For the Joy of the Smoke...

So, we were switching to new life insurance and I needed to not smoke for a while before the physical (we aren't being tricky, they know I smoke cigars, but they will still offer a non-smoker rate for cigar smokers if it's not in the blood sample). So, a couple of weeks off, no big deal, right? Then the work project hit me, and we missed the first physical, so I ended up over a month with no cigar.

Now for clarification, I didn't go through withdrawl or headaches or anything crazy like that. I really don't smoke that much. But I missed it. There are days when it's more of a comfort thing, and it's just relaxing to sit down with a nice smoke and drift off.

So, now I can smoke again, and things feel pretty good. I got to smoke some overpriced, yet well built cigars while in Vegas (Nevada has a 50% tax on tobacco!) in a wonderful atmosphere both in The Venetian and MGM Grand.

We went to The Venetian early for the purpose of sitting down with a drink and me with my cigar before seeing the Blueman Group. The first bar would not allow cigars, and after my patience for the previous month I was a little irritated. So I went next door (inside the same building) and asked the bartender at the China Bar if he allowed cigars. "Here's your answer" he replied, handing me a large, ceramic ashtray. I was so happy I looked right past the six dollar beer and nine dollar mixed drinks, cut my Fuente Reserve (purchased earlier at the Fuente store in Ceasars) and lit up. Ah, life was good.

The following night the whole group of us went down to a little martini bar in MGM Grand where the drinks were just as expensive, but they had a small humidor. I perused the list of smokes (all were actually very good cigars) and settled on a Montecristo Robusto. Playing acid jazz in the background, good beer and a cigar in hand, it was another wonderful evening. In the middle of a weekend packed with walking (and walking, and walking), sensory overload, a little poker and a lot of good food, I think I most cherish that evening in the martini bar in MGM grand, smoking my cigar and enjoying good conversation with family.

Even now as I sit in my smoking room (known as my garage) and enjoy my Punch Double Maduro, I know that I will have many more wonderful stories of terrific evenings (hopefully in equally exotic locales) to share with you, after I've shared them with a cigar.

Things are happening faster than I can write about...

So, here's a quick catch up on the last month or so...

Thanksgiving was wonderful, at least the part I wasn't working! My sister, Betty, and my half-sister, Sandy, came out (Sandy brought her family, Daniel, Brittany and new husband Chris) to spend the holiday with us. Betty and Brittany stayed at our house and Sandy and the gang stayed at my parents house. It was a lot of fun getting back together with everyone, and it prompts me to want to make a trip out to Reno soon.

Work continued to be hectic (on the verge of frenetic) up until last week. We are now fully in production mode, so no more project mode and project hours.

Last weekend Michelle's brother, Tom, and his wife, Connie, took us to Vegas for the weekend, what a blast! I got to play some hold 'em for the first time in a casino, and we saw the Blueman Group. Absolute sensory overload! Just what I needed after the last few months at work.

OK, so I know this sounds like a 'What I did for Summer' type post, but I needed to get caught up. I'm going to follow this one up quickly with a cigar post or martial arts post, maybe even still tonight.

TTFN

Karate Thoughts...

It's nice to be back to almost normal life. I must say I am the most excited to be getting back to my martial arts classes again. Shortly I will do a longer post on which martial art I study, but for now I just want to shoot a quick note on why I'm so happy to be back.

First, it's like having a comfortable place to go, where you know everyone, and you know what you're there for. It is a place for respect, exercise, and in a sense, relaxation. For me, I release a lot of stress while I'm working out and lately that has been very important. I have found a school where I belong, and even now when we're looking at moving closer to work, I will make the drive two or three nights a week to continue studying at Impact Karate.

To Sensei Cooper and Sensei Monteen, thank you!