So, now that I'm a bit more settled in to life in Cambridge, I've been thinking it is time to get a decent pen to leave in the office (or briefcase).  I have a Lamy there, which is fun, as well as one of my Pelikanos (also fun) but I want something more serious.   I had been planning on another Pelikan M215, since that is my default editing pen.  I may still go that route.  But I came across the Sailor Sapporo today.  I'm also quite happy with my Sailor 1911 (my other editing pen, basically) so wonder about getting one of those instead. 

Ah, decisions, decisions.  (Yes, one could just buy one of each, but that's more than I want to spend right now.) 

Anyway, off to take notes for tomorrow's reading group with the Namiki Falcon.  Not very suited for editing, since I tend to write small, cramped notes when editing, but nice for just writing notes and such. 

Well, it's been not one of my best Christmases.  While relaxing yesterday morning, I figured I would run some routine maintenance on the computer, stuff I've done dozens of times before on multiple computers.  This time it decided to crash the system.  Catastrophically.  As in, reformat the hard drive and start from scratch.   So much for relaxing...

Anyway, today I am reloading all the tons of files and what-not.  I have iTunes reloaded, and am playing The Decemberists "The Crane Wife" while the computer chugs away.  I'll have to write more about them and their use of language at some point.  But I was quite amused - as I always am - with one particular passage in "Oh, Valencia!", a song they described in concert as being their "Latino gang war song" (or words to that effect).  I am particularly fond of the passage describing, how after the guy meets the girl from the rival gang: "and your father came all unhinged."  It just some  how strikes me as rather unexpected in the larger context. 

That's a great word: "unhinged".  One of those that doesn't get used nearly enough.   No, don't ask me why.  I haven't really given it enough thought to be able to explain how or why it's such a great word.  It just is. 

Oddly, a quick search online for the etymology turns up nothing.  (Well, ok, I didn't look THAT hard.)   And my new Christmas present, "Chambers Dictionary of Etymology," doesn't give it either.  Alas. 

Lack of etymology notwithstanding, I think one of my New Year's resolutions should be to spend more time finding opportunities to use the word "unhinged" in everyday conversation.