Sunday Morning Smoke

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Good morning , it is Sunday 13 March 2011 a cold wet morning here in da Burgh , the week has been a real mess here & for that matter all over the world, , we had a lot of snow , rain & cold temps but nothing like the trouble in Japan or the coast areas of the Pacific that were flooded from the tidial wave after the earthquake , I think I can put up with a bit of cold & some MINOR flooding of a few local streams & rivers , so my yard looks like a bit of a swamp, BUT I can still see the grass, its not like it is under 12 feet of water...... One of the guys who hangs out at the shop has a daughter & son in law teaching in Sundahi Japan , he has gotten a text via satelight phone saying thay were all right, but no shelter ,no food, no water.... the rescue mission is underway .... kind of makes our little problems go away for a time..........
We had a spirits tasting last Friday night at the shop , I picked out 2 scotches that I thought were @ $ $ kicking good a 9 YO Caol Ila & a 10 YO Laphroaig....... both smoky peaty & just wonderfull to sip,,, The guys at Murry McDavid did a fine job of selection the right spirit & matching it to the right wood for a grand finish.... I plan on having a weeee dram some time this after noon, come join me if you can ...... I got really ambitious this morning & made a Spinich & Feta cheese Quiche for breakfast, dammmm I outdid my self the crust just came together like magic the eyeball method is still working well, or I just got LUCKY as all get out ... a dab of horseraddish & we were all set for a great breakfast... the coffee was kona with a backup pot of Indian malabar ... I have a tanzanian peaberry ready to brew with the morning cigar when I get this posted , I will be turning on the heat in the Qtr.Deck soon & will be getting the boss'es Hunk O Beef in the oven soon.. Last night I was toying with the idea of grilling a few steaks today But with a High of 40F & winds out of the NW at 15 to 20 MPH I am glad I got out the roast to defrost ......... should be ready about 4 PM & I should be well lubercated by then ... that Laphroaig is calling to me NOW ....... The grandsons were quiet all week I saw them last Monday & havent had a chance to talk to them much this past week, "THEY ARE BUSY" ...... I guess its not cool to be seen out with your granfather .... hahahaha I dont have many memories of having fun with my dads dad but a lot of time was spent helping out in the garden & the garage .... shooting pool & getting my ass kicked at the German club by this "Old man" do stand out ... but with my moms dad its a lot different, Fishing , running the dogs & spening time at the Local Moose club...... one thing for sure Both Grandfathers like there Beer ..... a LOT , I do remember having a few beers with both of them, so far I havent had a beer with my grandsons they dont like it .... dammm I wonder if we got the wrong kids at the hospital hahahaha .
last night my brother & his son stopped at the cigar shop for a smoke & a coffee , a wee dram of Baileys found its way into the coffee ....... BUT I like mine on the side ... I dont like to mess up the great coffee by adding flavors to it or mess up a great drink by thinning it out with coffee........ I guess I am a purest... tasting what the makers made & not adding to it , sure some thing work fine together like chocolate & peanut butter but I havent found much of anything that makes the GREAT WHISKYS taste Better other than a weeee drop of water sometimes ..... NO ICE, NO SODA, a fine Bacarat snifter , a comfortable chair, a grand cup of coffee , smoooooooth jazz , NO phone, No nagging from the wife, No questions to make you think all that hard & a FINE OLD CONTRABAND stoggie to savor & reflect on ........... lets face it LIFE IS what you make out of it ....
ENJOY, Vince
 
Checking in live from Hendersonville, North Carolina, whilst I listen to Bob Grant, who will be 82 tomorrow, on the internet, via WABC's web site. What a life, what a rich life we have, so many tools, just depends how you use them. The news from the Burgh is always rich, because Vince is a man whose life has been rich, and is still that way. You can get more enjoyment and education, especially the culinary kind, out of one of Vince's posts, than you can out of spending time on many other pursuits.

As for me, I'm visiting my mom and her husband, checking in on them eight months after that terrible car accident last July 5th. She's doing remarkably well, getting up and downstairs in their two story townhouse condo without the lift. She's only been able to do that for the past 5-6 weeks or so, and has astounded the medical professionals who have treated and watched over her recovery.

Landed at the Asheville airport on Thursday after taking off in a driving rain. We were able to fly above the storm most of the way, and only experienced a really rough patch of about five minutes one hour in to the flight. Small town living here, spread out communities, cheerful friendly people, and along with my three recent trips to Puerto Rico, a refreshing culture shock from being stuck in NYC all the time. I'll be here a few more days, then head back to NYC for a few weeks, before heading off to Puerto Rico again.

What a tragedy in Japan. What else can I say, except to wish The Lord's blessings, mercy and strength for the survivors in their clean up work, and efforts to move on with their lives. I keep checking in with a friend back in Queens, who has a close friend in Japan, who at last report, was okay, along with her family. But that was before the news of the past couple days, about the reactor problems.

And with the burgeoning prospect of no NFL come this September, rising food and gas prices, the meltdown in the Middle East, can you see it yet? Can you see the gloom and doom? I hate to be a harbinger of bad tidings, but I've been getting it right for nearly 34 years, and . . .

I hate it. Who wants to wake up every day and see a nation rapidly turning to slavery and a world falling apart? This isn't fun, and it's not enriching in any way. So, we must look for the bright spots, in a world where the lights are rapidly going out. And one of the brightest spots for me is coming here on Sundays and reading what Vince has to say. Thank God for the brights spots, and God bless you all. May we all come through these days in to that glorious world tomorrow that Herbert W. Armstrong did his best to tell us about, when Jesus comes again. And for those of you who don't believe, that's fine with me, but you'd better hope SOMEONE, or SOMETHING puts a stop to this mess, and in the meantime, . . .

come here on Sundays, and do your best to try and support this web site as a whole, because it is truly a bright spot in an ever darkening world.
 
