Pet Diary: Only One Water Bowl

Despite the fact this house has three water bowls, plus an additional one outside, the pets often act like they must compete for water.

One water bowl sits in the kitchen; that one is primarily for Linksys. It is situated in a corner that is large enough for him, but a bit tight for the dogs. They could use it if they really wanted to, but they have better options and use those (well, one of those) instead.

One of the two other options, intended for the dogs, is under the breakfast bar, just around the corner from the kitchen. This is the largest of the bowls, with a very broad diameter. Despite being intended for Cisco and Juni, the one I see using this bowl the most is Linksys. He seems to particularly prefer to use this bowl when I am setting food for the dogs next to it, though that could be just when I notice him. I rarely see the dogs use that bowl, and its little-changing water level suggests it gets little notice.

Instead, the dogs insist upon using the water bowl in my office. They love to lap from it. Apparently, draining that bowl dry and licking at the bottom for any remaining drops -- where I can hear the whole production -- is better than drinking from a bowl in another room. Multiple times a day, I get to hear,
"Shlurp shloop slurp slop shlup shlup shlop shloop slup slup slurp slop slurp shlurp shlurp.
Pause.
Shlurp shloop slup slup shlop shlep shlurp shlurp slurp slurp slurp-slurp-slurp."

Even Linksys likes to share this bowl, particularly when it lets him get between Juni and her food, making her twitchy and ready to snap.

I figure that Juni prefers that bowl because it is close to me; she only eats in company. Cisco probably prefers that bowl because Juni prefers it; he does enjoy stealing from her. As I already noted, I think that Linksys likes that bowl because using it lets him annoy Juni.

I wish that they all would drink elsewhere, at least more often. The "shlup shlep shlop" wears on my nerves more than a little.

Art Supply Review: Kaweco Sport Ink Roller Fountain Pen

I tried the Kaweco Sport fountain pen and immediately loved it.  However, some fountain pen inks that I tried were too dry for my fountain pens.  I read that refillable rollerball pens handled these dry inks well, so I opted for the close cousin of my beloved Kaweco Sport fountain pen, the Kaweco Sport rollerball pen (a.k.a. ink roller fountain pen).

This small and lightweight pen has the same body and feed system as the Kaweco Sport fountain pen.  The difference is in the tip; rather than a fountain pen nib, it has a rollerball nib.  Its body feels as comfortable and natural in my hand as that of the Kaweco Sport fountain pen (which makes sense, since they have the same body), but the shorter rollerball tip requires that the rollerball pen be held at a slightly higher angle than the fountain pen.  Consequently, writing with it for an extended time does not feel quite as natural and comfortable as with the fountain pen, though still much better than with the average disposable rollerball pen or ballpoint pen.

I discovered that the Kaweco Sport rollerball pen does indeed handle the dry fountain pen inks that the Kaweco Sport fountain pen found challenging.  However, the rollerball pen does not seem to like the inks that the fountain pen uses readily.  I guess that, just as too much viscosity is bad in a fountain pen, too little is bad in a rollerball pen.  While this means that I cannot readily use the same ink in both pens, it does mean that I have a good chance of being able to use any given ink in at least one of the pens.  I can use wetter inks in the fountain pen and drier inks in the rollerball pen.

Like the modern Kaweco Sport fountain pens, the Kaweco Sport rollerball pens have plastic bodies and are generally good knock-about pens.  Being slightly under 4.25" capped and possessing a double-threaded screw-on cap that can fasten securely, these pens are great for tossing into pockets, purses, or bags for carrying around.  They are sold without clips (clips can be bought separately), but their octagonal caps prevent the pens from rolling.  Most of my Kaweco Sport fountain pens do not have clips, though I do keep a clip to apply to whichever pen I take with me when traveling around, so I can clip the pen to my sketchbook.

I definitely recommend the Kaweco Sport rollerball pen for anyone interested in trying a refillable rollerball pen.

Pet Diary: Drool

Drool is one pet-owner reality that is, fortunately, not much of an issue among my pets.

Cisco reminded me of that yesterday. Neither he nor Juni generally drool much. Their lips might get sloppy after eating, drinking, or getting excited, but neither dog generates a noticeable amount of drool.

However, yesterday morning, Cisco stood attentively outside the door, waiting to be allowed inside. Hanging from both sides of his mouth were long threads of slobber. I do not know what caused them, but it was a very unusual sight!

Deer Me: Alicia And Nichole Muis on Mother's Day

Alicia Muis gives her mother, Nichole Muis, a bouquet and card for Mother's Day. I figure that a child might just shove the flowers right up her mother's nose in her enthusiasm to share.

I finally posted downloadable wallpapers on the Art Page, and this is the fourth of four images available.

PhotoShop. May 2013.

Art Supply Review: Kaweco Sport Fountain Pen

The Kaweco Sport fountain pen was the first fountain pen that I tried and it could easily have been the last. This small and lightweight pen fits naturally into my hand as no other pen had before or has since. Though fountain pens in general feel better for writing than other pens, the Kaweco Sport fountain pen in particular feels perfect to me for writing.

Most of the modern Kaweco Sport fountain pens have plastic bodies, though there is one with an aluminum body, and are generally good knock-about pens. Being slightly under 4.25" capped and possessing a double-threaded screw-on cap that can fasten securely, these pens are great for tossing into pockets, purses, or bags for carrying around. They are sold without clips (clips can be bought separately), but their octagonal caps prevent the pens from rolling. Most of my Kaweco Sport fountain pens do not have clips, though I do keep a clip to apply to whichever pen I take with me when traveling around, so I can clip the pen to my sketchbook.

These are my favorite pens for writing and sketching. I even use them for inking sometimes. As fountain pens, fountain pen ink, of course, should be used in them. I have sometimes experimented with other inks and the pens have been quite forgiving of when I use something inappropriate; they are quite easy to clean.

I definitely recommend the Kaweco Sport fountain pen as a good starting point for anyone interested in trying fountain pens and I always keep at least two inked for ready use.