The "Round Stic" is a model of ballpoint pen manufactured and sold by Bic. It's one of their best selling pens, albeit one of their cheapest as well. On Amazon, one can get a box of 60 Round Stic pens for around 6 dollars. (That's ten cents a pen.)

I used to be a "pen snob". I have tried and owned at various points dozens of fountain pens and inks. I've tried all kinds of ballpoints; from churches, businesses, the dollar store, Staples, refillable ballpoints. I've tried glass pens, metal pens, acrylic pens, plastic pens. It took me years to find my favorite pen, but it's the Round Stic. I've tried pens that have cost me $30 (not including the ink), but I find that I simply enjoy writing with the Round Stic more.

It's smooth to write with, it has just the exact right amount of resistance, it's perfect. Some larger-nib fountain pens glide across the page without much, if any, resistance. With my shakey hands, I have a hard time writing with those pens.…

one, size small
blue notes sweater
with ripped pocket and
alternating green and blue stripes
belonged to crazy
bassist ex-boyfriend

two, one hundred percent
cotton Molson Canadian
white boxer shorts, kept
from impromptu sleepover
so fucking
comfortable
(like his mouth)

three, faded black
megatron transformers
t-shirt, preshrunk and
assembled in honduras
my own blue …

I made hardtack yesterday.

The recipe itself is as simple as can be. Mix 2 cups of flour with 3/4 cup water and 1.5 teaspoons salt, adding a little flour if resulting dough sticks to your hands. Roll out flat to 1 cm thickness, then cut into 3-inch squares. Poke holes in each piece with a chopstick. Place squares on a baking tray and bake at 375 degrees F for 30 minutes per side.

But the question you're probably asking me is…