Charlize | Week 9 | Captain of My Heart
Irresistible. Smooth. Charismatic(?). My dearest compatriot, the Pilot G2 0.7mm Premium Gel Roller, is truly the pinnacle of human creation.
BIC pen users could never fathom the feeling of a wonderful, ergonomic grip created for writing the juiciest, darkest lines. The tip glides across the surface of any blank sheet with immaculate ink flow. No matter what the pen connoisseurs say, the Pilot G2 will always be my go-to pen, suffering with me through every single essay and assignment.
But sometimes my Pilot loses control, its path deviating from the one
originally planned.
As the ink in the cartridge dwindles to a point where it's hidden by the pen grip, the once smooth journey from one destination to another is now full of turbulence. A straight line is broken up into choppy lines barely connecting with each other.
If I can’t even write properly with the pen I’m holding, what can I expect to control?
Trying to stop the future from veering off into unknown territory where I can’t take comfort in knowing what happens next is…worrying to say the least. Random events blow my plans entirely astray, then by the time the losses are compensated for, a series of misfortunes may strike me again.
But it’s not like I’m omniscient or anything. Even though having control is reassuring, it's impossible to anticipate every snowstorm or typhoon that might disrupt my flow. Delays are utterly infuriating and navigating through rough turbulence is terrifying, but as long as my destination remains unchanging, I’ll arrive in due time.
It turns out putting a little less pressure on my Pilot was all it took for the lines to stop blobbing up at the ends.
—
Truth to be told, I have been quite disloyal these days—the Uniball Zento currently has a one-way trip to my heart. The Pilot G2 has done me a great service, but perhaps it may be time for me to swap pilots…
Dear Charlize, you have written quite the deep, thoughtful blog, entwining the power you wield to control your life to the topic of this beloved pen of yours. Some things are just out of your jurisdiction; user error with a pen is definitely one of those things.
ReplyDeleteSo rescind what libel you claimed. You should look into BIC pens.
No matter the user, or the power of the pressure someone puts on these pens, BIC never fails. It does not blame its master for the improper weight applied. It simply listens, and answers with an unyieldingly smooth stroke.
Pilot could never dream of being the perfect servant BIC is. If Pilot were the captain of MY heart, my ship would surely combust at the first smudge of ink. Smudging is like total engine failure, a catalytic converter erupting, my paper being reduced to worthless scrap. Pilot is notorious for its facade of sleekness hiding the awful smudges, ink pooling, and crappy plastic build. I can't just let this post slide. It is immoral to praise the use of a pen of "immaculate flow." This statement is the most falsest of false claims. BIC users can indeed fathom beautiful, reliable lines because unlike Pilot dogs, I can just begin writing at a moments notice while your pen will simply start spewing ink like a geyser, and you won't even be able to use it to write up a flash flood warning. It's useless.
I do admit BIC does not offer as much ergonomics due to its thin build---but that's what makes it portable, lightweight, durable, and far superior to all the shattered Pilot pens that couldn't handle simply touching the air at school. Thank goodness you also acknowledge some truth at the end of this unsightly blog, because Uniball---while you should be using BIC---is a far more acceptable pen choice. Do swap. You have been blinded by Pilot in its so-called "great service." It is incomprehensible to me that you included your own picture of a hideous example of quintuple smudges, ink skipping, and inconsistent line weight, YET you still dedicate a piece of writing to the beast. I am troubled for you. Do not call a gargantuan failure of modern stationary the charismatic zenith of man-made products. Get well soon.
- From your best adviser, Emily
ReplyDeleteHi, Charlize! This is such a fun and creative blog. Over winter break, while in Australia, my family and I went to a bookstore. I was so surprised to see this massive collection of pens that were literally in individual jail cells. I know the U.S. also has some stores that lock up their pens, but this was next level. While I understand that those pens are expensive and easy to steal, it was chuckling a little at the extravagance being used to protect pens. However, as soon as I saw the prices, my smile turned to shock. The said pens were hundreds of dollars each. I truly couldn’t understand it. While I’m no pen connoisseur, I would argue spending hundreds of dollars on a pen is a bit unnecessary. Regardless, I doubt buying a more expensive pen will suddenly give you the control you wrote about. (Really quick side note: I loved “It turns out putting a little less pressure on my Pilot was all it took for the lines to stop blobbing up at the ends.” I’m pretty sure this was your intention, but I think that line applies to everyday life). Though I’m sure you have your pen situation under control, I would recommend oil based ball point pens instead of water based ones. From my experience, they don’t smudge at all. Though you complain about not having control, I actually was just about to compliment you for your attention to detail and (lol) control. I don’t think I’ve ever paid attention to what pen I use, or how it works. In fact, I have lost many pens in my life. I wanted to recommend to you my current one, but for the life of me, I couldn’t remember the brand (btw it’s the BIC 4-Color Original Retractable Ballpoint Pen). However, after searching up the Pilot G2 0.7mm, I realize your pen knocks mine way out of the water. I admire your awareness.
Charlize, as someone whose pencil case is filled with the Pilot G2 0.7 rainbow, I’m glad that there is someone who shares my love for this wonderful pen. Fun fact: the Pilot G2 is actually a favorite for many presidents and presidential assistants! I find the navy blue Pilot to be my personal favorite because it is smoother than the other colors. It’s funny though, because blue is usually seen as the color of serenity and I seem to have written some of my best work with that pen in my hand.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the hidden message of going with the flow (see what I did there?), as I am somewhat of an anxious control freak. I resonated with your dilemma of control, as I was always scolded for my messy handwriting. I remember being told by one of my tutors that I had no chance of getting into a good college if I continued to write like a toddler at the ripe age of ten. I admit my handwriting isn’t the best (my own friends tend to make fun of me for it), but when I stopped trying to write perfectly, it got better.
I think the environment that we have all grown up in forces us to be pressure-applying perfectionists from a young age. Talking to people who haven’t grown up in the Bay, they are terrified of hearing my school stories when I’m just describing my average Tuesday. We tend to freak out over the tiniest things when the solution is almost always applying just a little less pressure on ourselves to prevent us from turning into blobs.