You Can Go Home Again

"If I need a cause for celebration, or a comfort I can use to ease my mind. I rely on my imagination and dream of an imaginary time."

-Billy Joel

AOL Journal Land is a happy place to be at the moment. This week they are celebrating 3 years of journaling excellence, concluding with a live chat on Sunday night. Like in past years, many talented and generous members of the land are pitching in to make it a great time for everyone. The First Lady of AOL Journals, Vivian, has all the details and links to the various members and journal/blogs which will be participating. See the official "3rd Anniversary Journal," for details. Steven has created a special AOL journal, "It's Raining Photos," and is currently making an online photo album from submitted member's photos. He has done some really amazing things for the land in the past, and this time around he has come through again. There is still time to participate, the cut-off date is Sunday, so be sure and drop by and have a look at all the work he has done.

I have an anniversary coming up this week as well. Next Wednesday, August 23rd will mark my three year anniversary as a blogger. In that time I have learned so much, about myself and others. I have made some wonderful friends, and some amazing memories. When I moved over here to Blogger, I wasn't sure what to do with the old Ellipsis. I thought about making a clean break by deleting it, but I never had the heart. I considered archiving it over here, but that had it's obstacles as well. Sigh. So, Ellipsis has sat in AOL mothballs since last November, without any visitors, except for myself when I want to feel close to the old neighborhood again. I had friends that had to leave us all too soon, but who will forever remain a part of the rich history of the land, such as Pam and Frank. Then there are the friends who simply slipped away, due to life, like Slomo and Gregg. Sometimes I still go by Slomo's to sit and read old entries, and most of all to wish her well. Sigh. If you are out there darlin...I still miss you so much, but most of all, I hope in my heart that you are safe and happy.

A lot happened when things exploded last November, but one thing never changed, at least for me, was the fact that I still care about the people in that land. I may have changed addresses, but I didn't change inside. AOL didn't define who I was or what I was about. I hope that makes sense. I still DO NOT support the higher ups at AOL who tried to decide for me what content would be displayed on my journal. I DO NOT support the way they treated us during the fall-out, and it still makes me a little sad to think that they put those ads on our journals, like a vandals in the middle of the night. But as awful as that was, that was merely the final straw as to why I left. Problems had been coming up for months, anyone else remember the porn spam that infected our blogs? By the time "Black Tuesday" came around, I knew in my heart it was time to move on.

Suddenly I landed over here at Blogger, which is why I named my blog here, " Ellipsis...Suddenly Carly." I have learned a lot over here. I have had great pals like Shelly and Karen to help me out, and I feel I have experienced a growth as a blogger here, I never would have back in the old neighborhood of AOL. But like with any old neighborhood, you don't forget your neighbors, or care about them any less. So, after thinking it over carefully, I decided to go ahead and submit my photo to Steven for his album project, and after talking to some good friends, like Vivian and Patrick, I can sit here with a smile, and think to myself that, that old saying isn't always true, "YOU CAN GO HOME AGAIN." :)

To celebrate my personal three years of Ellipsis, I have decided to dust the old girl off and reopen her for a week, beginning this coming Sunday, complete with typos and all. LOL. Remember when AOL didn't have spell checks? LOL. I am surprised anyone ever read me at all. Sheesh. LOL. So, if you began reading me here and never saw my old place, this is your chance to drop by and have a look around. If you used to enjoy reading me over at AOL...well...like I said...I'm still just me, I like hearing from you no matter where I am. :) The AOL Ellipsis, will be opened up early Sunday morning, if you want to come by. I expect that the content will be different then my entries here. I plan to do some looking back, but like I always do, I will probably just let the journal flow where it wants. Hope to see you there. :)

Love, Carly