Sunday Morning Smoke

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Good morning it is Sunday3/22/15 the first Sunday in SPRING & Friday was the first day of spring but we picked up an other inch of snow but the temp went up & we had a wet mess a few hours later. Ahhh yes Spring it is here , but I see a LOT of yard work in my future,,,, the moles have had a wonderful winter under the snow , there are tracks all over the yard. time to treat for grubs , remove the food & the moles will move on .

Breakfast was a bacon & cheese stuffed scrambled egg with oat bran toast & a pot of JAVA BEANS from a local roaster in New Brighton Pa , called Hallowed Grounds .... great little shop & a great staff. the KONA will be going on soon & the Don Carlos #3 will take a back seat this morning to a Casa Fuente Robusto , ( a gift from a buddy who just came back from Vegas ) it has been in my humidor a few days & will not see the sunset today hahahaha . We have been changing the outside decorations over the past few days , gone are the snow flakes & snow men walk way lights , replaced with frog & dragon fly lights & they will be up till fall when the maulti color leaves will come out & then back to the snow stuff all over again .
I had a BUSY morning,,,,,, we are having spaghetti & meatballs today so I have been busy in the kitchen getting stuff ready the pasta is drying & the meat balls will get tossed into a Super hot oven for a few minutes before going into the sauce the Garlic bread is almost ready to go in the oven & all that is left is the dressing for the salad .... maybe something with a feta cheese base ..... I have a taste for feta today,,,, or I might just crumble some over the lettuce & other greens & hit it with some EVOO & citrus juice & some herbs , who knows I might change my mind 4 or 5 times before we eat !

With the snow behind us I hope we are looking to open the Patio at the shop soon , leaving the doors open will be a GOD Send , gone will be the "filtered " air & the fresh outside air will fill the room & killing the stale smell bugs ... the humidifyers have been working over time to keep it in the 68 to 72 % range ....... temp was not Much of a problem never went below 65 in side the humidors , but we did have a few COLD days in the lounge when the thermostat went on a vacation .....
the basket ball pool is on the wall & everyone ( the sweet 16 ) tossed in 20 bucks ..... I have no idea how it will be split up , winner take all but some of the guys want a small payout for getting to the final 4 ...... I just looked at it as a Donation & don't care how the money gets split up as long as they buy cigars with the winnings ..........
we got a new Keurig pod pot ,,,,, I don't like the new one as much as the last one we had , it is a bit lower in profile & a bit wider but I cant get my travel mug under the new pot , it fit the old one , so I make the coffee in the one Qt. measuring cup & then pour the 10 ounce new made coffee in my mug, brew a second 10 ounce cup & be on my way..... I use the regular Bunn drip machine for the morning pot of high test & I have a second pot for the decaffeinated late night pot & the press pot , the burr grinder & the espresso pot all lined up ... like a mini Ch@rbuck$.... Now if I could make my own scotch........... BUT I don't think I have enough time left on this third rock from the sun to wait 35 years for a great barrel age whisky hahahaha , glad some on thought of me 35 years ago for todays weeee dram,,,, a 33 YO Brundihabahaine ,,, or how ever you spell it ! .... Maybe I should make a little more Hooch & start to age it NOW & my grandsons can tap the keg in 2050 for my 110th Birthday ! hahaha

the wife & daughter went to a fund raising fashion show with Center Twp. civic club yesterday & had a great time ,,, NO cat fights & both came home winners of prizes, my wife got a basket of jarred & bagged Italian foods ,,,,,, like that will fly here hahahaha , & the daughter won a 200 buck gas card ...... So it was a fun day for them & a stress free day for me .... I went to the store & picked up a few things I am to lazy to make myself , like yogert ,,, sure I can make it myself & have done so , But dammmm I am getting lazy in my old age, & also picked up a few bananas , ..... cant grow them here in Da Burgh..... & some other stuff that has gone from my mind , but I remember I did get change from 40 bucks .

I was moving some of the furniture in the Qtr. Deck getting ready for the spring cleaning of the place.... turned an end table & opened the cabinet under it & "Found" 8 boxes of 38 & 357 ammo ....... I thought I had shot them all up but I must have been WRONG ,,, as I always am according to my wife,,,,, BUT a frien posted an article about a 124 YO patent for the proper way to dispence rolled toilet paper & I have been right all along .... it is OVER THE TOP not down the back side of the roll..... she disputed ........ but the patent office said...... I DONT CARE WHAT anyone has to say , it MY way , down the back of the roll in her bathroom & over the top in mine !!!
it is about time for me to get going..... heat up the water for the press pot of Kona & get ready to fire up the Sunday Morning Smoke.
Enjoy, Vince
 
Good morning it is Sunday 3/29/15 a COLD clear day here in da Burgh, we had a low of 14 last night , wind chill was 3 a dammmm cold night for a time of the year we should be in the low 50's ! we had about an inch of snow this past week,,, but nothing like our friends In Boston...... , & I thought up state NY was bad , but that is REALLLLLLY bad , well so much for the weather report.... Breakfast was a cheese filled crape with fresh black berrys & sour cream... the coffee was from India with a touch of saffron on the after taste,,,,, don't know if I like it or not,,,, need to sip a bit more . , I have todays hunk O beef in the oven.... BOREING but a happy wife is a happy life . The Grandson is moving back with his mother after just moving out last August..... she wants him to come home to save money ....... then why did she make him move out last year? Kids . Grandkids, ..... cant figure them out....... he Plans on going back to Columbia SA in the late summer early fall, , wants to beat the COLD , he did survive the winter here But it was a factor in his decision to go back to the tropics ,,,, cant say I blame him but I will miss him being here. .
with the weather & the time of year , (lent) the shop has been doing OK, not good , just covering the monthly nut , not showing any profit , but it is better than NOT covering the costs of the place..... so my take home was a "little " short , ZERO hahaha yes that is Short! .... dammmmm glad I have my retirement checks every month !
I haven't been watching the national news much ,,,, with the entire middle east at odds with the entire middle east, & every one else I wonder if this is the end of times & soon the fire from the sky will destroy all of mankind,,,,, the fire from the sky I speak of will be man made in the form of atomic weapons & rockets to carry them..... I don't want to be a dooms day preacher , but no matter what we do sooner or later some one is going to push the button...... UNLESS we find a way to live together with out blood shed...... , MY GOD is Better than YOUR GOD ...... it has got to stop some time before we are all dead & the third rock from the sun is a barren hunk of rock .. Think of it ... , No Family,NO cigars, No scotch, No coffee , no Jazz, NOTHING , ab-soul-lute-ly NOTHING..... Man has climbed to the top of the food chain to destroy everything & every one . Time to put it on cruse control & stop fighting , we are at the top there is no place left to go unless we go Off world & start exploring the space between here & there , be it the space inside an atom or the space between stars of Galixie's , big or small space is just space.......

