Art and Earth Science by Grass
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist It Started With a Friend's Dilemma The story began when a friend asked me for my opinion on which colorway of the PENBBS 498 Hehe Cat he should get. He was torn between two options: a dark blue pen with gold accents, a gold-colored nib, and a gold cat… Continue reading PENBBS 498 Hehe Cat Fountain Pen Review: A Chatoyant Beauty
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist We live in a time when communicating with someone halfway around the world takes only a few seconds. An email can be sent before your coffee gets cold, and a message through Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, or any other messaging app can reach its recipient almost instantly. Social media has… Continue reading Snail Mail in the Digital Age: Why Writing Letters Still Matters
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist A few days ago, I ordered several fountain pens from abroad. Some were the latest colorways of the Jinhao 82, which I plan to include in a few “penabling” kits. I also ordered one pen for myself—the Hongdian N1—because its unusual nib had piqued my curiosity. If you haven’t… Continue reading Fountain Pen Review: Hongdian N1 with Long Blade Nib (A Happy Orange Surprise)
I have a sore throat and a mild fever today. I also have body aches that only a massage from my personal therapist would have been able to fix, if only I were in Quezon City, near her. I usually get a massage twice a month, but the weather has been really bad over the… Continue reading Musings While on A Sick Day – Also the Best Time to Swatch New Inks
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist I work with data. I work with machine learning. I play around with AI and large language models. I spend a good portion of my working life staring at databases, spreadsheets, digital maps, subsurface data, and whatever other collection of zeros and ones has decided to make my day… Continue reading Why Fountain Pens Matter in a Digital World
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist Just when I thought Jinhao had squeezed every possible variation out of the X159, along comes the Jinhao X169. Released only in June 2026, the X169 is one of Jinhao’s newest oversized fountain pens—and at first glance, it looks very familiar. If you already know the X159, you might… Continue reading Jinhao X169: The New Pen in Town People Are Now Raving About and For Very Good Reasons
Finding a fountain pen that balances affordability, aesthetics, and smooth writing performance is always a win. At just $5 USD, the Jinhao 82 (2026 Limited Edition) in Translucent Pink manages to deliver on all three fronts far better than expected.Here is my breakdown of how this pen holds up in daily use. Design & AestheticThe… Continue reading A Pleasant Surprise: Reviewing the Jinhao 82 (2026 Limited Edition)
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist Some fountain pens I bought because they write beautifully. Others I bought because they were made locally and I love to support local businesses. And then there are the pens I buy simply because they remind me of childhood favorites. For me, that pen has always been a BENU. If… Continue reading Strawberry and Chocolate in Fountain Pen Form: A Delicious Pairing of BENU Neapolitan Ice Cream and Kobe Chocolate Strawberry Ink
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist One of the biggest misconceptions about fountain pens is that you need to spend hundreds of dollars to enjoy a great writing experience. While premium brands certainly have their charm, the truth is that some of the most enjoyable pens in my collection cost less than a family dinner… Continue reading My Personal List of 5 Amazing Fountain Pens That Cost Less Than $50 Each
Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist If you asked me a year ago whether I could attend a pen meet with only five fountain pens, I would have laughed nervously while quietly stuffing fifteen pens into my bag "just in case." Yet here I am. I'm attending a local pen meet later this month and,… Continue reading If I could bring just five pens on a pen meet, which ones would make the cut?
