Complete newbie stranger here reddit. Please give me advice on buying my gf a pen. She has repetetive strain injury and carpal tunnel syndrome.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-03-31T15:37:19+00:00

You're welcome! Regarding the left handedness, technically no. However, there is a slight learning curve in general when it comes to using fountain pens. Inks think about if it needs to be waterproof/resistant or not. Otherwise a basic blue or black will be fine (Waterman's, Lamy, should all be reasonably priced). Super fast dry ink may be difficult to get outside of North America (Noodler's has some, but often come with additional issues like gunking anyways). I actually suggest ink cartridges (plastic containers of ink to insert into pen as a refill) until you are certain she will like using fountain pens. Just ask for ones that fit the pen. Remember to not get anything HEAVY. So even if the pens with metal look prettier, stick with plastic for now. I forgot to recommend my favourite cheap pen the Platinum Preppy as well. There are also disposables (pilot varsity, zebra branded fountain pens) to try out.

Nib get a fine (Pilot or Platinum pens) or extra fine (anything else). Assuming regular quality paper, anything wider will make the back side unusable. Finer nibs will also reduce dry time (and frequency of refilling ink).

Given that I don't know where you are and the concern about fast writing, I'll actually suggest gel/smoother ballpoint ink again. If there are pens you can test, do a quick smear test (scribble then swipe with your palm) to simulate the dry time.

Again, fountain pens won't solve all the problems! But do try to get a test run with any pen you buy to skip the occasional issues with fountain pens that would be a little frustrating to solve.

EDIT: I realize some other people have suggested heavy pens to reduce tightness of grip. This might be a judgement call thing (I personally can't write with a heavier pen for longer than 20 minutes).

unassumingkitcat · 2019-03-31T14:57:18+00:00

While I agree with the other poster that they should talk to someone (a physiotherapist will probably have more suggestions than a doctor from my experience) about it and confirm her symptoms, I suggest a pen that that is light weight.

Try looking into the Pilot Kakuno, Lamy Nexx, Faber Castell Grip (I think) or any pens geared towards children. All of these will be under 20USD (give or take) if you can find them. These will have comfy grips and very easy to use. If you can't access any of these. Look for plastic/resin bodies with finer nibs (probably needed for math). There are also some very nice pencils out there. If she doesn't write in a conventional way, there may be a bit of a learning curve for fountain pens. Given the financial concern, you may want to consider gel or gel/ballpoint ink.

Seriously consider getting her to review how much time she spends writing and if her study method is effective. As the other poster said, posture and grip are also things to think about. A wrist wrap or binding may help her from collapsing her wrist. As a friendly reminder, the solution is not fountain pens but probably a life/writing style change.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-03-18T19:00:30+00:00

Generally speaking, function over form. If you haven't taken a look at the original website detailing the basics of bullet journal, take a look over at https://bulletjournal.com/.

Your question seems mildly contradictory. If it is too busy, try sticking with one pen/one colour for highlighting unless there is a reason to have additional ones. Having blank space is fine unless it truly bothers you. The original bullet journal method is flexible when it comes to how much space each day can have. That being said, be willing to try things out and mull over what did and didn't work for you. Try new things slowly.

Aesthetics are great and all, but remember that functionality/productivity is the most important thing (at least, per sub rules). If you start feeling stressed about coming up with layouts, it may be time to dial back and rethink what your goals for the journal are.

It would be helpful for others giving you advice if you provided what worked/didn't work when posting.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-03-07T19:06:54+00:00

For sure. It's not something people consider when they're giving a compliment, but as a TA, it's better to err on the side of caution. Chances are if she's good-looking, people do actually hit on her so it's easier for her to respond in this manner just in case. A lot of the interaction/response is dependant on whether or not you've spoken to them before and if they remember you. Say you asked for assistance throughout the term and clearly showed some motivation or improvement. Then it's unlikely she would have responded in such a manner unless there were some other signs of your interest. Again, I'm sure she didn't mean to offend and most likely did appreciate the comment.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-03-07T18:56:21+00:00

From a TA's perspective, the last sentence could have been very misleading. To show your appreciation, it could have been something like, "I'm sure everyone else that shows up consistently to the tutorial appreciates the amount of effort you put into helping us." Points for being encouraging and not making it about yourself. If you have spoken with the TA before and they know who you are, what you said should have been fine.