last week I CLEANED the inside of the glass on my car..... dammmmm there are BRIGHT head lights coming at me now hahahaha ( just the winshield & 2 front doorsa, the back doors & rear glass still have the lovely Patina of cigar smoke as well as the Moon roof ) ,,,, sun roof VS moon roof>>>> GM VS Ford ,,,,, what do the Italians /Germans & Japaneese call them?

I had a maultitude of FINE cigars yesterday , starting with the Don Carlos #3 I moved on to a Padron 1964 Anniv. Princippe Maduro , then a Liga #9 toro. A contraband Partagas series d #4, & finished up with an Opus X Churchill ,,,, a body count below my average but a FINE day of cigars,,,,, & a wee bit expensive day , BUT I am not getting any younger & I don't want to leave all the great cigars other than the one I have set aside for my creamation for all my friends to smoke & a few to put in my pocket hahahahaha ......
yesterday I picked up a few lottery scratch off tickets & hit the first ticket for 25 Bucks,,, spent 10 on 5 tickets , ( for you math challenged that is 2 bucks a ticket) so I am 15 bucks up, then spent 7 bucks on a hunk of Swiss cheese & had enough left over for a cigar hahahaha to Quote Charlie Sheen----- " WINNING"

its that time ,,, the Kona is ready, the Don Carlos is calling & the Qtr. deck is warm.... Let the Sunday Morning smoke be a good one,,, but I just noticed it is jast past noon,,, so it is the Sunday AFTERNOON smoke today ... Enjoy, Vince



 
He has Risen,,,, Happy Easter to all of the Christians in the world & a blessed Passover for Jewish Faith.
A chilly start for the day here in da burgh , wet & overcast, just a spring day here .... the snow is gone from the pasture & ground is shifting back to the Pree freeze level , with the freeze & thaw cycle we had this winter , the door to the Qtr.deck is back to almost level. , there was a few weeks I had to remove the ramp leading into it as the top of the ramp was blocking the bottom of the door but now all is well & I am glad I don't need to step up to get in . .
This past week I moved my grandson back to his mothers place,,,, dammmm I am sore , I am getting to dammmm OLD for this $hit, so he is back home with his mother & saving some money with out having to pay bills that come with your own place, he is paying rent at home but not near as much, & the electric & gas, & cable are now all included as well as laundry & food.... still dont know if it was a good idea... time will tell.

Since today is Easter & I will be making a ham , yams, & fire roasted corn, & maybe some rolls if I have some yeast ...... gotta keep up with to much stuff to remember to get everything I needed at the store with out writing stuff down,,,,, the memerory is going ...... where I have no idea but it is there at times & gone at other times ,,,,, Now what were we talking about ? hahahaha ,,, Breakfast was just some Yogurt & a hard boiled egg the Easter bunny left for me ,,, I was hoping for a peanut butter egg , But add a bit of green tabasco & the hard boiled egg was tasty,,,, ( but not as good ) hahahaha
One of the local bars had a whisky tasting on Thursday , & wanted me to roll cigars for the evening, so I loaded up all the stuff & went over ..... didn't cover my expences as the event didn't get must advertisement & I stopped rolling about 20 minuts for getting the first stick on the table the place was empty ..... I gave away more cigars than I sold........
With the coming of spring I CLEANED the inside of the windshield dammmm are the on coming headlights bright ! , a winters worth of cigar some all gone, the brightness is over the top for sure !!!
we went out for Sushi last night & then went on a nice cigar ride , put on about 150 miles & didn't go anyplace , ,,, from Pittsburgh we went NE , then when we hit 422 or ws it 224 ,,, what ever , we went SW & saw a few deer & lot of country side , got home after a stop at Ch@rBuCks & promptly dozed off on the couch watching Saturday Night Live .... woke up & it was over, got a stiff neck & still hurt for the move on Monday , but I guess if you stop hurting your dead or HIGH ,,,, I vote for high , but at times ,,,,,,,,,
I found out I am not as bad an electrictian as I thought , we have a 3 way lamp & it is shorting out all the time & blowing bulds left & right , all that works is the middle range , the dim & the high keep going out so I got a new 3 way switch & replaced it .... YES I did Unplug it first hahahaha , , Now my wife is a happy camper & it WORKED,,,,, Dammm all this time I had a talent for home repair but never wanted to do it ,,,, still don't want to but I know in a pinch I can.

