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Useful Feline Health Tips

Useful feline health tips

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Useful Feline Health Tips

Posted in Cat

Over the past 15 years, I’ve adopted 7 cats, 4 of which have had health issues. During that time, I’ve learned a lot from our vets. While it’s always best to have at least annual vet visits to catch any potential problems early, I know from first-hand experience that that isn’t always possible. So, I’ve put together this post with some information that can help with some basic issues when a vet visit isn’t possible. For additional, supplementary information, you can take a look at the Veterinary Definitions and Resources page for useful links and information

I want to reiterate that a vet visit is best if you’re able to take your furbaby to the vet. Please don’t take this information as an alternative to a vet. While the information has come from our veterinary office, it was specific to our cats, and every cat is different.

Note, none of the links included below are affiliated links.

Stanford Pen Studio Model Comparison

Stanford pen studio model comparison

Stanford Pen Studio Model Comparison

Posted in Fountain Pens

Today’s post is a bit different for me, but I’ve been planning it since my first Intwana pens arrived in mid-March. Since the size of the Intwana surprised me, I wanted to share a comparison between Stanford Pen Studio‘s (SPS) original painted pen model, the Jabulani, and their new painted pen offering, the Intwana. But, life got in the way, like it does. Better late than never, though, right?

The models

For those completely unfamiliar with SPS’s pen models the two I’m comparing today are the Jabulani and the Intwana. They are the two models SPS offers with hand-painted and/or hand-drawn art on them. Allow me to share SPS’ own words on each model.

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025

Fountain Pen Rainbow 2025

Posted in Fountain Pens

Happy Pride Month! It’s time for another pen rainbow. I made sure to only choose pens that weren’t in last year’s pen rainbow, which was difficult for the black pen. Would you be interested in seeing another post later in the month with the Bi flag colors? I didn’t get to that last year, but I could do it this year.

Proud pen addict button/pin

Like last year, I’ve included plenty of pen pictures, so this is a bit of a pen porn post, too. I kept the brown, black, and white pens, because who doesn’t want more pen pictures?

An Instant Burst of Happiness

An Instant Burst of Happiness

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An Instant Burst of Happiness

Posted in Stationery

Brad Dowdy — AKA The Pen Addict — posed an interesting question in last week’s member newsletter: Do you have any pens, pencils, or other stationery that gives you that instant burst of happiness, or a sneaky grin just for yourself? It was intriguing enough that I want to answer it in a post.

Honestly, this is precisely what I want my entire collection to be, both pens and ink. My goal is to get to a point where any pen I ink up gives me a burst of happiness. Of course, I’m still a ways away from that goal, especially with my inks.

That said, I do have a couple of general things in my collection that give me extra joy.

What breed(s) is Floofenstein?

What breed is Floofenstein?

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What breed(s) is Floofenstein?

Posted in Cat

Floofenstein has such a unique look that I can’t help but want to know what breed(s) he is. So, I set out to research the possibilities. This post compiles what I found. Keep in mind that every cat is unique, and what I’ve found listed online isn’t going to be true for every cat.

Because “Domestic Longhair” isn’t actually a breed, I haven’t included it in my research.

Feature: long-haired chocolate coat

Floofenstein has luxurious fur, getting to about 3″ long at its longest. Depending on the lighting angle, he can look mostly black, dark brown, or a bright orangey chocolate.

Confronted by Privilege

Confronted by privilege

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Confronted by Privilege

Posted in Personal

Last week, I was able to attend the GSA Interagency Accessibility Forum (IAAF) virtually. I learned about it while doing research for an accessibility series I’m putting together for work. This was my first year attending.

Because I found out about it on Section508.gov, I expected it to be a more learning-based event. Instead, it was more like a professional conference.

I did learn a lot, including about some very interesting technology and tools in the works. But, I was also smacked in the face with my own, unacknowledged, privilege.

Ink Battle: Taccia and Colorverse

Ink Battle

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Ink Battle: Taccia and Colorverse

Posted in Ink

This ink battle is between Taccia Light Washed Jeans and Colorverse αCnc. Both inks are in a pens fitted with a Jowo #6 M nib. The paper is Muji loose leaf dot grid A5 paper.

Today’s ink battle is another bout of bottle versus sample. It determined if my sample of αCnC got to stay in use, or get relegated to the “for dupes” baskets. Were I to keep it in use and go through the whole sample, then I’d consider getting a bottle.

I love pale, desaturated blue inks, but they have to be bright/dark enough to read easily, even in F and EF nibs.

Ink Battles Explained

Between myself and Jim buying inks, we own far too many. This means I have some inks that are incredibly similar in color. And, because of that, I need to figure out which inks to keep and which to dispose of. Sometimes, I have samples of two or more similar inks that I'm trying to decide which to buy, or if I should buy one ink when I already own a bottle of a similar one.

