Mouthpieces

 

Mouthpieces for clarinets and saxophones can be made out of MANY different materials.... plastic, various metals, ivory, porcelain, wood, and other materials.  However, a considerably high percentage of mouthpieces of clarinets and saxophones that had "black" traditional mouthpieces.... had these mouthpieces made out of hard rubber (technically, ebonite). 

Sometime in the late 1960s, many (most?) instrument manufacturers transitioned to making mouthpieces out of hard, rigid plastic.  However, as stated above, a large percentage of mouthpieces from earlier than the late 1960s that were traditional black in color were made from hard rubber.  

Ebonite mouthpieces are WONDERFUL beasts.  Their true rubber nature allows them to have some wonderful properties...  mainly that they have a small amount of "give" compared to the hard, rigid plastic mouthpieces more common today.  This slight give is helpful as you typically have your upper incisors resting on the top portion of the ~1/3 of the tip region of the mouthpiece while playing.

The one quality about ebonite mouthpieces that is not so wonderful is that, being hard rubber, these mouthpieces will oxidize over time.  The above illustration shows an oxidized (saxophone) mouthpiece on the left.  Mouthpieces of the ebonite makeup typically acquires a brownish, green-grey patina. 

This patina is not particularly attractive, especially on otherwise black and silver clarinets made from grenadilla wood. It is perhaps less of a distraction on saxophones, especially when many saxophones are brass colored.... but even then, many find the oxidized mouthpiece less aesthetically pleasing.   

Well, in my clarinet family of instruments (soprano, alto, bass, contra-alto), I have a few rigid plastic mouthpieces, but several of my favored, ebonite mouthpieces.  And, regretably, three of them are showing very high degrees of oxidation.  One, for the alto clarinet in particular, is FAR more oxidized than even the mouthpiece on the left illustration above.  It has a uniform color of a medium-light brown crayon. The other two are of similar hue to the illustration.  

What to do?  

Well, for many of us, the choice is to bathe the mouthpiece in mineral oil which will somewhat darken the color of the mouthpiece.  But, this is a bit of a double-edged sword.... the darkness SOMEWHAT returns, but the mineral oil coats the mouthpiece with a slick, rather unpleasant layer, and when the mineral oil wears off, the oxidized color returns.  

But, there is another route that is more productive.... the use of a buffing wheel and polish.  In major cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and the like, the bigger instrument manufacturers/retailers would have buffing wheels for this purpose, and in many moderate sized cities, instrument repair folks would also have buffing wheels for this purpose (and other repair purposes as well).  However, in my region, the lone instrument repair shop does not have this service, but will, by mail (and a very hefty fee) send out mouthpieces for this sort of polishing.  The process takes over a month, on average, however.  

But.... there is another option I have known about for most of my life.  Nicer, larger pipe shops (like Iwan Ries in Chicago) have buffing wheels BECAUSE on many pipes, especially older pipes, the STEM of the pipe is hard rubber (ebonite).  You may remember from my journey to Iwan Ries, the fellow offered and did polish the stem of my pipe while I was visiting.  It transformed from an oxidized brown to pristine black in minutes under his care and effort.  

Well, hell, it must have been perhaps 9-10 years ago, I had taken one of my instrument mouthpieces to the delightful pipe shop that is roughly ~45 minutes from my home. While I was convivially smoking my pipe and looking at the various wares at this beautiful shop, I pulled out one of my mouthpieces and asked the fellow behind the counter if he THOUGHT the pipe buffing wheel could do anything to improved my poor looking, oxidized mouthpiece.  He said he would give it a try, and within five minutes, the mouthpiece was again shinny black and absolutely beautiful.  And, he didn't even charge me a nickle.  I admit, though, I had already had on the counter a pipe and several pouches of pipe tobacco to purchase that day.  

Now it is close to the end of 2023.  And, I haven't been to this illustrious pipe shop in damn near six years.... and a hellacious pandemic has also occurred in this interim... so I have no idea if this pipe shop continues to have a buffing wheel and if they do whether or not they use it anymore to buff out pipe stems.... let alone if they would be willing to consider buffing out my mouthpieces. 

But, I am considering taking a drive down there to see.  I am thinking perhaps one of the days after Christmas and before the New Year MIGHT be an option for me to consider.  

