Mon Bon Voyage

1937 Parker Vacumatic Standard

Parker Vacumatic Standard

1st Generation

2nd Quarter, 1937

Burgundy Pearl Celluloid

Striped Section

Striped Jewels

Triple Cap Bands

Lock-Down Filler

Two-Tone Medium Nib

I purchased this near-mint Vacumatic at the 2009 Los Angeles Pen Show from Dr. David Isaacson of Vacumania.

The pen is so stunningly beautiful that I simply stared at it for a week before I could bring myself to ink and use it. It’s a very smooth writer and in all likelihood will be the nicest Vacumatic I’ll ever own.

If I had to find fault, I’d say that the nib is a bit too medium for my tastes. I’ll send the pen to dannzeman for grinding just as soon as I can bear to part with it.

Have you shopped for toothpaste lately? Just how many different brands, varieties, sizes and flavors are needed to satisfy the marketplace? I’d say four, maximum. Certainly not the forty-plus that exist today.

Having too many options hinders the decision making process. There’s even a term for it: Consumer Vertigo

The same vertigo can be experienced when searching for a suitable WordPress theme, but it’s magnified a hundred fold. I admit that there is a greater need for variety in the world of websites than in the realm of toothpastes, but still – at some point we’re faced with so many alternatives that we feel overwhelmed.

If you’re looking for a WordPress theme, here’s my little piece of advice: Pick one. Any one. It doesn’t matter which. As is the case with toothpaste, it is not a life altering or permanent decision. If you ultimately decide that the theme you selected is not to your liking, it’s a very simple matter to change.

Same with the toothpaste. It’s not nearly as important a decision as the sheer number of tubes would lead you to believe. Pick one. Any one. If you like it, stick with it. If not, pick a package of a different color next time around.

Fair Winds!

No voyage is worth the effort if you don’t provide the crew with great provisions. And provisions don’t get any better than dessert!

If this infusion doesn’t convince your crew to follow you to the ends of the earth, it’s time to find a new crew.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 Cup Heavy Cream
• 6 Ounces Bittersweet Chocolate Chips
• 1 Teaspoon Cardamom
• Vanilla Ice Cream

Note that cardamom is not the cheapest spice in the rack. It is, however, the ingredient that transforms this recipe from a decent chocolate drizzle to the potion that will convert its consumers into the champions of whatever cause you care to name.

Throw the chocolate chips in a heat resistant bowl. Sprinkle the cardamom over the chocolate.

Pour the cream into a small pot and heat over medium, stirring from time to time. Let the cream get plenty hot, but don’t let it boil. This should take less than three minutes. When the cream is steamy, pour it over the chocolate chips.

Whisk away until the chocolate is melted and well mixed.

Voilà! You’re done.

Serve the sauce over some top quality vanilla ice cream. You know, the Double French Vanilla Bean, Triple Churned, Quadruple the Cost variety. And just as everyone’s eyes glaze over from Mouth-Happy Induced Delirium – start askin’ fer favors!