Good day, my brilliant and beautiful Siestas! I am in a SIESTA MOOD! I wish we could go back and forth on here all day long. To God’s great glory and sustaining grace, I am slowly climbing out of a HUGE pile of work and can see some sun shining through a very dense forest. This sanguine is looking for a P-A-R-T-Y but it’s a tad premature and I better not jump the gun. The good news is, I only have one more chapter to write for the book on women and insecurity and, Girlfriend, to tell you my soul has profited from the process is a vast understatement. GOD HAS BEEN IN MY BUSINESS. The only two things that have ever gotten this far under my own skin were Breaking Free and When Godly People Do Ungodly Things.
Anyway, that’s another post for another time. Let me try to get back on theme here. I am writing today to ask you two questions:
1. Does anybody need a Siesta scholarship ticket to the Fargo, North Dakota Living Proof Live this weekend? We have ten tickets we’re dying to give away so, if you want to go but don’t have the money for a ticket, call LPM toll free at 1-888-700-1999 and ask for Susan or Kimberly. They’ll get you fixed up right away! By the way, North Dakota girls, I cannot WAIT to get my hands on you. We could not be happier to come your way.
2. I am going through the five stages of grief over the discontinuance of my world’s FAVORITE INK PEN. I only learned the bad news yesterday so I’m early in the process. I have cherished my slender Fine Point Blue Ink Forays for years and have gone through no less than several hundred of them. I have persevered through numerous plastic quills leaking under the air pressure on planes and have proudly worn their ink all over my hands, forearms, and face. I even glanced at the rear view mirror in my car last week on my way home from work and had a big blue spot of ink on the end of my nose. I jotted Michelle a text (yes, at a stop light and with my seat belt on) and asked her if she just happened to notice the huge navy splotch on the tip of my generous nose and she responded, “No, Ma’am, I have been too busy watching your teeth.” (That is because Kay Arthur told all of us at Deeper Still that, as you get older, your teeth collapse forward – she used that very word “collapse” – and you can get all manner of stuff caught in them. I was so disturbed that I put Michelle on watch like a bird dog on point and still could hardly sleep that night.)
Anyway, how did I get off on all that??? I’m simply trying to tell you that my favorite ink pen – the very pen I’ve been obsessed with for my entire recent ministry life – is vanishing from the face of God’s green earth. Why, I ask you? WHY???? (That’s not really the question though.)
SO, I am on the lookout for a new kind. I want it to write WELL. Slide on the page. Dance on every line. Don’t tease with me here, Siestas. I’m raw. I need to hear from you. Anybody out there in Siestaville discovered your own ultimate ink pen? Start talking.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Michelle just walked into my office with the TOP SIX SIESTA PENS for me to test drive. She researched your responses and went straight to Office Max. I will let you know my selection soon! I’m so nervous. This is big.
ANOTHER IMPORTANT UPDATE: TESTING IN PROGRESS
I am very picky about the pen I use too Beth!! I don't use a ink pen though. My favorite is
Pilot P-500 Extra Fine point, Blue, these are gel roller pens. They are available in Fine and Extra Fine point.
I bought a whole box of these last time at Staples and I love love love them. I hope you can find a replacement soon…I can relate to your grief.
Beth, my favorite pen is a zebra fine point. It comes in blue and black ink. It's my Dad's fav also. A girl has to trust her Daddy!
Good golly griefo-mighty u crack me up !!
I wanna know what the winner is. And I'll buy the same pen. And my writing will look FINE. : )
I am in search for the same thing. When you have a winner, please post it! Just love reading the blog each time I can get to it…always brightens my day and helps me remember, HE is what it's all about!
Please show us a photo of your Foray so that we can try and find them for you.
I use the precise v5 all the time. Its all I've used when journaling for years now. PLUS it looks all fancy when writing notes to people! one pen, multiple ueses. heck yes! glad you're leaning toward that one :O)
Beth! Cannot wait to see you in Fargo tomorrow! Am bringing my mother, daughter and daughter-in-law with me.
