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View Full Version : Post LA Pen Posse Pics and Recap



AltecGreen
February 23rd, 2014, 08:38 PM
By SF Pen Posse tradition, we had our annual post-LA Pen Posse to recap the pen show for those who could not make it. Today's Posse was absolutely crazy.


I should have known it was going to be weird when I pulled into parking lot at Peter's and it was full. Going into our customary Pen Posse room, I found the room occupied by an unsuspecting family enjoying a Sunday brunch and the early group of Pen Posse members. For those not familiar with the room set-up, the tables are arranged in a U shape. The family occupied one leg of the U near the door while we had the leg against the wall. The room was already a buzz with noise. Every few minutes a Pen Posse person would show up and our side of the room began to fill-up.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3681/12736082635_66e84a94cf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736082635/)



Poor Daphne, our usual waitress, nearly tripped a few times. She almost launched Loren's order right at Jerome. The family had no clue what was happening. In addition, we attracted 4-5 new Pen Posse members today and they did not know anyone so a few confused the family for the Pen Posse. One very excited woman came in and started asking about the SF show. She wanted to know about getting her pen fixed and at that point we all pointed at Todd. Fortunately, I think Todd was able to fix her problem. I never did find out about the resolution because Brian and Christina arrived and I had brought a bunch of stuff to show them.


http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/12736557794_70fceea9c8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736557794/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3746/12736080285_11a15b210d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736080285/)





By this time, we had reached to the bottom of the U and running out of seats. When Deirdre and Rick arrived, we were almost on top of the family. Fortunately, they finished eating and were leaving.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/12736241393_82e0ecdf08_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736241393/)




Fresh from being OPM'ed in LA, Brian and Christina checked out my vintage Italian collection. They started on this road in LA and this is one more step down that slippery slope. I also brought all of the Maruzen ink so they could try it out.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/12736078275_e33d260625_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736078275/)




Other people showing off LA pens.
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/12736240413_907ac0d721_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736240413/)

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3814/12736065525_d57eb53dbf_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736065525/)
DSC_9717 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736065525/) by AltecGreen (http://www.flickr.com/people/7953903@N03/), on Flickr


A meeting of the coffee sub-Posse (notice the bag of coffee that Mark Cohen roasted)
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7291/12736242383_bb2a670d42_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736242383/)



Todd was busy working on bunch of pens for people. A line actually formed.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7320/12736236823_fe5317dc35_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736236823/)


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3803/12736060015_9f5689b24d_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736060015/)




Todd had trouble working on someone's hard rubber pen that had the wrong pressure bar installed. He needed some forceps. Thank god our members come prepared. Mikey had an arsenal of pocket tools including a folding pair of tweezers.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7381/12736230523_aa0be51a45_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736230523/)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2875/12736229423_0b6c3fe1b9_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736229423/)



The picture below is a bit blurry because I had to quickly pull the camera out of the bag. I don't think I can even explain this. You just had to have been there.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/12736534134_d5ecb4d0a8_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736534134/)


http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/12736225073_439767862f_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736225073/)




There were a lot of Nakayas at the Posse since everyone who had one brought theirs. It was too chaotic to organize a photo shoot. There was so much going on and it was so loud. Pretty much like a rock concert inside. In the confusion, Steve Curnow left without his case of pens. I think this disease migrated north from LA. Fortunately, he figured it out and came back before we stripped his pens of any useful parts.



And then there were parts. (51 clips and vac jewels)
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3775/12736055675_59da28ca12_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/7953903@N03/12736055675/)





It was a crazy Pen Posse. It was good to see so many new faces.

lsmith42
February 23rd, 2014, 09:02 PM
That was craziness...

earthdawn
February 23rd, 2014, 09:17 PM
Great photos!

Thanks for sharing them with us and giving a great recap of the day.

