Adding new blood to the dark side
With my students transitioning into working on their final projects this week, I expect far more meetings than prepared lessons.
Teaching is what motivates me. So my daily drivers need to help keep me interested. I chose both of my new pens as daily drivers: one a Japanese F and the other a European F. They’ll keep me wanting to write and make progress on what small projects remain.
Experimenting with vintage pens
I appreciate the aesthetics of vintage fountain pens — and the artistry of truly outstanding old-school nib work.
And I dig a pen that wears its history on itself. Scratches, dings and stains all drive home that the pen in hand may be older than I am, or than my parents are. I have a Parker Vacumatic that’s older than my grandparents.
Pens at a family affair
Family came over Sunday to celebrate a belated Mother’s Day. We were within the two-week post-vaccination period on the official calendar date. So, we chose to wait a week and celebrate safely together. On Sunday, for the first time in a year, we got to bring family together in person. And eat unholy amounts of carbs.
Minimizing smearing: Balancing pen, ink, and paper choices
Looking back across my last month of inked pens, I notice a pattern. I’ve struggled with smearing ink.
This is particularly true with faster writing: especially making and updating checklists, and meetings with students. My weeklies have grown smudgy and smeary.