Friday morning I went to the Russian Orthodox Church in Ambridge to pick up some Easter bread, ,, Got there a few minutes before the Priest blessed the bread & so I ended up getting a lesson in English thank God , had it been in Russian I would have been lost for sure, NYET & Vodka is most of my Russian....
When ever any of the churches in the area have a bake sale I am there , the Ladys make all the stuff the OLD world way , no short cuts, no canned anything it is all FRESH made like my Grandparents did & the TASTE is always TOP NOTCH.
Back many years ago I used this Church's catering Lady's to Cater my Award banquet when I was the President of the Conway Area Jaycees . that was a LONG time ago in a different time of my life ..... I do miss it ....
Since it is Offically spring I have a lot of yard work to do , ,,,, don't even want to think about it ,,, maybe I will just farm it out to my nephew I think I would rather pay him than do it myself,,,, I think I am just to dammmm old to chase moles & replant the yard where they dug it up ,,,,, he has the equipment & the Energy...... I have neither , BUT I will sit on the back deck with a cup of coffee a weee dram & a cigar & watch him di it hahahaha .
After we have our supper today we are going to her sisters place for what ever, they want to go to the cemetery , & my brother in law & I will stop at the cigar shop for a smoke & a wee dram hahahaha...... so what else is new about that !
right now I need to get moving & get off the computer I have Kona to grind & a Don Carlos #3 to liberate from the humidor & get it Smoking!
Enjoy, Vince
 
Good morning , it is Sunday the 12th day of April, the wife's Birthday also david letterman's birthday & a few more whose names escape me right now. it is a nice warm spring day , a cloudless sky & no rain in sight on the local radar. The Grass is getting green & the birds are in the nest building mode & have covered the light on the back deck with straw & twigs , I knock it down & soon it is rebuilt,,,, I guess they don't take a hint ,,,, looks like I need to get the stuffed cat out & set it on top the light .... the birds were building on the front deck light & I put a cigar coffin box on edge & that keep them away , so I did the same on the back deck & they started to build around it ...... I had to stop feeding the birds a few years ago as they were turning my place into a Toilet ,,,,, Bird $hit every place you looked , so I took the food away & the $hit stopped, but now they are back building ...... & $hitting.
The Wife took the morning in a different direction today , she was up early & let me sleep in , should have been the other wat round, But she had a plan & was supprized as I had her birthday gifts on the table when she got up ,,,, I set them out last night so she would see them when she got up, well she did not open anything yet ,,, she went to church & let me sleep in , Bless her ! So I am here waiting for her to get back to open her gifts & see what she approves of & what needs to go back.....
since it is her Birthday & she is a BEEF person.... I went to the butchers & got a nice tender dry aged Fillet ,,,, it will go on the grill later today along with some CORN on the COB , yes it is April & the corn was grown in a local greenhouse by the local 4H club or the Jr. Grange , never sure who or what when it comes to farming & growing , I should be more in touch with the producers since my lot in life is to transform the raw into a final product.... some times all I need to do is wah off the dirt & cut it up...... other times there is a MAJOR amount of prep work & the application of heat & perfect timing to make maulti dishes all finish at the same time all to the desired doneness & seasonings , with the correct sauce to enhance the flavor not cover it up..... & to know if a sauce is needed at all. to go with the beef & corn I will be baking a few apples with out a crust , & a dollop of whipped cream on top the apple ,,,,, maybe a little vanallia flavoring , added to the sugar might be in order......
we had a STRANGE week at the shop, Tuesday was a Killer , the biggest Tuesday in 8 years ,,,,, I guess with Lent being over & golf starting up , & the weather breaking .... everyone had the same idea ,,,, time for a cigar ! ,,, but my Friday ( the usual best day of the week ) was a bit soft ..... oh well no matter how you slice it the numbers were better than the week before.....
the grandsons were all busy with school this past week & the Geek squad from Lincoln Park( there HS) won a few awards at the Film awards at Robert Morris Univ .....
not much else going on Locally lots going on in the world, today is supposed to be the day hillry announces officially .... a dark day in American history,,, I N MY OPINION she is not fit to run..... you might have a different idea about her , but I don't think anything you say will change my mind ... is this the Best the dem. can come up with ? well the elephant party isn't instilling any faith in me as yet..... is this the best we have to offer..... I wonder? isn't there a Jefferson , Adams, Monroe . or FRANKLIN out there ? how about science digging one of them up & have them start the cloning program & se if it has any effect on the future of this grand experiment called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICIA

Enjoy, Vince


 
Good morning , it is Sunday4/19/15 , a cool cloudy day here in da Burgh looking for a mid 60's for the high today ,,,, the grass is getting green & a few of the yards have been cut all ready , NOT here YET ..... ... today is my Fathers Birthday,,, he would have been 96 .... A weeee dram will help in the celebration .
Breakfast was a bagel with salmon cream cheese,,, just didn't feel like cooking this morning , & since it is Sunday , the boss asked for a Hunk O beef, & that's what she is getting ,,,, I wanted to toss a few slabs of ribs or a bacon wrapped filet on the grill but she is the boss & soon it will be to hot to labor in the kitchen with the oven on , so I am taking advantage weather , & it is a beef kind of day...
This mornings coffee is a pot of Sumatra with the Kona in the press pot & the water on the stove & soon it will be ready as well as the Don Carlos #3 ..... We clipped a coupon from the local coffee roaster & picked up a pound of a mixed roast of light & dark from a few different areas of the world, kind of like the blends I make when there isn't enough of one coffee to make a pot ,,,, you toss a lot of end lots together & soon you have enough beans to grind to make a pot of what ever you want to call it ,,,, well we got a pound of his leftovers & it is not bad, ,,,, bold yet smooth , acidic & fruity,,,,, Not outstanding in any one area but not bad....
The shop is holding its own,,,, good days with bad,,,, some days the sales are FINE , the next day NOTHING..... no pattern, looking back at the sales records for the past 8 years & nothing seams to show a pattern of sales that makes sence


the grandson's are busy with work, school & living with there mother hahahaha , she got herself some new ink Saturday,,,,,, a Bumble bee ,,,, to go with her butter fly & lady bugs ........ , her I am retired Navy & NO INK...... but she has made up for it .....

I have a lot planed for the Qtr. Deck today , besides sitting & smoking I plan on doing a little cleaning & arranging the JUNK in a different area, tossing out some stuff that hasn't been used in years & I might TRY to level some of the photos , Maybe ...... But I know I will get a few cigars in before it is time to pull the hunk O beef out of the oven.


