Febuary 6-11

No data for the first week of February. I was just lazy and didn't record. But I'm back on the wagon as of February 6th. I got two pages from a woman whose class I'm going to speak to about art and disability issues. On February 7th, I used no paper. On February 8th, I again had a no use day even though I went to writing group. This is because I used my entry that I didn't use last time for the group. On February 9th, I went to Florence Poets’ Society. I used eight pages for that.

Between February 10 and February 11th, I used 4 pages to write Valentine's notes to various friends and family. One additional page was used to record the addresses so my assistants could copy them into envelopes. I also used an additional 8 2/3 pages in envelopes to mail them. Additionally on February 11th, I received five pages of paper in a poetry workshop I took. Later that night, I received three additional pages and show I went to as part of the program. These were all double sided so I have no room to write on the back. My total usage for this period was 31.66. My remaining total is 5651.1.

Day 20-31

January 20: Made a flyer and donated a sign, which equals 7 pages printed. I had to print an extra seven pages, but my color cartridge didn't work. Lots of backs to use. I picked up some paper at the event. Half is already written on. I am surprised that one poster board equals 27.66 pieces of paper. Still you can't be an organizer without using poster board. Usage today 42.91 pages.


January 21-23: No use these days.

January 24: Robyn used my printer to print out her boarding pass. I hired a new personal care assistant. I used the back of one page to keep my personal care assistant (PCA) references. This made it easy to keep track of, because if I misplaced it, I just need to look for my housing agenda. I used 28 pages for writing group. Four pages, 7 packets. Lots of backs to write on. Plus, I already printed my assignment for use in two weeks, when I go next.

January 25: I got my Ware writing schedule. It took six pages. Plus one tax form. There are backs on the writing group paper, but none (obviously) on the tax forms. Total day 7 pages.

January 26: I printed 15 pages for grant. All smudged, so must be reprinted. Bother!

January 27: 26 pages twice for grant. Clearing the ink dealt with the smudges of the pages. Plus one cover sheet and an extra first page because it was bent. Total usage 28 pages.

January 28: I brought a manilla envelope for my Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant. I'm going to count that as two pages. It was mailed so no backs.

January 29-30: No use these days.

January 31: 2.33 pages used One will be mailed so no back. I took one third page for an article on the new meditation class at the library.

My total usage for this period was 124.24. I have 5686.76 to use for the year. I will try to update more regularly.

2012: Day 19

I used one piece of paper. It was a housing authority agenda. I kept the back notes, as well as half the front. Now I have 5,812 pages remaining.

2012: Day 15-18

I used no paper on Sunday- Tuesday. But I used 6 pages on Wednesday for writing group. I hope everybody likes my essay. They are used to me writing poetry. I wrote another essay. It's an introduction for a guide to able-bodied parents of people with disabilities. People have always told me I should write such a book, forever. I made 8 copies of that. So far, that means I used 14 pages today. 5,813 pages remaining. And lots of backs and note spaces to write on! I feel pretty good so far, even if this is my biggest usage day ever.

2012: Day 14

I used three pieces of paper today. Sarah played a game at the jewelry party. My two guests took their pieces with them ,I assume, so that's gone from the diet. I hope that I can count on my politically minded, Earth friendly colleagues to use the back of that paper before they throw it away. I'm pretty sure I can. 5,827 pages remaining.

2012 Day 11-13

Happy to report no use! Of course, that was only because I was sick and missed the Florence Poet's Society on Thursday. They say every cloud has a silver lining. Still at 5,830 remaining, slthough I would have rather attended writer's group!

Day 10

I have used 2 sides for writing group poems. I have used 2 sides more for a writing assessment also required by the same group. For the poems I have two on a page. For assessments, I have 3 on a page. I also have two bottoms to use for notes, grocery lists, or whatever. 5,830 remaining.

2012: Day 8-9

Today I used 1.5 pages of paper or three sides. The first two I didn't even need to use because the other writer I was going to meet didn't manage to make our meeting. The third was entirely my fault because I lost a pre-paper diet print out of an interview that I already had made. Well, at least I can reuse the poem pages on Wednesday for writers’ group and I'll put my recopied interview in my writing folder where it can't get lost or at least it shouldn't. I have 5,832.0 remaining. That half a page a day.

2012: Day 7

I went to the farmers' market today. I used 5 sides today. They are all lamb recipes. I have 5,833.5 pages remaining. I separated my Paper Diet paper that is still usable for notes from my non-Paper Diet paper. I can't throw it all away, what would be the point of that for an environmental blogger in an environmental blog?

2012: Day 5-6

In two days, I've used two thirds of page. They were both for envelopes. One was used in transit receipt recording. The other, more joyous, was to send a birthday card to my second cousin Caleb. He's 8 now. I can't believe it! He was totally worth 1/3 of page and more!

2012: Day 4

I'm proud of only using 1 entire page so far. I used one side on the 2nd and one side today. Both were for business receipts. I have 2 other sides to write on. If I can do this, so can anyone. I make my writing but paper after all. Most people can say that and are not even as paper conscious as I am in regular life. Pages remaining: 5,836.

2012: Day 3

Only .5 pages off use! Pages- 5,836.5- remaining. Go me!

2012: Day 2

I forgot to post yesterday, even though I wrote it on my to do list. I used .5 sides and I signed up for electronic book keeping, a New Year's resolution. I'm still at 5,836.5 pages.

2012 Day 1

No use today. 5,837 sheets of paper for the entire year.

Prelude 2012: Beginning Again

For the third year in a row, I am attempting the Paper Diet. Last year, I abandoned it after some 100 days. This year, I'm really committed to seeing it through. The rules are basically the same. I will attempt to get through the year setting tomorrow with only 5,837 sheets of paper. As before, because I’m sane, I’ve decided that certain categories of paper simply don’t count. For example, paper used for bodily fluid clean up is off limits towards the total count. It also doesn't count if I use a timesheet provided to me by my fiscal intermediary.

However, if I screw up and forget to get new timesheets when the old ones get taken in it comes off my count. Therefore, I will try to avoid this. Of course, if need be I'm going to do it because I don't want anyone to be paid late due to my stupidity. I see that as being a major source of paper consumption that I must avoid.

The results from last year which, even though I abandoned the diet not even one third of the way through the year, were promising, are: I still have four unopened reams of paper. I'm going use those until they're gone because 1) I don't have the money to go buy a new box for no reason and 2) it goes against the idea of the blog to waste four perfectly good reams of paper for no reason.

Wish me luck and stick to it ofness, which I'm not sure is even a word, with this blog starting tomorrow.

Day 131

In the nearly two weeks since I wrote this blog, I've used 13.5 pages. Receipts took up 1.5 pages. Housing list took 2. Poems took 8 pages, but I didn't end up going to writing group because I was ill. I also wrote a note for my assistant. Total usage is 1316!

Day 118

I used one piece of paper to copy a list of people to buy ADAPT shirts for. I need 8 shirts this action including mine. Total usage is 1327.5!

Day 117

New pages used. Total usage is still 1326.5!

Day 116

I used 15 pages today. Five for housing forms and 8 that went to Becca for a letter and the rest of the manuscript that she hasn't seen. I printed out 2 pages wrongly. Total usage is now 1326.5!

Day 115

Zero paper usage today. That's always a feel good day. Total usage is now still 1021.5!