From: "Brett A. Thomas" <?????????????>
Subject: A pleasant evening

Steve, All:

Thought I'd share my experiences with pipe smoking, under the theory
that they might be useful to other relatively inexperienced smokers
out there.  And, besides, it's been a pleasant evening and I'd like to
share my good mood.

I've always been interested in smoking a pipe; one of my earliest
memories of my father was the June in which Father's Day and my
mother's birthday fell on the same day; while I don't remember what
her gift was, I do recall we gave him a pipe.  While he doesn't seem
to have stuck with it, it is something that has intrigued me, since.

In 1994, I was working in New York City, and one of my coworkers began
extolling the virtues of cigar smoking.  I mentioned that I'd always
wanted to take up pipe smoking; he advised me, "If you want to play
with something, get a pipe - if you want to smoke, get a cigar!"  As I
didn't know anyone who smoked a pipe, I started smoking cigars, and
discovered that I enjoyed them.

By 1996, I was living with my girlfriend (now my wife and mother of
our son) in upstate New York (near Ithaca).  Her father smokes cigars
and pipes, but she was not enchanted by them, and my (minor) cigar
habit was banished to the porch, an all too common story.  Upon
consultation, it appeared that pipe smoking would be tolerated
indoors.  I am probably one of the few people in the world to take
up pipe smoking for my health - standing outside in a subzero Ithaca
winter will kill ya!

I subscribed to the digest (#208), and read the FAQs and such.  On my
then-future father-in-law's advice, I purchased a Peterson System
pipe.  Since I enjoyed cigars, I consciously chose the strongest
blends I could find.  Also, I had flirted with drinking cognac with my
cigars, so I decided to try the same with my pipes.

While I tried to enjoy it, I had a hard time.  At the bottom of a
bowl, I felt a little sick.  My mouth would either be too dry or
overflowing with saliva.  Relighting the pipe would burn my mouth a
bit, which would exacerbate the saliva problem and my sick feeling.
On and off, I tried smoking pipes, but in the end (especially with my
subsequent move to much warmer California), it was just easier and
more pleasant to smoke cigars.

Finally, this year, we bought a house (the first we've owned), and I
was able to set up a study for myself, at home.  I purchased a nice
leather chair, and thought to myself, "That's just _begging_ to be
smoked in."  So, I decided to give the pipe another try.

The first thing that had changed was that I've since sworn off cognac
- it's much too rich for my drinking tastes.  I've since switched to
scotch for my straight liquor.

The second thing was that I'd learned from my dizziness and sickness
from Dunhill Nightcap - despite enjoying strong cigars, something
about the extra moistness and heat from relighting a pipe was doing me
in.

In the interests of marital harmony, I ordered some Apricots and Cream
from Cornell & Diehl, pulled out one of the system pipes, and tried
it.  My drink was a glass of water (I'd tried smoking without a drink
at all, but my mouth would dry right up).  It was better experience,
but I still burned my mouth and was dizzy by the end of it.

Finally, tonight, after a really good day, and in a good mood, I
decided to try, once more.  I brought out my favorite pipe, which was
by Peterson, but not a System - an Emerald, with a fairly small bowl.
I put "Ella and Louis" on the stereo, and poured a glass of Macallan
18 Gran Reserva, straight.  On impulse, I also poured a large glass of
cold water, because I was there and thirsty.  As good as scotch is,
it's not exactly Gatorade.  I then settled into my armchair with
"Setting Up Shop," and excellent book on designing a wood shop.

I filled the bowl according to the three-tamp method, and lit up.  I
think I got about a third of the way through the bowl before I had to
get a relight, and I discovered in that first third that the Macallan
was the perfect compliment to the tobacco I was smoking, it just went
perfectly.  When the bowl went out, I tamped it down, and relit.
Instantly, I had the same bite and saliva problem I've always had,
but, this time, I picked up my water glass, and took a drink.  I then
chased the water with some scotch, and discovered I was fine until the
next relight (the second third of the bowl), when I repeat the
process.  This relight got me to the bottom of the bowl, which is
something I've never really achieved with happiness, before.

So, if I can distill my experiences for the newer smokers out there -

1)  Don't pick too strong a tobacco.  Yes, you're a big strong guy and
    sure you eat railroad spikes for breakfast, but you don't have to
    smoke shredded tires just to show off.  :)

2)  Pair the drink properly.  I think I conditioned myself by drinking
    too much cognac in my early smoking and taught my body that
    tobacco was associated with feeling bad.

3)  Don't get too big a pipe.  If you're feeling dizzy by the bottom,
    get a smaller pipe (and see number 1).

A pleased pipe smoker...

Brett

[Also strong coffee and a pipe can get you solidly buzzed. But I
rather enjoy Craig Tarler's "Firestone Radials and Cream..." -S.]


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