Joe, If you're going all fountain penny you've got to try blending your own inks. Add some black to a bottle of blue, or mix some green into a bottle of black, or even blend a dark purple with black.
There's not much sense not using that capability since your pens offer the chance, and it makes your writing experience far more personal and distinctive.
No, I've never gotten into fountain pens, not at all, except for a brief few years when I was in college. That would be madness.
So, NOW I have to wonder, ‘ Can obsessions be catching?’ - this after finding myself clicking on the links to the several pen and notebook links. If they are, I can only hope my wife would be a ‘Margo’ too - who seems an ideal blend of adaptability but with Limits To Keep (Me) From Going Too Far.
Had to ponder this a while, hits a little close to home...
If a person's obsessions are their passions, integrated as a part of their daily existence, great. It's when the obsessions either become either a) all-encompassing to the point of distraction and interference with daily life, or b) veer into areas of questionable morality or legality that they become problematic.
We've dealt with a bit of both in my household, it ain't easy.
I think this is a delightful read, Joe. Myself, I have no interest in fountain pens, but I love the UniBall Signo ballpoint pens. The only ones I'll use, and I buy them in bulk. Imagine my delight when I realized that my older son, completely independent of me, also fell in love with them.
Your Houdini book is spellbinding. The story about Houdini and Sarah Bernhardt haunts me, in a very good way.
First, I love this kind of writing. I only started reading you by stumbling across your Japan/Bruce essay years and years ago. So I’m thrilled to see this.
Second, if you’re into power washing, the most satisfying videos I’ve ever seen on YT is storm drain unclogging by a guy going under the name “post 10.” I think I first encountered that via Linda Holmes. It is so bizarrely delightful. https://youtu.be/ZIBqdpR4C_U?si=VygY6BVD9NdRcLUJ
If you ever find yourself just a hair north of NYC, let me know. I'm more than happy to let you try out a number of different typewriters (including 2 different H3Ks). Personally, I think my favorite to type on is a very old Royal P, though I'm not writing nearly as many words as you on any given day.
But of course, the technology of pens has also changed over time. I am not an expert, but a cursory look at Wikipedia will help us understand that writing instruments changed. Quills and reed pens were originally used to convey ink to page, while other utensils were also fashioned. Dip pens (something that isn't a quill, but used similarly) have also been used, where the fountain pen was invented something like 1,000 years ago, but not generally used until a few centuries ago.
But we all have our obsessions. I used to collect Bill Graham Presents posters (a promotion manager from the Bay Area) and they still litter the first floor of my house. I still collect Magic: the Gathering cards, and have several binders full of them, and have started collecting the original sketches for the art of some of the cards (too expensive to get in deep). I collect signed baseballs, although I no longer buy them as that feels cheap, and have re-started bobbleheads (and might go to my dad's house to see if I can find the ones I got as a kid).
Fountain pens are no crazier than any other obsession. I have awful penmanship (thank's ball point), so prefer typing on a computer where I can save it to Google Docs and work on it at my leisure wherever I find myself. But that's me!
I enjoy reading about the idea of the obsessions(s), but yeah I skimmed through the details of fountain pens. Near the end is the heart of the essay (to me) which is the section starting with "I really do wonder what it is about fountain pens and notebooks (and, to a lesser degree, ink) that have so captured and enraptured me." I suggest reading that part.
I am not fond of pencils (something about the vibration gives me the willies), and have an irrational hatred of fountain pens. I have horrible penmanship (not correctible, no matter how much practice I torture myself with) for openers; ink splotches, catching on paper fibers, etc. - it's all traceable to grade-school days. The instant I got my hands on a ballpoint, I decided I never wanted to use anything else. I also don't much care for typewriters; I am an enormous fan of computers for typing. It's easy, and if I make a mistake it's easily corrected and NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.
I am 75 years old, and modern tech for putting words on paper or into the ether have been a godsend to me. I absolutely do not understand anyone paying 6-figure prices for fountain pens or watches (especially watches - do NOT go down that rabbit hole, Joe). No one knows where another person's obsessions will come from, or take them - but these mystify me completely.
Joe, If you're going all fountain penny you've got to try blending your own inks. Add some black to a bottle of blue, or mix some green into a bottle of black, or even blend a dark purple with black.
There's not much sense not using that capability since your pens offer the chance, and it makes your writing experience far more personal and distinctive.
No, I've never gotten into fountain pens, not at all, except for a brief few years when I was in college. That would be madness.
