I'm 34 years old and live in a place that I never thought that I'd even visit in my lifetime; Las Vegas, Nevada. I came out here seven years ago on a rock climbing trip with some friends. The weather was much better than Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, so I went home and packed my bags.

My fountain pen habit was triggered unknowingly by my fiance, Melissa. I was gifted a tech-flex mechanical pencil (she has a civil engineering degree) for Valentine's Day 2002. This is followed by a story of her visit to the store where the pencil was purchased... "Oh, they have fountain pens too?" I had always found fountain pens to be curious creatures. I can recall a few old pens in my parents desk as a child. "Dried out ink cartridges? Where do these come from?" I remember thinking. Now, I knew. The collecting gewne had been triggered!

When I'm not reading the message board here, I work as a guide for Jackson Hole Mountain Guides here in the Red Rocks of Southern Nevada. The attached photo was taken at the top of a climb. The questioning look is me making sure that everyone is on the same page before we begin our descent. Fabulous climbing and hiking out here. If you're ever in Vegas, check it out. I also work at the Rio as a stage manager for a show. I'm currently finishing my undergrad in biology at UNLV. In addition to my interests in fountain pens and rock climbing, I also like to read and mountain bike.