The "Pipe Dream" Part 2

The above shows the stem and position of the P-lip opening on a Peterson.

This one shows the stem with a "fish-tail" opening on a Peterson.

(continuing from yesterday's post....)

The nattily dressed fellow simply sat on the bench looking at a few pigeons that were walking around near the fountain.  He proceeded to pull out of his pocket a small paper sack that he reached into.  He began to spread small crumbles of bread out for the birds.  

The fellow seemed content, and displayed a calm demeanor.  

"Hmm.  Would you mind if I smoked my pipe?" I asked the fellow.  

The older fellow slowly turned his head and looked towards me.

"By all means, young fellow." he said, his voice somewhat quiet, but solid and articulate.  

His voice had an accent of sorts that I could not fully recognize.  It had a slightly British aspect to it, but was not truly of that nature, but similar.  

"I had decided to sit here, when I saw you withdrawing your pipe from your pocket.  For you see, I too am an aficionado of the briar myself.  I thought that I might join you on your adventure."

I believe I must have developed a quizzical expression, for I could feel my eyebrow raise.  

He smiled.

From the front waist pocket of his tweed sport coat, he extracted a pipe that I immediately recognized as a Peterson pipe.  It was a large-bowled, full-bent variety, deeply brown in color.  The pipe had a "P-lip" which is a bit of an oddity.  A "P-lip" is a stem style where the portion of the stem that you grip between your teeth has its "opening" facing upward at close to a 90 degree angle to the stem itself.  This contrasts with the more common "fishtail" stem which has the "opening" is at the distal end of the stem itself and runs parallel with the stem.  I never really liked "P-lip" stems, as they did not feel as comfortable to me as a "fish-tail".  Most pipes have the fish-tail type opening, only a small subset will have a "P-lip" stem. 

I looked away from the fellow, realizing I was spending far too much time watching/staring at him.  I was reaching for my tobacco pouch to fill my pipe, when the fellow stated:

"I notice that you were finding me somewhat "curious".  I was wondering if you may like to sample a bit of my pipe tobacco.  It is not a widely available, commercial blend, for it was a blend made by the hands of the tobacconist in the small town I grew up in long, long ago.  For me, it uniquely brings back thoughts of home.  I only indulge in it occasionally, as I cannot acquire any more."

I looked at him again.  His hand was extended towards me and in the palm of his hand was a small, opened leather pouch filled with beautiful brown crumbles.

I was somewhat taken aback.  I did not know this fellow at all.  

"Uh...  I wouldn't want to take some of your tobacco since you like it so, and cannot get it again."

He chuckled ruefully.  

"I can understand your sentiment.  Why would you want to accept this small gift I am offering, when you have never laid eyes upon me before and are suspicious of my motives?."

"I didn't say that...." I stammered.

"Yet, it was readable in your eyes.  That is wholly understandable.  But, how may we alleviate such suspicions?  Perhaps through discussion."

Having been a teacher already, I was used to talking and discussing things, even though in my nature, I am typically rather introverted.  We ended up talking for what was likely at least close to an hour about all manner of things.  He was a little vague about things specifically about himself, as probably was I, but when he gleaned that I was a biology professor, we ended up talking about all sorts of biology concepts and it was rather enjoyable.  He had a great deal of knowledge of a lot of topics, including biology, so talking with him soon became rather enjoyable and I felt more comfortable, and relaxed in our interactions.  

"Well, I am thinking I shall enjoy a bowl of my pipe tobacco...." he stated, as he again reached for his pouch and his pipe, "..... would you potentially now be interested in sampling my blend as well?"  

He had talked rather wistfully and eloquently about the small pipe shop that was in the village where he was during his younger years. Even though I still had no idea where that was nor where he was from, I could tell by his description of the shop, his enthusiasm about the various sights, sounds, and aromas of that shop, that he was very knowledgeable about pipes and his manner of speaking also felt completely sincere and heartfelt.  

"Well, I do have say that now I would feel rather PRIVILEGED to sample your pipe tobacco, but truth-be-told, I do worry that with your remaining supply being so limited, that I would feel guilty in shrinking your limited supply."

