I'm Not Trying to Tell You How to Live Your Life

Pens and Pencils You'll Like

I recently bought three different writing implements, all three of which I really like.

The Blackwing 602 is a really good pencil. Strong black line, smooth writing, sturdy lead...if you do a lot of pencil work (writing OR drawing), this is a great choice. The erasers aren't great, but what pencils with erasers have great erasers?

The Prismacolor Col-Erase Non-Photo Blue pencil is made for drawing the foundation of an ink or fine-line drawing. It doesn't photocopy and it makes your inked drawings much more enjoyable and much less smudgy. Pro-Tip: it takes a while to get your eyes adjusted so you can see the blue yourself. Keep your lights bright.

The Pilot Varsity is a disposable fountain pen. You read that right. It's a disposable fountain pen. Great, great feel, smooth lines, and it's not as intimidating as a "real" fountain pen. I've had it for roughly four hours and it might be my new favorite pen. I'm strongly considering buying a 12-pack.

1Password

Maybe you're like me and you have a bajillion passwords. Maybe you need a secure way to store them all. Maybe your wife gets mad at you when you forget said passwords sometimes. Maybe you're lashing together your marital harmony with the strung-together tatters of your best intentions and you could use a little help, dammit.

Then maybe 1Password is right for you.

Now, I know you, because as we've established in the first paragraph, you're just like me. You're worried that the price of the app is a tad bit expensive. Well, let me answer your worries with one simple question: how much would you pay to keep your wife from being mad at your barely-there memory?

I'll bet it's a helluva lot more than $50. So come off of the money already, you cheap bastard, and stop sapping your wife's already shaken faith in your ability to run your stupid life like a man.

Given recent events, I can imagine how quite a few of you would be gun-shy about cruises. But this is no ordinary cruise. This...is the Atlantic Ocean Comedy and Music Festival.

Clorox Foaming Bathroom Cleaner

You have a dirty bathroom. That is not a question. Everyone goes through bathroom filth. Mold. Hard water. Rust. Stains of every sort. Shower...remnants.

...I threw up. Okay, I'm good now.

What you need is Clorox Foaming Bathroom Cleaner. It foams over your gunky bathroom fixtures and burns away all the vile odors. It has wicked fumes, so use in a "well ventilated area" (which, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't bathrooms the next-best place to go in a tornado after basements because they DON'T HAVE WINDOWS?).

Moleskine Watercolor A4 Notebook

Now, I don't actually own this product. But I want it so badly it's giving me a canker sore.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

I went to Columbus, OH in May and I got to taste Jeni's ice cream for the first time. It was incredible - creamy, rich flavor, delicious.

General's Kimberly Watercolor Pencils

Easy to use, not terribly messy; good way to create a hard edge which is hard to do with watercolor if you're not an expert watercolor painter. I'm okay with regular water color, but I like hard, fairly clean lines in my work.

Xbox 360 Media Remote

If you have a significant other/parent/roommate who's no good with an Xbox controller, this thing is very helpful. Simple controls that can really help with navigating Netflix, Hulu or a DVD you want to watch.

Rize of the Fenix by Tenacious D

Have you been longing for The D?

The streams of fire that propelled Jack Black to ubiquity also burned the Rage Kage, but that doesn't mean they were every that far apart. And now, from the ashes of their crappy Pick of Destiny movie, they rise again. Like the "fenix".

I'm Not Trying to Tell You How to Live Your Life

A new blog by Jimmy Marks

Hi.

Do you like things?

Do you like wondering what kind of things I use and enjoy?

This is a blog with both of those concepts.

I'd appreciate it if you gave it a follow, and as always, thank you for your time.

Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds

Kershaw 'Scallion' Folding Pocket Knife

I was told by Jesse at Put This On that a man should carry a small knife for, you know, opening boxes and trimming your fingernails and some mild-to-moderate stabbing. My dad has carried a knife every day of his life and has given me any number of knives I've lost over time. I wanted one I'd be sure to keep.

Editor's Note: I'd link you to the article where Jesse said this, but I can't remember where it was and Google won't tell me. Any hints? Drop me a line.

I purchased this Kershaw knife upon hearing that Kershaw makes their knives right here in America (which always draws me to a product - I think that whole "avoid stuff Made in America" phase is done, yes?). The blade was SUPER sharp, right out of the box. I flicked it open and shaved the hair off my hand.

MacBook Pro, 15"

I love this thing so much. I know, I know, you all have Apple-brand computing devices. But this is my favorite.

You gotta get one of these. Easy to maintain, easy to adjust to after years of Windows-ing around. Built for business, suited to pleasure. Looks great, feels great.