* * * * * 

• Ran 10 long miles (~16km) yesterday.  I had to get up extra early because of an appointment later in the morning. 
• I ran what felt like a less arduous 10 miles (~16km) this morning, when I was able to sleep in a bit later.  
• I did a bit of shopping this morning.
• I have fiddled around a bit with my rodents, to keep them up to snuff.
• Now that I have eaten (and written here), I am going to do a few small things with my nematodes and then head out.   

  PipeTobacco   

Devil's Workshop

 

Perhaps the alliterative proverb is true:

"An idle mind is the devil's workshop."

I can only say that I have been in a frame of mind where I have been a) seriously considering a jaunt in my trusty stead 45 minutes away or so to the closest pipe shop near me, and b) seriously considering another jaunt to the cigar shop/lounge that the fellow at Mass mentioned as having a weekly gathering of grey-haired retirees (and perhaps others of similarly grey status, such as myself?). 

The pipe option sounds appealing in every way, for I know the place well, and do miss visiting the beautiful establishment that to me feels akin to a kid in a candy shop.  The cigar shop/lounge option, also has appeal.  Cigars are interesting, and though my prior indulgence was never more than very infrequent, the idea of a gathering of similarly minded souls simply enjoying and relaxing has strong appeal as well. I would relish doing one or the other.... or BOTH.

Yet, I have at least enough insight to recognize that this could be one helluva slippery slope if I were to sample from either establishment's wares. Although neither is CLOSE by... each is CLOSE ENOUGH by to facilitate a journey on a whim or in a weak moment.  And, I could envision myself falling into a myriad of whims and weak moments if I am not careful.

I so very much enjoyed the pipe I had on my father's 100th at the cemetery.  But, I am thinking/hoping that is NOT why the pipe shop trip and/or the cigar shop/lounge trip sound so incredibly inviting right now.  I prefer to think of it being my having idle time where I am not being productive.   

The little red fellow on one shoulder says... "Aw, go ahead!" whereas the other fellow on the other shoulder deeply intones, "Beware!".  

• Hoofed out another 11 full miles (~18km) this morning! I am still delighted at how unencumbered I feel with running at the moment, by not having a deadline time of arrival to hit afterwards.  
• I have been listening to "Bossa Nova" style music on Pandora quite a bit while working on my computer... rewriting syllabi.... yesterday and today.  I forgot how "youthful" a mindset it gives me.  
• I really SHOULD try to force myself to do some strength training.  I could and SHOULD work on weight lifting to improve my upper body strength.  As we age, this muscle strength declines, and I should try to combat that.  My running has toned and strengthened my legs, so it is really just my arms and chest I should worry about.  I should be stronger to be better prepared if I need crutches or a cane in the future.  I did work at strength training for about a year before the pandemic.  I even had an undergraduate exercise science major student guide me on training (they are sometimes available as in that major, students can earn "lab credits" in their major by facilitating training of a volunteer "guinea pig" like myself.  I had been working with this fellow for about three months, and I had actually built up some strength where I was awfully damn close to being able to do completely unassisted chin-ups.  On the assist machine, I had worked my way down to only needing 5 pounds of assistance to be able to do three "reps" of 10 chin-ups.  Being able to do unassisted chin-ups were my "goal" with the trainer because they were always my nemesis as a kid back in junior high and high school.  And, right before the pandemic hit, I had a reasonably good chance of accomplishing that goal if I would have had another month or so to build up strength and tone, but then the damn pandemic hit and closed everything down, including my commitment to weight training.  The problem is TIME.  Yet, that is a sorry excuse if ever heard one.  Everyone has the same 24 hours, so it is my own fault if I do not do it. 
•  More rodent and fly work today, and then perhaps if I can stand it... more time on the computer doing the minutia work of adjusting dates etc on all the materials for next semester.
  

PipeTobacco  

This & That

 

• Ran 11.2 miles this morning (~18km).  It was snowing/sleeting at 7:10am so I ran zillions of loops at the indoor track. Not having a deadline time of when I needed to be at the U felt so damn luxurious and wonderful... that it made my run wholly enjoyable as well.  I allowed myself the pleasure of not having the clanging and caterwauling of the alarm go off until 6:30am. Listened to the prior day's Sunday Mass from my favorite Capuchins while I ran, and then I also prayed the rosary. 
  
