Cable & Poetry Prattle

After running yesterday morning, while cleaning up and dressing for the U, I noticed a battalion of workers with a myriad of rolling tools, gauges, and a plethora of vehicles all milling about the sidewalks in our neighborhood.  I drove off to the U wondering what was going to happen, but didn't give it much thought overall.  

When I returned home in the very late afternoon yesterday, I saw that throughout the neighborhood, various blocks and sections of sidewalk had been crushed and dug up, and new cement squares poured in various locations across the entirety of the block.  Our home had two sidewalk squares replaced.  I have no idea why, as neither was cracked nor in disrepair.  But, again, I thought nothing much of it.... I figured it was some city and/or township initiative.  

My wife and I prepared our dinner together.  It was "Taco Tuesday"..... with my usual array of "taco salad bigger than my head" , two burritos, two tostadas, and one "Mexican Pizza" which was a baked corn tortilla with light cheese and vegetables on it... baked in the oven.  My wife had decided to procure her food this day from a take-out restaurant.... instead of fixing her usual..... because she was especially tired.   I declined the offer to bring me take-out too.....  and instead made my own versions.... to decrease fat and calorie levels to a better level for me..... and more importantly.... to allow me to increase the VOLUME to calorie ratio...  to fill me up.

We had decided yesterday, while fixing our plates.... since it was rather late in the day... that we would forgo eating at the dinner table as we were both rather tired... and instead would eat on the couch and watch television together.  

It was only then, when we were comfortably situated on the couch, our delectables in front of us..... that we discovered, when we tried to turn on the television...... that our cable...... and our Internet.... and our phone were all INOPERATIVE.  

I cussed up a storm under my breath.  I already had my SUSPICIONS.  But, my wife coaxed me into the "typical" protocol... of calling the service provider's 800 number and reporting the problem and seeking their guidance.  The service provider is annoying in that it has a very, very elaborate, robotic telephone queueing system, which took me about 15 minutes before I could get away from the computer generated voice asking me question upon question...... and my zillion time repeated plea of "Customer Service Representative" was finally acknowledged.... and I was placed into their "holding" queue.  Then the on-hold voice proclaimed "We are experiencing larger than normal call volumes, your wait time may be longer than desired."   But, I had been through this before.... that is always the line.  Sometimes a real person comes on in 5 minutes, sometimes 15.  

Last night, unfortunately, it was ~45 minutes of waiting.  I was mostly aggravated by having to hear the "elevator music" in their hold system.... and was further aggravated by the service provider inserting an ad for other parts of their services every minute or so.  

Eventually, I got to a fellow named "Michael" (who actually had what sounded like a very heavy Indian accent) and he did a whole bunch of things to try to re-establish our service.  All, to no avail, as I presumed.  He then proceeded to offer a repair appointment.  This appointment will occur Thursday (tomorrow).  My wife and I both have to figure out how to handle the 4 hour window we are supposed to be home to wait for them to show up.  It may need to be me, and this will mean no Retiree's Cigar Group which immediately made me feel more sad and aggravated.  My wife is looking into her schedule, so perhaps I will be lucky and she can be here for some or all of it instead.... but I do not know yet.  

SO.....

What I damn well expect has happened..... what my suspicions are..... is that the damnable sidewalk crew, when they bashed and dug out the concrete squares they were going to replace...... very likely severed or at least damaged the underground wiring of our service provider..... the wiring of our service provider DID happen to run from the road directly under one of the replaced concrete squares to get into our property.

So, we were both aggravated and have no services of that sort at all until at least sometime Thursday.  After eating, because I was still keyed up from the aggravation of the evening, after my wife went to bed, since I could not read my Kindle, and actually reading a book did not sound enjoyable in my "keyed up" state.... I went to my office.... and sans computer (no internet), took another stab at trying to do something that is sort of like poetry.  I based the poem on my thoughts from yesterday's post about the beautiful memories of when I used to ride home in my truck in the evenings with a pipe.  It actually became more about the "getting to my truck" stage, I guess:

Start of the Evening

The office dims as autumn twilight falls,

surrounded by the weight of heavy  books.

An old professor returns from campus halls,

to seek the quiet of his hidden nooks.

He strikes a match, a sudden amber spark,

chases shadows throughout the quiet room.

He ignites the leaf as he prepares to embark,

The bowl’s ember aglow, has banished the gloom

Swirling smoke ascends in gentle rings,

Akin to ideas drifting throughout the air.

A sweet and gentle release from what the daytime brings,

and heavy burdens slip beyond his care.

With pipe in hand, the world begins to slow,

he is content to watch the ember softly glow.

PipeTobacco

Banana

 

My mind is not really well focused on the topic I started to write about yesterday early morning, so it still sits "stalled" in my queue to perhaps someday complete.  

I have eaten a banana nearly every day since childhood..... so that is a helluva lot of bananas.  And, I have noticed some things that are (to me) somewhat disconcerting about bananas in the last 8-10 years:

• Bananas do not seem as "good" as they used to be. I realize that this is very likely due to some of the issues globally that are affecting bananas.... things like disease (mostly fungal, I believe), and environmental challenges associated with global warming.  
• From what I understand, many "modern" bananas are either a) hybrids between different species/varieties, b) GMO bananas, or c) alternative species than what I have come to associate with bananas for decades.  
• Challenges I find in "modern" bananas include:
• Some bananas we now purchase have a strange (unpleasant to me) texture..... which is overly stiff (even when ripe) and sometimes the texture through the fruit even displays variations in the textures within one banana.... almost like part of the fruit is akin to almost a stalk...... to me very off-putting texture-wise.  
• Most bananas I tend to see these days have a less-than-uniform ripening scale associated with them
• In the above image, we see a non-parametric scale of banana "ripeness".  For me, my STRONG PREFERENCE is to eat a banana when it is between 4.5 and 5 on the above scale.  Before that, the banana is too "stiff" and often exhibits an "alkalinity" that is not pleasing.  And, above 5, the texture becomes overly soft, and the flavors more "old" and "muted" to me.  
• The thing is.... in earlier times.... bananas would gradually work through the non-parametric scale in a relatively uniform fashion from 1 - 7+.  BUT, the "modern" banana SEEMS TO ME to spend the majority of time at either ends of this scale.  It has become common now for us to get bananas that are somewhere in the 1-3 range.... and they STAY that way for often a week or more.  And then, the actual 4-5 range zone..... seems to "zip by" in perhaps 10-12 hours before it kerplunks into the nasty over 5 scores.  IT TRULY seems like the stage I actually enjoy.... now lasts for only a few brief hours.
• It has gotten to the point where when we purchase bananas, we now try to only buy 2-3 at a time (instead of a full bunch of 7-8), because the window of when they are "good" and "pleasant" seems so much more narrow than it used to be.

