Hello, everyone! I've been lurking for a while and thought it was time to make my first post, after which I'll probably sink back into silence and obscurity. Currently I'm a graduate student in Berkeley, CA. To be honest, I'm not really a fan of the SF Bay Area. I can see why a lot of people like it, but it's just not for me -- there are too many people, things cost too much.
I'm about to take my qualifying exams and start writing my thesis. And my wife has gone out of town and left me without adult supervision for a few days. So it's the perfect time to buy a new pen! I'm not really sure which one I want, so I'll have to visit some stores this weekend and fondle a few different pens. I don't have much to spend, and I want something I can knock around. I'm leaning toward the Pilot Knight or Lamy Safari.
Full Version: Hello from Berkeley
Welcome to the site 
And I'm with you about this area 
I can't wait to get out of CA... Hope all goes well for ya.
And I'm with you about this area I can't wait to get out of CA... Hope all goes well for ya.
Hi and welcome too.
I'm not from that area but I do hope you do find a nice place to move to.
In the meantime get a good starter pen like a Phileas or an M140 or M200, even an M215 would be fantastic. Get one good decent, robust workhorse and that alone will save you money always looking for a better substitute.
Mike
I'm not from that area but I do hope you do find a nice place to move to.
In the meantime get a good starter pen like a Phileas or an M140 or M200, even an M215 would be fantastic. Get one good decent, robust workhorse and that alone will save you money always looking for a better substitute.
Mike
happy cows come from california. so do happy FP users!
welcome seņor quijote!!
welcome seņor quijote!!
Welcome to FPN!!!
Well,I was a grad student once, and I did most of my studying, note-taking, drafts of papers etc with fountainpens.
Best of luck with your academic work.
What is your field of study?
And please dont sink into obscurity- please make yourself at home and join us and share your experiences and knowledge with us.
Well,I was a grad student once, and I did most of my studying, note-taking, drafts of papers etc with fountainpens.
Best of luck with your academic work.
What is your field of study?
And please dont sink into obscurity- please make yourself at home and join us and share your experiences and knowledge with us.
Welcome DonQuixote. I'm a fan of the Lamy Safari. It's a sharp looking pen, durable and very reliable (you can leave it unused for a week or more and it will start writing as soon as you put pen to paper). As a left-handed overwriter, however, I must admit it has one slight disadvantage. The ergonomic grip causes me to rotate the pen to the left, and it's not easy to adjust how I hold the pen in order to compensate. Nonetheless, I feel that this disadvantage is outweighed by the pen's virtues, so it remains in my rotation.
QUOTE (Wolverine1 @ Aug 23 2008, 06:41 AM) 
Welcome to FPN!!!
Well,I was a grad student once, and I did most of my studying, note-taking, drafts of papers etc with fountainpens.
Best of luck with your academic work.
What is your field of study?
And please dont sink into obscurity- please make yourself at home and join us and share your experiences and knowledge with us.
Well,I was a grad student once, and I did most of my studying, note-taking, drafts of papers etc with fountainpens.
Best of luck with your academic work.
What is your field of study?
And please dont sink into obscurity- please make yourself at home and join us and share your experiences and knowledge with us.
I'm studying physics. Condensed matter physics, to be specific.
Welcome. Safari is a good place to start.
Welcome. I love my Safari. I abuse it relentlessly by doing the ole bookbag toss. Keeps on writing.
Welcome!
I'm a lil north of ya in Richmond, but spent my undergrad years at Cal.
By the way, I'd recommend at least stopping by the Piedmont Stationers in Oakland to take a quick look at their pens. They've got a decent selection of pens, and are endlessly patient in helping you figure out the right pen. I believe they'll do special orders as well, but am not 100% sure.
I'm a lil north of ya in Richmond, but spent my undergrad years at Cal.
By the way, I'd recommend at least stopping by the Piedmont Stationers in Oakland to take a quick look at their pens. They've got a decent selection of pens, and are endlessly patient in helping you figure out the right pen. I believe they'll do special orders as well, but am not 100% sure.
Welcome to FPN.
QUOTE (lapis @ Aug 23 2008, 01:23 AM)
Hi and welcome too.
I'm not from that area but I do hope you do find a nice place to move to.
In the meantime get a good starter pen like a Phileas or an M140 or M200, even an M215 would be fantastic. Get one good decent, robust workhorse and that alone will save you money always looking for a better substitute.
Mike
I'm not from that area but I do hope you do find a nice place to move to.
In the meantime get a good starter pen like a Phileas or an M140 or M200, even an M215 would be fantastic. Get one good decent, robust workhorse and that alone will save you money always looking for a better substitute.
Mike
Hi Mike, and I appreciate your advice. I've looked at the Phileas, but I have a bit of a problem with it. I may be forever banned from FPN for this (or at least get added to some "Ignore" lists), but I think the Phileas is ugly. Even the basic black one. This is mostly due to the heavy gold accents and the overly large (to me) cap. Don't get me wrong - I'm more interested in function than form. But every man has his limits. I do recognize that the Phileas is a quality pen, and the price is just about right, so I'm sure I'll buy one eventually. Just not yet.
The Pelikan, on the other hand, looks pretty good to me. If only the M200 came with silver-colored clip and accents... (I know the M215 has the silver-colored accents. But the M215 also has a higher price tag.)Actually, I have found this is kind of a problem with FPs in general. A lot of them (especially the higher-end ones) are too ornate for my taste. I guess in the long run that will save me money.
Hello and welcome to FPN.
Welcome!
I visited Berkley once in the early 70's. I worried the BART tunnel would flood. : )
Try the Lamy; it's a fun, cheap, pen with a neat design and writes SURPRISINGLY well! I have one in bright yellow and one in aircraft aluminium.
I visited Berkley once in the early 70's. I worried the BART tunnel would flood. : )
Try the Lamy; it's a fun, cheap, pen with a neat design and writes SURPRISINGLY well! I have one in bright yellow and one in aircraft aluminium.
Hello and welcome to FPN. Kick off your shoes and have a stroll around the grounds. There is lots of good information as well as people willing to share information. Heck you might even pick up a pen or two at the Marketplace.
Once again welcome.
Kurt
Once again welcome.
Kurt
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