Darice de Cuba

I went to Paris for three days this week, pretty much unplanned. Thalys train had a special deal and before I knew it we had tickets and a room booked at Best Western close to Porte d’Orleans. Considering it was unplanned and only for three days we didn’t do much. After three years of not going anywhere due to dialysis I now just seize opportunities without too much thinking and planning.

My condition still isn’t up to par since my transplant surgery in March so all that walking around Paris where hard on my legs. I now have muscle pain in my feet and legs. So all my energy went into walking rather then hardcore photo taking.

We went to the shopping district where Lafayette is but I’m not a fashionista so I was rather looking for stationary shops or a paperie like said in French. Believe it or not it was at the Monoprix supermarket across the hotel that I found Rhodia notebooks for sale. I couldn’t believe it, here in The Hague I only saw them at one stationary shop and one that is located in the same street as the queen work palace, go figure.

So on the last day I went back there and bought both the orange cover and a refill notebook for it. Oddly enough they only had squared paper and no lined ones. Even in another shop they didn’t had lined ones. I’m not that familiar with Rhodia so maybe they only have squared paper.

Then right before leaving for Garu du Nord to take the train back I went into Muji which was also across the hotel. I never heard of them before but when I saw their notebooks and pens I knew they where good. I bought a few notebooks, two 0.5mm gel pens and 2 highlighters. Now back home I made some internet research I realized I should have also bought the 0.38mm pens. Oh well I can always buy online.

So after three days walking around, taking some photos, eating french food I came back with these:

Those Muji gel pens write real nice, I like them better the Pilot G2, maybe even better the the Pilot Hi-Tec. This is writing on Muji paper, still have to try it on the Field Notes and the Moleskine. I’m slowly becoming a paper and penphile if there is such a word.

If the color notebooks of Field Notes weren’t subscription only I’d probably buy the colors I like most. Also next on my list are the Sharpie Pens, I already have a shop in mind, I only need to mail them on shipping cost as they handle one steady fee which is way to much for four pens.

When I saw that Coudal had finally launched their Field Notes Brand websites I immediately ordered a pack of 3 field notes. Not that I needed them but I like hoarding notebooks, I have several Moleskines lying around or being used as an occasional diary, or to jot down some ideas once in a while.

So I had those Field Notes lying around waiting to be put to use. When I was released last week from the hospital I was told I have to keep track of my temp, weight and blood pressure daily and take them with me to each doctors visit which right now is twice a week.

So I decided to use the graph paper Field Notes, I drew a table to keep all data nicely organized. I even drew a red cross on the cover to be able to identify the notebook right away. Don’t pay attention to the bad drawing, I have shaky hands from all medications I’m taking.

So now each time I’ll be flipping out a cool vintage notebook while at the doctors office to show my medical data. I even like using the black bic pen you get with the notebooks even though I like using quality pens, but with shaky hand writing with a fountain pen is almost impossible.

I’m now thinking about hacking the notebook to add a Moleskine like back pocket to keep cards in it with questions for the doctor. I even want to buy a nice colored carton paper, cut it up and glue it on the inside of the back cover. Just have get somebody go buy the supplies for me.

Another time I’ll write about how the iPhone is my second half, especially when staying at the hospital with no computer.