Good morning , it is Sunday 20 March 2011, a bright chilly morning here in da Burgh the temp is right at freezing 32F but the sun is out & the clouds are few & far between, I will be heading out to the Qtr.deck to turn on the heat for later today ..... I have a few cigars that customers gave me this past week so I have a private tasting of a few unbanded cigars I am to review for them,,,, I wonder what they are setting me up to do? a quick look & sniff , I didnt detect any "Flavored Cigars" all have a firm body & give ever so slightly to a mild pinch the wrapper colors varry from a light mustard brown to a dark as coal tree trunk of a cigar the 4 cigars range from a 45 x 5.5 to the darkest 54 x 6 ...... I am looking fwd. for this blind tasting , I will report back to let you know what I find out ...... for now I have the Sunday morning Kona ready to drink & my Buddy Don Carlos #3 ready to clip , but should I wait for the DC? or jump right on it , I want to give the blind tasting a fair run , but I hope that I will not foul my taste buds with the #3 .... I know what the DC3 tasted like so I might just pass on it this morning & dig right in with the tasting.... BUT then again I do know what I will be missing & that might cloud my judgement .... Hummmm maybe just smoke half of it & save the best part for later ..... No I think I will smoke it all just like any other Sunday, have the Kona & then later start in on the blind tasting,,,, why change my Sunday morning smoke for a taste test ,,, it will be a sunday afternoon blind taste test .
With everything hitting the fan in Japan , Quadaffi stiring up stuff in Tripoli , the worlds econemy in shambles its a wonder there is any retail trade at all, this past week was the pits as far as sales go , I sat looking at the TV all week with a few regulars & dammmm the news is down right frightfull, doom & dispare on every station we watched ..... so to slolve the problem we switched to the cartoon network & watched the road runner & bugs bunny ,,, I never noticed how violent the cartoons were .... maybe I am just getting OLD hahahahaha
I have a nice set of Porterhouse prime cuts in a light marinade that will be hitting the grill about 4PM today , a few yams on the grill & a bit of a tossed greens & that will be it , OH yea all most forgot a bit of Mellon wrapped with a thin slice of Parma ham ,,,,, should I pull the cork on a nice bottle of red wine or just pop the top on a Gueniess ? .... BOTH hahahaha
Breakfast was a nice link of sausage with a dash of chipolte pepper & an egg with a slice of toast that was as hard as a rock..... dry , no butter , but it soaked up the yoke like a sponge,,,, it was tasty for sure. But for some strange reason I have been craving a hot oat cake or muffin for a few days ,,, maybe i will make some thing later today to curb my cravings ,,, strange for me to crave carbs , maybe I have been hitting the malted barly a bit much ........ well no more than usuall ,,, but I did have a weee dram of Rye whiskey last week....... it was smooth & had a nice spice to it BUT it lacked the smoke of a fine Islay whisky ,,,, with the spring just arround the bend & the winter behind us I was getting ready to move my taste buds from Islay to the Lowlands for a change of pace for the summer , looking Fwd. To the light heathers & soft flavors , BUT I have a few open bottles of Caol Ila & Laphroaig that I need to finish before opening anything else ... looks like I have a lot of work to do in the Qtr.Deck later on today .... a blind cigar tasting , a few drams of single malt to finish & a lot of coffee to drink. looks like I have a full day of work cut out for my self as well as cooking the yams & porterhouse ..... dammmm I better get off of the computer & get to "W O R K " hahahaha . Enjoy, Vince
 
The news from The Burgh is cigars, food, coffee, TV, heyyyy, some of my favorite things!!!

Back from North Carolina, very encouraged by my mother's level of activity/mobility, but other aspects of her health bear close watching. They live in absolutely beautiful surroundings, a wonderful community, and with every type of restaurant, convenience and medical facility close by. The airport is pretty close to their place too, so they don't have to drive too far for anything. I got to see a few very scenic places, went to Jump Off Rock, visited the local model railroad club, went inside a vintage caboose, and ate some great Thai food in Hendersonville and went to a great Indian restaurant in Asheville.

They will need me to look in on them every six months or so, and perhaps start helping them a bit around the house. Since they live in a townhouse condo, there is no outdoor work to do, but they may need some looking in on, as well as some help from this point on. They are very independent, and I'm glad they are able to do so much, but my mother's having trouble gaining weight, is very thin, and only just started walking around recently. Of all the kids the two of them have between them, I think I'm the only one with the life situation and mobility to handle that right now.

And then I come back to more bad news, from two of my best friends, one is an ongoing saga of getting hit from all sides of life, including health and mobility, and another is the story of a couple where the wife had a stroke two years ago. She's coming home, but not very mobile, and the husband has finally had enough, after 30 years on the force, with his body and wife's condition at home telling him it's time to retire. More folks who need help, and some of God's mercy.

I may have a cigar today. The weather's beautiful, I'll be doing chores around the neighborhood, and I could just plain use one. I have a few I've had for many years, and I think it's time to start thinking about maybe getting back in to it again, before they lose all their flavor. There are others that came in more recently, and need more age. I could use the break from the madness, and a cigar can do that, if just for that period while I'm smoking it.

God bless America, God bless the staff, members and family of the Make Ready forums. And please remember to make ready in your own lives, because this is 1941, believe it.
 
