Furry-Faced Grin

Today is a day to marinate and celebrate!  I am planning to do just that!  Instead of shopping at the damn fool Black Friday chaos, I shall enjoy life!

PipeTobacco

Today's Pipe Goal = 2 bowls
Yesterday's Pipe Goal = 0 bowls; Yesterday's Reality = 0 bowls

Grumble (Not Gobble)

Perseverance is the key to success. I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

PipeTobacco

Today's Goal = 0 bowls
Yesterday's Goal = 0 bowls; Yesterday's Actual Consumption = 0 bowls

Damn, Damn, Damn

I have to keep in mind that this is a process.  I have to keep in mind that by the beginning of the fourth week of Lent last year, my refraining from my pipe 6 days out of 7 was actually quite easy.  I have to keep in mind that this is what I WANT for myself.  I have to keep in mind that I WILL EVENTUALLY feel better and more content.  I have to keep in mind that this is good for me....  good for my brain.... good for my body.... good for my mental stamina..... good in showing I will damn well do what I set out to do.  I have to keep in mind that I do not want a plant to control me.  I have to keep in mind that I am better and stronger than a damn plant. 

I cannot begin to describe how much I want a pipe at the moment. 

PipeTobacco

Today's Pipe Goal = 0
Yesterday's Pipe Goal = 0; Consumption Yesterday = 0

1 ???

I am going to take another stab at becoming the pipe smoker *I WANT* to be.  This pipe smoker will be a fellow who will have a pipe or two when he has had a few drinks, but for the remainder of the time will be pipe tobacco free.  I was 100% successful with this when I adopted this exact scenerio during Lent last year.  There is no reason why I cannot be successful with this all year round.  It will just need me to be consistent with my efforts.

Wish me luck!

PipeTobacco

Today's Pipe Goal = 0 bowls

On Your 91st Birthday

I have been thinking about my father a great deal the last several days. Today is my father's birthday. He would have been 90 years old today. At one level it *is* so very long since he has been a physical presence in my life, but in the same vein, he has been a mental/emotional/philosophical presence in my life every day. With he now being 91, it is so odd to think about. I miss him so very much.  I wish I could have him here physically today. 

It is ever more striking how I can see in myself more and more ways in which I am very much like my father and other ways in which I am very much like my mother. The characteristics I have that are especially like that of my father include a general quietness to my demeanor and a rather contemplative personality. Physically, my teeth are like my father's. My eyes are much like my father's and my ears and forehead are very similar to that of my father's. Of course, my enjoyment of pipes and pipe tobacco is something I learned from my father as well.

I will be traveling to the other end of the county today to visit my father and mother's grave site. Even though it is quite cold outside (below freezing), I am planning to sit at the grave site for quite a while and talk to (with) my father on this his birthday. I am also planning to take with me, one of his favorite pipes that I inherited from him. I shall smoke that pipe while I am visiting with him at the grave site.

I miss you so very much, Dad! I wish you a very Happy Birthday.

PipeTobacco

Am I a Ram or Goat?

At Mass today, the following was part of the first reading:

"As for you, my sheep, says the Lord GOD,
I will judge between one sheep and another,
between rams and goats."

The ram is a symbol for Christ taken from the Old Testament. The ram represents Christ because it is the leader of the herd and also because the ram is a sacrificial animal, reminding us of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

The goat usually represents those who are condemned at the Last Judgment. This use is taken from the parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew. By extension, the goat may be used to represent demonic forces.

It gives me pause to think... am I more like a "Ram" in my life or am I more like a "Goat"?  I am hoping I am more like a Ram.

PipeTobacco 

2260

Today marks the 2,260th day in a row that I have walked (sometimes jogged) each and every day for approximately 5 miles.   It is an endeavor that now is very much a habit and is second nature to me.  It has been very helpful for me physically (normal BMI) and emotionally (helps me to reduce stress.  I am glad I do this, and I am glad I have the motivator of being able to get such a large number.  Even though the number plays a less crucial role these days as the habit is established, I still like the idea now that I have just passed 2250 and also moving towards a fun milestone number of 2345.  I hope I keep up my consistency.

PipeTobacco

Friday and All is Well

Marination with my father-in-law is likely to ensue today.  It should be great fun.  First, I am going to try to get all sorts of work done before I head out.

PipeTobacco

Becoming a Hedonist?!?

I wonder if this is what it is like to be a hedonist?  Yesterday, I had a pleasant and productive work day.  I was driving home when I remembered that the Department had scheduled an evening Curriculum Meeting (that made me both cringe and cuss in my truck).  The one redeeming feature was that the scheduler decided to hold the meeting in the barroom of a local microbrewery.  Now, I do not really get "into" the trendiness of microbreweries, but at least it was BEER, and it would make the meeting a helluva lot better.

