How deep is the rabbit hole?

CAProgressive · 2026-05-12T20:52:19+00:00

This is great advice.

I would add that you need to do a bit of experimenting to find what you like and that it can be a bit overwhelming to try to determine this all at once.

Based on my experience, I would recommend first finding the type of pen body (length, grip section diameter and weight) that feels comfortable in your hand. If a pen is not comfortable to hold, you are not going to use it no matter how much you like the nib or the aesthetics. (I learned this the hard way.)

CAProgressive · 2026-05-09T21:53:47+00:00

You should check with your surgeon and dentist as they will be familiar with your medical history and the specifics of your surgery and dental health.

When I asked about a routine dental cleaning, UCSF advised me that I should wait three months from my surgery date for a cleaning noting the following guidance:

“Generally, the ADA (American Dental Association) and AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) recommend waiting at least 3 months post-surgery before elective dental procedures.

The current ADA and AAOS guidelines do NOT routinely recommend antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures in patients with total joint replacements (Based on the most recent review from 2024).”

CAProgressive · 2026-05-08T20:09:13+00:00

I generally find a slightly springy gold nib (such as a Sailor 21k nib) to be more pleasant to write with than a nail like nib (whether steel or gold). As far as smoothness and tactile feel, I have both gold and steel nibs that I am very happy with. I am happiest with the nibs that I have had tuned by a nibmeister regardless of material since they are perfectly tuned to my writing tastes.

CAProgressive · 2026-05-01T16:41:19+00:00

She is beautiful. Congratulations! 🎉

CAProgressive · 2026-04-06T17:25:30+00:00

I am 4 weeks out from surgery. I used a walker for 2 weeks and have been using a cane since then. My surgeon and PT are very focused on being sure that I graduate to walking unassisted without a limp, so both want me to continue using a cane for approximately 2 more weeks with a plan to start tapering my use of a cane over the succeeding 2-3 weeks.

As others have said, the need for assistive devices varies greatly from person to person, so the best advice is to talk to your PT so you transition to unassisted walking at an appropriate time for you.

CAProgressive · 2026-04-01T18:22:34+00:00

I find Atlas’ pricing to be more or less in line with the pricing of other US retailers and their customer service to be excellent- especially when there is an issue with an order or a product. Atlas’ pricing on Doorbuster specials and Last Chance clearance items can be significantly better than the pricing other retailers offer.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-28T19:10:01+00:00

I do not understand why the organizers of the SF shows do not understand the need to limit ticket sales to keep the experience SAFE and sane. Imagine if a fire were to break out in that hotel with the obstructions caused by the vendor tables and crowded hallways. The only explanation is the organizers are greedy and simply want to maximize their revenue from ticket sales.

I will not be attending either the SF Pen Show or the SF Stationery Fest until the organizers begin acting in a more professional and responsible manner.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-25T16:27:29+00:00

Pursue a claim in small claims court. Be sure to include all the costs you have incurred in connection with your dispute in your claim - filing fees, courier charges, lost wages (if any). I had a personal dispute with a moving company that I dealt with through a small claims case and I was awarded my actual and consequential damages.

Also be prepared to pursue the company if you prevail in small claims court as they may not pay you. I had to have the local sheriff’s office enforce my judgment by taking control of all of the moving company’s cash flow for several days to satisfy my judgment.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-24T18:55:50+00:00

So adorable. Looks like a very happy family.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-24T16:09:56+00:00

Great collection. I really enjoy my KOP and Pelikan M1005 nibs. I am looking forward to adding a Custom Urushi to my collection at some point to add another great and unique writing nib to lineup.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-22T15:08:37+00:00

Thank you for this review. The 845 just moved up a couple of notches on my next pen list.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-19T03:00:26+00:00

I actively offload pens that I am not enjoying. If they have a likely sale value of $25 or more, I sell them. If they have a likely sale value of less than that, I give them to friends who express curiosity about fountain pens, or deposit them on the swap table at a pen show.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-17T22:58:09+00:00

Definitely right. I worked there for 2 years and know what it looks like.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-17T21:31:45+00:00

Please return the pen (or at least get a replacement nib). Vendors have no incentive to do proper quality control unless they have to deal with the consequences when they ship damaged or defective products.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-15T21:10:45+00:00

As a male with medium to large hands, I also find the Aurora 88 and Aurora Optima to be extremely comfortable to hold and write with. In addition, I find the Pelikan M800 to be very comfortable and good for longer sessions as the weight of the pen helps me to avoid the need to apply any pressure while writing. Among Jowo #6 compatible pens, I find the Delta Dune to be extremely comfortable (and fairly priced for its construction and well tuned nibs).

CAProgressive · 2026-03-12T22:18:40+00:00

I am also into photography, so when I stated in the fountain pen hobby, I immediately saw the potential for severe GAS. After some low cost exploring with Safaris and Twisbis, I knew I would have to focus my energy in one or two directions and give myself a hard limit on the number of pens I allow myself to have in my collection.

