The Ephemeral Notebook

Today’s notebook, pen, and ink combination is my ephemeral journal. Typical branded swag, the kind I toss into a drawer and forget about. Turns out to be perfect as a non-archival, ephemeral, brain dump companion.

The backside of a JournalBooks A5 notebook

The paper is uncoated, intended for basic ballpoint pens, and number two pencils, and quickly absorbent. This journal is comparable to the mid-range quality and color of a Moleskine Cashier’s Notebook but has heavier paper. I limit using it with extra-fine nib fountain pens; wetter inks and broader nibs always bleed through. The softcover is rugged and its sheets lay mostly flat when open; the book is comfortable for long writing sessions and my forearm can glide across the page without fear of smudging. The ruled pages are too dark for my taste, they tend dominate a page of written text.

My Skyline Kaweco Sport and it’s extra fine nib is a perfect combination, particularly with a Noodler’s ink as they tend to tolerate absorbent non fountain pen friendly paper. However, today I’m still writing with Pilot Namiki Blue-Black and it performed well with a dry time of less than five seconds and no bleeding through to the other side of the page.

I enjoy abusing this landfill fodder and will abandon it when finished.

Today’s notebooks and pen

Nolty diary paper made of limestone is my current Bullet Journal and a Laconic Gantt Chart for project planning month by month. Both are A5 in an inexpensive leather folio no longer available from ELIZO on Amazon.

Pen and ink: Grey Kaweco Skyline Sport, extra fine nib using Pilot Namiki Blue-Black via the tiny converter.

Kaweco Skyline Sport fountain pen
My well used Kaweco Skyline Sport. I often pocket this pen depending on the ink and if its likely to drip into the cap when agitated. Noodler’s Black performs well in the pocket and Pilot inks tend to easily drip out making for a messy experience.

FN-2187 inspired

Anyone have a favorite pop culture inspired pen and ink combination?

  • Lamy Safari: white with a black clip and nib
  • Diamine Oxblood
  • Kokuyo’s Campus Soft Ring Notebook

FN-2187's bloody helmet from Star Wars The Force Awakens
FN-2187’s bloody helmet from Star Wars The Force Awakens