I don't think I have ever used a pen until the ink ran out in my entire life. And I use a lot of pens, especially red ones for editing press proofs for work ... that was until today. My pen actually stopped working because it ran out of ink. DUN DUN DUN ... I can't believe it! I sat here, staring at it in disbelief. Scribbling on a scrap piece of paper, trying to make it work again, thinking, this can't be happening. And you know what's worse? I don't have another red pen to replace it.
What does that say about me? Do I ever leave my desk? Or house for that matter? Have I neglected my life long love of browsing through a stationary store, inspecting the pen nibs to see if they are too thick or too thin? Crikey! What's happened to me?
So today, I'm going to go shopping for pens. Oh gosh, I'm so excited! Yes, call me nuts, but I ain't ashamed. I gotta get me that obsession back - it's one obsession I think I should be proud of. This obsession was the spark of a greater obsession - writing - so I don't think I should let it disappear.
How about you? Do you have an obsession, other than writing, that you are proud of?
I reckon that for me, that would be eating- cooking and eating. My blog was originally supposed to be about food... Now it's just food for thought. : p
ReplyDeleteYou're far from the only person with a passion for writing tools.
You might enjoy taking a look at heather's a Penchant for paper blog that is all about pens, paper, and journals.
Yeah, that'd be dance--another creative outlet that tells a story. There has never been anything like it for me; well, excluding writing now. It moves me to a different place where ideas flow. There's a freedom there. ";-)
ReplyDeleteReading...
ReplyDeleteand elephants. It's kind of unnatural considering I think they're cute and I haven't found anyone else who thinks so. (My husband certainly thinks I'm nuts.)
Very funny stuff about the pens. I am the exact opposite and will use them until the well is dry--but I am more likely to simply lose it before that happens.
ReplyDeleteI am too frugal to have obsessions.
I buy a huge number of pens. And I still never seem to find a pen when I need it most (they are mostly right at the bottom of my backpack).
ReplyDeleteAnd books. I am addicted.
And plants. Far more than I can water.
And elephants. Yes, Amie, you heard me right. I am addicted to collecting elephants - luckily, I live in a country where you find them everywhere.
A strange obession is pens but to each their own.
ReplyDeleteMy obseesion is walking, I love to walk along the beach......at 6am?
mad I know but I love to watch the sun coming up over the sea and the fresh air sets me up for the day.
Have a lovely day.
Yvonne.
You are not nuts, or at least if you are I'm in that category as well! I love pens, especially new ones! I want to write so much more, especially since I always buy a new notepad as well, the crisp fresh white untouched paper with the newly purchased pen is the best feeling in the world!
ReplyDeleteI like mechanical pencils (or clicky pencils as I call them) I won't use a real pencil if I don't have to. :)
ReplyDeleteIn Aug. & Sept. when the big office stores have their before school sales I go nuts and buy office supplies, even things I'll never use.
ReplyDeleteI have run out of ink, I've also used every sheet of paper in a pad, and every last staple in a box. (I am so anal in the office).
I am so obsessive about my pens I won't even let Monster Baby touch them. Especially my pink one.
I, too, dawdle in the stationary aisle. I love the hard-cover note books, just potential waiting to happen!
ReplyDeleteI used to be obsessed with vinyl records. But I eventually got over it.
ReplyDeleteI am the same way, except I love FOUND pens. There's genius waiting to seep out of a found pen!
ReplyDeleteI love mixing colors. If I've been using blue, give me black, red, green or purple. The change inspires me
It is amazing the difference a good pen can make. I find one I like and hold onto it! Happy pen shopping!
ReplyDeletePens are a good obsession. At least it's not men:/
ReplyDeleteFor me, I'm obsessed with a number of things (OCD), like that effing plastic cup that won't disappear.
I could never find a pen when I need one.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow. Yes. I have lots of obsessions. (OCD, anyone?) Pens (red gel pens only). Color coordinated closet. I always...ALWAYS have to have a cup of sweet tea in hand or nearby. Hand lotion. Gum. And so many more. lol ;-)
ReplyDelete~JD
When I latch on to a pen I like, I use it until there's not a drop of ink left - then it's off to the store for more. This is where my obsession comes in. I'm a stationary freak. I can spend hours shopping for pens, paper, notepads, post its, you name it!!
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I like the pen in your pic except they have a tendancy to stain fingers. Then again, that's very 'dickens'. Anywhoo, um, I become selectively obsessed with a variety of things. Streaming online television, herb gardening, cooking, etc...It comes and goes.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little bit obsessed with stationary. I buy shiny new stationary and shiny new notebooks and end up rarely using it. But I love it. So I can understand, Jessica. I understand the joy to be had in a shiny new pen! :)
ReplyDeleteThis is the funniest post I've read all morning.
ReplyDeleteMy obsessions (other than writing) are chocolate, Diet Coke, and exercise. It all works out well if you think about it. The chocolate and Diet Cokes get me through the rough points in my writing, and the exercising keeps it from going to my butt. :D
I can so relate. :) My family has a hard enough time dragging me out of book stores, but you know where I really get caught home? Office supply stores. Everything - the pens, the paperclips, the notebooks, the shinys. Oh, how I love them! :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE PENS! I often go to office supply stores just to gaze at package after package of new pens. I test each style on the little pad provided for that purpose. I sigh over color and ink choices, and ball point sizes vs. felt tip. Unfortunately, I usually end up buying the economy pack of Bic stick pens--you know, the 24 pack at the cheap price--because as much as I love pens, I tend to lose them very, very quickly.
