Smoking some C&D “Espresso” in one of my Rattray’s Goblins this evening. Yes, when it was brand new, I stripped off the original “pinkish” stain and stained it a better tint, at least for me🙂
So. There I was. Sitting in my folding chair in the middle of the four lane street and watching the parade go by. Now, parades down here are different than parades held just about everywhere else. Where a parade like the Rose Bowl parade or the Macy's Thanksgiving parade features people standing on floats and just waving at everyone, a Mardi Gras parade features people who stand on floats and throw beads, stuffed animals and other novelties to the people lining the parade route.
Anyway, this was an all woman Mardi Gras parade organization. And, typically, the women on the floats throw lots of stuff to their families and friends along the route. They also will throw stuff to men. I didn't have to do anything but sit in the chair and smoking my pipe to get stuff thrown my way.
Another unique things I learned about these parades is that the more beads you have, the more that is thrown your way. Did I mention that the parade started at 1:00 pm but the parade riders started drinking bloody mary's around 7:00 am when they were getting organized on the floats.
Oh! This parade is one of the family oriented parades. It is not anything like what goes on during night parades in New Orleans or in the crowds on Bourbon Street.
Here in Billings, when there is a parade, usually Christmas…🥶…..They throw candy 🍭 🍬.
One year, I got hit in the head by one of those giant 12” long x 3/4” diameter candy canes. The parade was over by the time I regained consciousness😵💫. I might have made a lewd remark about one of the scantily clad female elves….hey, it was “cabin fever” talking.
Ok, I may have made the part about the candy cane and my lewd behavior up. Did I get a chuckle or two….anyone…….is this mic on…..?😬
@opipeman I actually had several people stop and complimenting my pipes or tell me how good the tobacco smelled. One of the local cops even asked me where I bought my pipe tobacco. He said he didn't like the blends he could find so he was mostly smoking cigars.
Smoking my Peterson Darwin loaded with some Pipe Dan “Devil’s Holiday”. I have few pipes that I dedicate tobacco to, but I’ve only smoked either “Devil’s Holiday” or Rattray’s “Exotic Orange” in this big boy.
Yesterday was a bowl of 4th Generation: Max Erick's 1989 Blend - an aromatic flake that has a fairly light casing of orange and stone fruit. The second bowl was SPC Plum Pudding Christmas Spirit 2023 - basically Plum Pudding aged in apple brandy barrels.
Wow I really fell behind on the site! @PappyJoe you're bringing back memories of the time my wife and I spent in New Orleans a dozen or so years ago!
I started catching up while smoking GLP Westminster in an MM Boone, finished that and took a break to clean yesterday's finished pipes. Now I'm smoking Wessex Campaign dark Virginia Flake in an MM Let Freedom Ring Rob Roy all with a k-cup of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee.
@opipeman There were a lot of cigarette smokers, cigar smokers and vapers (that new crap, not Virginia Perique) users in the area also. Not to mention that we were across the street from the American Legion Post which had that had a beer and Jello shot booth set up.
The anti-smokers and the anti-everything types know to stay away from Mardi Gras parades. They can't handle the harassment and the cops just tell them they better keep moving.
Smoking the inaugural bowl in a Peterson POY 2023 Rua…..after I removed the bowl coating and drilled the shank airway to 4mm. Tonight’s enticing aromas and flavors emanating from said pipe are courtesy of Lane Limited’s BCA. It’s been quite awhile since I have smoked this tobacco. It’s just as tasty as it was the last time😋
Well Brothers, Yesterday, I finally made it to me shed. It has been 49 degrees and sunny for the last several days and the snow has melted to where I can safely hobble from the house. It was 70 degrees inside the shed. I decided to sample a couple tobacs. I started with Lane LL-7 in a Savinelli Tortuga 812. Second bowl was Velvet in a Comoy's F127.
Third bowl was Barking Dog in a Paranelli Bent.
My last two bowls were Granger in a Savinelli Brandy 707.KS.
That's all I had time for even though it seemed like it had been forever since I had burned a bowl, but I had to drive me Bride to the store to get groceries. Once again all is right with the world.
Comments
You've seen them on wanted posters at the post office...
Now there’s a man secure in his manliness to wear that hat….I think😬
It’s Mardi Gras. Me wearing that hat is about as tame as it gets. Plus it gives the ladies on the floats something to aim for.
That would be telling.
I'm glad for you, but I for one, don't want to know anything about how you got any beads.
Well, tough. I'm gonna tell you anyway.
So. There I was. Sitting in my folding chair in the middle of the four lane street and watching the parade go by. Now, parades down here are different than parades held just about everywhere else. Where a parade like the Rose Bowl parade or the Macy's Thanksgiving parade features people standing on floats and just waving at everyone, a Mardi Gras parade features people who stand on floats and throw beads, stuffed animals and other novelties to the people lining the parade route.
Anyway, this was an all woman Mardi Gras parade organization. And, typically, the women on the floats throw lots of stuff to their families and friends along the route. They also will throw stuff to men. I didn't have to do anything but sit in the chair and smoking my pipe to get stuff thrown my way.
Another unique things I learned about these parades is that the more beads you have, the more that is thrown your way. Did I mention that the parade started at 1:00 pm but the parade riders started drinking bloody mary's around 7:00 am when they were getting organized on the floats.
Oh! This parade is one of the family oriented parades. It is not anything like what goes on during night parades in New Orleans or in the crowds on Bourbon Street.
Ok, I may have made the part about the candy cane and my lewd behavior up. Did I get a chuckle or two….anyone…….is this mic on…..?😬
Now that you have explained it, I'd say you are a credit to pipe smokers everywhere. Wish I had been there.
Are you sure you ain't a fellow Irishman?
I actually had several people stop and complimenting my pipes or tell me how good the tobacco smelled. One of the local cops even asked me where I bought my pipe tobacco. He said he didn't like the blends he could find so he was mostly smoking cigars.
I drink like an Irishman….and a German, and a Russian….but mostly like an Irishmen….I like whiskeys better than beer or vodka😬
Sláinte!
The second bowl was SPC Plum Pudding Christmas Spirit 2023 - basically Plum Pudding aged in apple brandy barrels.
I started catching up while smoking GLP Westminster in an MM Boone, finished that and took a break to clean yesterday's finished pipes. Now I'm smoking Wessex Campaign dark Virginia Flake in an MM Let Freedom Ring Rob Roy all with a k-cup of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee.
Wow! You had a good day, Brother. Maybe the second hand smoke fanatics are starting to wise up, but i doubt it.
Well, that's close enough for me, Brother.
There were a lot of cigarette smokers, cigar smokers and vapers (that new crap, not Virginia Perique) users in the area also. Not to mention that we were across the street from the American Legion Post which had that had a beer and Jello shot booth set up.
The anti-smokers and the anti-everything types know to stay away from Mardi Gras parades. They can't handle the harassment and the cops just tell them they better keep moving.
My list buddy... remember my list...
Second bowl was Velvet in a Comoy's F127.
Third bowl was Barking Dog in a Paranelli Bent.
My last two bowls were Granger in a Savinelli Brandy 707.KS.
That's all I had time for even though it seemed like it had been forever since I had burned a bowl, but I had to drive me Bride to the store to get groceries.
Once again all is right with the world.
Looking good, Brother.