For the last few days I have been hanging on the mail.  I ordered a new Moleskine diary on the internet Sunday evening and it arrived this afternoon.  I know what you are thinking.  Hanging on the mail for a notebook?  I can hear you saying, 'It's just a bloody notebook!'

But it isn't.  Allow me to try and explain.  Okay I can't .  Maybe this blogger can though.

So, since we’re neat, organized people - here’s a list of what Moleskine’s really are:

1. Paper Notebooks - This is first and foremost. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, these things are just pads of paper. You write things in them just like you would a $.59 spiral-bound notebook from the drugstore or on the back of a cocktail napkin.

2. Expensive - A single large (5.5? x 8.5?) Moleskine notebook will set you back anywhere from $15-$20, depending on where you buy it. If you were to tell me 5 years ago that one day I would drop that kind of cheddar on a book of blank pages, I would’ve laughed in your face. But, i did it (and I’ll tell you why a bit later on).

 http://blog.crankingwidgets.com/2007/03/13/moleskine/

Hang on, hang on he's getting there.

Having said all of that, you might be surprised to hear my next statement. Ready?

I love my Moleskines. Here’s why:

1. They’re dead sexy - Seriously. There’s something about a black, shiny notebook that commands respect and a certain modicum of admiration on the part of the owner.
2. They make you appreciate the contents - I’ve pitched a great deal of notebooks in my life. Dayplanners, too. If a paper product wasn’t cutting the mustard, it got a one-way ticket to the round file, no questions asked. These are different - you look at it and almost long to write in it. You want the contents to matter and you feel foolish adding anything but your best work.
3. They get you in the “productive mood” - You know how when you get a new piece of equipment (a pen, briefcase or the like), you’re fully of fanciful thoughts of how you’re going to use this new tool to really get your crap in order? It’s the same type of idea - when you have an inexplicable affinity for something, it’s only natural that you want to do it justice by utilizing it to it’s full potential.

 http://blog.crankingwidgets.com/2007/03/13/moleskine/

That is sort of how I feel about these little bundles of fine paper.  And they are only getting more popular.