"Carl's Lounge" (Off-Topic Discussion, Traditional Knife "Tales & Vignettes")

Two rare sights there gents :thumbup:
 
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I expect this is not going to be too popular, but I have to say it. When I was a kid in the 1960s, I started using tobacco in most of its forms, and, like most folk who did so, ended up with a habit. Because I had asthma I gradually moved over to various forms of chewing tobacco. I used tobacco for more than 43 years and finally quit cold turkey, with the help of a forum which helps tobacco chewers quit. It took me about 100 days and I haven't looked back, seven years now. Thank God. I would either be dead or dying now. It tears at my heart to see good folk on these pages enjoying tobacciana collectibles and paraphernalia. It is cool stuff which is easy to love and enjoy. But folks, it is all hidden horror. For you. For your family. The first phase is the $100,000 you spend on the habit. This does not ease up, but then you add a layer of gradual decline in health. Colds, missed work, canceled plans, no more sports. Then the burned and stinking items, the friends who fade away. And much more. And then the deepening misery of truly bad health, which can devastate the family and the bank account and go on for years. Finally the ugly death, ten to 50 years early. I am not trying to ruin anyone's day, here; on the contrary, I have taken the time to warn people whom I would like to call my friends. This is not a thing to be taken lightly. And believe me, nobody gets away with it, even if, like I, you quit before (hopefully) the worst of it settles in. Sorry for the black message, but this is the real world here, folks. Love you all and TAKE CARE!!!
 
tongueriver said:
I expect this is not going to be too popular, but I have to say it. When I was a kid in the 1960s, I started using tobacco in most of its forms, and, like most folk who did so, ended up with a habit. Because I had asthma I gradually moved over to various forms of chewing tobacco. I used tobacco for more than 43 years and finally quit cold turkey, with the help of a forum which helps tobacco chewers quit. It took me about 100 days and I haven't looked back, seven years now. Thank God. I would either be dead or dying now. It tears at my heart to see good folk on these pages enjoying tobacciana collectibles and paraphernalia. It is cool stuff which is easy to love and enjoy. But folks, it is all hidden horror. For you. For your family. The first phase is the $100,000 you spend on the habit. This does not ease up, but then you add a layer of gradual decline in health. Colds, missed work, canceled plans, no more sports. Then the burned and stinking items, the friends who fade away. And much more. And then the deepening misery of truly bad health, which can devastate the family and the bank account and go on for years. Finally the ugly death, ten to 50 years early. I am not trying to ruin anyone's day, here; on the contrary, I have taken the time to warn people whom I would like to call my friends. This is not a thing to be taken lightly. And believe me, nobody gets away with it, even if, like I, you quit before (hopefully) the worst of it settles in. Sorry for the black message, but this is the real world here, folks. Love you all and TAKE CARE!!!
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Honestly it sounds like you suffered from an addiction. My pipe smoking is a weekly hobby I have that may even die out like so many of my hobbies have. After smoking cigars and pipes for the past three months I don't seem have cravings for nicotine or get withdrawal symptoms of any whatsoever. I did suffer from a serious soda addiction awhile back. I'm talking anywhere in between 8 and 12 soda's a day and if I didn't have a soda I would get headaches and become extremely agitated.
 
leghog said:
Pic from our club property a few miles from my home. Bald eagle.


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Wow! Beautiful. I see the occasional Golden Eagle here in Scotland and once saw a Sea Eagle but I didn't manage to get a picture of them. I'd love to see a bald eagle, it's such an iconic bird.

I.N.F.K said:
Just though I share my latest find with you gents.



It's a Zephair pipe from 1947 that I paid 4 bucks for. Still need to clean and polish
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What an interesting pipe. Tell me more... :)

tongueriver said:
I expect this is not going to be too popular, but I have to say it....

.... I am not trying to ruin anyone's day, here; on the contrary, I have taken the time to warn people whom I would like to call my friends. This is not a thing to be taken lightly. And believe me, nobody gets away with it, even if, like I, you quit before (hopefully) the worst of it settles in. Sorry for the black message, but this is the real world here, folks. Love you all and TAKE CARE!!!
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I have strong opinions about things that we regularly see here but this is a traditional pocket knife forum, I focus on that and silence my disapproval. This is not the place to preach.

Paul
 
Yeah, these Falcons are interessting pipes, indeed. I once owned one and several bowls. But it was lost during vacation in Croatia many years ago. Five young people in a Renault Twingo in 2002, w/o clima automatic in August and Croatia are a good way to loose something .... ;)

But it was a great pipe and I enjoyed smoking them pretty much. Excellent pipes for travelling.
 
