August 1997 compulsion by Leslie Harpold |
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What's in My Purse?
Well, I'm sure before Smug folds up because I have run away to found a
Mexican Flea Circus when the whole "new media" industry blows up, I will
describe, in lurid detail all the contents of my purse, having already
tackled my lipstick and my Ren Dan. it's only a matter of
time before I'm on to things like my Tiffany key chain (every woman should
own one thing from Tiffany) and the mini-helmac lint remover. So today
it's my pen. More accurately, one of my pens, but a particular favorite.
When I turned 25 a coworker was kind enough to give me one of those fancy
yuppie Waterman fountain pens, and while I was appreciative, it was a
little too swanky for me, in the same way I'd never feel comfortable
driving a Mercedes. (For those of you updating your Christmas lists,
however, think Pathfinder).
When I go the office supply store I can not be trusted. I know better than
to take credit cards, checks, or more than 50 bucks, or I would easily owe
my soul to Staples, a thought I can not get comfortable with. I've always
been fickle when it comes to ball points, vacillating between wanting extra
extra fine for light delicate penmanship or those drippy parker medium
stick pens that leave a nice fat line complete with ink globs that show the
reader of your scrawl you really tried hard to write to them and the
leaking pen serves as a metaphor for your soul, leaking onto the page. I
knew there had to be a happy medium, but roller balls always left me cold,
that too smooth - too fast action reminded me too much of my Musician dating years.
So - in a particularly lucky spree of trying new pens, which I do all the
time, I found the Pilot SCA-UF Ultrafine Permanent Xylene free marker. The
point is fine enough that you can fill in the most minute of forms, and
sturdy enough that when you want to make a bolder statement, you can use
the side of the pen to get a wider tip. The ink is black black black, not
like those other wussy markers who deliver kind of a newsprint color brown
based charcoal color, and even after repeated uses, I manage to keep the
pointy little tip in tact.
I manage to, however, I have never once lent one of these pens to anyone who
hasn't messed it up. When I get it back, for some reason, everyone who has
ever used this pen of mine - well, one of hundreds of these pens that I have
owned, has returned it with the tip flattened, so that the only way I can
make it write is to hold it at a 90 degree angle to the paper, which, while
fun sometimes, doesn't leave me in the happy place.
But I deal. I buy in bulk now and have a couple on hand at all times. I
just don't let anyone use them and when asked for a pen will hand them
something slightly more indestructible, heaven knows there are always at
least twelve pens in my purse at any given moment.
They can write on any surface from glass to wood to plastic wrap and they
don't smear or run when you get them wet, the ink is really permanent,
permanent, good for the graffiti if you have a lot to say and a little room
to say it in, and great for short but meaningful post it notes. The only
thing you can't use them for is checks, because the ink will bleed through
the paper. They're great for drawing, although if your paper has much nap
to it, it will wear the point down faster. Mostly, I just love this pen
because - well, it's a great multipurpose pen that's about the right
length, and the right width, not too thin, not too fat, for my personal paws.
The most unusual thing about this 88 cent piece of wonder is that when
someone hands me a pen and it's - you know - one of these special
ones, I feel like they just lent me the keys to their car, because I know I never would have let them use mine.
in the junk drawer:
July 1997
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·feature·
·net worth·
·bumping uglies·
·smoking jacket·
·ear candy·
·feed hollywood·
·target audience·
·three dollar bill·
·compulsion·
·posedown·
·the biswick files·
·mystery date·
·and such and such·
·blab·
·kissing booth·
·contents·
·freakshow·
·fan club·
·junk drawer·
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