Editing The Pen Addict 226/transcript (section)

== Fountain Pens ==


'''Brad Dowdy:''' So just before even that, how did you even get started with, like, fountain pens and stationery? Has that always been a thing for you? Like, did you grow up, like, caring about the things that you, you know, wrote with? Or how did that happen for you?

'''Michelle Leung:''' Yeah, not necessarily into fountain pens. But definitely as a kid, I was always into pens and stationery and even crayons and markers. My family was always into it. I have lots of family from Asia. And I remember for Christmas and birthdays, they would send me boxes of stuff that you couldn't find in Toronto. I also had a lot of friends who also had lots of families from Asia. So they would send me, I remember, I was probably seven or eight. And I would have, you know, all the Sakura gel pens, all, you know, all the pilot pens, everything from Hong Kong, from Japan. And I would bring them to school. And all my friends were fascinated because at that time, you could not get any of that stuff in Toronto. And then as the years passed on, it's been easier and easier. But in terms of fountain pens, I didn't get into it until I had my daughter and I was home on mat leave. And it was actually my brother-in-law who gave me my first fountain pen that Christmas of the year Bella was born. My daughter Bella was born. And he said to me that I would probably really enjoy this. And before then, I had never touched a fountain pen. I had no idea what to do. I didn't know how to fill the ink. I used cartridges for a long time. And then curiosity got the best of me because once I put the nib onto the paper, I was like, this is the best pen I had ever used before. So then I went online and the first source I found was Fountain Pen Network. Didn't post much, but I love reading. I love researching. So I was just on there for months reading everything that I could find. And then I found the Pen Addict podcast. I was on Instagram, Twitter. And I think the rest is history. I just fell into the deep end, as many of us do when we get into this hobby.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Do you remember what that pen was that you got? Oh, yeah. Sorry.

'''Michelle Leung:''' I thought I mentioned it. It was a Lamy Safari. It was a pink Lamy Safari, which is perfect for me. I think that's a lot of people's first drug, right?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, totally. I mean, that's the way to go. That was my first one. And it was like one of the bright lime green ones, which I can't even tell you which one now because they've done so many of them. And it's just stupid how they keep making the same color. But, yeah, the Safari is like we talk about the Pilot Metropolitan being the best pen for beginners. Like if I say go buy a pen that you're going to like, I think the Safari is the most fun to give someone as a gift who has no idea because it's so cool. It's got the cool colors and things like that. I just think the look and feel of the Safari is the coolest. And the pink one, we're going to talk about pink pens later. But I missed that one and I never got on the pink Safari bandwagon. So I keep meaning to hunt one of those down. It's a great pen. Do you still use it today? Is that still in the rotation? Is it gone?

'''Michelle Leung:''' I have to say it doesn't get much use these days because I have since moved on to much more expensive pens. But I'm still very fond of it. I mean, I look at it. I can't say I use them that often and I don't think I'll be buying any more at Lamy. They're not a brand I particularly click with. It's just a personal thing.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Oh, I saw the Lamy special edition iPhone safaris at the London show, by the way. They're really good looking, but they're very expensive.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah, I think I am going to agree on both counts when that actually like officially drops. And I think I've started to see pictures on them. They're really, really good looking. They're at a premium to like the AL Star line. But like what you said, Michelle, like I kind of feel sad. Like I don't use my safaris anymore. Do you like, you know, all these pens that I bought, like when I was first getting into the hobby. And I thoroughly, thoroughly to this day enjoy using a Lamy safari, but I never ink it up. Do you ever have any pens like that, Myke, that you kind of moved on from? But you're still kind of I totally have an attachment to something like the safari.

'''Myke Hurley:''' I would I mean, you know, I don't want to just jump on the bandwagon, but the safari is one for me, right? Like it's the pen that I hang my hat on for so long as being the best starter fountain pen, because it was the one that really kind of kind of grabbed me. But I have a bunch of pens like that, you know, that like my Pelican, my my Edison Pearl, my Edison Pearl, like pens that I really love. But I don't use so much anymore because I have now pens that I love infinitely more, you know?

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. Do you have any other pens like that, Michelle, that you kind of got on the bandwagon early? And they're great pens and they're just kind of sitting there like I'm starting to get there with Twisby. Like I like I'm I still like use my minis, but as much as I love the 580s, I'm not using them as much.

'''Myke Hurley:''' Yeah, that's a good point as well. Like I'm jumping in now, but like I look at something like the 580 ROC, which I was just like I fought so hard to get that thing, but don't use it anymore.

'''Brad Dowdy:''' Yeah. You have anything else like that, Michelle?