Hello, everyone! I've taken some time off from this site, but have been getting back into it recently. I'd like to share some things with any of you that will listen (and I do appreciate your time).
I recently heard that Jim Beam has been bought by a Japanese company. I consider myself very patriotic, and found this outrageous. I wish they would just stick to saki. But, this lead me to do some digging on my favorite bourbon, Wild Turkey (101, of course), only to discover that it is owned by an Italian based company. Not quite as bad (I'm 25% Italian), but still no good. This lead to more digging about bourbons made in America by Americans working for an American Company. They are still out there. I'm going to miss my Wild Turkey, though. Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Angel's Envy, Rebel Yell, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams are some of the bourbons that come to mind immediately. I have the rest written down somewhere.
So the bourbon thing got me thinking about tobacco too. I'd like to try a little experiment. Only buy American tobaccos for awhile. I think it could be fun (and easier) to limit myself to a handful of blenders. Sutliff, Cornell & Diehl, McClelland, and I think GL Pease is one of them too. And I have very little experience with these blenders (if any), so it could be really fun. But, I'm gonna have to wait on that...
I've been working really hard to control PAD/TAD for the year of 2014. I think my last *major* purchase was sometime back in Sept '13. I haven't been smoking all that much (more on that later), maybe 1 or 2 bowls a week if I feel like it. So, why put more money into it? I think there was a post from Bradley/The Old Cajun that really struck a chord with me. It was about enjoying what you have, and not envying what those around you have. I decided then and there to be less focused on pipes and tobaccos I didn't have, and to focus on and appreciate all I already do have. Besides, right now, I'm not making much money. I'm a stay-at-home dad with a 2yr old son. He's enrolled in daycare, and I work a little sidejob in the afternoons/evenings. So, I can't really afford it anyway.
But, I got the itch! There's a pipe I've had my eye on for quite some time now, and it's not very expensive, and I've heard good things about the carver. That, and I've had my eyes on some OTC blends. I want to get back into smoking aromatics, but anytime I do, I just feel unsatisfied. So, I'm looking for a way to add some more body to my aromatic smokes. Especially Captain Black White. I really enjoy the aroma and mustache note of it, but it's lacking some body. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
So, the reason I haven't been smoking much is because I've gotten into fitness for myself. Running and simple bodyweight exercises. I've been running 3x a week since October. I cut way back on smoking then because it turns out I was still inhaling a little bit, and this affected my running. I've since refined my technique, and now a pipe will not affect my run the next day.
Part of the reason I was glad my wife gave me the green light on staying home was that I really wanted to get in shape. That and I had just finished my master's, which made it 7yrs of higher education total. I wasn't looking forward to going to work. I'm really happy I get to spend as much time with my son as I do.
So, a big part of my motivation to get in shape is that I've been planning on joining the National Guard since Oct 2012. So, well over 1 year. I was thinking Army or Air. My wife has been really supportive of me since I brought it up over 1yr ago, and I love her for it.
But, ever since finding out that we will be having a second child in June, I've been looking for work as an Athletic Trainer (my wife has a job at a university). It's made it tough, both of us being ATs. The hours aren't normal, the schedule isn't fixed, and the pay isn't great (to start). So, I've been looking for work as an AT with normal hours. Something at a physical therapy clinic, or an orthopedic doctor's office (this is something that I would love to do). Unfortunately, there isn't much around right now. And I'm a little sour on the whole profession anyway. Long hours, low pay, little to no respect from co-workers (PTs, coaches, parents, Athletic Directors). Don't get me wrong, it's not all like that, I just hear too many stories like that from my colleagues.
My wife caught me by surprise the other day. She suggested that maybe I should look into the Air Force full time, instead of guard. They have this position called Surgical Service Tech (or specialist). They assist the surgeons. Something like that would be great for me if I wanted to work as an AT in an orthopedic office, after I got out. Like I said, this whole thing caught me by surpise.
I didn't know what to think at first. This whole thing came outta left field, you know? I'm starting to get really excited about it. I almost joined the Navy at 17, but decided not to when I saw my financial aid package for college. But something sparked inside me back in the Fall of 2012, that woke that up again. That made me want to help. And it's been burning ever since. I could really see myself putting in 20yrs of service, and being really happy doing it. My wife brought it up because she thought it would make me happy too. And she is good with me doing it.
