My sweet nephew called me the other day.  I have many sweet nephews but this one edged others out, at least for a little while.  He called to say thanks for the Rocket Pen I gave him for Christmas.  He told me that at Christmas he and his cousins all thought their pens were neat when they read about how they’d write upside down or in water,  but it was after he went back to school that he really appreciated it. 

“First,” he said, “I never really thought about it when my pen wouldn’t work, I’d just grabbed another one or borrowed someone else’s.  Now that I have one I can count on …. I just never knew what I was missing!  Second, we have had so much fun in the dorm testing the Fisher Space Pen claims.  My pens has stood up to every test and now I have to guard it with my life because everyone wants one.” 

Well, I had to fess up.  “Aaron, your pen only cost me $3.40.”  I thought he’d give me a hard time about it - but he was thrilled …. “Graduation gifts that I can afford!!!”

Last weekend I was the designated driver for some friends.  I didn’t mind at all - drunk people are funny, and I certainly didn’t want anyone driving when they shouldn’t.  I will admit that I was ready to hear last call and I was grateful to be on the road with my van load of loud, happy, singing women, when someone announced that she was hungry.  After some intense deliberation we were on our way to Taco John’s.  There is nothing quite as fun as seven hungry, drunk women trying to coordinate their orders.  As they tried to recite their combined order, the volume in my vehicle took me just about to my limit.  I calmly … okay loudly … instructed she who resided in the shotgun position to reach into my glove compartment and get out the notepad.  She pulled out my Nite Note and was coherant enough to unseat the pen from its holder.  When the light came on the ladies all erupted in wonder and awe.  All of my fatigue and ire was replace by amusement as I answered their rapid-fire questions about this amazing invention.

Yes, it only lights up when the pens is removed.  Yes, that means the light won’t burn out.  Two AA batteries.  Yes, it’s one of those pens I’m always talking about.  Yes, thank you - I am kind of brilliant.  Yes, it is a great gift idea. Yes, you can all write your birthdays down so I have them.

Drunk people are funny.

The other day my friend asked me to justify my strong affinity for Fisher Space Pens.  “There are a lot more important things to give your energy to!”  I think she was just grumpy that day.  Nothing is more annoying to a grumpy person than an overly cheerful friend - so though I was oh so tempted to needle her with a little extra pep and sugar, I toned myself down and gently addressed her admonishment.  It went something like this …

First of all, I know there are a lot more important things going on in this world. I do watch the news, but I do not let those things that I cannot control consume me.  Just like we all liked seeing that dog rescued from the floods, we all like to have our hobbies and things to get excited about, even when others don’t get it … and even while bad things are happening in the world.

So why these pens?  I suppose it starts with the fact that I like a good story, and the way these pens came into being is a very good story.  It’s heartwarming to know how Paul C. Fisher invented the pens and then offered them to NASA for a fraction of the cost of the mechanical pencils they had previously ordered.  Beyond their all-American history is there quality and style.  They work like they should and they look good doing it.  No, they are not the cure for cancer, they are just a fun and functional product that I happen to like.

I then turned my attention to her collection of blue and white figurines and asked her to justify her strong affinity to the pricey little dust collectors.  She got the point … but yowza … she did not like her statues called dust collectors!

I love Saturdays.  I have this nice little routine where I get up early, savor my coffee, map out my week on paper, and pay my bills.  It may sound strange, but I have quite the ritual.  I curl up in my chair next to the filing cabinet upon which sits my coffee pot.  I pull out my notebook and my Handmade Cigar Pen with the Fisher Refill and begin plotting the upcoming week - goals, chores, appointments etc ….  After that, I pull out my bills and my checkbook and take care of all of that fun business.  Once I am done, I am caffeinated yet relaxed and am ready to jump in to the rest of the weekend.

Any creature of habit can understand how satisfying my Saturday mornings are and how important each element of that morning is.  I must be in my chair, I must have my coffee, I must have my Wonder Woman notebook, and I must have my pen.  We can control so little in life … I bask in the control I have over that little pocket of sanity I get before life unleashes again.

Now that I am peddling expensive coffee once a week, I find myself craving the fancy stuff and coming up with excuses to be in the neighborhood and stop in for a cup.  Yesterday afternoon, I stopped in for a quick Americano and who came in right after me but John.  We made some small talk and then I introduced him to Kate.  He and I laughed as we both shared our versions of our fateful … whatever you want to call it … Fisher Pen Romance? (His side of the story was very funny)

Suddenly I noticed two things.  One, John and I were as comfortable with each other as two old friends. Two, he and Kate had become quite unaware of my existence.  Since she is a new fan of Space Pens, they had plenty to talk about … they also seemed to have an abundance of chemistry.  As I slipped out completely unnoticed, I heard John say, “Maybe we could have dinner and I could show you my Mars Pen.”  If I didn’t know he was sincere I would have called that the cheesiest line ever!

I can’t wait to ask her how it went … which gives me another great excuse to go have a fancy cup of coffee.  Life is just so good!

