[Pen/Pencil Review] Zebra Spiral Ball Point 0.7mm – Rerun/Revisit
I took out a bunch of my green and green body pens for March (St. Patrick’s Day and all) and have been using them at work. One of the ones I picked out was the Zebra Spiral – which I’m remembering why and how much I liked it the first time, so I’m rerunning the original post (because of the music review on Tuesday and my dad’s birthday last night. I am pleased to see on Zebra’s website that they’re still around.
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This is another pen from my last Office Depot spree, and I found this in the Clearance section – so I hope they’re not discontinuing them completely, just changing packaging or will be available in other retailers. This is the Zebra Spiral Ball Point pen in a Fine point 0.7mm black ink.
This is an interesting pen because it take ergonomics and frivolity and puts them into one pen. The need for ergonomic comfort comes at all ages, but only now are the pens designed to relieve writing fatigue getting some style to them. The Zebra Spiral takes the style to a whole new level. Where the Dr. Grip Full Black is sleek and classic, the Spiral is fun, flirty and colorful.
![IMG_2744[1]](http://www.rhondaeudaly.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_27441-e1407782003694-300x72.jpg)
I bought (shocker) the lime green version of the Spiral. The barrel has a soft rubber grip area with a comfortable amount of squish and rounded contours going to the point. The diameter is that nice middle ground where you don’t feel like you’re strangling your fingers, but no so wide as to feel like you’re using a kindergarten crayon. Where it gets interesting is in the resting part of the barrel. That is translucent color to match the grip with enough clear to see the white mechanism housing. This is where the pen gets its name. The barrel is twisted into a spiral pattern that gives a smooth groove where it rests in the thumb web – for both righties and lefties. It’s well balanced and feels sturdy for plastic.
This pen comes with a 0.7mm black ink insert that is smooth and dark (and fine line to make me so very happy). The pen is refillable with the Zebra F-Refill (which does come in a 0.7mm blue ink). The clip is plastic, but sturdy feeling – you’ll have to work hard to snap it. The grip is nice, but not QUITE as squishy as the Dr. Grip – but with a much nicer price point, in my opinion.
I really like this pen – so much so, I went and bought the blue one just to have a spare in case they are going away (which I really, really hope not). If you write a LOT and want a spiffy yet comfortable pen – please check this one out.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – It works well. The ink flows well with minimal smearing. The retraction mechanism is solid. It’s well balanced and solid feeling
2. Grip and feel – 1 – This is surprisingly comfortable. You’d think with the twist to the barrel something would dig in to fingers, but it doesn’t. It’s a good diameter with a really good feel.
3. Material – 0.5 – For a plastic barrel pen, it’s pretty well-made. The barrel is really solid yet smooth. The mechanisms work well. The ink is great. For a pen that is designed to reduce writing fatigue and promotes ergonomics, there might not be ENOUGH squish in the grip. It could be a bit softer – like the Dr. Grip…
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s an amazingly good design. It does what it says – it’s comfortable, it has good ink, and it is suitable for long-term writing. What makes it super cool is the attention to making it DIFFERENT. The spiral part not only makes it comfortable, it makes it CUTE.
5. Price Point – 1 – This one isn’t as expensive as the Dr. Grip. It sells on the Zebra website for $6.44 – which for an ergonomic pen that’s refillable isn’t bad at all. It’s fun, it’s useful, and is actually probably appropriately priced for the amount of material in it. It’s a SOLID pen. Not HEAVY, but it doesn’t feel cheap. This should last a while.
That’s 4.5 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Music Review] The Bilge Pumps – Planned Piratehood
A few weeks ago (longer than it should have been) Craig Lutke from The Bilge Pumps asked if I would review their newest 2-disc album project, Planned Piratehood. I was up front that I haven’t reviewed music in a very long time and they’d be better off with someone with more reach in the whole piratical, musical scene – but still he wanted me to give it a listen.
I have apologized for the fact that I have delayed getting this done because of a whole slew of cheesy, lame excuses. Some of which was sheer procrastination (I have long ago given up my amateur status when it comes to crastination, I’m a TOTAL pro.) BUT… I’m here now. Let’s get this review started.
Planned Piratehood was recorded between July 2014 and December 2018. It’s 38 tracks of beautiful ridiculousness – which is something one comes to expect from The Bilge Pumps. Only 34 of them have names on the liner notes. These tracks are a great combination of classic rock and Celtic folk music – all with the unique twists and marks of this band’s comedic tastes.
I will admit there is one track I didn’t listen to – and won’t – because it’s my most unfavorite song of all time no matter WHO does it. Disc 1 – “Delivery Room” contains “House of the Rising Sun”. I don’t know why I can’t stand this song, but I have NEVER, EVER, EVER liked it. Still don’t. It’s my okra of the music world. Sorry guys. Disc 2 is called “Nursery”.
