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Dh tried to buy pens at WM last night...


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The icky, cheapy kind that one might throw away just because they *are.*

 

He said, "For the upcoming semester."

 

I said, "I have shoeboxes FULL of pens, ALL better than those."

 

He said, "But they're 88 cents."

 

I said, "I don't care if they PAY US 88 cents, we're NOT bringing THOSE home."

 

It's important here to note that he did the same thing about 10 yrs ago, the first time we went school shopping together. Only we were at the campus bookstore buying books, & he was paying a lot more than 88 cents.

 

I told him *then* (before we were even engaged, dating, anything) that I thought he was nuts to buy a new package of pens for the new semester. Did he NEED them? No, he just bought new pens every semester. Well, he probably needed them, but only because he'd lost them all the semester before.

 

Here's the kicker, though. When we moved & I was culling stuff, I actually put several brand-new never-been-opened bags of pens in give-away. Because we NEVER USED THEM. WE'VE GOT BOXES OF PENS THAT GO BACK TO THE 70'S & HAVEN'T BEEN USED YET!!!! (And that says a lot, since we were both born in '79!)

 

When I explained all of this to him after we got home, he just laughed & said Ghandi would be proud of me. I told him I'd give him *much* nicer pens than the ones he had picked out at WM.

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The icky, cheapy kind that one might throw away just because they *are.*

 

He said, "For the upcoming semester."

 

I said, "I have shoeboxes FULL of pens, ALL better than those."

 

He said, "But they're 88 cents."

 

I said, "I don't care if they PAY US 88 cents, we're NOT bringing THOSE home."

 

It's important here to note that he did the same thing about 10 yrs ago, the first time we went school shopping together. Only we were at the campus bookstore buying books, & he was paying a lot more than 88 cents.

 

I told him *then* (before we were even engaged, dating, anything) that I thought he was nuts to buy a new package of pens for the new semester. Did he NEED them? No, he just bought new pens every semester. Well, he probably needed them, but only because he'd lost them all the semester before.

 

Here's the kicker, though. When we moved & I was culling stuff, I actually put several brand-new never-been-opened bags of pens in give-away. Because we NEVER USED THEM. WE'VE GOT BOXES OF PENS THAT GO BACK TO THE 70'S & HAVEN'T BEEN USED YET!!!! (And that says a lot, since we were both born in '79!)

 

When I explained all of this to him after we got home, he just laughed & said Ghandi would be proud of me. I told him I'd give him *much* nicer pens than the ones he had picked out at WM.

 

"DOWN with icky pens!!!!!" screamed the pen snob.

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There must be memories associated with his need to purchase pens before school starts, maybe it brings him comfort. :001_smile:

Yes, I LOVE buying school supplies. And, we don't need many this year. But, I LOVE buying school supplies. What is a girl to do?!?

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It's just like what Tom Hanks said in You've Got Mail:

 

"I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

 

It's this time of year that has me sniffing scotch tape, myself...:tongue_smilie:

 

Now, wait a minute. I LOVE school supplies. I love buying them. I love seeing them all lined up on the shelves, in the bins, bright colors full of possibility.

 

 

Freshly-sharpened pencils are as wonderful as cut grass. A new box of crayons is like new life. All the other odds & ends are exciting new possibilities that are good just to look through & see what's new.

 

The old, icky pens that were worthless even 30 yrs ago? The ones that make you wonder how we ever converted from fountain pens? No. thank. you. Those are NOT representative of school supplies. Those are a throwback to polyester leisure suits & indoor smoking. Ick!!!! :lol:

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When I entered 7th grade my dad gave me a Papermate pen to use since we were required to start using pens then (this was Junior High). He got it after the Bic pen I used exploded and got ink everywhere. He told me not to loose my PaperMate. Guess what? I'm still using that pen, but now I'm scared I might loose it, but I keep using it. That was 32 years ago and that little blue pen is still going strong.

I don't blame you for hating those exploding cheap 88c pens, they are simply horrible! (handy but horrible)

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When I entered 7th grade my dad gave me a Papermate pen to use since we were required to start using pens then (this was Junior High). He got it after the Bic pen I used exploded and got ink everywhere. He told me not to loose my PaperMate. Guess what? I'm still using that pen, but now I'm scared I might loose it, but I keep using it. That was 32 years ago and that little blue pen is still going strong.

I don't blame you for hating those exploding cheap 88c pens, they are simply horrible! (handy but horrible)

 

Seriously?! It must be some sort of magic pen. I never buy PaperMate pens because they leak. I'll be writing and little blobs of ink will get all over my words. Can't stand them. I used to work for a woman who used no other kind of pens. She also had a habit of chewing pens while she did the monthly budget. Occasionally, she'd break one all over herself (by occasionally, I mean three or four times a year). I can't handle a chewing habit that spills ink all over myself, which is why I only chew chocolate cookies with chocolate chips when I'm doing the monthly budget.:lol:

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Yes, I LOVE buying school supplies. And, we don't need many this year. But, I LOVE buying school supplies. What is a girl to do?!?

 

 

We don't need ANY sort of school supply. Plenty of pencils, pens, we rarely use notebook paper, I have rulers and erasers.

 

But all those nice, fresh, tempting supplies at Target! Actually, our Target doesn't have the school supplies out yet, but they will very soon.

 

I usually end up getting a couple of nice pens for myself (LOL, I HATE those cheapies that leak all over!) and maybe a new notebook, even though I already have a ton of those.

 

Remember the thrill of picking out a new lunch box each year? And for me, that was back in the days when the thermos had glass inside. I would usually drop and break it within the first week of school, bringing home a thermos full of leftover milk and glass to my mom. Ah, sweet memories! ;)

 

Michelle T

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