[Pen/Pencil Review] Sugar Skull Novelty Pen
This is a busy week, and Tuesday went whizzing by without me even THINKING about the blog. So, it seems like a good time for a novelty pen that I picked up at that impulsive trip to Daiso. Daiso is dangerous place. But it’s an awesome place to pick up weird things that are SUPER COOL. This pen is one of them.
This is much like the black polymer skull pen that I reviewed last year, but this is a white, carved sugar skull pen. This sucker is super heavy duty. It’s not your basic cheap plastic. It’s a solid polymer – maybe clay? It’s not stone, but has a heft like stone. The skull is molded with the barrel, so you’d break something (like a bone) if you broke it off. If you NEEDED a pen that also worked as a weapon, this one would do some damage as a sap. BUT, because of the sugar skull carvings it would leave distinctive marks, so maybe let’s not do that.
The ink is a fine point black ball point ink with a stainless steel point. The ink flows well and has a smooth action. The diameter of the barrel is minutely tapered and relatively comfortable if you’re okay with the overall weight. It’s about 6″ long, so it’s long enough to be comfortable. It’s a bit top heavy with the skull top.
If you want to make a statement? This pen will do just that. I picked it up because it was inexpensive, and I had to. HAD TO.
The Numbers.
1. How does it work? – 1 – It’s better than I expected. The flow of ink is nice. The length and diameter are good, and it’s better balanced than expected
2. Look and feel – 0.5 – It’s not bad for a novelty pen. It’s top heavy. That can be tiring. There’s a plastic sleeve for a cap that can get lost super easy, so take that into consideration
3. Material – 1 It’s a fun novelty pen. It’s a solid polymer. There’s no real breaking of this.
4. Overall Design – 1 – It’s an awesome skull pen that writes well and can be a makeshift weapon if needed.
5. Price Point – 1 – It was $2. It’s completely affordable should it go missing or break, but, seriously it’s not going to break. I will have to figure out if I can get the ink out and how to refill it. But for $2 it can run out of ink and just be awesome.
4.5 out of 5 bronze pencils.
[Pen/Pencil Review] UGH
So maybe changing the day was a bad idea.
Guess what day went WOOSHING by yesterday? Also, I was in meetings ALL DAY (which messes with one’s sense of timing).
Maybe not a BAD idea, but one that I have to be better about REMEMBERING and working on ahead of time.
UGH.
[Write the Story] A Character with OCD in the Worst Possible Situation
Prompt: A Character with OCD in the Worst Possible Situation
Words: monastery, chalkboard, elephant, coast, turmeric, poppy, defeat, chessboard, inhumane, search
Story
Tiffany walked into the community room at the monastery ready to take on her class and the world and stopped short. There were no tidy rows. No desks. Just piles of pillows festooned with embroidered elephants and a chessboard in the corner.
The open window by the corner table let in the turmeric and poppy scented breezes as she made a slow circuit around the room. The chalkboard seemed to be the only concession to classic classroom conditions.
Tiffany refused to coast. She created her oasis of order with what she had. Neat rows of pillows. A search for supplies had pencils and paper and books in tidy stacks at each station. She had notes and charts for each subject and class. Everything was in its place and ready. When the bell tolled, she took a deep breath and opened the door.
Instead of a steady tide of students entering in single file, a flood of children poured through in a tidal wave of screaming and laughter destroying her quiet order in an instant. What the hooligans did to the room’s feng shui was inhumane, but she wasn’t about to admit defeat. She would whip the group into shape if it killed her.
With the amount of chaos she currently endured, it just might.
Word Count: 214
Written: 6/28 & 7/16/18
[Pen/Pencil Review] Ohto Ray Flash Dry Pen
It’s no secret that I love Parker Pens – and their refills. Especially since they have gel pen refills for their classic styles. So, when Ohto put out their Flash Dry refills designed for their new Ohto Ray Flash Dry line, I had to try it. Not just is the Flash Dry refill a “Parker-style”, the design of the pens in a retro homage to the iconic and classic Parker Jotter.
