DO NOT BE ALARMED

When I came back it was sort of precipitative outside. Damp. Light rain off and on, wet sidewalks, kind of English. My apartment mate was coming out of our land lady's place, having fed the resident cat while our landlady is overseas in a place where although she is surrounded be extremely distant relatives, none of them speak the only version of Chinese that many people in San Francisco know: Toishanese. Some English is likely.
So it's a very foreign place indeed. Albeit one with good food.
Probably a major reason to visit.

My apartment mate was softly singing the 'happy turkey vulture song'.
Which is all about harvestable fatty inner thighs.
They are yummy!


When two people live together, and both of them move around gracefully without stumbling or banging into things, it is useful to make slight sounds in order that one not startle the other. Like, for instance, the 'turkey vulture song' or the 'head sheep song'. Or even the 'one legged monkey song'. Seeing as I don't sing, I sometimes sound like Bill The Cat instead, or one of the underpants gnomes from South Park.

This is expecially important when the bathroom is involved.
Or returning home while someone is in the kitchen.

It's pro-active, and prevents screaming.
As a startled person might.
Unhypothetically.

After the first pipe of the day, out there on the grim Scottish moors (actually Nob Hill, so not grim at all, except in early morning) one is sufficiently prepared for the second cup of coffee and doomscrolling on the computer, or, a few days a week, heading off to work to deal with the idiots. Today is not an idiot day.

Reassuringly I fondle my pipe. It is a Peterson apple straightgrain, a very touch feely object, and does not actually need reassurance, being cocky and full of itself.
Sings when filled with dark mature Virginias.


On average there are about three dozen pipes in the rotation, there is no order or system, each pipe goes at least three days between smokes, and one or two pipes might not get smoked more than once or twice in a given month. Though the Tuesday evening pub-crawl pipe gets used every week. At present time that pipe is a Dunhill bruyere billiard 59, for several years it was a Comoy Sunrise.

There are quite a few Comoy pipes, including offbrands and subbrands, in my collection. They are among my favourites. Back before the company was taken over by Cadogan, Comoy made some of the best pipes. Good briar, well-designed.


I have no idea what the resident cat thinks about my pipes. Cats are usually okay with such things, but being 'Chinese' he might have a different opinion. But he's male, so he might be on my side. Also, he's old and grumpy. Those are good things.



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