AimlessWanderer
Remember to forget me!
Have you tried one of the wind caps?
I've seen them. Do they really work? I was worried they'd be some useless gimmick. I'm not looking to smoke a pipe while riding my motorcycle (although if anyone has recommendations). But something to stand up to a constant 25 mph wind.
In other news, I've come to a realization last night. I was browsing new and estate pipe and tobaccos. Just mindlessly looking through the pages in the usual places. And it dawned on my that there was nothing that really jumped out and grabbed me. Nothing I couldn't make a case for spending money on. That was about 3/4 of a second before I realized it had been a few weeks since I last went looking at the sites.
Gentlemen (and any lurking ladies?), I think I'm content with what I have. Don't get me wrong, there's always more I'd like to try. But in a someday kind of way. Maybe next big tobacco order kind of way. I'll still pop into a local tobacconist and support them in some small way. But the difference is if I'm out somewhere I'll stop in. I don't seek then out anymore.
I like my couple pipes a day. I like the pipes I have, even the one I don't use. I like the tobaccos I have, even the ones I don't like make good blenders. I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything* with how I'm set up. I'm genuinely content with what I have. That's a good feeling I hope to ride for a while. At least through winter.
*Lakeland would be the one exception. But something happened and we're not getting those right now. So it does me no good to worry about that, other than keeping half an eye open for a (reasonably priced) tin to pop up on the legitimate market.
I have to send some razor stuff to a guy in Bulgaria in a few days so when I go to the PO I’ll mail you a generous sample of Match CH. I had a bowl of H & H this AM on the way home from the barber (when I take the Schnauzers to the groomer, I go to my groomer) and it was a pleasant morning smoke. That deal with the coffee pot is some real serious business though! My heart bleeds for you .On the ride to work today, I only had half a bowl of Carter Hall. That's all that was in the pouch. So a pouch used almost only as a work day breakfasts bowl so last about a month. This information is good to know.
I have a pouch of Half&Half that'll replace it for breakfast duty. That'll be a good change of pace for me. I'm hoping it'll be like switching brands of coffee. It'll be different for a little bit. But after the first few, it's still a good delivery method.
In coffee related news, due to covid inspired restructuring at work, I no longer have access to my coffee pot! Of the 4 of us denied access, three of us will be drinking it from 6:30 straight on until noon. Me and the purchasing manager keep going until quitting time. Later on tonight I have to buy a coffee pot to bring to work. Otherwise not only will we accomplish absolutely nothing, but I'm pretty certain one of us will end up in the hospital.
Half and Half is the only tobacco my dad ever smoked and always in a Kaywoodie. It really is good stuff isn’t it? I keep a tub around. It is topped with Cardamom, coriander and maze. The original topping was tonquin bean until the FDA banned it in the 1920’s or 1930’s.Ok, Half and Half is some pretty good tobacco. Very light and tasty, goes very well with coffee on a rainy commute to work. And the pouch note upon opening it is amazing. It might not replace my CH, but it's a great compliment to it.
All the leaves on neighborhood trees are gone. In the mornings, the folks walking dogs and jogging are starting to wear their jackets. The (American) football season is halfway through (if world events let us finish the season anyways). The garden has its winter mulch and black plastic sheeting. My bike is safely hibernating in the jo garage. And the local weatherman is starting to show us snow in other locations around the nation. Cool weather smoking is officially here.
I found that English blends are starting to shine though. Latikia compliments neighbors' wood fire smoke very nicely, at least according to Mrs. Rookie. But it no longer felt heavy. No longer like eating beef stew or clam chowder in the heat of summer. That heavy English felt... right. I'm starting to wonder about some of the Kentucky I've been sitting on. Thinking maybe I'll appreciate that more now that I'm back in flannel shirts and sheets. I think I have my assignment for the next month or so.
And earlier I said I was content with my level of tobacco paraphernalia. It turns out that's only partially true. Yes, I'm very happy with what I have. In my pipe collection, there's only one mediocre smoker. That Medico Jet Stream still needs a bit of loving with a drill bit to open it up slightly. My tobaccos, all except for the Kentucky, are good according to my tastes. And I haven't given up on dark fired yet. Thus far I've managed to aviod lighter ADs through sticking with matches. So in that instance, yes I'm very satisfied with what I have.
BUT! But there's a couple things missing. Specifically, there's a zulu shape and a meerschaum pipe missing. And I wouldn't mind having the rest of the Canadian family. God help me, I'm very curious about churchwardens and almost comically bent pipes like an Oom Paul/ Hungarian. But those can come in due time. I have half a lifetime to acquire those 7 smoking implements. Right now, the biggest holes in my cellar are much more on the storage side of things. Mason jars and some sort of stand are what I feel missing.
A pipe stand brings its own challenges, like where to put it. I've been poking around my living room trying to find an appropriate place for a couple stands. The best I can come up with is a shelf above the reach of a very determined 3 year old. But that's nothing a little rearranging can't fix. In fact, a nice looking full pipe stand would probably fit in well with the decor in the room, paintings of tall wooden sailing ships like Baltimore clippers and East Indiamen.
Being in the middle of November, I think the best plan would be to wait another 6 weeks and see what the Christmas season brings. While I doubt I'll get anything tobacco related, Amazon gift cards aren't out of the question.
That's true, about the cold wet perches. I'm fortunate enough to have a covered porch. Cuts out just enough sun/heat, wind, and rain to make all but the most extreme weather related problems into annoyances. Which is good, because there's no way on earth Mrs. Rookie would allow those heavy English blends to be smoked indoors.
I do like the idea of a drawer system. However, in my case, that drawer would look more like a shelf on a wall rather than a drawer at waist level. It kind of follows into other hobbies I've had/ have. I can't ride my motorcycle in the garage, play a guitar in its case, or take photographs with the lens cap on. (Although it turns out you can indeed take pictures with the lens cap on, as over the years I've shot enough rolls like that.)
Then it just becomes a question of how to rotate tobaccos. Which will be asked once I have a semi permanent location.
On the ride to work today, I only had half a bowl of Carter Hall. That's all that was in the pouch. So a pouch used almost only as a work day breakfasts bowl so last about a month. This information is good to know.
I have a pouch of Half&Half that'll replace it for breakfast duty. That'll be a good change of pace for me. I'm hoping it'll be like switching brands of coffee. It'll be different for a little bit. But after the first few, it's still a good delivery method.
In coffee related news, due to covid inspired restructuring at work, I no longer have access to my coffee pot! Of the 4 of us denied access, three of us will be drinking it from 6:30 straight on until noon. Me and the purchasing manager keep going until quitting time. Later on tonight I have to buy a coffee pot to bring to work. Otherwise not only will we accomplish absolutely nothing, but I'm pretty certain one of us will end up in the hospital.
I use a milk crate to hold my Mason jars. It looks nice and keeps (most of) my opened blends readily available and conveniently displayed.That's true, about the cold wet perches. I'm fortunate enough to have a covered porch. Cuts out just enough sun/heat, wind, and rain to make all but the most extreme weather related problems into annoyances. Which is good, because there's no way on earth Mrs. Rookie would allow those heavy English blends to be smoked indoors.
I do like the idea of a drawer system. However, in my case, that drawer would look more like a shelf on a wall rather than a drawer at waist level. It kind of follows into other hobbies I've had/ have. I can't ride my motorcycle in the garage, play a guitar in its case, or take photographs with the lens cap on. (Although it turns out you can indeed take pictures with the lens cap on, as over the years I've shot enough rolls like that.)
Then it just becomes a question of how to rotate tobaccos. Which will be asked once I have a semi permanent location.