Old School Versus High Tech

There's a lot in the news today about how we are the "microwave generation" where we want everything done yesterday. Disappearing is the lost art of the handwritten letter with the advent of e-mail, texting, etc. In fact I think I read it started with the telegraph.

Also recently in the news here in Hawaii, public schools will drop teaching cursive handwriting. This is happening all over the US. My sons go to private school, the oldest learned italics last year in the second grade and the teacher said he'll learn cursive this year in the third grade. Anyway most of the news articles about cursive mention that it helps with a lot more than nice writing, but also with motor skills and other brain development subjects though I myself am not smart enough to know what that stuff is.

Sad is the closing of Borders Books because everyone is using e-readers. The post office is on the brink of being shut down because of cyber communication. Hard to find music CDs anymore because of downloads and MP3s. I don't even want to think about vinyl.

I myself may have "wronged" my sons by providing them with iPads, DS, Wii, use of the computer.

I recently started a morning devotional, something I've been wanting to do for some time now. I'm "old school" and really wanted to use a print Bible, no fancy high tech Bible gizmos for me. But recently I've acquired an iPad which made surfing the internet more convenient. I also found a Bible study site with fantastic tools. Instead of a print Bible where you have only one translation or version (unless you have a huge cross reference Bible), you now have a whole list of them, just click and you change from King James, to American Standard to New Living, etc and a lot I've never heard of. Also there are a host of other tools like commentaries, cross references, footnotes and probably a lot I have not looked at yet.

Part of my devotions include journaling, something I've been trying to do unsuccessfully for many years. In fact I wrote a fairly recent post about a new journal I bought which remains rather empty. But since I've started writing in it, I now see the value of writing in cursive. When I write it's the words flow on to the page from my Mont Blanc 149. You can see the ink flow and blend into the words that seem to just flow from from my soul onto the page. My handwriting had been "on the edge" recently because I haven't been writing as much as I'd like to, but my hand seems to become steadier the more I write.

So why not take the best of both worlds? Blend high tech with old school? Letter writing and e-mails both have their place as does Twitter, Facebook , Crane Paper and Hallmark.



Recently we went to an open house for our youngest son's first grade class. It was a combined function for kindergarten and first grade. I was so surprised when the principle for K-1 talked about what they're looking at for the students. They're looking at what they will need for college and beyond. He said the "big thing" now seems to be neurology...again over my head. But he had a list of books he recommended parents read. I didn't bother to write them down because I'm not a reader, but there was one that stood out, "Now You See It". I think there's something in this book that ties into what I am writing here on the post. Thus far I've only downloaded the sample in iBooks but plan to read the entire book. But...

Sigh...

Here we go again. Electronic book or print? We'll see. But when I'm writing...

I prefer cursive!

What kind of letter would you like to receive?

I want to start writing and sending out a lot of handwritten notes, cards and letters, but I have a minor and a bit silly dilemma. It seems I have this reputation for having nice handwriting, and I feel that those who know me almost expect to see correspondence from me written in a nice script. But this gets tough, let me explain.

I've been learning Zanerian's Engrosser's Script for some time now. It is done with a oblique holder and a dip nib. It is a very slow process and would take a very long time to write a lengthy letter this way. Also since I'm concentrating on forming letters I lose track of the composition of my letter. This is lettering (more like drawing letters) and not my handwriting. But learning this craft has influenced my handwriting, and given time it can be pretty decent regardless of what my writing instrument is. But again it takes a bit of concentration trying to write nicely.

But what I would like to do is write without worrying about how my letter or note look aesthetically and focus more on what I want to say. In my opinion any handwritten note or letter looks nice regardless of the sender's handwriting or what kind of writing instrument they use. I still prefer to use a fountain pen and good stationary.

I'm taking a poll, what kind of note or letter would you like to receive?

Nice fancy script?



Or not so fancy but still cursive but with meaning?



Thank you!

The Handwritten Letter

Today I was so excited to get a handwritten letter in the mail. Among the bills and credit card applications, there was nice handwritten blue envelope with a Washington State return address. I thought wow, I think I know a few people in WA! I wonder who it's from?




I opened the envelope, it's a greeting card! I wonder that they wrote?



What the? It was a sales promo from AT&T Wireless. It appears they use a font that looks like someone's handwriting.



Disappointing but this was a reminder for myself how people (or some people) enjoy receiving a handwritten letter or correspondence which I am passionate about. I've been seeing a lot of tweets and Facebook posts about how people are trying to bring back handwritten correspondence via the United States Postal Service aka snail mail.

This article by the Wall Street Journal showed up in a Tweet and I absolutely love it!

There is a place for e-mail. I'm an avid Twitter and sometimes Facebook user. There is value in these for myself which includes meeting new friends I would otherwise have not known. Learning about new eating places which seems to be rather important here in Hawaii. But more importantly for me it's a source of inspiration and motivation for my creative side which includes letter writing.

I've been struggling for a number of years with my creative side. I think I'm near the end of my slump but I'm not quite there yet. That said I need to get off of this computer and hopefully work on another post or maybe actually...write a letter!

PS

If you do send a store bought card, please write a personal handwritten note in it and make it personal! Don't just let Hallmark say it for you.

Post PS

I should have known it was not a real letter, there was no wax seal on the flap! Doesn't everyone use wax seals?

On a Bicycle Ride With God

I've procrastinated about this post for a few weeks. This is not a subject I would normally post about and was worried about how some would take it. It's a bit spiritual and a bit of "smell the roses" kinda thing. Some may think, hmm is Rodney smoking some of them Hawai`ian herbs or something? No I am not, but it is my blog and I can post what I want...right?