We went for a short cigar ride last night , after starting at Charbuck$ & driving about 75 miles , a stop at the gas station, to top off the tank more coffee & a second cigar , ,,, started the drive with a partagas serie D #4 ISOM, & finished with a Monte Espada, no problem with them at all,,, both were wonderful .......
The spring is passing by much faster than winter did , & I have a lot of requests for cigar rolling apperences , so I will be a busy boy , with a few golf outings & a wedding with 2 Birthday Partys all ready on the books I need to get BUSY bunching .....

Getting Busy is the key word,,,,,,, gotta go ,,,, Enjoy, Vince


 
good morning it is Sunday 4/26/15 a sunny cool day here in da Burgh. I am up a lot early today something electrical happened in the kitchen & it set off the timer on the stove,,,,,, no lights in the kitchen or bedroom, all the wall plugs on that end of the house were out , all the circuit breakers were in , & I pulled everything off & back on ,,, still Nothing & NO COFFEE yet. ,,, I went to the bed room to get my robe & Bammmmm everything came back on ...... .... now should I call en electrican? & pay the rate for a Sunday call or wait till Monday or do nothing ? ...... my brain says to call & get it looked at , but the wallet tells me NO ...... Do I have a potential for a Fire? better call & be safe..... I guess I will ...
well the sky is a BRIGHT blue a bit cool it dropped in to the 30's last night , & with the power back on the coffee is starting to fill the house with a great aroma ,,,, No idea what the wife made for the first pot....... 99.99 % of the time I have had breakfast 7 coffee before I start the sunday moirning post,,, but today I haven't had anything YET,,, so if my thoughts are a bit disconnected you will have to understand the dammmm coffee isn't ready yet.....
so lets get into the past week...... Grandson #2 got suspended at school for hacking in to the schools computer ,,,,, they have a few web sites blocked & he some how through a computer relay anti hacking back door , ( all of witch I don't understand) or care to ... well he posted his findings on a hash tag that some one from the school picked up on & BAMMMM ,, pulled out of class, called his mother at work & sent home for 5 days ,,, he returned a hero to the computer geeks at school & has taken a good ribbing from some of the teachers... I think its a bit funny , but his mothers isn't happy with him , proud he was able to do it PISSED he was so Dumb to post it .....

Breakfast hasn't been started yet,, when I get to it I think we are having a sausage & hot pepper cheese scrambled eggs on fresh French butter flake rolls . Since it is Sunday & the meal is beef to please the Boss , BUT today it is a bacon wrapped filet on the grill with roasted corn & cheese cake with strawberry's ,,, I might find a grilled pepper & some onions to top the steak ,,,, no mushrooms dammmm.

the shop was strange this week, after 8 years I still haven't found a pattern to the sales, for a long time Mondays were DEAD, so I started to close on Mondays & Tuesdays sales took off More than double of what I was doing .... this past Tuesday ,,,,, no way , NOTHING ,,,, less than 50 bucks for the day , counting what I smoked we lost money , but I did get some much needed cleaning done & ENJOYED the quiet with a cup o Joe & jazz on the internet playing soft in the background.

I had a miss hap at the bank yesterday . Put the cash in the tube at the drive up window & when it got to the teller it was empty ,,,,, the air pulled all the cash out of the tube & now I am 20 bucks short for my deposit,,,,,, no help from the teller ,,,,, ..... if we find an extra 20 I will get credit......... & then at CharBuck$ I give the girl a 25 buck gift card to add to the gold card I have & she credits 5 not 25 ....... it was just not a good day..... & then a black cat ran across the road in front of me & it almost didn't get to the other side , & the boss is yelling at me to slow down ,,,, I am at 35 in a 45 zone 10 MPH UNDER the speed limit,,,,,
AHHHH I hear the coffee grinder ........ Kona is on the way....... it looks like the boss will be wanting the grass cut today so I don't think I can spend today in the Qtr. Deck , since the Goof on the roof is calling for rain Monday I will HOPEFULLY swap Monday for Sunday & do NOTHING on Monday ...... a normal Monday here hahahaha


I have a Don Carlos #3 calling & a pair of pants to put on , so I better get it in gear & start breakfast ,,,,,,
Enjoy, Vince




 


Good morning it is Sunday 5/3/15 a warm sunny day here in da Burgh.... power has been fixed from last Sunday's outage ,,, we have all underground service here & one leg going to the meter shorted out & after a long wait for the power company to show up on a Sunday , 3 BIG trucks show up & it is Fixed in a few minutes after they find the problem a short piece of the feed line was replaced & the power came back on , the mess was cleaned Up & they were gone as I was cooking on the grill outside ,,,, no power to the kitchen meant DONT OPEN the Fridge or Freezer... & after 12 hours I still hade Ice cubes in the bucket so we didn't loose anything ,,, unless you count a little sanity & God knows I need all I can get & then need some more .....

lets start with the week in review..... the news out of Baltimore was not good for anyone one.... Bad for the People & the city as well as our reputation for the world to see , Just as bad as the middle east & far worse than it should be. ,,, some one gets killed & its a ticket to loot & burn down your city ,,,,,,, Martin Luther King OR Mahatma Gahandi would have done it with out violence from there point of view,,, not saying the resestance toward them would not have been with out violence ,,, but turning the other cheek is the best way to show you mean business ,,,, I have found passive aggression is a great tool.....
David Letterman is retiring & I for one will miss his "Brand" of humor ,,,,, Maybe now I can get to bed early....... hahaha ,


I called the grandsons this morning to come up for Steak & corn on the cob , at 4 PM today ,,,, yes CORN on the cob all ready,,,, grown in a hot house just a few miles from here ,,,,,, nothing like it in May .....
I plan on spending the day on the back deck,,, Jazz in the background & wind chimes in the fore front ,,,, we got out the lawn furniture & strung up all the chimes yesterday ,,,, a few aspirin before bed & I was home free but still hurt a bit this morning ,,,, getting to old to be moving all the heavy stuff & bending over to clean it to the wife specs,,,, it looks good to me but not to her,,, do it again & I did clean the ashtrays for the back deck ,,, & the ones in the Qtr. Deck ,,, it must be spring !!!!!