But that one track aside, there are so many more to love. I sang along (in my head, I hope) to the Irish/Celtic classic “The Old Black Rum” while on the elliptical. “Southern Cross” got me though traffic with great harmonies. I actually thing Jimmy Buffet would be proud of Bilge’s cover of “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes”. And OMG, Rippy the Gator is the BEST absolutely WORST “childrens’ song of all time. Many of the traditional Celtic/Pirate type songs are adapted to be more… piratical.
There are lovely originals as well. “A Pirate Lullaby” is beautiful. You can learn to talk like one of them with “Piratical Talk”. And “The Captain’s Daughter” and “One more on a Dead Man’s Chest” are what you’d expect from a group of rapscallions.
It’s just a ton of fun. So if you’re in need (and you are, you totally are) of good, fun music with strong harmonies, flutes, mandolins, drums, and guitars. So check out their website – http://www.thebilgepumps.com – to order the cds and check out their show schedule. Tell them I sent you – it won’t matter – but then they’d know I did the review, finally.
[Write the Story] A Conversation Between Artists
Prompt: A Conversation Between Artists
Words: skull, galaxy, expression, trash can, deployment, visitor, brushstroke, decade, forgot, ponder
Story
“And with a brushstroke, the galaxy becomes just an expression…” Thomas gestured with the chopstick.
“Are you trying to channel Bob Ross or did you get a bad Crystal Skull vodka?” Aldous took a pull of his beer.
“Says the guy who took a commission to paint a trash can.”
“Trash CANS, multiple. Many multiples for the Visitors Bureau.” Aldous tried not to sound smug but couldn’t keep a straight face. “It’s the contract of the decade.”
“”They’re trash cans.” Thomas tossed back his drink. “It’s a low-brow, sell out…”
“Oh, right, I forgot you’re Thomas Seavey the One True Artist. The one who can’t seem to do anything but paint in your cellar. Let me ponder that…Hmmm.”
“You’re funny. I have a showing just next week.” Thomas harrumphed. “Next week!”
“Oh, that’s awesome, but doesn’t your deployment start tomorrow?”
Thomas slid off his barstool and straightened his uniform. “Then I guess you’ll have to hang my art for me, won’t you?”
“Why me?”
“Because I’m serving so you don’t have to, brother. It’s the least you can do.”
Word Count: 179
Written: 2/28/19
[Pen/Pencil Review] Fisher Space Pen – Lime Green Rerun
The last couple of weeks have been…hectic. ConDFW, birthday, hosting a class at Day Job and working as an evaluator at another one all this week – plus some family stuff have stretched me pretty thin. I haven’t been home much this week. So, I went back to an oldie but a goodie… The Fisher Space Pen. With some new links now that Paradise Pen Company is no longer with us.
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Today’s pen is the Fisher Space Pen. I think I had one years ago, but where it ended up is anyone’s guess. This one I picked up at Paradise Pen Company as part of the Birthday Pilgrimage. I was looking for something a bit more affordable this time around that was still cool… and this one is iridescent lime green. We had a winner.
This pen came with a PR4 Medium Point Black pressurized ink cartridge. This is what makes the Fisher Space Pen unique. The medium point is a 1.1mm ball point, which really makes me want to change it out to a 0.9mm FINE point. However, for a broader point than I like, it’s still an interesting pen. The pressurized barrel of the ink lets this pen write in more environments and angles than other pens, and touts a longer lasting ink life. I’m still working on that….
Fisher has been creating more “festive” pens over the years. Many are variations of their classic “bullet” style, which is what I bought. The Bullet pen is brushed aluminum with various colors. I chose the lime green one, because well, me. I hesitated before purchasing. With the cap on, the Fisher Bullet is only about 3.75″ long, which makes me wonder if it’s going to be comfortable. When you post the cap, it telescopes to about 5.5″ long, making it long enough to be comfortable.
The grip is etched aluminum with chrome plating for something to hold on to. A rubber O-ring seals the barrel and the grip and smoothes out any ridges that might dig in. It has a decent diameter, so you can write with it for a period of time. There is no clip, so you have to be careful or the pen will roll off an uneven surface.
It also comes in a cute box. The nearly transparent plastic box is lined with a felt insert in a moonscape pattern with literature on the pen. Though it isn’t necessary, it does add to the experience.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – I haven’t tried writing with this pen underwater or in zero gravity, but it does write at all angles. I’d show you, but it’s hard to get that proof. The ink flows well. It does what it says it does.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s got traction, not a “grip”. The grip is a ribbed etching in the chrome plating. Though the O-Ring does alleviate any edges, it’s all metal. And borderline comfortable on diameter and length
3. Material – 1 – It’s aluminum. So it’s a sturdy but light pen – for the barrel. The colors and design make it a lovely pen that can stand up to some beating.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s well-designed for what it is. The bullet pen is compact, but long enough to be relatively comfortable. It can be used in any condition. The pen seals up well capped and feels secure with the cap posted. And it does write in a lot of ways.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s not cheap. This one runs $29.00 at Paradise Pen Company (it’s now $23 at Amazon). You can probably find it cheaper or on sale in other places. Refills are available – in a wide array of colors, and even some different point types for common colors – for $6-$7 a pop depending on where you get them. That’s not cheap, but for the length of time they’re useable and how many ways you can use the refills, it makes this a long term use pen that evens out the investment.
