Archive for Object

Keeping Score With The Retirees

April 27, 2008 at 6:43 pm · Filed under Object, Place

Golf Pencils

During my time off between jobs, I’ve kind of felt like I’m on maternity leave, but without a baby. When I’m not working, I lunch around the neighborhood, go to yoga, all the things the moms do. I feel like once I finally do have a baby, maybe I’ll be that much closer to having the hang of it (though I bet most parents would say the baby is the hard part…).

In contrast, this week Alex and I took a vacation to the Cape that felt like retirement, without retiring. Everywhere we went, everyone was ruddy-faced and over 70. Nowhere was this more true than the golf course, where we spent more time than I’m comfortable admitting.

Though none of us knew it in the 20 years before Alex came along and pointed it out, my parents’ house is 5 minutes away from two great public golf courses. I am nowhere near good enough at golf to understand the mysteries of what makes a “good course”, but I do know a good golf pencil when I see it, and Dennis Pines and Dennis Highlands delivered.

Note the lovely primary colors, the lack of eraser (pointless because they never work on the glossy golf cards, and ugly on such a short instrument), and the bold, Gotham-y type. Perfect (unlike my game).

Leave a Comment

The Purse Notebook

March 16, 2008 at 6:09 pm · Filed under Memory, Object

Purse Notebook

Like the primary pen and the work notebook (yet to be discussed, but important), the Purse Notebook is another constant in my life. Its existence underscores the fundamental notion that electronic to-do lists — no matter how flashy the device — just stink. Lists should always be kept and crossed-off on paper.

The Moleskine is a standard, if obvious, choice for the Purse Notebook. I find people tend to give me these small books as gifts, knowing my stationery passion and happening upon them in gift stores, and I have an endless supply. Its best if it has a sturdy cover, for they tend to last about a year, and get beat up a bit.

Above are my two most recent. The Moleskine was from my days of commuting down the 101 to Yahoo!, thoughts of various undone tasks that would amount to nothing swirling in my head, and is thus labeled “anxiety”. The pink one is from the era of my more recent job at the Media Lab, and is filled with less frantic and more thoughtful lists.

Both have lots of lists of things to pick up at the drug store.

Comments (1)

Pencils: The New Pens?

March 2, 2008 at 8:40 pm · Filed under Object, Place

Pencil Sharpeners

This past week in California I stayed in five different hotels. During the night after night of packing and unpacking, I set out in a quest to see whether any of the otherwise nice hotels I stayed in would distinguish themselves by leaving a halfway-decent giveaway pen in the room. Often these are the crappiest of ballpoints, and I leave them behind.

What I found instead was four instances of spare, earthy-seeming black pencils. They solve the problem of a giveaway that is both cheap and nice-looking, but the resurgence of the non-mechanical pencil (which I welcome) raises a long-forgotten issue: that of sharpening.

The conference I went to, which also jumped on this bandwagon with its giveaway, offered electric sharpeners in the lobby for use between sessions. For that and for many other details that make their machine so well-oiled, I applaud TED for their thoughtfulness.

Leave a Comment

RIP: Staedtler Triplus Fineliner (Pressing Too Hard)

February 20, 2008 at 4:45 pm · Filed under Object

Pressing Too Hard

Like many felt tips in my life, this pen had to be put to rest before its time was due. About once a year I succumb to the allure of the felt tip. Something about the ultimate control its fine point provides, and the calm smoothness of writing with a marker draws me in. Yet inevitably, long before the ink is out, I wear down the soft felt point to a contourless nub, impossible (well, undesirable) to write with at any angle except vertical.

I press too hard. I press too hard and wear out my pens, I walk too hard and wear out my shoes, I work too hard and wear out myself. One solution would be to lay off on my pen; trust that it will write with only a light touch on my part.

It’s a lesson I could probably take to heart. Life goes more easily when my grip around it is just a little looser.

Leave a Comment

RIP: Pilot VBall

January 28, 2008 at 8:21 pm · Filed under Memory, Object

vball-web.jpg

Sadly, I lost this pen before it came to an end. I had a bad night where I was in a tizzy about my new job, head spinning, my cell phone got lost or stolen, and along with it went this pen.

The VBall is a true historical staple, and this was the first time I’d returned to it in awhile. I got this one in Japan, so unlike the picture above, it had a cute light green part of the top that complemented the kelly green body. The VBall was the first roller ball that I remember using that had consistently smooth ink (its claims are true), and for that innovation should go into the Hall of Fame. My only issue with them is that they are short enough to feel stubby.

I also found tonight a “Pen Selction Guide” on the Pilot Web site. It is minimally clever, but I’m glad someone is taking the time and effort to give $3 pen selection its just due.

Leave a Comment

RIP: Edding 79 Control Microtec

November 3, 2007 at 3:33 pm · Filed under Object

Edding 79 Control Microtec

At all times I have a primary pen, that is used primarily at work, that must be completely run out before moving on a new pen. Hence it is a big commitment. I used to switch colors, but John, my boss, persuaded me to just “let go” and use a green pen all the time if that’s what I like best.

You can imagine the sense of accomplishment when the pen actually runs out. Recently this happened with my Edding Control 79. It was a very good pen. A very unique shade of almost hunter green, with a roller ball that always rolled.

I bought the pen on my aforementioned trip to Scandanavia and used it from August until this week. During that time I traveled to Aspen, stressed about public speaking, then felt accomplished, visited the Glass House with Maya, saw friends in New York, and watched as Alex installed new cabinet handles.

Comments (1)

Incomprehensible

August 19, 2007 at 8:16 pm · Filed under Object

m_3level.gif

I saw these new “linked notebooks” from Start Here in Dwell this month. You stick the cover of one into the back of another. The design of the books looks nice, but the from Web site, they’re still a bit incomprehensible. In any case, I like the idea of being able to have a pocket to store things.

Leave a Comment