Messages

1

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Cursive is History

« on: March 15, 2023, 05:58:32 PM »

@Zivio
You wrote "I just can’t fathom what it would take to hold back the tsunami of forces that may ultimately force the passing of cursive and perhaps any style of handwriting. The commensurate losses described in this article, though, resonate with me."
I see this progression a bit differently....
My wife and I are of the opinion that society as a whole is facing a very strong possibility, even the likelihood, of the collapse of the electrical power grid, given the progression of world events of late.
This is a big factor in our decision to transition from suburban living to  tiny house and  homesteading lifestyle.
In the absence of the electrical grid, computers, printers and phones will be irrelevant, leaving handwriting as the viable option for long-distance communication.
We believe a resurgence of hand-operated methodology is in our future, so that's what we are preparing for.
Mark M

2

Tools & Supplies / Re: New Hunt 108 Not Inking

« on: March 15, 2023, 10:18:42 AM »

Yes, indeed......I may have "invented" the new "Semi-Fude...!"
 

Perfect for the beginner, order now while supplies last...!!!

3

Tools & Supplies / Re: New Hunt 108 Not Inking

« on: March 14, 2023, 09:24:28 AM »

Follow-up:
While setting up to give the 108 a quick bath in a match flame,  I dropped the penholder and nib on the floor, which bent the nib's tines, of course 
I did my best to straighten the tines, and got them realigned reasonably well, with the exception of a tiny upcurve at the very tip of one tine, sort of a "micro-fude" on that one tine.
Here's the kicker....that "semi-fude" nib writes really nicely, believe it or not, with its one straight and one bent tine....!!!
Mark M.

4

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Posture Issues, Lap Desk?

« on: March 13, 2023, 07:51:06 AM »

Agreed....very clever...!!!

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Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Posture Issues, Lap Desk?

« on: March 12, 2023, 10:29:15 PM »

@Erica McPhee:  Good to know, thanks. We will find a lap desk, forthwith.

@InkyFingers:  lol...we live in a tiny house which I built in the woods, so no dining room table...!  (No dining room, either...lol)

6

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Posture Issues, Lap Desk?

« on: March 12, 2023, 09:35:10 PM »

Hello again,
It makes perfect sense that posture and proper workspace play a huge part in success in penmanship, but I have no access to such a workspace, nor does my furniture foster correct posture.
I'm wondering if perhaps a lap desk might help to correct the radically incorrect hand/wrist/ arm angles and lack of arm support presented by attempting writing in one's lap?
Even though I'm backing my paper pad with a 12x12 section of concrete board..(lol...that's the way things work here in Arkansas, ) but that setup offers almost no full arm support.  Consequently,  I find myself pinning my wrist to the paper pad in an attempt to stabilize both my arm and the paper, leaving only my bent-up hand and fingers to do the walking.
Your feedback gratefully appreciated..!!
Mark M.

7

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Penmanship, Forgiveness and Peace

« on: March 10, 2023, 09:25:33 PM »

@Erica McPhee

Erica, you wrote:
"I would encourage you to take some time to just PLAY with the fountain pen. Draw some silly pictures, do circular drills. Let your hand and mind become comfortable with the tool. I see my pens as an extension of myself when I write. Let it become your friend. And then you are in the journey together."

I like these ideas..!

Also, in the grocery store today, a couple of children's coloring books caught my eye, and I thought perhaps it might be fun to do some coloring with my fountain pens, save for the feathering of ink on that cheap coloring book paper.
I'm wondering, is there such a thing as an adult coloring book, made of fountain pen-friendly paper?
Again, thanks so much..!!
Mark M

8

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Re: Penmanship, Forgiveness and Peace

« on: March 10, 2023, 02:18:44 PM »

A very big, heartfelt thank you, to all Y'all who have posted such kind and supportive comments and replies to my above posting.
It's really nice to find such a level of understanding and support...!!
God bless Y'all...!!
Mark M

9

Technical Support & Feedback / Re: How To Reply to a Specific Posting?

« on: March 10, 2023, 02:11:29 PM »

Thank you, all who replied; Y'all are so very supportive and helpful...!
Mark M

10

Flourishing / Re: More Studies on Flourishing

« on: March 09, 2023, 08:59:12 PM »

Late to the party on such an old thread, but I just have to comment on the stunningly detailed, photographic quality of this piece.
Absolutely gorgeous...!!
Mark M

11

Technical Support & Feedback / How To Reply to a Specific Posting?

« on: March 09, 2023, 08:37:13 PM »

I'm seeing only one "Reply" button per thread, which is located at the top of the thread, but I don't know where in the thread my reply will end up?
How do I go about replying to a specific posting in that thread, without having to quote the posting I'm wanting to reply to?
Other forums I have known,  have a reply button under each posting in a thread, so I'm kind of lost here, lol...
Thanks in advance,
Mark M
Lol....do my questions even make sense?

12

Everyday Handwriting | Penmanship / Penmanship, Forgiveness and Peace

« on: March 09, 2023, 03:15:11 PM »

My hope in posting this story is that others will be uplifted, edified and encouraged.

