Kyle Weiss
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2011
- Messages
- 11,988
- Reaction score
- 9
I ride a Vespa-clone scooter, and have ridden motorcycles. When one is first learning, within the first 500 miles or so, there tends to be a majority who have careful understanding that if you're stupid, this activity could hurt you. I've heard it said that once you gain your comfort zone, that's when the problems can occur: confidence, even overconfidence, invincibility, complacency and alertness all dwindle a little, finding their safe equilibrium between being paranoid and being completely aloof.
So, what does this have to do with pipe smoking? I pipe smoking won't likely kill or hurt you, but it shares a common root: learning and application.
Over the summer/fall of 2011 and through winter 2011/2012, when I re-started this hobby (the right way), I've had a great time smoking my pipes and tobaccos, often gifts of the Brothers, carefully-chosen pipes upon proper research and suggestions, a bunch of sunny mornings to go and contemplate my day and how to approach it, pleasant evenings letting the day wind down. I smoked slow, I packed just right, I chose (to the best of my ability) the right tobacco and the right pipe--and nine times out of ten I'd feel I got everything perfect. I was confident I'd get a great smoke, each and every time.
Recently, I've been developing problems. Problems I know better as to why they're occurring. My smoking time has gone from a good hour or hour and a half, to 30 - 40 minutes. My tongue is getting scalded. I'm getting wet smokes. My tongue is leather. Tobacco isn't tasting as good. Pipes are getting hot. I'm drinking more liquids to counteract this problem, and this is making me smoke wet. One of my cobs started to burn out on the bottom, and I find myself chasing the flavor/nicotine/relaxation to the bottom of the bowl (which I fear burning out even a briar). I'm simply not finding the slow, sit-down satisfaction I once did, or at least, not as often.
Perhaps it's a bit of stress keeping me from realizing that this time is my time, new jobs and the spring weather starting to give hints at work and less "free time" to find the need to fill. Maybe I have done the pipe equivalent of taking the bike around the corner a little too fast, a little too soon, because I was so mindful and great at doing this just a little while ago, I can rev it up a little right?
Apparently not. It's another reason why I like pipe smoking, even a little more now, because it's honest. You're not going to get more thrill out of speed. You're not going to get relaxation out of simply stuffing more tobacco in the chamber because it's going by too fast. In fact, I'm starting to realize that the pipe and how I interact with it directly reflects exactly what's going on with me at that moment, and the tongue bite, hot pipe and potentially ruined pipes may be a good way to say, "Hey pal, stress kills, take a step back and a deep breath." It's strange, too, I saw all of these digressions coming, slowly, and then they started adding up. They sneaked up on me, little by little, until something had to be done.
Like a good friend you might have had a disagreement with, piping without gratification it isn't something permanent. So you might have stepped on your beloved dog's paw or cat's tail. They aren't going to leave you over it. They're always there for you. Pipes are the same, they need the attention, both short-term and long-term to give back to you the benefit they were designed to do.
This is just an "intermediate pipester's" missive not to give in to bad habits, and not to get complacent--even if you're doing fine from the start. I know I'm doing something wrong, but because I had it so right, I figured it wasn't me, it was everything else. Ain't that just a typical human thing to do?
The good part is, it's always a new day and a new time to maybe go back and read (or ask) the obvious from those who know, go "back to church" in a way, hear the preach and the praise, and find out you might have strayed off a simple path just a little--but it will always welcome you back.
Today I start over a little, again, to remember my roots, remember my reasons, and go back to basics.
8)
So, what does this have to do with pipe smoking? I pipe smoking won't likely kill or hurt you, but it shares a common root: learning and application.
Over the summer/fall of 2011 and through winter 2011/2012, when I re-started this hobby (the right way), I've had a great time smoking my pipes and tobaccos, often gifts of the Brothers, carefully-chosen pipes upon proper research and suggestions, a bunch of sunny mornings to go and contemplate my day and how to approach it, pleasant evenings letting the day wind down. I smoked slow, I packed just right, I chose (to the best of my ability) the right tobacco and the right pipe--and nine times out of ten I'd feel I got everything perfect. I was confident I'd get a great smoke, each and every time.
Recently, I've been developing problems. Problems I know better as to why they're occurring. My smoking time has gone from a good hour or hour and a half, to 30 - 40 minutes. My tongue is getting scalded. I'm getting wet smokes. My tongue is leather. Tobacco isn't tasting as good. Pipes are getting hot. I'm drinking more liquids to counteract this problem, and this is making me smoke wet. One of my cobs started to burn out on the bottom, and I find myself chasing the flavor/nicotine/relaxation to the bottom of the bowl (which I fear burning out even a briar). I'm simply not finding the slow, sit-down satisfaction I once did, or at least, not as often.
Perhaps it's a bit of stress keeping me from realizing that this time is my time, new jobs and the spring weather starting to give hints at work and less "free time" to find the need to fill. Maybe I have done the pipe equivalent of taking the bike around the corner a little too fast, a little too soon, because I was so mindful and great at doing this just a little while ago, I can rev it up a little right?
Apparently not. It's another reason why I like pipe smoking, even a little more now, because it's honest. You're not going to get more thrill out of speed. You're not going to get relaxation out of simply stuffing more tobacco in the chamber because it's going by too fast. In fact, I'm starting to realize that the pipe and how I interact with it directly reflects exactly what's going on with me at that moment, and the tongue bite, hot pipe and potentially ruined pipes may be a good way to say, "Hey pal, stress kills, take a step back and a deep breath." It's strange, too, I saw all of these digressions coming, slowly, and then they started adding up. They sneaked up on me, little by little, until something had to be done.
Like a good friend you might have had a disagreement with, piping without gratification it isn't something permanent. So you might have stepped on your beloved dog's paw or cat's tail. They aren't going to leave you over it. They're always there for you. Pipes are the same, they need the attention, both short-term and long-term to give back to you the benefit they were designed to do.
This is just an "intermediate pipester's" missive not to give in to bad habits, and not to get complacent--even if you're doing fine from the start. I know I'm doing something wrong, but because I had it so right, I figured it wasn't me, it was everything else. Ain't that just a typical human thing to do?
The good part is, it's always a new day and a new time to maybe go back and read (or ask) the obvious from those who know, go "back to church" in a way, hear the preach and the praise, and find out you might have strayed off a simple path just a little--but it will always welcome you back.
Today I start over a little, again, to remember my roots, remember my reasons, and go back to basics.
8)
![[3-Size Set] Copper Pipe Cleaner for Drill, Clean 1/2, 3/4, 1-in Copper Pipes & Tubes for Soldering, 3 Tube Cleaning Brushes, Model InerLok050, 075, 100, w/ Stainless-Steel Wire Bristles & 1/4” Shank](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41QVxunlqML._SL500_.jpg)
