Ever since high school, I’ve been a fan of fountain pens. I like their quality of line, expressive nature and the importance they impart into the words they write. Taking notes in real ink made me pay more attention to their content and celebrate the human hand that keyboards will never replace (especially the touch screen one on this phone I’m using now).

Before I knit, pen shops were a destination I’d seek out when traveling. Fountain pens are what I’d look for at flea markets, too. It’s only natural that a paper fetish followed from there. (I’d love to show you my pad and stationery collection one day.) Oddly enough, I never got into inks. I was content to use the bottles from Farhney’s (my dad’s favorite mail-order pen pusher) or one of the other two bottles I had (pure black Parker Quink and some electric royal blue from Krone).

Life goes on and I amass a little pen stash of pens (only ten or so). I use them for work, but sadly never fully develop the journaling or letter-writing habit I wish I had. I’ve had one flea market find boxed up for repair for years, but never gotten around to it. Heck, there are a few pens that have bever even been used!

So as part of my creating order in 2010, I dusted off my pens (like this blog) and decided to clean them out and put some of the newest ones into rotation. It makes me so happy to ride the glide of a nib across some smooth, heavy paper. like a good pen owner, the ones that haven’t been in use were already cleaned and perfectly content chilling in the cabinet.

Lo and behold, in the same cabinet, I found two bottles of French ink I received in the mail last spring. Back in February, I agreed to review some J. Herbin fountain pen inks. I thought I’d receive one bottle, but two arrived, along with a mini Rhodia notepad. (They import thissuper-duper paper as well as inks and planners.) I had played with the Orange Indien when I first received it. How could I pass up an orange? It’s is confident and strong. Unfortunately, the Parker 51 I’m using with it is very generous (down-”write” slutty!) and leaves a fat wet line. But the ink remains as a very handsome and unique stroke.

The Lierre Sauvage is vibrant and perky green. Bright and alive, yet maintaining the dignity of a deeper forest green. I’m going to enjoy playing with this. I filled a Récife pen purchased during our 2007 trip to Paris that has languished parched and empty for these past two or so years. It’s about time this beauty sprouted words and thoughts onto paper, and the new leaf colored ink is well-suited for shoots and tendrils awaiting to unfurl from my hand.

With freshly cleaned pens from work stored away, a filled blue-black and a bright blue trusted sidekicks in my bag, and these new orange and green friends, I’ve got quite a bit of writing to do. I hand write my designs in their idea origins and as I knit them. I’m counting on these new inks to help realize the many new designs 2010 holds.

So this is the New Year… I never could have predicted that 2009 would contain all of the surprises and plot twists that it did. My life is better for it, for sure.I grateful and working hard at beig present to enjoy it all, the good and the bad.

Starting back in January, a recall at work, the first time for the company, only to be followed by a smaller recall later on. It rivaled the intensity of training for Ironman and ultramarathons (only I barely worked out other than circus class through June - note to self: sign up again - it’s been too long, do something! . March: I spoke at SXSW interactive about crafting and community in Austin, TX. Work was highly productive with sites and an iPhone app launched, and the groundwork for a strong 2010 laid. Then, my boss announced he was leaving in August. I followed suit in October, and now work a short 12-minute bike ride to downtown San Francisco at a sweet-smelling dream job.

On the knitting front, YKNIT is on hiatus which was first going to be me flying solo but never quite took off the ground. The jury’s still out whether I can devote the time to publish the three episodes I have recorded. Of course there was Sock Camp where I met a new BFF. I returned to Albany for the MSKR with my evil twin Sean. A few months later Sock Summit happened, full of so many memories and people and inspiration to cherish forever. Fall saw the MFKR where I taught and met more incredible guys, and drove with Cat and her chatty GPS. My second Rhinebeck included my mom, who patiently put up with Sean and my shenanigans. November: I’ll never forget the hours of microwaving dyed yarn from Knot Hysteria’s Dye to Knit weekend. Over the year, there were a couple of designs completed and more to come (I’ll share as soon as it’s kosher). I ended the year casting on at 11:14 am for the full moon on this very special blue moon New Year’s Eve and knitting on Herbivore in BMFA Silkie as the clock struck midnight.

