same one again and not waste another piece of paper!

Day 18

Page count still: 5,818.5! I recovered well from my big usage day! I thought it was a nice rally, as they would say in the tennis game.

Day 17

I printed new hire form for Diana, 6 pages in total. About those forms I have decided that if Stavros, my fiscal intermediary, gives them to me it doesn't count toward my total paper usage, but if I print them out (as I did today) it does. Two pages used at MLK celebration. I took 3 handouts, one full of artist resources and two fliers that I'm going reuse for justice oriented fliers. Total pages used 9. The fliers are already colored by the way. I think Dr. King would have approved. Page count: 5,818.5! Big usage!

Day 16

I took a note in my calendar. I lost a paper I need, but found the information I need in another way. Page count still: 5,827.5.

Day 15

I used two pages, one page from Facebook that I plan to frame. The other is the coupon that I will use when I go to dinner with a girl from my sick and disabled queer group in real life. Yay! Page count: 5,827.5.

Day 14

I used no new paper. Just noted some deadline dates on old paper. I now feel very organized and ready to take on the literary world. Also my printer is hooked up. No use as of yet, though. Total page count still: 5,829.5. According to my calculations, I have 99.87% of my paper left. Go me! Of course, this will change in February when it's grant/contest application time.

Day 13

Biggest paper use thus far. I printed 20 copies of a poem on 5 sheets of paper using the 4 to a page function on the printer at the library. The problem was that I made the print to small for anyone, including myself, to read. Epic fail! Bigger font next month!

I have also decided that my calendar counts as paper, because it's way too inconvenient not to write on it. Luckily, I also realized I got it before I went on the Diet. It was a Christmas present! Next year that won't be case, so it all evens out.

Total page count: 5,829.5.

Day 12

I didn't use any paper today, but I wrote a note on an already used piece. Page count is still 5834.5. I am hooking up my printer so I can use it in case there is poetry group tomorrow.

Day 11

Page count still 5834.5. I have only used 2.5 pages in these past 11 days. I'm rather proud of that. I worry that I will use a yon of paper once I finally get my printer hooked up. I'll just need to keep an eye on myself. Discipline! Discipline! Discipline! will be the key.

Day 10

Page count still 5834.5. It's hard to use paper when you're in bed until 4pm, being sick and having very weird dreams. I think the first big paper usage will be Thursday when I need to go print out something for poetry critique group, but we'll see what we see.

Day 9

I was sick today. Inadvertantly cheated on the diet because my assistant wrote part of a shopping list on a toilet paper tube. I caught it, too. I was just too tired to argue. Started using new sheet of paper for notes. Page count: 5834.5.

Day 8

I'm still sick. My printer isn't plugged in as of yet and Amy's brother won't come plug it in (he's a very shy boy). Maybe I will ask Robyn for help, although she says she doesn't "do" printers, whatever that means. Page count still: 5835.5.

Day 7

I used no paper today. I think that I wouldn't have been so sick had I had the expected intellectual stimuli arrived. But my day PCA didn't show up, so I lacked that expected input. Page count still: 5835.5.

Day 6

I used my first enter piece of paper to enclose in a note with a check to my mom. I also cheated on the diet just a bit, but writing a note on a friend's thank you card. To compensate I rewrote the same note on my piece of scratch paper, which now has about 3 vital notes on it. It exactly easier because I only have one piece of paper to find not 25 that I may have written a message on. Page count: 5835.5

Day 5

I am still only at 5836.5 pages! But today I used a chunk of paper to make a shopping list. My printer is, as of yet, not plugged plugged. I may ask Amy's brother to help plug it in. I'm very to excited to get it connected. Yet I worry it being available will be bad for the diet.

Day 4

I'm still sick. I tried to book a ride on Amtrak. I wrote down the number (on the same paper as I previously used) and I'm going to call back tomorrow when day shift people are available, as I have always found them to be more helpful. I'm so proud of myself only .5 pages used in 4 days, although now that my new printer came today, I'm sure it will increase.

Paper Diet:: Day 3

I have again used no paper! This is because I'm sick. I did, however, manage to answer some mylot post and submitted a poetry manuscript electronically. I'm also going to blog a bit, which happily requires no paper.

Paper Diet:: Day 2

I used no paper today and that makes me really happy. I still have 5836.5 pages to go. Very proud!

"By the way, do you know if your numbers include paper towels or just paper you print and write on? I guess it does include newspapers and magazines?" So asked a commenter on this blog, I'm not counting envelopes, magazines, paper towels, or junk mail. But I can't write notes on them on it will violate my rules.

Paper Diet: Day 1

So far, I've used one side of 1 piece of paper. I have 33 blank pages that are sitting around waiting for notes, shopping lists, or whatever. 5836.5 to go! I can't imagine going through that much. In fact, I wouldn't have need to use that side accept that my personal care assistant (PCA) had to write an emergency note telling my other assistants that my chair charger had sparked and also to remind sometimes bubble headed me to call the mechanic come Monday!