So, NOW I have to wonder, ‘ Can obsessions be catching?’ - this after finding myself clicking on the links to the several pen and notebook links. If they are, I can only hope my wife would be a ‘Margo’ too - who seems an ideal blend of adaptability but with Limits To Keep (Me) From Going Too Far.
Great, now we all have that amazing song stuck in our heads.
Had to ponder this a while, hits a little close to home...
If a person's obsessions are their passions, integrated as a part of their daily existence, great. It's when the obsessions either become either a) all-encompassing to the point of distraction and interference with daily life, or b) veer into areas of questionable morality or legality that they become problematic.
We've dealt with a bit of both in my household, it ain't easy.
I think this is a delightful read, Joe. Myself, I have no interest in fountain pens, but I love the UniBall Signo ballpoint pens. The only ones I'll use, and I buy them in bulk. Imagine my delight when I realized that my older son, completely independent of me, also fell in love with them.
Your Houdini book is spellbinding. The story about Houdini and Sarah Bernhardt haunts me, in a very good way.
Joe-
First, I love this kind of writing. I only started reading you by stumbling across your Japan/Bruce essay years and years ago. So I’m thrilled to see this.
Second, if you’re into power washing, the most satisfying videos I’ve ever seen on YT is storm drain unclogging by a guy going under the name “post 10.” I think I first encountered that via Linda Holmes. It is so bizarrely delightful. https://youtu.be/ZIBqdpR4C_U?si=VygY6BVD9NdRcLUJ
Unreadable. I was looking for sports.
one of my fave tattoo artist in SF, Jeff Rassier, makes his own pens and accoutrements.
https://www.instagram.com/p/C34OsEtLLk_/?igsh=dHQ2NGg0cnpwaTF2
..."and I really want a “Third Man” poster". I have a poster from my favorite hockey/porno movie... Third Man In.
If you ever find yourself just a hair north of NYC, let me know. I'm more than happy to let you try out a number of different typewriters (including 2 different H3Ks). Personally, I think my favorite to type on is a very old Royal P, though I'm not writing nearly as many words as you on any given day.
But of course, the technology of pens has also changed over time. I am not an expert, but a cursory look at Wikipedia will help us understand that writing instruments changed. Quills and reed pens were originally used to convey ink to page, while other utensils were also fashioned. Dip pens (something that isn't a quill, but used similarly) have also been used, where the fountain pen was invented something like 1,000 years ago, but not generally used until a few centuries ago.
But we all have our obsessions. I used to collect Bill Graham Presents posters (a promotion manager from the Bay Area) and they still litter the first floor of my house. I still collect Magic: the Gathering cards, and have several binders full of them, and have started collecting the original sketches for the art of some of the cards (too expensive to get in deep). I collect signed baseballs, although I no longer buy them as that feels cheap, and have re-started bobbleheads (and might go to my dad's house to see if I can find the ones I got as a kid).
Fountain pens are no crazier than any other obsession. I have awful penmanship (thank's ball point), so prefer typing on a computer where I can save it to Google Docs and work on it at my leisure wherever I find myself. But that's me!
I read just enough to stop reading. I remember the Taylor Swift junk and don't care about the petty stuff, but your fans will eat it up.
I enjoy reading about the idea of the obsessions(s), but yeah I skimmed through the details of fountain pens. Near the end is the heart of the essay (to me) which is the section starting with "I really do wonder what it is about fountain pens and notebooks (and, to a lesser degree, ink) that have so captured and enraptured me." I suggest reading that part.
You’re not a fan? Your being here seems to indicate otherwise…or maybe you’re just being kranky.
My wife is like you and I’m like Margo. Please tell her that some of us feel her pain.
I will not be unsubscribing from Joe’s personal jottings.
I am not fond of pencils (something about the vibration gives me the willies), and have an irrational hatred of fountain pens. I have horrible penmanship (not correctible, no matter how much practice I torture myself with) for openers; ink splotches, catching on paper fibers, etc. - it's all traceable to grade-school days. The instant I got my hands on a ballpoint, I decided I never wanted to use anything else. I also don't much care for typewriters; I am an enormous fan of computers for typing. It's easy, and if I make a mistake it's easily corrected and NO ONE WILL EVER KNOW.
I am 75 years old, and modern tech for putting words on paper or into the ether have been a godsend to me. I absolutely do not understand anyone paying 6-figure prices for fountain pens or watches (especially watches - do NOT go down that rabbit hole, Joe). No one knows where another person's obsessions will come from, or take them - but these mystify me completely.
Don't love old movies. Or fountain pens. Or (not really) magic. But I LOVE this. The Margo asides were just a joy to read.