So, I went there.  I looked at the beer list, and they had a red beer called "Rodent Piss".  I thought the name was funny enough (especially since I work with rodents) to give it a shot.  I ordered two 12 ounce mugs.  When the waitress came back, she gave me two 22 ounce "tall" mugs saying that she had forgotten that the particular microbrew I ordered was "on special" with the 22 ounce being much cheaper than the 12 ounce mug.  She thought I might like that instead to save money.  I hesitated with a raised eyebrow for only about 2-3 seconds, and then I told her,  "Sure.... what the hell!"  

I have to admit that the "Rodent Piss" was pretty damn tasty.  I guess I could get to like microbrews. :)  The two large mugs helped the meeting turn into a VERY good meeting.  When I got home, I was feeling quite pleasant, and my wife and I watched a show on television while we talked.  When we finally went to be around 11:30, we made love, and it was very beautiful and relaxing. 

Then, to top it all off,  it was 5:00am (my alarm had just gone off to go walk) and I was sleeping in spoon fashion with my wife.  My wife woke up a little bit from my alarm (not typical, she is used to her alarm sound that happens later) and noticed that she could feel my "interest" for her as I moved to turn off the alarm.  She actually giggled about my having the erection while sleeping (actually as males recognize, it is physiologically very typical for this to occur while sleeping).  She then proceeded to ask me, "So, does this mean you would like a "quickie"?"

I was a bit surprised, but very quickly took her up on her offer!  It was wonderful, spontaneous, and completely unexpected by me. 

Needless to say, my walk was delayed a bit, and I have had a big furry-faced grin most of the day at work and a fairly muddled mindset to boot. 

I wonder if this is what it is like to be a hedonist?  If so, it is a pretty damn good feeling.  I could get used to my days being like the last 24 hours. 

PipeTobacco

I Do Want...

I *do* want to be tobacco free.  But of course, part of me wants to continue to smoke pipe tobacco.  It is so very, non-linear a way of thinking.  I think that perhaps the chaotic "struggle" of feeling in favor of quitting and in also wanting to smoke is what makes it difficult for me to take a more permanent step towards accomplishing anything in regards to my pipe smoking.  It is frustrating.

PipeTobacco

Monday Efforts

Not feeling very organized or linear this morning.  My mind and my body both seem a bit unfocused.  I think it may be because I did not walk this morning (I will do so later in the day, today).  I did not walk because I was helping my wife as she prepared to spend the day at a hospital where her aunt is undergoing surgery.  She is hoping to help out the family.   I hope that I can reign in my lack of linearity of focus and get something accomplished.

PipeTobacco

Again

My wife and I so enjoyed the play last night that we went to see it again!  That is not something I've ever done before, but it just felt good.  We both were happy to go again.  This was a matinee showing and was again wonderful!  

High temperatures around here have been in the low 20s the last few days.  Walking at 5 am with my dog is quite cold again, usually in the low teens.  I am not quite acclimated to it yet so I do feel it, but I am building this season's cold tolerance and suspect it will feel pretty normal on a few more days.

PipeTobacco

Willy Wonka

Just came home from a regional theater version of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.  Many of us have seen one or both of the films.  But to see the show as a theater production adds a little more to it that you don't get from the films.  The films are wonderful too though.

It is an allegory about choices in life.  To be truthful and kind, versus being a glutton, or selfish, or greedy, or self centered.  It was a wonderful musical and it gave me a great feeling of happiness watching and listening.

PipeTobacco

Marinating a Little Bit

Marinating myself just a tad at the moment.  Although I have not been writing of late, I have had a lot of ideas and think I may be begin posting regularly again. 

As I sit here smoking my pipe, I must admit how stupid a pastime it actually is. That does not mean I do not like smoking a pip, for obviously I do.  But it really is a stupid pastime.  I am not saying this because of the health issues associated with it either... It is simply a stupid thing to do... It really does not make sense.

It made more sense perhaps when I was young and the effects were strong and enjoyable.  But, it really does not feel that way now.  It was a wonderful feeling for a lot of years when I was young.  Now it really only feels that way after I have had a few drinks, and I only drink sporadically... Perhaps 2-3 drinks at a sitting perhaps once every two to three weeks.  

To my current manner of thinking, I should really only smoke my pipe after having a few drinks.  Otherwise, it really isn't all that valuable to me.  I did that very thing during Lent, but then after Easter I let it slide again and smoked my pipe all the time.  

I think I should just go back to smoking my pipe only when I drink.  But, of course, getting that pattern started is a bit of a task.  I do remember that it started to seem natural and easy to refrain from among unless drinking by about the 4th week of Lent.  But, the first few weeks, while not unbearable, did require a lot if thought and took up quite a bit of time (thinking time).  

Oh well, at the moment marination is the mantra of the day, and so for right now... The pipe is enjoyable and beautiful.

PipeTobacco