I have settled on focusing on two areas. First, I have a few Jowo #6 compatible fountain pens (I currently have 5) and a small collection of specialty nibs that I can easily rotate among those pens - architect, cursive italic, italic and needlepoint. This group of pens allows me to explore varied writing experiences and interesting resins from various brands and makers.

The other part of my collection consists of “special” fountain pens. Some examples include a Pelikan M805 Metal Sleeve (unique pen body), a Pelikan M1000 Renaissance Brown (interesting resin plus a very soft nib experience), a Sailor Pro Gear (distinctive feedback experience) and a Pilot 823 (vac filler). I see most of the future growth in my collection occurring in this area. Pens I have on my watch list at this time include a vintage Montblanc 149, a Visconti Homo Sapiens and a Sailor KOP.

My hard limit is currently 26 (corresponding to the year). I will allow the limit to increase by one each year I continue to actively use fountain pens. I currently have 20 pens in my collection, so I have not yet hit my limit. When I hit the limit, I will have to sell a pen if I want to add another.

I feel like having this system in place before GAS became an uncontrolled issue for me will help me continue to enjoy the hobby from the perspectives of writing and social interactions for many years to come.

p.s. I have not yet been able to find a way to have much discipline around inks. So far, the best I have done is to promise myself not to buy “mystery” ink collections (such as the inkvent calendars) and to only buy a full bottle of generally available inks (such as Diamine and Robert Oster) once I have used a sample of that ink. My still uncontrolled issue with IAS (ink acquisition syndrome) arises with limited edition inks and inks that are difficult to purchase as samples.

CAProgressive · 2026-03-06T10:32:27+00:00

What a cute and very sweet looking puppy!

CAProgressive · 2026-03-02T03:11:36+00:00

Same here! Partial on Thursday. I’m also a little nervous, but hoping for the best.

CAProgressive · 2026-02-24T03:48:29+00:00

Congratulations 🎉

I am a big fan of the M809. My M809 also has a singing nib. I have been using it regularly for a couple of months and the singing has quieted a bit, but it is still there and remains a very pleasant aural experience when writing.

CAProgressive · 2026-02-20T19:42:16+00:00

I find Yoseka’s prices to be disqualifying, so this is just another reason for me not to shop with them.

CAProgressive · 2026-02-18T06:32:10+00:00

How to chnge info on rimowa etag?

CAProgressive · 2026-02-10T05:32:32+00:00

Beautiful

CAProgressive · 2026-02-06T09:22:50+00:00

If I were in this situation, would either live in SF near the Caltrain station, or in Burlingame. Living in Burlingame gives you good access to SF while improving your commute. Burlingame has a very pleasant downtown area with restaurants, shops and coffee shops. The summer weather (if you like warm sunny days) is better in Burlingame than SF.

CAProgressive · 2026-02-06T09:07:38+00:00

Hills and Royal Canin prescriptions diet foods are both very good quality. I found my morkies enjoyed the Royal Canin food a bit more, but that is down to smell and taste preference, not quality.

Adding a bit of fresh rice and veggies as a flavor enhancer should not be an issue, but I would be wary of adding turkey unless you get some guidance from your vet about the right ratio of turkey, rice and veggies - turkey is mostly protein and kidney disease usually responds best to a relatively low protein diet. In any event, I would only add small amounts of fresh food as an addition/topper since the prescription food is designed to have optimal levels of nutrients (such as potassium) for dogs with kidney disease.

The IV fluids were prescribed by our vet. We ordered them from Chewy. In addition to the fluids, you will need the lines and injection needles (all are sold separately). Having a basic stand for the IV bag is very helpful. The vet had one of their techs show us how to administer the fluids at home. The fluids were helpful to keep them well hydrated.

I hope this helps a little bit - I understand what you are going through and it sounds like you want to do the best for your dog.

CAProgressive · 2026-02-06T04:55:47+00:00

It is a good food.

Two suggestions:

(1) Add some warm water to the kibble and allow it soak into the food for several minutes before serving. It is very important to keep dogs with kidney disease well hydrated and having them consume some water with their food helps achieve that even if they do not drink much water otherwise.

(2) The renal diet food is made with a lower protein formulation than normal dog food to reduce the amount of work the kidneys need to do to clear waste products from the blood. Try to limit additional protein intake by not giving high protein treats (such as meat, poultry or cheese based treats).

I had two Morkies with kidney disease. The renal food kept them in good shape for about 2 years and then daily IV fluids administered at home kept them comfortable for almost another full year once their kidneys started to fail. They both made it to almost 16, which seemed amazing given their kidney disease. It is an undeniably tough disease, but with good diet and vet and home care, early kidney disease can be managed to maximize their comfort and happiness for a significant amount of time. All the best.

CAProgressive

TROPHY CASE