When smoke gets in your eyes

even though nicotene is a stimulant, smoking can actually calm a person down. it's because the smoker is putting so much "thought" into the act of breathing, kinda like yoga. seriously, like yoga.

of course in the long run, yoga is better for you than smoking.

the best part about smoking is all of the accessories-- shiny lighters, fancy cigarette cases, hand-rolled cigarettes. And give me a Black Russian over a Marlboro any day... Cloves are a special treat, too. when i started my leather title traveling, i took up smoking again and i would pretty much just smoke at events. now that i'm done with the title circuit, i still smoke some, but i can go days or weeks without touching a cigarette, smoke a pack in a night, and go weeks again without one.

lately i've been getting into pipe smoking. it's smells nicer, is more "dignified", cheaper than cigarettes, satisfies the oral fixation, conversation piece at bars (the few bars that will let you smoke a pipe). AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THE ACCESSORIES.

i have a Meerschaum pipe carved with a lion's face on it. i have wooden cess pieces that i use as pipe tamps. i currently have three flavors of tobacco. i keep all of it in a tin box. i also have a LONG stem clay pipe. the long stem helps keep the smoke cooler.

i've had a couple pipe smoking dreams in the last week. the earlier one was a pipe smoking party (essentially) and the dream included actual people in my life. LOTS of fancy smoking gear.

last night's dream i was at a real bar here in Milwaukee (one that DOESN'T allow pipe smoking, ironically) and the bartender gave me a pipe to smoke that was filled with what looked more like a mixed greens salad than anything else. kinda tasted minty. and NO it wasn't pot. the pipe didn't have a stem and it strongly resembled a tree stump. you kinda just put it near your mouth (there was no stem, remember?) and inhaled.

Uhle's, a tobacco shop downtown has a couple flavors that i want to try; one is the House Blend flavored with vanilla and maple. they have another blend with chocolate. i've been meaning to stop up there. i might still do that today, but i'll have to do it soon. right now, i don't even have pants on. got out of the shower and had myself a pipeful of Prince Albert vanilla in my longstem clay pipe.