I have been digging deep in the humidors & found a few sticks I don't remember buying ,,, a few Por Laranga Lancero's & torpedos ,,,,, wish they were ISOM but there domestic,,, slipped the band off of one & the imprinting was on the cigar,,, I have no idea how long I have had them.... I even turned up some 75th anniv, Montcristos .... I do remember getting them but thought I had smoiked them all so today I will forego the Don Carlos #3 & start with a P L Lancero & a mug of Columbian ICED coffee ,,,, just don't want a hot cup of Kona this morning , so I brewed a pot of EXTRA strong Columbian & let it sit to cool, NO ICE just pop it in the fridge & wait...... no cream ,,, no sugar ,,,, JUST COFFEE,,,, Not even a weee dram ( that will come later today )


we went for our Saturday night coffee & cigar ride to no ware , & when I filled up I am getting over 25 MPG ,,,, Not bad for a 100K+ Escape ,,, ,,, the music on the radio was good the coffee was fine & the cigar was great,, a real find in the humi from 1990 Christmas ,,, a Fuente Cannone Natural all 8.5 inches & a 52 ring a few spots of blume & I was able to nurse it for 10 minutes shy of 3 hours. a 25 YO cigar ,,,, I hope the P L is just as well aged .... it might be older ,,, who knows ! there was no date on the box.
The wife wants me to move some of the chimes from the back to the front & the front to the side & the side to the trash,,,,,,,,, What ever she wants ,,, so I need to go get some pants on & get the ladder out Again & clean the gutter when I have it (the ladder) out..... YES DEAR ''' Enjoy, Vince



 
Good morning it is Mothers day Sunday 5/10/15 a warm sunny day here in da Burgh. So a Happy Mothers day to all you MOTHERS out there , I do Miss my Mother at times I still want to pick up the phone or stop in & see how she is But she has been gone a few years ,,,, seams just like last nightshe was yelling at me for some thing stupid I did ,,, & still doing stupid things,,, it must be in the genes....... Like one day at the shop I pulled a stack of boxes from the top shelf to get the top box with out getting the step stool,, & of course the stack slid & hit me in the head,,,, & I could hear he voice ,,,, " Lazy DUMBASS " ...... yep that's me ....
the Queen got a call from the Princess this past week & we are all going out for a mothers day celebration with her & her mother in law , husband, & kids , grandmothers & family , a total of 10 with reservations at 2PM so I am NOT cooking today ... I will be bringing a lot of cigars for the staff & family members at todays Party,,, I just hope that the day is with out conflict..... I need a nice relaxing day as the shop was a ZOO on Friday , everyone getting ready for the weekend & Friday was a killer with the heat & traffic, sales were great & I didn't have a break in the BULL$HIT dept. all day ,,, always some one to talk to & talk Cigars , family , the local political climet & all around BS ,,, it was a great but tireing day .... ,,,, I see from all the red underlined words the spell check & auto correct is off line again,,, ,I thought of switching to the voice adctivated system but it types what I say & that might not be all that good ...... when I type I can edit .... but not always.....
We are eating at Padrons,,, a Tex _Mex place on Route 19 about 20 minutes from here , ,, first order of the day a Margarritta , straight up no ice no salt , just slam it down & let the chips & salsa fall where they may.... it will be like matches & a can of gasoline,,,, both fine unless confined in close quarters........ I don't think the grandsons will be there , since they MIGHT be working or just hiding out to avoid the fire works that might flare up hahahahaha ....
I have been finding a lot of OLD cigars that have fallen to the bottom of the humidors over the years & I cam across a box of HMH, Playboys still sealed ..... pulled off the shrink wrap & fired up a well aged ( no date on the box) but the cellophane was a dark yellow /Brown,,, & some Por Laranga ISOM's ,,, dam I wish that was a full box ,,, but only 6 lancero's in it.... well 3 are left, I Forced my self to smoke 2 & gave one to a Buddy, in exchange for a Partagas series D #4 ,,,, fair trade in both directions so I was told,,, no matter it will all get turned in to butts & ashes soon.....


the local fire depts. have been getting a lot of training this past week, a few controlled Burns & a lot of accidents to go along with the annual sprouting of the Pa. state tree,,, the traffic cone & Road construction signs , drainage ditches going in & reserficing of the potholes & since its spring & the pot holes are in bloom , time for the front end alignment , replace the worn parts , shocks & springs , just some of the fun tings to do In western Pa every spring !
Coffee this morning was a nice blend from a local roaster called morning Joy,,, not as Joyful as it could have been but a nice mug to go with the meager breakfast of Yougert & a had full of nuts , since we are having Sunday with the kids & inlaws at 2 Pm I didn't want to have a BIG breakfast & be to full to eat at 2.


I am also passing on the Kona & don carlos today replacing them with a BIG glass of Sun Tea with blackberrys & a Diamond Crown Torpedo ( #7 I think)
we are getting ready for the 17th cigar crawl you can check it out at www.Cigarcrawl.com it will take place the end of May , a weekend of smoking & drinking to excess, ( just like any other weekend ) BUT this is a BUS with 50 of us going bto 7 different cigars shops over a 3 day period.... GOD help the shops.... & our second stop On Saturday is KING BEAVER CIGARS in Monaca Pa ,, yep that's right the place I have called home for the past 8 1/2 years !