Enter ink battles. I put the similar inks into pens with the same nibs (two Jowo #6 M, two TWSBI F, etc.), or I create ink splats and doodles, to test them out to see which I like better. Or, I may find out that they’re sufficiently different to keep.

You can assume I have no problems with any ink that appears in an ink battle. I may find, when using the inks side-by-side, that there are performance differences, but the point of the battle is to choose a favorite ink, a "winner". These choices are often subjective, and you may disagree with me.

An ink battle — unlike ink dupes — is between inks I like. I enjoy using them enough to have them in my "for use" ink collection — as opposed to my repository of inks for testing dupes. If an ink performed poorly or caused problems, I wouldn’t keep it. And, if that were the case, an ink battle would be unnecessary.

Reminder: You can find all of the ink battle posts on the tag page.

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Seahorse

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Seahorse

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Seahorse

Posted in Fountain Pens

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.

Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉

And now it’s time to share the second Intwana pen I ordered, Lisa Strachan‘s Seahorse.

Before I get started, I want to make sure you know that, while the Koi and Seahorse designs are not currently listed on the SPS website, the Chameleon, Dragon, Giraffe, Kitten, Llama, Penguins, and Phoenix designs are all still available.

SPS Intwana Seahorse

Floofenstein: Happy Indoor Boy

Floofenstein: Happy Indoor Boy

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Floofenstein: Happy Indoor Boy

Posted in Cat

Welcome back to Whisker Wednesday! There’s a good chance you’re here because you want to know more about Floofenstein. But, if you’re new, I’m sharing our newest family member’s story from how he joined us until he has fully integrated into the clowder.

April 16

Last time, I left off with Floofenstein back home after his misadventure. Unfortunately for me, it was my “in-office” day, and I couldn’t change it on such short notice. Jim kept me up-to-date, advising me that Floof was stinky — makes sense, as who know what much he got into outside — and that he seemed cranky — possibly due to pain from his injuries.

A Quick Reflection

A Quick Reflection

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A Quick Reflection

Posted in Fountain Pens

Work has been intense lately, leaving me without much brain power to work on my blog in the evenings. I’m hoping that will change soon. But, for now, I give you this quick look back at the pens I’ve owned the longest.

Lamy Safari Dark Lilac

Lamy Safari Dark Lilac

Of the pens still in my possession, the Lamy Safari Dark Lilac — Lamy’s 2016 special edition — is the one I’ve owned the longest.

FIV: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

FIV Feline immunodeficiency virus

FIV: Feline Immunodeficiency Virus

Posted in Cat

As I mentioned in one of my Floofenstein posts, I knew as soon as the vet said she was calling to give us Floofenstein’s bloodwork results that something was wrong. That something was FIV, or feline immunodeficiency virus. Thankfully, our vet put my mind at ease right away by letting me know that cats with FIV commonly live average life spans.

While that alleviated my immediate concern, I still had some questions: does he need any additional vaccinations? Should he have more frequent vet appointments? Do we need to worry about keeping him separate from our other cats? Is there anything special we should know? And, of course, I wanted to know more about FIV. So, with this post, I’m sharing my research with you, and providing my vet’s answers to all of the questions I’ve asked her so far.

Paper Systems and their Uses

Paper Systems and their Uses

Paper Systems and their Uses

Posted in Paper

I’m sure most of you have experienced either being known as, or knowing someone as, the “[insert item here]” person at work. I’m the pen person to many who have worked with me. Some of my closer colleagues have thought of me more as the stationery person.

Because of that, I’ve recently had several conversations with my colleagues about paper systems. Perhaps because the world is so crazy right now, there seems to be a greater desire to “get organized,” to have better control over your own little corner of the world.

Floofenstein: a Gift from Bumbledore

Floofenstein: a Gift from Bumbledore

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Floofenstein: a Gift from Bumbledore

Posted in Cat

Welcome back to Whisker Wednesday! There’s a good chance you’re here because you want to know more about Floofenstein. But, if you’re new here, I’m sharing our newest family member’s story from how he joined us until he has fully integrated into the clowder. This week isn’t a normal entry. Jim and I are convinced Floofenstein is a gift from Bumbledore, and I want to tell you why.

If you’re reading this post, you likely already know that I lost my familiar, Bumbledore, to cancer in January. What I didn’t share in my memorial post was the deathbed promise I made him. On our last day together, I promised to give another cat the same kind of second chance we gave him. That, when my heart was ready, we’d adopt a cat that needed a home, one that was considered “hard to adopt.” At the time, I didn’t think my heart would ever be ready.

Floofenstein: Doubly Ours

Floofenstein: doubly ours

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Floofenstein: Doubly Ours

Posted in Cat

Welcome back to Whisker Wednesday! There’s a good chance you’re here because you want to know more about Floofenstein. But, if you’re new, I’m sharing our newest family member’s story from how he joined us until he has fully integrated into the clowder.

