I’ve been mulling over your words all week.

Matbe my fountain pens do help the writing. I think if it does, it’s because of the state I’m in when using a fountain pen. Do I pick up the fountain pen when I’m already in this state, or does that come because of using the fountain pen? Tough call. I do believe tools can create a mental state (dare I say, spiritual?). Especially tools that meld the physicality of the user and tool. Somehow putting the two in a more intimate connection. Such as woodworking tools. Those tools I own that have wood handles seem more alive in my hands–more at one. (Does this have something to do with the molecular structure of the cellulose in the wood and the glycosaminoglycans in the skin trying to bond? This might be an interesting line to study with my “Things Men Have Made” post,) But, I don’t always go for the wood-handled tools which tend to be “hand” tools and not power tools. I have to be mentally ready for the time it will take with the hand tools. Is this so with my fountain pen? Is this so about the places I fish and the tools I use on the water? I don’t know. I’ll have to pay close attention when I pick up the fountain pen next time (I don’t always use it).

I wasn’t familiar with Pamuk (nor the Spenser books). To tell you the truth, I didn’t get very far in All the Pretty Horses. It drove me crazy. I don’t have the mental acumen or patience to enjoy what he was trying to accomplish–it more just pissed me off trying to figure it out. Again, is it a mental thing that I have to get ready to read something like that to fully appreciate it? Maybe for me.

I like your Helvetica comparison. (I would never “Pish!” typeface discussions.)

Tools have character and power of their own to the imagination, I believe, and confidence in the tool is a critical human characteristic when it comes to creativity. It’s also a critical characteristic when it comes to fishing, I think. We all commit to things on the creek–a stretch, a fly, a tactic, etc.–in exclusion of all others. We must pick one.

I definitely agree on this.

Clever trick with the cheap rod, etc.? I basically already do as you say, “use a single trusted rod, reel, line…” I only own four rods and about four reels. One rod is the old fiberglass rod that used to be my father’s and that I learned to fly fish with and it’s getting a bit beat up. It’s also stiff as a 2×4. One rod is a 7′ 3 wt. I think I’ve used it once in the past three years. One rod is a four piece so I can easily attach it to the back of my motorcycle and I only use it when I ride the bike to my fishing destination. The last rod is my go to rod.

The original idea for the cheap gear isn’t really to show the idea of “spareness,” but rather economy (financial). I thought of this the year before last when reading a lot of blogs about the gear guys buy and the concern with some about the high cost of getting into fly fishing. I want to show that it doesn’t cost a lot because you don’t need a lot of gear or costly gear. So I think I’ll still do it. I would love a “year with bamboo,” but have yet to purchase one. That’s a rod I’d like to custom build, but have no such skills. Again, the melding I hear about with bamboo is the main reason for wanting one.

Scott is a teetotaler, but the scotch held as handbell (by the neck, as opposed to cradled in the arms) makes sense to me.

Good idea with the haiku and your students. I’ve tried to write haiku in he past, but the “formula” is a bit rigid for me. I do write very short poems on occasion. I’ll have to look at trying your assignment. I hardly wrote any poetry last year at all.

I really appreciate the time you took to respond. I like that you feel comfortable enough to write lengthy comments (I know some people shy away from such things). I really didn’t do your comment justice in my response here, but you do have me thinking–thank you!

I really like John Lee Hooker. Howlin Wolf? I like his guitar playing. Love his harmonica. But not so endeared to his vocals.

I can’t play because my brain-to-hand coordination isn’t what it needs to be–it’s way too slow!

I just don’t have it in me to be a good guitarist – I think I’m always going to be a hack. My brain is just to muzzy, I can’t think quickly enough (or maybe I just need to practice more). Trying and failing though gives me a great admiration of those that succeed at it.

Blues, jazz, Jackson Pollock and Westerns, those are the cultural contributions of America. Maybe throw the wooly bugger and the Elk hair caddis in there too!

I think that Monk managed to capture this in his jazz.

Sometimes I turn out my pockets looking for that stuff – but I just find lint.