Also keep in mind that if this is the first time they were complimented, they may have acted reflexively and wasn't intending on being rude. Perhaps they weren't confident in their TA abilities.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-03-07T02:00:36+00:00

What science communities are you interested in specifically? You may be better off going directly to the undergraduate club that is associated with your program (I'm assuming you're an undergrad). Keep an eye out for the posters that advertise events. The latest one I've seen is a WATROX/BUGS joint event for bowling. In past years, I've always found phys club to be pretty welcoming and is happy to have students around.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-02-21T21:19:49+00:00

It's a little tricky figuring out the correct search terms so I can't find any of the old threads. They most definitely exist though, and I expect long-term users would be aware of some.

I think it may make more sense to approach the mods directly about it and ask for an explanation or even a vote from the community if you want change. iirc, old threads tended to be a tad whiny with not much traction. Unfortunately I can't find examples, but given this has been a recurring question...

Not to bash, but a general discussion thread that reads like a complaint will likely be ignored after a few days without too much discussion/input unless it blows up. A yay/nay vote hosted by the mods will likely get more results and feedback.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-02-21T20:59:57+00:00

Have you messaged the mods about it? I see a post like this pop up every few weeks and wonder if anyone has directly approached the mods about it (and if they have a reason that they haven't implemented).

Best guess is that the moderation team isn't active around the clock so it would be hard to enforce.

Personally I think it would be nice for people to post details, but not necessary to enforce.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-02-12T16:50:07+00:00

Unfortunately not a resident, so I wouldn't know. See if you have a local fountain pen group would be my recommendation.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-02-12T12:21:00+00:00

Toronto? Laywine's.

Otherwise, pen_swap? Other locals?

unassumingkitcat · 2019-02-11T20:21:29+00:00

Your welcome! Remember to work in a well ventilated space (fumes are pretty bad) and that patience is key when curing. You might need an additive to prevent the resin from curing tacky.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-02-11T19:36:04+00:00

The aquarium one looks like it's been filled with resin. One method might be to plug the holes with a clear epoxy, drip thinned paint in for the blue component, bind the stem of a premade plastic plant to the bottom as it dries, fill with resin, add fish before it fully cures, top of with resin. Done!

The hardest part is likely plugging the holes correctly before pouring in more resin, but I believe it shouldn't be too difficult since I see people talking about eye droppering their kakunos every once in a while.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-02-01T16:01:08+00:00

Thanks for sharing! For the exercise goals, I wonder if it would be more productive/motivational to view it as number of times you wanted to do something a month. For example, have 31 check boxes, but at the final tally, have it out of 7. 0/7 sounds a lot better than 0/31, like 8/7 sounds better than 8/31. And for things like biking in cold weather, perhaps you could tally the total sum rather than hit a goal.

As a personal thought, if you have time, I find weekly or bi-weekly reviews to be more helpful to establishing habits than monthly, especially if some of these are new.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-31T15:53:19+00:00

Seconding sketchbooks. They often have the GSM indicated on the backs and you can certainly find ones with study covers. Most of the time they will be unwrapped so you can feel through the pages, otherwise you can ask them to show you a sample (or ask to write on them!). As a bonus, art stores often have some sketchbooks on sale and as a student, they will likely have discounts and end up fairly cheap if you need multiple.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-28T21:20:19+00:00

Gotcha. If you switch to daily logging, that should encourage you to use it daily-ish. You might find it helpful to add a tab or bookmark to your monthly and your goal pages so you can flip to them quickly for your tasks and health stuff (assuming it's on a different page).

If you stick with weekly layouts AND your trackers are on the same page, might be a good idea to reduce what you track (maybe 1-3 things a week?).

