What is a bootleg bon vivant, you may ask? Well, it’s kinda like a monkey stealing a soldier’s last MRE. You know, that feeling you get when something is forbidden, yet you have to sample the best of the best. Not saying an MRE is all that great or anything, but it’s prime rib to a monkey who is stuck with nuts, berries, and bananas all the damn time.
I love being a connoisseur. Even if I am an amateur one at that. Whether it be technology, alchohol, pipes and tobacco, admiring women, food, whatever else there could be. Let’s face it, I love pleasurable things and experiences.
I’m a happily married 30 year old man in the Atlanta area and a father of three. I was raised poor and tend to dream a little too much. I’m not always politically correct, nor am I uppity about anything. I may enjoy the finer things of life, but I sure as hell can’t stand the attitude that usually goes along with them. I enjoy fine art, poetry, and of course, music of almost all kinds.
What’s this all going to be about? My discoveries of some of the finer things and possibly some information for other beginners of pipe smoking. This will be a place for me to vent, discuss, and think upon topics I find interesting and worthy of a thought.
Some quotes I like:
Pipes and Tobacco:
“I believe that pipe smoking contributes to a somewhat calm and objective judgement in all human affairs.” -Albert Einstein, 1950
“The fact is, squire, the moment a man takes to a pipe, he becomes a philosopher. It’s the poor man’s friend; it calms the mind, soothes the temper, and makes a man patient under difficulties. It has made more good men, good husbands, kind masters, indulgent fathers, than any other blessed thing on this universal earth.” -”Sam Slick, the clockmaker”
“The pipe marks the point at which the orangutan ends and man begins.” -Ben Jonson
Here are some links to some local things in which my wife and I find pleasurable. If you’re in the area, you may want to check some of these places out.
Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Chateau Elan Winery and Resort
Golf Courses Close to Home
Good to see another pipester on the web!
I have added your blog to my blogroll, to keep our pipe smokers community together
with Best Regards,
Marcin
Thanks! You’re linked here as well.
Happy Puffin’,
Shaun
Hi Shaun,
Send me an email to tracy at platial dot com and tell me where to send your map award prize!
You’ve got one sweet site dude!
I’ll be a regular. I was raised poor too, and you know what? I appreciate what I have. I was raised to say “yes sir”, “yes ma’am” and most importantly “Thank You”. A trait that I am proud to say I’ve passed on to my 5 young kids.
Thanks! Those are qualities that are rarely placed into the youth of today and tomorrow. I was raised like that with my grandfather. We’re doing it with our children. I think with a real understanding of respect, these kids will be better off.
Thanks for stopping by,
~BBVV
Hi, love your blog. I wrote about pipe smoking on my blog:
http://straightfromtheshoulder.wordpress.com/
Also check this out:
http://singaporepipeandcigarsmokers.com/
If you ever come this way, join us for a smoke!
Hey man, found your site while looking for American Pipe Carvers. I myself own a nice Tim West pipe, and looking to purchasing a Boswell.
I am also ITP (Decatur though, not the ATL) and relatively young for a pipe smoker (now 31, started with cigars at 27).
Just wanted to say nice site, I have a blog myself, Intoxico (http://popecrisco.blogspot.com), that I use primarly for keeping tabs on what pipe tobaccos and other vices that I’ve consumed.
Happy smoking!
Thanks for dropping by. I actually live closer to Lake Lanier, but being ATL is the main hub, that’s what is easy to recognize. Where do you go for tobacco and supplies?
Awesome. I’ll try to work my way over to your blog soon.
Happy puffin’
~BBVV
Hey Shaun, I understand about referring to where you live as the closest large city.
I make the rounds from Tinderbox at Lenox, Edwards, and a small B&M called Got Cigars in Decatur, but mainly I use the internet for my purchases.
I used to give a lot of business to Royal Cigar, now closed and once the home to the ATL Pipe club. Not sure if the club has stayed together since the owner of the shop retired.
btw, if you are interested, feel free to email me at pope dot crisco at gmail.com
Not just a list of my pipes, but an attempt to expand knowledge of these system pipes. Many still come up regularly on ebay
Hi Shaun!
I sort of stumbled across your site yesterday while trying to find pipe info. Any ideas as to how to find good info on pipes? I have some really nice ones that are a matched set (maker unknown) and I haven’t a clue to the type wood used. I picked them up from an antique dealer in TN in about 92 or so. The pipes are very good quality and quite interesting in style and all smoke well.
I see you are in Atlanta area. I had a small farm in Henry County in the 80s and 90s (Locust Grove. I hear it is now a busy place with many shops, etc. We are now in beautiful UpState, NY near Cooperstown — nestled in the foothills of the Catskill mountains. Do you know the area at all?
Jim
Hey Jim,
If you look at the top of my page, there are a couple of links to other pages. Inside are links for collectors, etc. Are there any markings or words on the set? That would help a lot in trying to find any information regarding the pipes.
Sorry to say, I’m not familiar with that area in GA. I’m actually on the east side of Lake Lanier.
Hi, So sorry to inform you that I closed http://StraightFromTheShoulder.wordpress.com because it got hacked!
I now blog at http://LohandBehold.wordpress.com
You may wish to remove Straight from the Shoulder from your blog roll.
Do visit my new blog – there are some posts on pipes and cigars, among other various topics.
Cheers,
Dr Toon Seng Loh.