He smiled again, "That is not something that I would worry about.  I will always have enough for my needs...." as he slid the pouch a bit closer towards me.

His smile widened.

"Of course, if you want to, I could give you my whole pouch of Prince Albert if you would like it." I said half truthfully (to try to give him something in return) but also half jokingly (as it was a blend, pleasant as it was, that could be had anywhere). 

He chuckled at my statement, recognizing the joking aspect of the statement. "Thank you, but I already also have Prince Albert in my cellar.  It can be pleasant as well."

He looked down at his tobacco pouch and then back towards me.

We kept talking while I filled the bowl of my pipe.  Even before I half filled the bowl, I was very much enamored with all the delightful, varied aromas I could detect, and this was before lighting the bowl itself!  It almost seemed akin to a cornucopia of vegetative fragrances.  I could identify a spicy, almost cinnamon like aspect, oddly a pleasing scent akin to a bell pepper was also present, and also the aroma of a vine ripened tomato.... all in addition to the traditional earthy aroma of a traditional tobacco.... no seemingly artificial casings or flavorings were present..... just a lovely, rather firm, leafy texture.  It felt so natural and so unprocessed, that I could not discern any particular relationships to ANY of the myriad of different pipe tobaccos I had at home.  It seemed so unique and different.  

After a gentle clink of sound from opening the cap of my Zippo, I was just about to spin the wheel against the flint with my thumb....

"May I suggest these instead?" as he showed me in his hand, two small boxes of longer than typical, wooden matches.

I recapped the Zippo, and took the one, pro-offered box..... he kept the other to use for his own pipe.

"The match will not mute the subtle, natural flavors which your lighter could potentially mask." 

I scrapped the head of the match against the side of the box, and it erupted and ignited into flame.  I allowed it a few seconds to settle down and to burn through the sulfur of the head.  Bringing the match up to the bowl, I slowly drew in the flame, and the surface of the tobacco readily and evenly displayed a gentle red ember.

I glanced over at the fellow, and he was in synchrony with me with the lighting of his own pipe.

The flavors were indescribable.... but in the same vein, the flavors were everything imaginable.  It was as if every pipe tobacco I had ever experienced had some special, beautiful aspect of its flavor in this one bowl.  I could sense the smooth heartiness of a burley, but also a sharpness of a Virgina.  I could taste a spiciness of a Perique, and in a most subtle of ways sense a little tiny aspect of the harshness of a rustica. Other non-tobacco related flavors where also subtle throughout as well..... the aforementioned cinnamon hovered within a bit, but also hints of chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, blueberry, and so many more that melded so uniformly together.

It was a pipe tobacco the like of which I had never experienced in such a fashion, before.  It had every flavor, every smoky texture of every pipe tobacco I have ever tried....... all in one bowlful, with such a subtle, beautiful balance that everything was individually simultaneously tangible and yet synergistically the total was more than the sum of its parts.  

I looked at the fellow, and saw he had his eyes closed while enjoying his pipe.  I could see the pure, unadulterated pleasure spread across his face.  

I could feel that same pleasure spread across my face and gently travel from my head to my feet.  I closed my eyes.... and simply experienced.

Eventually, my pipe extinguished, the leaf having completely converted to a fine, white ash.  I could sense that moment happen.  I opened my eyes, and the fellow was gone. I was on the bench alone, still the only folks about on the street, tending to the windows and sidewalks of their businesses.  

It felt simultaneously enriching and melancholic.  In some ways it felt like I had been allowed to experience all the beauty and art that the human experience has ever created..... all within that brief span of time.  But, in other ways it felt sad to be over.

And, it was truly, a pipe dream.