I had to also compare the Ohto Ray to the Parker Jotter. Just a little. Which meant I had to go dig out my Jotter from (likely) DECADES gone by. I’ve had this thing for longer than I can remember. Classic Jotters are stainless steel and plastic (unless you get the full on stainless steel Jotters). Same with the Ohto Ray.
The Ohto Ray is the same diameter as the Parker Jotter – between 9 and 10 mm. They do vary in length. The Ohto Ray is 5.5″ inches long where the Parker Jotter is 5.0″ – so a half inch longer. It’s a comfortable length. The Ohto Ray has good balance and good lines – just like the Jotter. The retractions are solid.
The “innovations” to this classic style come with the refill – which ISN’T a half inch longer than the classic Parker. It’s the same size and style as the classic Parker refills. The “flash dry” part of the ink is the new thing. This ink does dry super quickly and is quite smear resistant. It’s touted for left handers, and I can see why. The ink is also dark and smooth – and comes in a stock 0.5mm – which makes it high on my happy list.
https://www.jetpens.com/Ohto-Rays-Flash-Dry-Gel-Pen-0.5-mm-White-Body
The Jotter is available anywhere – and is more expensive than the Ohto Ray Flash Dry. The Ohto Ray runs $3.90 on JetPens (in several colors). The refills (when available) are limited to black right now and run $1.90. The Jotters on JetPens (which are probably the higher end ones) are $14 with the refills in the $5.00 range. So the Ohtos are more affordable than the Parkers but you can’t just find them anywhere.
The numbers:
1. How does it work? – 1 – It works like it’s supposed to. The barrel is classic and comfortable with great ink in a solid needle point.
2. Grip and feel – 0.5 – It’s a slender barrel, so might be too slim for some, and like the Jotters, there’s no ergonomics. It’s a smooth plastic.
3. Material – 1 – It is what it is, a plastic and stainless steel construction. It’s a good solid pen
4. Overall Design – 1 – This is a classic office-style pen. It’s solid and serviceable.
5. Price Point – 1 – It’s $4 full price. That’s super cheap, but only available online. It’s super close to the Jotter and a fraction of the price with a great ink that’s also economical – $1.90 a piece.
That’s 4.5 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Pen/Pencil Review] Jinhao 993 Shark Fountain Pen
I’d like to say that I don’t buy pens on a whim…but I can’t type that with a straight face and you won’t read it with one. Because we all totally know that isn’t true. This is one of them. Goulet Pen Company had a special for Shark Week last week – the Jinhao 993 Shark Fountain pen with an extra fine nib on sale. The pens came in black, white, blue, and lavender. Kinda had to do it.
This is a decent fountain pen line from China. Because it was so ridiculously inexpensive, I didn’t have any major expectations of these pens, but was amazingly surprised by how well the extra fine nib worked considering it’s a SHARK THEMED FOUNTAIN PEN. Seriously. Adorable shark themed fountain pens. I bought the black and white – because obviously GREAT WHITE SHARK PEN.
These pens are just under 5.0″ long capped and 6.0″ with the cap posted. The barrel is plastic with viewing windows to show ink levels. The grip is smooth plastic but with triangular cuts that make it ergonomic. The grip design does help to hold the pen “correctly” and comfortably. The cap does post firmly, and though it’s light plastic, it’s got a good feel for the tapered body. There’s no clip to the cap, but it has a FIN!
The nib is “extra fine” stainless steel which makes it a nice line with little scratching and has some flexibility to it. The pens came with a converter, so I started the Great White with Private Reserve Dakota Red and the black with Scribal Workshop Nessie (which is a purple). The pen will take international short cartridges, and the grip is clear, so you can see the ink levels.
It was a good deal with a better than expected grip and a fun shark shape that just makes me happy. Goulet still has these for sale – regularly $3.95. Shark Week had them on sale, but that’s still a great price for a really decent pen.
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 – They make an effort for ergonomics. Though there’s not an “grippy” parts, it’s all smooth plastic, the grip is designed to fit comfortably in the hand.
3. Material – 1 – It is what it is, a plastic shark-shaped pen. It’s light but comfortable. The nib has a black plastic sleeve that helps moderate drips. There is no clip to the cap, but that’s okay.