Jerome Tarshis
February 23rd, 2014, 11:34 PM
I didn't even realize that the people in the corner, who left early, were a family eating in that room by sheer chance. I thought they might have been extreme Pen Posse enthusiasts who had gotten there long before I did and were the first to decide that they had scratched their PP itch and it was time to go home and get on eBay instead of wasting time in Millbrae not even attempting to buy a pen.

If they were civilians, that adds one more little thrill to my memory of an unusually feverish gathering. There will be quieter lunches.

Jon Szanto
February 23rd, 2014, 11:38 PM
Yay Posse Craziness!

(I now have to go send Todd an email. "Help me, Toddi-Wan, you're the only one I can trust".)

bleair
February 24th, 2014, 02:40 AM
All the cool kids seem to wear interesting head gear with lights and / or magnifying capabilities..... I was left to wonder how they write with that stuff on, but in any case they sure seemed happy. :)

I swear you could almost see the glee in Ricky's eyes as he "helped" others get drawn in further. :) He showed off his wonderful rainbow collection of Nakayas, and his collection of vintage celluloid Italian pens (wowza), and then several examples of stunning Makie pens, and then after all that he'd bring out the closing move and show his haul of finds from the LA show. :)
We also helped "enable" others by handing out some tomoe paper to Franz and then Ricky had brought 8 different Maruzen Athena inks that people could try out with the dip pen.

It was a fun time hearing and seeing the stories of treasures found by everyone, LA Pen show attendees and even non-attendees who also brought some great pens.

There were also fun murmurs about who might be coming to the SF show in August.

That was a fun day.

ethernautrix
February 24th, 2014, 03:58 AM
Loved the report and photos, Ricky! Nice to see all the familiar faces and a few new ones.

To imagine the noise level, I just remembered a few of the most crowded Pen Posses and layered them (if that makes sense). I love that kind of commotion. Pen people!

We've had a few Pen Posses here - the ones at our favorite cafe are sedate with usually three in attendance. When the contingent (of three) came from near Katowice, it was much messier and louder, but the food was excellent (two of the visiting contingent cooked).

I wonder how long it will take to get a Pen Posse of this size here. Hahaha. It'll be fun finding out.

Thank you, Ricky, for the great report!

sfbirdie
February 24th, 2014, 08:48 PM
Great recap, Ricky! I had lots of fun and thank you for showing us your Maruzen inks and Nakayas. I think that is next on my fountain pen wish list! I'm going to have to utilize your OPM skills at the SF pen show. :) BTW, do you have both Eternal Blue ink bottles? I thought Brian took the bottle, but he didn't and it wasn't in my bag. Hope it wasn't abandoned. :(...

Christina

AltecGreen
February 24th, 2014, 09:08 PM
Great recap, Ricky! I had lots of fun and thank you for showing us your Maruzen inks and Nakayas. I think that is next on my fountain pen wish list! I'm going to have to utilize your OPM skills at the SF pen show. :) BTW, do you have both Eternal Blue ink bottles? I thought Brian took the bottle, but he didn't and it wasn't in my bag. Hope it wasn't abandoned. :(...

Christina

No worries. I have the ink. I realized I had when I unpacked. I'll bring it to the next Posse.


Don't worry about Nakayas. There are plenty of people who can help OPM for Nakayas.

I hope you and Brian have a fabulous time.

pengeezer
February 24th, 2014, 09:26 PM
Explain OPM......:confused:


John

AltecGreen
February 24th, 2014, 09:28 PM
Explain OPM......:confused:


John

Other People's Money

tenney
February 26th, 2014, 12:26 AM
OPM --- i.e. Ricky being the hunting dog sniffing out great deals for other people to spend their money on.

A huge posse... loads of fun... even the battle of the eyeglass-lights.

Jon Szanto
February 26th, 2014, 12:54 AM
... even the battle of the eyeglass-lights.

Blinded by Science!!

ethernautrix
February 26th, 2014, 03:23 AM
I prefer to call Ricky my pen show sherpa. As long as he doesn't mind, that is.