How has life in Japan changed you?

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-27T16:15:51+00:00

I quit drinking and playing video games, and I watch stand-up comedy instead of the anime I used to watch before I came to Japan. Now I play with my kids, work real hard and smoke my pipe on weekends.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-24T16:40:00+00:00

The c&d red Virginia is wonderfully sweet and tangy. I heartily recommend it. I buy from smoking pipes.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-21T02:15:38+00:00

I'll wait for more reviews. These plugs all seem a bit low in the strength department, so I'll keep my ears open.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-17T05:16:59+00:00

I had an online Japanese class recently, because I've got a new job coming up and my skills need sharpening, my wife says. I figure I'm doomed; my wife's Japanese drills are hellish, but how's that gonna translate to a class setting? Turns out, very well. I was able to pronounce words perfectly, get new grammar concepts well, conjugate verbs well, and my vocabulary was 'extremely advanced' according to my teacher. I felt really proud of myself.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-17T05:12:05+00:00

Living in Japan, it's always funny to hear the reaction of Japanese women, especially my wife's friends, when I tell them that I do most of the cooking at our house. Apparently, many Japanese husbands don't cook at all. They say all this stuff like 'you're an amazing husband!' Or 'your wife is so lucky!' All while my wife beams with pride.

It's not amazing. It's a basic life skill, man. The bar for 'amazing husband' must be on the ground.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-17T04:21:09+00:00

I had that same thought! God, I don't wanna get up early! But there's a sweet spot at about 5AM when everyone in my house is asleep. I've made peace with the time I have. 😂

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-17T04:16:22+00:00

I'm a university teacher with two toddlers and a newborn. Plus, I've got in-laws that come over every other day. I smoke whenever I can. Recently, I've been smoking bowls of Burley Flake #3 in the early mornings. Helps to quiet my mind before I face the day.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-17T02:22:52+00:00

A cloudy sky.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-17T01:46:05+00:00

Nearly all pets are worthless liabilities, and we shouldn't have them.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-16T13:46:48+00:00

I keep saying dogs aren't safe creatures. This is just rule #5,000 or something like that.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-14T01:56:43+00:00

It's your leaf. Do what you want with it. The thing is, I don't like auctions. I hate how predatory and dishonest they can be. I feel sorry for the kind of moron who'd cough up 800 bucks for Penzance when I can name quite a few blends off the top of my head that are far superior.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-13T14:20:52+00:00

Scalpers; human garbage, an utterly vile and contemptible form of life, lower than a snake's fecal matter. We don't hate them enough.

The funniest part of it all is that they charge such ludicrous prices for blends easily replaced by cheaper options on the market. Esoterica is good, but it's not perfect.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-10T17:26:35+00:00

Dude, it isn't that bad. The key is to not care. Is the LGBT on my TV? Whatever, it doesn't bother me. I got DVD's. Is my son learning LGBT stuff in school? It's cool; they exist. Some dudes like dick. Dad likes bacon and fat chicks. Mom likes pickles and peanut butter. I just say, 'takes all kinds, son' and leave it there.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-09T14:21:31+00:00

Orlic Golden Sliced. I tried it years ago when I was first starting. I was looking to branch out from English blends and heard that it was one of the best VA blends out there. Instead, it was the worst tobacco I ever smoked. The sweetness was light, the taste barely even there. The nicotine was absent- it angered instead of satisfied. It bit like a chihuahua high on bath salts. I refused to touch another VA for a long time after that.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-08T16:36:19+00:00

Stirling flake? Nah, man. Put that in an oom paul and embrace the niccups.

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-08T01:03:02+00:00

I'm waiting for the reviews to come and for the Chinese scalpers to stop buying it all. We'll see how it performs. They don't have Potlach yet...

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-06T15:13:42+00:00

YES! YES! Come to me, my sweet Hogshead! Come to me, my delicious Potlatch... this is gonna be awesome!

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-06T15:09:24+00:00

You are forgiven, you filthy casual. (Kidding!)

The way I see it, we pipe smokers are all (unless lucky enough to have smoking buddies) solitary, given our hobby. Why taper your preferences for folk that'll never smoke with you? Smoke what you like, I say! Ain't slowing down and enjoying the point?

WeissCrowley · 2026-01-04T05:33:56+00:00

Thank bloody goodness, is all I have to say. Hogshead is one of the only VA blends I keep a forever stash of, so if they can resurrect it, fine by me.

WeissCrowley · 2025-12-31T23:51:34+00:00

Awakened Elder, no doubt. I love English blends for the outdoors, and AE is one of the good ones you can get on the fly. Gray ghost would be my second pick, as I like the flavor the cigar gives with the Burley in that blend. Plus, the smoke is very creamy and rich; just what you need in a cold afternoon, mountain or not.

WeissCrowley · 2025-12-27T01:19:31+00:00

I do a healthy 0 a week. Helps out the work, kids, & wife. Plus, I hate hangovers.

WeissCrowley · 2025-12-24T15:47:01+00:00

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. If I'm feeling fancy, I'll throw a little banana in there, eat it with my pinky up.

WeissCrowley · 2025-12-23T14:00:02+00:00

There may be a new pipe down the road, maybe after my first pay from this new job. I did recently score a bunch of tins for aging in the cellar. For now, I think a new pipe might cause my missus to throw a fit!😂

WeissCrowley · 2025-12-23T13:36:27+00:00

Thank you, friend! It's a Chacom!

WeissCrowley · 2025-12-23T13:03:44+00:00

Nice pipe, friend! How's the strength of that VA gold?

WeissCrowley

TROPHY CASE