Well halleluiah. Got home last night after a very long, all around BAD DAY (started bright an' early at 7:30am with a partner fight) and wash-out $ vending an Arts and Holistic outdoor fair to come home and bleary-eyed check my emails and got a blessed treat. Have been out of my darling Bandidos Cheroots for a month and a half and was all about giving up on this backordered item ever to be in stock again, yet that email said my shipment was on the way. Thank gods, I swear. Have been scrabbling to the back shelf in my humidor cabinet and the things that should stay back there for too long. Man, even finished all those rotted Backwoods buggers. Even for 'emergencies' they just didn't cut it. The 'un-flavored' ones, while okay, were still awful since the end rolling was a joke. EVERY DRAW ended you up with a mouthful of shredded tobacco, (lots of it) and even sticking them in my small cigar holder didn't work since you had to twist and mash them in and...well, it just didn't 'do' if ya catch my drift. Ugh!

Okay, so I've my Bandidos coming in, ordered SIX bundles of 60 each so not going to have that disaster happen again anytime soon. Whew!

During my time of crisis I had whatever fun I could so went and signed up for Frenchy's Newsletter. http://www.frenchyspipes.com/  and if you haven't, visit and sign up for yourself. Crazy bastard and the world needs many more in my book. *Chuckles*

Well, my subscription of Pipes & Tobaccos magazine has come to an end. At this point it is buy smokes as opposed to read about 'em, though since we still hope to find a new home, figure will re-subscribe then. Yup, better days ahead, always.

When it comes time for my next purchase, I'm looking forwards to trying some of the new McClelland Grand Orientals blends. Three in particular have caught my eye: Yenidje Supreme, Drama Reserve and Classic Samsun. Will be my first venture into Orientals.

Can you believe I've never smoked a hookah before? Figure I will one day, though not just yet. Enjoy my briars and little cigars very much, and since I usually puff while working at the keyboard (still haven't gone into the backyard once this summer. Loss of both out pets this year, Timber, our 13 year old malamute from age and then or kitty Miss Jinx 2 months later from illness, both happening over late winter and early spring...well, the yard is too full of their memories still. Miss Jinx buried back there and, well, it's been a bummer year,) a hookah may not fit. Still, I was perusing this cool site I get newsletters from. www.southsmoke.com if any are interested. Seems a decent place, though I am NOT a one who can quite imagine puffing on anything called 'Green Apple'. Though 'Cardamom' a spice I have always enjoyed might be interesting. Again, put it on my 'One Day' list.

Whew, first day of 'vacation' so think I'm going to grab my cup of tea, a pipe of G. L. Pease Barbary Coast and watch the sunrise.

Have a great one and catch you later, folks.

MJ.

Well my new laptop arrived so I'm back online, hurrah! Actually been back a week, but catching up you know, still, unfortunate the first thing I have to blog about here is this...

Alright, had to share this one. My first tooth-drilled pipe stem. (Ha, folks are always commenting about my sharp tongue, whew, if only they knew ) Luckily it's a basket one, more, one I use while writing for hours on end. Don't worry, I'd NEVER do this to one of my 'higher ends'. Just these trooper 'work horses' LOL.

And yes, it DOES still work fine, only from the looks of the bottom and its own growing 'indentation', well...heck, guess it's time to do some shopping

Will probably go here since these people have the decency to actually show images of $19.95 pipes: TOBACCO CITY

Argh, on that note I have to dash, my promised 'five minute' break clearly over...

Be back soonest,

MJ

SOME HAZARDS OF SMOKING IN THE SUMMER:

Okay, it is summer and it is hot, muggy, the usual things. Just finished a very long day of work and am kicking back catching up on emails as well as doing some writing. Mentioned it is hot, so am therefore dressed ‘minimally’ in accordance. Am enjoying one of my cheroots in the cool little holder I bought for such.

The result of three things in combination, i.e. minimally dressed, absorbed in what I am doing while smoking a cigar could only lead to one thing: I have just had more then an inch of hot ash drop on my bare ‘lap’.

AHHHHHHH!

Holy crap, I am awake now I tell you. Youch!

TEETH:

My dentist retired a while back ago. Loved that guy, he was awesome. The ones who bought his practice suck, therefore I am without a dentist for some time.

Love my pipes as well, and as result I’ve the typical ‘penny’ colored back of the teeth. Don’t care, but to help offset I just bought myself a Philip Sonicare Elite e7300 Toothbrush. Man, that thing is fantastic! Along with it am trying some Rembrandt Premium Mouth Rinse, Stain Therapy mouthwash. Again, great stuff, so I am smiling pretty around the bit of my stem. Viola!

PIPESTER WOES:

A pipe that will never be mine. Yes, yes, some (many) will think it ugly, but I just go Ooo momma!

Must be the green color, combined with fact it reminds me of bones, things I collect.

Yes, I am weird.

THE BUTTERFLY SKULL. Painted with acrylic paints by me, MJV.

All for now, have a great weekend, folks!

Cheers,

MJ

Okay, I like cheroots (Bandidos Mild n' Sweet from Cigars International) and I've been seeing these "Backwoods" ones around for a while. Needless to say I thought I'd give them a try so on a whim ordered the single (8-packs) of Black & Sweet, Honey, Aromatic, Original and Wild Rum.

So far, my humble opinion is they really suck.