I have been rolling a lot of cigars with a few golf outings & a few weddings on the callender, I have been busy & had to postpone the Tuesday night come one come all smoker in the Qtr. deck ,,, just need the time to roll,,,, I just cant BS & roll at the same time,,, & since everything I use is sharp , No drinking , & both hands are busy so I don't smoke when I roll ,,,, need to figure that out !

we have a tree doc coming Wed, to look at a tree that is dropping wood chips ,,,, it looks like a woodpecker was chopping down the forest but we don't see or hear anything but a faint tapping slow & deep , not the machine gun tapping of a woodpecker & we haven't seen anything in the tree but a lot of chips on the ground & I cant see where it is coming from... Time for a professional to look at it & get out the check book AGAIN,,,, will it ever stop?
The Crab apple tree on the fence line is in bloom & looks great & all the trees are sprouting green , whits , pink & purple flowers all over the place & the air is full of allegerens , people sneezing , coughing & eyes & noses all watering ,,,, this is a TUFF year for they people who are allergic ,,,, I have a slight problem this year but haven't taken anything for it yet, the sneezing is a great relief a few times a day but the eyes are watering & the nose is running,,,,, not a good look for anyone hahaha
that is about all I have this morning time for a tea break & a cigar,,,,, Enjoy, Vince



 
Really hot and dry off the road several hours east of you. The vehicles are covered with pollen and my crab apples are in bloom except for that dangling branch up high that I need to get down. Still working on the veggy garden after a long winter than suddenly turned into summer. I have to finish the lawn today and may just take the time to put in the A/C s just in time for cooler weather. It's been really quiet on this site all week and I hope someone posts something before you take the podium next Sunday.
 
The D gov. of pa a never saw a tax he didn't like & wants to turn Pa into the tax & spend capital of the USA , .... the D party better get its act together you cant Tax your self into prosperty. ,,, stand in a bucket & pull on the handle all you want but you will never get it off the ground...... , not only did he call for a raise on tobacco but a raise on the gas tax,,,, yea like that will help the working guy , we are almost back to 3 bucks a gallon ,,,,, I am thinking of getting a still working to produce Booze & run it in my car hahahahaha
 
Good morning it is Sunday 5/17/15 a warm humid day here in da Burgh...... 100% overcast, gray but Bright ,,,, the grass is green & growing , needs a little attention , but NOT today... , the hunk O beef is all ready in the oven , the Sunday Morning Pot of Kona & Don Carlos #3 are finished all ready , Got an early start , watched a little TV , CBS Sunday morning with a bit on Letterman,,, Going to miss his show ..... 33 years of late night TV ,,,, Jimmy Kimmel & Jimmy Fallon are both good But I did enjoy the off beat of Letterman.
Mothers day was a nice day here,,,, we went out to eat with the daughter & her in laws , so it was a restrained crowd, I had a few drinks with the other fathers in the group, & we all went outside for a smoke & let the hens alone the only time I was relaxes all day........

the shop was a bit slow all week But we had a good time for the people who did show up,,,,, lots of cigars got smoked & a good bit of booze was consumed..... dammm just like any other week hahahaha

Havent seen the grandsons all week , Busy with school & work & since the school year is almost over ,,, you need to get on with the advantages of being a JR. in HS , & The older one is working 2 Jobs saving his cash for his move back to Columbia S.A.

He liked the area so much when he was an exchange student , he is MOVING back to work & go to school there ..... Time will tell.
I went to the Navy ,,, he is going to Columbia.... so he will be on his own..... not close enough for anyone to help if he needs it,,, I wish him well.

I have a few cigars in todays rotation that have been discontuned by the MFG. at the top of the list is the Alec Bradley , family blend T-11 Torp . ,,, dammm I enjoy the flavor of that stick,,,, so this year on the Cigar crawl I will be looking for them, & the crawl is getting close so the week of the 31st there will not be any posting here from me as I will be way to DRUNK & far from my computer ,,,, FRI, SAT & Sunday ,,, smoke drink & sleep & maybe eat a little ,,, that will be my weekend ! 7 different cigar shops in 3 days 50 guys & a BUS,,,,,,, I just don't want to think about that cleaning crew when we are done hahahaha
I am ready storing up clean air in my mind , & will remember it when the air on the bus gets THICK. ,,, My coffee can ashtry is ready & I have 4 lighters all filled & checked out plus a can of gas to refill if needed,,,, a small travel humidor with 40 sticks in it , & a large coolador for purchases , a few clean shirts & a change of underware & soxs & I am ready hahahaha this will be #17 & I have made it 16 times in a row....... Missed the first one ,,, BUT haven't missed one since.
Check out.... www.cigarcrawl.com

it is time for me to get the next pot of coffee brewing,,,, haven't any idea what it will be to I get out the grinder & see what is on the shelf. the T11 is a mild smoke & has a great taste so the coffee & the scotch will be light enough to complement the cigar & not OVERPOWER it. Enhasment , yea that's the word I was looking for ! hahaha ,, Enjoy, Vince


 
Good morning , it is Sunday 5/24/15 a warm sunny day here in da Burgh. This past week was a Busy one for me & it moved faster than I wanted it to ,,, just BUSY every day , no down time & that's bad , no down time means I didn't have time to do anything stupid & get in trouble with the wife ! ,, like that matters hahahaha,,
I had to roll cigars for a golf outing & a wedding , so I was busy , busy & when I had a break I was busy.... , the time went fast & it will again this up coming week as the 17th CIGAR CRAWL will happen this up coming weekend , so there will be no posting next Sunday as I will not be near a computer & will ,,,, I Hope ,,,, be to drunk to type & make any sense ,,, as if I make sense sober hahahaha

Breakfast this morning was cheese filled crapes with fresh peach & black berry, sour cream & a pot of KONA ,,, AND the Sunday morning smoke was the Don Carlos #3

I have some Gulf shrimp & Alaskan cod going on the grill later today along with corn on the cob ,,, it is just tooooo Nice out to be making a hunk o beef for the boss , so today I AM IN CHARGE , hahaha , the fish & shrimp will get a light seasoning of salt pepper & some herbs & right on the grill next to the corn. no fuss & a minor clean up & there is watermelon for a pick me up with a little Proseco to finish it all off with a sunset if I time it correctly,,,,,

I have a God Of Fire to spark up some time this afternoon with a Lowland scotch ,,, to warm for the Islay heavy peated scotch , so it will be Auchentoshan ( or some thing spelled like that ) a light heathery single malt.... I have no idea what I might find to smoke after that one,,,,, maybe a Roi- Tan or a Hava Tampa ....... hahahaha ,,, I still have a few El Producto Queens in the glass tubes & a 50 cent price tag on them...... hahahaha

