Bad Travel Partner

I had a pen and paper go with me to a book reading. I wanted to write succotash in blue ink on the paper from 'A thousand acres' by Jane Smiley. But I should have known this was impossible given that the whole ink of the refill set quarters at the ceiling of the pen, against gravity and that I couldnt cajole it to meet the paper. I did carry it with the writing side up.. still...