Saturday, August 21, 2010

J-Land -- Not Forgotten, and Not Really Gone Either

Today, August 21, is the anniversary of AOL Journals, the beginning of our virtual community we called J-Land.


happy anniversaryWhen AOL shut us down and most of us moved to Blogger, it was a bit exciting and hectic for a while, getting used to a new format, getting our own journals transferred over, and finding all our friends. We lost several J-Landers who decided to stop journaling instead of making the switch, but I find that most of my original buddies are still around, and I've found a lot of new friends as well.

I don't blog as much as I used to, but most of that is really just because life is busy these days. I know that my blog and my friends are here whenever I have something I want to say, and I really appreciate that more than I can say. So Happy Anniversary to J-Land, and to all of you!



updated friends throughout
Thank you Donna for the J-Land tag!

27 comments:

Emmi said...

Happy J-Land day to you as well. Gone, but not forgotten.

Connie said...

Happy J-Land Anniversary to you too,Lori.

Linda's World said...

Very nice entry Lori. I'm glad so many of us are on Face Book. And actually we can do more on FB than we ever could on Blogger. But it was a traumatic time that's for sure. I was actually in southern California when AOL kicked us to the side of the road. I remember trying, without success to transfer my AOL Journal. Finally Robin (The Yellow Brick Road) said she'd try for me. So I gave her my password & she was able to transfer it. I was so relieved....Maybe this winter our Blogs will really come alive again. It seems when the weather is nice & there's so much to do, FB is a quick way to update. Thanks again....Linda in western Washington state

MammawsDecorativeArt said...

I was thinking of you and several others today and how much I appreciate the bonds and the friendships we've made over the years. It was definitely a traumatic and fearful time when AOL switched over because I was afraid that every bit of my four year history would be destroyed. And I don't blog much though I intended to do so and I think it's because the convenience of FB connects me so readily with each of you. Happy Anniversary, Lori

Lisa said...

Yes I am so glad you posted this entry Lori!! I miss my original JLand Journal also. I think my writing has improved. I've learned to say what I have to say in less time and I'm not nearly as repetitive as I used to be. Like you, life is busier for me at the moment so I don't get to blog as often as I used to. It's so nice that so many of us have remained connected through facebook and blogger.
Lisa (in Kentucky)

D said...

hugs to you.. it's been great getting to know so many....
hehehe at the tag :)

Joann said...

Happy J-Land Anniversary!!

sunflowerkat said...

I made some lifelong friends in J-land. It still makes me sad that it was shut down. It's just never been quite the same here.

DB said...

JLand was the mother of us all it seems. Now it's confusing with FBook Google and Twitter but at least most of us are stil alive and blogging.
DB

Bill said...

Lori, It has been a while. I am still inclined to call my writing a Journsal instead of a Blog. Most of us started at the beginning of AOL JOurnals and have kept together since.
Hooray for all of us!!!

Amelia said...

That was a great community we once had :-). Happy A J-land.

Missy

Paula said...

J-land was the start but now that I am used to blogger I don't see much difference. Do miss the ones who left.

Anonymous said...

Happy J-Land Day...I love my J-Land peeps!!! Hugs!!!! TerryAnn

mortonlake said...

well said lori,nice entry,tc love mort xx

ADB said...

Happy J-land anniversary to you too, Lori

Valerie said...

Yay to all of us who are here!! It has been a long road, but we remain friends. That is what is most important. Thanks for this post, Lori. Love, Val xox

Kathy said...

Hey Lori! Glad you put a post up. I haven't gotten to one yet, but fall is fast approaching and with it a little more time for thinking out loud.

It is nice to have FB to keep up with folks but the writing and reading is the nuts and bolts of those on-line friendships.

kelly said...

I was brought to J-Land through the passing of my sister Kim.. I was amazed at the compassion of all..I have met some great people and feel honored to have met you all.. thanks~

Stephanie @ dirtandlace.com said...

Happy J-Land anniversary to you! Thanks for remembering this day... if it weren't for J-Land, I wouldn't know a lot of my favorite people.

Sandi Doscher said...

Lori, it's been quite satisfying to find so mant ex J-landers on Facebook. I don't think any venue right now could recapture what we had in J-land, there was a constant flow of emotion written on a daily basis - showing a side of ourselves that I have yet to find anywhere else. I started a page for Jland and there are over 100 facebookers who have joined..I hope that from that people have been able to recapture some of their lost friends. I've been bad about Blogger only written here and there - I need to write more too...anyway thanks for posting this about the anniversary..love Sandi

Barbara In Caneyhead said...

J-Land was a wonderful, eye-opening experience for me. I tried Facebook, but didn't much care for it in the end. Too many snippets and not enough heart and soul. When you made the rounds in J-Land you became friends, family.

Unknown said...

I know you're hit and miss, but I'm glad you have continued! :)

Rose said...

We all miss our original AOL Journals..........but most of us are here at Blogger and together and that is what counts.

I remember the panic of the transistion was overwhelming for me and scared that they would lose all my years of blogging as I have to blogs.

Nice Post.

Hugs, Rose

Anonymous said...

Lori! Lori! You wrote "...not forgotton..." Did you mean to write that? Were you being funny? Help!

Lori said...

Nooooo!!! I didn't mean to do that. I can't believe I did that. I'm going to correct that GLARING spelling mistake right now!! And thank you, Debbie, for bringing it to my attention.

Martha said...

The good old days! I miss the close community we had back then where it seemed like we all knew each other.

Rose said...

seems like yesterday. I am the queen of not letting go...therefore I am here in bloggerville. I would not be the same with out you all!