I've told my dad about the Guard, but not the USAF. I really haven't told anybody yet. I'm telling you guys (and gals) now. This couldn't have come at a better time. I was actually regretting my career choice lately, and the USAF would be a really good fit for me. I've sent my info to a recruiter, and the way things are looking, I could commit in the fall of this year. Still got some more weight to lose, but that'll come with time. Maybe I need to start having an evening pipe instead of a beer or 2!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I recently heard that Jim Beam has been bought by a Japanese company. I consider myself very patriotic, and found this outrageous. I wish they would just stick to saki. But, this lead me to do some digging on my favorite bourbon, Wild Turkey (101, of course), only to discover that it is owned by an Italian based company. Not quite as bad (I'm 25% Italian), but still no good. This lead to more digging about bourbons made in America by Americans working for an American Company. They are still out there. I'm going to miss my Wild Turkey, though. Buffalo Trace, Woodford Reserve, Angel's Envy, Rebel Yell, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams are some of the bourbons that come to mind immediately. I have the rest written down somewhere.
So the bourbon thing got me thinking about tobacco too. I'd like to try a little experiment. Only buy American tobaccos for awhile. I think it could be fun (and easier) to limit myself to a handful of blenders. Sutliff, Cornell & Diehl, McClelland, and I think GL Pease is one of them too. And I have very little experience with these blenders (if any), so it could be really fun. But, I'm gonna have to wait on that...
I've been working really hard to control PAD/TAD for the year of 2014. I think my last *major* purchase was sometime back in Sept '13. I haven't been smoking all that much (more on that later), maybe 1 or 2 bowls a week if I feel like it. So, why put more money into it? I think there was a post from Bradley/The Old Cajun that really struck a chord with me. It was about enjoying what you have, and not envying what those around you have. I decided then and there to be less focused on pipes and tobaccos I didn't have, and to focus on and appreciate all I already do have. Besides, right now, I'm not making much money. I'm a stay-at-home dad with a 2yr old son. He's enrolled in daycare, and I work a little sidejob in the afternoons/evenings. So, I can't really afford it anyway.
But, I got the itch! There's a pipe I've had my eye on for quite some time now, and it's not very expensive, and I've heard good things about the carver. That, and I've had my eyes on some OTC blends. I want to get back into smoking aromatics, but anytime I do, I just feel unsatisfied. So, I'm looking for a way to add some more body to my aromatic smokes. Especially Captain Black White. I really enjoy the aroma and mustache note of it, but it's lacking some body. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
So, the reason I haven't been smoking much is because I've gotten into fitness for myself. Running and simple bodyweight exercises. I've been running 3x a week since October. I cut way back on smoking then because it turns out I was still inhaling a little bit, and this affected my running. I've since refined my technique, and now a pipe will not affect my run the next day.
Part of the reason I was glad my wife gave me the green light on staying home was that I really wanted to get in shape. That and I had just finished my master's, which made it 7yrs of higher education total. I wasn't looking forward to going to work. I'm really happy I get to spend as much time with my son as I do.
So, a big part of my motivation to get in shape is that I've been planning on joining the National Guard since Oct 2012. So, well over 1 year. I was thinking Army or Air. My wife has been really supportive of me since I brought it up over 1yr ago, and I love her for it.
But, ever since finding out that we will be having a second child in June, I've been looking for work as an Athletic Trainer (my wife has a job at a university). It's made it tough, both of us being ATs. The hours aren't normal, the schedule isn't fixed, and the pay isn't great (to start). So, I've been looking for work as an AT with normal hours. Something at a physical therapy clinic, or an orthopedic doctor's office (this is something that I would love to do). Unfortunately, there isn't much around right now. And I'm a little sour on the whole profession anyway. Long hours, low pay, little to no respect from co-workers (PTs, coaches, parents, Athletic Directors). Don't get me wrong, it's not all like that, I just hear too many stories like that from my colleagues.
My wife caught me by surprise the other day. She suggested that maybe I should look into the Air Force full time, instead of guard. They have this position called Surgical Service Tech (or specialist). They assist the surgeons. Something like that would be great for me if I wanted to work as an AT in an orthopedic office, after I got out. Like I said, this whole thing caught me by surpise.
I didn't know what to think at first. This whole thing came outta left field, you know? I'm starting to get really excited about it. I almost joined the Navy at 17, but decided not to when I saw my financial aid package for college. But something sparked inside me back in the Fall of 2012, that woke that up again. That made me want to help. And it's been burning ever since. I could really see myself putting in 20yrs of service, and being really happy doing it. My wife brought it up because she thought it would make me happy too. And she is good with me doing it.
I've told my dad about the Guard, but not the USAF. I really haven't told anybody yet. I'm telling you guys (and gals) now. This couldn't have come at a better time. I was actually regretting my career choice lately, and the USAF would be a really good fit for me. I've sent my info to a recruiter, and the way things are looking, I could commit in the fall of this year. Still got some more weight to lose, but that'll come with time. Maybe I need to start having an evening pipe instead of a beer or 2!
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
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