Picked Up A New Habit

I've smoked cigars very infrequently for the past couple of years but while I was in SA, Tx for my Emergency Nursing Specialty Course 2009/10, I bought a couple of pipes to give it a try.  Honeydew was pregnant with our 2nd son but she was still in MD so I gave it a try for the few months I was away.  I liked it!  It didn't give me the same taste in the back of my throat and was much smoother than any of the cigars I've had. 

Now that Dangerboy2 is 9 months old, I returned to the briar and started smoking once a day, usually on my way into work.  It's been a very relaxing drive since I started up again.  Lots of research has yielded me several pleasant smokes with only a couple of minor problems that I'm sure will resolve with more practice and trial and error!  I even bought a couple of estate pipes off ebay.  Can't wait to get them and try my hand at restoring em.

I hear over and over again that the ritual is prized with pipe smokers and I am getting the sense of satisfaction and pleasure of packing, smoking and cleaning my new wood.  Happy smoke rings!