my book.
I finally finished my book. I started it last February, but I’ve really been going at it for about 9 months, and now it’s finally finished and ordered.
It’s called ”love in the heart-shaped state” and it’s the story of Funnel & Jen.
It ended up being 314 pages long and it’s a compilation of all of our photos, AIM conversations, 2 shoeboxes of letters and momentos, all my journal and blog entries, lyrics to songs from all the mix CD’s we made each other, and then I wrote a narrative that ties it all together.
I will admit that it is pretty cheesy, but it was the best that I could do. It seemed really urgent to me that I make this book now, at this point in our relationship, before life gets too busy and we start forgetting everything. I am really thankful that we did such a good job of saving everything and that I journaled so much the last few years. When I was going through everything I realized that there were so many things that just would have been lost had I not written them down.
While making it, I had never even thought about “The Notebook” but that’s what it’s like. I hope we will still have it when we are old. Hopefully our kids and grandkids will enjoy reading it one day.
It should be here by the end of the month and I’ll probably post pictures. I’m already starting to geek out about it.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Wow, that looks great. Did you use an online company to publish it? Do you have a link or something? What a great idea.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
YAY! I think that is THE BEST IDEA EVER! I have forever wanted to print out every e-mail that John & I have written eachother. At one point, the computer that had them all saved on it appeared to be completly broken!
I was so sad, & I probably even prayed that they were not all lost. Just recently John & I plugged it in at our apartment & it turned on!!! I am planning on making it a project to get them all off of that computer & on to paper, just in case it decides to break again!
OK… again I LOVE your idea & John & I would love to see the finished product:)
June 16th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Are other people able to order a copy of the book (and of course pay for it)? I really want one! I’ve asked you plenty of questions that show how intrigued I am by your (seemingly) picture-perfect romance. Like doubting Thomas, I really want to see and believe.
June 17th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Yea for Jen! and romance…and writing, journaling and books. I’m so glad you finished your project. It will indeed be a keepsake to pass down through the generations – like your diamonds. I can’t wait to see it! I hadn’t thought about it being parallel to “The Notebook” – but now that story has significance to the Frederick’s in more ways than one. In matters of the heart, I believe that “cheesy” is good, because what else can take your breath away and make you giggle and cry and say silly things? Being in love!!! love you.
June 17th, 2008 at 6:23 am
Seven::: I used a company called Blurb (www.blurb.com). You can download their free software, which is called “Booksmart” and create your book on your computer and then upload it to their website to be printed. I’ve tried a few different bookmaking companies (photoworks, babblefish, etc.) and this is the very best one as far as layouts and creativity.
Ali::: You should definetely make a book of your emails! I can understand how scary that would be to think they are gone. I still need to print out all the AIM conversations I saved (I only put the best snippets in the book). I will show you the book when I get it!
Sarah::: Yes! You can order one if you want (I am flattered that you would want one!) I’ll post a link for ordering the book once I get mine and make sure it turned out okay. I have to warn you that it is expensive though.. just because it ended up being SO big. When I uploaded it Sunday and realized how expensive it was going to be, I think I gasped a little bit out loud. If you want, you could always just borrow my copy and read it. And our romance is definetly not perfect.
But I am happy with it. And when you mentioned Doubting Thomas, it made me think of Dr. Jackson. 
Deb::: You are right.. cheesy is acceptable. Cheesy is good. It would be neat if you made the story of you & Dan… Snoopy & Woodstock… it’s a good story.
I love love stories and I love to hear about everyone else’s.
— jen.
June 17th, 2008 at 8:20 am
That’s so cool! It’s awesome that there’s a place that actually publishes books like that(as opposed to having to scrapbook everything).
June 17th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
SO cool and professional! I love it!!
June 18th, 2008 at 11:44 am
awww!
June 19th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
that is SO cute. please put up some pages!! i would love to see them. if you could also share the story of you and funnel sometime (completely with pictures!
) that would be awesome0. and pretty much make my day. i LOVE a good love story.