• I did not arrive at the U until ~10:00am.  It has been and should hopefully continue to be a peaceful day, where I am writing syllabi for my January classes, setting due dates for exams and assignments for the various classes, messing around a bit with my rodents, doing a bit of cleaning and culturing with my fruit flies, and culturing some stocks for my nematodes.  
• I have always had a STRONG fondness for all of the Godzilla films.  The original several from my youth were always amazing times at the theater and also with their many broadcasts on television.  I was DELIGHTED to find that a new film opened up this weekend, named Godzilla Minus One, and is an authentic Japanese production.  It has gotten great reviews, too!  My wife and I were planning to see it after Mass on Saturday, but some other issues prevented that from happening.  I am hoping my wife and I will be going to see it sometime this week, however.  
• My wife and I already have a date set with my SIL to go see the new "Wonka" prequel together as well.  The original "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" was a true favorite of both my wife and myself... and also a favorite of my SIL.  I was always especially fond of Jack Albertson and his portrayal of Grandpa Joe.... and also later when he stared in "Chico and the Man".  
• Last evening, my wife and I and two of our kids ended up decorating the tree for Christmas.  It was enjoyable to have lots of good memories of long ago return as we found various of our "quirky" ornaments.  My wife and I have always preferred are ornaments to be of this "quirky" style.  Although there are hundreds of quirky examples, for instance, we have one ornament that is shaped in the head of "Big Boy" from the Elias Brother's Big Boy Restaurant Chain.  Another example is a glass ornament that looks like a pretzel that we bought on a vacation and a Summer Santa decked out in shorts and carrying a surfboard.  But, there are hundreds of others... equally as "quirky".  
• After Mass (at the new Parish we are close to moving to), I was waiting out in the vestibule while my wife was in the restroom, when this fellow we have seen and have been sitting relatively close by for a number of weeks, was walking out to get his coat in the vestibule as well.  I noticed he had a t-shirt that had an emblem of a cigar shop in California that I knew about, having visited it one time long ago, while on a research trip in California.  I asked him if he had ever been there, and he delightfully told me his story of having been there a number of times as one of his daughters and her husband had moved to that city in California, and when he visited them, he always made it a point to visit this particular shop.  He then asked me if I had been there, and I told him my less interesting story of having been there one time, long ago.  He then asked/suggested, "So, you're a cigar smoker too?" and I explained that while I have enjoyed a few cigars over the years, I am more knowledgeable about pipes and pipe tobaccos (purposefully phrased in that way so I did not have to say specifically I am not currently smoking pipes nor pipe tobaccos).... and do not know much about cigars generally.  He then told me about the "retirees gathering" that he and a bunch of other folks have, apparently on Thursdays, at a cigar shop that is roughly ~1/2 hour away.  I had perused this shop once or twice over the years.... at the time, hoping it catered to pipes as well.  But, it was primarily a cigar shop/lounge... back when I had been there the last time, perhaps 8-9 years ago, they had a huge cigar humidor (likely at least ~150 different types of cigars) and had perhaps two blends of pipe tobacco and a single pipe rack with 4-5 Dr. Grabow pipes .  It is really NOT a pipe shop.  But, I have to admit, the invite by the fellow, perhaps 2-5 years older than me was one that I have been contemplating.  The camaraderie could be very enjoyable. 
• But, I do admit that my desire for a pipe remains strong still.  Some days I feel an eroding of my resolve and I am not sure what to do with that.  It is so much a conundrum.

PipeTobacco 

Horseshoes

 

I really need to get my new pair of running shoes.  Because my "shoe mileage counter" went on the fritz and I wasn't really paying close attention to it, I estimate I currently have between 1,200 - 1,400 miles (~1,900 - ~2,250 km) on my clod hoppers.  Most running shoe stores "suggest" you should get a new pair every 500 miles (~800km), but I am too damn cheap for that..... the shoes are awfully damn expensive (retail ~$125, but I look for "bargains" of ~$100).  I usually keep the pair AT LEAST 1,000 miles (~1,600km)... but even I admit my current mileage is pushing it.  I will have to figure out how to get (as inexpensively as possible) my replacement pair over the next few weeks.  