ReplyDeleteOh girl, I relate! I LOVE a perfect pen. And I'm always on the search for a new favorite. When I find a pen I love...the feel in my hand, the flow of the ink, the nib, non-skipping...I will use it until I've bled it dry. Then it seems I cannot find the same brand/make again.
ReplyDeleteI give the unworthy pens to my kid and husband.
I have a rare and very expensive Mont Blanc given to me as a gift ...and I hate it. It's pretty, but I don't like its action.
I have plenty of other obsessions...and yes, SHOES are one of them. And the perfect mascara. And the perfect bra. And...
I share the same love for pens, especially colored ones. I also adore newly sharpened pencils. And whiteboard pens! Ooo...and highlighters! Yeah - I've got it pretty bad. :)
ReplyDeleteOther than that, my other obsession is wine.
Well, in the realm of office materials I have an obsession with highlighters and post-it notes. I've gotten them for Christmas before (Okay, well, it was the Christmas after my first college semester, and I think my grandparents were trying to instill a love of study, but I was thrilled about it. Really. It was a great Christmas present!)
ReplyDeleteI have an obsession with allegories in movies, as well as movie soundtracks.
I hear ya! I love new pens! I'm probably more obsessed with new pencils, though. I have Disney princess pencils, animal print, Winnie-the-Pooh, sparkly pencils, pencils from places I visit (Hawaii, Baltimore Aquarium, Philadelphia Zoo, Hershey Park, just to name a few!). I love pencils!
ReplyDeleteNotebooks are another obsession. Once again, they're super fun notebooks, lots of colors and cartoon characters. I have a container filled with new notebooks. Whenever I fill up one notebook I have to buy another to replace it even though I still have dozens, lol!
Needless to say, Staples is one of my favorite store!!!
I'm right there with you!!! I once drove 30 minutes just to go to the store that sold my favorite pens.
ReplyDeleteYou describe the experience of the perfect pen on paper sooooo well.
I'm not addicted to pens, but anything remotely science fiction gets my instant adoration. Not really ashamed of that either, so I guess that counts! :)
ReplyDeleteI love shoes. I love books. I love chocolate and I love pens. I love finding nice ones with smooth writing. Ones that have different colours and smells.
ReplyDeleteA good pen is brilliant. *blush* now I shall hide in the corner of shame. lol.
I'm not the obssessive type, although my wife says I'm a compulsive hand washer. What can I say? I hate germs.
ReplyDeleteI like brand new pencils. Oh... yes... slurp. OK. *wipes drool* It's just that they're so sharp, and scratchy!
ReplyDeleteLove your obsession! Hmmm . . . mine is that I'm a cereal fiend. I'm totally obsessed. No shame here. :)
ReplyDeleteAre you one of the sort of people who used to come into the shop where I worked one summer and try out all the 50 types of pen we sold, just for the sake of being able to try them out? :)
ReplyDelete(There was also a sort of person who used to come in and write insulting remarks about their classmates, or draw cartoons of body parts, on the test pad with all the 50 types of pen we sold. I don't presume for a moment you or anyone reading this is *that* sort. :))
ME TOO! PENS!! I like the ones with writing on them that come from someplace, like Al's Tire Shop in St. Louis or something. So yes, I steal a lot of pens. Not really, I always say "May I keep this?" And people bring them to me when they travel. I use them til they run out and then toss them & get another. Ooo I love my pen collection!
ReplyDeleteSo exciting to see Farm Girl on your sidebar :)
oooh new pens = full of awesome...
ReplyDeleteI love school supplies. Maybe that's the reason I became a teacher... :)
ReplyDeleteI love new pens, pencil crayons, post it notes, paper... Fun!
Pens, definitely. I have tons of new ones and some of them are so cool and pretty that I can't bring myself to actually use them!
ReplyDeleteThe office supply store to me is like a candy store to a child...even when I was a child. Pens and paper are the big attractors. At least it makes a little sense, being a writer and all.
ReplyDeleteBTW, you have an award at my blog. :-)
Okay, I love new pens too. I'm a teacher and one of the perks of starting a new school year is buying a new deluxe package of thin-tip sharpies. They make me happy when I'm grading.
ReplyDeleteAs for other obsessions? I love lists and have them for just about everything. They make me feel like I'm accomplishing something!
I love new pens. I was so thrilled to find a decent stationary store, here in Cyprus. Their selection was a delight to the eye.
ReplyDeleteI only bought 1 so I could go back on a regular basis.I can't wait until it runs out...lol. It is amazing what I took for granted in the UK.
My name is Mel and I am a stationary whore....addict...you get the idea. ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, I obsess over my writing utensils. Paper, notebooks, pencils, erasers, pens. I get a little panicky when people borrow stuff I have bought to write with. I even have a pencil that I wrote my first story with that is sharpened to a nub. It is my lucky pencil and I freak out when I can't find it when I want to write. It just sits on my keyboard, inspiring me....
I know, I'm weird. :D
I have a similar pen obsession. And have recently become obsessed with moleskin notebooks.
ReplyDelete