So, enough about bananas.  Other things:

• The concert last evening went well.  It was beautiful weather, and it was very enjoyable.  One of the things about the philosophy of our community band is that we like to try out a lot of alternative venues.... to get music to folks who would otherwise be unlikely to engage with such an event.  So, in addition to a few "traditional" theater stage venues we pepper through the year.... we actually tend to do more "traveling shows".... often to larger nursing homes and assisted living facilities.... and to some community food drives.... and some smaller craft shows and festivals.   Where we played yesterday was in a small field/park adjacent to the library in our "old town" region of the city.  This neighborhood is filled with (besides the library) a considerable number of smaller homes in in a series of tight-sized blocks in the urban center.  It was fun.... as we warmed up.... folks from numerous houses heard the honking and bleating of our horns and peeked out onto their porches.... and as we started to play actual music.... many folks sat down on their porches to watch and listen, and a lot of folks began to meander towards the library and the park.... including a lot of young elementary and middle school aged kids.  
• Until yesterday, when I wrote a bit about it, I had not really been focused on the TEMPORAL nature of when I ESPECIALLY would enjoy indulging in my pipes and pipe tobaccos.  But, it is rather true.  After thinking about it yesterday, I ended up spending most all the "daydream time" I had the rest of the evening and even as I fell asleep.... recalling how incredibly beautiful and.... SIMULTANEOUSLY invigorating AND relaxing it was when I would peacefully indulge in a pipe while I drove home each evening from the U with my friendly truck.  In looking back on it now, it seemed that the flavors of the pipe tobacco were always deeper, the aromas always sweeter, and the mental relaxation always more profound on that pipe-infused journey home.  I so truly miss that.

Unfortunately, I have eaten my banana and my yogurt now, and I really need to get back to work.  My banana was actually about a 5.5 today.... so that was good.  Probably the other one we have at home will drift into a 6 or more by morning, so I will probably have to eat it later this evening.... or freeze it with all the other ones to make cookies or bread with eventually.

PipeTobacco

Started But Curtailed

I tried very hard to get a post completed this morning... but I was unable to due to a plethora of EARLY interruptions.  The hallway doors to the office suite area (one set at each end)  are usually not opened until 8:00am, but, unbenounced to me, one of these sets of doors (not the one I entered from) was left open.... therefore students came in early.  So, I will try to continue and finish it tomorrow.

Various late afternoon thoughts:

• As always, a wonderful pipe would be such a beautiful way to end the day while in my beast of burden going home.  Although I miss all my typical pipes I would enjoy through the day.... the "drive home pipe" was one of my absolute favorites.  
• My SIL was shipped home (against my wife and my ardent suggestions).  She is now sitting around, tepidly "awaiting" physical therapy.  My wife and I fear the worse.
• I need to skeedattle quickly if I am going to get to swim..... I have our first Fall performance of our community band to play at tonight.  And, it is an outdoor concert.... fortunately it is actually SUNNY here and around 70 degrees (~21 C).
• My run was pleasant and needed this morning.

PipeTobacco

SIL

Friday morning, around 4:00am, my wife's phone started ringing.  This, of course, startled us both immediately into awakening.  We both have had a variety of "bad news" calls over the years, and a large percentage of them have occurred during the middle of the night. So, we both immediately had surges of stress hormones course throughout our body.

It was my sister-in-law (my wife's sister, the one with kidney failure).  She was calling to try to tell us that she was being taken to the hospital via ambulance.  Her voice was very quiet and weak, extremely slow, and slurred.  

After a bit, her husband (my BIL) came onto the phone and explained that she was weak,  could not stand, and was disoriented, only minimally responsive, and was an ashen grey color, was systemically endemic, and her arms and legs were darkening. 

* * * * *

My wife immediately rushed to the hospital and into the emergency room.  Even at that hour, there were too many people and too few clinicians for the workload.  Mostly, the nurses were attempting to conduct cursory triage of the folks.  My SIL was deemed at significant enough risk, that within a little over an hour after she arrived, she was wheeled into one of the slotted "rooms"  (one wall is simply a curtain) that lined the emergency room.  Other than a few checks of vitals (her blood pressure was 250/125 at admittance, and her heart rate was ~120) not a lot transpired for another hour or more.  A call had been placed and a message left, for her kidney specialist.   She eventually called back and ordered a dialysis treatment for my SIL, and she was wheeled away for roughly four hours for that treatment.

* * * * * 

When she was eventually returned from dialysis, she was still minimally responsive, displayed slurred and very slow speak when purposefully coaxed to talk, and was still massively endemic.  From the time she arrived at the hospital she was for all intents, minimally responsive for over 14 hours at the hospital.  No physicians came to see her/us, but of course a clinician did supervise her dialysis while she slept through the proceedure.

* * * * *

By about 16 hours, she started to talk slightly more, but all the other symptoms remained, including hallucinations.  But, the increase in talking... we were taking it as a good sign.  

* * * * *

Eventually, around 18 hours after admittance, a clinician came and talked to us.  It appears that my SIL's primary care physician, who my SIL had visited about a week ago, had prescribed to my SIL a pain medication due to her continued extreme pain from her neck fusion surgery several weeks ago.  This primary care physician knows (of course) that my SIL is a dialysis patient.  Apparently, when my SIL's kidney specialist eventually read my SIL's current (very long) list of prescriptions, the pain medication the primary care physician had prescribed was completely contraindicated for patients with kidney failure.  

* * * * *

My SIL has had two additional dialyses thus far.  She is mentally more aware and talkative, so it appears a corner has been turned, and things are getting more satisfactory.  Unfortunately, if current protocols for American medicine are followed, my SIL will likely be eligible for discharge perhaps as early as tomorrow.  My wife is with my SIL now, trying to convince my SIL to ask/beg to be (instead of discharged) transferred to a rehabilitation facility so that she can build her strength back up with physical therapy, have supervised (instead of home) dialysis, and have the tests done to look at her spinal fusion (they are out-patient procedures, which the way the damnable American healthcare (more accurately the damnable American insurance system) operates, "cannot" be done while ADMITTED to the hospital due to (insurance) "rules" no matter how ass-backwards the whole notion is in terms of actual patient care.  