, the grandsons are BUSY with work & school, got a few minutes on the phone with them this past week & that was about it ....
I have been getting ready to hang out with the Gang on the cigar crawl, haven't seen them since last year,,,, so it will be a good time Getting ready to smoke & drink all weekend,,, a tuff training program ,,, lots of cigars lots of booze ,,,,, BUT I feel like I am up to the challenge I most likely will be the oldest guy on the bus & I know I will out smoke & out drink a lot of the younger guys ,,,,, MORE practice & a desire to be the best at what ever I do,,, & I have a reputation to uphold & plan on doing a Bang up job of smoking drinking & ENJOYING my self this weekend..... No matter how bad I feel on Tuesday when I go to work ,,, I have Monday off to regroup .... I will need it hahahaha
Got 4 tires on the wife's car front end alignment & a wash ,,, just over 600 bucks , dammmm that cut into my cigar money big time ....... & just before the cigar crawl...... looks like I might need to tap the Credit Union account for a little kick to the Cigar/ Booze fun filled weekend. ,,, My Escape needs a detail job, a long hard winter of cigars & the glass on the tail gate is tinted a bit darker & lots of streaks on the sunroof & there is a few pounds of ash & clippings on the floor..... but it is a Comfy place to smoke.... not as good as the Qtr.Deck , but they both have heat & A/C , they both have music
& neither have a bathroom...... so I guess its a toss up ,,, hahahaha
one of the people down the street is cutting grass this morning ,,,,, I didn't get up to see who the offender of my Sunday morning sleep was But Dammmm the grass was still covered with due & this "Gentleman " is out with a power mower at 8 am ,,,, dammm fool , get up go to church & cut grass later, let me enjoy the sermon from the right rev pillow being preached at saint mattruss ,,,,,, I still believe but I just don't go to church,,,, I was raised Lutheran & still think of my self as a Lutheran,,,, what ever that is .....

I need to get out to the kitchen & check & see what kind of coffee I will be grinding for the next pot I think the wife has a preference for an Etheopian light roast ,,,, But I always want a Dark roast unless its Kona or Blue Mt. & we had Kona all ready...... Compromise that is the key ...... we do it her way & no fight ...... I give ...........

happy wife happy life , Enjoy, Vince



see you back here in 2 weeks !!!!!

 
Good Morning, it's a dreary cloudy end of May Sunday 300 miles or so east of the Burg and Vince is crawling around somewhere unwilling or unable to post, so I thought it would be nice to get a post in for the week. Started with yesterday's leftover Folgers coffee along with a Cheese Danish and a banana for breakfast. After breakfast there will be a trip to the transfer station to unload some yard waste and the week's garbage and recylables. I usually cook, but today the Mrs. will be on duty making a pork chop casserole which she does pretty nicely. It's scheduled to rain on and off with perhaps some thunderstorms for the next couple of days, so I will not be mowing or doing much in the vegetable garden, dunno if the Mrs. will harvest some asparagus or not (I don't eat it).
What to smoke today is the big question. I eyed a hoya churchill and a Bolivar in the garage humidor, but I might go for a robusto instead because of the weather. I suppose I could spend some time getting ready for our late June trip to Downeast Maine and work on cleaning up the garage.
 
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Good morning & thanks to Tony for the post in my absence ..... It has been a BUSY week here in da Burgh , after surviving the 17th Western Pa cigar crawl,,, I was still feeling the effects of the weekend on Wed. & then it went down hill from there , I spent Saturday in the ER , Kidney stone..... I don't have to tell some of you the pain involved with a tiny speck ,,,, but with a shot of Morphine, & some thing for the nausea & a third shot of what ever it was , I was feeling a little better , so they sent me home with Flow Max, Oxy-codone, & something for the nausea ,,,,, BUT only 6 Oxy's DAMMMM
so that was the week after the crawl & the crawl was a GREAT time ,,,,, Friday night at Quaker Steak & Lube , & Penn Ohio cigar shop,,, In Sharon Pa . the Buss left the hotel at about 7 AM yes SEVEN.... it was a short night..... then the trip went to Klafters in NEW Castle Pa. then to KING BEAVER CIGARS in Monaca ,,,, a Great day for the shop ,,, and we were the only place of the crawl with Black label trading company cigars & the owner of the cigars ( JAMES BROWN, the hardest working man in the cigar industry hahaha ) was on the bus with us ,,,, we promptly sold out ,,,,,, , then we went to Lunch at the walnut grove , in Bridgeville ,,,,, one of the WORST meals in my life ,,,,, not that the food was BAD, it was just OK , nothing bad , nothing good, BUT the service was THE WORST ,,,, if you have a Buffet for 55 People would you not have 55 or more Plates? & since they are outside on the patio , should you have a food runner to refill the food as it is removed from the line,,,, well we had NOTHING of the sort, when the plates ran out it took 15 Minutes to get more,,,, when food ran out tuff some one took more than they should have,,, well if it was portioned why didn't you have some one serving it to the people, you give me a spoon & I might take a lot of one thing & less of some thing else, BUT I will take a lot of meat ,,,, BUT there was NONE left when I got there, No Chicken , no Pork, ,,,, the pasta was Gummy & sticking together the fresh green beans were just that Fresh,,,, warm but not cooked, the salad was sitting in the sun & wilted & the dressing was all gone.... waiting for plates in the hot sun did nothing for my appitite & mood... all ready with a few drinks in me & out in the sun I was not a happy camper ,, along with the last 15 or so who didn't have plates ,,,,, I had a talk QUIETLY with the store manager & told him I was not a happy camper & as a retired Executive Chef I did know what I was talking about ,,,, with the attitude I received , at that time had I been the owner of the place he & some other members of the staff would be looking for a JOB ....... LUCKY there was a $tarbuck$ in the complex & I went & got 4 Double Espressos in the same cup....... & a small pastry & I was fine,,,,, a bit buzzed but fine hahahaha , after lunch , if you want to call it that , we walked across the parking lot to our 3rd shop of the day & to tell you the truth I was so pissed off about the poor service at lunch & lack of caring by the management at lunch I only got a few sticks there , BUT there was a candy shop a few doors up & I had a little Gelatto & some truffels & that did make me feel a lot better ! Back on the bus & beat the rain & headed to the next stop, Leaf & bean In the strip district of Pittsburgh.... a TON of produce venders & small Boutique shops dot the area, & it is a shopper Mecca on weekends , ,,, back 40 years ago it was a place for Business to business transactions, now the final consumer has found it & jams up the place but adds to the flavor of the area ,,,, so we had a great time there with Island Jim & spent a few bucks ,,,, then back on the bus to Blawnox Pa to Alleghney smoke works ,,,,,, enjoyed seeing all the regulars there & got some new sticks to try from Roma Craft .then it was back on the bus, caddy shack on the VCR & we headed for the dinner stop at the Brick house in Butler Pa ..... GREAT FOOD GREAT SERVICE & GREAT WHISKY....... 1000% better than Lunch......... .... back to the hotel, more drinking & cigars & then a quick night as we loaded up the next morning for Breakfast & a drive down I 79 to Slippery Rock Cigars & have a great time with Joe the owner Got home about 5 or 6 Pm Sunday ,,, put away all the cigars I picked up over the weekend & promptly went to bed ! ,,,, IT WAS A GREAT WEEKEND.