Looks like you will be bringing Houston HOT temps with you. 🙂
Deb Wiest
Cathay, ND
Holding my stomach laughing!!
Beth, you posted pictures of your trial run on pens…and girl, for whatever reason that got my giggle box going and I've been giggling ever since! That's serious business for you, huh?! The visual of that process was what set me off.
Thank you for the absolutely unexpected belly laugh today. It was lovely!
Kristi 🙂
Just a nother reason I love you… I share your attachment and reliance on a favorite pen.
If it helps, I use pilots V5 precise extra fine rolling ball pen, and love it because it comes in blue, black, red, green… even pink! Have done all your Bible studies with my precious pens and would be lost without them.
Praying for you about your decision … Jesus did say pray about everything … that includes pens! 🙂
Loved "Live Today" on Wed. God keeps reminding me of Is. 32:1-4. He is teaching me to listen!
I'm so attached to my pen also. I've also been depressed when they stop making one I love. I now use a Pentel Energel Needle Tip. I prefer black but it does come in blue. Hope you find one you like before too long.
Whoever said bogs aren't practical? I DO have a favorite and I'm left handed so it's important it dries quickly, glides across a page and can write as quickly as I try to think! I like the Pilot fine point black. I buy them by the dozens and they rarely fail me.
I have been stalking your blog for a while now…without comments…but this pen question has brought me to life!…test no other pen…Go with the Pilot G2…no questions:)!
Okay, just had to say something about the whole "teeth collapse" thing!! I am 37 and ALREADY have a problem with stuff catching in my teeth. And I smile a lot… all the time…in front of PEOPLE! I have always blamed it on my mother.
She has the same problem; and she's not yet 60! Anyway, my dear husband is already on teeth watch; and I have had to just get over myself and ask friends to check my smile! OH, the Lord keeps us humble. I probably have a big piece of black pepper right smack in the middle of my smile as we speak!! Thanks for making me laugh Beth!! Glory to God in Christ Jesus!
Can't stand the suspense!
I'm getting in on this a little late, but I love pens, too! My favorite that I've found this year is Pentel Energel, Liquid Gel Ink, Metal Tip, 0.7, purple. I love purple ink the best…it stands out and I like that. It has great glide. I also like the new Sharpie pen. I'm doing my current Bible study in the Sharpie pen & enjoying it's writability.
Hey there…
I'm serious – You need to go to a finer tip if you're intrigued by the G-2. They are my favorite pens and that's all I use…
Unless we're going for colorful pens in which case I use the Steadtler Triplus Fineliners. They are AWESOME!
I noticed that you seem to like the glide of the Signo 207 but you said that the line was a little to wide for you. There are different diameters for the tip available which produce thinner or larger lines (depending on your desire). If you want a finer line, you should try the Uniball Signo 207 RT .38 (RT is the type of gel I believe). It's really smooth and produces a thin line. Plus, like all Signo models, it has special ink that soaks into the paper to avoid check washing. It's great for preventing check fraud. You can only find the .38 RT model at the Office Max in my hometime. We have Staples and Office Depot but they don't carry that particular model (WalMart and Target usually don't carry it either). Hope you enjoy it!
Beth, all I want to say is I am so looking forward to the release of your book on women and insecurity.
– Michelle in Maine
I like the RSVP pen made by Pentel. It's a fine point of course! Try it. Hope you like it! Love you! Miss you!
karina
baton rouge,la.
Okay just the fact that you put a picture of you "TESTING" your pens and your little side notes… has me CRACKING UP!! I am laughing so hard right now. Ha,ha,ha…oh that's funny stuff.
If you're still looking… my favorite are "PaperMate" Ball Point in Med. They come in Blue, Orange, Red, Purple & Green, which are my fav. Cheap, but write sooo nicely!!
Groovewoman
Ok, Beth. Which one did you choose?
