The Cigar Life

 Saturday, June 28, 2025 Dale and I had Mike and Charisse over for dinner tonight. Mike brought over cigars, Plasencias, and we smoked them before dinner.  I'd never heard of this brand before and it was pretty amazing. 

  Friday, May 16, 2025 Had Mike & Charisse over for dinner tonight. Dale and I drove to Stogies On Grand yesterday afternoon to pick up a couple of Camachos and some cans of strawberry lemonade Smazey seltzer for me and Mikey. Started out this evening in the backyard. I had an Old Fashioned, Charisse drank some Modelo, Dale had white wine, and Mike drank one of the seltzers (I had one with dinner). I gave Mike the choice of a Hoyo or a Camacho to smoke. He mentioned that the last time he bought a cigar he almost went with a Camacho but decided to go with something else. Anyway he was still curious so he went with the Camacho. Mike had never had one before and he thought it was pretty awesome. I came to them more recently in my cigar history and they're now one of my favorotes. I like the taste but also the girth. It feels good in my mouth. I smoked my Camacho a bit faster than Mike so I lit up a little Romeo y Julieta (see above photo).

Tuesday, December 31, 2024 Dale and I had Mike and Charisse over for NYE. While Dale and Charisse had wine inside, Mike and I lit up a couple Olivas in the garage. We lasted about 40 minutes and weren't completely finished with our cigars but the cold got to us. Note to self: assemble the damn fire pit that's been sitting in the basement and brand new in the box for the last few years.  Magic number: 204 cigars.

Saturday, May 4, 2024 Mike and Charisse had Dale and I over for dinner tonight. We all sat out on their back porch which faces east and wasn't getting the sun however it was still nice enough to sit outside with a jacket or sweater. Earlier today Mike texted and said that if Dale wanted wine he should bring some but that he thought he should have enough gin for a couple of stiff martinis. He had some Bombay Sapphire left over from the last time they had us over on New Year's Eve. And yes, it was just enough to make a couple of stiff martinis.  Mike and I lit up cigars to go with our cocktails.  Mike had an NA beer while Dale and Charisse had some wine. I of course had my martini.  For dinner they ordered Bill's Chinese. We ate inside. It was delicious.  After dinner we played Yahtzee which I don't think I've played since I was a kid. Same for Dale and Mike. Charisse says she plays online. Anyway it all came back to us quickly and was really rather fun. Pictured abov...

Saturday, September 9, 2023 We had Mike and Charisse over for dinner tonight. We all sat outside before dinner. Charisse had a beer, Mike had an NA beer, Dale had wine, and I had an Old Fashioned. Mike and I smoked cigars. I had an Oliva and Mike had a Romeo y Julieta. A friend of his gave him a whole box. Ordered Chinese for dinner from Bill's and watched the IT Crowd. 

Saturday, December 31, 2022 Dale and I went over to Mike and Charisse's house for fondue tonight. We were home by about 10:30 which gave me a chance to squeeze in one more cigar in 2022.  Trying to celebrate what went well this year and let go of what didn't.  By the way, the count this year was 150. Here's to 2023. Magic number: 150

Saturday, October 8, 2022 Mike and Charisse had us over to their place for dinner tonight. I brought over and Oliva cigar for Mike.  Mike and I knew each other back in Jr. High and High School but we became friends that actually hang out together about 12 years ago. Mike and I are Facebook friends and he saw a picture of Dale on my page. Mike introduced himself to Dale when he recognized him at a spin class the both took back in about 2010. When Dale told me about it I told him that Mike would actually be fun to have over for dinner. Dale worked it out and the rest is history. We've been cigar buddies ever since. Used the second of my 4 1-day drinking passes for semi-sober October. I had a couple of Beefeater gin martinis.  After a very nice cocktail hour we had burritos for dinner. They were delicious and I should have asked Charisse for the recipe.