Just took my first sip of a two shot glass of Jefferson's Select 18 year old bourbon, and lit a very large Flor De Jalapa, at least 8", and ring about 50, maybe more. It's a lazy Sunday afternoon, in what's left of "this once great republic." As usual, the Bob Grant show was great, only two hours left of him these days, look him up on the net. God bless America, we need it. I need this cigar.
 
that Flor de Japala is an 8.5 x 52 , it used to be my go to cigar untill they priced them selves out of site , Glad to hear your Mother is getting well. but Bourbon come on that cigar crys out from an Islay scotch hahahaha
 
Good morning , it is Sunday the 27th day of March 2011 , a Bright clear sunny but COLD day here in da Burgh , not a cloud in the sky but it is 32F & down right confusing when you look out & see the blue cloudless sky & the birds jumping arround at the feeder, & you see the water is solid & not liquid.... I got a chance to sleep in this morning ,it was after 9 when I woke up , my daughter called on the phone & the dammm thing woke me, I was having a great dream that ended all so abruptly ,dammm I wonder will I ever get to finish that dream...... trapped with a bunch of HOT babes , a well stocked walk in humidor & a wharehouse of single malts , a stocked Gourmey kitchen& endless solor power to pump the water & keep the pool & sauna warm , oh did I mention a few of the hot babes were trained massage therephists ,,,, happy endings were the norm..... dammm I want to go take a nap & see how this dream turns out hahahaha
It was a VERRY slow week at the shop, I hope things pick up soon or I will be looking for a new job ....... BUT Friday was a winner , sold 2 humidors & a lot of cigars , it didnt make any records for sales but after that week it was a GOD SEND... Friday night was wall to wall & when I left at 10:45 the place was still packed ... last man out lock the door & I will see you all in the morning !!!!
The Sunday tradition of a slab of beef is in the oven I added a few bell peppers to the mix today I hope the boss likes it .... should be ready about 4 PM so if your in the area stop in & join us , & I have a young Zinfendell that I will be opening about 3:30 ....... but with a belly full of single malt & coffee it could be any JUG or BOX wine .... By that time I just will not care one way or the other hahahah
Breakfast was a bacon ,egg & swiss cheese sandwich on a grilled deli bread round, the dough was loaded with honey & whole grains ..... lots of FIBER & at my age I need all I can get ......
I havent seen the grandsons since last Monday & I will be taking them to thier music lessons again this Monday , it gives me a few minutes to talk to them with out there mother hearing what they have to say about her ......& what a control freek & pain in the @ $ $ she is , JUST LIKE HER MOTHER & she will sware she is nothing like her mother ,,, hahahahaha

with all the free time I have been having at work I have been digging deep in the humidor & pulling out a lot of OLD cigars , I came up with an Opus X from 2001 & a 3 pack of Davidoff Dbl.R , both taged from May of 2001 , i wonder how I let them sit so long, will the Opus is now ashes & so is ONE of the Dbl.R's , The Davidoff was a BIG disapointment ,,,, just bland & so mild it was almost like a Macanudo .... BUT the opus had mellowed out to a fine smoke & I got the better part of an hour out of the little Power house , the Laugavulin was a great match for it BUT it overpowered the Davidoff, which was a First cigar of the day as I wanted a fresh palate & a chance to get all the taste & flavor of the cigar.... it could have been a a winner but it came out so mild & bland , I was so disapointed & will try it again some afternoon with a lighter scotch & a lighter coffee& some light jazz VS. the heavy scotch & full body coffee & Abstract Jazz I had on , I just didnt care all that much for the music so it might have put my taste buds on hold ,,, it was a CD that I got in the discount rack for a BUCK , no wonder it was so cheep ..... never heard of any of the players or songs, the mix was poor at best & recorded live didnt help you hear conversations in the background & the dropping of a tray of glasses & a cheer for the busboy ..., that all took away from the cigar so I will try it again ,,,,,,,,,,,,,maybe today , maybe NOT.
I am still looking for a replacement for my long gone SABLE , I have been driving the wifes car but dammmm I miss my car, a great friend for 11 years almost like a family pet but just as much work & expence , No doctors or vets just a machanic ..... whitch can be just as Costly as a Doctor !!, But when I had to put it to sleep I got 300 Bucks for it .......... but I still want it back.... almost 200K miles & all the dings & scratches & Burn holes but it was ME on wheels .....
I have the Sunday Kona being brewed & the Don Carlos #3 ready to cut , the heat is on in the QtrDeck & when I get my pants & shoes on I will be heading out for the Sunday Morning Smoke ... Enjoy, Vince
 
Good morning, ewe awl. What's all this I hear about 32 degrees being cold? Someone around here, not mentioning any names, is getting soft in his old age.

Speaking of old age, I'm 54 and watching people my age dropping like flies all around me, getting old, decrepit and severely infirmed. Hey, hold off until your 70's, okay? No? Okay.

I'll be heading off to Puerto Rico real soon, probably for another funeral, as my 93 year old aunt has just about had it, I believe. In addition to being in a coma, I now hear there's a feeding tube. This is terrible on the one hand, because a major figurehead in the family will be gone. On the other hand, she's 93 and no one wants to see prolonged suffering. I'll have a lot to do helping her daughter out, one of my very favorite cousins from this very large Puerto Rican small town/farm family that my father came from. They live in the town below the farm, so I'll be close by and quite willing to help. It will help me as I begin in earnest my transition to living in Puerto Rico for a few months a year starting now, and eventually retiring down there almost full time.

We have had some beautiful days here lately, clear, blue skies, peaceful for an urban neighborhood, lots of sunshine streaming through the windows, helping to keep electric bills down. I've smoked a few cigars in the past couple weeks, finally, and enjoyed them all. I'm currently enjoying my first FREEDOM PRESS pot of Peet's Major Dickason's blend today. Yes, I think we need to get back to saying Freedom Fries and Freedom Press, stuff like that. I don't see true freedom anywhere else, and I'm seeing less and less of it here. The backwoods of Puerto Rico are sounding better every day. Like my father said, "the land feeds you." Yeah, until I get to be 70, and the government comes and takes it from me, just when I need it most. HAWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Oh well, enjoy it now, because tomorrow The Tax Man Cometh. And a few other "czars," all appointed to run your life. Vince picked a bad time to need a new car. The only thing he'll be able to get in a couple more weeks is a horse. Hey, people ride horses on highways in Puerto Rico. VINCE, COME LIVE WITH ME DOWN ON THE FARM!!!