Addendum:  As I mentioned yesterday, I thought the "green hat" was a clue to me about perhaps how and why I had this beautiful dream.  My wife, a while back, bought for both she and I...  and eventually also our kids...... copies of the book "Theo of Golden", by Allen Levi.  I had never heard of the book before my wife gave me a copy, and I was perhaps a little suspicious that it might be a "Oprah" style "special" book as my wife tends to gravitate towards that way.  But, finally, about a week or so ago, I picked up the book and gave it a try.  I am the first to start the book in my family.  I am roughly into chapter 14 or so at the moment, and have to admit my wife was right..... it is (thus far) a perfect book for me (and I think it will be for her if/when she reads it).  I am truly enjoying the book.  But, the book is centering around an older gentleman who is giving away drawings of people that he meets...... and one feature that stuck out to me as I read the opening chapters was that he work a green, snap brim hat.  So, I think the book was inspired my mind to let me have the wonderfully vivid and joyful dream I had.    

PipeTobacco

The "Pipe Dream" Part 1

For most, A "pipe dream" is an unrealistic, unattainable, or wildly fanciful plan or hope that has very little chance of ever coming true. It describes an idea that is impractical and exists only in one's imagination.  I can admit to having this version of a "pipe dream" many times in day-to-day living as I sometimes appear to set unattainable (or perhaps unrealistically attainable is more a more apt way to say it) goals for myself.  

The term, however,  originated in the late 19th century. It was derived from the hallucinatory, dream-like visions experienced by people smoking opium in pipes. Over time, the phrase transitioned from describing literal drug-induced hallucinations.... to being used as a metaphor for any overly ambitious or impossible idea.  And, I relish a good metaphor.... hell, I use them all the time..... in class, in talking with folks, and I seem to use metaphors of all sorts so often, that it will cause disgruntlement in my wife (or at least strong rolling of the eyes at times).  

But, I also have literal pipe dreams...... of pipes and pipe tobaccos.  Most of you know this, and I have regularly experienced them for all the decades I have been on this planet.  I remember having such dreams even BEFORE I first "borrowed" a small pinch of my father's pipe tobacco and one of his forgotten pipes to actually sample said for the first time.  They have been a part of my dreamscape forever. 

But, the other day, I had a MOST wonderful pipe dream, that combined a whole lot of different facets of old times, new times, and was not just a "memory pipe dream" where I relived past pipe events.  That sort of dream (remembering past experiences I have had smoking pipes) has been the primary pipe dream I have had for much of the last few years..... sort of a dream that was utterly beautiful, but was of a MEMORY.  al 

This dream was different, and less common for me of late, where it was a mixture of incongruent times, places, some memories, but also "new" not having occurred from actual events..,, not a memory of something I did experience.   

The dream began with me in a modest sized town, near the town's central square.  Things seemed of the modern day (or at least SOME time in the near present, but perhaps before Covid... vehicles were modern, for instance).  However, I, MYSELF, was NOT actually the "near present" form of myself, but instead was as I was when I was just a young puppy-dog aged professor..... dark brown hair, and calico-hued (browns, reds, blacks and even some blond) beard and mustache.  I had on a floppy brimmed, canvas hat that I always called my "fishing" hat that was a faded, dark blue color.  

The town was robust and had a bunch of shops and stores and was rather "gussied up" as well..... things were tidy, and orderly, yet it had a "small & quiet" feel about it too.  It was EARLY morning.... and not too many folks were out yet, just some of the shop keepers sweeping their sidewalks or washing their windows in preparation for the start of the day.   While I did not know where I actually was, in my mind, I kept thinking "Horton's Bay" which was a place where Ernest Hemingway, his siblings and parents would spend their Summers in Northern Michigan.  I have no understanding of why I was thinking "Horton's Bay" in my mind as I looked about the town, as this town was probably of a size of perhaps 20-25 thousand people, large enough to have a theater, a bigger library, and even a small college.  The actual "Horton's Bay" was a very, VERY tiny podunk "village" with a few hundred folks.... I HAVE visited Horton's Bay, and even acquired a 1/2 sized plaster bust of old Ernie and also a Hemingway t-shirt (which I still have as well) which I acquired from the one store in town during my "Hemingway as a Hobby" days back in graduate school.  The bust of old Ernie sits to this very day in a corner of our living room, near my bookshelf of ~50-60 Hemingway biographies and novels I had collected over the years.  I put a Santa hat on him at Christmas time every year.  

