[Pen/Pencil Review] Korean Souvenir Ballpoint Pen and Metal Bookmark
I’ve been horrible about the pen blog. There’s been…Life stuff. I think I must’ve challenged the Universe or something. EVERYTHING has been busy or time consuming. I have to learn to do these earlier and more consistently.
This week’s pen blog is one set of Gongyenara Korean souvenir ballpoint pen and metal bookmarks brought to me from Korea by my dear friends, Dave and Sandy Francis. I’m hard on my bookmarks, so I haven’t used these, but they’re pretty much all adorable – this one is a beautifully enameled Korean couple that remind me of the “Love Is…” couple but with clothes.
The pen is about 6″ long with a patchwork of Korean icons, characters, etc. The grip is metallic, ribbed plastic. The whole pen is plastic. The clip is solidish with Korea on the clip. The whole clip cap is the plunger for the retraction person. The ink is black with probably a 0.7mm metal conical tip. The ink is … meh. It’s a very liquidy gel type ink. There is definitely smearing on slick paper (like what I used) and some glopping. But it’s still a very serviceable pen – and adorable and directly from Korea.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 0.5 – It works like it’s supposed to. The barrel is light but balanced with a good feel. The cap feels like it might come off, but it stays all right.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – It’s an inexpensive plastic retractable pen. There’s a bit of a nod for ergonomics but it’s not meant to be that long-term use of a pen.
3. Material – 0.5 – It is what it is, a plastic basic fountain pen. It’s light but comfortable. The ink is okay – on rougher paper.
4. Overall Design – 1 – This is a fun pen from Korea that meant to be a fun souvenir pen. That’s what it is.
5. Price Point – 1 – I have no idea what these run. This was a gift from people I love. That makes it priceless to me. But I have a feeling they’re pretty inexpensive…IF you’re in Korea.
That’s 4.0 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] Parents Solve a Problem Together
Prompt: Parents Solve a Problem Together
Words: rhinoceros, umbrella, announcement, petal, feather, fruit, placemat, sketch, wobble, boil
Story
“Well, if we sketch out the game plan then maybe we can fix this.” Jeff slid a placemat under the fruit plate to silence the china wobble.
“We still have to address the rhinoceros in the room,” Sarah said.
“Isn’t the phrase elephant?” Jeff backed away from Sarah’s glare.
“Pedantic doesn’t become you. Besides, this is more rampage-y than an elephant. We have to nip this in the bud before Petal gets in real trouble. Will you check the pasta pot? It should be ready to boil.”
“I can’t believe you got the teacher to come for dinner.” Jeff dumped a box of noodles into the pot.
“Never underestimate the power of free food.” Sarah headed to the door as the chime rang through the house. She invited the teacher in, taking her coat and umbrella. “Thank you for coming, Ms. Hopkins.”
“I appreciate you taking the situation seriously. Petal’s announcement about being a superhero alien is just one in string of increasingly outlandish stories she’s been telling. Imagination is important, but so is truth. We need to nip this in the bud.”
A timer chimed. Jeff and Sarah excused themselves. Sarah’s eyes glowed as they drained pasta. “Truth indeed! Bud nipping! We have to tell her.”
Jeff smoothed Sarah’s feathers. “Are we ready to do that? There’s no going back after. Crap. Let me toast the garlic bread.
Hopkins’ shriek filled the air as she saw Jeff toast bread with lasers from his eyes. Jeff and Sarah shrugged. Problem solved.
Word Count: 251
Written: 1/4/18
[Pen/Pencil Review] The Blog that Didn’t Happen
I really meant to do the blog. I really did.
Family took priority and Day Job is busy. Everything is fine – or at least moving that direction – but just took some time away from everything else.
This is most of the new additions from Christmas. It’s what you’re going to see coming in the weeks ahead. It’s going to be smoother.
The blog will continue to happen. Promise.
[Write the Story] A Story Told Through Emails
Prompt: A Story Told Through Emails
Words: philanthropist, symmetrical, terminate, noodle, emoticon, reference, sunglasses, moonlight, borrow, newsletter
Story
Doyle opened her laptop and clicked the icon for her mail. She bounced on her sofa as a string of email poured across her screen. Her story round robin had taken flight. It had all started with her first line and all these people had added a line. She sipped at a mug of tea.
When does an emoticon become more than a reference for a concept and become a thing of its own?
The philanthropist folded his organization’s newsletter and shook her head. The things people chose to invest in made her head hurt.
So she donned sunglasses before heading out into the full moonlight. She still had time to terminate the contract.
Besides no one really cared that much about noodles, did they? It’s not like pasta could bring about world peace or bring an end to world hunger…right?
The more circular her thoughts began, the more she needed symmetrical thinking. She needed to borrow some clarity.
