Crimson Crux

Remember my recent post on laser engraved moleskines? Well, I just got mine earlier this week, and it’s a beauty.

Playing on its coffee steam design, I’m naming my second moleskine notebook “Katas” (Filipino for ‘juice’ or ’sap’). KATAS is also the nickname of a small literary organization I helped establish last year, the Kalipunan ng mga Taga-Sining para sa Lipunan (Society of Artists for Society).

I was especially enamored of this design because 1) I love coffee, and 2) I have a strong interest in cities and urban planning. Not to mention that I interpret the union of coffee steam and city as the (rightful) merger of art with society.

I know some people, especially fellow writers, frown upon the use of such luxurious instruments of the art. A few of my peers have even been vocal about it. But I don’t see it as a big deal — I know that I’m a good writer, and I know that I don’t throw away my hard-earned cash (for most of the time, that is). Outside of books and my airplane minis hobby, my salary goes to savings and family bills.

As I wrote the last time around:

Modofly’s Coffee Steam moleskine, a portrait of the city in a whiff of coffee vapor. Hard and flowing, real and absurd, elegant and gritty…After all, I’ve just filled my first moleskine (named “Karimlan”) to the brim. The new caffeinated notebook will serve as its replacement. It will also be a reward for all the little milestones in my literary career (no quotes surrounding ‘career’ this time), as well as an inspiration to finish the last five essays or so for my first book.

First book? Care to share a bit more, Mr. Kimpo?

That will be for another post in the near, near future. Wink, wink.

And yes, I plan to finish the last few essays by August so I can submit it to Dr. ____ for consideration. (A third wink goes in here.)

Two more pics of my new moleskine:

Katas just out of the package. It set me back around $45, overseas shipping included.

The old and the new. The wear and tear on Karimlan (bottom moleskine) is evident. You served me well, my friend. Thanks for all the poems, essays, stories, and other magical words.