Comments Commentary Monday

 

I found it nice and enjoyable to be able to comment to various comments in an actual post when I did so last week, so I am thinking I will try to keep doing so on Mondays.  So, here are some of the comments I thought I would address from last week. Again, I am placing the comments in alphabetical order of the commenter's moniker:

 AC

 "Did you still do the music part, at least?"

This was referencing the prior routine I had after a hard/busy/intensive workday where I would enjoy a big-bowled pipe and loud classical music on my drive home in my truck.  No, I actually did not have classical music playing.  Instead, I simply listened to NPR.  It was not particularly memorable, just basic news.  

 "I saw a little, white, puffy cloud in the distance. I stayed in, juts in case. 😇😉"

I really appreciated the above comment!  It made me smile. 

 

Liz Hinds

"Your dedication and perseverance are amazing!"

Thank you for thinking so!  I am not really sure if it is actual dedication nor perseverance actually.  One thing I have learned about myself is that I can be damn stubborn towards myself, if I put my mind to it.  I DO NOT like it when I say I am going to do something, and then I do not do it.  Not doing something I say I will do, makes me feel like a failure.  I feel like a failure enough of the time.  I do not need to feel it more by not doing what I say I will do.  

Margaret

"It's a relief to finish a big project and the release seems appropriate for some sort of celebration whether a pipe, an IPA or both. :)"

I agree with you, the finishing of a big project, especially one that involves a lot of fine, precise work on the computer.... DESERVES some sort of reward!  Unfortunately, I did not indulge in either a beloved pipe nor an IPA.  Both of these WOULD have been wonderful additions, but having a pipe (other than in a very tightly controlled manner (see Mike, below)) seems too damn risky, and having an IPA alone seems rather "blah".  I DID get to go swimming with my wife, however.  That did help to reduce the headachy feeling I had from all the nitty-gritty computer fussing.  In a PERFECT world, I would have had a pipe on the way home, listened to intense classical music, went swimming with my wife, and then would have gone to visit my FIL and had a libation or two and several more pipes.  Unfortunately, that is only an historical artifact now. :(

"You are incredibly dedicated!"

 I like being thought of as dedicated.  However, it really is more that I can be quite stubborn to myself. 

 "Hoping for your retirees' group visit in July!"

I am also quite hopeful!!!!!   The cigar I had the privilege to enjoy at the cigar bar on my wife's trip convinced me that I have a good shot at fitting in to the retiree's group and it could be a wonderful occasional treat.  And, if I get "accepted" I may even be able to eventually substitute the much preferred pipe instead of a cigar.... after I have a better read of the "lay of the land," so-to-speak.   

"I can't imagine running in that heat and humidity...   ....do you think the eagerness to keep to your miles is part of the fat guy inside? A fear of going back to that?"

Interestingly, the heat and humidity do not seem to bother me all too terribly.  Of course, I AM sopping wet from head to toe on hot days after my run..... this includes any shirts, shorts, socks, and inside my shoes being sopping wet.  It also includes the brim of my hat too.  My region is notoriously humid so the sweat does little actual evaporating nor cooling.  WHAT DOES bother me is bright sun.  I unfortunately have very limited tanning abilities, and more than actually tan, I tend to just get red, like a lobster.  And, with sun exposure, my skin feels rather itchy and uncomfortable.  The last two years were the best years I have had regarding tanning.... and they came about by running in the early morning (daybreak to about 10:30am) and having exposed areas covered with sunscreen.  Gradually over the course of the summer, I WAS able to get a fairly normal type of "farmer's tan" on those exposed areas by Fall.  

Regarding the "fat guy inside"..... I do not really think the reason I RUN is to keep the fat guy at bay.  When I accomplished my 130 pound (~59 kg; ~4.25 stone) weight loss way back when, I was not running.  Instead, I was walking 5 miles every day of the week.  If I did not run now, I would want to go back to at least walking.  

But, why do I RUN?  And, why do I continue to RUN.  There are several reasons...... a) as a chubby kid (~222 pounds (~101kg; 16 stone) when I graduated high school), I felt out-of-place by not being in any sports, b) because of my weight, I never THOUGHT I could run, c) when in older life, I found that I COULD run, it surprised the hell out of me, and I felt so amazed at myself, I had to keep doing it, d) I felt even more amazed thinking that a slovenly, pipe-smoking, old codger like myself COULD run.... that it just encouraged me...  because I NEVER THOUGHT it would be possible..... and also probably some of e) it gets the exercise out of the way more quickly so I can do other things.  :) 

Then, when COVID happened, I had already been running a fair amount, and had been dreaming of trying something BIG (at least to me)..... to "Run the Year" (running the number of miles of the year.... in the year).  Then with the greater flexibility of my schedule during COVID, I was able to wrangle in enough miles TO DO IT!  And, I have tried to stay at that level since. 

 

Mike

Mike said about himself.... "Maybe it's the fear of relapse that keeps me from lusting after a cigarette." 

