The Cigar Life

 Sunday, October 20, 2024 What a fantastic 4-day weekend.  The weather's been great and especially so today, Got in a Romeo y Julieta after finishing up some more yard work.   So very pleasant out at 78 degrees.  Can't believe our good fortune with the weather these past 4 days. We were supposed to have gone to Phoenix but plans got cancelled at the last minute due to our host becoming quite ill (it turns out he'll be fine). The weather here turned out to be better than what we would've gotten there. Since this weekend began Wednesday afternoon I've gotten in 4 cigars. Not bad. 

Saturday,  October19, 2024 Got some raking done today and filled up a few leaf bags. Felt proud of myself for doing so.                           Rewarded myself with a cigar.  Had a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur #1 which is one of my favorites and has been for the last 30 years. I remember buying these back in the day at the old Golden Leaf which was then in Calhoun Square (it's now called Anthony's and is over on Lake Street between Bryant and Colfax). I was living in a garden level apartment in Uptown at the time. I didn't like to smoke inside so I'd usually light up in my Toyota Corolla and drive around. I loved how the car smelled the next day.  

Thursday, October 17, 2024 Cigar this afternoon while Dale went on a walk. Smoked a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur #1. These have always been one of my favorites although I went for a long while without them and only recently picking them back up again. Did a little bit of reading as I sat in the sunlight. The most recent book I've been enjoying is A Year at Clove Brook Farm by Christopher Spitzmiller. He takes the reader on a month by month journey of all the goings-on at his estate in New York's Hudson River Valley. I remember visiting out that way when Sam at Becky lived near West Point. It's a beautiful area. The book is full of wonderful pictures.  Had an Old Fashioned to go along with the cigar. Dayum they go well together.   Dale sat with me for a bit.  We said hi to Marcia as Andrea was taking her out on a walk. 

Wednesday, October. 16,  2024 MEA Weekend is finally here! Conferences after school yesterday which made for a 13 hour day. Everything went well but it was exhausting.  More conferences today during the workday but no classes for kids.  Celebratory cigar after I got home Four day weekend lies ahead. Finished my cigar shortly after Dale returned home from work.  Headed to Lunds to pick up dinner. We're doing a soberish October to limit our alcohol intake but decided to reasonably indulge tonight. I had an Old Fashioned and Dale had wine. Tonight's cigar was a Romeo y Julieta. During dinner tonight we watched the film White Zombie starring Bela Lugosi on TCM. Bela's son, Bela Lugosi Jr., has said his father was an avid cigar smoker.

Thursday, October 3, 2024 Had the day off for Rosh Hashanah. Coffee outside this morning with a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur. I'm doing a sober-October and cigars with coffee work better for me in the morning. Afternoon cigars with coffee run me the risk of not being able to fall asleep at night.  Today's cigar was a Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur, on of my favorites.  Perfect leather jacket weather when I lit up shortly after 9 am.   Wore my Open Road leather biker jacket which is a bit less heavy than my Schott Perfecto. It worked well this morning as there was some humidity in the air.   Been a while since I've done a morning cigar. This was nice. 

Wednesday, October 2, 2024 Not a bad day at school today and we get tomorrow off for Rosh Hashanah.                       Mom's been in the hospital since yesterday for pneumonia. After my cigar Dale and I grabbed dinner at Northbound and then headed over to Fairview to visit her. She's doing much better and she's in good spirits. Looks like they're going to keep her another night.