Hey! To start a journal, just post a topic like you did but call it your journal and start posting

Also to post pictures and blinkies you need to upload them at a site like photobucket and then you can paste the code in the section at the top of this page that says, user CP, go in there and click edit signature to add new things. As far as the fancy siggies are concerned, you have to go to the board, siggies-r-us (a different JM board) and request that someone make one for you. Hope this helps, you will get the hang of it! Good luck and welcome to JM!!