Thursday, August 21, 2008

J-Land 5 Years!

                  CONGRATULATIONS J-LAND!  5 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG!

There is so much to say about my involvement in J-Land.  My son John Scalzi helped me set up my journal on 9/16/04.  In his journal, he told people to go on to greet me.  A lot of people wrote "Welcome to J-Land"  Egotist that I was, I though that meant John-Land.  Even told my husband that.  Silly mom!

Almost immediately, I began to make friends.  My first were Krissy, Val and Chuck (RIP).  I've made many other friends since then. 

There was always a celebration and chat for anniversary.  We made a big deal of it.  I just missed the first anniversary.  I've not missed any since.

Soon after the anniversary, there was an AOL Journals Awards.  I got in at 2nd year and won a then-calld Vivi Award for:

                        I was thrilled and could hardly wait for the J-Land "Ball"  announcing the winners.  I think the awards stopped in 2006 or 2007 because there was a lot of in-fighting in the committee.  To bad, I really liked the awards and seeing my friends win.  I also got to go read new journals.

J-Land has been a wonderful outlet for me both in public and private journals.  I've shared my poetry, my everyday life and in private my very personal feelings.  I've never found a blog or journal setting where you can mak friends, IM them in the same place and meet new readers and writers.  My alert list somtimes overwhelms me, but I do my best to read, lurk and comment.              

                                           

Every year we have one of this kind of graphic announcing the year anniversary.  There have also been some other very beautiful graphics made.  I'd put them all up, but a lot of you have them saved already. 

I don't know who started J-Land, but since I got on AOL 4 years ago, I have laughed, cried, prayed, felt empathy or sympathy, sadness at the loss of our members.  We are a family here.  Most of us will never meet in person, but the love we have here is every bit as strong as that we hav with our local friends and in some cases stronger.

So here's to you  J-Land!  5 years strong and moving right along!  This is one of the best things to happen to me and you are all responsible.  Thank you all,

    

Thanks to Donna for the animated tags today.  I don't remember who made the Vivi award.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

John is your son?  Now, I didn't know that.  I've been here almost 3 years and really love the place.  I loved the balls and picking out dresses and shoes online to "wear."  The last one was in 2006.  Jackie/Hope Floats and I were the committee in the end.  It wasn't so much fighting among the committee but many in Jland got very ugly stating that Jackie and I were rigging votes, etc.  Many wonderful people whose journals were nominated got hurt very badly by others.  Jealously reared its head badly.  There weren't any Vivi awards last year.  I will never be involved in handling them again although I did think it was a nice concept.  Jackie took the brunt of criticism.  I doubt if they could find anyone to run them and count the votes ever again.  It's a shame.  But I still celebrate this place every day!  Love, Chris

Anonymous said...

I know I don't stop by too often but I am proud to call you FRIEND! Hugs! Barb

Anonymous said...

I didn't know that John Scalzi was your son.... hmmm, small world J-land is. LOL!!!  I don't know him, but I sure know the name.... he's famous in J-land!!

Glad you are a part of J-land (and John-Land, too... LOL!!!)

Joann

Anonymous said...

My first year was when they did the Vivi's. I won "Best Private Journal" which was kind of fun for me being so new to Jland. It's a great place and I can't imagine ever leaving.
Pam

Anonymous said...

dear Penny,
I miss John a lot!
Happy Fifth Year Anniversary! and thanks to you and to our blog teacher John for being great friends here!
hugs,natalie

Anonymous said...

Ah Penny, that's funny "John-Land lol!  Very special tribute here, and great graphics.  I don't know why I don't hang mine up, lazy I suppose, but it's nice to see Journals like yours where everything is on display.  xoxo Cathy
http://journals.aol.com/luddie343/DARETOTHINK/  

Anonymous said...

You said it well Penny!  -  Barbara

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary J- Land!  I know that I'm still a newbie, even at going on 3 years, but I sure am meeting such wonderful people who are becoming as close, if not closer than family!  Yay for J-land!  Thank you Penny~ God Bless and hope you have a good week!!  Love Carolyn