But, my SIL dreads the idea of going to a rehabilitation facility, because she would rather just be in her home.... but there she does NOT have the things she needs to get herself back to where she needs to be as a baseline.  Home physical therapy.... if provided at all, takes several days to establish.... her home (due to dialysis equipment and other things) does not have adequate space for her to safely practice the walking (with a walker that she needs) she needs to do to regain strength.  She SHOULD be automatically in a rehabilitation facility, but now-a-days, the "first step" is to ask the patient if they would "rather go home" or perhaps "go to a rehabilitation facility" because the majority of hurting, sick folks will CHOOSE to go home, rather than to rehab.... and the insurance companies save a lot of money.

It is disgusting all around, IMO.

PipeTobacco 

Rodents

After writing about the "Fage" yogurt situation yesterday, I can happily report that TODAY, I did remember to take the odd parchment paper layer off BEFORE adding my little bit of brown sugar.  I believe the purposeful writing helped me remember this task more easily.  

I also wanted to mention that I am (surprisingly and happily) able to report that this morning, my tally for my Wordle "streak" is now at 115 days.  I have to admit, however, that back on Tuesday, I almost LOST my streak!  I believe it is now safe to talk about the word, since it was the word for Tuesday, September 22nd..... and could not be NOW construed as a "spoiler" or an inappropriate "reveal" today.  So.... if I am incorrect and it is still not appropriate to talk about a past Wordle... please let me know and I will try to remove the below portion and not talk about it again:

* * * * * * * * * * *

On Tuesday, the Wordle word of the day was "STOKE" which I thought was a bit odd and a bit on the "too esoteric" side to be a "Wordle Word".  I actually DID think of the word "stoke" early in my work to solve the puzzle... and had it in my mind as a choice at my guess #3.  But, I kept dismissing using the word "stoke" as it seemed so UNLIKELY especially since I had many OTHER, seemingly more likely options..... like STOLE, STOVE and STONE.   I truly think STOKE was a strange word to have in Wordle.  You can of course "stoke" a fire, like folks do with a campfire..... and I have often used the word in a more colloquial and euphemistic sense when I would often say (or perhaps mutter under my breath) that I needed to "stoke" my pipe.  I would say this when I was smoking my pipe and I would notice that the ember in the bowl would start to prematurely "go out" and there would be a noticable decline in the beautiful, flavorful pipe smoke. 

So.... I think stoke was not a really good choice for a Wordle word.  The only other time I felt the Wordle word was inappropriate was now perhaps about two months ago, when the Wordle word of that day was "OVATE" which I did try at guess #3..... NOT because I ever thought it would BE the Wordle word of the day, but because it used a lot of new letters I had not yet tried that day.  I think "ovate" was too sciency a word for the broad public and really think it was unfortunate as a choice.  Ovate has two relatively related meanings..... it a) describes an oval shaped (egg shaped) object in biology, and also b) it is used to indicate the release of eggs (especially in insects).   I was of course happy I picked this word and did so soon my stream of guesses..... but I thought it was unfair for most folks.  

* * * * * * * * * * *

So, I am going to go to the Retiree's Cigar Group this afternoon.  I hope it is as fun and enjoyable as always!  I may ask the fellows if any of them remembers Union Leader pipe tobacco and see what they may know.  Last night, I took a quarter and gentle pried up the lid on the can again.  I smelled the leaf's aroma again.... and to ME it smelled extremely enticing.  To me, there is a definite "molasses" type of aroma, which I think seems rather wonderful to me.  I wish I could ask my Dad why he seemingly did not like Union Leader. 

I ran my miles in a rather chilly, mildly rainy environment this morning.  It was 48 degrees F (~8.5 C) at 5:15am this morning, and it was continually misting in terms of rain.  I wish I would have worn gloves.  

I better go to work with my rodents.  I have quite a bit of weaning to accomplish before heading to class.  

PipeTobacco  

Yogurt Mishaps & More

I have routinely eaten yogurt virtually every weekday for several decades.  While I like most every yogurt.... I do have some PREFERENCES of what I would much prefer: 

• I have grown to greatly prefer "Greek" yogurt more so than other styles.  I like its generally thicker texture, the more "realistic" tart profile of the yogurt, and that it offers the greatest variety of no-fat versions.
• I have eaten many of virtually all yogurts.... but I am not particularly fond of "fruit on the bottom" yogurts as they a) tend to be sloppier for me (either through mixing or through "dripping" if I do not mix the yogurt and fruit), and b) they tend to be (to my tongue) excessively sweet.  
• The flavors I have ESPECIALLY liked over the years have been 
• Honey Greek
• Vanilla
• Lemon
• Lime
• Unfortunately..... Honey Greek (which was only very mildly sweet) was discontinued many years ago.
• Unfortunately..... Lemon and Lime seem to also now have been discontinued (for roughly a year or so)
• Unfortunately..... Vanilla is available in a hit-or-miss fashion and I am fearful it is also on its way to be discontinued
• So..... as of late.... I have been having more and more often.... PLAIN Greek Yogurt
• Sometimes I eat it plain.... but PLAIN is an apt phrase.... when all alone, it is a tad dull
• Sometimes I bring a tiny bit of honey and/or a tiny bit of brown sugar in a zip-lock type bag to add to my yogurt.....but that a) tends to be rather messy.... and when I am working and eating.... this is not a good thing... as I do not need to dribble/drop more things onto my clothes or my beard than I already do..... and b) it involves more "steps" to get ready than just grabbing a yogurt from the fridge to dump in my lunch box.

But the reality is.... I do not understand why any of those four flavors would be discontinued.... they each are great flavors.... it is both perplexing and frustrating.

Now.... during the past two weeks my wife has been buying a particular brand of yogurt that is quite atypical in our rotation (I encourage her to buy me the cheapest kinds she can find).  The brand is called "Fage" which I have no idea how the company wishes me to pronounce their name, but in my pronunciation, I say [using old-school phonetics..... ˈfāj ....or via "sounds"..... ph...AAA.... z......yah and it makes me think of a "bacteriophage" like the image at the top of this post.... I talk about bacteriophages in class frequently.... as they are viruses that infect bacteria (common knowledge).... but they are being used more-and-more frequently as vectors to help in a variety of aspects of research medicine to help in developing vaccines and other treatments.  

