Monday at Internet beat time 198, nighttime
January 20, 2026•300 words
The "Emotional Support Dumpster Fire"
I recently saw a clever kit to crochet called an "Emotional Support Dumpster Fire" featuring a sign that reads, "Everything is just fine." The irony of the sign is what really gives it meaning; it reminds me of the coffee mug at the pharmacist station used during the pandemic that said, "I’m fine. It’s all fine. Everything is just fine." I’m considering heading back to the discount site where I saw it to see if it’s still available.
A Break from the Apple Watch
Today, I wore the new Swatch my brother gave me for my recent milestone birthday. It was a wonderful gesture, and honestly, it felt like a relief to set aside the Apple Watch for a day and wear something simpler. It was very kind of him to remember me with such a thoughtful gift.
A Unique Fountain Pen Repair
Did you know you can smooth a steel fountain pen nib using a U.S. penny? You’ll need a penny featuring either the Shield or the Lincoln Memorial design, as the "slatted" texture of these engravings acts as a very fine abrasive. How to do it:
Preparation: Tape the edges of the penny to a piece of cardstock using Magic Tape to keep it steady.
The Technique: Hold the pen in your normal writing position. Using extremely light pressure—only the weight of the pen itself—move the nib over the slatted surface.
The Motion: I find that drawing a "figure 8" followed by a horizontal "infinity symbol" works best to smooth the edges of the nib. Use 2 or 4 passes. Then check the smoothness on paper. While there are likely more detailed tutorials online, this is a handy "DIY" method for tuning a scratchy nib at home.