Wed, November 15, 2006

Today's blog entry from Dilbert Creator Scott Adams is about appreciating the simple things.

Among them:

I like a pen that has good balance, opens easily, and leaves a clean line with no skipping, blotching or fussiness. Such pens are rare. I have one in my pen cup right now. Sometimes I just look at it and feel happy that my species could make such a pen.

It immediately reminded me of my favorite dialogue scene in all of The West Wing:

Jed Bartlet: Charlie!

Charlie Young (entering): Yes, sir?

Jed: Are we out of pens?

(Charlie hands him a pen from the pen stand on his desk.)

Jed: That's a good pen. I need an everyday pen.

Charlie: I've got pens.

Jed: You've got crappy pens with plastic tops. I need a solid pen that feels good in my hand but it's not so formal I feel like a dandy.

Charlie: I'm making some trips to pen stores, aren't I, Mr. President?

Jed: I used to have the perfect pens. Everyday, right here in my pocket. I loved those pens. Balanced, great action, the paper soaked up the ink. What the hell happened to those pens? Do they not make them anymore? I kept that company in business!

A good pen really does make all the difference. I have quite a history with pens. Every so often, a new pen will emerge as my favorite. I was big on those see-through Pilots in high school, and attached to the Uni-Ball Visions in college. Now, I have two or three pens that rotate in and out of the top spot. It depends on the day, the mood, and the task at hand. Pilot has a click pen that I'm quite fond of – I got one free with my condo closing, and I've been meaning to track down a box of them.

Also, as Monty Burns can tell you, there's not a man alive who doesn't appreciate a good sit. Scott Adams again:

I like being tired at the same time I have access to a comfortable chair and plenty of time to sit in it. Those three things don’t often line up, but when they do, it is pure sitting magic.

Amen to that.