I'll work the fields, you do the cooking, we can even grow our own tobacco, grab us a coupla those fine Puerto Rican women in town and live up on the hill. My NRA membership is paid up until 2018, but they still keep asking for more, haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
 
Bloofington said:
Good morning, ewe awl. What's all this I hear about 32 degrees being cold? Someone around here, not mentioning any names, is getting soft in his old age.!
Click to expand...
according to my wife I have been soft for years
 
Good morning , it is Sunday , 3 APRIL,2011 , a cool morning here in da Burgh , gray/blue skys & the temp is in the upper 40 's F & the ground is soft & spongy from all the rain & snow , but the flowers are starting to sprout & bloom, & the robins are busy building nests , & I have noticed I have a Mole problem again this spring, last year they were just near the fence line between me & the Big Angus Bull aptly named by a friend as Angus McStud , well even though ole angus is gone to the stud farm in the sky ,I still call the field HIS & his alone as a lot of his off spring are roaming around all over the world & in some fine dining halls have graced the plates of a few great & not so great people .... including my self ....... never pass up a few pieces of beef from the guy next door when he raised it himself....... well I was trying to tell you about the moles & got side tracted by the beef..... , back to the dammmm moles, ,,,, they were just along the fence line & I got some mole pellets & dropped them in the holes & that was that, well now they have moved closer to the house & on the other side of the house I see holes, looks like I will need to call in a pro,,,,any one have the number of Carl from Caddy shack? hahahaha , yea I know his speciality was gophers, but how much different would the moles be?
I slept in BIG time today ,it was after 11 AM when my feet hit the floor, & I usually have this posted by noon hence the title Sunday MORNING Smoke , but right now I am still in my robe & havent had a shower yet, havent got Sunday supper in the oven yet , havent had time to make the Sunday morning Kona , I had Moca Java with tofu & bananas for breakfast BUT I will be making a pot of kona soon & heading out to the Qtr.DECK with my Don Carlos #3 , Barb went out & turned on the heat & it was 48 F ,,, Not to bad , should be 60/65 by the time I get a shower & get dressed, pour the coffee & bingo it will be time to relax , * GOD knows I need that time to decompress after a tuff week at the shop , hahahaha ....
Todays menu is a bit different than the traditional hunk of beef, ... I have a nice set of center cut pork chops , that will be braised in a bit of stock & salsa , a few sliced peppers & some rice will round out this one pot meal , a bottle of wine , some crusty bread & we are set...... I have a few fine old cigars picked out for today , if I ever get to them that is ... I have this OLD pre-embargo Monte corona from 1960 ,,, it is showing a slight crack in the foot , I guess from getting bounced arround in the humi, well I think today is the day for it to become a pile of ash , BUT I just might wait till the weather breaks & I can sit out in the sun on a nice warm WINDLESS afternoon & enjoy it with a great single malt, or even a grand fine brandy or Rum..... maybe just great coffee & just maybe all of them in different snifters of course..... who knows I might change my mind & have a glass of beer with it hahahahahaha I do have a few Saint Pauly Girl Dark in the chill chest ....... been a long time since I had a scotch & a beer with a cigar ........ but its not warm enough for a beer today so I guess I will wait till its time & let my taste buds direct me as they have most of my life ....
The Grandsons are holding there own in the sea of life .Puberty is tuff on all of us, as is old age , but both are part of life . I suffered through my puberty as well as my parents ....... from the beginning of time, parents & teen agers have been at odds, one of the Greek philosphers , Aristotle or maybe ,,,, dammm I cant remeber his name , haveing a brain fart or maybe just old age creeping in , well any way in some ones writings they talk of how crass & impudent they teenagers are , defing there parents & acting like "teenagers" so I guess the cave men had the same problems as we do today.... the more things change the more they end up the same ..........
last night there was an accident at the cross roads a few hundred feet from my home, there had to have been 5 fire trucks & 10 or more cars & trucks with flashing lights to remove a few people from a head on crash , it didnt make this mornings paper so I have no idea what, who or how it happened, all I know is it had the road blocked for a few hours , if it had been a bit warmer I might have walked down to get a closer look, ,,,, Why I have no idea , I was able to see all the flashing lights from my back deck, why would anyone want to get closer & block the emergency workers & just create a human wall of on lookers....... Human nature I guess .... the more you study it the less you know hahahaha ......... I guess thats about it this day I have a lot to do, a few cigars to think about if not actually smoking them, coffee to brew & chops to cook..... I might even work in a nap hahahaha Enjoy, Vince
 
The Bible, Vince, the Bible is literally littered with quotes about parents, children, husbands, wives, etc., especially in Proverbs. The Prophets have much to say about relationships and what will happen to them in these times, the end of the age, as well.
 
