I’ve had a lot of spiral notebooks over the years and I end up not filling them up at all. Worse, there are times when the notebook couldn’t hold enough of my thoughts and ideas that I have to resort to inserting extra sheets using tape. But a trip to Fully Booked bookstore gave me an idea. There was a notebook there that was refillable and yet still retained that “flexible” charm. It used two plastic rings instead to hold all the sheets together. I decided to do the same and recycle the notebooks that I had at home.

First, I needed the rings. I bought a pack of plastic stripes from Japan Home (PhP 88.00).

Here’s a close-up of the plastic stripe in case you don’t know what it looks like.

Then I proceeded to remove the spiral binding from my notebooks.

I found around three or four barely filled notebooks. Removed all their wire spiral binding and gathered up all the pages. Then I took two plastic stripes and threaded each one to a hole.

Here’s a close up on what it looks like after threading and locking.

And finally, here’s what my “new” notebook looks like.

I also have a similar one with 400 sheets! This one’s a tad thinner though.

The nice thing about this is that you can use practically anything for the notebook using this design. If you have the time, you might be able to make a nice journal with a cloth or leather cover. Perhaps instead of the plastic stripes you could use small metal rings or some of the wires you use flower making.  The possibilities are endless!

One the things that I need to do first is to read three books which have been gathering dust in my book case all this time.

In fact, I should schedule my reading times.  Thirty minutes before going to sleep.  I’m going to start with The Writer’s Idea Book first then go on to 45 Master Characters.

Here’s the recipe I use nowadays.

In one mug, mix the following:

• 1/3 cup dry milk
• 1 heaping tsp cocoa
• 1 heaping tsp sugar
• dash of cinnamon
• dash of cayenne pepper (I used powdered “siling labuyo” or bird’s eye chillies)
• 1 cup hot water

Of course, you could use a melted ounce of chocolate instead of the cocoa.  You could also have both the cocoa and the melted chocolate together for something extra sinful.

There’s nothing like a good cup of hot choco to end any kind of day.

I started being conscious of what I do, what I say, what I wear.  And I actually like it.  In the past two days I decided to end my tendency to procrastinate.  My best friend says it’s like a New Hair resolution. I like that thought!  So I decided to make more of these resolutions.

One of them is to start doing macro photography more often. I’m reading through a website called The Strobist where the author teaches newbies on how to use off-camera flash.  I intend to go through Lighting 101 first.  Then try to make my own macro studio and photograph some of my gadgets which I hope to feature on my geek blog soon.

I decided to start applying Benjamin Franklin’s 13 virtues in the hopes that when I’m finally back from hiatus I would return a new person in thoughts and in deeds. These virtues are divided into two character traits.

Personal

1. Temperance: Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Order: Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
3. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
4. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
5. Moderation: Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
6. Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation.
8. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

Social

1. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
2. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
3. Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
4. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
5. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

It will take some time for me to adjust myself. As they say, Rome was not built in a day. I plan to apply them one at a time for focus, like one virtue per day. Then reflect every night and post my thoughts here as they seem fit.