Now don't get me wrong, I haven't tried half of them yet, only the Honey ( bleck) and the Aromatic. Like smoking candy bars and I'm just not into that. Actually shuddering at the thought of what Wild Rum might be like...

Still, fingers crossed for Original and Black & Sweet...though I'm not quite up to it yet. Recovery is going to take a bit as is.

Ah well, got to try new things, but my gosh and whew that i didn't decide to jump in and get whole boxes!

Cheers n' happy puffing,

MJ

Alright I am psyched, my cellar is now filled nicely with HOW Field & Stream, no more worries about running out of this probably discontinued blend. Just got 10 tins in, whee! Add that to the five (well, now four and a half hehe ) tins I got a few weeks back and I am set.

Cheers and happy puffing,

MJ

Just a snap I took the other day of my tobacco plant I have growing in my art room/office for fun. Cheers.

The results are in for the 2007 World Cup in Pipesmoking, which was held in St. Petersburg Russia.

http://pipeclub.ru/?page_id=70

Cheers people!

Alright, here's my goodies list for March 2008

House of Winsor -  Field & Stream 10oz tins: 5 Hurrah!

4 (60 count) bundles of Bandidos Cheroots. (I prefer the shorter cigars since I am usually puffing away while I am writing, and I drop enough ash on my poor, sorely abused little laptop as it. Sheesh!)

Mac Baren - Golden Extra 16oz: 1 (First time I've ordered this not in the 100g tin. Well there is a big difference when it comes packed in this plastic container versus the metal tin. Stuff is rather dry, [not to mention exposed to any light source since the very thin plastic is transparent] so need jarring and a touch of moisture.)

Mac Baren - Mixture: Scottish Blend 100g: 1 (Never tried before.)

Mac Baren - HH Matured Virginia 100g: 1 (Yeah, they got me when they sent that free sampler last year. What can I say, the dung grew on me. LOL. Sighs...)

Mac Baren - No. 8 Limited Edition 100g: 1 (Never tried before.)

Peterson - Sweet Killarney 50g: 1 (Never tried before.)

McClelland - Christmas Cheer 2007 100g: 1 (Came crunched, but so what? Sorry, I plan to smoke this one right away because I like it. Got a few extra tins in my cellar that I'm going to let keep aging though, 2007 and plenty of older ones, so don't think too badly of me. Ha.)

McClelland - 5100 - Red Cake 2oz, loose: 1

G. L. Pease - Blackpoint 2oz: 1 (Never tried before.)

G. L. Pease - Barbary Coast 8oz: 1 (A standard blend for me and I got tirred of getting all these dinky 2oz tins, hehe. )

G. L. Pease - Maltese Falcon 2oz : 1 (Never tried before, but it is a top seller ar www.smokingpipes.com where I shop so why not, right?)

G. L. Pease - Westminster 2oz: 1 (Never tried before.)

Also got a bunch of Long's pipe cleaners, 3 styles (brush, extra absorbent in 2 thicknesses) as well as some Bee pipe sweetener which I've never used before, but decided I better start.

LOL okay, I'm broke. Guess I'll start burning through my purchases now. Hurrah!

Cheers,

MJ

Hello everyone!

Well, after several months away due to an extremely hectic work and life (Please don't ask, I just do not have the strength...) I am slowly on my way back to the world-wide online community and my friends that such contains.

Firstly, I would like to thank all of you whom have been emailing me, and since I have been 'unplugged' it will take me a bit to go through all the backlog. So sorry for not responding till now, I did not mean to slight anyone, truly I did not, so it is high on my list to answering you all ASAP. Thank you for your patience!

Now, this blog will be devoted to my enjoyable hobby of pipe and cigar smoking. I smoke tobacco for the main, yet also enjoy several herbal blends along the line of Kinnick-Kinnick and the like.

Word of advice for some of you just starting to venture out, dedicate your briars to either tobacco or the herbals but not both. Trust me, it is very nasty so don't even bother. LOL!

Currently, my main, daily smoking blends are Mac Baren Golden Extra, G. L. Pease Barbary Coast and House of Windsor Field & Stream, the last which is getting very hard to get a'hold of since it is extinct far as i know. (Tragedy! Argh! Sighs...) Still, fingers crossed I expect 5 10 ounce tins to arrive in a few days. Whew!

Also just picked up a couple ounces of McClelland Red Cake. Mild and not too bad...

For Aros I like some HoW Chocolate Cream. use one of my Trypis pipes for that.

Beyond that, I enjoy the Drew Estate C-note teeny cigars as well as their Krush ACID tin line. the ACID Blondie is also nice, and I picked up a 5 pack sampler of Cold Infusion Tea as well to try.

Even more standard are cheroots. I favor the Bandidos Mild n' Sweets which come in a fun burlap sewn-up bundle of 60. These I pick-up from Cigars International, a rather cool place to shop online.

For snuff, it is Gawith Apricot all the way! Bzzzz! Hehe!

Will be posting some photos of my latest HUGE (for my) purchase, since I'm just thrilled to death to be able to shop a bit once more.

Bah, just got the word that Knox Cigars has closed their online shop, which is a bummer since I really like their three House blends. Well, thank goodness they still take phone orders.

Okay then, on that note I'll close this first foray entry, but will be back with a tone of new images of all my latest pipes--I've a LOT more of them now then currently available on my website and a whole lot more other stuff, news and tidbits. Like I said, been too busy and there simply has been no time.

Till then, Cheers and Happy Puffing!

MJ