2009 was a year full of love (Paris honeymoon), work and wool. Other than snuggles with Janie Sparkles, I couldnt ask for much more. I am grateful it turned out to be a stellar, if not watershed, year for me. I am so excited about what the future may hold, so bring it. Although I may not have acheived all of last yeat’s resolutions (darn you, unicycle!), but what’s tomorrow for if not trying again?

My predictions or goals for the new year? More of the same: growth, challenges, finished objects, creativity, great food, and time spent with friends.

(And you, unicycle? I’m coming for you!)

This was supposed to be an entry yesterday, but my body just couldn’t stay awake long enough to make it happen. We were up by 5am, so along with coffee, I set about organizing the coat closet. Next, it was the yarn and books and paper piles. Laundry and unpacking. All this before 8am! I thought this jet lag thing was going to turn into a mighty productive thing.

We both took the day off from work, knowing that our minds wouldn’t be their sharpest. Besides, there was a very important appointment at 9—picking up Janie Sparkles! She stayed with a friend from my former job, so it turned into a bit of a how’s-it-going lovefest. Having only four days at the new job under my belt, I had little to report, so we talked about Paris. Thanks to the magic of the interwebs, anyone who wanted to could follow along, so there were lots of food questions.

After a very Bay-Areian breakfast of huevos rancheros, it was back across the thankfully-reopened Bay Bridge. Errands and a latte run, more loads of laundry and a peek into work email, catching up on TiVo trash tv and knitting—it was everything I couldn’t do in France. I valliantly struggled to stay awake through a simple dinner of penne, pesto and steamed brocolli, snuggling with the dearly-missed doggy.

Until 8-ish.

Which is why I’ve been up since 2:48am. I’m forcing myself to stay in bed until at least 5. Then it’s getting ready for work and finishing off the things I thought would all be completed yesterday.

At least I can hear two happy snorers next to me. I hope I can join them.

After being awake for the last 23+ hours, I don’t have much to offer than this cheese spaetzle from the Munich airport sports bar that pales in comparison to the American recreation that I eat at our local East German restaurant.

We woke up at 6am Paris time to be on the metro by 7:30 for the airport and our 11:35 flight home via the above lunch stop. The highlight of that three-hour layover was seeing Kris who’s planted a tiny little marathon seed in my head (but there remains the mystery of the sore foot).

The long flight back to San Francisco was made shorter by knitting and movies. I couldn’t have thought of better films to ease the transition back to reality and underline the Paris part of our honeymoon.

• First up, Coco Avant Chanel. A French language biopic with everyone’s favorite mignone, Audrey Tatou, aka Amélie. What’s Frencher than that?
• Next, Julie & Julia. Given that so much of my trip was food-centered and driven by blogger recommendations, this was a visual delicasy, even for this vegaquarian.
• Lastly, The Time Traveler’s Wife which was nowhere near as good as the book. Knowing the intensity of the love story from the original source, I sobbed nonetheless.

There was still more time for films, but neither The Soloist and The Taking of Pelham 123 speak to our time there, although I’d love to hear cello in Paris ans we did ride the subway—but that’s a bit of a stretch.

One thing we’ve talked about to keep this trip alive is weekly Paris movies. Not quite the same sentiment, but I’m thinking La Femme Nikita and Diva. Do you have any Frenchie favorites?

It’s closing in on 4pm on our last day in Paris. This time tomorrow we’ll be leaving Munich after a three-hour layover. Hopefully, we’ll have spent an hour or so of airport visiting with Kris, Fräulein Bockstark Knits and Victor, Herr Elemmaciltur.

After debating between being responsible and packing or heading down to the Seine and getting ice cream, we finally settled on having a beer in a café on rue Bretagne near the apartment. Ice cream wasn’t my first choice anyway, but before the hate email comes in, Berthillon is closed on Monday and Tuesdays. This beer (Belgian?) is a nice chill way to end a chilly week here.

Travelling always make me hungry for more on one hand, and appreciate what I have on the other. It goes without saying that I’m missing Janie Sparkles something fierce. You may be surprised that I’m eager to get back to work. Granted, I’ve only spent four days on the job there, so I don’t have anything I want to avoid! It’s all exciting and new. (Leaving Clif Bar & Company after nine years will have to be a post for another day.)

