Progress Report - November 2024

[@kathycullenstern9652]

Always good to see your progress report. Yes it is important that no matter how busy we are with important tasks it is a key to our sanity to take time for our hobbies every day. Good luck getting ready for the holidays. You are a treasure.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Kathy! Thank you - have a wonderful holiday season!!!

[@lenorebreen3394]

Hi Chris: You are the best! I laughed out loud with your redaction on November 6😂

[@ChrisSaenz13]

LOL :)

[@jacobus57]

I LOVE my Blink cameras. I got them because I had an obnoxious neighbor who vandalized my Christmas lights last year, but they delight me with all the wildlife activity at night. Battery life is good and the resolution is excellent. Just make sure you have extra lithium batteries on hand, and that they are located where they are not obvious of easily accessible.

[@raybuck]

Agreat report Chris. Lovely inks and interesting pens. I like your new gifted pen. I really enjoy your chats.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @raybuck thank you. Wow I see I am so far behind on comments it's 12 days behind now. :)

[@sushanart]

"Corail de Tropiques" by J. Herbin. 😇🧡🙏🙌

[@llindly81]

Yes, I came to comments for this. It’s a lovely ink that I used my all of my small bottle I bought to try it out. It’s such a lovely color and legible for me.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Thank you @sushanart -- that's the one I could NOT think of it!!!!

[@jadareyes6553]

always a pleasure to see a video from you! be well ❤️

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @jadareyes6553 :)

[@machaontarot5514]

Oh Chris! You made me laugh 😂 I thought it was a long time since I got a letter 😊 No worries. I look forward to reading it.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Ugh it was such a ridiculous mistake! It's like someone must have spoken to me or the phone rang ... or the cat jumped on the table. I really ought to have done a last minute address double check!!! :) Hopefully the re-send will come right thru!

[@karenholden4740]

Yet another great video thanks Chris.

[@michaelstephan5272]

Thanks Chris! Great video, and great ink/pen combinations!!!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Mike - thank you!!! :)

[@lju5001]

Beautiful color lineup this month! So interesting to see all the hues of the purples. I don’t have any purple inks but just bought a green Wearingeul ink for the first time. Haven’t used it yet. I’ve been stuck on what type of security to get also. A lot of my friends have Ring and they like it.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @lju5001 thank you for the camera recommendation ... I've been looking at a few by "Ring". There are so many it's like trying to choose a shampoo lol.

[@SealsAndFoils]

I was gifted my first fountain pen today. I feel so fancy using it!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @SealsAndFoils -- awesome! What fountain pen did you get?

[@SealsAndFoils]

@ cheericome? It’s gold colored

[@jacobus57]

Sapolsky's books look fascinating! Thank you for bringing him to our attention.

[@ericneal8582]

Thank you for the video! Can't wait to see if the Hongdian inks make it into your December report!

[@smin8239]

I love Robin McKinley. Sunshine and Chalice are my two favourites... not to everyone's taste, but look them up and see if you're interested! Thanks again for another wonderful video!❤

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @smin8239 thank you for the additional Robin McKinley book recommendations ... I sure am enjoying The Blue Sword.

[@anneh3185]

Hello Chris, thank you for your update. As you know ,Conway Stewart is a British company and they use Diamine ink ( also British) and so here your inks are Sapphire Blue, Imperial Purple and Blue/Black.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Anne - oh how interesting. Does this mean they are the same just with different ink names? I really need to do some deeper research! :)

[@anneh3185]

@@ChrisSaenz13 Hello Chris, I am not sure 🤔 . I think if you emailed Conway Stewart they would be able to tell you. The colours look very similar. It might be that they are called different names in the UK and USA?

[@christadicken296]

I appreciate your videos so much! You are one of my favorite "pentubers"! In pen news, I swapped the Schmidt nib from my Admok to my Benu, and it's absolutely fantastic! I'm more convinced than ever that my Benu's nib is defective. I'm thinking about ordering another Admok with a Schmidt nib, too. That might sound a bit crazy, but I like the gold-colored nib better with my Benu, so I have a few reasons for going about it in such a convoluted way.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi @christadicken296 -- oh wow I understand about convoluted nib swapping and acquiring believe me lol. :) I hope you end up with exactly the nibs you want on each pen!!!!! :)

[@pattiallen3757]

When sending important documents, pay a few $ to get a delivered receipt from the USPS. So stressful dealing with gov’t insurance. I am new to your channel, and new to fountain pens, but I have fallen down the rabbit hole! I appreciate your thorough process on testing inks and pens. Side note: your skin is amazing, what is your secret? Love the book extras.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I used to do that too with our income taxes back when those were mailed. This paperwork mill this year I never could have afforded the certified mail $ each time but I will be calling to check on the receipt. LOL I don't do much to my skin just a face wash by Aveeno "positively radient" and CeraVe Daily moisturizer which I'm not sure is only for face ? I'm not too sure ... just that what I used to use is too expensive now. I drink a ton of water and use no makeup ... it may just be lighting or unclear camera LOL. :) But thank you.

[@barbarawhipple2016]

Herbin Corail des Tropiques , the color you’re looking for is at Dromgoole’s!

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Thank you Barbara! I recognized the name of the ink instantly as soon as I read your comment! :) Thank you!

[@karenholden4740]

You should use shop towels it comes a better job. This is from H. Jones he really has such great information.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Karen -- lol -- I got some and my husband stole them ... I need to go forage in the garage for them I guess. :) I remember that HJ recommended them!

[@LifeinLancashire]

I've read 'Deerskin' by Robin McKinley, a good read, but the subject matter won't appeal to everyone. I've also got her book 'Pegasus', but haven't read that one yet. There are so many different security cameras on the market these days, gets a bit overwhelming looking at them all. I have a camera that points onto my shed, so that I have proof if anyone tries to break in, and a door alarm on it. The camera is ok, but has it's niggling small faults. Mind you, these days, all the police do is give you a crime number for insurance purposes. I think that the police doing nothing (unless it's a major robbery) is one of the reasons why the theft rate has increased here in the UK. Have a great weekend.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Hi Annie -- yes part of me thinks "why get cameras" once the crime has happened the damage or theft is done. But I guess if they don't wear masks??? Ugh. Door alarm that sounds more useful ... I'm a VERY light sleeper. :)

[@jacobus57]

Vermont, like most states, has on-line certification. This is a better method because it will generate verification for you, and you do not risk exposing sensitive personal data to being stolen through our increasingly unreliable USPS. It can also be done over the phone.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

Yes it was very weird this time because the paperwork didn't include the online options at all like it has in the past. I should have called the number on the paperwork ... !!! Last time I was able to do it online but the barcodes on the application this time and the lack of option insert papers really freaked me out. Address was correct from last time. I have used their upload tool in the past and gotten 80 pages of stuff to them. It's really odd how this one came thru ... I'm sure it's not "the end" of the project unfortunately. :)

[@jacobus57]

I am guessing the Jinhao feed is not capable of keeping up with the needs of a calligraphy nib. At the end of the day it's just an inexpensive Chinese pen.

[@ChrisSaenz13]

I think you're right ... it's a very small feed and Lamy style too ... I think probably the Schmidt feed on the #5's would even do better. As long as I don't try an shimmer ink in that Calligraphy nib that would really be a no go! :)