So back to the dream.... I was looking out across town, and wanted to find a place to sit and have a pipe.  The town center had a small fountain, with wrought iron  benches surrounding the perimeter.  The benches seemed a perfect place to sit and have a pipe, so I sat.  

As I was pulling my pipe from my shirt pocket, an older gentleman (perhaps in his early 80s) sat down a few feet from me.  His presence surprised me at first, for I have no idea where he came from.... in the dream, it seemed like he just suddenly appeared.   He was very "tweedily" dressed and his attire was not a whole helluva lot different from my own usual (although in the dream, I was just wearing a button down linen shirt as it was Summer).  This fellow looked an awful lot like an avian embryologist I had taken a class with, long, long ago..... although this fellow was MUCH older.  He was rail thin, but appeared wiry and robust.  His face displayed rather angular facial features.  He sported a rather tidy and crisp beard and mustache, both with sharp, defined, "military-like" edges that was mostly white, but with a smattering of darker grey hair follicles every once in a while.  He sported a sage green, snap brimmed cap... (which in hindsight gives me a bit of a clue about perhaps why I had this dream) and he had a smooth, real wood cane that was highly polished and was walnut brown.

Although I am most assuredly, under NORMAL circumstances..... NOT a "Nosy Nora" type person... I tend to try to NOT "butt in" to other peoples business nor actions...... but, for some reason, I felt compelled to watch this fellow and that is what I did.

[Running out of time... have to do some work.... will have to conclude tomorrow.]

PipeTobacco 

Abstract Day Challenges

I have an abbreviated post today because I am in the process of trying to submit two abstracts to a talk in NOVEMBER that are due.  Normally, this is a piece of cake and I have done it countless times.  But, the conference rules of this science meeting have changed, and before an abstract can be submitted, all co-authors need to establish and electronic identity in the conference electronic gizmo site.....even if they are NOT going to this meeting.  This was a very NEW issue.... and I am scrambling trying to get a lot of folks to make this identity in the conference site so that I may actually list them as a co-author. 

So, not the post I had planned..... but this is the post I can do,today.  

This took me by surprise as in the close to 40 years I have been involved with this conference, this was never needed previously.  

Oh well..... nothing stays the same, I guess.....no matter how much more convenient it would be.  

PipeTobacco

Fans

 

Usually, around this time of the year, the subject of fans comes up between me and my wife.  Fans are of significant importance, it may surprise you, when you live in a two story home with air conditioning (AC) .  It was a surprise to me, when we bought our two story home (both our earlier one and also our current one).  

In a one story home, if you have air conditioning, the air conditioning rather easily tends to distribute quite evenly.  But, in a two story home, even in ones that have had a lot of adjustment to regulate air flow in different zones..... the second floor is ALWAYS going to be more warm than the first floor.   This is especially true in a climate like ours that is also very, very humid.  

So, compromise has to occur..... either you run the ac to be comfortable in the first floor and a bit warmer in the second floor......or you OVER-RUN the AC to make the upstairs comfortable, the first floor can be OVERLY cold.  And, of course this would also be OVERLY costly as well.  

So, my wife and I sometimes are not "on the same page" about how to set the AC.  As you may correctly surmise from the above, I lean towards the "just run the AC enough to keep the first floor pleasant" grouping....whereas my wife tends towards feeling it is " H O T " all the time upstairs.  

So, in our compromise, we have fans to help in circulation of air in our house.  We have used them for decades.  BUT.... there has been an incongruency about FANS as well.  I am "somewhat" (according to my wife, "quite") noise sensitive.  In the above images, the middle fan is akin to what we have had several of in our house over the decades (the simple box fan).  

To my manner of thinking, that type represented the "typical" fan.  For comparison purposes, look at the old General Electric fan from the 1950 and 1960s (bottom image).  I have the fan that is just like this..... still running beautifully in my garage.... it was "the fan" I grew up with in my parent's home.  Note the similarities to the middle image (other than the modern variant (middle image) is cheaper, very plastic focused).  