I’m hoping to hang onto some of my memories of wanderlust by learning how to cook some of the great food I’ve enjoyed here. There are also many a design kicking around my head that will need to be knit one day. Plus, I never give San Francisco its due, or perhaps I’m too set in my ways for my own good, and there’s plenty of city exploration and gems to find (and write about?). Why not be a tourists chez nous? Maybe I’ll even look up some Alliance Française events! (Sois gentil!)

It’s sad to end a trip, but so exciting to return home to the familiar. That’s why we call it home, eh? Refreshed, inspired, grateful, and alive. You can’t ask for anything more.

ETA: I finished writing this at 17:25, for full disclosure.

Just a little scribble from Paris, from our honeymoon (one year ex post facto). It’s been a wonderful trip of wandering, eating, happy happen-stance and only-in-Paris moments. If you follow me on Twitter or Flickr, I’ve been trying to share a taste of the trip. It’s like we’re all gay-married together!

I want to acknowledge and thank two bloggers (whom I’ve never met) who’ve been invaluable with their food recommendations that have made this trip perhaps the best of my life.

• David Lebovitz - we were given his book a few months ago, but spare reading time hasn’t existed for me for quite a while… You can bet your bottom dollar, Lil’ Orphan Annie, that I’ll be picking it up when I’m back in the states!
• 101 Cookbooks - Heidi is the wife of a guy I barely knew in high school, but always looked up to. We’ve threatened to catch up since the summer, but haven’t made it happen yet. She’s also an award-winning cookbook author on whom many foodie friends have culinary crushes.

If you’re ever planning on going to Paris, do check them out. Your tummy will not be disappointed! As writers and people creating great work around their passions, they’re rather inspirational as well.

à bientôt, mes amis!

Sitting up past midnight at Sean’s apartment in Boston. I’m knitting away on a secret project that really needs to be done before Saturday at Rhinebeck.

I decided to try the Wordpress iPhone app to see if the line break issues are fixed. Perhaps some more posts should this guy go up without a hitch.

Cross your fingers (or needles, which I should be using instead of typing)!

ETA: nope, still need to put in HTML paragraph breaks. Any favorite iPhone wordpress-compatible iPhone apps?

Skipping a Sock Summit soliloquy to mention two knitting (and real-life!) friends and their canine companions and a knitter’s daughter’s kitty.

Tuck, an adorable French Bulldog that belongs to Dr. Mel, aka Cabezalana is facing huge medical bills. He’s just a little guy with an adorable face (did you look at those toofs?) and you can help out by buying Tuck swag at Zazzle. (I bought two mugs, because, in addition to Janie Sparkles and Mr. Man, I wouldn’t mind waking up to Tuck’s mug on my mug in the morning.)

The other news is the tragic loss of Harriet, Yarn-a-go-go’s furry friend. As Rachael puts it,

There are pets that we cuddle and love, and then there are the Truly-Special Where-Did-You-Come-From-You-Crazy-Wonderful-Thing-You animals.

Lastly, one of my first internet friends (from USENET and and UNIX rave chatrooms in 1992), Leah also had to put her cat named Lint down.

Sorry for the heavy post. Life has its up’s and down’s.

Let’s create some more up’s—please go show ‘em both your love… and love the four-footed friends in your life!

Where have I been for so long?

There’s no one simple answer, but suffice to say, preparing to teach at Sock Summit has been getting the attention of my fiber focus for the past many months. You heard about that, eh?

If you follow me on twitter I’m sure you’ve seen little tidbits about it over the past week or so…

It’s now over and I’m home. In lieu of attempting to capture the wonder and merriment of it all, I leave you with a video of the World Record attempt for the largest group of knitters knitting simultaneously. It’s nice to see a few fellas were caught on film, too!

(I think we got it!)

Pardon the repeated image, but here we are again.

I’m still married, but the California Supreme Court upheld the legality of Prop. 8. What joy is there in that fact when a popular vote can deny people equal rights under the law?

As of today, I have special rights. As one of the 18,000 Californians who were legally married between June and November 2008, our marriage remains valid under state law.

But I never wanted special rights. I just want equal rights. For everyone.

From Rachael Yarn-a-go-go’s post:

You know what? I would bet that most of us would give up our legal marriages RIGHT NOW in order to get rights for all.

Amen, sister.