Good Paper for Fountain Pens?

Now that I have begun my small collection of fountain pens, I would like to find some good paper for them. I usually like to use Crane stationery, but I have found that the weave is too coarse for fountain pen nibs: the nibs get caught. I have heard that people like to use use their fountain pens with Rhodia pads, but I haven't tried them yet. (And, I don't especially like to write on graph paper.) So, if anyone has any suggestions, please let me know.

Thanks.

Awareness

I really liked the following Daily Dharma posting:

Most of the time we go through the day, through our activities, our work, our relationships, our conversations, and very rarely do we ground ourselves in an awareness of our bodies. We are lost in our thoughts, our feelings, our emotions, our stories, our plans.

A very simple guide or check on this state of being lost is to pay attention to those times when you feel like you are rushing. Rushing does not have to do with speed. You can rush moving slowly, and you can rush moving quickly. We are rushing when we feel as if we are toppling forward. Our minds run ahead of ourselves; they are out there where we want to get to, instead of being settled back in our bodies. The feeling of rushing is good feedback. Whenever we are not present, right then, in that situation, we should stop and take a few deep breaths. Settle into the body again. Feel yourself sitting. Feel the step of the walk. Be in your body.

The Buddha made a very powerful statement about this: "Mindfulness of the body leads to nirvana." Such awareness is not a superficial practice. Mindfulness of the body keeps us present.

-- Joseph Goldstein, Transforming the Mind, Healing the World

From Everyday Mind, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith

Argument of Tyrants, Creed of Slaves

I like the following quote, which I think is attributed to William Pitt the Younger:

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."

He made this statement in a speech in the British House of Commons, in 1783. William might have been against the American Revolution, and for monarchy, but, anyway....

Bicycle Jersey

I just got back from riding my bike, and exploring new parts of San Francisco, and I wanted to see how much a particular bicycle jersey cost.  (The jersey has Corn Pops on it.  Fantastic!)  I went to the World Jerseys website -- World Jerseys makes the Corn Pops jersey -- and found that they had several new jerseys, including one with a spam theme!  They also have a One-Eyed Willie jersey.  I love those guys.

Pilot Knight Fountain Pen

I tried a beautiful, matte-blue Pilot Knight fountain pen last week, and while I *loved* the weight of the pen, and its feel in my hand, I wasn't especially happy with the nib: it seemed kind of scratchy to me. The saleswoman told me that fine nibs can feel that way, since the points of the nibs can get caught in the fibers of the paper. Maybe I should try the pen with other kinds of paper. Hmmmm... Anyway, even though the nib seems to be the most important part of a fountain pen, I can't stop thinking about how good that pen felt! It may warrant another try. To be continued...

http://www.namiki.com/collections/pilotKnight.php

Film Noir!

I am very excited about Noir City, San Francisco's film noir festival, showing at the Castro Theatre this week.  I love film noir, and I love seeing it on a big screen.  Also, the Castro Theatre's interior is amazing: it was designed in the Art Deco style, and every time I enter, my heart enters my throat.  

Lamy 2000

I have tried this pen once, but have heard so many rave reviews since then that I want to try it again. Flax, here I come!

http://www.lamyusa.com/2000.html