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Hello everyone! I'm Cindy. I discovered this wonderful site a few months ago and felt I needed to join if only to say "thank you"! I have only been using fountain pens for the past few months and still have much to learn! So far, I've made some truly cringeworthy mistakes- but after reading many comments on these forums- I feel you are a good-humored and accepting group of people (who won't throw verbal stones at me for a newbie mistake.) A little about me- I am an academic librarian, mom, and wife- and a total tech geek (mostly Mac.) I enjoy writing as a way to unhook from technology and always feel much more productive when I actually hand-write out my thoughts/ideas. I also have a love of all things office supply- mostly Levenger- and this led me to order my first Fountain Pen- the "True Writer Purple Majesty" with an extra-fine nib. I fell instantly in love with it and use it daily. A friend convinced me I would not truly experience what all the fuss was about until I tried one of the really expensive pens.... so after doing some research (nothing but Cross in stores near me!) I ordered a much-too-expensive "Pelican Souveran M600" in blue. And here's where the "red-face" comes in.....Until it arrived, I had "assumed" it would use cartridges and somehow missed the fact that this is not the case. Couldn't understand how to remove the cartridge converter! Alas- I had never heard of and had no IDEA what a "piston-filler" was! Now I do...... It is no fun to order a fancy new pen with a piston-type fill mechanism and then realize you only have ink cartridges in the house. I knew enough not to use India Ink but there are no local stores to purchase good bottled ink. I realized I needed to back-up and learn much MUCH more before throwing more money at fancy pens! Or I should say "less" money. I now own a Pilot Prera demonstrator (jury is still out on this one) and a pack of multi-colored Pilot Varsity disposable fountain pens- that I LOVE!!! But the Levenger True Writer is still #1 in my heart. The Pelikan has since been filled with "Tender Purple" Waterman ink...but I cannot say it makes me happier than any of the other pens to justify the cost. Now deciding whether to return to Amazon or keep in a drawer until I am worthy (or even "need") an expensive pen! Joining here in an attempt to save myself- and my poor bank account- from myself! So hi!!