She headed into the tribal temple of the Spaghetti Monster and offered her offering of rigatoni, then asked for guidance into the end of hunger through whatever means – both the world’s and her own.
She felt her soul being sucked through the tiny hold of the Devine Colander. Her offering was lacking. Her request denied. Or was it?
Word Count: 217
Written: 12/11/18
2019 New Year’s Edition
Happy New Year. It’s January 1, 2019 – holy cow we’re totally in the future. These were the dates in science fiction when I was a kid. And now we’re here. Wow.
It’s tough when the holidays fall on blog days. There was also a family wedding (congrats to JD and Maggie) and so many other things that ate all my time and brain space.
This year will have pen blogs – starting next week. I still have a whole bunch of pens and pencils that I haven’t reviewed yet, plus a bunch of new ones from Christmas. There are always new ones. 
There will be more of the flash fiction – because I am determined to get back on track in terms of output – and I WILL finish the Write the Story notebook before it completely falls apart (maybe).
And I’m not just determined to get back to flash fiction output, but also longer form output. I have things on the list that have been on the list for way too long.
I don’t make resolutions – I make goals. This year’s goal is to simply get back to what I love – fiction writing – more consistently. I like my day job a lot. It is fulfilling and amazing and annoying, but it’s not my LOVE. I want to get back to my love.
I lost momentum in 2018. I want to build that back.
My mom said she had a Mary Poppins vision of her upcoming year. I kind of want to steal it from her. She said it was a START and FINISH Line – HER finish line is a completed novel. She was on a bicycle at the starting line with a kite flying behind her that represented obstacles. She loved that the obstacles were behind her.
My seriously lacking visualization of my mom’s concept.
It’s a good visual — hence the adoption of it myself…here we go. Onward into 2019
[Write the Story] The Main Character Has Woken Up Missing On of the Five Senses
Prompt: The Main Character Has Woken UP Missing One of the Five Senses
Words: parking, seashell, selfish, adjustment, slumber, fragrance, saltine, tophat
Story
It seemed like a harmless bargain, but I should have known better. The Fey are tricky, tricky people. I should’ve known before rubbing the seashell. Any kind of wishing spell is fraught with peril, often the magical version of piracy. I came to in a parking lot as if from a long, sound slumber.
I checked the time and date, I’d only been out a few hours at most. At least I had that going for me. The Fey could’ve put me out for years – or decades, I guess I got lucky. The fragrance of roasting meat and vegetables made my stomach rumble. I levered myself out of my car and immediately regret it. I would need an adjustment from my chiropractor to get the knots out.
I passed two beachside cafes before settling on the Tophat. Call me selfish, but I had great taste in food. I wasn’t going to go just anywhere. I was a connoisseur. A gourmand! A Chef! I slipped inside and was immediately fawned over, given the best table. A selection of exquisite dishes lay before me. I let the spices tickle my nose. The presentation impeccable.
I lifted my fork and sampled each dish, tears forming in my eyes. Nothing had more flavor than a saltine. I had apparently been lax in my request to the Fey.
I had all the fame and knowledge of a World Class Chef, but at the cost of my sense of taste. Food was my life, but I’d never enjoy it again. I know it’s a cliché – but they become cliché’s for a reason. Be careful what you wish for.
Word Count: 272
Written: 12/7/18
[Pen/Pencil Review] Pilot Hi-Tec-C 0.4mm Green Ink
‘Tis the Season to be totally behind – on everything. The pen blog is no exception. I’m constantly amazed by the pens I’ve managed to NOT review even though I’ve apparently had them a long time. I’ve done a couple of reviews on versions of the Pilot Hi-Tec-C. This is the 0.4mm green one – because holiday colors.
It’s also a chance to revisit this pen again. I’ve wrote about the Hi-Tec-C before in other points and colors. I really do like the Pilot Hi-Tec-C line – in any color because they do points like 0.4mm (and smaller). It runs almost 6.25″ with the cap posted, and 5.5″ capped. This pen has been comfortable in my had in other incarnations and remains so now. The cap is plastic but posts securely.
The green 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 Hi-Tec-C needle points and rollerballs have little to no skipping or bleeding. The point isn’t all that scratchy either.