For the hoofing around that I do each day, the horseshoes I wear (running shoes) are important for my feet.  I ONLY wear them while running to try to extend their use.  And because of my large hooves (size 12 ; EU size 46), the size I need is sometimes rather scant.  The cantilievered way in which I strike the pavement because of my high arch makes me have a gait that results in supination style wear (basically the lateral/outside edges of my shoe wear significantly more than the medial/inside edges of my shoes) makes it so that I wear out the tread of my hoofers leading to a pattern that looks akin to this (these are not my shoes, but mine look pretty damn much like this if not a little bit more severe at the moment):

Unfortunately, another thing.... a bit of an "oddity" about my shoe wearing is that (unlike others in my family) I also wear out the INTERIOR of my shoes (running shoes, work shoes, casual shoes) quite readily.  I am not sure what it is about my feet.... for while they do perspire, many folks have their feet perspire as well.  But, for me, however, it causes a rather rapid degradation of the fabric and cushioning INSIDE the shoe.  In my work shoes for instance, both pair (a brown pair and a black pair) appear damn near brand new on the outside.  But the insides have been fairly shredded and worn out for at least two years now.  It is the same with all my shoes.  It has been this way my whole life, and it happens to every shoe I own.  

* * * * *

But, enough about shoes:

• I did hoof out my 10 miles (~16 km) this morning.  Yesterday, I forced myself to hoof out 11.1 miles (~18km), but because I got up late (7:00am) and had a final in the later morning, I clomped out those 11.1 miles on the indoor track at the U in the late afternoon.
  
• I am noticing considerable improvement in my ear, and this has led to reduced swelling on the side of my face, and also reduced TMJ symptoms now after having had some of the amoxicillin take hold!  It is a beautiful feeling have that discomfort and pain start to reduce!!!
  
•  Grading is percolating along rather smoothly.... and although it may only be a pipe dream.... I am still keeping my fingers crossed that I *MIGHT* be able to get through all the grading and the number crunching where I could *POTENTIALLY* submit grades late this evening.  

This would, in beautiful times now gone by.... be the time where I would start the "marination" process for the grades I would give.  Typically, once I had the base scores, for more than a couple of decades, climb into my trusty steed and drive across town to my in-laws home and my father-in-law and I would would sit, talk, have a drink or two or three and smoke our pipes.  We would joke and laugh, and I would regale many stories of odd/interesting student behaviors during finals week with him.  And, depending on how convivial I felt after our afternoon of chatting, relaxing and piping I would determine if I might give a modest curve to one or more of my classes. I miss this process.

Hell, I am feeling a deep missing of my pipes overall.  The experience of my Dad's 100th birthday was so pure and true and wonderful.  Recalling the time I spent there, and the tasty flavors, textures, and the metaphysical and physical joys to my mind from that experience..... have been the primary memories I have been using to help guide me to a restful sleep each evening when I close my eyes.  

PipeTobacco  

 

Medical Situation

I have been trying to cope with it.  I have been trying to "push through" it.  

For the last 4-5 days, I have had considerable, throbbing pain, edemic swelling, and inflammatory heat along the right side of my face involving my eye, my ear, my jaw, and my neck on that side of my face.

As a person with decades of TMJ Disorder experience behind him, I presumed this was what I was experiencing in an especially strong episode.  No matter how faithful I am to wearing my bite splint and gnawing on my bite sock each evening (and I am damn near 100% faithful.... probably 99.994% faithful), the variances of TMJ can still sprout forth in much the same way that a seed can sometimes exert enough force to crack concrete.  

But, when late last night I could feel the pulsing of my heartbeat in my ear, I could sense fluid movement in my ear, and when both yesterday morning and this morning.... even though I fully used both bite splint and sock..... that my upper and lower teeth were incredibly out of alignment..... bilaterally..... then I KNEW I was experiencing a strong middle ear infection.  

Because I had so damn many ear aches as a kid before I eventually had "tubes" inserted in my tympanic membrane.... I believe the scarring dulled or destroyed many of the pain receptors in my middle ear region.  Do not get me wrong.... my ear hurts like hell.  But, the PAIN is indistinguisable from TMJ pain and is a continual dull ache that is drastically different than the piercing ear pain of my childhood.  

So.... after clomping out the damnable 10 miles this morning, and after administering my gigantic, "mega comprehensive" final exam to my second semester A&P students, I scheduled an appointment with the "Redi-Med" folks to attempt to get a proper diagnosis and potentially medication.

