From: ????????????????? (Wayne Baker)
Subject: Pipes Digest

Hi Steve,

Thank you for getting the Pipe Digest to me so quickly.  When I found you on
the WWW I was amazed at the extent of the service and it popularity.  It is
good to see as the anti-smoking attitudes are taking its toll on the
smokeshops and enthusiests alike.

My Smokin' History.

I started smoking a pipe in tech school(15 years ago).  Since then my pipe
collection has grown from a single briar pipe to a collection of 18 pipes
consisting of briar, meerschuam and clay pipes.  I don't smoke cigars mainly
because my wife despises the aroma.  She loves the smell of a good aromatic
blend from my pipe so I am happy with that.  

Like I said I like aromatic blends.  Tinder Box used to sell a blend called
Chocolate Treat but has discontinued it.  Any idea of a similar blend out
there?  I live in Iowa, yes Iowa not Idaho.  Soybeans, corn and pork are our
trademarks not potatos!  There are few smokeshops around in this area.  The
one shop (Tinderbox in DesMoines, 50miles away) is not the shop it used to
be.  It used to be ran by a great guy, who moved to Michigan  to open a
store there.  Since he left the shop just isn't as friendly.  The stock of
pipes is smaller and less quality and higher prices.  The blends I have
purchased lately have been dry and somewhat stale. 

SO, I am looking for a good mail order supplier for my tobacco!  

Some of my favorite smokeshops;
My first;       Town Crier 
                Nichols Parkway Mall
                Kansas City MO
They got me off to a good start.  If I have any advice for beginning or
future pipe smokers is find a good pipe shop who will sell you a quality
pipe, let you sample blends and instruct you on the correct way to load and
smoke your pipe. 

"Yes you can smoke a pipe without tonge bite, Dimestore Cowboy!"

Favorite Shops!
        Diebels of Kansas City (Plaze Shop)
I see they are in your directory as the Crown Center Shop but their Plaza
store has a wonderful atmosphere.  They used to have a carver working full
time.  I have one of their custom pipes.  It's great!.  They are a full
service smokeshop.  
        Up in Smoke, Galleria Mall, Dallas TX
This is another very friendly shop.  Great selection of everything!  Great
people.  

I try and check out smokeshops whenever/wherever I can.  It's a hobby.

A great book for Smokers is The Ultimate Pipe Book by Richard Hacker.  I
would recommend it to anyone.  I understand he has written one about cigars
also.  If any of you have a book or know where I can get it, I am looking
for a book called "The Collectible Pipe" by Benjamin Rappaport.  I can't
find it anywhere.  

Well that's me.  Thanks for the information and I look forward to reading
more of Pipes Digest!

Thanks, I wish all a long cool smoke!


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