But, this "Fage" yogurt, which normally is rather pricey (but was on DEEP discount the last two weeks).... has a very weird aspect to their packaging.  Like virtually all single serving yogurt, there is a foil covering over the container that you peel off before consuming.  BUT.... the Fage, which has the foil covering as well..... ALSO has specifically resting directly ON TOP OF THE YOGURT, a small disk of what I would describe as "parchment paper" (people often bake things on this type of paper product).  

I have absolutely no idea WHY they add this little disk of parchment paper.... but I can attest that it is not to my liking.  EVERY SINGLE DAY, when I open my plain, Greek Fage yogurt these past two weeks, and I go to add my honey and/or brown sugar..... I end up dumping it onto that damnable parchment paper disk..... because it blends in perfectly with the yogurt.... and I forget (every time so far) that they do this weird addition to their packaging.  With my forgetting about this disk.... I then have to fish it off the surface of my yogurt... and try to also scrape off the honey and/or brown sugar that is ON THE PARCHMENT PAPER (not in my yogurt).... so that I can get it actually into the yogurt.  

Every day I end up WITH MORE MESS because of this.

It is interesting to note that while I am ENTHUSIASTIC about potentially trying out my Dad's Union Leader.... I am not feeling a sense of longing to try it.  I think it may be that I fear I will perhaps find it "hum-drum" like my Dad apparently did, having it last so long.  But, in an equally interesting way.... my PCS score is hovering around a "9" the last several days..... but in my dreams and in my longings, I am imagining re-indulging in the many pipe tobaccos I KNOW I relish.  I do not know if there is an actual term for this or not.... but.... as I have stated before..... sometimes.... if I try VERY, VERY HARD.... I can almost conjure up the experience to such a degree where I can almost taste the flavors and aromas of the various pipe tobaccos.... and almost feel the way these beloved pipe tobaccos will gently massage and quiet the neurons of my mind. 

PipeTobacco 

PipeTobacco  

Fall is Here.... Whether We Are Ready Or Not

With the HIGH temperature today expected to be only 61 degrees F (~16 C), it already feels cool and fall-like.  It was only 43 degrees F (~6 C) when I did my run at 5am today so I had on sweat pants and a sweat shirt.  

It is always interesting to me that I am ALREADY feeling COLD at the above temperatures when they occur in September.  Yet, when they happen again in late April/early May.... the same temperatures feel rather "balmy" and I can even wear shorts.  

If we can muster up the ability to do so, I personally think it would be wonderful to adopt a "snowbird" type lifestyle in retirement.  "Snowbirds" in my region, will "overwinter" down South where it is warmer in Georgia or Florida or some similar area, but return to the North during the Spring/Summer/Fall.  

I have been thinking a great deal about my surprise find of the Union Leader pipe tobacco.  Some thoughts though.... since it was not a particular favorite of my Dad's.... I am wondering if I would find it disappointing?  Or, would the shear fact that it WAS my Dad's and I had this amazing discovery 30+ years after his passing.... make it a monumental and very special event for me to try?  And, it is also curious to me that since it is also hovering ~ 60+ years old itself.... that has me very curious for the "time machine" aspect of sampling said.  I will keep trying to figure out the best course of action I should take (if at all).

My wife is extremely busy this week at work (somewhat unexpectedly.... but somewhat because she forgot about several things).  This has me feeling a bit lonely.  Our plans to drive together at least some of the time this week have been discarded, and several of our typical evening routines have now been usurped in a variety of fashions.  

But, I will persevere, I guess.

PipeTobacco

Monday Thoughts

Surprisingly, my vehicle was ready  Friday afternoon!  I actually enjoyed, however, the carpooling with my beloved wife, even with the occasional inconveniences in each of our schedules.  We both feel that way.... and are hoping to try to establish a couple of days each week where we carpool.  That may be easier said, than done however, do the variances of both of our schedules.  But, I hope we can do so.

I am not excited about the work week.  But, I shall carry on. I do not have many thoughts at the moment.... or at least no (at least partially to me) interesting thoughts.  I ran.  I thought about pipes.  I am just pushing through the day.  I will go to rehearsal.  

I just feel tired.  Even though I tried not to, I ended up spending quite a bit of time thinking about the kid I do not talk about here anymore.  So much of it makes me hurt, sad, and angry.  But there is nothing I can really think of to do.  The "ball" is not in my court at the moment.  I will say, however, that while love is permanent, trust is not.... trust is earned and needs to be maintained.  When love exists but trust is lost.... it is a damn hard situation.

I would have been better off yesterday (and probably this morning) if I could have figured out how to NOT think about things.

PipeTobacco

This & That Friday

No indication that my vehicle will be done today, sadly.  They did suggest it may not be done until perhaps Monday or Tuesday initially, depending on their workload.... but I had hopes it might get done earlier.  

Yesterday's Retiree's Group was a true mental rejuvenator for me as usual!  It was a great time talking and joking with the guys.  No pressures, no posturing.... just congenial discussion and enjoyment.  I again sampled a Cohiba Red Dot 6x60.  It was pleasant.

With the fact that I had my wife's car, this changed some of the parameters of our meet-up for swimming.  Usually, on Retiree's Cigar Group Day.... because of our different locations, we both drive separately to get to the pool.  I usually end up getting there about an hour earlier than my wife due to her often scheduled on-line meetings on Thursday, so I get in to the space, and typically shower and then lift some weights in the gym and work on the BOSU and the "Jump Platform" to try to develop better balance and strength.  I shower first, so as to not get negative looks from the "gym rats" working in the space because of my cigar milieu.  

Well, with my having my wife's car, it made it necessary for me to collect my wife after her work was done before we headed to the pool.  And, as such, she did comment on my personal "cigar aroma".... not actually negatively... but just that she noticed it.

When we arrived, I went to shower, and she did 10-15 minutes on the stationary bike (to try to help her knee.... she has been trying to be consistently keeping her knee strong so as to not have a repeat of her knee injury from before).  When I got out, we both headed to the pool to relax and talk more.  