I was correct in my diagnosis.  The clinician exclaimed about how fluid-filled my middle ear appeared due to the bulging outward of my tympanic membrane.  I am at a point where the pressure appears to be growing strong enough that it also is pushing considerably against my oval window as well...... inducing a mild virtigo feeling occasionally as I walk or run.  

They faxed a prescription  to the pharmacy across town for a 10 day supply of high dose amoxicillin.  

* * * * * 

I am so damn tired.  I want to sleep.  I want to rest.  But I have to keep pushing to get through the damn week.  And, even though I have not said much about it.... I have been deeply, DEEPLY craving my pipes the last 3-4 days especially.  In my old PCS Scale, it would list at AT LEAST a 9.5.  Many a times a pipe would help me to grit my teeth (in a non-TMJ Disorder fashion) and steel my resolve to stick with the needed plan.  Its nourishment would quell nearly any discomfort.  

I need to get back to work.  My wife is working across town so she is potentially going to stop at this pharmacy to see if they have filled my prescription.  We use the pharmacy across town because it is a) open 24 hours, and b) "faster" than other closer pharmacies by us.  "Faster" is relative, however.... even for a damn simple medication like amoxicillin, it may not be available until late into the night or perhaps tomorrow.... or hell... perhaps even Friday.

PipeTobacco

"The Life of Riley"

 Again, a free-form, scattered mind is at work today.

As my mind is very often wont to do.... I have a very strong tendency to form associations with damn near everything.  So as to keep people on board and not listing off the starboard side of the vessel, I shall try the valuable bullet points to try to maintain some semblance of order:

• "Life of Riley" - Chosen as the title today because I felt it encapsulated my thoughts of the lesiurely pace I was able to have today as I did not have a scheduled final exam today.  I allowed myself to sleep in to the damn near hedonistic time of 8:00am! I then rousted myself out of bed and had a much more enjoyable "zillion loops" around the indoor track to get in a full 11 miles (~18 km).  Not feeling "under the gun" about getting the damn miles in before a deadline time to get to work sure makes the miles far more enjoyable.  
  
• But in thinking about the title of my post, I also began to wander back in the recesses of my mind to remember the television show, "The Life of Riley".  This was a comedy that was in the 1950s and featured the ever affable William Bendix in the lead role.  
• Yet, that also lead to some incongruencey in my mind, for the meaning of "The Life of Riley" is suggestive of a carefree and/or luxurious sort of lifestyle.... which was the meaning I had meant regarding my waking and running routine today.  BUT, the show was was actually more of an ironic play on the phrase.... as much of the comedy of the show was a result of all the various comedic troubles and hardships Riley (Bendix) inadvertently ended up creating for himself.  

So, after running, I returned home and tossed together all the various ingredients for the dish I offered to bring to the Department Christmas Potluck today.  I had gotten all the materials ready last night to make the final jostling of ingredients together easier.  I ended up making a Pesto Pasta Salad.  In my variant of this (like pretty much anything I make), I sort of "free-form" the dish from what seems interesting to me.  I have a basic pesto recipe that I found (and then proceeded to considerably modify) back in August so as to use the more than ample basil from our garden this year.  I have several containers of frozen "pesto" that I will pull out, thaw and use.  I had a container of that thaw in the refrigerator over night.  I had also pre-boiled the pasta last night (choice - tri-color swirled pasta) and it was also in the refrigerator along with small cubes of sharp cheddar cheese, sliced black olive rings, some chopped walnuts, and some small, diced bell peppers.  I threw everything into a big mixing bowl, tossed on ~ 1 teaspoon of coarse ground pepper, ~1/4 teaspoon of salt.... folded everything into a fairly even distribution, and then poured as much of the contents into the "party bowl" that I use for every damn Department potluck, and then poured the rest into one of my wife's Tupperware bowls with a good lid, and slid this bowl into the refrigerator for us to eat later.  I covered it with Saran Wrap, grabbed the serving "party spoon" that I had engraved on the underside my last name.  I had done this with an engraver tool my wife had given me as a gift long ago. I engraved that spoon at LEAST 20 years ago... probably far closer to 30 years ago.  At the Department Potlucks, serving spoons have a tendency to "travel" and I wanted to make sure I got it back. 

And my foolish Pesto Pasta Salad wasn't meant to be my focus today either, but my mind just wandered into talking about that too, I guess.  