I woke up Monday morning feeling great , sat out on the back deck had a pot of Kona coffee & a Padron 1964 Anniv. Maduro Princippe , that had been in my humidor 4 years & it said smoke me NOW, So I did ....,,, off to work On Tuesday & it was like I had never left for the weekend ! ,,,,,,,
Saturday morning I was sitting out on the back deck with coffee & a Don Carlos #3 listening to the radio when the wife was getting a shower, & all of a sudden I have pain in the low right side of my back, EXTREEM PAIN ,,,,, yep a kidney stone , so off we go to the ER ..... feeing much better now, waiting for the Oxy to kick in hahahaha
so that was my week & today I have a rack of ribs going on the grill shortly .... don't plan on much as I don't want to drive full of OXY ,,,,,, now if I could have a scotch hahahahaha
I am going back to bed & think about doing some thing later hahahaha Oh Dammm I got to get the ribs on the grill first ! Enjoy, Vince

 
I hope this too shall pass, Vince. Fortunately, I have never had a stone and drugs don't do much for me. My answer to my back problem has always been booze and an occasional heating pad. I tried drugs with one serious episode, but all it did was keep me awake for 3 days.
 
The Oxy makes me sleepy , & the flow max makes me Pee, not a great combo hahahaha


 
Good Morning , it is Sunday 6/14/15 a hot humid day here in da Burgh...... The kidney stone has past I hope , the pain is back to the normal dull pain of old age But with the high humidity & warm temps , and A/C , I get a few different stiff joints ,,,,, get your mind straight , I am talking about knees & shoulder joints .....
started the day with a Padron 1964 maduro princaippe ,,, a rich flavor with a mug of Peaberry ,,,, a great start, different than the Don Carlos #3 .
A busy week of sleeping on the lazy boy. I did go back to the shop on Thursday . Saturday I preformed My first Wedding as a newly Ordained Minister of the Internet.... A nice small affair about 40/45 people LOTS of top shelf Booze, great cigars , conversations & food . It was a great day , I paired a 5 YO Brundahabhaine with a 10 YO Camacho Perfecto #2 , Not a bad mix at all I thought the cigar might over power the very young whisky but the cigar had mellowed a bit & it was a great match. later a 11 YO Ladig went with a new cigar to my humidor "Dissadent" soap box, I also have the Block waiting for a go & it might get pulled later today. , the whisky was wonderfullllll BUT some one spiked my glass with a nasty bourbon,,,, Pappy some thing or an other ,,,,, BUT it was Bourbon, so I went back to the bar for a fresh glass & found a nice refreshing 3 fingers of Coal Illa
with a sip of water between the sips of coffee & whisky puffus of great cigars , there was a line at the big oak out back hahahaha & that's not even thinking about the Dbl. Chocolate stout & the Innis & Gunn Beers, there was a ton of Libations, Cigars, food & I might go back over today & see if anyone is still standing hahahaha .
So today is one of the hottest & humid days so far this year, & I have a great Idea to make a turkey on the grill outside ,,,, all well & good the heat will be outside & the kitchen will be cool......... not so good an idea with the wife, the weather man is predicting 1 to 3 inches of rain over the next 24 Hours so the boss wants me to forget cooking outside & do it in the oven......... so get out the bacon , this puppy is getting wrapped in SWINE flesh........
since I was on the Disabled list this past week I have no idea what happened at the shop, I did OK on Thursday, but Friday was a bust , it was HAZY HOT & HUMID with a lot of rain , thunder & lightning & sales were down 40% ,,,, Not a great come back after being off 5 days ....
Grandsons both working for the summer & have not seen much of them, Busy being teenagers , but not for long, #1 is heading back to Columbia SA in August & #2 is going to be a SR. at Lincoln Park School for Preforming Arts ....... I feel OLD

I have a mug of Kona & a Don Carlos waiting for me , & before it gets to dammmm hot outside I want to get it started,,, the A/C will go on in the Qtr.deck for later today but the open air of the back deck watching the wind spinners, birds & traffic go by is a treat for a warm sunny Sunday morning Smoke ,,, Enjoy, Vince



 
Glad to hear you are not stoned any more. A friend of mine had a real two month battle with one of those a few years ago. Your rain is coming this way starting late tonight and making tomorrow a wet day here. The good thing is that it will cool things off from the 80's to around 70. It's gonna be a busy week here as we are getting ready for a trip to downeast Maine this Saturday and there's a lot of gardening, mowing and other preparations to be made. Have a dentist appointment Tuesday to fill a hole left by a filling falling out and the car goes in for an alignment on Wednesday. It looks like rain for Thursday,so Friday is going to be the day to mow the whole lawn.
 
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