I don’t remember when I actually bought this pen. It’s been over a year 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 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 $3.30 a piece. So that might be a detractor.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] The Villain is Really the Hero
Prompt: The Villain is Really the Hero
Words: witchcraft, recommend, sand dollar, fisticuff, paprika, eyeball, nightlight, gibberish, infuriating, dreadful
Story
“Please, foul sorceress, do not smite me with thy black magic.â€
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, it’s not witchcraft. It’s PAPRIKA! Get up and stop that thee/thou gibberish and speak plainly.â€
The velvet and gold clad nobleman sputtered, turning white then red as he struggled to his feet. “Are you always so dreadful infuriating, Petunia?â€
“If I had a sand dollar for every time…I’d have a beach. What brings you here?†She waved her hand around her kitchen. “What am I supposed to have done now? Or is this some inheritance quest?â€
“Neither?†Noble boy sounded less certain. “You, see this was this fisticuff…um, fight…â€
“Spit it out. And have the good grace to introduce yourself.â€
The noble – Lord Kip – apologized and laid out his tale of woe and revenge. “If you can recommend a spell or anything, I would really be in your debt, but, you know, not dying would be great.â€
“Hmmm…it might be fun to kill you, but hard on the floors. Having a lordling in my debt, that’s interesting.â€
“You would also be averting a long, drawn out war by stopping it in its tracks.†He stopped talking again, uncertain and frightened by the gleam in her eyes.
“Take the Eyeball of Darkin and recite these words?†She handed him a talisman and a sheet of paper.
“What does it do?â€
“I use it as a nightlight, but others think it’ll turn children into toads. Have fun with that.â€
“You’re my hero.â€
“Don’t let anyone hear you say that. I have a reputation.â€
Word Count: 256
Written: 11/25/18
[Pen/Pencil Review] Monami Olika Fountain Pen – Green
This is actually a pen I could’ve sworn I’d already reviewed, but apparently not. There’s no record of it. It was part of my initial Kinokuniya/Daiso trip to Carrollton. This is the Monami Olika fountain pen. I bought two – a blue and a green. This one is of the green because holiday colors.
The Monami Olika is what I would consider an “everyday carry” type fountain pen. It’s translucent green plastic not quite a demonstrator, but close. It’s about 5.5″ long capped and just over 6″ with the cap posted. The body is slightly curved that’s narrower in the middle and wider at the grip and post. The narrower portion is designed to sit in the web of the thumb.
The grip of pen is dimpled black rubber that allows comfort, stability and long use. The cap posts securely on the barrel with the barrel being smooth. The cap has a molded plastic in a solid arch. There’s little chance of the clip breaking off. The nib is a fine point steel with some flexibility to keep it easy and comfortable. The pen is easily refillable but with a proprietary cartridge.
The ink started out light and then turned darker on me. Maybe their proprietary cartridge isn’t quite as proprietary as I thought. It might be the first cartridge was a lighter green than the other two that came with it or I might’ve ended up getting a Nakimi or some other non-international short cartridge. The flexibility of the nib helps with a smooth flow to the ink. The color is good and strong. I like it.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – It works like it’s supposed to. The nib is smooth and solid. The barrel is light but well-balanced with a good feel. The nib feels strong, like it won’t bend if you’re heavy-handed writer.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – There are solid nods to ergonomics. The grip is comfortable along with the curve to the barrel. It’s comfortable.
3. Material – 0.5 – It is what it is, a plastic basic fountain pen. It’s light but comfortable. The ink
4. Overall Design – 1 – This is a solid beginner or every day pen.
5. Price Point – 1 – It’s $5.50 on JetPens, don’t remember what it was at Kinokuniya, which isn’t bad for a refillable fountain pen. There are refills available also for $5.50 for 5 cartridges. So not the cheapest things ever but also not bad for something than can last quite a while.
That’s 4.5 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] A Story Pulled From Today’s Headline and Rewritten
Prompt: A Story Pulled From Today’s Headlines and Rewritten
Words: boxer, cherry blossom, magic, implement, artwork, safety, chime, chain link, towel, ingredient
Story
Search for Alien Life Leads to Finding Water…
“But what kind of aliens are we talking about?†Perry demanded, wiping sweat from a balding head with a towel. “You better have more than artwork, too. Water’s great and all but come on. With dips in sales we need better.â€
Lane sighed. “For the safety of everyone involved, we stuck with the scientific ingredients for life. Water in the atmosphere and the like. The pictures of aliens dressed like boxers are cliché now.â€
“But I’m not feeling the magic, Lane.†Perry dismounted the exercise bike as carefully as if he climbed a chain link fence. “This feel smore like a cherry blossom puff piece.â€
Before Lane could defend the piece any further, Perry’s phone chimed. “What? Oh, yes sir. You have? It is? We do? We can! It’ll be taken care of, sir.†He hung up the phone and narrowed his eyes at Lane. “Word from on high. Rework the story. Play down the water angle. Play up the aliens.â€
“Didn’t we just talk about this?â€
“But not for the reasons we discussed. Apparently, the Water Wars have begun. Finding off-planet water means so much more.â€
“And now we’re implements of an intergalactic conspiracy? How do you want me to play it? In search of water, scientists discover alien life?â€
“Works for me.â€
Word Count: 222
Written: 11/24/18