Optimized writing tools for travels

Oh, the never ending process of choosing the proper tools. I often have the feeling some fountain pens or too many inks add unnecessary complexity and weight, specially if they are not reliable.

As a theoretical experiment I drew the minimal equipment I'd choose for travels. Note I skipped a watercolor box. Instead I'd use ink from those two Lamy fountain pen. Lamy fountain pens are the key here since they allow two different thickness in lines and can be used for text and draw. These constrains would force me to master the basic tools and feel more and more confortable with them. On top of that the style of the pages will be more homogeneous and less mix of colors like a kindergarden drawing. As other things in life maybe the best option is trying it during a short trip and take note of possible improvements.

I already know it will not happen since there is always room for an extra magical pen to add in the last moment. I have to say I'm full in love with my new tiny watercolor box and I will not leave it at home. 

Collage is fun

Sometimes I feel I want to rest from writing and this is a good solution. I keep a box full of cuts. Unfortunately getting this kind of stuff is more and more difficult nowadays. Digital collage then? Oh, well...

Not sure if these kind of papers are good for the notebook's health. I mean cheap paper from newspaper or stickers could create a huge damage with time. Acid free glue won't help in this case. It's ok.

Xeon power. Homemade PC

Since the current situation forces us to stay at home it’s time to practice indoor activities. Time to make a computer! A Flinkstones computer...

First I have to say I'm not a computer expert. I just take ideas here and there and I was learning and solving problems as they appear.

It started as a joke and then I converted that initial idea into a little project with some goals: Update my knowledge in the computers state of art, experiment and have fun. And of course replace my current desktop pc from 2010.

There is special feeling in homemade things. They become your babies because you not only know how they were made but also you took many decisions in the process.

I was quite surprised when I discovered there is a wave of processors from servers used in personal computers now. How is this possible? Indeed Intel Xeon processors are sold cheap after years of use because they are replaced by newer models. And they are still very powerful today. The problem is there are not motherboards to place them in an easy way. And here is where Aliexpress enters in the show. Some sellers managed to create new motherboards where both processors and RAM from servers can be placed. All at incredible low price. Will it work? Will it still work after a time? This is a temptation too big to ignore. Bravo for their skills and ideas.

The processor I used is Intel Xeon 2689, 8 cores, 16 threats, 3,6GHz. RAM is also from servers, 16GB DDR3. There are processors and motherboards quite cheaper than these. Just use the magic word “motherboard x79” in Aliexpress and discover a new world.

The beauty of tech. It's not premium nowadays but it's quite great.

So I started to order parts. Actually each part from a different seller. The problems here are: Parts take a few weeks to arrive and…. If they are lost of not working, the whole pc will not work and more weeks of waiting new parts. This is the worse past of the process. Hopefully I didn’t have any problem and all arrive in perfect condition and not late at all.



The only parts I bought from Amazon or online shops are: the power supply, SSD and graphic card. I was a little skeptical about this project so I thought I could always use these parts in a more conventional PC with Ryzen, etc.

Also note buying graphic cards from those Chinese sellers could be risky. Luckily they smell to smoke and that means they were used in a cybercafe, the best case. Otherwise maybe they were squeezed for mining crypto.

First step were check everything works. And it did! No screens in Chinese letters and not need to flash BIOS downloading something from Russian webpages. 

First test and main structure.

Then I started to make the case, all with pieces of wood mostly I had at home. There is not saving money here because even those materials, buttons, switches, rubber legs, etc. cost more than a regular case. It’s for the sake of experiment and having something made with my own hands. And unique.

I managed to get a solution for each problem with the limited tools I own. Step by step.

Of course I added LEDs. LEDs are good. LEDs are happiness.

As a touch of additional functions I included an Arduino with a couple of displays. These red LED numbers are one of the most beautiful things in the universe. And they consume quite energy as well. Be sure they look superb in real. They remember me to Back to the Future Delorian.

I know using I2C removes many cables :)

Oh, the feeling and sound of these switches... <3

It's going better and better and I can see the end finally.

Back side for cables is a mess. It was much worse. Improvements can be done.

Here a list with items and prices, shipping included. Note the most expensive part is the graphic card, which is considered medium level. The whole cost could be reduced a lot using a second hand or lower graphic card.

The result is a powerful computer with a futuristic touch. I'm sooooo happy with it! I don't think it will never be finished because it invites me to modify this or that. And it shows room to place some tiny and cute beings, a nice home for them. Coming soon.

Lovely pastedowns

Styles of pastedown used in my last notebooks. This is a magic thing which adds personality and style to the whole journal. 

I specially like the chosen one for The Nautilus Manuscript (left up in brown tones). I’m considering using a flat color next time.

Well, I finally used a yellow color for my new handmade notebook. I will post it soon.

Little auxiliary notebooks

These are the little notebooks I've using during last years. Most of them are a kind of "sidecar" notebooks with temporary notes and others are related to some specific projects as Donau's Journey notes. So many memories and ideas lost here! Only a few ideas pass the filter to be developed. I guess that's good since it means ideas flow well and the "better" ones have been selected.

I found tiny Muji notebooks the most confortable and stylish solution for this task. I never thought of them as a collection or even something valuable but when I see them all together in a box I feel I need to take care of my little babies.

Helmut the Bureaucrat

So fresh and full of energy. Use him as a model to guide your path to exit.