Often I go on my bicycle rides solo. It's nice to ride with a partner, but solo rides help me to reflect on things, sort of meditaion on a road bike. Lately it seems that God has been speaking to me on my rides. A few weeks ago I felt this strongly!

He said to enjoy the beautiful weather that He has created. Enjoy wind flowing around me, and not just the air rushing through the enormous vents on my expensive Specialized S-Works helmet. Look at all the natural beauty around me. After all I do live in a place some call a "paradise". I often wish we had a nice wide winding country side road with little traffic, but most of the route on my rides are on a bike path on a busy highway in East Honolulu named Kalaniana`ole Hwy. If you're on the mainland and can't pronounce it, no worries, it's Highway 72! Lot's of cars, no real scenery except an occasional bridge crossing a stream or two and a couple ocean views.

But there is enjoyable scenery around on my route, I just have to "look with my heart"!

This is one view I see in the Portlock area and always look at it in awe! There's something about heading toward Koko Crater that "plays" with my mind at times. I often ride around to the other side of that crater.



This is as close to that winding country road I wish for. But it's only for a short distance.



Nice palm tree lined road among the mansions on Kahala Avenue.



Well on this ride God really opened my eyes and heart to His beauty so I stopped and smelled the roses...well I unclipped from my pedals and took pictures.

The clouds that day!



The shoreline at one of the Diamond Head Lookouts.



Ok enough with the tourist stuff!

So what did God say to me that day? Sometimes when I hit rough spots on the road, I tighten my body up almost expecting to crash, but that's not a good thing on a bicycle. Just a few days prior, I watched a video interview with a pro cyclist racing in the Tour de Suisse. He talked about descending through a tunnel at 95kmh on rain slicked roads. What stood out to me was he said that you cannot tighten up, or you will crash. Not exact words and I can't find that video, but the point stood out! So I need to loosen up or let go.

Same thing in life, loosen up and let God do it!

Why am I writing this in my blog that is usually about pens, ink, paper and writing?

Well I should be writing these thoughts and experiences in my journals! But I've been too busy...sigh.

However when I opened up my journal, I found this entry written a few months ago...

Let go, let God!



So did God really speak to me on my ride?

As the Deer

I did small calligraphy project for a friend's birthday. I asked her what her favorite Scripture was and she wasn't sure. As I was running and meditating, the Song As the Deer written by Marty Nystrom kept "playing" in my head. So that was it, just the first 2 lines.

It is based on Psalm 42:1 in the Bible. I looked up the Scripture and found many translations. Who speaks like those people in the King James versioneth? But when written nicely on a nice sheet of paper, all of a sudden those "eths" "thuses" and "thees" start to look better than if written in the modern translations.

But in the King James, it is written "As the hart"...what's a hart? So I stuck to Marty's choice of words since it seemed more poetic.

I wasn't happy with the finished project, I never am. I look at how uneven my letters are. Sometimes there's a smudge. I form the letters incorrect. But if I keep trying to write a perfect piece I'll never ever finish anything. However if step back and take a look at the overall finished project. Not too shabby!

Besides that's the beauty of the human touch, the imperfections! Not perfect like a computer generated font filled inkjet printed word checked piece of "art" if you can call it that. I hope she likes it.

Happy Birthday Kim!

Just a Note to Say

I'm quite passionate about handwritten correspondence. I carry a fountain pen and some blank folding note cards from Papryus with me almost all the time. The plan was to write spontaneous handwritten notes when I'm out and about. Just to say thank you, or have a nice day. Nothing long-winded. I want to encourage people.

Never did!

Something bothers me and I know it's silly, I feel "funny" just thinking about it. How would it be accepted? Would a guy feel weird? Would a wahine think I'm trying to hit on her? I bet some people are not as enthusiastic about pens, paper and handwriting like I am.

No fancy script. No flexible nib though I'll use a fountain pen with character. I'll use fun ink colors.

What do you think?

Do I think too much?

Well this is...



Have a great day!

Old Man Winter

I can't believe I bought this bottle of Namiki Iroshizoku Fuyu-syogun last year and have only just now opened it.



Namiki also calls it "Old Man Winter". Now it's a gray ink, and Winters here in Hawaii are generally green, but I think I know why the association with gray and Winter. I had wanted to do this blog post during Winter but it just didn't happen, sorry it's a bit tardy!

When I ordered the ink from the Honolulu Pen Shop, I knew exactly which pen I would use. It's a gray vintage Waterman fountain pen with a decent flexible nib.



I'm not a pen person so I don't know the details about the pen, but I believe it is circa 1930s. I also have another vintage Waterman that really got me started writing the way I do. That's for another post!

Well I've recently learned to resac fountain pens and finally resacced this pen using a silicone sac instead of the normal latex. I also finally found the time to put a video together.



I'm new to creating videos so excuse the rather shaky quality of it. In fact this was the first time I used iMovie and was learning on the fly.

Oh and next time I may get a manicure before filming!

I'd like to thank D. Shoji Nakamoto for giving me permission to use the track Avalon from his album Field of Stones. I prefer not to use copyrighted music without permission and I also would like to try and support local artists especially since I'm a bit of a musician myself. Anyway if you're on Oahu, you can check D. Shoji Nakamoto out at a few of the Farmers Markets presented by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation.



So I thank you for reading my blog, and until next time, I will always be...

Yours truly!