Surprise! Incoming Packages!

Yesterday was a banner day in the Acquisitions Department; I received three packages in the mail, two of which caught me completely off guard. Now, I admit to overbuying certain "not quite necessary" things via mail order (e.g., writing instruments, silly key caps for mechanical keyboards, and Japanese tea), but I also try to buy everyday necessaries online to the extent possible and economically feasible. Basically, I'm lazy and don't want to waste gas driving around to brick and mortar stores even if doing so results in better deals. This means that I'll buy ordinary goods online from time to time, such as: dental floss; sunscreen; batteries; shampoo; aftershave; paper plates; and coffee filters. This also means that I could have any number of incoming packages in transit at any given time.

Getting back to yesterday, package number one was a large box. I knew what it was as soon as I saw the box, but I was still surprised because I had forgotten about my online order. Although the item is not really relevant to this story, it was a framed canvas print of a digital photograph.

The other two packages were nearly identical: small padded envelopes. This was interesting because I was expecting only one small package. Indeed, one of the envelopes contained a set of 40A-L o-rings for my Filco keyboard, as expected. I kinda sorta explained o-ring use in the context of mechanical keyboards here.

The mystery item turned out to be a nice little care package from a friend who shares my interest in writing instruments and other miscellanea. Nothing beats a surprise package of interesting stuff. Unless it's a surprise package of FREE interesting stuff!

Surprise! Free Stuff For Me!

So this is what my life has become: cheap thrills over a cheap pencil, a tiny pump mechanism ("I don't even know what this is! This sort of thing ain't my bag, baby"), and some string. Hey, it was free and as they say: "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" (I think that's the proper context). Rather than identify and explain the freebies, I'll simply show the note that I received in the package:

So, What's In The Bag, Baby?

I'm stoked about this acquisition, and can't wait to give items (1) and (2) a try. I'm not sure about item (5), but perhaps I can tie something together today out of respect and as a gesture of thanks.

Let's summarize the new arrivals: a big framed picture; a set of o-ring keyboard dampeners; a Lamy refill thingy; a hacked Mont Blanc refill suitable for use in a Pilot G2 pen body; some pencil lead; a Zebra Color Flight mechanical pencil; and a useless length of paracord. Yesterday was a good day.

Pen Hack: Uni-Ball Signo RT + Pentel EnerGel Refill

Many moons ago I wrote this post about my first haul of pens and my quest for an ideal pen for the office. I've written with all of those pens and at this time have declared the Pilot Hi-Tec-C (0.5 mm) to be the winner. The Pentel EnerGel 0.5 mm retractable pen is a close second, but the barrel is a little too thick for comfort. After reading up on the "Mont Blanc refill + Pilot G2 body hack," I began fiddling with some of my pens. Click on the picture to read the results of my very own pen hack! I admit that this hack may have been previously published without my knowledge. I recognize this. That said, until proven otherwise, I hereby claim this pen hack as my invention and intellectual property. I will consider any and all reasonable licensing offers lol.

Postscript: After I made this writing sample, I realized that the EnerGel refill also fits into the Pilot G-Knock body (I assume, therefore, that it also fits into the standard Pilot G-2 body). Nonetheless, I prefer the look and feel of the Signo RT body.