We live in a society where the so called "pleasure police" want to infringe on anything that's fun and not to their liking. Totally legal tobacco products, cigars, pipes, cigarettes etc, are constantly under attack by the anti-smoking assholes, who for whatever reason just want to stop those of us who enjoy those products from enjoying them. Isn't this still AMERICA! They live by the creed "do as I say, not as I do". I proudly served this country for 20 plus years in the Air Force of my own free will so that people would continue to have the right to pursue life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But again we are always under attack. I don't get it, tobacco is a legal product that keeps a lot of people employed, from the farmers, to the UPS driver who delivers said products, to the store clerks who service us and on and on and on. Which brings me back to my original thought. Thank you!, to all of those who have served and continue to serve. Despite the "nanny state" we are living in, you all put your lives on the line to protect our freedom here in America.
Not a day goes by, that I don't think about those I served with and the sacrifices that were made. Most military members are severely underpaid, under appreciated and not really respected for what they do. Yeah, I know everybody is running around saying "thank you for service", but when it comes time to help those returning from a war zone gain employment, the niceties stop for the most part. Many are passed on employment so "Joe's nephew" can get the position, who by the way, is nowhere near qualified, has done nothing to earn the position while the vet and his family struggle. When a vet needs a place to live, they are often discriminated against because they may have to be transferred and won't be able to stay the duration of the lease. In my humble opinion, there should never be a veteran in the United States who is homeless, period. The same assholes who are attempting to stop our enjoyment of a legal product, are the ones who in other countries would be jailed, tortured and even killed. But because of the veterans choice to serve this country, the assholes are allowed to protest and put forward these lies about second hand smoking etc, and any other crap they want to, because they are miserable. How ironic is that?
I could go on and on and on, but the next time you say thank you to a veteran, think about what they have done for you. The average American is a spoiled piece of shit who hasn't had to fight for anything, that's why so many others risk their lives to get to this country, because they want to have things they can't have or do things they can't do in their country. If you don't think its a fact, how many people you know have taken a raft to Cuba, or risked their life to get into Mexico? But yet that average American feels they have the right to do whatever they want to and in essence they do, but its all because of the service of the many fine women and men who have worn and still wear the uniform of our armed forces. After you've thought what they have really done for you, your "thank you" might really sound a little more sincere and not like the catch phrase of the year.
So blessed Memorial Day to the brave souls who in their wildest dreams never thought that the rights they gallantly fought and died for would be trampled over, by a bunch of bullshit toting, lie spitting, disrespectful idiots who want to have things their way, because they don't understand that what I do with my life is my business and they should stay the hell out.
Sorry for the rant but on this upcoming Memorial Day its about time some truth is finally spoken.
Long ashes and deep bowls
Greg C
(___G_________]]]]~~~
Discussions about the world of premium cigars, accessories, libations and everything cigars.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
"Laying pipe"
First let me apologize for the hiatus, as its been about 6 months since my last blog. New responsibilities at work have kept me away, but now things are slowing down I can get back to my passion. Over the last few years as the economy makes a comeback, I've noticed a lot of my cigar guys have jumped into the wonderful world of pipes. Other than the actual pipe itself, pipe smoking is a bit more affordable for some than cigars. With all of the different varieties of pipe tobacco, you can also still get that cigar taste, and not go broke in the process. With that being said, I've been listening to a few of those cigars guys talk about their new found love, the smoking pipe.
As for me, I started smoking pipes in 1977 at the ripe old age of 17. Back then smoking wasn't as taboo as it is now and the laws were a bit different regarding purchasing tobacco. Most of my friends were smoking cigarettes and I have never liked them, so I didn't get into that habit. My grandfather, was a cigar and pipe guy and I was always intrigued by his pipe smoking habits. Typically he smoked cigars during the day or when he was working around the house, or if he was entertaining at the bar he added on to the rear of his home (yes a full service bar room, taps and all). Now if he was just relaxing watching television while sitting in his "easy" chair, that's when he would reach over to the coffee table next to the chair and grab one of his many pipes, fill the bowl and puff away. Although I never asked him, I surmised he was emulating the men on television of the 50's, 60's and 70's who all enjoyed pipes. You know the father on My Three Sons, The Lawrence Welk show, Laugh In etc. (those where the shows he watched religiously) and all had men who were smoking pipes on them. Even down to the smoking jackets and libations. He would shower, grab his favorite slippers and smoking jacket and retire to the chair. So when I decided I wanted to be "grown" at 17, I purchased a pipe and a pouch of Half and Half" tobacco. I had no earthly idea what I was doing, but mimicked what I saw my grandfather do. Slam my pipe in the pouch, smash the tobacco in it and fire it up. Initially, it was okay, and I just didn't understand the whole smoking thing, but during one of my visits to the cigar store with my grandfather I heard some guys talking about their pipes and quickly learned the right way to enjoy a pipe. Subsequently today, I'm hearing some of the same conversations about pipes today.