* * * * * 

What I wanted to talk about was how different than expected the cube cut burley pipe tobacco I bought at Iwan Ries was!  Cube cut pipe tobaccos are.... as the name suggests.... tobacco that is cut into cube shaped pieces.  Sir Walter Raleigh, the very first pipe tobacco I "borrowed" from my Dad and joyfully indulged in when I was a young pup.... was a classic cube cut pipe tobacco.  These days, there are not many cube cut pipe tobaccos anymore as most pipe tobaccos are "ribbon cut" or "shag cut" these days.  When I opened the pouch of this cube cut burley from Iwan Ries, I was rather surprised.  Most cube cut pipe tobaccos I have had over the years were roughly cubes a bit bigger than 1/8 of an inch on each side.  But, the cube cut from Iwan Ries was distinctly smaller.  To me, when opening the pouch, it almost looked like a pile of "Grape Nuts" cereal.... it had that sort of look to it.  I was quite intrigued and felt pretty excited to try it.  

So.... at the cemetery, I first added the cube cut burley to fill about 2/3 of the bowl and then for the top 1/3, I added "Three Star Blue".  And, as I had mentioned before.... it was wonderful to be out there and able to talk about memories at my parent's grave site.  The time out there and the time smoking my pipe out there while focusing on memories of my wonderful Dad.... I am so very glad I did this.  It was wonderful 

But... also from a purely pipe only perspective..... it too was a beautiful gift.  The gentle aromatic flavors of the "Three Star Blue" opened the "symphony" so-to-speak.  It was just as smooth, flavorful, and utterly delightful in all ways... as I had experienced in Chicago itself.  It created an immediate sense of joy.  

But, as I slowly worked the ember deeper into the bowl, the ember began to also combust some of the cube cut burley as well.  The symphony became more intensive, with more robust, deeper tones and fewer "flourishes"... but more substance.  Its flavor was considerably deeper and a bit darker.  The texture of the smoke began to feel even more dense and beautifully chalky.  Yet, a "lilting" quality to the symphony continued as well.  As I have typically found with burleys.... the burley leaf almost always imparts a gently sweet "edge" to the flavor of the pipe smoke as well...... which added an extra layer of richness that was so purely delightful.  In my opinion, the smaller cubes of this cube cut pipe tobacco were wonderful!  The smaller cube cut seemed to imbue a FLOOD of intensely beautiful flavor.... or perhaps in a more symphonic analogy.... it felt as if it moved the experience to fortissimo!

Neurally, I could feel tension wash out of my mind like an exiting tide, and the new returning tide offered a beautiful blanket of tranquility.  I could literally feel my facial muscles relax comfortably.  I am not doing the experience proper justice here.  I wish I could better discern the correct words.  I will have to think about it some more.

* * * * *

I had better go and get back to grading.  But, one last thing I need to try to get out of my head, is a phrase that I consider rather obnoxious.  Not in normal day-to-day usage, but as a term used in some of the "fancier" pipe circles:    

I am going to tell you a rather "hoity-toity" word that I dislike.  But, I mention it because on a Pipe Tobacco online group I have read for years.... some of the "hoity-toity" folks use this word.... "Parfait".  Technically, a "parfait" in pipe smoking is the act of layering different types of pipe tobaccos in the bowl of a pipe.  

But, the word "Parfait" sounds too "frou-frou" and "hoity-toity" to me.  To me, it is just the mixing of two or more different pipe tobaccos in the bowl of your pipe.  

My beard and mustache bristle at the thought or mention of  a pipe "parfait".  And unfortunately, because I was talking about the mixing of the two pipe tobaccos above....  that unpleasant term kept popping into my mind.... and probably was the culprit regarding my writers block in what I wanted to better describe.

PipeTobacco

Scattered

 

The image I show above is of a hobby that I have participated in a few times with friends when I was younger that is called "shooting clays" or more accurately shooting clay "pigeons".    I actually always thought shooting clays was rather fun, but for a young graduate student, it was a bit pricey as well.  Perhaps it would be something fun to attempt to pursue again as I approach retirement?  Who knows?  But, the reason for the image is related to my title atop of this blog entry.... scattered.  Some folks who were into sporting clays, I recall, used "buckshot" to make it more likely they would break the orange clay pigeon because it actually had a hundred or so small pellets in the casing that was fired.  To me, it seemed silly to shoot clay pigeons with buckshot as a big part of the sport is to improve your shooting precision.  