Good morning , it is a wonderful morning here in da Burgh all ready it is 54F the sky is a gray blue & the tempature is going to the High 70's maybe hit 80 !!! , looks like I can pass on the heat in the Qtr.Deck today , in fact I might just drag out a few chairs & park on the back deck today , or in the yard & watch the birds at the feeder, , as the lawn shows signs of getting green & needing trimmed, dammmmm I hate that , not that I will cut the grass butI hate to listen to the wife telling me how tuff the yard is to cut anymore hahahaha, , I guess its time to move from this rural bliss & move back to the city & get an appartment ........ dammm that sounds so bad, after 35 plus years here , I enjoy the quiet, the wildlife, & the space to relax with a cigar & no one telling me the smoke is in violation to the local smoking ban .... (Note to self make sure you DONT move into the City of Pittsburgh or Alleghney County ) as the pleasure police have laws to enforce.... even the Pirate baseball statium, one of the last bastions of male freedom has removed the Montecristo lounge & made the ball park NON SMOKING.... dammmmm S.O.B.'s , even one of my favorite watering holes has removed all the ashtrys , & with over 100 Single malt scotches behind the bar........ I will not be darkening the doorway for a long time ......well untill the sting of the smoking ban goes away or they get a few new malts I havent tasted yet..... dammmm politial BASTARDS .... nanny state here we come ........" Land of the free " up to a point when some elected Jackass thinks he or she can pass a law to make life better for "We the people"& line there own pockets from the tax money ...... we need Statesmen NOT politions ,,, as Jefferson said the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of pataroits & tyrants from time to time .... or some thing like that , right now I am just to lazy to do the proper research but you get the idea anyway I hope .... , Not only is the Federal government spending our grandchildrens money but the state & local governments are also in trouble with Finances...... what ever happened to the citizen who served for a few years & then went back to his farm or business? , now they are elected or appointed for all eternity , with pentions going to the family & tax payer funded health care.... right now I pay almost 600 bucks a month for health care for myself & the wife together, but I still have $1800.00 a year out of pocket expences for each of us before the dammm insurence pays,,,, BUT the JACKOFFS in Washington pay ZERO for the health care ...... almost makes me want to go back in the Navy ........... but I am way to old to do that again. , I like sleeping in , I like doing what I want , I like taking a day off when I feel like it ....... I guess thats why I retired......... ahhh yes the freedom of retirement..... YES DEAR I will be right there .... dammmm caught again hahahaha ....... dammm Bug in the bathroom light .... maybe going back to the navy isnt so bad hahahahah
well the Cigar line up is a fantastic dip into the old storage humidor ,,, first up is the traditional Don Carlos #3 with the kona , Then a Contraband Partagas series D #4 with more kona & a wee dram of Macallen 18 , by then it should be time to drop a nice set of T bones on the grill along with a few Yams seasoned with fresh grated nutmeg & cinninimon ... after that a bit of strawberrys & cream maybe a glass of port & an Opus X or a nice Padron anniv . I love the 64 Princeappe maduro .... But I do have a Room 101 by Camacho that might blend well with a snifter of scotch....... ( AND what dosent blend well with a snifter of 18 Y.O. scotch ? )
Havent seen the grandsons since last monday they have been BUSY all week, there was a fire in a house that my daughter & son in law rent out , it had 2 appartments , everyone got out ok but for one dog who was 17 years old & the excitement was just to much for the old guy ... the building is a total loss But they did have coverage for fire loss & damage... but the house was OLD & historic, as a land mark building in town...... now its gone & the rent money is lost so the life style of my daughters family will change a bit with out that extra income ,,,, Invest the settlement & collect the proceeds from that But dammmmm Nothing is paying any amount of return ..... so I tell her just keep working hahahaha I still am
well thats your little insite into my life this past week, the middle east & things in nothern Africia , & Japan are all making the news, as well as the good old boys in Washington DC , No matter what way you turn there is some one ready to shove it up your @ $ $ weather you want it or NOT .
Enjoy, Vince
 
Good morning , it is Sunday 17 April 2010, my fathers Birthday, he would have been 92... Happy Birthday DAD .... wish I could have a scotch & cigar with you one more time !
well its WET & Cool here in da Burgh ..... rain in the forcast all week, & the roof has a leak at the shop, I have 4 coffee cans in the bathroom, 2 in the hall & 3 in the humidor, lucky that its in the center of the room & not near any of the cigars , & all the pipe tobacco in tubs had to be moved off of the floor , not that it would hurt anything in the plastic tubs & the snap top lids will keep it dry, BUT the poor house keeping isnt a good image for the shop..... , I want the customers to say I am an old fart with a nice shop, not a nice guy with a dirty shop....... & I hope I can live up to that , EVERYONE is treated with an equal amount of contempt ..... Just ask any of my regulars hahahaha My wife went out & turned on the heat in the QtrDeck for me, I wonder if she is telling me to get out of the house ??? hahahaha
She has even boiled some water for the press pot of Sunday morning kona to go with the Sunday morning cigar ,,,, right now I have a mug of Margoheppi done in a Medium/ Light roast, nice flavor & body but not BOLD enough for me , the kona is a light rost , I want to taste the coffee not be over powered by the roast.... but a pot of Italian roast is on todays dinner menu , the traditional but boring hunk of beef that is my wifes favorite, ....... what she wants she gets , as her being unhappy is BAD for me & the rest of the world ......... Good thing she wasnt in Japan, it could have been worse !!!!
I am picking up a used car this comming Thursday , I found a 2002 Mercuty sable , almost identical to the last one i had, with out the sunroof dammmmm I hated to spend the money on it with out the roof BUT it only has 33,000 miles on it , there is a small scuff on the rear qtr.panel , it matched the paint on the garage door , , I guess a little to much Guiness when he was putting it in the garage , there are a few burn holes in the seat, BUT that means I have a head start on smelling up the car , I dont know it I will get a hole cut in the roof or just live with it the way it is , one thing for sure is a remote starter ... for a hundred bucks you cant beat it , cheepest garage I have ever had, set the heater or A/C the night before , & hit the button in the morning , when you go out the car is warm or cool what ever you want , beats scraping ice off of the windshield......
Not a lot going on here in da burgh , every one is getting ready for Easter & Passover , I dont have any idea what they need to do to get ready for anything, it just happens , you get the easter ham or lamb & get out the good dishes ( there is some thing I have never understood,,, Good dishes vs Dishes , a plate is a plate a bowl is a bowl..... if it holds the soup its a wonderfull bowl or cup, NO we need fine bone china to set the table, we need the real silver ware , not the stainless steel we use everyday or the stone ware plates ..... dammmm all the money spent on the "FINE " stuff, & we never use it unless company is here or its a holiday, BS use the silver every day, use the China & chrystal .... thats what it is for.... USE it !
When I have coffee ( witch is 99% of my awaking hours) I drink out of a mug , but when I have a snifter of scotch I have it in a Irish brandy snifter , when I have the occasional pot of tea it is in the Wedgewood pot & cups , I dont wait for company or a holiday to get out the good stuff, I use it daily , why keep it on display for all the world to see & never take it out of the case, if you were married to a sexy beautiful lady , you sure as hell wouldnt be just looking at her , dammmmm I think I am getting a little arroused just thinking about it ........ all for not , she is just to busy with the Sunday paper to stop mid paragraph , hahahahaha , yea like even if she was finished with the paper there would be some thing she had to do that would take her time .... after 40+ years I guess you cant teach an old dog new tricks hahahaha ....... its about time for me to head out & fire up a cigar, & pull the cork on a 200 ml Aberfeldy & sip a wee bit of kona coffee & listen to some smooooooth jazz ,,,, dammmm I love my life & family & friends, right now I am feeling fine , the wife just brought me a mug of kona , the cutter, lighter & a Don Carlos #3 ..... I guess I better get out to the Qtr.Deck before she finds some thing that needs Fixed , delivered or picked up.... Enjoy, Vince
 