This morning, I awoke from a dream, where I was actually trying out the Union Leader pipe tobacco.  The dream actually was exceptionally pleasing and it was delightful to wake up to.  It was a bit disjointed though, because it was set in a hot Summer setting and I was walking in the woods.... initially with a walking stick in hand.  Then (out of nowhere) instead of the walking stick, I had one of my pipes and had been carrying around on a strap slung over my shoulder of all things.... the tub of Union Leader pipe tobacco.  I was nearby a bird observation tower in the woods in this dream, and I walked up the tower, sat on the bench and proceeded to fill my pipe with the Union Leader and try it out. I awoke to the clang of my phone alarm while I was in the midst of enjoying the bowlful in this dream.

When I dressed and hit the pavement to run today, I had to very purposefully train my mind onto focus on the rosary.... I kept drifting back into thoughts of the dream.  But, eventually, I did complete the rosary.  

But, I have been thinking a lot of that dream since then.  I have a rather dull Department Meeting coming up a bit later today.  I suspect I will eagerly allow my mind to drift from the meeting topics back to the dream and to my thoughts on if I will/should actually try the Union Leader.

PipeTobacco

Selmer Signet 100 "Special"

As I have my wife's vehicle today (my car repair is still in process), I am happily still going to be able to go to the Retiree's Cigar Group this afternoon!!  I am very much looking forward to talking with the fellows.  It is such a fun, jovial group and I am so happy I tried it out.... and that I feel I fit in very well!

"Bore Oil" is a fluid that is well know to most clarinetists.  If you are fortunate enough to have a horn that is made of grenadilla wood (in olden days, the body of less expensive horns were made from metal or galvanized rubber and did not use bore oil.... and today, less expensive horns are made of plastic and also do not use bore oil), you need to regularly oil the wood with bore oil to prevent cracking/splitting of the wooden body parts.... which can happen EASILY in a grenadilla wood clarinet due to it continually experiencing drying (when not playing) and moisture (while playing).  Grenadilla wood is a very dark wood and gives the clarinet its classic, nearly black color.

When I was evaluated for my horn back in 5th Grade, I ultimately chose the clarinet (see previous post a couple of days ago for more details if desired).  The music store fellow who assigned to us which horns we would get, had a big box of Selmer Signet 100 clarinets.... which were decent, student-level horns of that era.... and the plus was that unlike the "inexpensive" horns the music store fellow did not immediately offer (he only did to so, behind the scenes to parents who balked at the purchase) , the Selmer Signet 100 horns were made of actual grenadilla wood.  So that is what my parents got for me.... they were not ones to "question" the authority of the music store fellow.  

So, I and 5 or so other of my friends who were designated future "clarinetists" got these particular horns.  Some of us were rather fastidious (including me) and took to heart the idea of "oiling" our clarinets regularly.  A couple of my friends, though... were not particularly fastidious by nature... and did not do so.  After about two-three years, a couple of these friends had a problematic crack or two or three develop in their horn.   

One thing I noticed on my horn that none of my clarinet peers had, was that along with the normal "Selmer Signet 100" stamped into each section of the horn, I had stamped in mine the additional word, "Special".  I thought this was rather cool, although I really had no idea why it was there.  I did not really talk about it much but I did like that it was stamped in there.

It was not until many decades later, with the age of the Internet, that I thought about investigating my horn more.  I was very surprised to learn that my "Special" designation to my Selmer Signet 100 indicated that it was NOT just a nice, student-level horn, but instead was considered an "Intermediate-level" horn (not a "Professional" horn, but in-between student and professional).  I confirmed this was true also by reading on the Internet the stamping numbering system used on the mouthpieces.  Student-level mouthpieces had one particular stamping number, but the "Special" had a different stamping indicating a slightly better mouthpiece as well..... which conformed to what I had as well! 

I was very surprised.... happily.   My parents had bought what was offered by the music store fellow, and did not question it.  And, the horn did not differ in price from what the other kid's parents bought either.

In thinking about and contemplating this realization that I had what was classified an "Intermediate-level" horn.... it helped me to make sense of a couple of things that I had noticed and had aggravated me a bit back as a 5th grader:

1.  Even though my horn was kept as pristine as possible by me (horn with oiling the wood and polishing the keys.... and washing and waxing the case regularly)... I was always a bit frustrated (but never said anything about it to my parents) that MY case came with a small "ding" in the case, and a bit of the vinyl material on the case had been torn.  Even though I never complained or said anything about it, it bothered me enough that I would as a kid, routinely color the exposed wood where the ding and tear was with a black marker to try to get the imperfection to blend in.  

2.  When I first opened my horn after getting it, there were three different areas in the fuzzy material lining the case that had matted down and had an oily residue on them.  This too aggravated me as a kid (even though again I did not say anything) because it did not seem as "perfect" as my friend's horns of the same ilk.  I tried several times to clean these spots, even using an old toothbrush and soap a couple of times to get those areas to "fluff" back out.... but I never got it to look FULLY new, and I can recognize those areas even to this day.  

What I suspect may have happened.... was that I may have actually received what was either a) a lightly used "Special" horn that had been returned to the store, or b) perhaps I received what had been a  "floor model" of the "Special" horn at the store.... and that in either case, I suspect the fellow just popped my clarinet it the box with the other "student-level" Signet 100's (non-"Special") horns he was selling.... and I randomly ended up being the kid given that particular one from the box.

Even though the case issues DID aggravate me as a kid, in hind-sight now, I am actually even more enamored with the horn my parent's bought for me.  I was always extremely appreciative of them for letting me be in band and getting me my horn..... but I look back even more fondly now that I know (or suspect) the things I do about my "Special" one.  It is, to me, even more "Special".

PipeTobacco     

Union Leader Pipe Tobacco

I have been still thinking a great deal about the surprise find of not only the canister of my Dad's Union Leader Pipe Tobacco, but especially about the fact that slightly less than ~1/4 of that pipe tobacco remained in this 1 pound tub that was from probably the mid-to-late 1960s.  

Again, my Dad did not particularly find Union Leader a favorite pipe tobacco of his.  This one, lone can is the ONLY can of the stuff I ever remember seeing growing up.  And, it was always buried deep, way back in the kitchen cupboard BEHIND the more MANY, more prominent and favored Prince Albert and Sir Walter Raleigh 1 pound tubs that were in continual consumption and front-and-center in the cupboard.  

Therefore, this one can of Union Leader was a blend my Dad worked through very slowly and very sporadically over the course of probably 25 or more years or so before his passing a bit over 30 years ago. 