But....SCATTERED is how my mind is today in many ways, no matter how I try to wrangle it in.  I volunteered this semester to administer the makeup laboratory practical examination for those students in A&P who had some sort of "reason" to miss taking their exam at the scheduled time last week.  Of the ~400 total A&P students from the various sections, it ended up being that eight of them had a legitimate reason to miss.  Five were diagnosed with Covid, one had an automobile accident on the way to the U that day, and two had a (unexpected to them) tournament showing for the U team they play sports in.  Their scholarship from the U depends upon their participation in all games that arise for the U team.

Well my mind is SCATTERED as I also just finished administering the first of my four final exams for one of my courses... then I high tailed it back to the A&P Teaching Lab to administer these laboratory practical exams.  Laboratory Practical Exams are timed and stationed exams and so, these students are milling about from station to station, often having questions that I have to go and help them with.... on a lab exam that I did not construct (I do not have an A&P lab section this particular semester, only two A & P lecture sections and also.... my other courses).  The person who DID set up this exam was NOT as careful and precise as I typically am in wording the questions nor in pinning the tissues, organs, and various other body structures and histology slides to avoid student confusion...... so there are a helluva lot of questions by the students.  

See.... my mind is scattered all over the map.  I spent ALL of the above messing around discussing "scattered" in various ways, and did not get into the actual "stuff" I had planned to talk about.  (sigh)

* * * * * 

Ever since the gloom of Winter darkness has set in, it has been a chore to run.  I have simply not wanted to get out of bed at the designated time I demand of myself so as to get to the indoor track to run the needed miles.  My slack-jawed, slug & sloth-like ineptitude has forced me to need to put in miles every Saturday for the last few weeks in order to reach the 50+ mile (80+ km) weekly goal.  I need to get back to my normal pattern that I can accomplish in five days instead of six.

Today, however, for the first day of THIS week, I DID get up on time, and I DID force myself to run every one of the seemingly three zillion damnable loops to get a full 10 miles in for today!  So, I am happy about that!  I just have to keep it up tomorrow through Friday too. 

* * * * * 

At this time of the semester, my "professorial big-voice" lecturing is done until the next semester.  But, now the massive number crunching begins to attempt to distill out the appropriate grades for each and every one of my students.  If I had to spend all-day, everyday on the computer for my actual career, I think I would go insane from the drudgery of it.  Fortunately, I only feel like an IT Person or a Data Entry person one week a semester.  

* * * * * 

I have not gotten around to talking much about the actual, unbelievably wonderful, tasty, all-manner pleasing pipe I was able to indulge in on my Dad's birthday.  But, it was.. in every fashion, perfection in terms of all that I love about pipe smoking.  

When I first allowed myself the notion of allowing myself a pipe while at the cemetery, things were already rather hectic and busy getting ready for the last minute U things prior to Thanksgiving AND the myriad tasks of the family's Thanksgiving.  So, I did not really have, nor could I afford any appreciable time to contemplate which pipe nor which tobacco(s) I thought would be the most fitting for the occasion and also the most enjoyable.  

I had to keep it "simple".  So, I still had my "pipe kit" with me that I took to Chicago (and took to the ill-fated, damnable disaster that was Des Moines).  I always had a "pipe kit" that I would take when traveling.  Traveling as we know, can be chaotic.... and when traveling either by plane or rail, sometimes your ability to keep items may be restricted (think of airport security for instance).  So, my travel "pipe kit" has in it a pair of very PLEASANT pipes.... one a 1/4 bent Dublin and the other a full bent "basket pipe" (an unbranded pipe that some brand maker created, but it may have some minor flaw in grain or finish, so the maker sells it well-below wholesale to tobacco shops so they can sell them as inexpensive "basket pipes").  But, the key think in my travel "pipe kit" is that even though both pipes are WONDERFUL and WHOLLY ENJOYABLE devices..... neither is overly sentimental nor expensive.... and if I found myself in the travel situation where I had to grudgingly relinquish a pipe or if I were to lose it during travel..... it would be unpleasant, and I would  not be happy.... but it would be a loss that overall was "the best" of a bad situation.  In the kit also are two lighters one a Zippo (one with no sentimental value) and one ubiquitous disposable Bic.  

