Hey! It’s been a while. 

I took a lil breather to get my ideas together, plus I have been focusing my time on my military affairs. Being part of both worlds is fun, but exhausting. Being nonbinary and part of both worlds is even more so. I am only glad that I’m pushing forward because of my branch of service, the Marine Corps. I’m clinging to my military identity more than ever right now. 

A couple things I want to talk about are the emergence of the “commonplace” style of notebook, in three brands of stationery; gender identity in the Marine Corps; and censorship. I have been wanting to crack the YouTube egg since Leafy was ranting about Onision for twenty minutes straight, but it never happened until now. I am not an apologist for Onion boy, but a viewer who listens to and understands his side of things. Is he always right? Hell no. But he has been getting screwed over, particularly by the YouTuber Jaclyn Glenn for a period between the fall of winter of the past year. It didn’t get any better when they had their tragically named open forum, called a “debate”. It wasn’t a debate and they shouldn’t have tried debating when it was two opinions that were not about to reconcile. 

Anyway, the YouTube egg is cracking and I’m pretty hungry, so I’ll be seeing you next week! 

New Sharpener Alert!

Sometimes, you’re scared that the enclosed sharpener will suck. My Faber Castell was fairly decent, the Staedtler is my go-to, and my stationery extraordinaire contemporary Dee sent a Kum wedge that I like as well.

This is the sharpener that came with my set of Nataraj Bolds, which were bought from Amazon. Currently Leadfast is featuring pencils from India; check him out!

This little guy beat my expectations because it is not only an adorable plastic body, but it has a blue coating over the blade that gives it a little life versus my other wedges. 

The point is not bad at all, either! 

I tested it on a Musgrave Test Scoring 100 and a Club Keno pencil.

LGBT Discourse: the Cis and the Trans

I’m one of those nonbinary people that feels inferior to cisgendered people. I’m not as convenient to date. I’m a walking political billboard on gender studies, plus you have to subscribe to the premise of gender being a spectrum to even understand how I can identify the way I do.

I came across the antithesis of my statement this past summer or so when my friend’s partner David was hanging with us playing Pokemon Go. I told him honestly: I, as transmasculine, feel like a potential partner should or will always choose him over me, because he’s “the real thing”. 

His response made me respect and identity with him in a way I never thought I would.

He said he honestly felt inferior to me. I’m female bodied, so I can better empathize with a cis woman, as well as provide for her needs as being female. 

That shocked me. Here I am, hating myself for not being a man, while a man hates himself for being one.

I appreciate Onision’s opinion that women are truly better, more or less, and his statement seems to ring true of the insecurities of some cis people. 

In my opinion, cis people win out because they have the preference of the powers that be, but it would seem that a person will choose who they really want, unless they have issues that neither myself or David can solve.

Just a thought. 

Field Notes Utility

If you visit the Field Notes website, the first thing you should see is the latest edition. In the case of all the stationerds since March of this year, this is the Utility. 

Of the reviews and talk I have seen on the Erasable Podcast, in episode 70, there is a resounding approval for the color scheme and thematic concept of the edition, which was released early while no one knew we were to get blasted twice more by winter weather (the office lost power for a day, hence no update last week). There was also a resounding “ew” for the book’s quality control, specifically the tears in the binding at the very top and bottom. I just tore the excess fraying off, like I do with my Lent and Advent devotional books, but Johnny from Erasable had some nasty spines on his pack. That is as watered down as the general consensus can be for this article. Personal preference prevails in the deeper reviews of this book.

The Utility is my first ordered Field Notes book set, period. Ever. The last time I had pocket notebooks was February 2016, from the company Word. The size was great, and so was the cover stock, which was flexible and a beautiful black. My only things were the lack of tooth in the paper and the wafer-thin pages that were inside. 

Enter the Utility, which is the antithesis of the standard pocket notebook. It’s thick, gawdy, and rough as our Michigan weather. I was ecstatic when it came in the mail.

It is better experienced in person. I was not expecting the book to be so tiny, as I was spoiled by my gifted Roastery edition, but the fragrance and feel of the books was incredible to me. The belly band is extremely snug, but I want it that way. I specifically ordered this set as my first Field Notes because of the tooth, and because of the heavy paper. My spiral notebooks that come rough once in a blue moon can’t compete. 

It is blown at the spine because of the thick pages, and the book gets even thicker and more floppy when you use it. My current book has been used up halfway in its first 24 hours. 