The Union Leader pipe tobacco that remains is now roughly ~60 years old.  But, when I gently pried off the lid, it smelled wonderful and "fresh" and in very good condition.  And the interior of the can was rather pristine too.  So, I am thinking it is still potentially viable.  It is also really fun that the price sticker is still attached to the lid.... the whole pound can was only $1.26 way back when it was purchased!!!!  

I am contemplating trying out a bowlful.

Potential positives:

1.  It was my Dad's pipe tobacco!  It could be such a wonderful experience to again have some of the pipe tobacco that was his (I would feel like a kid again, when I would surreptitiously "borrow" a bit of his PA or SWR as a youngster.).

2.  It is a pipe tobacco I had never tried before.  And, it long ago was discontinued (early 1980s from what I can gather) and this sample is far older, from its "heyday".  

Potential negatives:

1.  As it was NOT a favorite of my Dad's, perhaps I would not feel the same sense of nostalgia?

2.  Perhaps it is NOT really in as good of shape as it seems and could be no longer viable?

So, (as usual for many things it seems) I am unsure of my eventual path on this potential journey.  But, it was a tremendously exciting and unexpected find!  It has given me a great deal to think about and has stirred an abundant array of memories I had not recalled in a long, long time.

PipeTobacco

Early Music Memories

Even though these days, I am primarily playing my "frankenhorn" bass clarinet (built by me from a mixture of discarded, old, decrepit high-school band cast-off, broken down horns a dear friend of mine was able to acquire and give me ~30 years ago).  The first instrument I played in band was a Bb Sparano Clarinet my Mom & Dad purchased for me after receiving guidance from the music store folks who came into our school to help our elementary school band teacher guide parents on which instrument to get for their kid.  

Back in that elementary school year, I was FEVEROUSLY EXCITED and wildly ENTHUSIASTIC about being able to start band!  In the district I was in, band started in 5th Grade.  And, I remember even as early as when I was in 3rd Grade being enthused and anticipatory about wanting to be in band and looking forward to getting to 5th Grade.  All during 4th Grade, I would regularly check out of the school library and the public library all sorts of books about musical instruments in anticipation.

When the time came in 5th Grade that I was able to be evaluated by the music store folks, I had my heart set on hoping to play the trumpet (or the highly similar coronet).  But, my hopes were dashed because the music store folks had "rules".... which I think were mostly made up so they could work to get the teacher a well rounded mix of instruments in their class.  For me, the fact that my front teeth slanted slightly inward at the bottom gave them the ability to tell my parent's the "rules" that I should play either the (soprano) clarinet or the (alto) saxophone.  For us small youngsters the larger beasts (bass clarinet, tenor sax, etc.) were not yet options.  The "rules" governing me to play clarinet or sax was due to the idea that those two instruments could "potentially" help to "straighten out" the VERY SLIGHT backwards slant of my front teeth.  Today, I know that this notion is complete balderdash.  I suspect why I was put into the clarinet/sax choice group was that I was able to demonstrate rather precise manual dexterity with my fingers compared to a lot of my classmates...... and this was likely due to the significant amount of time I got to spend at our Parish AFTER the conclusion of my Catechism class, waiting for one of my parents to pick me up.  By special agreement, my school bus could drop me and other Catholic kids off after school to get to our Catechism class once a week, but after class, I had to wait around for one of my parent's to get out of work to get back home.  Our Parish had an old, rather out-of-tune piano that resided in the kitchen, dining area of our Parish, and I would usually plunk around on the keys, making up songs and general noise while I waited (luckily nothing else was going on in the Parish or more specifically at the church, and the priests tolerated my noise).  

So, my hand-eye coordination from plunking on the keys was the more likely reason I was designated  to be in the clarinet/sax group.... I could probably end up being successful with all the array of different keys and levers of either of those two instruments.  The kids in the trumpets selection group were typically told that their "buck teeth" (leaning outward, even if very minimal) could be "fixed" by playing the trumpet (or trombone).  But, I think that group was primarily chosen because they did not show as much manual dexterity.... and would only have to deal with three valves (trumpet) to manipulate or a single slide (trombone) to move around.  

Of the two... clarinet or sax..... I ACTUALLY wanted to play the sax more than the clarinet.  But, ultimately I selected the clarinet.  But, the reason was silly and foolish enough, but highlighted my silly 5th grade mindset.  The sax, that I really liked, had a neck strap that was meant to be worn while playing.  No problem...... BUT.... the neck strap of the sax I would get...... was...... WHITE in color.  This displeased me greatly!  I wanted my instrument to look a perfect as possible "forever" and I "hated" that the neck strap was WHITE!  I thought it would get dirty and ugly and yellow like I had seen a lot of other white things get.  

So.... since the clarinet did not have a WHITE neck strap.... it had no neck strap..... I chose the clarinet.  

Such a silly, foolish, 5th grader-type reason for the decision I made.

Fortunately, the foolish decision actually served me well.  I did not realize this until perhaps late in high school, but the clarinet is more difficult to learn than the sax for a few different reasons relating to the octave design of each instrument.  By learning the clarinet, it was a far easier (almost effortless) transition to play any sax I wanted to later in life (and of course the whole clarinet family of horns).  But, it tends to be more difficult for kids to initially learn on the sax to make a successful transition to the clarinet family if desired.  

Oh...... by the way.... a friend mentioned to me that he thought it odd that I did not mention the anniversary of 9/11 in my post last Friday.  I (like I suspect most) did think about it a lot last week, but I kind of purposefully did not say anything about it a) because I did not think I had anything valuable to contribute, and b) I also knew it would be the primary focus of most everything news-wise on that day already.  I can just say this..... the anniversary was indeed a somber time of a horrible event... and I do feel sad at how that tragedy has shaped our world in its aftermath.  And, I now especially feel for the many now gravely ill responders who are sick (or have already passed) due to the toxins they were exposed to in their efforts to help others.  

PipeTobacco  

New Work Week

My vehicle is getting some repair work accomplished, and this means my wife and I are sharing and carpooling probably all of this week (it is a bit of a time consuming repair).  The loss of my vehicle for this time should not be a horrendous issue, but I do admit that I feel a bit out-of-sorts with the fact that both of us are needing to adjust schedules some to accommodate this situation.  But, we will work through things.  For me and for my wife, the biggest adjustments are associated with our morning routines.  In my wife's work, she has very early Wednesdays and Thursdays, whereas I have a very consistent morning time line for my courses at the U.