Do you know that when I was younger I was so obsessed with my handwriting that I would keep throwing away my paper until I "wrote it right". Because of this OCD I would also feel like the kind of pen I used had a direct effect on my handwriting. Nowadays I feel like God has really broke me free from that stronghold (I'm not joking, it really bothered me a lot back then!). Somehow I thought that my handwriting wasn't good enough…maybe because of my insecurity of not feeling good enough? hmmm. You may want to add that to your upcoming book on insecurity 😉
Love you!
Katie Taylor, AL
I think if you put a picture of this pen on your blog you will have more than you possibly ever wanted….
Your siesta's in Austin are on the lookout for these blue pens for you!!!!
Lichelle
Ha! Love this post! Can't wait to try the winner! Let us know!
So cute you surprised Melissa yesterday! What fun! Know you needed that refreshment! : )
I can't begin to tell you how excited I am about your new book! Boy do I need to read it! Am going to do Breaking Free with my girls in November when it comes out… so maybe I'll be able to break free from my insecurities! Whoo Hoo! : )
I was just given a pen for my birthday from my mom and dad. I guess they felt since I write articles/blogs – I must have a nice pen! 🙂 It has black blue and red ink and also a pencil inside. You just twist it. But it's VERY nice. It's from Quad-Point. I have no idea where it came from but it was in a very nice little box. 🙂
I've been enjoying the..
" umi JETSTREAM "
I typoed… I meant…. I've been enjoying the….
" UNI Jetstream "
can be found in blue or black.
No suggestions on the pens, but "WOO-HOO, FARGO!!!" I can't wait till tomorrow. Getting together with some great girlfriends to come. YEAH!
ok my absolute faves are the pilot g2's in 07 point (fine), in of course, pink, purple, blue and green 🙂 LOVE the color in the journals 🙂 and i have too recently tried the pilot precise v5, but if writing in the bible, bleeds thru….soooo i go back to the gels 🙂 hope this helps 🙂 and adds a fun splash of color 🙂
Hey Beth
I tried writing mama siesta but we are the same age I just couldn't do it I tried Forgive me 🙂
OK can you take a picture of your pen so we can see exactly what you are looking for. I want to see what you mean by slender. It may sound weird but being a pen freak myself and it must be fine point or ultra fine point, I can relate.
I found some medium point Foray pens that I would love to send to Beth. That is if medium is an option and workable. I completely understand if not.
I am a pen freak!!!!! I heart uniball and pilot. I am always getting some good pens!
Found them: Foray® Gel Retractable Rollerball Pens, 0.7 mm, Fine Point, Transparent Blue Barrel, Blue Ink, Pack Of 12 at http://www.officedepot.com
You're cracking me up, Beth. I love the fact that you are so normal. I love my pens!! I like the Precise V5 extra fine. It also comes in several colors so when you feel a little bit on the "wild side" you can branch out with purple, green or pink, and don't even get me started with the turquoise. You'll be color coding everything! I love you and thank you for serving our Lord by ministering to us women.
Beth, I am so excited, Myself and 3 of my very best friends are bringing me from Florida to Memphis in October to see you!!!! I have had a very hard year, my son went to Iraq, we lost our house and just about everything else and my dear sweet friends in the bible study group that I have taught for 7 years, decided since we have done so many of yours and since my spirit is so very weak right now that I could use some of your light. I work as a 911 operator and although it is a good job, it is added even more stress to a stressful year that I could not have made it through without God. I can't wait to hear you and I am blessed to have such friends that God has put in my life and a friend like you that constantly reminds me to seek him, even when I cannot feel or see him. Thank you Beth and I truly cannot wait, I need a spirit lift so very badly because sometimes I just get so very tired. Thank you my friend.
Lisa Egan
Oh my… I do the same thing.. does everyone do this?
Hi Beth:
I wanted to weigh in (albeit a bit late)on my favorite two pens. I wanted to be sure that these pens were in the running, if they had not been mentioned previously.
My absolute, ultra-fave pen is the Pentel EnerGel Liquid Gel Ink retractable pen with a Needle Tip of 0.7 mm. In black ink. This pen goes across the paper like a hot knife through butter – very slick. Very easy on the hand.
