What I’m Enjoying

On Tuesday I had my annual MRI to monitor my MS status. By evening, the radiologist’s reports appeared in the patient portal. Of course I had to look! I’ve been feeling fine, the same as always, so I wasn’t really sweating it. But alas, after eight years of stable reports, this one noted two new lesions in my brain. Gut punch. Heavy sigh.

The follow-up appointment with my neurologist isn’t for another five weeks but we chatted briefly the next day and he’s bumped up my medication. I’m compiling a list of questions for that appointment (because that’s what I do to feel like I have SOME control), and am getting to a better mental place after chewing on unanswerable questions and experiencing a nasty little swirl of emotions.

No matter what, I’ll be okay.

When shit like this happens, I take great comfort in simple joys—most of them pen and paper. They just never let you down. So rather than dwell on this latest health hiccup, I thought I’d share a few of the things that I’m enjoying right now—my analog mood-boosters.

The Right Ink In the Right Pen With the Right Nib

Karas Kustoms Ultem Vertex with a medium titanium nib inked with KWZ 150 Confederation Brown from Scriptus 2017 (say that one ten times fast!)

Honestly, this ink has languished in my collection until now. It’s neither brown nor green, but is a swampy-looking mixture of both. Even though I muled a number of bottles home for others from Scriptus that year, I’ve never really been a fan. But something made me load it into the Ultem Vertex the other night and now I love it! The titanium nib on this Vertex is one of my favorites—bouncy and wet—and maybe that’s what’s made the difference. Plus the ink is a good match for the amber pen. Can’t really explain it, but this combination just clicked and I’ve been journaling and writing letters with it almost exclusively this week. Go figure.

A Simple Pen and Ink Combination

The “Fox” Kaweco Sport with a broad nib inked with Levenger’s Royal Blue cartridges

I have number of Kaweco Sports but this orange one is definitely a favorite. Though it could be eye-droppered, it’s simpler to just pop in a cartridge and and start writing. No fuss, no muss. I have boxes of Levenger cartridges on hand, so why not pop in a Royal Blue one and fill up some pages? The cartridges have been sitting around for awhile so they’re only about half full, and the color seems to have become more concentrated due to the evaporation. This isn’t a bad thing. The blue is deep and dark and displays some sheen. Pretty sweet. Pretty simple.

A New Pen (even though you swore you weren’t buying any pens this year)

Brad is right—I’m a vow-breaking, pen-buying cheater!! (This note made me laugh so hard—really made my day!!) I’ve been resisting plenty of pens, but when Spoke Design released the Roady XL my pen-loving brain said, “Pledge?! What pledge?!” Brad’s one half of the Spoke Design team and I consider him a friend, so buying the reasonably-priced new XL version, in this gorgeous purple color, seemed like the neighborly thing to do, right?! I carry an original Roady almost daily as it’s pocket-sized, great-looking, and sports a stellar refill—the Jetstream SXR-600-07, which is an excellent hybrid ink refill. The Roady XL comes with the full-size Pentel EnerGel Navy Blue 0.7mm refill (LR7TL) for a super smooth writing experience. Definitely worth the cheat!

A Mincing Mockingbird Sale!

A few of my Mincing Mockingbird treasures—two notebooks and a magnet. They’re all so me.

Okay, so I cheated again. But when one of your absolutely favorite companies slashes prices on notebooks, magnets, notepads, and greeting cards that speak to you and make you laugh, you have to indulge a bit. Mincing Mockingbird is running a Garage Sale through July 10th—great products at excellent prices. Try to resist! I couldn’t.

Time In the Garden (not a pen, I know)

Our 10’x10′ garden plot in the college’s community garden

I’ve never gardened before so planting and caring for the vegetable plants and seeds we put in about a month ago has been an interesting experience with some challenges (pea plants chewed up by rabbits, flea beetles making lace of the eggplant leaves). But mostly it’s been satisfying and relaxing. Meditative. With last week’s heat and rain, baby tomatoes are forming, the basil is going crazy, the cabbage leaves are sprawling, and the carrots are getting taller than the weeds. Even the previously chewed-up pea plants are recovering and growing noticeably taller every day. I get to work early every morning to spend about a half hour out there weeding, watering, and listening to the birdsong. I love the smell of the tomato plants and the dirt.

I’ve learned a lot of lessons in the garden. Coffee makes great fertilizer (for the garden and for me!). Time heals. Rain is necessary for growth. Be patient. Do what you can and let go of the rest. Find peace (and peas) that way.

Persistent pea plants

The peas are not giving up, and neither am I.