Hello there.
I've been a lurker here for a few weeks and finally signed up today. It seems that this is the place where some highly experienced, long-term pipers can shed light on those questions for us newer pipers. I'm going to give an introduction to explain my recent interest in pipes.
I'm 30 and, although I did smoke a pipe for a couple of weeks in the Navy, only recently started a pipe journey some time in June. This was the month of both my fiance's and my anniversary, and Father's Day. She decided that a combination present for both days was in order, and when we went to a local antiques shop, what to my surprise should appear but a long meerschaum pipe! My obvious reaction made her purchase it later that day when I went to work, and presented it to me on our anniversary.
The shop keeper stated that it was broken, which is why the price tag was less than $50 US. When I looked at it, I discovered that one of the extensions was loose, and all it took was a tiny bit of teflon tape to put it into good working order. This would have been the day I started, which was either the 21st or the 22nd of June.
I left to grab some pipe tobacco from the local smoke store, and the first thing I saw was a red and green pouch. I bought it. It was Half & Half! So I took to loading it in accordance with instructions online into my new / old meerschaum pipe. I still keep Half & Half in my storage container and plan to buy some bulk soon.
Anyhow, that's kind of the story behind my starting pipes. I have had plenty of cigars, and I had quit cigarettes January 8, 2012. I must say, this is not as addicting as cigarettes, but I never had fun with cigarettes, either. Pipes and cigars? So many blends out there!
Since then, I have taken to searching locally for more pipes. Until I purchased the last MM, a local tobacco store carried corn cobs. A local drug store still carries MM Legends, so I have at least three cobs. I favor my meerschaums (one is a Dublin-shaped Kaywoodie, according to the stamp on the stem; and the other is an unmarked meerschaum with an apple shape. Both are straight), but I'm also very much a big fan of my estate-purchased briar pipes (particularly because I enjoy large chambers due to their large capacity). Every once in a while, I'll have my small pipes, but I always have a meerschaum being used at least once a day.
I'm a light smoker, probably 3 or 4 bowls a day. But because they're in large pipes, that might equate to 5 or 6 small and / or medium bowls. But I'm not here for science! I'm here for the same reason each of you are-- to share my interest in a hobby which is generations old, with people who have experienced the great, the mediocre, and the McDonald's of tobaccos, in the great, the mediocre, and the McDonald's of pipes, for us newbies to file through!
This is a very long post, and for this I apologize. But details are everything to me. I must state my favorite tobaccos as being Five Brothers, Picayune, G&H Dark Flake Unscented, Haunted Bookshop, and C&D Big & Burley. I absolutely enjoy Half and Half (I mentioned this), but Prince Albert is "okay" for me. 4 Aces is good to fall back on when I've run out of my favorite blends. I have a lot (3.5+ ounces) of Pirate Kake (which taught me quickly to obtain samples of something before making a large-volume order for something I've never before tried). SWR is also fine for a morning ritual with coffee.
Wow. This post has gone on long enough. If you have any further questions regarding my stash, favorite blends, or pipe collection, feel free to PM me (as soon as I figure out how to actually browse the site, which shouldn't take long). And finally,
Greetings to all.
EDIT*
I realize my user name might be foreign to some, but I'm a fan of playing Nintendo games. My uncle taught me how to play Legend of Zelda, and some time later I played Ocarina of Time. My user name comes from a particular enemy with a particularly awesome name, found throughout a good portion of OOT.