From: ?????????????
Subject: Smoker's Profile

Dear Steve and other Pipesters...
    I just received PD#184 (my 2nd issue), and have decided that now is the
time to tell everyone about myself.  But 1st- I read with much glee the story
of the "outing" of Congressman Waxman.  I remember watching those hearings
and for some reason suspecting him of being a closet smoker.  Hah!  It almost
(but not quite) makes me ashamed to be a Democrat (well, I guess it makes me
more ashamed that HE'S a Democrat, actually!).  But enough of politics...
    I am about to turn 30, and am currently a church custodian, but am in the
process of being hired by the Colorado D.O.C. (hopefully!)(I was a
Correctional Officer in Wy previously).  I began smoking a pipe when I was
18, after experimenting w. cigars for a year or two. I still smoke cigars
when my wife is out of town!  My father smokes a pipe, and many of my
earliest memories involve accompanying him to tobacco shops in Dallas when he
was a seminary student at SMU.  So I guess it was inevitable that I would
take up the Briar.  I purchased my 1st brand name pipe- a Comoy- in 1985.
 That summer I got "The Ult. Pipe Book" (bless AND curse the day!), and
learned a lot, but also have lived without MONEY ever since (that's the
CURSE!!!).  I have, however, managed to accumulate a bunch of nice pipes!
    Other highlights:  The day I bought my 1st estate pipe (a Dunhill, at
Jerri's in Denver,CO);  the day I found out about Barry Levin and started
doing business with him; the day (many yrs later) that I was actually hired
at a tobac shop (Straus Tob, in Lexington, Ky); and the day I got to attend
my 1st (and to date ONLY) Pipe show- the Indy Briar Friars show in '92.  The
last experience was so incredible that I still occasionally dream about it!
 I met Barry Levin, and many other biggies (including, I believe, PD member
Dennis "I LIKE BIG PIPES" Congas).  Also at that show, I got my 1st Castello,
which was a life-changing event!
    I live in SW Colorado, and must do most of my purchasing via Nikos Levin
and Edward's in Richardson TX.
    I collect both classic English and newer Italian pipes (in about a 2 to 1
ratio), being partial to Dunhill, Sasieni, Castello, and (recently, and for
an unknown reason) Savinelli Autographs (some I love, others  I loathe!).  I
am also accumulating a nice little collection of JT&D Cooke pipes- they're
great!  I even have one that belonged to Barry Levin.  Jim Cooke did all of
Barry's (and now Nikos's) restoration work, and is a heck of a nice guy, and
a really talented carver and repairman.   
    I saw Alberto Bonfiglioli's letter in the newest PD, and can say that
he's a heck of a nice guy, too.  I've never met him, but have corresponded w.
him and he sent me a bunch of nice photos of his pipes and his shop.  I own
one of his pipes and am looking forward to meeting him at the PCI show in
May.
    I seem to be like many members in my Tobac preferences- Dunhill #965,
Balkan Sobranie, Bengal Slices, and numerous Levin/McClelland mixtures (which
are running low- I need to contact Kathy Levin soon!).  As someone else said
in the Digest, "Hurray for Latakia!"
    Well, I'm sure this is the longest profile you've ever received, so I'll
end now... I like to talk about pipes, I guess.
    Happy Puffing to all!...Chris Tarman
   "Many men smoke, but Fu Manchu."

[ Administrativa deleted -- good luck! -S ]

Thanks...Chris   


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