I also had the pouch of the stellar and illustrious "Three Star Blue" from Iwan Ries, and an unopened pouch of a unadorned, cube-cut burley also from Iwan Ries.  So.... with the hectic nature of the time, I decided that for my visit to the cemetery, I would simply go with my "pipe kit" as it stood.  

Ugh.... I glanced up through all I had written.... and I TRULY am a bit scattered today.  I haven't even gotten to where I had wanted to go in this post, but I need to call it a "day" for today.  The makeup kids are now all done with their exam and I have to forge onto the next mandatory tasks for this very busy day.  

Hopefully tomorrow I will be a bit more focused and can get more to what I had planned to discuss today.

PipeTobacco

Even Though...

 

The decision to smoke a pipe at the cemetery when visiting my Dad on his 100th birthday was both a bit of a surprise and also a "no-brainer" action as well.  What I mean is that I actually had not been thinking a great deal about THIS YEAR being the 100th year since my Dad had been born..... I think the last time I had been thinking about this milestone was perhaps a little bit back in late August.  I always work hard to find a way to AT LEAST visit both my Mom and my Dad at the cemetery on their birthdays.  I go other times of the year as well, but I try to  make it a point to always do so on their birthday especially.  

With "100" being such a big milestone, one that I would never experience again, when I DID recall near his birthday that it was this "milestone" I also KNEW in my heart that it was a time where and an event where I SHOULD smoke my pipe, regardless of any other factors or impacts. I am glad I did so.  In doing so at the cemetery, I felt an even deeper sense of closeness with my Dad.  

PipeTobacco 

Assiduous

I did not mean to be away this long.  I did not mean to be away at all.  My mind is filled with SO VERY MANY things I want to write about and share here.  So, so many different things.  

Yet, I have not been HERE at my blog.  Nothing is "wrong".  But from the moment I returned to the U on the Monday after Thanksgiving.... the sheer volume of needed effort grew exponentially.... and frankly..... rather unexpectedly so as well.  

I cannot fully explain why or how this has occurred, as it caught me off guard.  Sure, we are very near the end of the Semester.  Sure, there are all manner of things to do (exams to write, robust lectures to give, research to do, damnable meetings to attend, things to grade, blah, blah,).  But, this is expected, and is NORMAL for this time of the Semester.  But, for some reason I cannot hypothesize upon nor discern with my senses...... EACH and EVERY thing in my life at the moment seems to have transitioned from "normal size" to "super-sized" (like at McDonalds).  

Here is a basic rundown of every day since Thanksgiving:

• Get up in the dark, well before dawn
•  and go to the track to run
• Get home, clean up & dress, potty the dog, drive to the U
• Lecture for 3-5 hours (depending upon the day).
• Have office hours... that have been ENORMOUSLY BUSY....  EVERY, EVERY DAY with considerably more students than typical!  Sometimes I have been seeing more than a dozen students in my office hour..... every, every day!
• Work in the lab.
• Work in my office.
• Grade things.
• Since Thanksgiving, the normal time I leave the U has been between 5:30 and 6:00pm and my wife and I are trying to maintain our swimming.  If we swim (which we have), we end up getting home sometime around 8:00 and 8:30 and need to eat.  
• We have been eating at ~9:00pm most days, while watching news or a program on the television.

• I have been so exhausted that I end up going to bed by 11:00pm or 11:30 at the latest if I read.

Rinse and repeat the above EVERY DAY since Thanksgiving, other than the Monday evening concerts I am playing, the Wednesday Evening Catholic "Study Group" my wife and I decided to participate in, and other evening events that are scheduled this time of year. These things have made the days even longer on this occasions and we sit down finally to eat at about 10pm.

So... to conclude the "explanation".... I have NOT had any actual time to do ANYTHING outside of the above since Thanksgiving.  Many days I have been so busy I did not eat until dinner.  That is why I have been away.  

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But, it is my hope/plan for from today.... a return to only being my normal "regularly" busy.  I have SO MANY things I want to write about:

• More about the thoughts/experiences I had at the cemetery talking with my Dad.
• More about the utterly, beyond amazing levels of enjoyment I felt in indulging in that one pipe on his birthday.
• Thoughts about my research.
• Thoughts about which parish we want to belong to.
• Excitement in a POTENTIAL trip that may arise back to CHICAGO!!!!!

And, so very much more.  But, this brief interlude is all I can spare today.  Back to a helluva lot of grading, research, etc.

PipeTobacco

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