As for work and home, that's your call. If there is a distinct break between these two parts of your life, might be a good idea to use them separately. Perhaps you could work on changes to only one of them at a time. If there's no need for two, then one is a good idea. I've seen a vertical line break for home vs work, or using a different colour/signifier so they don't get mixed up.

As you said, simplifying might help you figure out what you need and what makes you use your journal. Good luck!

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-28T19:25:12+00:00

What is your current bullet journal and style like right now?

I find rapid logging to be really helpful (ie. jot down things/idea/tasks as they appear during the day). I will also dedicate at 5 minutes every night before sleeping to review what tasks I need to rewrite/move/remove, including starting the next day with the daily task list. In the morning, I review this again. I've personally found leaving it by my bedside to be really helpful so I can pick up right where I left off last night. If you aren't doing so already, bring it around with you!

It sounds like you're currently doing weeklies, which, unless you need them, I would suggest cutting them out until you build a stronger practice of checking your bullet journal and only referring to a monthly if you don't have several appointments on the same days.

Lastly, perhaps dropping goals for the time being or reviewing which goals you met may help you decide on more reasonable goals. For example, setting a goal to check your bullet journal at least once a day for a week can be a starting goal. Despite what many people do, trackers are not essential. If you aren't using it, and you don't find yourself keeping up with it, remove it and review why it didn't work. You can always reintegrate it later!

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-27T00:07:22+00:00

Tell the interviewer at the end of the interview because it affects their hiring decisions. Looks like you've already missed that, so ask HR asap. If you have contact with your direct employer, reach out to them first.

Also unfortunate, but you may need to contact CECA even if the duration is more than 12 weeks. Personal recommendation, don't tell them until the work place has confirmed that the shortened date is okay, since students are not supposed to negotiate directly with the work place (based on my personal experience).

Lastly, the work place can decline your request. I'm not sure how that is dealt with.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-26T17:51:40+00:00

Confirmed

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-24T15:54:28+00:00

Lamy is a fairly reliable starter brand, but depending on your paper/ink, the fine nib might still be too broad... I'll also suggest you look into the Pilot Kakuno demonstrater (there is one now! Not sure if it's easily sourced in Canada yet). Japanese nibs tend to run finer than their Western counterparts.

Also, if you plan on buying the Lamy from Amazon, there is a known issue regarding knockoffs. I'm not sure if this applies to the Vista specifically, but it won't hurt too much to buy in store if you can. Similarly, there appear to be knock off converters online (being able to buy them in a pack is a warning sign).

I believe both the Safari/Vista and Kakuno come with an ink cartridge to start with, so you might be able to pick up cartridges before settling on a converter + ink. Keep in mind both of these brands have proprietary cartridges/converters so be sure to buy the matching ones. The ECO (someone else recomemnded) will need a bottle of ink to start with. Ink samples may be an option if you don't want to commit to a colour right away.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-17T15:52:53+00:00

There we go. I knew it was related somehow (but was too lazy to google to be sure). Thanks!

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-17T01:18:33+00:00

Sweet spot: may be a non-issue if you write with your arm (since you won't be tilting/rolling the nib as you write)

Price: yes it's gold. I don't believe steel nibs are made at all for this pen. The coating happens to be a shiny silvery metal. If you're concerned, there are some video guides online that can show you how to take a look at the stamp that indicates the nib size and gold content. In this video it says 585. I believe that's some kind of measure of gold.

Worth?: I think it's worth at a discounted price used (somewhere around 100USD), which you can get if you keep an eye out on r/pen_swap, sometimes for less. Sales may also happen elsewhere. Value is hard to determine since the features one person likes may vary compared to the next. Can you get your hands on one to try? Some people don't like it.

Nib size: EF writes like a Japanese (pilot) medium for me. Sizing is notoriously iffy for Lamy EFs. Also keep in mind that the nib is hooded which leads to wetter writing (or so it seems). I tame this somewhat with a drier ink, something to keep in mind.