Good morning , it is EASTER SUNDAY , 24 April 2011 a wet but warm morning here in da Burgh , Sunrise services were wet & dark with a heavy over cast of dark clouds not much different than it is right now..... but the Easter bunny was here & left me a nice Jim Brinkman CD of witch I will be playing later today , as soon as the ham gets in the oven & the yams get mashed , I have a fair line up of cigars for today , starting off with the ever popular ( with me anyway) the Don Carlos #3 & a mug of kona , I wait for Sunday to have that combo & its worth the wait..... just a great match in my book , you might not care for it , but my taste buds say its the best...... & after I get the DC3 finished & grab a bite for lunch I think I will be heading to a Big island about 90 miles from Key west for a Partagas series D #4 ... & speaking of that , it is the FIRST cigar I smoked in my new (used ) car , I found a 2002 mercury sable, with 30K miles on it , garage kept , a family car a few burn holes in the drivers seat.... not like I will not add to the collection , but a sharp looking car almost Identical to my 2000 sable that was towed away a few months ago , BUT , NO SUNROOF, so I will be getting it cut in as soon as I have the extra cash to get it done ,,,, well I am not going to do it , I will have a Pro do it , there are a few custom body shops in the area, & I plan on looking for the best price, Might even head to the junk yards & see if I can find a good used one..... I just dont know if thats a good idea or not , I will check with a few places before I make up my mind ...... mind , what mind ? hahahaha .......
My yard is an over grown SWAMP , the grass is extra long after a long winter snowcover & wet spring, BUT it is so wet , I doubt if the mower will be able to bag any of the grass as it is so wet, mulching is out of the question , it is just way to thick , it will need cut several times before we can maulch the clippings , so right now or when ever it gets cut it will need raked up & dumped on the compost pile,,,, & the pile needs to be turned ..... not a job I enjoy.... I cant think of any job that involves hard labor that I enjoy hahahaha
I havent had much time with the grandsons this past week, last Monday I took them to there music lessons but that was the last time I saw or talked to them, as teen agers they are busy .... no time for the old farts in the daily activitys ....... & they are with there father today so I dont think I will be seeing them till Monday when its time for the music lessons again...... This will be the first week I have my new car to take them in , they havent seen it yet, the inside is the same as my last sable but the color on the outside is a light brown & not the dark green that I loved on my last one ....... maybe a paint job in its future? who knows ..... since it is all ready Brown, maybe it could get painted to look like the egg shaped cigar ..... . that would be cool to look at but an expencive option I can pass on , just think of all the cigars I can get for the cost of a custom paint job ! ! !
I have been gearing up for the upcomming cigar crawl( for more info, check out www.cigarcrawl.com ) this will be the 13th time we have braved the on going quest to get the best cigars at the lowest prices & see who can drink the most with out getting sick & all arround having a lot of fun trying to remember if we had a good time or not.... most of it is just a smoke filled hazy snippet of flash backs & drunken stupors .... I had a great time ... I think ! hahaha it is all happening in May , check out the website , a limit of 50 for the bus & we are some place in the mid 30's all ready ,,, hope you can join us ......
I have been practicing my calligraphy again, after the stroke I had a few decades back I lost the touch & had to give it up but lately I have had the pens out & trying it again..... still need a lot of time to get it done but it is getting better, not commerical quality yet ...... dammm I just realized I have typed a few Q's today , there was Dust on that key hahahaha .....
I guess that about all I have this week time for a cigar & getting ready for the rest of the day, the family is showing up later this afternoon & there is nut roll , Paska Bread & cheese cake to go with the coffee & I didnt bake anything this year .... the Church was having a fund raiser so they had a bake sale ........ Instead of me making some thing , I gave them CASH .... I am just getting LAZY in my old age , or would that be lazyier, I have cut way back on the amount of projects I get involved with anymore , I am just sliding down that rope & hope there is a Big knot at the end to help me hold on ! hahaha Enjoy, Vince
 
I couldn't get on to the Make Ready forums while in Puerto Rico for 34 days recently. It was the ONLY web site that I normally access I was unable to get on to. You name it, no matter how bad the signal my laptop with mobile broadband was getting, I could get everyone else, but not these forums. Each week Vince would e-mail me The Sunday Morning Smoke. I arrived back in NYC Thursday afternoon, and after a couple days of whirlwind activity, I am back. And I see Vince was not on last week, and has not chimed in this week. I'll have to try other methods, but will take this time to wish him well, and pray that The Lord is watching over him for good health, peace and safety in his life, and those of his loved ones.

As for me, I finally lit a cigar that someone from these very boards sent me around five, six or maybe even more years ago. It is a Flor de Oliva Gigante (10x66), and that is my Sunday Morning Smoke, along with a couple French Presses of coffee so far. I have long been afraid to smoke this one, because of its size. I was also concerned about aging all the flavor out of it. I am happy to report that it stood up well to the years, as it tastes perfect, smooth, sweet and mild, not kicking the crap out of me.

My family and I continue to wade through the quicksand of legal, financial and real estate based issues that my father left behind. It is very interesting, contacting attorneys and businesspeople that thankfully are still alive, though two of them are about to retire. Wow, just in time!!! And paperwork that my father never filed with government offices. And on and on. It is a mountain we can climb, with God's help, although as predicted when he died a year ago, it would take me about two or more to get through this. It appears that it indeed will take that long, at least another year.