My runner-up pen is the Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine Point roller ball stick pen with a cap, in blue ink. Nice pen, lightweight, nice blue ink, smooth flowing ink.
I like a roller ball over a ballpoint, because sometimes ballpoint ink can smear on a page, and these two pens don't smear on paper.
Well, that's my contribution. I hope this helps in your quest for the best new pen for Beth.
Love to you and yours,
Carol from Carrollton, TX
I love anything from this company:
http://www.levenger.com/
I am one of those weirdos who loves office supplies of any kind. A new pen that writes as you describe is a great joy, so I feel your pain 🙂
Are you going to tell us what you decide???? I have a pen obsession….would love to know!
Just bought the new Sharpie pen–a three-pack with one black, one blue, and one red (for grading papers, of course). I think I like these–still trying them out! Package says they won't bleed through paper, are smear resistant, permanent on paper (don't know about noses), water resistant, and acid free! You might like 'em!
1. Pilot Easy Touch. The kind with the cap, NOT the kind that clicks. (The engineering on the clicker just doesn't cut it…makes it feel cheap… which it is… but the one with the cap, while also cheap, writes so nicely that you don't ever find yourself thinking "stupid cheap pen.")
2. Runner Up: Pentel RSVP. Also cheap. Good for when your friend has lost or stolen (you know who you are!) your Easy Touch pen even though when they asked to borrow it you told them "here you go, but PLEASE give it back because it's my FAAAAVVVVVORITE pen."
Oh, the woes of finding a pen! My two favorites are both pretty cheap. One can be found at Walmart and the other is at Office Depot. The Walmart pen is the PaperMate Write Bros medium point and the Office Depot pen is the PaperMate ComfortMate. They both come in packs of 10! These are just my favorites right now. I change my mind all the time. I love pen shopping almost as much as I love shoe shopping. Almost. 🙂
Could someone please compile a chart of all the pen recommendations? I'm getting dizzy scrolling up and down…and also have now have a sudden and strong desire for a new pen.
Pentel EnerGel Needle Tip 0.5. The one I have is black 🙁 but I am searching for blue. It's divine.
right now i'm LOVING the:
Pentel, impulse BK96 USA Med
..although i have to admit the first time i used it i was taken a back by the smell of the pen. it smells like Jergen's lotion!!!! but i LOVE the way it writes, and everyone in my office is constantly trying to steal (they say "borrow") them 🙂
Sweet Beth Moore. It's so nice to know someone obsesses over (I mean finds it to be extremely important) the pen one writes with! :o) I have to say my most favorite, favorite, favorite pens are somewhat new. The new Sharpie pen…in blue. It is fabulous. And doesn't leak. At all.
So…I vote for the SHARPIE PEN! :o)
Beth, YOU CRACK ME UP!!! I love how you prefer to write in blue. I, too, think I "write" better with blue ink!
First time commenter–on the pen issue…I feel you. My favorite pen has been discontinued, but a quick internet search reveals lots of sites that still have them and it is refillable. It's called a Sensa pen. Check it out-they have it in ballpoint and in rollerball. As a leftie, I have to use the ballpoint. Maybe if we get a resurgence of interest in the Sensa pen, we can bring it back!!!
OK… Now's when I wish I could post a picture in the comments! Just have to tell you tonight I was writing my latest memory verse(s) in my spiral notecards and the pen wasn't working right and I thought about how irritating these pens I keep using are b/c they work great for a while and then the rollerball stops rolling. Grr! BUT!!! These lovely FORAYS apparently have waterproof ink (PRAISE GOD!) Not long ago my mom was mopping my kitchen (I know, bless her!!!) when she knocked my spiral off the windowsill into the sink full of mop water! The whole thing got soaked BUT thanks to the pen I used throughout almost all of it, only ONE card was smeared. AMAZING!!! : ) It's a bit wrinkled now, but it still does the job!!! I still want some new pens, but think I'll put them through the sink test before I declare them approved for my spiral! I can't stand the idea of losing my verses!!! : )
have you all tried looking on ebay and such websites for discontinued items????