I played golf last weekend with my erstwhile Golf Buddy [at right], at the Theodore Wirth Par 3 course. It was a beautiful day, although warm, and I was pleased to discover that my already negligible club skills haven't decayed as far as I'd feared, despite a year's disuse. That being said, I was still able to unleash my signature move, which involves the ball, being struck, proceeding along a vector roughly ninety degrees contrary from that which was intended. This strategy was first employed, by the author, while playing at the related sport of Disc Golf, during the 2004 season. This historic, and still unrivaled hurl was enhanced by a rigorous headwind, and the transmitted projectile came to rest in a position decidedly more distant from the target basket than its point of release.

Of late, my abiding musical interests lie to the East, though only as far as the Middle East, contrary to Special Agent Dale Cooper's Tibet or Dr. Jacoby's Hawaii. I heard Istanbul 1925, a compilation from the Traditional Crossroads label, which provides an "intriguing snapshot into a culture being dragged into the 20th century, even as the call of the past remained strong" (Chris Nickson, eMusic). Even more intriguing, however, I've found Udi Hrant Kenkulian, a blind Armenian oud player (oudist?), Mysteries of Turkey from Talip Ozkan, Solos And Melodies from The Andelus Ensemble (Syria), Apricots from Eden from Djivan Gasparyan (Armenia), and the masterful Scattering Stars Like Dust from Kayhan Kalhor (Iran).

Based partially on this newfound interest in that somewhat troubled part of the world, I've decided that my next tobacco pipe will be a meerschaum. I would imagine that the white mineral is the most common and popular pipe material, behind, of course, briar, and its primary source is the Turkish plains around Eskişehir. Meerschaum is an excellent material for pipemaking because it provides for a smooth and cool smoke, and is so delicate (although fragile) that it can be carved into immensely complex designs. Due to its porosity, during their lifetime meerschaum pipes will color, slowly turning from bone-white into a golden yellow, and eventually into a rich light-brown. I intend to first scout out my lovely local tobacconist to see what they've got available; otherwise, I've got my eye on the attractive specimen pictured here.