So...... at night when we go to bed.....I WANT to turn the "noisy as hell" box fan (middle image) off, because the whirring of the motor and blades.....is (to me at least) very loud.  My WIFE wants the fan to be set to the very highest (and MOST noisy) setting because she feels " H O T ".  For many, many years, this was a routine debate...... what to do with the fan at night?!?!?   Our usual compromise is to have the fan on, but at its lowest (LESS noisy) setting.   The fan is still noisy to me and my wife still reports feeling rather " H O T " but it has been the pattern.  

Until a couple of weeks ago, we never thought there would be a better solution to this conundrum.  Until we thought of the cock-eyed looking fan pictured above (top image).  We of course, had both seen these style of fans around places the last several years, but initially they seemed awfully damn goofy, and rather "too trendy" for words.   It seemed the only folks who had them were "high-falutin" types who were trying to show off their status.... because these things come with a whole helluva lot of bells and whistles...... remote controls, ability to be ran by an app on a gizmo phone, more temperature settings than I have digits, and timers, and settings to "mimic" nature even.   It seemed pretty silly to me.    I was of the opinion...... "What the hell would that fan really do of value, that the good, old "box" fan wouldn't?!?"  

Well....

In looking at one in a big-box store the other day, I started fiddling with it, just to put it through its motions.  And, I was AWFULLY DAMN SURPRISED..... that the fan, even at its very highest setting..... was as quiet as a church mouse!!!!!!!   And, it blew a very substantial amount of air.... much more so than I ever anticipated!!!!!!!

We NOW have one in our bedroom.  The big-box store did not have access to the same fan in a different color variant that would better suit our bedroom..... so we ordered a second fan (white) from Amazon.  When it arrives, the one we bought at the big-box store will find its permanent home in our Family Room (where my wife and I have had similar "discussions" as we had about the bedroom, above.

I admit it.... I was wrong about the "crazy" upright tube, gizmo fans. 

I have to dash off to class now.  I had hoped to also write about a beautiful pipe dream I had.  Maybe I will get to write about that tomorrow.  It was both absolutely transfixing and beautiful.... but also melancholia inducing.  

PipeTobacco 

Keeping In Mind

 

I am trying to keep a lot of things in my mind that I can sometimes EASILY ignore or forget.  The major thought I am working to keep at the forefront of my mind is that EXERCISE in the morning REALLY does help to make my day much better.  

Why would I not "remember" that truism?

• I often wake up feeling like I just DO NOT WANT to do any damn exercise.  
• I am usually somewhat "groggy" at the start of the morning (5:00am - 5:30am), as I rarely awaken of my own volition, but instead wake up via the clanging sirens of my damnable phone (the especially loud alarm that sounds like the sound to hide in bomb shelters due to impending nuclear annihilation.  You can listen to it by clicking this link. )
• I probably go to bed too late in the evening (usually ~11:30pm - midnight) after I read a bit, so I may just simply want more sleep.

BUT, the last several days I have been FORCING myself back into my consistent exercise routine that ended up faltering somewhat during my working through plantar fasciitis a while ago.   I stupidly allowed myself some "leeway" (aka damned laziness) in terms of when and IF I did exercise for a while, and I devolved into an irregular pattern.

I feel so much more alert, so much more energetic, and so much more tranquil...... AFTER I complete my morning exercise.  I am still, at this time, having to FORCE myself to do it, as it is not simply routine as it had been.... but (hopefully, fingers crossed) soon it will once again just be my normal routine again.  

Today, I ran 8 miles outside, then while I waited for my wife to get ready (our kid who had to get his car repaired a bit ago, had to return the vehicle to the shop due to one part that was delayed in shipping.... and he is again using my wife's car today).... I ended up cutting some wood pieces (dowels, some blocks, and a few other pieces) on my chop saw so that I could do some building in the lab today (some equipment for my fruit flies).  When my wife was ready, we stopped at Lowes for a moment so I could get some screws, nuts, bolts, and a few other fasteners to help with my building.... and then I dropped her off at work.  

