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