The two words I would describe would be “ingenious” and “unique”. Despite the extraneous fold-out ruler (according to one reviewer), I think it’s adorable. If ever I need one, it’s there. Did I mention that the book just feels great in the fingers? It does. I’m bouncing around in topics here, but I love the book, and although stationerds may feel peeved at the tooth of the page, I love the smearing and the use and the soft 4Bs that are getting rubbed about on the back cover from my graphite-y paws.

I am extremely happy that my Field Notes experience was with the Utility. I’m using it as my drafting book for one of my larger projects, and I think I know what I will be using pocket notebooks for from now on. 

Like the Utility, I will specifically be looking for heavy paper and toothy paper for the next little while, and if you like that gritty earthy texture in a notebook, then we should ride this train together. :3

Hi ho!

This week’s article may be late to the party on account of my day job hours picking up and my wanting to spend time with my writing (the non-review kind). 

I also lost two days of work because as of Wednesday and most of Thursday the power went out of various parts of Michigan, including my home -office. Any other time in between all this has been military-related, which is obviously another priority. I am fine and power was restored for my area Thursday. 

Kill Winter With Orange, featuring Pepsi (Citrus 1893 Review)


I’m on a shopping trip with my dear buddy bro when I see this bright orange can amongst the Mountain Dew tallboys. I’m a sucker for Pepsi products and the color orange, so of course I made that my purchase for the night. 

In case you haven’t heard of this new fantastical cola unicorn, Pepsi 1893 was released (in my location of Midwestern Winterfell) in spring, 2016, and was modelled after Mountain Dew Black Label in the vein of using bitters and herbal components in a can with that Pepsi bite. I think it’s genius. My hipster side fangirls each time I roll through the pop aisle. Craft is the shizznit, and you can’t tell me otherwise. Did I mention that the line name is. historical reference to Pepsi’s infancy in the nineteenth century? It’s totally a reference to Pepsi’s infancy in the nineteenth century. *swoon*

This line of Pepsi product uses Kola nut extract, aromatic bitters, and  flavoring to create their variants, of which there are now three: original (the pop after my own Irish Slav heart), ginger (nah, son), and now citrus. The citrus 1893 is the newest on the scene. I had this can opened and at my side on and off for a few days, it being days because I limit pop content when I’m doing training at the Marine RSS. 

The packaging is, in my opinion, perfect. The color choice gives me life. Between my stationerds on Instagram tagging pics with “Kill Winter With Orange 2017” and the winter Field Notes featuring orange accents on chrome, the timing for this release was spot-on. It’s one shade darker than hunter orange, and the graphic looks wrapped between the nutrition facts and the product specs. It sticks out to the eye and is just a good color anyway. When I cracked the can there was a grapefruit aura at the opening. 

The 1893 is quite literally a one-two punch. First is that blast of – surprise! – grapefruit flavor, light and not the sour bane of my childhood in pulpy juice form. The second part of this beverage comes on at the back of the mouth and as the after taste, and if you aren’t used to it you will hate it. It’s a stabbing, dry, broad Kola nut that is, in comparison, easier in just the black cola variant. This second sensation completely overrides the citrus flavor, but was more than likely intended to as a member of the 1893 line.

The top of this drink reminds me of Mountain Dew White Label, and if I had to choose between White Label and citrus 1893 I would take the former, if I wanted just the citrus kick. However, 1893 is a perfectly wild card option when you want something strong. There is always time for robust flavors.

Be forewarned when trying this product: you will only smell the grapefruit and the Kola finish when this can rides shotgun. That mega-Kola explosion is not evident until it is happening, and your snoot will be none the wiser. 

I am very glad that this wasn’t another orange extracted soda a la Sunkist-Crush-Fanta. Orange fruit is good, but you can only reproduce it so many times.

I do recommend this product for people who like the bold taste: my ginger ale, black Guinness draught people. This is not a flavor profile for the faint of heart, including me, but if you’re taking a trip to the wild side and switching up your Pepsi content, this will be an undeniable adventure for your carbonated soft drink game. 

Axe is New on Shelves! With Horrible Packaging! 

Spotted on shelves: new bits of the Axe line, in the two splendid scents of Urban and Adrenaline. I just wish the packaging wasn’t an eyesore that contains less product at the same price as the standard body wash line. This was at Target in my city.