So, in the mornings this impacts my wife on Monday & Tuesday where she will need a significantly earlier start time to her day on those two days.  And, for me, it means I need to make some significant adjustments, especially regarding my running on Wednesday and Thursday so as to allow her to drop me off before her needed work arrival time.  I am going to try hard to get up EXTRA EARLY (perhaps even as early as 3:30am on both of those days if I can muster the courage to do so) so I can get my run in with enough time to get ready and meet her timing needs so she can drop me off at the U as well.

In the afternoons, the impact is more minimal.... we typically meet up to go swimming quite often or, like last week, have a meal together at the U instead of cooking.  But, this week's afternoons DO have two challenges that will need to be accommodated.... today, instead of our typical swimming, my wife has a late afternoon doctor's appointment.... so (very sadly) swimming is out of the picture (On Mondays I have early evening band practice, so sadly we cannot go later in this early evening either.).  And, on Thursday, I have the Retiree's Cigar Group.  I think the tentative plan, since my wife has her longest workday on Thursday and also a late afternoon on-line meeting.... is that I will be the "owner" of the vehicle that day, will drop her off in the morning, and when I can do so, I will head to the Retiree's Cigar Group driving her trusty steed, and then come back to get her.  

Hopefully today and all week will proceed smoothly.  

PipeTobacco

 

Friday Thoughts

Bullets of thoughts for today:

• The Retiree's Cigar Group was a valuable and fun experience for me yesterday.  It felt like "normalcy" AND it was also fun.  I ended up getting there a bit later than I would have liked, but there were four of my friends there, and we talked and talked and had a very pleasant time.  As I have stated before, group sizes do impact how much I tend to talk in a group setting.  I am considerably more talkative when the group size is four or less.  Above four, I have a strong tendency to be a bit quiet, but still listen carefully.  It felt so enjoyable and relaxing, I ended up staying ~3 hours.  We laughed, joked, had some mildly serious discussion.... it ran the gambit.  Just, so very nice.  
• I ended up having a Cohiba Red Dot 6x60 cigar.  It was pleasant.
• I have been busy this morning with my usual "warning letter" to students..... to remind them that starting next week, there is a consistent pattern of a wide array of things that will become due and must be submitted electronically by the electronic deadlines.  The pattern I have talked about several times is consistent..... for example, in one class.....nearly every Monday a lab write-up is due, and nearly every Tuesday, a writing analysis is due about a research article, and nearly EVERY Wednesday, a physiology assignment is due, and nearly every Thursday, an anatomy assignment is due, and on nearly every Friday, an electronic quiz is due.  I have been stressing at the start of each class so far that it is extremely time consuming for me to adjust electronic due dates for individual students who miss a deadline, and that I DO NOT HAVE available time to do this.  This rather "fire-and-brimstone" approach to getting students to follow electronic due dates is my approach to TRY to limit the percentage of my ~250 or so students who will inevitably miss one or more deadlines to ~3% or less.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that my new "fire-and-brimstone" technique may work to accomplish this goal..... but I do suspect it may end up being an unrealistic "pipe dream" as usual.
• I am going to work at getting my weanling rodents up to snuff today as well.  I have several batches of new pups who are now at weaning age and I can sort them into groups for this Fall's work.  
• My SIL is going to be staying with us for a couple of days (starting this afternoon) because her husband (my BIL) is going to some sort of NASCAR event relatively far away.  This is my wife's sister with the health issues (kidney issues, diabetes, etc) that we often (with her husband (my BIL)) play euchre with quite often.  I am not sure yet if she will want/be able to... but I suggested to my wife that if my SIL is up for it, one of the things we could do is that we could go swimming.  I know my SIL misses swimming (she no longer drives, and lives too far away to usually do so, and her health challenges (surgeries etc) had been an impediment).  I am hoping she feels well enough that she can and will want to go. 
• While I ran at 5:00am this morning (it was a chilly 48 degrees (~9 C)) I wore a sweatshirt, and I decided to push myself hard.  According to my "gizmo" watch, I kept up a heart rate of ~175-180 through the run.  The "gizmo" watch also told me this workout was in the "highly improving" training effect level which was nice.  Usually, I run at a pace that typically only suggests a "maintaining" training effect level.  After I finished the rosary, I fell into deep thoughts of reminiscing about the pure beauty of the amazing bowlful of pipe tobacco I allowed myself to experience in Nevada (the mixture of M58 & SWR).  The vivid beauty of those memories helped me to NOT focus on the considerable exertion I was doing to stay at ~175-180 bpm.  
• I am SO damn close to having a clean and highly organized tool/work space in my "redesign" of my garage!  It is exciting to see it coming together, although the progress feels agonizingly slow at times.  The tools/work area are all along one wall of the garage (so we can still both keep our vehicles in the garage as well).  The area had always been a HORRENDOUS disarray of  crap strewn all over the place, with many things simply dumped into a lot of bins a plastic storage boxes.... so much so that I really never had any idea where anything actually was 90% of the time.  It had been aggravating me for a very, very long time, but the task was so daunting and my "extra" time always seemed too limited (and disjointed) to ever get things back up-to-snuff.  But, now (over the last four weeks), I have been forcing myself to "do what I can" in bits and spurts of time..... doing all sorts of things.... rearranging tables and shelves, actually hanging two cabinets on the wall, and going through the agonizingly  tedious tasks of sorting through and organizing all the various things (hand tools, fasteners, etc) AND putting them in logical and orderly areas in the work area!  It used to be that I would cringe and shy away from many home tasks.... not usually because of fear of not being able to figure out how to fix/do a thing..... but USUALLY, because I dreaded TRYING TO FIND and figure out where the tools I needed were in the mess.  I would often have to spend a good hour or two (at least) rummaging around trying to locate the needed items.... often for a task that would ultimately take ~20-30 minutes to complete when I had the supplies!  It was infuriating to me. 
• In the above sorting process in the garage, I also have now compiled a huge array of all manner of fasteners from over the decades (screws, bolts, nails, wall hanging hardware, washers, brads, and on-and-on).... that I realize that I probably could use some sort of organization device to help me sort and keep track of all the items.  The small cabinet show atop of this post is a relatively inexpensive cabinet I am contemplating potentially getting for this task.  I do feel guilty about buying the cabinet, so I am hemming-and-hawing a bit.... but I do think it would be helpful, so I am trying to nudge myself to actually order it and NOT consider it a frivolous waste of money... I am NOT quite there yet, but I am trying to turn my thoughts around.  I did find one for roughly $59.00.
• I am also beginning to use MANY more of the empty 1 pound pipe tobacco canisters I had been saving specifically for storage of garage items.  It makes me very happy to start using them (I have always used a couple, but I knew I had a couple of garbage bags filled with those beautiful canisters.... stored in the attic for just this exact plan.  As I mentioned before, many of these canisters were from my own consumption over the years, but some were from my Dad as well.  Well.... there was a very INTRIGUING find I had when I pulled down another bag of these canisters..... I found a tin of my Dad's that I DID NOT REMEMBER having.  It is a 1 pound size canister of Union Leader pipe tobacco.  I do remember the can from when I was a kid..... but MY DAD was not overly fond of Union Leader pipe tobacco (it was probably a gift given to him) so it was always way back in the kitchen cupboard used by my Dad to store his pipe tobaccos (whereas his favorite, big 1 pound cans of Sir Walter Raleigh and also Prince Albert were always front-and-center in the cupboard so my Dad could fill his pouch easily each morning before work (and I would quietly "sneak" samples myself as a kid)).  The Union Leader can likely was from the mid 1960s, as it has a more "old school" metal, press-in lid (much like old style metal gallon cans of paint have).  Most of these big cans of all pipe tobaccos transitioned to easier to open and close lids at least by the early 1970s.  
• But.... here is the SHOCKER.... when I pulled the can out of the bag, I was intrigued, not have seen it in a helluva long time, and not even remembering I HAD it...... I thought it would definitely be one to immediately use and display in the garage (to show more pipe tobacco diversity in the cans).  So, I got out a blunt edged table knife to carefully pry off the lid) and when I gently lifted the lid, I was shocked to see that it still had pipe tobacco inside!!!!!  It was roughly about 1/4 filled (maybe a bit less than 1/4) with Union Leader Pipe Tobacco!!!!  And..... and a DEEP, molasses tinctured aroma greeted me as well!!!!!   The pipe tobacco seemed to be in absolutely great shape.... and it smelled heavenly!!!!!! I was flabbergasted to say the least.  I suspect that over the years, my Dad would have a pipeful of Union Leader every once in a great while, and the ~1/4 can was what was left when my Dad passed away.  And, I never knew it was in there and forgot I had the can as well.  My mind immediately raced/rushed to the idea..... "It seems smokable!"  I did not do that, however, as I was worried and concerned that it may be "bad" or "spoiled".  But, I also peered around INSIDE the can.... and even though the EXTERIOR had some surface rust, INSIDE seemed pretty damn near pristine!!!!!  And, there was still the piece of "parchment paper" sitting atop of the remaining tobacco (many 1 pound cans of pipe tobacco would have a clean piece of some sort of paper atop of the tobacco, presumably to help with packing).  
• So.... the Union Leader IS NOT going to be used as a sort of "parts-bin" in my garage anytime soon.  Instead, I am am so curious and intrigued, and debating within my psyche, if I SHOULD try it, or if that would be ill advised.  I have a lot of thoughts on the matter, and I will have to try to sort them out.... but not today.  I need to get to my rat pups.