I worked by myself at the coffee shop for the first time yesterday.  I was pretty scary but all of the customers were very nice and patient as I am still very slow. People love to just hang out and chat while enjoying their coffee.

There were two main topics of interest.  First, my attire … I had to explain that no, I am not a Cowboys fan, I lost a bet and must wear this T-shirt every Monday until the Super Bowl.  Second, my pen … Thanks, yes it is a cool pen, isn’t it.  It’s called a Bullet Pen and it’s made by Fisher Space Pens.  Have you heard of them?  Well … the cartridge inside this pen is the very same one that is used by astronauts in space ….  I think I might have given them more information than they were looking for since I do get rather carried away when I find a fresh audience, but their eyes didn’t glaze over so I think they were really interested in the whole story.  I even had a couple of customers test the claim that it can write upside down! By the end of the day I had made quite a few new friends.

I think I am going to like Mondays, Cowboys T-shirt and all!

One of my brothers is helping me with a household project.  He was at my house getting some measurements the other day and made a comment about the nice pen I gave my nephew for Christmas.  Now, Mike is almost never serious, so I should have known he was leading me into something as he was asking me about how I came to decided to single Sean out and give him an engraved Fisher Pen.  I explained my thought process about him heading back to Iraq and how he is serving our country and putting himself in harm’s way etc …. and that’s what my dear brother was waiting for.

“Yeah, it’s not like I put myself in harm’s way, EVER.  I am just a lowly fireman.  Walking into burning buildings to save people … it’s not all that dangerous.”  I laughed as he went on and on and on.   When he was done, I said, “I get it Mike, you are also a hero who deserves a pen, and I think you should go buy yourself one!  You’ve earned it!”

I love joking around with my brother and I know that he knows he effectively guilted me and will receive an engraved pen on his next birthday.  As to what I will have engraved on it … I thankfully have a few months to ponder that.

Some friends of mine own a coffee shop and recently found themselves in desperate need of help as they were short-handed.  Knowing my affinity for coffee, they asked if I could come in and assist one day a week of awhile and then be a person they could call it they were in a jam.   Hmmmm….be around people and serve coffee all day …. what could be more fun?!?! 

I must admit, as strictly a strong, black coffee drinker, peddling fancy coffee is a bit intimidating.  Until yesterday, high end coffee to me was Folger’s flavored grounds.  One shift in that little shop has started me on my journey to coffee snobhood, because when it was time for my second pot this morning, I wanted to head out and pay a bunch of money for some sweet, smooth, cappuccino goodness.

My trainer was a very sweet girl named Kate.  As we worked and talked, of course the conversation drifted to my other love, Fisher Space Pens, and I pulled out my Bullet Pen, which I amazingly still have not lost.  Kate is one of those people whom I could tell, gets the value of a good pen and she was very much intrigued.  That was even before I told her about the Handmade Coffee Bean with Cream Pen!  After I told her about that one, she asked for the website where she could find it.  I was happy to send her to Cyber Space Pens, and I expect I will be seeing her smelling her new pen in the very near future. 

This was a good Christmas.  All the gifts I gave were very well-received, from the Dallas Cowboy’s Snuggie I gave my best guy friend, to the ABBA Gold CD that I made for the guys in the gym to work out to (so motivating).  The smile and look of surprise always makes all of the rush and agony of the days leading to Christmas well worth it.

I knew the Fisher Space Pens I gave would be a hit but I didn’t expect too much comment since they primarily went to my young twenty-something nephews.  I was not in the room to hear the conversation, but my daughter just filled me in yesterday.  She said they went on and on to the point that it almost sounded phony.  My soldier nephew was the only one who received an engraved Military Cap-O-Matic and he was talking about how no one will be able to lift his pen since his name is clearly on it.  Then the conversation drifted to how awesome it is to have that pen you love and how much it stinks when you lose it.

I think I made my daughter recap the whole conversation at least three times … I wanted to make sure she didn’t leave anything out!  It feels good to know shopped well this year.

I had my dinner with John.  We met, as the post-it directed, at the original restaurant.  He was there before me, probably because he didn’t have to try on and rule out eighteen different outfits.  I was so nervous - but I don’t think he could tell.

We started with a little small talk and then I just asked him point blank, “You seriously never opened my notebook?”  He responded, “Seriously.”  He explained that he watched me writing in it and could tell it was some sort of journal.  He compared reading my thoughts to peeking at Christmas presents … it would take away some of the excitement and mystery.  Normally, I am the type of girl who would laugh at that and tease the guy for being “Smooooth,”  but I could tell he was serious and I didn’t want to offend him.

We talked and ate and talked some more.  We shared which Fisher Pens we were giving as Christmas gifts.  He gave several Chrome Bullet with Silver Mag-Lite Flashlight sets to clients this year, a very practical yet classy gift.  I was impressed.

Finally, the restaurant was closing and it was time to part ways.  He walked me to my car, opened my door for me, shook my hand and said good-night.  As I watched him walk away I knew he was thinking the same thing that I was, it was a very nice night but nothing more.