Today I have been watching what appears to be the last Ruby Throated Humming bird this season. The males departed weeks ago, and just last week there were six to eight females at a time, battling for a place at the feeders. This one isn't going far, she just feeds and flies to a nearby service berry tree. Each spring I yearn for their return, and each fall, like I am doing now, I bid them farewell. Amazing creatures, dazzling with their aerial feats and powerful swoops. Feisty and tenacious are their ways, and trusting. They will feed just four feet from me, and oftentimes swoop by my head as I change their feeders. How can such a tiny bird fly thousands of miles to their winter home? I have seen them in Mexico and further south on my travels, and when I do, often times the thought occurs, could it be? Fall is truly here, time to put away the shorts, don blue jeans, and truly enjoy the comfort of the cooler weather...
 
sitflyer said:
Today I have been watching what appears to be the last Ruby Throated Humming bird this season. The males departed weeks ago, and just last week there were six to eight females at a time, battling for a place at the feeders. This one isn't going far, she just feeds and flies to a nearby service berry tree. Each spring I yearn for their return, and each fall, like I am doing now, I bid them farewell. Amazing creatures, dazzling with their aerial feats and powerful swoops. Feisty and tenacious are their ways, and trusting. They will feed just four feet from me, and oftentimes swoop by my head as I change their feeders. How can such a tiny bird fly thousands of miles to their winter home? I have seen them in Mexico and further south on my travels, and when I do, often times the thought occurs, could it be? Fall is truly here, time to put away the shorts, don blue jeans, and truly enjoy the comfort of the cooler weather...
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I know what you mean. We have a hummingbird feed out along with our regular finch feeder and suet block. It's amazing to watch them, especially when they get territorial over the feeder. But if it's amazing that they fly o Mexico, then what about how amazing the Monarch butterfly flying to Mexico on those tissue paper thin wings? That the Monarch can cross the Gulf Of Mexico from Alabama and Mississippi, floors me. So far on so little!
 
We're seeing the same here in Central New York. Many of the birds that visit our feeders are wending their way south. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeak, Hummingbirds and Goldfinch. We're still seeing Canada Geese that stop here before heading south. It's amazing how far they all travel.

We'll still see the Chickadees, Titmice, Nut Hatches, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Pigeons and Sparrows all winter long. I'm sure I've missed some. I love the fall weather but I'm not terribly fond of what follows. :)
 
My dear wife is a bird-a-holic, so we have many multiple feeders including 4 or 5 hummingbird feeders. They are indeed the showmen of the whole lot. I saw my last one of the season 3 days ago. They will be missed. But the cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, bluejays, peckers, etc. are still about.
 
sitflyer said:
Today I have been watching what appears to be the last Ruby Throated Humming bird this season. The males departed weeks ago, and just last week there were six to eight females at a time, battling for a place at the feeders. This one isn't going far, she just feeds and flies to a nearby service berry tree. Each spring I yearn for their return, and each fall, like I am doing now, I bid them farewell. Amazing creatures, dazzling with their aerial feats and powerful swoops. Feisty and tenacious are their ways, and trusting. They will feed just four feet from me, and oftentimes swoop by my head as I change their feeders. How can such a tiny bird fly thousands of miles to their winter home? I have seen them in Mexico and further south on my travels, and when I do, often times the thought occurs, could it be? Fall is truly here, time to put away the shorts, don blue jeans, and truly enjoy the comfort of the cooler weather...
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Back while I was attending college I noticed a humming bird laying on the ground, I assumed it was dead and poked it with my finger gently. Sure enough the little sucker jumped up and tried to fly away. It must've hit the window because it was a bit disoriented and it just dropped out of the sky, but I caught it. I held it in my open palm for a few minutes and it flew off, but then flew right on top of my head. Since I'm a tall, broad shoulder fella, I could've imagine that in comparison with a frail little humming bird I must've looked like a gentle giant. Never had a humming bird actually land and let me hold it before.
 
I.N.F.K said:
Back while I was attending college I noticed a humming bird laying on the ground, I assumed it was dead and poked it with my finger gently. Sure enough the little sucker jumped up and tried to fly away. It must've hit the window because it was a bit disoriented and it just dropped out of the sky, but I caught it. I held it in my open palm for a few minutes and it flew off, but then flew right on top of my head. Since I'm a tall, broad shoulder fella, I could've imagine that in comparison with a frail little humming bird I must've looked like a gentle giant. Never had a humming bird actually land and let me hold it before.
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I had something similar happen to me a couple of years ago. My desk at work is near the window as well as close to the lobby. I heard a thump on the window and went outside to see what had hit it. Found a hummingbird lying on the ground. I picked him up and held him in my hand for a couple of minutes. Then he opened his eyes and perched on my finger for a couple of more minutes while his "reset" button cycled. All of a sudden he realized where he was and zoomed up into a tree. I have to admit that holding a hummingbird in my hand is one of my keeper memories.
 
I've never had the experience of holding a Hummingbird in my hand. I do have one great Hummingbird memory though. A few years ago my wife and I took a ride up to the top of Sandia Crest, in the Sandia Mountains (elevation 10,678 feet) outside of Albuquerque, NM. They had some Hummingbird feeders set up on a terrace overlooking the city. There were hundreds of Hummingbirds and they weren't shy. They'd fly right up near you, almost to the point that you thought they might strike. Quite an experience. Alfred Hitchcock would have loved it.
 
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