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 62

Forgot note paper again. So stressed about Laura stuff. I just need to get there. I couldn't resist taking Micheal Klein's list of "anger" poems. One is my new anthem. Paper usage is allowed for anthem finding in my opinion. my page count is: 5,229.5.

Day 60

Why do I always forget to bring paper to poetry readings? I used two pieces today. y total page count is: 5,280.5.

Day 58

I didn't use any pages today. I did, however, organize all my my paper and I found happily my notes from the night I heard Andrea and Lunelle read. My total page count is still: 5,284.

Day 54

I went to my writing group audition and did well. I think I'm in. They handed out a booklet of nine single sided pages. Plus I took one page that someone wrote a one word note to me on it. I also printed out a two page direct deposit form for Angie. It not all 12 people were there (but there was enough quorum to vote on me), so I get some extra scratch paper. Total page count: 5460.5.

Day 53

I'm auditioning for a writing group. Twelve copies of 5 pages, plus 9 mess up sheets equals 69 pages today. Sixty of those I don't get back. The other nine I can at least use the back of. I also took a flier of a benefit, poetry concert Total page count: 5472.5!

Day 52

I used no pages today. Easy when you wake up after noon. Total page count: 5542.5!

Day 50

Eight pages in the Boskone Program. I also 1.5 to write notes on. One page was really small, so I'm counting it as half. Lots of awesome panels and good notes to write up when I get home. Several poems in the brewing post Page count: 5541.5!

Day 47

I used three pages to print out a story excerpt and I found a new writing group in Ware near my house that meets on Wednesday. The story sounded good read out loud, too.
Page count: 5553!

Day 45

I used a lot of paper day. I printed 6 pages that listed my profit and loss statement from internet earnings in 2010- $2,061.36 and I was paid $237.49. That doesn't include my book sake earnings. I also printed 4 pages of tax forms. And I happily printed out one more page of Exhibitor acceptance form to the Abilities Expo, where I got offered a free artist space.Page count: 5556.

Day 44

I woke early. I called my assistant at 6:58 am. She was not pleased. I wrote some notes on the page I took to the library yesterday, but then forgot to take the page to a singing event, so I took a flier to take notes. Another page wasted. Bad conservationist.

In another news, I gathered up all my used paper to put in my folder and found a year old page of poetry notes. Sometimes cleaning your desk is a good thing. Page count: 5567.

Day 42

It's the end of week six. I still have 95.4% of my paper remaining after poetry critique (and a a mishap with that), 3 applications, and two pages of questionnaires for my series of interviews of people with disabilities.

The last time I wrote a report two weeks ago, I had 95.83% remaining. I've used less than half a percent of my of my paper will really minor effort that it truly not that difficult at all, I wonder how "the Average American" (whoever that may, in fact, be) can be such a wasteful creature?

Page count:5569.

Day 41

This afternoon... I used 4 pages for my critique groups; 4 poems of a page but a bigger font this time. Then a printed a 3 page application. Then used 11 pages to print another poem, which I will share with lady poet friends (because I'm to shy to share it with the whole nixed/hetero- mostly- group). I was supposed to print 5 pages, but I made an error in printing. Total pages today, 17 pages.

Much later At least I have most of these 4 pages to use as notes and got some good feedback on both poems. Page count:5569.

Day 40

My printer needs drivers again, because my assistant needed to reinstall by copy of Windows again. I wanted to print out another application, but I can until the drivers get fixed. I hope that happens, because I want to print out poems for critique group inside of paying at the library. My page count is: 5,586.

Day 39

I used no paper, but I filled out my applications and started my Lambda Literary Writer's Retreat and began working on the portfolio I'll send them. I wrote a book review and a little more of my Isa story. My page count is: 5,586.

Day 38

I printed a page of apartment searches for Angie. Tomorrow is my day for feeling out applications. My page count is: 5,586.

Day 37

My page count is: 5,587. I used 2 backs of applications. I used two pages that don't get sent to Lambda. I printed an interview with a person with a disability that took two pages to print out.

Day 36

My printer works thanks to my housemate. I printed out applications to Lambda Literary and Northampton Pride. Lambda is 5 pages and Northampton Pride. My page count is: 5,587.

Day 35

My printer problems are due to the lack of something called "drivers". My PCA says she'll fix tomorrow, so I can print out my applications. My page count is still: 5,593

Day 34

I am not feel well. My printer still doesn't work. I'm going to deal with the printer thing tomorrow. My page count is still: 5,593.