inconsistent recall / sleep paralysis

So I awoke this morning feeling very different.

I started taking dreaming very seriously about a week or so ago. I've always thought dreams were important, but after finding Dreamviews i wanted to start lucid dreaming (I had one about 3 years ago and I've never forgotten it) and start paying attention to what I ponder to be 'reality'. The first night I set out to start recalling my dreams with a dream journal I said to myself "I'm going to wake up every dream cycle and remember and record my dreams". Sure enough, the first night I wrote down 4 dreams.. the most I think I've ever remembered in one night. Second night, I didn't remember one thing and I didn't experience them while sleeping as I usually do. So a week or so passes by with little to no dream recall.. I tried to remember anything to write down (i have a few one liners in there) and I can attribute some of that to alcohol and stress (which is a given). My question is, does anyone else experience poor dream recall or at least inconsistent dream recall?

Now last night, I said to myself non-shalantly once again "i will wake up and record my dreams" ect. ect. I though to myself.. 'it's no big deal if I don't... although it'd be nice" and low and behold I had a consecutive long dream session (with different parts) but I woke up and wrote about 2 1/2 pages at about 5 o clock this morning. after doing all of that.. I lay back down to go back to sleep before my early morning japanese class. As I felt myself drift off to sleep.. I started thinking about walking around outside (I recently read a post about lucid dreaming saying you should imagine you're doing something and stepping into the vision) and I felt myself start to dream. I was in a shop with a friend of mine. He asked me 'what time is the party getting started tonight?" As soon as he asked me.. my mind kicked into full swing and I started to hear my air conditioner and the other things in my room. I layed there with my mind completely awake, not being able to move anything. I tried to respond for what felt like hours to my friend but I just layed there paralyzed. I couldn't open my eyes, lift any limbs.. I just layed there. it's like my body was asleep, but my mind was wide awake. It must've taken a while for me to be able to snap out of it.. I wonder if that is what people we call "vegetables" experience. All in All I must say it was one of the most frightening experiences I've ever had.. but at the same time it excited me because I knew that my awareness of all of these things will lead to lucid dreams and better dream recall. Do many of you intentionally induce sleep paralysis and get visions? it's quite an experience.. its like being in a really really intense meditative state.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience and hear what you guys have to say about it. thanks for reading.