4. Overall Design – 1 – I love these silly little pens. They’re a touch long, but good for the price. Converter challenges are on me – I get inks on me. But they’re so much fun!
5. Price Point – 1 – It’s $4 full price. That’s super cheap, but only available online at Goulet Pen Company. But it comes with a nice little note from the person who lovingly packs your box. Mine was done by Christopher. It was very well done.
That’s 5 of 5 bronze pencils.
[Write the Story] The Main Character Goes on a Trip Alone to Gain Perspective
Prompt: The Main Character Goes on a Trip Alone to Gain Perspective
Words: lighthouse, flock, muscle, sprinkle, insult, cliffhanger, cheetah, chartreuse, wrist, seedling
Story
Now that Kira was here, she started to wonder why. When she began, it was a personal quest, maybe even a Hero’s Journey. But here she was, far from home with a seedling in her hand.
“What am I doing here?”
A whisper of movement and a low growl made her jump. A shadow moved through the shadows cheetah-quick. She thought she caught a glimpse of chartreuse before it was gone. A flock of small birds flushed from the underbrush a moment later. She shivered and felt her pulse race in her wrist. She pushed onward. She was almost there.
She tramped through the rest of the memory forest, trying not to worry about phantoms in the shadows. She was alone. As it was done. Why couldn’t these Rites of Passage include friends – like in stories and books. But no!
Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by a string of profanity as she tripped over a root and most of her went sprawling. The muscle in her leg screamed in pain. She kept hold off her offering and limped on. To add insult to injury, it started to sprinkle. Rain dampening her spirit and her hair.
But then she stumbled into the clearing. The lighthouse overlooking the rocky scrag at the end of the world. She would plant her tree, pay her respects. Then she noticed the view. The Sea of Memory roiled and shimmered with memories of her race. The Song of Eternity called to her, closer and closer to the edge. Something grabbed her and pulled her back.
“Now is not the time for a cliffhanger,” a voice said. “Your time is not yet done.”
But she’d found her place.
Word Count: 281
Written: 6/12/18
[Pen/Review] Possible Change of Day
I’ve been struggling with getting the pen blog done on Mondays lately. They keep getting filled up with STUFF – work, writing, gym, yoga. I am considering moving this blog to Tuesday just to give myself a buffer to get everything done.
The blog will continue—in fact, I just ordered a couple of fun novelty pens from Goldspot that should be in this week.
So if there’s any real reason why the blog should not be moved from Monday, speak now or forever hold your peace.
[Write the Story] Something Bad is About to Happen, But Nobody Believes the Main Character
Prompt: Something Bad is About to Happen, But Nobody Believes the Main Character
Words: Andromeda, stop sign, dandelion, iceberg, spectacle, poet, candle lit, keyboard, bumble, robotic
Story
Marty paused at the stop sign. He needed a moment before going into the Dandelion Club. “Do I really have to do this?”
“You’re posing as a poet, Marty. The worst that can happen is a pissed off hippie.” His boss’s voice crackled in the earpiece. “Just do your best.”
“Right.” Marty parked his car and went inside. He bumbled after the robotic greeter in the candle lit darkness.
“Marty! There you are!” Andromeda, the club’s owner swooped down on him. “I’m so glad you decided to perform after all. It’ll be a great spectacle.”
Marty felt the iceberg coming closer. “Fern,” he hissed. “Don’t make me do this.”
“Buck up, Marty. It’s just a job. Not even national security level. Get to the office. Establish the uplink. Do some free verse, get your beatnik on. Easy peasy.”
Easy peasy. Easy for Fern to say. She didn’t have to wear the turtleneck and beret.
“Come have tea with me, Marty.” Andromeda pulled him to the back office. Too easy. He didn’t like it. He perched on the desk while she made tea. He felt for the keyboard and slipped a flash drive into a USB port.
“We’re in.” Fern’s voice seemed too loud.
“Marty, Marty. What are we going to do with you?” Andromeda turned with a knife in her hand. “I didn’t want to kill you.”
“I told you so, Fern.”
