Seagullplayer, Dad did smoke all of his pipes. I've found a few that are less used, but all have been loved extensively. So many pipes, so little time!
Sparks, you ain't said nuthin'! These stems were so bitter that I actually washed them with water and pipe cleaned them multiple times with Everclear. They're tolerable now, but I'll go look up some cleaning/care forums and get them done right. Like a boat, half the fun with the pipes is the "messing about".
Pipebaum81, not sure that's a better moniker. Especially for a web forum, but I like it. The story goes that when I was born (a long, long time ago) my Dad got drunk with his buddy and came to tell mom that the name that they had decided on was Johan Sebastian (Bachrach, get it?) Instead, I ended up John. Sometimes I think that Johan would have been fun...
phxrock John, I found some guys that meet down there in a forum. When I head south again, I'll drag along a pipe or four and look you guys up. Give me a holler if you come up. We can burn one at my place or Flagstaff Brewing Company has a nice smoke friendly patio that we can give some class.
Cobguy, I moved to Flag with my wife in 1983. Been here ever since. We love it and even though it's grown, it still has a small town feel. I've always said that it's a dangerous town to drive in because you only have one hand on the wheel while waving with the other. Rae, my wife worked at W.L. Gore for 28.5 years and I'm a Crane Whore, which means I operate cranes for whoever needs it. I work out of the Operating Engineers Local 428, but most of my gigs are at the Palo Verde Nuke Plant down south these days, working the refuel outages in the spring and fall. Five more and I can retire. Right now I'm enjoying the English blend that came from a "jug" at McGaugh's. It's not the same old McGaugh's that you wish it was, although the new McGaugh's Smoke and Bottle (I think they bought the name) is a great place for beer and other smoking accessories. Not much in the way of tobacco pipe selection. Same invite goes out to you; let's add some class to the Flag Brew patio some time and go through some of Al's good Scotch. Is that a kilt? Do you get up here in July for the Celtic Festival?
Perique, Gigger48, Boilermakerandy, Darthcider, Easterntraveler, Tppytel, Simnettpratt, Jeepnewbie, Hunterrw, Patiobum, Mustanggt, Pylorns, Phonomet, Ravkesef, and MSO489, thank you all for your warm welcome and sage advise. I hope I didn't leave anyone out. I hoist my pipe to you all.
John
