Welcome to CS and nice intro. Start doing some trades with some of the guys to get you comfortable with what you're smoking. And by your hobbies/interests it seems that you might want to try some new smokes - Torano Exodos 1959, RP Vintage 1990/1992, Fuente Hemingway, Padron Anniversario series, etc.

As for beads - they're the only way to go. http://www.heartfeltindustries.com/Home.htm