the vinyl warriors

This 7 x 11.5 travel journal is larger than my others.  Some of the pages are covered with writing and nothing else.  

Sometimes I like the contrast of an all-photo page next to a page of all writing.  The strange b&w rose postcard is a vintage find from the Esceri flea market.  It was so hot on the day I bought it.  I was panting as I rifled through the old boxes.   The kind vendor hosed us down with a giant mister, soaking our shirts.  I held up my arms with postcards in both hands so I didn't get them wet.  My sister found her communist patron saint from the same lady.  We were gaggling over it when the woman's boyfriend came over, took the passport in his hand and studied it closely.   "My father!" he blurted out in a dramatic voice.  He probably didn't expect the big booming laughs that erupted from us.  The Moss Sisters laughing in unison.  Plug your ears!

Those are the things I remember when I use these bits & pieces of ephemera in my book.  Each thing has a memory associated with it.

Even the bits of handwritten advertising I pulled off walls and poles.  

I've posted about this before, but it bears repeating.  Keeping a travel journal while traveling is a full-time job.  On nights when I was tired I made sure that I at least got the writing & heading part completed.  I leave blank pages in between to go back and add my photos.  I'm enjoying this part very much.

Having twins?  Ever thought of a singular name for both children?  Just a thought...

Comments

[angeline]

As ever your journal is lovely. Last summer I did my first traveljournal while travelling and indeed, it's a lot of work. Also I tried to print my photo's once in a few days at that kind of do-it-yourself machines. That way I could easily incorporate the photo's. Have you ever thought of that?

[donna, doni, lady d]

You. Enjoying life. Such a pleasure of observe. Donna

[Mary Ann Moss]

kelly i do ALL of my journal writing with a pilot permaball. its the only pen ive used for the last 8 or 9 years. i order by the case!

[Denita]

Having seen a picture of you and your sister having fun dancing and cutting up I would love to see and hear video of the booming Moss sisters laughing. Your joy of life and travel spreads happiness..peace
denita

[Andria]

I love your journal pages! I agree with your remark about keeping a travel journal being a full time job. I kept one during a trip to Edinburgh, and one during a trip to Paris, and spent HOURS in the evenings writing/pasting about the day. (In the future, I think I would be better served to keep notes and do the hardest work once I'm back home again.) Still not going with you on the baby-naming advice! (haha)

[Rainy]

What did you cut out the design with on vinyl warriors with?

[Gwen Delmore]

I agree that traveling with the travel journal is a second job, but it is so much fun to work on it everyday. I can also see that it is fun to work on once one returns home! Your journal and your blog entries make me laugh out loud! I love the idea of a singular name for twins, btw.

[Violet Cadburry]

What about those families with all the same initials because they pick one letter to name their kids by, yuck....like Kim, Kourtney and Krudmilla, or whatever those Kardashians are called. I wonder if their middle names start with K too, then their initials would be KKK, now that would be a really mean joke. Don't know about Ganxta -- kinda sounds like a rap version of "gangster" -- a kid could get into some trouble with that name in certain areas of town.
P.S. I did a google translation on the green words you ripped off the wall and it doesn't translate exactly, but the gist of the message is "It is a crime to remove this notice." Good thing you walk swiftly and carry a big travel journal.

[Cynthia of Cynful Creations]

Love, love, love the look of these pages, MA. They are totally ganxta!! I am looking forward to my next trip so I can put all these elements together in a soon-to-be-made Full Tilt Boogie/ROD concoction inspired by the creations of our fearless leader. In the meantime, I wonder about "vinyl warriors" - do they throw old LP's at each other or is it dueling turntables at dawn perhaps? ;)

[SusanS]

You mean like Kelly? or Stacey? or Adrian? If I was a really mean mom I might. I'm working with infants some and there is a new disturbing trend: the name is Nevaeh (mostly misspelled as Neveah) which is "heaven" spelled backwards. You'll be getting these little Neveahs in about 4 more years. Gag me.

[Orly]

Love your journal pages...always great to visit here at your cozy and inspiring blog. XOXOrly

[Susie LaFond]

You jusst know your post made me smile. For one I love to watch your journaling process which I think rocks, I can't quite put my finger on that bit of magic that flies from your fingers it but it's truly a process that you own. Vinyl Warriors; I can't quit grinning. Of course seeing all your bits and pieces making their way to the page and your stories unfold is the best part.

[Chelsy]

I absolutely love your journal! Hearing these little tid bits from your trip make me feel like I am back there with you. Thanks!

[Monica Smith]

great post!

[Leslie]

Great journal! I can just see the irate Hungarian lady, wondering why the hell none of her B&W kittens have found homes yet, hiking off to the street corner where she posted her sign, only to find it purloined by the souvenir-collecting Americanski tourist lady.

[Lisa M]

Ganxta Warrior! Who could go wrong in life with a name like that?!

[bonitarose]

your journal is fantastic... so so inspiring. U are lovely. xo

[Caatje]

I just love looking at your travel journal and how it comes into being. I agree it's a lot of work to keep one up during travel, but I do try to do most of it on the trip, because otherwise it may never get finished. I also like pages with lots of writing, but that's probably because I always write a lot myself. ;-)

[Kelly Kautz]

I love your handwriting! What pen do you use to write? Micron, maybe?

[kelley]

Mary Ann, I'm loving seeing this travel journal unfold, as always. I love the ledger paper frames you're using. Where did you find them? xo Kelley