May172010
Gratefulness & The End of A Career & Pens
Filed under Stationery,work by Kim at 1:58 pm on May 17 2010
I didn’t write much here in the last days of my employment as an IT person, but my old career had a pretty nice denouement, with much hoopla and lunches and things. My boss and grandboss were gracious about the whole thing; they were sincerely happy that I was following my heart.
(OK so that last dinner at the Piratz Tavern was a tad mortifying and uncomfortable, but I survived.) (Since when do adults badger each other to do shots anymore? Don’t answer that.) (I held out and did not do shots.)
A big surprise came during my last lunch with the team. I was presented with a card containing a note that said I had a JetPens gift certificate waiting for me! I was blown away by the generosity and stammered my way awkwardly through ‘thank you’s. It was a really nice thing to do for someone who was ditching on them. I am really grateful for the gift. This post is my way of telling them how I spent it. 
I got two nice pens that I would never have bought myself, but have long been coveting. I also got two very nice inks in the same coveting category.
First is the Lamy Studio. I have read so many good reviews of this pen. I felt this was my opportunity to add it to the collection. I am showing it here with the Sailor Blue-Black. My dad got me some of their black ink for Christmas and that’s how I knew this one is worth the steep price. This might be the first pen I ink for note-taking. Charting/clinical work must be done in ballpoint pen, but I can take notes however I want.
Next is the big kahuna! Or the slightly smaller kahuna: the Pilot Decimo. The small version of the capless retractable fountain pen made by Pilot/Namiki. I have not filled this one yet in part because I am involved in a major pen cleaning binge and I am going to have all my pens cleaned out before I ink another (see below); but also because the CON-20 converter does not seem to fit in the Decimo. It looks like I should have bought the CON-50. Alas. I have some cartridges but I really wanted to put the gray (Iroshizuku’s kiri-same means “Autumn Showers” according to the site) ink into the silver pen.
Here’s one of the recipients of pen neglect – the nicest pen I have – soaking out some of the Iroshizuku Yama-Budo that got dried in it. I AM A BAD PEN MOM. This is the Platinum koi music nib. Poor baby. I use my Cutty Sark marina t-shirt and my Digex swag mug as my favorite cleaning aides. That weird mug has been great for being able to see what’s going on when cleaning pens! Glad I didn’t toss it.
Anyways. Cleaning up pens has been part of cleaning up my new home office. I hope to share that project with you soon. Definitely wishing I had a fisheye lens.
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2 Leesaon 17 May 2010 at 2:31 pm
Lovely, lovely pens! I like both.
How does the Studio compare with the Safari and/or Al-Star?
I have the Vanishing Point Pilot and I love it a lot, though I am considering getting a medium nib for it as the fine is too fine for me.
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Kim Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 2:52 pm
Maybe I will have to ink the Studio up next to the Safari and do a compare/contrast. If I don’t do it by June 1st, I will probably not have time to do it! Yikes!
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3 Rob Donoghueon 17 May 2010 at 2:37 pm
Hee. An excellent outcome. I’m super curious about the Studio.
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Kim Reply:
May 17th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Thank you SO MUCH. Also please send flickr links at least to those who participated!
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4 aprilon 17 May 2010 at 7:14 pm
I think I would like to go back to using fountain pens (when I use pens at all). Have you traveled much with them? I recall them not handling the pressure change of air travel well, and that’s obviously something I require from a pen.
Thoughts? I also like the small delicate pens better than the big chunky ones, if you have a recommendation.
That was a lovely gift from your colleagues, by the way. Very thoughtful.
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Kim Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
You know, I have shied away from traveling with them, thinking it too risky. There are tons of websites, however, asking and answering the best way to do so. Like the comments here which are totally inconsistent. The fountain pen network has a few threads on the topic. Official FAQs say there’s no worries. If you try it you will have to tell me how it goes!!
I would recommend the Pilot Cavalier for a slim, inexpensive, beautifully writing pen. You can start with the cartridges, and then get a converter and some bottled inks if you want to customize.
In a way, the whole origin of my fountain pen thing is your fault.
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april Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 3:01 pm
It looks like the solution for air travel with pens is the same as for anything else: keep air out of your liquid container, and the liquid won’t explode.
So, either traveling with empty pens or full ones should in theory work fine.
I’m going to try this inexpensive Rotring I’ve wanted for a bit and see what happens.
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Rob Donoghue Reply:
May 20th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Just my two bits: For small and delicate (A style I’m curiously fond of) I really second the Cavaliers.
5 Beckion 17 May 2010 at 9:47 pm
I love your angry pen-holder-dude! Nice photos and pens.
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Kim Reply:
May 19th, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Hehe, it’s a laughing buddha guy!
Thanks!
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