But there is a blessing wrapped in the mess, and at some point in the future, I hope to be able to begin to make a life there, and perhaps post some pictures of the things that make up the blessing.

In the meantime, I sincerely hope that all is well with you all, and your loved ones, here at the Make Ready forums. I will indeed continue to see you here on these forums, and hopefully next time I'm in Puerto Rico I'll be able to access these boards!!!
 
I have news on Brother Vince, Ye Olde Navy Cooke. for the 1,315th time on 181 web sites, he is unable to log on. No doubt the password got stuck in Sunday's hunk o' beef for Barb, or something like that. I have e-mailed El Jefe about our Resident Chef's problem. Other than that, and thanks be to God Almighty, he is otherwise alive and very well.
 
Still awaiting Vince's return, folks. Guess that password is buried deeper in Barb's beef than at first thought. Or maybe it was the turkey souffle. At any rate, I'm still looking in, still posting, and still awaiting Vince's return. The authorities have also been informed about his problem.
 
Good morning , it is Sunday the 29th day of May 2011 a Humid muggy overcast day here in da Burgh I have all ready been to the store , & took the wife out for breakfast, now we have returned to do what we do best...... NOTHING .... she is reading the Sunday paper & I am ready to head out for a cigar ,,,, Imagine that ! well last weekend was the 13th wpcc ( western pa cigar crawl) BUT we did venture into eastern OHIO for a stop at Cordys cigar box ... a nice place to visit & I have been there a few times before, Nice bunch of guys & a great selection ,,,, there were donuts & other sweets along with coffee& soft drinks, & the Hooch was passed out before we all got on the Big bus & the bloody marys were passed out ON the bus , so by the time we got to cordys we were all ready in the bag....... next stop was Klafters in New Castle Pa & there I won a $10.00 gift card along with a few cigars ..... from there it was off to lunch at Lock #6 on the Ohio river , the chef had s FEAST waiting for us, Prime rib , Pasta, meat balls & sausage with onions & peppers , REAL mashed potatos with a fair brown gravy ,,,, Not a great gravy , but the spuds were fine.... then it was back on the bus for the 5 mile run to KING BEAVER CIGARS, in Monaca Pa ... the place was wall to wall & we got rid of a lot of slow moving stock, then off to Blawnoxto the smoke works for More BS & cigars ....... it was a Smooooth day up till then & when we got to Chipinios for our dinner it just seamed like the day was flying by & I was still excited & full of pep, the booze was flowing on the bus & we were all smoking ( thats right we were all smoking on the bus,,,, the bus company had a change of heart & allowed us to smoke )& enjoying the BS ... I took the seat farthest from the front door at the end of a table .... room to strech out & relax ( & it was close to the rest rooms , see there is a methoid to my madness) we all had pre ordered our meals a week ago, & every one had a different colored Dot on our name badges so the servers knew what we were eating , I had ordered the pork chop this time , & for some strange reason , I get mine still COLD to the touch ...... just a little Undercooked was the word of the day, so I ask the server to give it back to the chef & put it close to the heat again...... it came back a few minutes later warm but still rare in the center , had it been a hunk of Beef it was PERFECT , but pork ...... well I like it a little more 'Done' than rare ,, so I sent it back Again......and again it came back a few minutes later I butterflyed the double chop to check the center, Still RARE but the outside edge was chared black, a sure sign the temp was way to high & the pork was chilled or even frozen when it went on the grill..... send it back AGAIN ,,, by this time I have had the better part of a quart of Whisky over the day & was feeling NO PAIN or any inhabitions ,,, not that I ever have any inhabitions , but when I drink I get a little more conservitive as to NOT blame my actions of the whisky ... so I was verry nice with the manager & gave him a cigar , & since we were all pre paid there was "Nothing " he could do that night, so he set me up the a snifter of Peat monster he told me that they would "take care" of me the next time I come in , he gave me his card & his cell phone number & told me to call him & not the front desk to make my reservations.... Sounds good now , BUT by the time my Anniversary hits he might be working some place else or just not remember me ... hahahah fat change of that happening !!!, well after the dinner the bus ride back to the hotel was QUIET,,,, Dammm kids have no stamana , I think I was the oldest fart on the bus & was still running at top RPM at midnight , there were sleeping , BUNCH of WIMPS when we got back to the hotel most of them went to bed, but a few of us harty souls stayed up drinking smoking & filling the room with Bull $hit, at 2:30AM we all dropped our cigar buts out the window & went to bed, we gathered at a place for breakfast about 11 AM the next morning & headed south to Slippery Rock cigars for an afternoon of recovery & GOD knows I need the time ,,, BUT there was a Bottle of 16YO Laugavulin...... Just glad I was NOT driving , so I had monday to sober up, Tuesday came & I had to head to the shop, then Wendsday & Finally on Thursday I was feeling a little better,,,,, looks like I am still able to hang with the big dogs but I just need a LOT more recovery time ...... so that was my lost weekend, friday Night at Penn Ohio cigars in Sharon Pa then to Quaker state & lub for wings, Cigars, booze & BS , up Saturday the bus was wheels rolling ay 7:58 AM & we were out of the parking lot befor 8..... all ready DRUNK ,, yea baby .... well thats about all I can remember from last week, its a booze filled hazy weekend , & I think I had a great time, if you check out
http://www.cigarcrawl.com
you might be able to see some of the photos from this & past cigar crawls ...... Time for me to go turn on the A/C in the qtr.deck , its getting Hot outside... Enjoy, Vince
 
Soooo, I guess Vinny The Ohhh!!! found his password in the bratwurst, or perhaps the mac and cheese. Anyway, I'm glad to see him back on, because the world just doesn't turn for my internet pursuits if I can't come here and read The Bull from Da Burgh every week.

