Hi everyone, and a good morning from here in west Florida, where I'd just love for the clouds to start multiplying and rain to come. There's just so much sunshine that a person can take - really much too hot, and way too dry, already this summer!

I've been using fountain pens now for over 25 years (wow, has it really been that long? Am I really that old?). When I started law school, my husband said that at the rate I'd be going through pens, I should get one that was refillable, and got me my first Sheaffer cartridge pen. (I still love those.) Shortly after that, I got a Parker Jotter fountain pen (I swear that's what it was, or what I think it was - many people have told me there were no Jotter fountain pens in the 70s, but if it wasn't, it had to have been a 45), that got me all the way through law and graduate school, until I left it in the bathroom at school right after my last exam! I guess it felt that it had served its purpose and could retire....

So I'm now a librarian and semi-quasi-kinda-sorta-professor, and use lots of pens, mainly fountain pens, but also lots of roller balls (I love Acme and Retro 51 for those.) I tend to the "lower end" (a/k/a cheaper) pens, since I'm more interested in whether the pen writes well than how impressive it looks, and also don't want to go into hysterics if I happen to misplace a pen. Last month, though, my husband and my cat bought me two really nice looking Monteverde pens for Mother's Day (well, okay, the cat wasn't there for the purchase - he has a hard time handling change.) I was surprised at how well both of these write, since I've never heard much of other people's experiences with Monteverde.

It's always interesting to see how students react to a fountain pen - most of them have never seen one, and many are interested in trying one, especially when they see the variety of inks I have on my office shelf. I usually keep a few inexpensive ones in my desk (like Wing Sun or Hero pens) so that if someone really likes one, I can give it away. Last year, I gave a student a fountain pen - the next week, he came back to show me the Vanishing Point that he'd bought. So, I guess I'm helping the industry - too bad there's no career in that!

Sally

Sally,
welcome to our community.
Some would say the dark side. Only becasue inevitably you will own a pen that will put you "in hysterics" if you misplace it.
One learns to pay attention tou your writing intrumrnt at all times.
Have fun

Welcome Sally!!!

Hi Sally,

I'm over on the east coast, today it has been POURING. Naturally, the power went out.

But yes, it has rained way too little so far this year.

Welome to the Board.

-Bruce

Hello and welcome aboard Sally! Always nice to have another FP vet here to help us newbies along. Make yourself at home and pop in as often as you like. Hope to see you around.

Hi Sally,

Welcome, I am in the middle of the state and we can't get any rain here.

Parkercrazy

Welcome. Isn't it fun when someone asks about your pens because they've never seen a fountain pen before? I graduated from high school in 1964 and almost exclusively used a fountain pen for writing. Now the kids use keyboards.

Hello Salylou56,
I'v only been a member here for a short time. I'm a RN from Alabama and would not like to loose a pen at work either. I am interested in what you feel are great writers in the lower price range. Though I do expect to purchase a few midrange pens, I'd like to have a good quality inexpensive FP. I'm leaning toward the Lamy Saf. Have you used this one? :bunny1:
Thanks and Welcome to the FPN,
dinkydoodler

Hello Sally and welcome to the Fountain Pen Nuthouse! I too, find that many students are really amazed at the sight of a fountain pen. Moreover, many have never seen one before, but are delighted to see a Snorkel suck up ink from a bottle. Hopefully, all the PR we do for the pen companies will pay off, and younger generation of pen users will prefer the fine writing instruments that we love so much.

Hi Sally, welcome. I teach middle school in NYC and I can tell you one thing: the kids LOVE FPens!! but then again, they probably don't know what to make of me anyway because I am always doing or wearing really strange things. One day I came to school in goth clothing and laughed like crazy all day (to myself) because the kids sat there with their mouths hanging open in surprise! Now they're so used to seeing strange things, they don't bat an eyelash when they see me coming with fountain pens, teddy bears or any other unusual stuff!