I am not sure if you are aware that in the 6.5 years I have now abstained from my beloved pipes and pipe tobaccos, that I have allowed myself TWO pipes and ONE cigar.  One pipe happened perhaps two years ago on a trip when I went to Chicago and happened to be near the nation's oldest pipe shop, Iwan Ries.  

The second pipe was this past November on what would have been my Dad's 100th Birthday.  I allowed myself a pipe as I sat out at the cemetery at his headstone,  talking and talking with/to him about memories with my Dad.  

The cigar happened on a trip I went on with my wife for her work.  The city had a cigar bar, and I had a cigar and a beer out on their back patio (this occurred about 3-4 weeks ago).  

And, let me tell you.... each of those two pipes I had were utterly sublime and were pure bliss in all regards. Each allowed me to feel more "me" and I felt very contented like when I was a kid.  The cigar too, was very pleasant.  

Unlike you, I never lost the love of my pipe tobaccos (like you did for cigarettes).  Every day of the past 6.5 years I have remembered and thought of them.  I thought that I WOULD experience a linear slope-like decline in desire for a pipe as time wore on.  But, for me it has not been like that.  Instead, my desire for a pipe and pipe tobacco undulates.  Occasionally, some days it is moderately "low" in terms of desire, but many, many days it is very, robustly strong.  I suspect that after all this length of time.... it will always be so for me. 

Right now, I am trying to find a way to have an occasional pipe.  This is meaning.... once in a great while.  But, I struggle with how to do so WITHOUT falling off the wagon.  I do not know if/when I will know a plan that would work, but I suspect it should NOT include me having a bowl of pipe tobacco at home, because I think that could too easily allow me to finesse my way back into smoking my pipe at will.     

"As far as tastes, I am more like you. I favor savory over sweet. What I want to know is Mayonnaise or Cool Whip?"

Haha! That last question is better left unanswered.  But, I do remember Herb Albert's "Taste of Honey" album well. 

But, regarding sweet things..... I actually have a voracious appetite for sweet desserts.... I am just not as fond of "sweet" savory items. I have eaten vanilla frosting out of the can by the spoonful.... and if given  the option.... still would.   

"I admire your commitment to running. When you started out, I was skeptical you would stick with it."

I can be awfully damn stubborn (at least to myself) when I want to be.  Having the goal of trying to reach the new year helps.  It is interesting that some of my students have learned about my running and my running "the year".... and they are often flabbergasted that an old curmudgeon like myself CAN do it.  

"There is another thing I had considered when first we connected. I did not think you would stick with blogging and yet, here you are many years later still involved. And I hope you take this the way I intend it." 

Blogging has been (by far) the most successful attempt I have ever made at "journaling".  I have book-style copies of journals from earlier attempts but they all quickly petered out.  For whatever reason, writing here has stuck.  I am amazed too.  It is almost a sort of "therapy" for me.  I can get out any thoughts and ideas that I need to keep more to myself in day-to-day living.  Writing here is akin to revealing my inner thoughts (perhaps mostly my id, but with some of my ego and superego as well).... thoughts that are not always a part of emotions I can reveal in the tangible world without being perceived as neurotic.  

It is interesting.... I had reached my 20th anniversary of starting this blog past October.  I had been meaning to mention it, but had not done so.  

 

Pat

"Lest anyone think that the Monkees were not capable of extraordinary work, please take a look at their rendition of the old Spanish piece Riu Chiu."

You are so very correct, Pat!  I remember that song from the show... now that you posted the link.  It indeed does show their strong abilities as singers!   If they would have put their mind to it, I think they could have developed more and more.... and would have been capable of  "C,S,N, & Y" level harmonies.   

 

Peppylady

"I'm sure you do."

Yes, there are so many past routines and past hobbies that I DO miss.  Libations and pipes with my FIL is a big one.  Just smoking my pipes in my offices and labs while I work during the day is another one.  Of course, I also miss earlier days in lots of ways.  I miss when the kids were young.  I miss my Mom and Dad, etc.   

 

* * * * *

• I got myself out of bed appropriately at 5:05am this morning, and hoofed out a relatively pleasant 10.5 miles (~17 km).  I am thinking I am not as fond of my current pair of damnably, outrageously expensive running shoes.  They are the same MODEL I first bought when my wife insisted that I get a "good" (read as damn expensive) shoe since I needed to protect my joints since I was running so much.  I acquiesced.  

• However, the model has changed from version 14 all the way now to version 20.  Version 20 shoes have a heel that extends almost an inch BEHIND where my heel is used to landing.  This makes me run LESS heel-to-toe, and more flat.  I am not sure I have liked that these last ~1,200 miles.  I wish they still had the more traditional heel.    

• I am carrying around one of my simple Dr. Grabow pipes from the pipe rack in my inner office today.  Sort of a pacifier, I guess.   

PipeTobacco