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