From: ???????????????????????????
Subject: a brief biography

Steve - 

Sorry I took so long to get to you with this brief self-introduction.  I
subscribed to the Pipe (& now cigar digest).  I'm a law student in Boston,
about to enter the actual working world, proably in intellectual property
law, which sounds more highfalutin' than it is.  I've smoked a pipe off
and on for the last 4 years, though it has been more off than on until
recently, when I decided to return to my tobacco roots.  My father has
smoked Carter Hall in Missouri Meerschaums as far back as I can remember &
he tells me that he began when he was 13.  When he smokes, he continues to
use the corncobs, despite my efforts to acquire better pipes for him.  Old
habits die hard. 

I didn't actually pick up tobacco until my junior year in college, when I
started smoking Dunhill Reds.  In my senior year i bought a no-name pipe 
which, in tandem with the Dunhills, got me through a senior honors 
thesis, turned in extremely late.  I was pleased to find that the years of 
living around a pipe-smoker had made most of the motions second-nature.  
I also found that the pipe made an excellent twit-repellent - I guess 
that's a secondary benefit.

I put the pipe down for about 3 years, though, and picked up the habit of
rolling my own cigarettes (Drum) while roaming around southern Europe.  I 
still roll my own, as I smoke cigarettes like a pipe, i.e. for the taste &
without inhaling.  Rolling my own allows me to smoke a rich tobacco, is
more portable than my pipe & requires less of a time commitment.  My life
is busy enough that this is unfortunately important. I rely on Leavitt &
Pierce for rolling shag as well, and prefer what I think is their Drum
equivalent (though it's richer).  I've tried Virginia blondes in
cigarettes, but find them tasteless.  I was very interested in the custom
cigarette tobacco recipe in the 11/04 Digest & would love to see more. 
With some time, perhaps I'll try to add suggestions.  Pipe-wise, I smoke L
& P's Black & Gold, which is a nice blend, but am open to suggestions. 

Have been happily cannibalizing the digests for cigar, tobacco & pipe
suggestions.  Right now have only one no-name pipe, which is OK as both
housemates are tolerant non-smokers, so I only smoke one pipe/day.  Thanks
for the great publication.  I tend not to mention my pipe habit because
I'm self-conscious about the age thing, so it's good to see other younger
pipe smokers are out there.  Thanks for the great publication/service. 

Here's to keeping it lit & minimal match use - trees are a valuable resource.

Jeremy S. Woodburn

[ Yes -- but remember to save the endangered butanes, too! Welcome! -S. ]


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