Brave, Clever, Capable

Three words one wished applied to more elected officials in this increasingly bizarre reality we share, yes?

I want to share a vintage film today. There’s a brave, clever, and remarkably capable character in it. I also found a thread of horror in it as I watched. I’ll reveal it below, so see if anyone else felt it.

Before I make the promised revelation, I’m going to deflate some movie magic, although possibly by replacing it with a different sort. The driving portions of the return home were accomplished not by remote control (none of that in 1908), but by the director and father of the child crouching on the floor of the car and working the controls.

No, the dog was not really driving.

But… HOW DID AN ADULT HUMAN FIT DOWN THERE?

That question leads into the horror that passed over me while watching this. Consider the shape of that car. Unenclosed. A mere upholstered bucket. In 1908, you would spend several minutes explaining the concept of “seat belt” even to an aviator. And yet… there’s a very small child propped into the seat, being driven hither and yon, a mere high-spirited lurch away from the pavement.

I don’t know about you, but I need to lie down and collect myself.

Today’s pen: Pilot Metropolitan
Today’s nearly-appropriate ink: Montblanc Racing Green

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Day	What	How Much	Pen	Ink
24 February 25 February 26 February 27 February	First draft of something for a specifically Lovecraft-inspired call for submissions. Title eludes…	2363 typed words, because there’s a deadline.	Pelikan P1 Cross Century II Parker 51 TWSBI Classic	Diamine Midnight Herbin Poussière de Lune Skrip black Quink Black

 

 

Whetstone

This week’s film is the start of a new series on Youtube, and I am specifically doing this to boost its bandwidth. The face you see below belongs to someone who hands out plenty of good advice about writing online, and I found this opening episode encouraging in much the same way his Twitter threads are. So, as the kids have no doubt stopped saying now, smash the like and subscribe buttons.

The name of the series also tickles the hell out of me.

Today’s pen: Cross Century II
Today’s ink: Herbin Poussière de Lune

 

Day	What	How Much	Pen	Ink
17 February 18 February 19 February 20 February	A leisurely non-working Monday Second draft of “Second Impression”.	Some laundry. 1423 typed words, and SOOOO close to done it hurts.	TWSBI Classic Pelikan P1 Pilot Metropolitan Parker 51	Quink Black Diamine Midnight Montblanc Racing Green Skrip black

 

 

A Love of Learning

It will probably come as no surprise that I rather like Valentine’s Day, because I’m in a splendid long-term relationship with someone who shares many of my interests, and I hers. We follow, as closely as we can, the model of the healthiest relationship ever to appear on network television.

We occasionally argue over who fits which role better, inconclusively. She’s more likely to chat with a stranger, I like fencing far more than she.

Even during the single periods of my life, though, I wasn’t down on Valentines. The idea of a day devoted to expressions of affection, especially in the relatively uptight European and European-influenced society I live it seems a good one. So, before I run today’s educational film, I’ll just mention that there’s a lot of non-erotic forms of love, and if you’re feeling any of them, why not take today to express them?

Today’s pen, which I quite like: Parker 51
Today’s ink, from which I take a measure of satisfaction: Skrip black

 

Day	What	How Much	Pen	Ink
10 February 11 February 12 February 13 February	Second draft of “Second Impression”.	1887 typed words.	Cross Century II Pelikan M600 TWSBI Classic Pilot Metropolitan	Herbin Poussière de Lune Diamine Amazing Amethyst Quink Black Montblanc Racing Green

 

 

Metaphorically Speaking

Writers need to read. Right? Absolutely.

But sometimes it’s also fun to watch a film, especially when it’s of a book you enjoyed.

And then it’s really fun to watch thoughtful examinations of the film on Youtube.

Remember that I’m a guy who gets excited at watching the process of ink drying under magnification. My notion of fun may not be yours.

Today’s pen: Pelikan M600
Today’s ink: Diamine Amazing Amethyst

 

Day	What	How Much	Pen	Ink
3 February 4 February 5 February 6 February	First draft of “Second Impression”.	15 manuscript pages.	TWSBI Classic Pilot Metropolitan Cross Century II Parker 51	Quink Black Montblanc Racing Green Herbin Poussière de Lune Skrip black