Here in the NE USA winter made a comeback overnight after a few warm days in a row so my pipe smoking on the porch with my coffee was off the table. I packed a bowl anyway and told the wife I was heading to the basement to give it a long overdue straightening up. My wife was apparently so delighted that I was tackling this project that she never mentioned the pipesmoke! I was down there most of the day, listening to past episodes of the podcasts and puffing away while taking the occasional break to listen to the interviews and sip the pipe and drink. (I really enjoyed the Russ O. Interview). You all have to understand that what I've just related is ground breaking, cigar and pipe smoking in the house has always been one of those lines that I never really tried to cross before. My brides tobacco reviews (at least my favorites) on a windy day outdoors at best would be "that smells disgusting" to the worst, "don't light that pipe until I'm upwind!" Bottom line is that we are both happy that some forward progress was made on the basement situation and tomorrow promises to be another crappy day and she mentioned that I could probably take advantage of that and continue straightening up. Looks like I might have to run out and get a smoking jacket and an old overstuffed leather recliner to keep down there! ;-)