Then I went to the gym and went through my (new) weight training that I am trying to get to also be consistent to help me maintain upper body strength.  Then I took a brief, 10 minute dip in the pool to cool off.... then dressed and headed to the U.  I got to the lab room door at 9:00am.  And, I feel happily alert and energetic.... and worries and anxieties are at bay.

* * * *

I had forgotten to mention last week, that my buddy from Mass DID actually come out on Wednesday to the shoppe,  which actually made me rather happy.  He is always fun to talk with.  At Mass on Saturday, we were talking a bit after Mass... and he told me when he went to the Retiree's Cigar Group on Thursday, that the group was wondering when I will be back.  My friend already knew and then told them that I would be back at the beginning of July, so not too long away.  My friend told me he was going to try to get up there this Wednesday again as well.  

* * * *

I should talk about fans.... they are a new "obsession" I have been working on the last week or so.  Maybe I will write about it tomorrow.  And, I need to sit down and try to at least LIST my concerns about potential retirement.  

PipeTobacco

Turn Around

This morning I awoke in a sad, rough mood.  

I apparently fell asleep while reading last night.  I remember reading about two chapters in the real book (aka paper) I am reading, and then I set it aside.  I then picked up my Kindle and was reading a Kindle book I have.   My wife woke me up ~5:30am when she awoke.... and I was sitting up in bed, my reading light still on, the book beside me, and my Kindle flopped down upon my chest.  I  sitting mostly "upright" in bed, leaning back on two pillows, and my reading glasses were still on.  

I suspect that my sad, rough mood was mostly a result of poor sleep.... as I do not ever TRY to sleep in this rather "upright" position, but much, much prefer to lay completely flat.  From what my wife tells me, it also appears I did not MOVE a single bit..... which is ALSO rather unusual for me, as I tend to move around A LOT while I sleep.  I actually felt rather exhausted. 

It took me a while to work through in my mind what to do.... if I followed my "id", I would not have done a damn thing, but simply thrown the extra pillow onto the floor, hunker down into a flat position, and sleep away the day.  But, I had at least ENOUGH neurons firing "ok" that I knew if I did that, I would be cursing myself the rest of the day.  I eventually forced myself out of bed, went and made a VERY strong coffee (with a touch of raspberry flavoring), poured it over some ice..... and THEN I proceeded to pack, to go to the gym (it was raining), to POUND OUT some miles on the treadmill (8 miles) while reciting and praying the Rosary, then I forced myself to lift weights, and then after I was all sweaty and hot, I allowed myself to go relax in the pool for ~15 minutes.  

By the time I finished, I had been able to turn my mindset around.... I felt back up to snuff.  

I then went to the U, and have been doing a whole helluva lot already this morning.... graded two exams, posted scores, worked on classroom materials, worked on the LMS, and have straightened up some of my lab.  

I am thankful I was able to turn around the sad, rough mood.  I hope/plan to get more normal sleep tonight. 

PipeTobacco   

Benefits (Possibly) of Retirement

Lists.  Usually, when I am trying to figure something out, I will make lists.  These lists can of a variety of sorts.  So, even though I am admitting right from the get-go that this is NOT by any stretch of the imagination, I thought I would try to list quickly some of the things I currently BELIEVE will be benefits of retiring sometime in the future:

• More sleep
• Not needing to interact with the two thorns in my side at work (although, to be honest, I have evolved, I believe.... I hardly ever think about them any more and mostly just ignore them)
• Less computer time
• Less forced structure
• The ability to MOVE where it is warm....  or better, perhaps, the ability to move South just for the Winter (the term used...  is that my wife and I would become "snowbirds") and come back North in the Spring/Summer/Fall.
•  More time for hobbies (music, fiction writing, instrument repair, etc.)

It feels odd that I feel rather stymied to add more at the moment.  I think perhaps I will next try to list my Fears of Retirement.... which sadly seems likely to be a longer list.  I do not know if I will write that tomorrow, or next week, though.  

I am hoping to get the new computer system at home set up this weekend.  Hopefully things will go smoothly.  But, then again, it is a new COMPUTER system...... the likelihood of it going "smoothly" is probably just a pipe dream.

PipeTobacco