From: "S. Holmes [Consulting Detective]" <???????????????????????????>
Subject: Re: Pipes Digest #17 - July 9, 1989 

  >> From: ?????????????????????????? (Steve Masticola)
  >> Subject: Tamping, inhaling, "Pipe Smoker..." newsletter, etc.
  >> 
     ...

  >> Sometimes, the tobacco leaves may lock together, especially in long-cut
  >> tobacco (like Cavendish). To unlock them, gently pull them apart as you fill
  >> the bowl. Try filling in stages - in each stage, fill the bowl loosely to
  >> the top, then compress the tobacco until it's springy. When the bowl is
  >> full, compress again until you get the proper draw.
  >> 

I *had* to respond to this.  Reading this prompted instant memories of
my grandfather (lo these many years ago) putting his tobacco
(Granger?) into his hand and rolling it between his palms to grind it
into a finer texture.  Then dumping it into the pipe using his hand as
a funnel.  It was an extremely dry tobacco as I recall.  I can't
imagine rolling the tobaccos I smoke in my hands before smoking it.

And since I am writing:
  >> 
  >> I had a little off-line conversation with Bill about blowing smoke through
  >> the nose; some others may be curious. I don't inhale (except on rare
  >> occasions when I want a little, legal rush! :-), though I have known pipe
  >> smokers who did - their lungs kind of creaked after awhile. Exhaling through
  >> the nose without inhaling smoke is kind of like swallowing while breathing
  >> air out through your nose. I hope those who want to learn to do it will
  >> persevere!
  >> 

I don't inhale either, or exhale through my nose.  I still get the
occasional buzz.

In my introductory posting (many months ago) I mentioned that I was no
longer an active pipe smoker.  And I said that I might discuss the
reasons later.  Well, reading this list has tempted me to try my pipe
again and the old reasons have cropped up so maybe some has some
suggestions.  

First ( and I don't expect any help here) my wife hates it.  I don't
smoke at home, but she know when I am because she can smell it on my
breath ( and taste it occasionally:-).  She is also very sensitive to
smoke in general.  If I have been at a meeting (and not currently
smoking my pipe) she knows whether someone in the room had smoked a
cigarette by the smell on my clothes when I get home several hours later.

Secondly, it makes my throat hurt.  Maybe not enough to keep me from
smoking, but enough to be distracting.

Thirdly, I am a singer and the sore throat doesn't help.  I am not a
professional, understand, but the hobbies can conflict. 

Forthly, I don't think there are any pipe shops at all in Lafayette,
Indiana!  I am reduced to smoking Captain Black, Borkum Riff and the
like.  To be premeditated enough to actually order tobacco from a mail
order house would certainly tip off my wife that her opinion is little
thought of (:-).

Cheers,
Steve Holmes

[ Hope our members can help Mr. Holmes see his way through this conundrum! -S. ] 


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