PEN GEEK

Because I read and write a lot I'm very particular about my pens and highlighters. I'm using the new Sharpie Accent RT Highlighters, I love them-they have a retractable clicker(!) which keeps it from drying out the pen. I'm notorious for misplacing caps. I've tossed all my other highlighters in the 'reject' box.

I'm on a quest to find the 'perfect' pen for me. The grip has to have a comfortable, tactile feel that isn't too large or thin to cramp my hands. It has to have some 'weight' and not feel too light and cheap. The nib has to glide and be a tiny bit 'porous' on the paper. I'm experimenting with either a .7 or 1.0 mm tip width. It should be affordable so that it's easily replaceable if lost. (I have a Mont Blanc that still sits in its case. Don't want to lose that or have my daughter get a hold of it for one of her 'projects.') I don't like ballpoints or Gel ink. They run out of ink too fast and the line width isn't uniform. Also, the pen needs a clicker, no cap. Black ink not blue.

Haven't found it yet, close, but not perfect. In the running: Bic Z4 Bold, Pilot PreciseGrip Broad, Uni-ball Signo RT 0.7, Pilot Precise Zing Fine. I spent half an hour at Office Depot just looking at different pens, reading package descriptions, and 'illegally' trying them out. What a geek.

Also love Sharpies. I've actually been on their website, looking for new releases. Most I've never seen in stores. There are Sharpies all over the house, in my tool box, in my cars, my backpacks/briefcases. You can never have too many Sharpies, always come in handy. I bought a huge pack (different colors) from Costco. Nice. The retractable (RT) black ones are a must-have. (See *SIDESTORY)

So my pen holder on my desk has a few different colored Sharpie highlighters, a bunch of the same brand of pens, one red-ink pen, a retractable click Sharpie RT, a twin-tip Sharpie, one mechanical pencil and an Exacto Pen (to cut out magazine articles, open DVDs etc.)

No one's allowed to use my pens/highlighters. They have to use one from the 'reject' box. I told you I was a pen geek. I don't know, I just like what I like.

(*SIDESTORY: So I used to work at a prestigious law firm in downtown San Francisco. They had a huge supply room staffed by four people. It was like Christmas morning there. You could basically walk in, browse the aisles, and take whatever you wanted-pens, highlighters, calendars, staplers, binders, Post-its, calculators, legal pads-lots of those of course-etc. EXCEPT for Sharpies. My coworkers said the company stopped supplying them and employees had to just buy them on their own. What?!

So I phoned The Keeper of the Goods, 'Mike' the Supply Manager and said I'm on a quest for a Sharpie and if he could help me track some down. He said come by, he had some. Yes!

When I went to triumphantly claim my booty, he looked me over somewhat suspiciously, slowly stood up from behind his desk, took out a keyring with dozens of keys, ceremoniously walked over to the 'locked' cabinets, and took out a fresh, unopened box of Sharpies.

But did he give me the entire box? Of course not. That would cost one of my kidneys. He slowly took out ONE Sharpie and said "Now these are the 'Twin Tip' Sharpies, with both a broad and fine point on one pen" as if to magnify the gravity of the moment. Unbelievable. What the...?

I finagled three out of him, much to the envy of my coworkers. Sheesh, I had to lock them in my desk. I guess I'm not the only Sharpie geek. The quest was more interesting than it should have been, but I can rest at night knowing those Sharpies are safe, locked in the cabinet.

I hope I won't get sued by them for posting this.)