In this week’s Desk Dispatch, I’m sitting down at the desk with a few new Esterbrook drops, a quick update on some Esterbrook pieces I’ve been using for a while, and a look at what I’m reading right now. Full transparency: Esterbrook gifted me a couple of the items I’m showing, and I’m also sharing Esterbrook gear I’ve purchased myself—because when it comes to old school charm and nostalgic throwbacks, I genuinely think they do an amazing job. I take a close look at the Esterbrook Estie Nouveau Bleu, which is different from my other Esties because it’s a button piston filler (so you’re filling the pen body, not a converter). I talk through the practical trade-offs—cleaning, ink capacity, and how easy it is to swap inks—plus my experience with their JoWo #6 steel medium nibs (smooth, consistent, not overly wet, and great for long-form journaling). I also show the Bee Bookish brass page holder (stunning, a bit impractical because it’s big), their standard international black cartridges, and some very on-brand blotting paper. Then we pivot into books—non-fiction heavy with a little fiction for fun—and I share why titles like Never Split the Difference have become a daily carry for me. I wrap with a reflection on treating my life like a project: staying grounded in slow, intentional, analog living while still using digital tools as tools (not letting them drive the traffic).