Greetings From South Carolina

[halcapps]

Hello there!

 

My name is Hal and I am 21 years old living in a small town in South Carolina. Ever since I can remember, I have loved office supplies. Being able to attach two pieces of paper together with a paper clip, or jotting down a note on a Post-It. I love drawers and compartments, pockets and shelves. I love having everything arranged from smallest to largest or alphabetically. Office supply stores and art supply stores are my safe haven.

 

When I was younger, before I even knew what a fountain pen was, ballpoint pens were my life. I LOVED those little cheap BIC pens that retail 5 or 6 bucks for 60 pens. Or the pens you'd get at a hotel, I would always ask the front desk for more. And those little pads of paper they would give you as well. I would always write notes to the hotel staff in chicken scratch and be so incredibly proud of myself. I knew nothing about pens, haha. I can tell you back when I was younger, if I'd have held something like a Parker Jotter, I really would have thought I had the nicest pen in the world in my hands. The first time I received a Parker Jotter was one of my happiest days. Back when the Jotter was such a great pen, since then it just seems to be cheap.

 

As I got older, I discovered the gel rollerball world. I went through dozens of Uniball's. And even up until recently, gel rollerballs were just my favorite pen. I still have dozens of Pilot Hi-Tec-C's and Pilot Juice's...still have TONS of Pilot Precise V5 RT (my favorite rollerball).

 

Now, I always had problem with ink bleeding through. PAPER was my next big thing. I thought Moleskine's were the greatest creation. Really, just like holding a Parker Jotter, I thought holding a Moleskine was just the nicest notebook in the world.

 

The more and more I got into pens and paper the more YouTube videos I started to discover. I stumbled upon The Goulet Pen Company. I had to try a fountain pen. I went to my local Office Max and stared at the 50, 60, 100 dollar fountain pens, drooling. It was only as I was about to walk out the door when I saw a display for the Pilot Varsity. They had pens out in several colors for customers to test drive the pen. I picked up a black one and started scribbling on the paper provided. I fell in love. I immediately picked up a 3-pack of the pens. I fell in love. For less than 10 dollars, I had 3 brand new fountain pens. Me and my ugly handwriting were having a blast with these pens.

 

Then I discovered paper. Wow, what another world. I never knew paper could get better than that Moleskine. Boy, was I dead wrong. But I didn't know any better. I didn't know what Clairefontaine was, I had never heard of Maruman or Kokuyo. I didn't know that Rhodia existed. All I knew was my Moleskine.

 

My school started selling Clairefontaine 1951's in the bookstore. I picked one up and my fountain pen loved it. I immediately ditched my Moleskine and snatched up several of these little books.

 

Well. I wanted a fountain pen. A real one. Brian Goulet made a video of his top 3 favorite fountain pens. I was drooling while he talked about his Pilot Custom 74 and his Lamy 2000. But then he mentioned a pen that I, again, had no idea existed. The Pilot Metropolitan. I immediately ordered one off of Amazon with some Noodler's Blue ink. It came a couple days later and immediately inked that baby up. (After spilling the Noodler's everywhere. They fill it SUPER full, haha) Wow, the Metro writes like a dream. It really was the best feeling pen I'd held. And the ink just flows wonderfully. It's such a great pen.

 

Since then, (then only being a few months ago), I've bought myself a Sheaffer 100, Sheaffer VFM, various Preppy's and Varsity's, a Lamy Safari, and a Jinhao X750.

 

I'm in a brand new world. I have Rhodia pads, Clairefontaine notebooks, Habana journals scattered everywhere.

 

I could go on, but that is probably enough for now.

 

Thank you so much for reading.

 

-Hal

[MisterBoll]

Welcome Hal!

 

You'll find this place a treasure trove of information and wonderful people.

 

Now that the bug has bit it is your duty to buy tons of pens, ink, and paper!

[captain nib]

Welcome !

 

You've certainly graduated from Bics & gel rollerballs to the big time...Fountain pens. Of course, your addiction has no cure, having sowed the seeds in early childhood it seems (same for me...certified stationary & pen addict).The Fountain Pen in you was just waiting to burst out !!

 

So, enjoy your Friends (..err, fountain pens) as no doubt, they will multiply.

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you as a Member!

[1point1mm]

Greetings and Welcome aboard the FPN! Enjoy your stay here!

[RMN]

Hi Hal and

 

 

Wow, that was "My life in ink and paper" by Hal.

 

Seems you've got it bad. Once infected the bug is there to stay.

Luckily it does not hurt. Only the wallet hurts.

 

 

Enjoy your pens and papers and inks, and the forum, of course...

 

 

D.ick

[notVirtuThe3rd]

Hi! Welcome to FPN.
I'm really glad you've joined us.

 

Have a good day,
Kota Adachi

 

From Japan

[Sasha Royale]

Welcome, Hal !

 

Boy, are you in trouble ! Curiosity, fascination, obsession are normal. Rapture is a rare event, at your early stage.

And the "drooling" ? Well, the drooling places you at the top 1%. Try to control the drooling while writing.

 

Seriously, I admire the passion. Don't discard the Varsity pens immediately. They can be refilled for more use.

Somebody put ink into it before. Somebody (you) can do it again.

 

My Dad was a life-long office-desk pilot -- CPA. The local stationers was his "candy store". His first visit to an

Office Max was like a ten-year-old at Disneyland. On his eightieth birthday, we let him wander for two hours, with

a shopping cart, gift certificate, and a bottle of Snapple tea. Best $100 spent EVER !

 

We joke and remember this one of Dad's quirks with fond memories, but you are among the very few, I think, who

would understand.

 

Write with joy.

[Clancy]

Hello Hal. Greetings from California and a warm welcome to FPN. It's great to have you here with us.

[Aquinata]

Don't forget the ink-buy lots of INK!

[Wahl]

Welcome to FPN, Hal !