Word Count:
Written: 5/28/18
Note: NCIS LA Marathon watching
[Pen/Pencil Review] Pilot Kakuno Fountain Pen
This week, we take another look at fountain pens – specifically the Pilot Kakuno. The Kakuno is categorized by JetPens (and Pilot, I believe) as a “Beginner Fountain Pen”. And I rather agree with that. I got mine from JetPens but they’re also available at the Kinokuniya in Carrollton (so maybe they’re available at al Kinokuniya stores?).
I bought this one on a whim and when making a JetPens order earlier this year. It only comes with one ink cartridge, but it takes the other relatively proprietary Pilot/Namiki cartridges – that I have in stock because of other Pilot fountain pens. I went through the included black ink pretty quickly. I’ve not got violet in it.
So, the Kakuno… It’s a decent pen. It won’t appeal to tons of people for every day, practical use because it has no clip to secure the pen to, well, ANYTHING. It’s more artsy than anything else, but it’s really designed to be comfortable. The pen is 5.2†long capped and 6.3†posted. It’s a slightly wider than average transparent plastic barrel with a hexagonal barrel and a smooth grip. The cap posts securely, but there is a ridge around the threading between grip and barrel, but it doesn’t dig in too badly.
The nib is stainless steel and comes in a variety of sizes – which meant I went straight for the Extra Fine point. Beginners might prefer the fine or medium nibs. It does write smoothly and lays down a good line of ink – the width does depend on how you hold the pen, and this does allow for beginner hesitation and learning curves. It’s a perfectly acceptable and serviceable pen.
I like the clear barrel for seeing ink levels. That makes me happy. There’s been no real sign of leakage. Though there are some ink smudges in the cap. It’s a good, serviceable pen.
Now to the numbers.
1. How does it work? – 1 – it works well. It’s got a decent learning curve. There’s minimal leaking around the nib (and generally only if you don’t dry it well after cleaning). The nib is sturdy and takes a lot of abuse.
2. Grip and feel – 1 – the length is comfortable. The pen is pretty balanced and comfortable in the hand. The grip is slick, but ergonomic. There’s no doubt that it can be used for long periods of time, because I have.
3. Material – 1 It’s plastic. It’s meant to be a beginner pen and to be graduated up to a nicer pen. It’s not going to be a pen you weep over if it’s lost, stolen, or somehow thrown away.
4. Overall Design – 0.5 It’s a decent, serviceable pen It doesn’t have a clip. It doesn’t secure to anything, BUT it’s comfortable and easy to use. May feel a bit long in the hand with the cap posted, but too short without the cap.
5. Price Point – 0.5 – It’s kind of expensive for what it is. It’s $12.50 for the pen. Then the refills are $3.55 for color cartridges (5 in a box) or for basic black the 12 pack is $4.00 – which isn’t bad, but you do have to buy their cartridges. There’s that.
That’s a 4 out of 5.
[Write the Story] A Haunted House
Prompt: A Haunted House
Words: silver, relativity, watercolor, Copper Beach, limited, affect, broccoli, politician, arsenal, cufflink
Story
“Welcome to the Annual Broccoli Festival. We have so many events to entertain you. Please enjoy all Copper Beech has to offer.” Grant left the stage to polite applause. He tugged at his silver cufflink, squirming in the jacket and tie.
“Mr. Mayor. There have been reports…”
Grant Domer stopped Vanessa, his assistant with one upraised finger. “Don’t say another word. Not here with press. I don’t want anything to affect the Festival.”
“But…a watercolor at Bradford House just went flying through the ballroom.”
“Was anyone hurt? Is there threat of a lawsuit?” Grant saw Vanessa fight to keep from rolling her eyes.
“No, sir, but there were more witnesses this time, and events aren’t limited to a room or two. It’s spreading. You’re going to have to say something soon. Before Doctor Kirkham starts talking to that same medium.”
That threat spurned Grant onward. He had to get ahead of this, out ahead of Kirkham. He mentally went through the weapons he had in his arsenal as a politician. He saw Kirkham red-faced and wild-eyed on the Bradford House porch and heard the last few hysterical words.
“Ladies and gentlemen, of course Dr. Kirkham hasn’t disproven Relativity or broken laws of physics. There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation to the weird happenings. Bradford House is haunted!”
Word Count: 216
Written: 5/15/18