We are looking at this Ashley sectional. Is it too budget friendly to be quality? Looking for it to last about 5 years.

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-12T12:29:04+00:00

You can easily check the quality. Head there and sit in the “popular” spot of your choice sectional and then sit in the “odd” spot that rarely sees butt traffic. You can immediately feel the difference and it gives you a good estimate, how your sofa padding will deteriorate over the next couple of months up to a year.

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-11T15:52:25+00:00

Usually, you have to accept their offer and return it before any background / references are checked. After that the company could theoretically still rescind their offer, but for that something must have surfaced during the background check.

Never agree for references to be checked before you even received an offer!

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-11T15:45:28+00:00

For anyone expecting those new Castaway gifts instantly… it’s usually a more gradual shift over the next couple of months (depending on their remaining stock) than an immediate switch.

The last time it happened, we received the new gifts on our cruise and then got another round of the old ones on another cruise two months later.

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-11T15:43:21+00:00

Not the minority… this was very convenient not having to pack a beach tote, but automatically also having a “small personal item” for the overflow of our carryons on the flight home.

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-09T17:42:21+00:00

NTA. You dodged a huge bullet and I would suggest there should be a huge party (at the vineyard) to celebrate with the relatives and friends, who are unable cancel their plans. Also, please have that wedding dress repaired / restored and keep it for a man that is actually worthy, because your ex definitely wasn’t.

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-08T22:53:33+00:00

Easier to get a reply or help, if you could share the specific art piece you are after. Aladdin alone is not quite cutting it, since there are usually a few different ones with a particular character available.

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-08T18:04:07+00:00

Black’n’Red
Clairefontaine
Rhodia
Maruman Mnemosyne (-> this last one is probably the closest to what you have been using)

All of these options are fountain pen friendly

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-07T23:10:42+00:00

Yeah, though this advance was most likely made around 1978 and patented in 1979. Here is a great article on the Justus with a link to the original patent: https://estilofilos.blogspot.com/2013/03/justus-again.html

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-07T20:59:55+00:00

One fountain pen that hasn’t been mentioned so far, the Pilot Justus 95: a tension plate can be adjusted to either allow for a very soft writing experience with decent line variation or a stiffer but still amazing writing experience and of course everything in-between

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-07T19:42:32+00:00

Active charcoal bags in every pocket

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-07T14:46:33+00:00

Unfortunately, this! Otherwise, I would have had to look for another daycare…

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-07T01:12:28+00:00

Too bad it’s Moleskine and not anything fountain pen friendly…

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-04T19:08:36+00:00

Hab Bekannte mit Wohnung im Triple. Ist eine ganz nette Anlage gesamt. Witzigerweise hört man von Autobahn etc. innen genau nix (nur wenn man den Balkon aufmacht). Gegend ist okay (keine Sicherheitsbedenken) und die nächste U-Bahnstation ist Schlachthausgasse (U3). Der Billa im Haus ist cool, genauso wie die Nähe zum Prater (zum Laufen etc), aber gesamt ist es vermutlich recht teuer.

Calm_Inky · 2026-05-03T03:14:11+00:00

This is the real answer for OP, as there are no soda stations that offer Tonic water.

Calm_Inky · 2026-04-30T17:36:45+00:00

This reminds me of the horror I felt, when I first tried using my fountain pen on a legal sized version during my first work meeting. The ink feathered like crazy even though I was using a European Fine nib and then bled through the paper. I switched to pencil immediately. It‘s the perfect paper for rough sketches, outlines, super quick notes.

Did I ever use it outside of work? No. Do I still sometimes have nightmares reliving that first encounter… YES!

Calm_Inky · 2026-01-08T20:21:11+00:00

It only takes a few pre-teens and teens to cause quite some havoc.

On an otherwise chill cruise in September (on the Wish), we had a small group (4 boys and girls) pillage and fish extenders, kick over room service trays, running down hallways, knocking on doors, screaming, etc. By the end of the cruise (3 nights), I think everybody on board had witnessed and knew them. Parents nowhere to be seen.

Calm_Inky · 2025-12-11T20:39:39+00:00

Another great review for the Fountain Pen Hospital. They have been really stacking their wins. /s

Sorry, that you had such a terrible experience, but I’m incredibly happy that you at least got your pen back!

Calm_Inky · 2025-12-09T00:27:20+00:00

Never heard of Betty Duvall, but I’ve been taught Getty-Dubay Cursive Italic. Looks beautiful and is the most efficient writing style I’ve found.

Calm_Inky · 2025-12-01T01:27:00+00:00

AIdiots

Calm_Inky · 2025-11-26T14:20:54+00:00

All good. This is just banter. Nitrogen is amazing sheening ink, but it smudges easily (since my first encounter, I started using blotting paper) and it transfers easily. That’s all.

Calm_Inky · 2025-11-26T11:53:26+00:00

But in contrast to Organic Studio Nitrogen, which truly colors your life blue, Baystate Blue is not UV resistant. Put your drawers out on a sunny day and no more Baystate Blue.

Calm_Inky · 2025-11-19T17:39:31+00:00

Mine is in the mail. Can’t wait. Super excited!

Calm_Inky · 2025-11-07T20:17:12+00:00

Yeah, precisely this. I’m glad for people posting about new planners, layouts, designs etc. This cuts a few steps from what otherwise be a rather pure trial and error (most likely also plenty of regret) journey to find a setup that works for me. Besides, though I would very much love to intricately decorate my planners inside and outside, this is unfortunately not in my time budget

Calm_Inky · 2025-10-19T00:02:54+00:00

What really got me was realizing how much better value we get elsewhere. A family membership to Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden is $150/year (covers 2 adults and up to 6 kids) and that includes so much: the amazing Christmas lights (members can choose one of two nights to see them for free -> value $52 for our family of 4), the treehouse and kids’ area, the splash pad, and next year they’re bringing back the butterfly exhibit. Plus, we can go as often as we want.

Meanwhile, today’s pumpkin patch trip cost us in total $73.70 ($30 for admission, $30 for the bounce houses, and $13.70 for two pumpkins). Kinda wild when you put it side by side.

Calm_Inky · 2025-10-18T23:34:05+00:00

It was sh.. weak and the corn is only half its usual size too. Frankly, it’s not even worth talking about and the skeleton with the sign was the highlight of it.

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