That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] War on Foreign Soil
Prompt: War on Foreign Soil
Words: amputated, global, curtain, banana, carbonate, calisthenics, patriot, fixture, Bluetooth
Story
“Is this what you signed up for, Stratton?”
“What?” Doing calisthenics in a banana republic? Or being a patriot serving my country?” Stratton popped up out of his last push up, barely breathing hard.
“We’re protecting walnuts.”
“And until the brass back home tells us that walnuts are no longer important to global security, Porter, that’s exactly what we’re going to do.”
The two soldiers double-timed it to their posts on the base perimeter, orders starting to come through Bluetooth devices. They had moments to reach the edge of the foliage curtain to wait for the next incursion.
Stratton thought about what Porter said. Was it worth guarding the last stand of walnut trees? Was this grove of nut-bearing trees really the fixture of civilization everyone made them out to be? Granted they were amazing in food, and the wood was versatile, and the shells could be ground up and used to carbonate stuff or some such nonsense. But was it really worth the bloodshed that came with war.
“Here they come!”
And just like that, the aliens swarmed the perimeter, their insect exoskeletons clattering into the electromagnetic field, zapping many, but others got through guns took care of them. The battle ended in a cloud of gas and smoke. Cries rose up as soldiers, including Stratton, found themselves wounded. The bugs’ laser weapons amputated limbs without pain or notice – only Stratton tried to stand did he realize he no longer had a leg.
Word Count: 244
Written: 2/13/19
[Pen/Pencil Review] Pilot G-Tec-C 0.4mm Purple
It’s a super busy time (I know, I know, when is it NOT super busy). Between birthday week (and yes, it’s a week), ConDFW, and working with two different classes at the Day Job… yeah. I’m a little behind. Shocker. This one is a slight variation on a them. I’ve done a couple of reviews on versions of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. This is the “international versionâ€, according to Jetpens, the G-Tec-C. This is the 0.4mm purple/violet one – because February colors.
It’s chance to revisit this pen again. I’ve wrote about the Hi-Tec-C and the G-Tec-C is pretty similar. I really do like the Pilot G-Tec-C line – in any color because they do points like 0.4mm (and smaller). It runs just over 6″ with the cap posted, and 5.4″ capped. This pen has been comfortable in my had in other incarnations and remains so now. The cap is plastic but posts securely. The cap and barrel are transparent but with color matching cap top, spot on the clip and barrel plug.
The purple ink is rich for a fine line. It’s a gel ink, so there’s a bit of smearing on slick paper but it dries quickly. The G-Tec-C needle points and rollerballs have little to no skipping or bleeding. The point isn’t all that scratchy either. You can see the amount of ink left through the barrel, which I like. There’s some ribbing on the grip but not a lot in terms of ergonomics.
I don’t remember when I actually bought this pen. I’ve had it around for quite a while, and the ink still flows like new. There seems to be no change in color or flow. It’s definitely got legs.
Now to the numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 This pen works well. The ink flows well and it’s moderately comfortable.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – The grip is actually textured into the plastic. It’s ribbed. For the kind of pen it is, it’s okay.
3. Material – 0.5 This is an inexpensive, plastic pen. It is what it is. It’s a serviceable specialty color gel ink.
4. Overall Design – 1 -It’s a good pen for everyday use. It’s a go-to pen. Pilot makes a good pen
5. Price Point – 0.5 – For a possibly disposable pen (though it does have refills) and the fact that you can only order it from JetPens, it’s not the least expensive pen on the market. It’s $2.10 a piece. That’s not horrible, but the refills are $2.50 – which is more than the original pen.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] A Hairdresser Received a Shocking Confession from a Client
Prompt: A Hairdresser Received a Shocking Confession from a Customer
Words: poverty, marksman, bookshelf, backspace, hedge, cuckoo, pumpkin, courteous, deduction, acute
Story
“And then I found out I didn’t qualify for the tax deduction.”
Norma tried not to roll her eyes while working through the layers of her client’s shag cut. She hated when clients didn’t leave their phones before getting in her chair. At least this one had a wireless headset and was usually courteous.
“I had to hedge a little. The cuckoo clock on the bookshelf screwed up the line of fire. The acute angle was already tight for any marksman but trick shots? No thanks.”