PipeTobacco 

Bootstrapping

I have not been posting due to the "same-old - same-old" refrain.  There were some significant challenges with the person I no longer write about that emotionally impacted me and my wife.  As we moved towards  and then through the Labor Day "Holiday" we were both feeling an onslaught of harsh emotions.

But, what to do?  "C'est la vie" I suppose.  We are both just marching on.  As distances improved, both me and my wife began to feel less hurt, and more like our "normal" selves.  We both now feel as close to our "normal" as this situation allows.

* * * * *

So, yesterday we were able to return to swimming after I completed my day at the U.  It was a great, refreshing, and enjoyable experience for both of us.  It is always especially wonderful in that we get time to not only refresh, but both of us can focus on each other and talk about each of our respective days and how things have gone for us.  

Afterwards, we decided it would be fun to go to our favorite cafeteria at the U for our dinner.  Neither of us felt much like cooking, and it is always fun and enjoyable to choose from the wide array of items at the cafeteria.  It is also fun in some ways that I occasionally run into one or more of my course students, who at first view seem a little bit "deer-in-the-headlights" at seeing their grey, old prof standing in "their" cafeteria.... especially in THE EARLY EVENING.... getting some food.  After their initial surprise, they typically smile, and then go back to their circle of friends at some table and sometimes point out that I am there.... with my wife, no less. It is kind of funny, and a bit endearing.  A lot of the kids, even those not in my classes, will nod and smile at us as we get our food, and beverages.

Running has been especially important to modulate stress (see above first paragraphs).  I am needing to wear my headlight due to having to hit the pavement by around 5:15am now, in order to get to the U in a timely fashion.  

I am VERY much looking forward to the Retiree's Cigar Group this afternoon.  I will relish the time yapping with my friends in such a congenial location.  

PipeTobacco

Tuesday

The first couple of days in the semester are so busy laying out the "groundwork" for the courses and labs, that it is pretty much a continual effort all day on those first three days or so to get all my classes started.  It makes for a couple of tiring days.  And, with the return to "big voicing" as well..... that adds to my tiredness these couple of days.  But, usually by the end of the week I feel back up to snuff.  

I am eating my cereal as I type.  It is my usual very high fiber mixture with blueberries that has soaked for about two hours (I love soggy cereal).  An errant blueberry rolled off my spoon and then fell upon the sleeve of my lab coat, rolling down my sleeve as if it were on a roller coaster.  It was strangely captivating to watch its graceful movement.  

Band went very well last evening.  There are a variety of very interesting songs..... strangely our director chose a sort of "Halloween" style theme for our Fall series.  I will have to write more as I get more immersed into the music.  

When I went to bed last evening, I started to read the novel I have there, but I was really not focused nor into reading it.  So, instead, on my Kindle, I perused online pipe shops to entertain my mind.  As is often the case for me, I again ended up gravitating towards my favorite shaped pipe.... the 1/4 bend Dublin.  Perhaps spending quite a bit of time salivating over the beautiful pipes I would like to have and smoke was a silly and foolish idea.  It did not do anything to help quell my PCS ranking, that is for certain.  But... it did help me to feel happy as I went to sleep..... not as much as would have happened if I had indulged in a beautiful pipe.... but still a feeling of happiness did occur.

PipeTobacco