Penfabulous : Another Fine Virus Hits

This has been another week of being patient with myself. I seem to have been hit by another round of virus - whose main component is mind numbing exhaustion, cold sweats and a bit of dizzyness (no cracks from the peanut gallery - and you know who you are!). I did go to work & I did manage to get down to the "wood" beneath the piles on my desk. No mean feat at that! I was bound and determined that 1: I would make it thorough the work week and 2: that I would get through the piles before the new piles, marking the beginning of the month, began to appear by mail, fax and pony express . Mission accomplished.

Levenger Golden Tortoise

It was also one of those relatively contemplative weeks - frustration at not being as fast to recover, thinking about what I really wanted to make certain I finish before the final curtain gets called - hopefully a very long time from now, and thinking about the things that I truly enjoy doing. The things that fill me up - and don't deplete. When I was in my 20's & 30's I seldom deigned to use anything other than a fountain pen. I love fountain pens - always have. Somewhere along the line I was led astray & began using gel pens or ball points. Most people know that even with those plebeian instruments I am fussy and very picky. I am happy to report have finally returned to the fold. I had been grazing the foddered fields of ebay last week longing to replace the one pen that I truly miss. It was always my favorite and I still can't believe that I lost it somewhere along the occasionally dreary path to adult hood. It was a Mont Blanc fountain pen -of course. My holy grail of pens. Alas! In the intervening years I find that there is hardly any chance that I will be able to replace this pen of all pens. Pen prices have become as sky high as petrol prices (well, truth be told - a lot higher) and the business of putting ink to paper is no longer a young girls game. I did find a Levenger True Writer Golden Tortoise on Ebay from the Levenger Outlet - and I have to say that I am in love with it. It came with a medium tip that is, to me, a broad point that simply does not work very well for my hand. Levenger is sending out a fine point though which is wonderful &, in the mean time, I am enjoying the "medium" just fine. It's odd too that I would like this pen so much. It is larger for my hand that I though would be comfortable. I like where the "finger stop" is on this model - and I also like the nib - a steel nib but it does have a nice bit of flex and the ink flow is a bit wetter than drier. Perfect - not a Mont Blanc - but quite good none-the-less. The sensual feel of a good pen, with fine ink laid on paper is something you just have to understand! I am really enjoying writing - even just my journaling - so much more again!

Retro 1951 Scriptmaster 2 Fountain Pen in Citron

Here is my next pen. This is the pen that I must, absolutely, own. It has taken all of my will power this week to not just hit the "buy" button on several web sites. It would be here by now where I could be drooling on it and filling it with Noodlers Forest Green ink. Those of you who know me, understand why this pen, above any other is THE pen for for. I want it. I will have it ....soon anyway ! Lord ! I hope they don't run out of this in a fine point !!!

Pelikan 120 from the 1970's

Here is The Pelikan 120 that I unearthed this week. Is is the one pen that I have held on to for all of these years - and it still writes like a top - italic nib and all. I came across this wonderful place Fountain Pen Network this week too. Talk about an education ! Great people, lots of help, lots to learn. I found out about Chartpak, where I can send the Pelikan in to have my 'antique' fixed up... the top is cracked and she has lost the part that holds pen to shirt pocket. I think it will be nice to bring the old gal up to snuff again I think. Now, if bringing myself up to snuff was only so easy !!

The Beloved Mont Blanc That Is Lost.

This was the Mont Blanc that I used to carry everywhere. I used to write a lot then - probably much like now - but no doubt in a more plaintive way! This pen had a wonderful 22k gold nib that conformed itself to my hand writing. I guess it will always hold a special place in the pen box in my mind - I am still shocked at the prices. My father had a Mont Blanc Diplomat that I lusted for too. Unfortunately before I could ever screw up the nerve to ask him to leave it to me ( I mean before I was disinherited!) - he broke it quite soundly. It was also a bit large for my hand - but it was beautiful to look at!

I have also been enjoying an inexpensive Shaffer Calligraphic pen. They have made the [en more ergonomic than earlier models and it writes really wee. A couple of months ago Teri got me hooked into buying two of Pilot's new Parallel Calligraphy pens - now there are truly a boon to calligraphy and nice hand writing in general. There really is nothing like the feel on real ink on paper. Thank goodness thet still make it !