Norma hesitated in the middle of the trim. Each time she did this particular client’s hair, only listed in her book as “Pumpkin”, she wondered if it would be the last time.
“Look, I’m not trying to say it’s going to end poverty but hitting the backspace on that guy is going to have long-term financial gains for everyone. Maybe ammunition…well, there’s ammunition and then there’s ammunition I’ll see what I can come up with. Call you back.”
Pumpkin disconnected the all as Norma pulled the blow dryer out of its holster. Pumpkin smiled in a way that chilled Norma to the bone. “You didn’t hear a word, right? Because I like you.”
“It’s like talking to a priest or a doctor.”
“Privilege has its advantages.”
Word Count: 212
Written: 2/5/2019
[Conventions] The Last ConDFW Starts Today!
Today is bittersweet – ConDFW starts today for the last time. Sunday, the last day of this awesome convention will be a significant birthday. My schedule is below – come to the reading on Sunday and – while supplies last – there will be cake balls!
[Pen/Pencil Review] Zebra Prefill 5 Color Multi Pen Body Component – Belle Red
In my Christmas stocking this year was something I’d forgotten I’d put on a JetPens wishlist. It’s a Zebra Prefill 5 Color Multi Pen Body Component – Belle Red and five inserts in a random assortment of colors in 0.5mm points. The Belle Red is a female “Snoopy” holding a heart, which makes it perfect for Valentine’s week.
It’s a fun body. And the Prefill 5 is just that – a customizable PEN BODY. Nothing comes in it, you get to choose. Choose colors and choose point sizes – and probably even choose what kind of ink and probably there’s even a pencil option. This pen body is 6.3″ long and light until you fill the pen. Then it’s better balanced.
The barrel is retractable with side sliders, including one with a ring. The ring is in place of a clip – it’s one drawback. I love Zebra’s binder clips on most of their pens now, these are harder to carry. The barrel is red two-thirds of the way down. The grip is milky white and slightly translucent – so you can see the inks inside. The diameter is a bit wide, but only enough to accommodate the refills. They’re pretty comfortable.
The inks are Sarasa gel NJK lines and, yes, there is a mechanical pencil component – so INFINITELY customizable. There are several colors and point sizes available. The gel ink is smooth and dark. They dry quickly and are relatively inexpensive. These are all elements
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – It works surprisingly well for the body coming empty. The inks just slide in but are secure in the body. The retraction mechanisms work well.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – For a multi-function, it’s actually comfortable. The diameter is comfortable. There’s very little ridge between grip and barrel to be uncomfortable because of the decorative band. It’s a bit long but comfortable.
3. Material – 1 – It is plastic…however with the nice inserts, and comfortable feel, it’s decent. The transparent plastic of the barrel grip lets you see ink levels. Some might think it’s expensive for plastic and base metal, but it’s environmentally conscious and FIVE good quality writing instruments in one.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 – I am going to knock a half point off here just for the lack of a clip – and I don’t think you can put an eraser in the top? But I’d have to do more research on that.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s not cheap, but it is SUPER useful. The empty body is $6 on Jetpens with the refills being $1.95 for the inks and $3.00 for the pencil mechanism. That’s not HUGELY expensive – but it’s not super cheap – $16 for the initial out lay and then refills. BUT it’s super cute, and you can change the inks out however often you like or have on hand.
That’s 4 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] An Unexpected Visitor Shakes Things Up
Prompt: An Unexpected Visitor Shakes Things Up
Words: tightrope, nightingale, underline, risk, academy, existential, outlook, Friday, gobble, grill
Story
“Now, as delicately as a nightingale on a tightrope, we’ll add the meat to the grill…”
Sandra tried hard not to giggle. She’d come to the culinary academy to learn the fine points of cooking, but her current instructor seemed to think cooking was an existential experience.
“Hold up, everyone!”
Sandra and the rest of her class froze, meat dangling from tongs over hot grills. A new person blew into the room with the tornadic force that ran the risk of extinguishing every gas flame in the room. Jaws dropped as awed whispers ran rampant. It was The Robby Peel, celebrity chef. Sandra could hear the underline under the.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have an unexpected guest The Robby Peel.” Sarcasm and years of disdain dripped from her instructor’s tone. There was history there.
“Boys and girls! Mark your calendars! Set Outlook reminders! Do whatever it takes to be here on Friday!” Robby Peel bounced around the room, reminding Sandra of an over-caffeinated kangaroo. “We’re going to have the Gobble Competition LIVE! Right here. One of you will win a chance to work with me on my Superbowl Snackfest TV Special. So whip up your best chili cheese dip and come ready!”
Sandra saw her instructor slap his forehead. He’d lost every student in the room to potential stardom. All but one. Sandra just wanted to cook.
Word Count: 227
Written: 1/28-29/19