Do you think this is strange, or a good idea???

[SeaSpray]

I ALWAYS have at least one pen in my pocketbook, so when I go out and if I need to use a pen, I ALWAYS use my own. Just the thought of all the people before me who've used other pens makes me nuts. lol Well, not "nuts", but you know what I mean! I've read that we pick up a LOT of germs when we go out, especially from door knobs, railings, and anything else that people touch with their hands, so of course that would mean pens too.

At the doctor's office this morning, and last night at the restaurant, I pulled out my own pen to use.

Does anyone else do this? I really hate to use "public" pens! LOL

And yes, I do realize that there are germs everywhere....I just try to cut down on picking up germs where ever I can.

Oh, and I also wash my hands as soon as I come home, especially from food shopping where my hands have been touching the shopping cart handle.

I know this all sounds silly, and I am NOT OCD because sometimes I do forget to wash my hands when I come home and I'm not neurotic. lol I just try to be aware of how people pick up germs in their daily lives.

So...what do you think about this? Strange, or makes sense??

 

[ennazus]

Well.... so you don't feel so alone... I'll admit that sometimes I use my own pen. I keep a pen (or two) in my purse and the thought has crossed my mind to use my pen instead of the 'public' pen...

Now I guess since you've planted this seed in my mind I'll be using my own pen more often. LOL

 

[TRAPPED-PARENT]

I don't think you've gone over the edge yet, but you do seem to be a little more paranoid about it than what is considered "normal."

When you family and friends start saying something about it, THEN I would start to wonder if you might have a problem.

 

[Pam]

I always carry and use my own pen as well. But it's not so much the germ thing as it is that I always start filling out my check while the clerk is ringing up the order.

And yes, I always wash my hands first thing when I get home, too! And that's because I am thinking about all of those germs!

 

[lynxstch]

and I don't think you're strange at all..I keep a pen attached to my checkbook cover..and my pen is the ONLY one I use..I write checks with it..sign credit slips with it..anytime my signature is required..whether at stores, restaurants, dr's offices, etc..I too don't like the thought of where all those other pens might have been..at least I know that I'm the only one who touched mine!
Lynn

 

[smileybrat]

it's not really strange but i don't do it. i use whatever pens around. there are germs everywhere, i just try to wash my hands often, and don't put them near my face or mouth.

 

[Serena]

I don't care who's pen I use, but I carry several in my purse anyway.

 

[minniecarousel]

I hadn't thought of the pen angle. It doesn't sound crazy though. I always try to remember to wash my hands when I come in the house.
One of my brothers uses public transportation & sometimes public phones. He always carries the little bottles of waterless hand sanitizer with him.

 

[MAC3]

I'm just as neurotic as you. I put a pen behind my ear (work habit) but I have my own and No one wants to use mine Hee hee

I also carry some of that hand sanitizer with me & at work. People passing around papers that they've had on their desks, floors....ect

Call me crazy but I'm one of the few people in the good ole USA that didn't get that stomach flu that went around. It was even in my own household and didn't get it...

I am obsessed with washing my hands as soon as I come from shopping.

Oh well,
At least I'm not alone.
Lisa

 

[disykat]

I use my own pen too - specifically to avoid germs. I don't feel like it's overkill at all, just one more easy way to avoid an illness. If I forget my pen, I'll use the one on the counter though.

 

[Lynn CC]

I use my own pen if I have one on me. I think a lot of people do.
I wash my hands and so does everyone else in the family when they come home from anywhere.
I think I go one step further and wipe off my steering wheel with bacterial wipes often! That's the first thing I touch after the shopping cart handle etc....

I don't think it's weird, but some people do call me "Mrs. Sanitary"

 

[Saffron]

I have about 15 pens in my purse and always use my own. Oh okay not 15, but more than 2. You know why I always use my own? Because if I don't, I'm liable to walk off with someone elses. Not on purpose!!!!! I just hate to get home and realize I just swiped a pen from somewhere! I've been using my own for almost as long as I've been writing. I never really thought about the germ aspect before.

 

[ead79]

I won't use pens at the pharmacy or the doctors office (ew, yucky!) because of the germs. I also wash my hands when I come home and try not to rub my eyes/nose/touch my mouth to keep germs from spreading. And I make it my mission to get out of the public restroom without touching the door handle!

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by MAC3

Call me crazy but I'm one of the few people in the good ole USA that didn't get that stomach flu that went around. It was even in my own household and didn't get it...

I am obsessed with washing my hands as soon as I come from shopping.

Oh well,
At least I'm not alone.
Lisa

Lisa, I didn't get the stomch flu either, so apparently we're doing something right!


Thanks everyone, for your comments! I had a feeling that I wasn't the only one who preferred to use their own pen when out in public!

 

[Buckalew]

Yes and it needs to be a Disney pen.

 

[SeaSpray]

Originally posted by Buckalew
Yes and it needs to be a Disney pen.

It WAS a Disney pen that I always had with me, until I lost it a couple of months ago It was a special silver pen from the 25th Anniversary of WDW, it was engraved with the dates 1971-1996, and had the black Mickey ears at the top of the pen, and the white gloved Mickey hand on the end of the clasp (the clasp that a man would use if he stuck the pen in his shirt pocket). I don't think they make pens like this anymore, and definitely not the special 25th Anniversary one. I could still cry when I remember I lost it I would love to somehow replace it, if even it didn't have the dates engraved, but sadly I have no current trips to WDW planned for anytime soon, so I can't go and check to see if they have anything like this right now. Oh well :/

Anyway, I do have a couple of those white plastic pens with the gold lettering, that are in the Disney resorts rooms But after losing my special silver WDW pen, I just keep generic pens with me when I go out now.

I love to collect pens and mugs from my travels, and my absolute favorites are my mugs and pens from WDW

 

[WilmaBud]

I carry and use my own pens, too. I always carry hand sanitizer, and I try to get out of touching public door handles (esp. bathroom ones). I wash my hands first thing when I get home, and make my kids and their friends wash theirs after coming in from school or anywhere else. My son and I have terrible allergies and we're very susceptible to illness. So I try to control what little I can as far as germs go. Unfortunately, even with all my precautions, I just had the stomach virus (compliments of my son, who's got terrible hygeine habits) AND that flu-like virus (again, compliments of my son). People who think it's "weird" to take precautions must not be very susceptible to illness (or maybe just clueless).