OF PENCILS AND PENS...

I'm blogging on this topic as a result of part of Lotus' comment to my latest Moleskine blog. Lotus mentions how she bought the entire stock of her favorite gel pens from Office Depot when she learned they were discontinuing the pen. This got me thinking about how my use of writing implements has evolved over the years.

Way back, [when I was just a lad,] I remember writing with pencils, some with erasers, some without. Way back when the paper that we used in school was that cheap shit stuff where erasing actually removed/thinned out the paper. If one erased enough in one spot, one could actually create a hole in the paper. Or maybe it was the quality of the eraser? Or maybe a bit of both. Anyway, I also remember having to get up and go to the community pencil sharpener in the corner of the classroom. The ole' wooden pencil went to the wayside as soon as I discovered the mechanical pencil. I used it for years, especially when I was heavily into sketching/drawing. I own two mechanical pencils at the moment, but hardly ever use them. For the most part, I have converted over to pens.

Erasable pens... A novel idea and I think they still exist, but I never did like the flow. Too "bumpy" for me. On a quick tangent, I also do not like white-out. I have a lot of trouble with brushing the correct amount of white-out onto an error, especially if the error is small. Then, what I'm stuck with is a larger than needed blob of white-out on my document. The kind where my pen will just dig a trench as opposed to writing smoothly over it.

It's so hard to find a good writing pen. I've tried many over the years. [Sorry Lotus... for some reason, I just don't like the way a gel pen feels. Truth be told, though, I think it was one of your pens you'd left at Mulysa's place that I liked. It was a gel pen, but it smeared in my Moleskine.] What annoys me is an inconsistency in certain pens. In the past, I have come across pens that really feel good when I'm writing. But when I try another pen of the same brand and make, the feel is not as good. [This inconsistency does not make sense to me. If a particular pen writes really well, shouldn't another pen of the exact brand and type write just as well?] This went on for many a year. Me just trying to find that perfect pen... the perfect brand and make that would consistently provide a good writing experience. I'm sure there are those who could care less what a pen "feels" like. But I can't stand it when a black pen is really a dark shade of gray. I hate it when I have to press extra hard to get a pen to write. I hate it when a pen has that "rough" feeling as I'm writing. No... I want the ink to flow smoothly, almost effortlessly...

So what do I currently use? What have I found?

One of my current Moleskines is the sketchbook. Therefore, the paper is thicker and the texture is different. For this, I really like the feel of the Pilot "Precise V5 Rolling Ball (Extra Fine)" Pen. Really smooth in my opinion. Unfortunately, this is the only time I will use this pen. It "bleeds" thru to the other side when I've tried using it on regular paper (eg the Moleskine Ruled Notebook). And it doesn't feel quite right on regular paper.

The other pen I'm hooked on is the Papermate "DynaGrip" pen. It is a ball-point. Out of all the many pens I've tried, I have yet to be let down by this one. I remember the first time I used it: When HotFudge and I were doing some paperwork at the sales office for our current home, it was this pen I used. [In fact, I swiped it from the office.] I've used the pen ever since. So far, this pen has not let me down. It is this brand of pen I brought to Spain.

I usually write in black or blue. As a technicality, I've heard that blue is good for signing documents. At least you (or whoever else might look at it) will be able to tell it's an original signature. Medium is what I usually use, but I find fine works better on NCR type paper. In conjunction with the pen, however, is my need for a "soft" surface. When I say "soft", I mean I don't like writing on one sheet of paper on a desk. I want several sheets below my sheet. No pen has ever felt right to me while I was writing with no "cushion" of papers underneath.

I am very monogamous when it comes to pens. I know lots of people who have tons of pens at home or in their office, and they wouldn't care about losing a pen. They'll just grab another pen regardless of brand or type. Not I. I make a special effort not to lose my pen(s). For me, there is something quite satisfying about using a pen to the very last drop. During my trip to Spain, I did so much writing that I could actually see the ink in my pen going down on a daily basis.

I have several boxes (12 pens each) at home that I've bought at Office Depot. Hopefully pens don't have a shelf-life. It'll take me awhile to use all of them, but, like Lotus, I too am fearful they may someday discontinue this particular pen. There is nothing more frustrating than the discontinuation of a product you've come to love. Everytime I pass an Office Depot (or Staples), I wonder if I should purchase another pack... just in case...