And all I can say after reading about yet ANOTHER Cigar Crawl is THANK GOD I never took Vince up on his invitation. I know that Ramone2 did many years ago, and we just passed his birthday yet again. I go back 11 years on the net, and one of the things that got me to start posting at Cigar Aficionado was the banter between Vince and Ramone2. Anyway, thank God I never went on the crawl. That's too much for me. Just give me a few nice people, some nice conversation, cigars, drinks, peace and quiet. What a lot of fuss, muss and it sounds to me like a lot of muck and mire. How much urine and feces has one stepped in by the time one of those crawls is over? And how do 753 drunk, old, cigar smoking guys get to go so many places without a license for public assembly? A bit too much for me, but Vince evidently can pull it off in fine fashion, and it's always a fascinating read.

Good to see you back, God bless Our Man In Freedom, and with the way things are going, he might be The Last Man Standing as far as any semblance of freedom goes, because we're losin' it folks, we're losin' it.

It's June, the sun is shining, I'm awake, it's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, God bless you all here at Make Ready, and that's exactly what you all should be doing, making ready. The hard times have only just begun.
 
Good morning , it is Sunday 5 June 2011 the day defore D Day & the start of the downfall of Hitler..... I am sure some of you read about it in your history books..... hahahah, well lets get down to business... Breakfast, ahh yes breakfast one of my favorite meals, ranks right up there with Lunch, Brunch , supper or dinner, what ever you want to call any meal I like it !
I did get off to a slow start this morning , it is Hot & humid out & I had the A/C running all night & was in the "Arms of Morphious" till well past 9 Am this moring..... but I have recovered thanks to a pot of Panama Red Coffee, NO ... NOT the world famous Pamama Red weed, grass,pot or what ever you want to call it , BUT a real deep red roasted coffee from Panama , not a bad way to start the day, but right now the press pot of kona is brewing & as soon as I am finished posting my weekly BS it will get paird with the Don Carlos #3 & the Sunday break will be in full swing...... I plan on starting out on the back deck but I am sure I will end up in the QtrDeck as the temp & humidity climb,,, I still havent solved the photo problem that a few of you have asked for , But its a simple lawn building most people keep the gardening tools lawn mower & snow shovels & such stuff in them BUT I added a a 50 amp breaker box ,R32 insolation in the walls & ceiling, added a CHEEP covering of Paneling to keep the walls looking better than the batting of R32 ,, there is a set of track lights on one of the exposed beams holding up the roof & a cheep indoor ,outdoor carpet on the floor a couch , & some chairs a CD radio combo & a phone , there is an A/C unit in one of the 6 windows as well as a baseboard heater for the Cold winter nights , the outside is covered in T-11 siding & pained a cream brown & trimmed in forest green,,,,, I will try to get some photos posted soon , or maybe later.....
I have a nice set of Rib Steaks all ready for the grill today , hanging for the past 28 days they will get trimed & grilled about 4 Pm today along with a few yams all done on the grill & a peach cobbler that will also get done on the grill, its to hot to fire up the oven in the kitchen so everything will get cooked outside today , but Breakfast a few sausage links & a couple of eggs a slice of toast & a nice slice of FRESHtomato, what could be better on a hot Humid morning here in da burgh. with last monday being Memorial day & my grandson had his piano lesson moved to tuesday I wasnt able to take him as I keep the shop open till 6 Pm on Tuesday & when I get to the lesson with my grandson there is always a wee dram waiting for me & I get to share a drink & a cigar with my friend Tom. well he was suprised when my daughter showed up with OUT a cigar for him & passed on the wee dram,,,, Tom was FORCED to drink his own & mine since I wasnt there The Poor B@$t@rd, I am sure he suffered through it with a heavy heart, But when a job need done you just dig in & DO IT.
last Tuesday we hit a high temp of over 90F & I roasted my Buns off & wendesday was a little cooler & I got the A/c working , the breaker was tripped & i was just to hot & tired to go look for any trouble, so I got one of the customers to reset it .... he is a heating & air conditioning contractor ,,, he had it running in 30 seconds ...... dammmmm where were you yesterday !
It hasn't been a good week for my brother , his Mother in law passed away this week she was 83 & has had health probles the last few years , a nice lady who will be missed by a lot of family & friends .
I have a nice selection of cigars to try today , we have a new line in the shop Don Abrims Harris a new stick from Perto Rico & it sold well friday night , I have had a few of them all ready But when your working & not paying 100 % of your attention to the cigar , it needs a second & third opinion, one with a cup of coffee & the other with a libation of Fine Distilled spirits ...... I plan on trying BOTH hahahaha there is a customer who brings me a stick from his personal humidor ever once in a while , there was no band on this robusto , with a slight crack on the foot & he just winked & said smoke it AFTER a meal& NOT BREAKFAT ,,, well i plan on having that one FIRST, will some one please tell me WHY I would do that ? he told me not after breakfast, But as sooin as I was told that , I had my mind made up to do it ...... what better time could you smoke a mystery cigar, I know what the kona will taste like & I know what the scotch will taste like so I might as well try the damm contraband cigar .... hahahaha
My wife is having trouble watering her hanging baskets of flowers we have on both the front & back decks ..... So i have to unhook the baskets for her to water them & wait till they draina bit & rehang them ..... Interupting my cigar....... hahahaha
I am taking my car to the shop in the morning to have a sun roof installed , its been a long month with out one , But its better than taking my wifes car, with a sun roof & not allowed to smoke in it ! I should be able to pick it up on Tuesday morning... then off to work. , it is a busy week , I have a doctor appointment Monday after I drop off the car, Tuesday pick up the car, wendsday I will be working till 9 Pm as my relife man is in Canada fishing with a few of our customers , Thursay I will be rolling cigars at a charity event in Pittsburgh & Friday I work till 11 Pm .... its a busy weekcomming up, but I just dont want to be an outher Pretty face in the crowd, I want to be busy & dammmmm I am BUSY ..... time to take a break, its coffee & cigar time here in da burgh , come join me some time ! Enjoy, Vince
 
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