BlueRidgeFly

I bought two of these last summer and tried the first a week later. My notes say, “Pretty good, kind of one-dimensional but done well for the most part. Maybe some age would do the second one well.” So aging remains the plan for the other 👍

My % of CCs is now 85, down from about 98 a couple years ago. I expect my NC % to keep increasing as I continue finding really good options there. I think NC tobacco and blending is rapidly broadening and improving, and that will almost certainly continue.

SUV or anything “practical” - Toyota. Our last seven vehicles have been. Tacoma, RAV4, Prius… zero problems with any of them in the first 200k miles at least (applicable to three of them). My next car is going to be a well used and impractical gen 1 Cayman.

Drinking. I smoke a cigar occasionally while fishing only if the fishing is sucking 😀

My somewhat naive view since I’m not an importer or retailer, an 18% tariff would be paid on the wholesale price, which is maybe 1/2 retail? So if the importer passes it through, a retail price increase of 9% would keep the unit profit unchanged for the seller. I’m ignoring the effect of the price increase on demand. Maybe those in the supply chain will eat all or part of that at first. But soon enough our $10 cigars are going to cost ~$11?

I have a spreadsheet. Based on the occasional mistake I run into I’m sure there’s some inventory or records mismanagement. I should do a complete audit. But at least I know the f***** who’s acquiring and smoking everything. 😀

Shad fishing in Washington DC today. And a RyJ Cazadores.

The Liga Dirty Rat is probably my favorite of the small # of their blends I’ve tried. I really liked the two I had a couple years back. It’s been a while though.

Hey… she ain’t no Aussie!

It’s weird how the longer you stare at current prices the more reasonable they magically seem. Self-hypnosis - and I am guilty, BUT I’ve definitely hit a ceiling on a bunch of CC’s I used to buy and probably no longer will, unless I stare a little longer.

Laugh all you want... it was a Por Larrañaga Panetela GOS MAR 19. Better than the Padron 1964's I've had recently, better than a couple Bolivars, a couple Montecristos. These boxes I bought a few years back have been consistently excellent.

Some good backstories here! Mine is because I live on the Blue Ridge in VA, and I fish. Wish it was more interesting 😀

🎂 Happy birthday, Rob!

Thanks. Will remember this next time I’m down that way 👍

As a fellow Giants fan and perennial Eagles basher - GO CHIEFS! But... the Eagles look damn good.

Hope your cancer does NOT come back, man. I see you’re in Rapid City. I drive through there every summer to/from the Rockies to fish, so I’d say get a fly rod, a vise, fur and feathers from some dead animals, hooks, thread, learn to tie flies all winter and fish the rest of the year! You can do it when you’re young and strong, or old and feeble, and right in the Black Hills too or even in town on Rapid Creek. It’ll keep you entertained, motivated, frustrated, laughing forever. You can turn it into an artistic pursuit. You could help out at the fly shop in town. Fly to Mexico and fish all winter. Etc etc etc. Can’t go wrong!

Interesting video. They all voiced relief about a more favorable regulatory environment, but none of these guys seemed too concerned about US tariffs on their products. Maybe since the premium cigar industry is largely in the "luxury" category demand is inelastic enough...or maybe they are confident they'll be able to successfully lobby to exclude their stuff.

I voted for (4) all things considered. Lots of good times with friends and family, completed the Wyoming Cutt-Slam and camped/fished all over those mountains like a dirtbag for a few weeks, my son got married... would have voted for (5) but for a couple bummers. But all in all good!

Inspired by @LizardGizmo and his crew. This is the panatela, not the belicoso, but both are great. Reyes from 2019 PLMC RAT FEB 20 I am loving these N2's and I hope future versions retain the easy draw... Coloniales BLE FEB 20 PLP GOS MAR 19, wrapper split and glued, yet once again one of the best cigars I've had in a while.

The “cigar lifestyle,” he says? Lounging outside in a t-shirt and Crocs with a beer and a cigar, swatting away the bugs…I’m already there 👍

I just finished “A Sand County Almanac” by Aldo Leopold. Should have read this years ago. Land conservation, invasive species, agricultural practices, the impact of humanity. A complete shift in perspective. This guy saw the future. If you hunt or fish or soak up being outdoors, or just give a sh*t… worth reading.

A PC for me. A standard corona (142 x 42) is perfect. Actually, maybe a corona gorda. I don't get why the robusto ever became sort of the de facto standard vitola. It has always seemed out of proportion to me. I would outlaw it. Mandate the Doble/Toro/Robusto Extra in its place. I know I'm in the feeble minority 😀

My 2017 Siglo IVs have been meh as well 😥... so far.

I've been smoking... Siglo I and trout fishing, RGPE and sitting around smoking... 2019 BBF First 2021 RASS I've tried - excellent Punch Punch Punch! PLPC RAT SEP 21 PLMC RAT FEB 20 - really good.

The PerfecDraw has saved quite a few of my plugged CCs. Doesn’t always work though. Had a plugged RGPE today and it helped, but not a lot. I find that being conservative, i.e. start shallow and increase as needed, is a good approach. Also, sometimes it helps to go in a little diagonally rather than straight into the center. Of course, not knowing what’s going on in the innards means it can be a crapshoot. The suggestion by @NSXCIGAR to withdraw it slowly seems like a good tip. I’m going to try that next time. This is getting borderline X-rated…