A few weeks ago my wife and I visited our tax preparer's office, and when it came time to sign documents, the lady produced a pen, the likes of which I had not seen nor touched in 60 years...a fountain pen!  I had totally forgotten about how I used to love to play with the old Scripto fountain pen, which was sold in a blister pack with two or three ink cartridges.
I could play with, but not really write with my beloved fountain pen because at age 10, I didn't know how to write; I was not allowed, in the 3rd grade to participate in penmanship lessons with my classmates, rather, our teacher forced me to keep my head down on my desk while the other kids were learning their abc's, their penmanship and arithmetic.
What block letter forms I did manage to learn was mostly by sneaking peeks at other kids' work when the teacher wasn't looking.
Forget about cursive....to this day I don't know how to form cursive letters,  and reading cursive is pretty difficult.
There's a reason it's called "cursive," when I would attempt cursive, I would curse...!!!
That teacher, "Mrs. G," also made a daily practice of verbally abusing me instead of teaching me, so, I pretty-much kept my head on my desk as a means of self-defense, further missing out on classroom instruction.
Mrs.G  obviously had problems of her own; her personality disorders and my childhood learning disabilities did not get along well at all in the classroom..!
That was 60 years ago, and between then and now, I all but gave up on ever learning to effectively and comfortably use a pen or pencil, and my penmanship has always been very juvenile-looking.
So, back to present time, encountering that fountain pen at the tax preparer's office somehow rekindled a desire to learn to write with pen on paper.
Let the past remain in the past, I'm old enough now to not be troubled anymore by dyslexia , right?
 I ordered the very same fountain pen the tax preparer had shown me,  inked it up and started playing at pen and paper, only to find my arm, hand, fingers and wrist immediately locking up with tension, pain and fatigue,  just as it always had been, all these years.
What, what WHAT is this arm tension, pain and locking up???!!!
I realized it was time to humbly ask God to help me "figure this out," because enough is enough, it's time to learn to use a pen and paper...!
Figure this out?? 
It's not figure-outtable..!
It's been going on for too long, and it's just part of who I am....!

Proverbs 3:5  states: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
 
 After a moment of prayer, whereby I asked God for His help with my penmanship,  He revealed to me that the profound muscular fatigue in my fingers, hand, wrist and arm were the manifestations of anger, rage, self-hatred and unforgiveness. He then straight-up told me:  "If you will forgive Mrs.G, I will unlock your arm so that you may learn write."

So, I forgave Mrs.G after all these years, releasing her (and myself) from all the anger, hatred and unforgiveness I had kept in my heart against her all these years.
Any arm discomfort I have now mostly is the result of bad habits in posture and the resulting muscular overcompensating; the frustration, self-doubt and all negative emotion are gone..!
By the grace of God, I am well on my way to learning to use my fountain pen effectively, comfortably and best of all, legibly...!
Thanks for reading, Y'all, and, praise, honor and glory to the living God..!!

Mark M
Edited to add:
The Lord is continuing to reveal to me the technique errors I've been holding onto all these years, for example, attempting to hold the paper steady with my writing hand.....
Who knew??

13

Tools & Supplies / Re: New Hunt 108 Not Inking

« on: March 08, 2023, 06:01:22 PM »

Thank you, I will try that and report back.
My guess is that no liquid will be able to get in betwixt those very tight tines, so I will try a little heat from a match.
Thanks again..!
Mark M

Edited to add: My first attempt at oil removal, a vinegar bath,  apparently was of no effect....

14

Tools & Supplies / New Hunt 108 Not Inking

« on: March 08, 2023, 02:40:34 PM »

Hello,
I have a brand-new Hunt 108 nib which I purchased as a blister-pack set of four nibs, and prior to using it, I soaked it and its pack-mates in a vinegar solution to dissolve and float away the factory oil coating.
This 108 refuses to transfer any liquid to paper, not ink, not water, not nuthin'....!
I noticed, upon loupe inspection,  there is zero gap between the tines, unless and until pressure is applied to splay the tines (of course.)
My thinking at this time is that my vinegar solution could not find its way between the tines due to the tight zero gap, and therefore the tine inner edges are repelling ink just as though the nib were never prepped.
Is there a nifty trick to prop those tines apart, for oil removal treatment?
Your thoughts will be greatly appreciated..!!
Mark M.

15

Introductions / Re: New Member in Northwest Arkansas

« on: March 08, 2023, 12:23:35 AM »

Karl,

Sometimes methinks I probably am biting off more than I can chew in attempting pointed pen lettering so early in my new venture, so what you wrote about sticking with a fountain pen for a period of time, well, that resonates and makes sense to me.
I'm thinking about making a few more focused attempts at pointed pen work, using the tips I've seen already on these forum pages, prior to posting any more questions about pointed pen.
Your suggestion about the everyday handwriting sub-forum also makes sense.
Thanks again, Karl, for your kind and helpful responses, You Da Man...!
Mark M.