Last week, I left off at April 1st, Floofenstein’s spa day — his first (at least to our knowledge) professional grooming. This post covers two weeks, through his misadventure and return home.

And Now For Something Completely Different

And now for something completely different

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And Now For Something Completely Different

Posted in Fountain Pens

OK, only partially different, but I couldn’t resist.

My new pen collection rotation starts on Sunday, and I’m doing something significantly different than my previous rotations.

In the past, I’ve used a randomizer to go through my entire active collection, inking five pens each week. It’s been a great way to use my pens, but as my collection has grown, I’ve been using each individual pen less and less. I’m down to only twice a year. And sometimes I don’t get to use my pens much, which can mean I ink a pen and only use it to record work tasks for the day.

Floofenstein: A Beautiful Sweetheart

Floofenstein: A beautiful Sweetheart

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Floofenstein: A Beautiful Sweetheart

Posted in Cat

Yes, this post is late. That’s because I messed up and Floofenstein got away from me and ran away on Monday (4/14/25). I’ll share a detailed account soon, but suffice to say that Jim and I were both doing poorly. But, we got a second miracle because Floofers was sitting calmly in the trap yesterday morning, having come home.

His misadventure has, and will, result in multiple setbacks regarding his wound and integration into the household. But, he’s home, and that’s all that truly matters. Now, onto the post.

If you’re new here, I’m sharing our newest family member’s story from how he joined us until he settles in. Last week, I left off at March 25, his second vet exam.

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Chameleon

Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Chameleon

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Pen Porn: Stanford Pen Studio Intwana Chameleon

Posted in Fountain Pens

Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.

Per usual, with a couple of exceptions, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉

You may recall that my wrap-up post of the Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) series featured the crowdfunder they had going at the time. Well, here we are at their promised delivery time and the pens Jim and I ordered have arrived!

I must mention that, while the Koi and Seahorse designs are not currently listed on the SPS website, the Chameleon, Dragon, Giraffe, Kitten, Llama, Penguins, and Phoenix designs are all still available.

Because I knew instantly that I wanted to get Carla Nel‘s Chameleon, I’m starting with it.

Stanford Pen Studio Intwanna Chameleon

Floofenstein: Mom’s Sweet Cuddlebug

Floofenstein: Mom's Sweet Cuddlebug

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Floofenstein: Mom’s Sweet Cuddlebug

Posted in Cat

Welcome back to Whisker Wednesday! There’s a good chance you’re here because you want to know more about Floofenstein. But, if you’re new, I’m sharing our newest family member’s story from how he joined us until he settles in. Last week, I left off at March 18, his first vet exam. This week’s title should tell you what we discovered after that.

I don’t want these posts to read like a diary, as, unlike the early posts for Athena, I’m not tracking an illness. So, going forward, I’ll include the time period I’m covering and provide highlights. I’ll only include dates for big events like vet visits.

Inky Madness – Colorverse

Inky Madness Colorverse

Inky Madness – Colorverse

Posted in Ink

So, I just missed March with this post, but life decided to life, and, well, better late than never, right?

In this sequel to my Diamine Inky Madness post, I’m going through all of the Colorverse inks I own bottles of. To make this bracket a bit more fair than the Diamine bracket, I listed the bottles by number of uses, then looked for inks in the same color family with the closest number of uses possible. That way, as much as possible, I could avoid comparing an ink I love and use a lot to an ink I just got or have used significantly less. I’ve included the number of times I’ve used each ink in a pen in parentheses after the name in round 1.

Disclaimer: To have isolated photos of each bottle I pulled images from: Colorverse, Inky Inspirations, and Papier & Stift.

Floofenstein: Our Gorgeous Boy

Floofenstein: Our Gorgeous Boy

Floofenstein: Our Gorgeous Boy

Posted in Cat

Hi, welcome to Whisker Wednesday! Wednesdays will be dedicated to cat posts for the next few weeks, FYI.

I’ll do my best to keep this fairly brief, and the easiest way for me to do that is to go through what happened each day because it’s been A LOT! If you didn’t read my first post about Floofenstein, I suggest you do so. That post left off once I got him back in the bathroom after he orchestrated a sneaky escape the night he walked into our trap.

Sunday, March 16

The next morning, Floofers hissed at me when I first entered his bathroom. But, after a couple of gentle head pets — with gardening gloves on, just in case — he settled right down. Jim and I worked together — Jim distracting Floofenstein with head pets — to comb the, probably literal, crap out of Floofers’ tail with a flea comb. I also managed to get some of the Douxo S3 SEB mousse on his wound. I didn’t know if it would do any good, but, since the emergency vet had suggested we put it on Athena’s wounds, I didn’t think it would harm him any.