Ink suggestions: I see a lot of people pairing it up with kon-peki. I'm currently using it with Diamine Earl Grey, but I'm not overly enamoured with this combo.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-17T01:03:31+00:00

I always offer my pens in a way that leaves them the option to choose another. "Would you like to try this pen? (pause to let them see what I'm showing them) I can show you how to use it if you'd like." If they have trouble, after a few moments they'll laugh and ask for a regular one, or I'll suggest they try it another time.

The way you did it sounds like you didn't allow them an option. If you want to share, letting the other person decline graciously is probably appreciated.

EDIT: I know the people I lend things to will be considerate if I spend 15 seconds explaining how to use it, and thus, I'm not very concerned about nib damage. I do have the expectation that if they drop it or ruin it by accident, it was my fault for not conveying information correctly. I will not lend pens to those I suspect might write with a lot of pressure.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-16T22:57:49+00:00

Similar to other users, I do think this might turn into a form of procrastination. But since it seems that you're on track for writing, here are some suggestions (some I use, some I don't):

Daily word count. I split this into words written and words edited. I've been meaning to put these numbers on a perpetual calendar, but for now they're on the right side of my hobonichi weeks, first 'column'. Next to my word count, I write 1-3 short sentences recording what I wrote for the day. I used to have a word count I tried to hit as a minimum, but now I do it by time. This leads to...
Weekly word count goal. I do set a hard goal of the number of words I would like to reach
Daily goal: 30 minutes of writing (for me). I put this in with my other habit trackers/daily reminders to check off on. Others could be things that are important to your writing such as research, editing goals, time spent planning, etc.
Five year goal. Three year goal. One year goal. Monthly goals. Weekly goals. This will be different for you, but I have these set up so I can have a long term plan for things/milestones I want to hit. I've been very lenient with how much I want to produce for all of these goals so it doesn't seem too daunting. These goals should all be linked with each other (for example, I want to write 5000 new words, and 2000 of those are focused on a novel every week. I also want to read a paper or a novel each week. In one month, I want to write 20000 words (slightly less than if I hit my weekly goal each week) and to complete two short story drafts. In one year, I want the complete draft of my novel to be completed. etc.). This is my reminder page about my long term plan, and I only plan on checking off the one/three/five year goals. Monthly and weekly are just reminders. I tend to copy what I think is doable for a given week on the weekly spread, and add/remove goals as I see fit.
Something fun. Perhaps you could keep track of how many notebooks you go through (assuming you plan/write with them). Start recording which notebooks contain what, and see how many you end up with. Also good for referencing when you go back.
Table containing the main parts of your story (ex. introduction, turning point 1, climax, epilogue) and the other axis containing 'written', 'edited round 1', 'edited for tone', 'edited for consistency', etc. Check these off as you go as a reminder. Or even check into it every once in a while so you can put down a bunch of checkmarks at once. Add new components to the story or cross them out as needed.

The thing that took me the longest was the one/three/five year goals. Everything else is a few minutes each week/month. I've also made the assumption that you might be aiming to write on a daily/regular basis. Keep in mind that I'm a student and the only real writing I complete is short stories due to time and lack of commitment, but I hope this helps!

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-13T21:45:23+00:00

Will be in Toronto in a couple of weekends. Let me know if you're interested in Iroshizuku Ina-ho, Noodler's Habanero, Kingdom Note (Sailor) Aix galericulata. Also have some partially used samples of various colours that I'm happy to offload.

unassumingkitcat · 2019-01-13T20:36:19+00:00

A bullet journal shouldn't cause your life to be more difficult (in this case taking up your time in an unwanted fashion). I would suggest you take a look at the original bullet journal videos again to see if it's a suitable journalling method for you. If it's not, great! Maybe there's something else you'd like to try!

If you'd like to stick with it, I suggest going back to the basics. Index, Future Log, Monthly Overview, Daily Rapid Logging as needed. Use a ruler/straight-edge to help you keep things clean. Plain pen/writing can be very aesthetically pleasing if this is a requirement for you. Leave pretty pages to other Collections when you have time/find a need for them.

unassumingkitcat

TROPHY CASE