I can remember the pipe guys, mocking the cigar guys, calling them big spenders because cigars, even back then cost considerably more than pipe tobacco, hell probably more than pipes. Those were the days when grocery stores, department stores and tobacco stores had counter displays with pipes on them. But the pipe guys would talk about how they could by a tin of Sir Walter Raleigh or the likes, and smoke it all week and the cigar guys would have to buy a box or two to get the same pleasure. Also, it just appeared that the pipe guys where a little more suave and refined. The cigar guys just seemed tough and big spender "ish". None the less, that conversation is happening today. As that old proverb states "desperate times, call or desperate measures", so with a tough economy, and fewer dollars to spend on pleasure, the smoking pipe seems to be making a huge return. The difference I see today is that the pipe smoker is more educated in their choices of pipes, whether its briar or one of the many fruit woods out there and the blends of tobacco seems infinite. And as I mentioned earlier, a lot more tobacco blends are more along the lines of cigars, many with actual cigar leaf blended in. One gentleman in particular I know, had literally stopped smoking cigars, because his budget wouldn't allow it. Now he's almost a pipe guy exclusively. He recently remarked "I don't know why I hadn't smoked a pipe before, I could have saved a million dollars with all the cigars I've bought over the years." There are even guys who said under no circumstances would they smoke a pipe, who are now firing up a briar bowl filled with a cigar blended pipe tobacco.
I like the idea that I can enjoy either, or and they both suit my taste and budget. So tell me, what's your thoughts on the pipe "phenomenon". Do you enjoy pipes as well as cigars? Or do you prefer to just stick to one of them. As mentioned in the first paragraph, I'm back and we'll visit the pipe thing a bit more on future blogs, blends of tobacco, pipes and styles, how much you spend on each etc. So let me hear it, "what 'cha smoking"? Long ashes and deep bowls!
Greg
(___G_________]]]]~~~
As for me, I started smoking pipes in 1977 at the ripe old age of 17. Back then smoking wasn't as taboo as it is now and the laws were a bit different regarding purchasing tobacco. Most of my friends were smoking cigarettes and I have never liked them, so I didn't get into that habit. My grandfather, was a cigar and pipe guy and I was always intrigued by his pipe smoking habits. Typically he smoked cigars during the day or when he was working around the house, or if he was entertaining at the bar he added on to the rear of his home (yes a full service bar room, taps and all). Now if he was just relaxing watching television while sitting in his "easy" chair, that's when he would reach over to the coffee table next to the chair and grab one of his many pipes, fill the bowl and puff away. Although I never asked him, I surmised he was emulating the men on television of the 50's, 60's and 70's who all enjoyed pipes. You know the father on My Three Sons, The Lawrence Welk show, Laugh In etc. (those where the shows he watched religiously) and all had men who were smoking pipes on them. Even down to the smoking jackets and libations. He would shower, grab his favorite slippers and smoking jacket and retire to the chair. So when I decided I wanted to be "grown" at 17, I purchased a pipe and a pouch of Half and Half" tobacco. I had no earthly idea what I was doing, but mimicked what I saw my grandfather do. Slam my pipe in the pouch, smash the tobacco in it and fire it up. Initially, it was okay, and I just didn't understand the whole smoking thing, but during one of my visits to the cigar store with my grandfather I heard some guys talking about their pipes and quickly learned the right way to enjoy a pipe. Subsequently today, I'm hearing some of the same conversations about pipes today.
I can remember the pipe guys, mocking the cigar guys, calling them big spenders because cigars, even back then cost considerably more than pipe tobacco, hell probably more than pipes. Those were the days when grocery stores, department stores and tobacco stores had counter displays with pipes on them. But the pipe guys would talk about how they could by a tin of Sir Walter Raleigh or the likes, and smoke it all week and the cigar guys would have to buy a box or two to get the same pleasure. Also, it just appeared that the pipe guys where a little more suave and refined. The cigar guys just seemed tough and big spender "ish". None the less, that conversation is happening today. As that old proverb states "desperate times, call or desperate measures", so with a tough economy, and fewer dollars to spend on pleasure, the smoking pipe seems to be making a huge return. The difference I see today is that the pipe smoker is more educated in their choices of pipes, whether its briar or one of the many fruit woods out there and the blends of tobacco seems infinite. And as I mentioned earlier, a lot more tobacco blends are more along the lines of cigars, many with actual cigar leaf blended in. One gentleman in particular I know, had literally stopped smoking cigars, because his budget wouldn't allow it. Now he's almost a pipe guy exclusively. He recently remarked "I don't know why I hadn't smoked a pipe before, I could have saved a million dollars with all the cigars I've bought over the years." There are even guys who said under no circumstances would they smoke a pipe, who are now firing up a briar bowl filled with a cigar blended pipe tobacco.
I like the idea that I can enjoy either, or and they both suit my taste and budget. So tell me, what's your thoughts on the pipe "phenomenon". Do you enjoy pipes as well as cigars? Or do you prefer to just stick to one of them. As mentioned in the first paragraph, I'm back and we'll visit the pipe thing a bit more on future blogs, blends of tobacco, pipes and styles, how much you spend on each etc. So let me hear it, "what 'cha smoking"? Long ashes and deep bowls!
Greg
(___G_________]]]]~~~
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