Do you always have a pen and paper handy?

@Malyck (3425)
Australia
April 28, 2008 8:43am CST
I have a number of pens and a notebook in each of the bags that I use regularly, and always have a pen and pad handy at home so that I can write down thoughts, plans, shopping lists, things I want to research etc. I'm wondering how many other people do this? Do you have a pen and paper in your purse/hand bag for when you're out of the house? Do you keep a notepad by you when you're on the computer, to jot things down? Like I said before, I HAVE to have a few pens and some paper in my bag so that I can write down my thoughts and ideas when they're fresh in my mind. Often I like to just go for a walk and write while I walk or sit somewhere and just spill my thoughts on to paper - it's quite therapeutic. I also find it useful to have a pen and paper handy when I'm using the computer, especially when I'm mylotting, and think of a discussion topic or ideas for a response that I don't want to forget =) I have probably hundreds of dollars worth of notebooks and journals scattered around the place with random thoughts, lists and drawings =P Are you the note-taking type? What kind of things do you write down?
8 responses
@GreenMoo (11834)
29 Apr 08
I have a pen and paper that sits right next to me by the computer, and on there I log the things that I've done on the net and any ideas or telephone numbers that I need to record. There's another in my handbag, which is great for when we are out & doubles as a plaything for my youngest when we have to hang around. Then there's the one in the van, on the dash. That one's actually the old one from my handbag which still has some space in. I like a particular sort of notebook. It's a small size with a hard blue cover, but I've not seen them for ages & I've run out. The one in my handbag always gets battered, so I really need that hard cover. So I guess that yes, I do always have apaper and pen handy! I'm not sure i ever write down anything interesting, but at least i'd remember where it was if I did!
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
30 Apr 08
Haha, I love your last line - a great comment-closer =D I like hard-covers as well, and I think I might know the type that you mean. Around the house I normally keep a bunch of the small, cheap binder notepads that you can buy in bulk, but I do like to have a hard cover (and usually something "arty") for carrying around with me, and the more "important" and "interesting" (according to me, and probably me alone =P) things go in there - the fancy one =P
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
30 Apr 08
Aha, we're both literary geniuses =D
@as2006 (5040)
• Israel
28 Apr 08
Always, I nead it for my work.
@as2006 (5040)
• Israel
29 Apr 08
I'm investment consultant.
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
29 Apr 08
Oh, cool. Thank you for sharing =D
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
29 Apr 08
Oh, really, what do you do for work? =)
@chiyosan (30184)
• Philippines
28 Apr 08
i always make sure i have a pen and paper in handy. you will never know what you will need to write down right? :)
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
29 Apr 08
Exactly right, and it certainly doesn't hurt to add them to your purse/belongings =)
• Hong Kong
5 May 08
I don't. I usually have either one! Come to think of it, I usually have a pen in my purse, but without any paper! But if I am on my desk (at home or at work), I definitely have both!
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
5 May 08
Haha, there are times when I have paper but not a pen - obviously having the latter without the former would be more helpful, as there are a number of things, including our own bodies, that we can write on if we don't have paper, but not much we can do without a writing implement =P Right now, my cat has stolen my pen, so I only have a permanent marker by my computer =P
@joimarquez (1836)
• United States
28 Apr 08
i dont a pen and paper always handy. if i do i would have to dig in my bag which would take like 5 minutes before i can even get it out. hehehe so i would rather ask somebody to get one for me....
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
29 Apr 08
Haha, that can be quite true, having to fish through and around your other stuff to get to your pen and paper, but I usually have bags with a lot of pockets, so I dedicate a special section just to this "equipment". I also like to collect pens from hotels and businesses, because they have the logos on the side =P
@naseefu (1607)
• India
4 May 08
No i do not keep a note book and pen with me.I have no habit like that.If i have to take note about anything then i will store it in my mobile phone as short as I can.If i have to write when i am with computer then i will write and save it in a notepad in my computer.And i am not a regular note-taker.Thanks Malyck,
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
4 May 08
When I don't have a pen and paper I do that too! Write a note on my mobile and then transfer it to paper/computer/do it as soon as I can. I love notepad documents, I often have one open for copying and pasting, especially if I'm doing some kind of quiz =) Thanks for responding and for the friend request! Have a great day =D
@luvstochat (6907)
• United States
28 Apr 08
I don't carry around a notebook with me I do always have pens on me to write checks with. I do keep a notebook and pens in front of my computer though so I can write down stuff when I find it to come back to it later I don't want to overload my bookmark page. I am really not the note taking type I don't even take a grocery list to the grocery store with me I am really bad about writing things down.
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
28 Apr 08
Funnily enough, even though I write a lot down, I write a shopping list throughout the week, but I don't take it with me when I shop, because it actually makes me forget things. When I go by the list, I try to do them in order, and because I'm going down a lot of different aisles, I manage to forget something in all the confusion. I just write them down to memorise =P Then I go down each aisle once, getting the things I need as I go. Thanks for your response! Have a great week!
@Sonadora (356)
• United States
28 Apr 08
I do exactly the same thing. Always have pens and a notebook. I also always carry a sketchbook and pencils. Oh, and of course my camera. No wonder my bags are so stinkin heavy. But I like to record things as they happen or jot down ideas on the spot. I like to take walks as well and just sit outside and write. I write down whatever comes to mind. You're right, it is very therapeutic.
@Malyck (3425)
• Australia
29 Apr 08
My bag always ends up ridiculously heavy too, even though the notebooks and pens don't count for much, I always have a drink bottle or thermos, and usually a nice chunky novel to lose myself in =) I like to capture and record moments, I wouldn't call any of what I do "art" as such, but at the same time I consider myself artistic. =P I hadn't really considered the therapeutic aspects of it until I started writing this post. Reading and writing has always been that escape and treatment for the stresses/worries/issues/joys of the "real" world =)