Just Get The Damn Flu Shot Next Year! NO EXCUSES!

So I haven't been blogging as much as usual lately, but for once there has been a good reason. I have been sick. Not "cough, cough, I have the sniffles" sick, laid out, dehydrated, fever and all kinds of awfl excretions from hell sick. It was bad enough that on Thursday I actually had to go to the ER for IV fluids and electrolytes because I could not keep anything good in me. It was about as sick as I have been in a long time! thankfully I am on the up & up now, but for like four days in there, it was really rather hairy.

And all that suffering brings me to my point. Get a flu shot and save yourself this bother. While not a catch all for ALL influenza virus, but it will seriously cut down on the chances you will go through the hell that I did. I was a dumbass and did not get a shot this year and paid dearly. So I am telling you now, I don't care about excuses (no that last flu shot did not make you sick, and no the government isn't trying to mind control you via flu shots) go out and get the damn vaccination already!! And if you do not, don't say I didn't warn you. . .

Yours in better health,

TomC

Red Sox Equipment Leaves For Spring Training

In the midst of all this winter malaise out there these days, how bout a ray of hope for all you baseball fans out there. The Red Sox Spring Training truck departed Fenway Park for Ft. Myers, Florida today!! Pitchers and Catchers report to camp on Thursday. Thats right kiddies, BASEBALL IS COMING SOON, HOORAY!!

TomC

Celtic Drubs Aberdeen at Pittodrie

Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League Sunday, February 10, 2008 Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

ABERDEEN…1
(Miller 62)

CELTIC…5
(Nakamura 17, McGeady 34, McDonald 44, 48, Robson 74)

ABERDEEN (4-4-2) Langfield; McNamara, Bus, Diamond (Considine 50), Maybury; Young, Walker, Severin, Nicholson (Foster 17, Maguire 62); Miller, Mackie
Subs not used: Soutar, Lovell, Duff, Aluko

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura (Robson 73), Hartley, S.Brown, McGeady; Vennegoor of Hesselink (Killen 85), McDonald (Samaras 62)
Subs not used: M.Brown, Caddis, O’Dea, Sno

Aiden McGeady produced a magical individual display and Barry Robson scored a debut goal as Celtic turned on the style to destroy Aberdeen with a ruthless performance.

First-half goals from Shunsuke Nakamura, Scott McDonald and the outstanding McGeady had Celtic cruising by the break. McDonald’s second – his 23rd of a prolific season – killed off the beleaguered Dons.

The home side then grabbed a consolation through Lee Miller, before new Bhoy Robson scored with a low free-kick – his first touch as a Celtic player.

As well as scoring, McGeady, who must be a front-runner for Scotland’s Player of the Year award, had a hand in two of the goals and produced a mesmerising piece of skill to set up McDonald for his second.

Overall, it was a clinical, inventive attacking display from the SPL champions, who remain just four points behind leaders Rangers, with 15 games remaining.

Celtic manager Gordon Strachan made two changes to the side that beat Kilmarnock last weekend. Paul Caddis and Massimo Donati dropped out, with Andreas Hinkel and Paul Hartley returning to the Hoops line-up.

(Article)


Looks like the Bhoys are hitting their stride at just the right time!

HAIL! HAIL!

TomC

"The Kids" Take On La Flor Dominicana Ligero!

Continuing this great series, "The Kids" and a La Flor Dominicana Ligero:





TomC

LOVO Barber Pole Figurado

6 X 60 Barber Pole (Natural & Maduro)

Construction: Smooth and pretty, with a beautiful light dark contrast running the length of this torp. Unlike the rosado, I did notice that the wrapper leaves of this stogie seemed quite fragile, rasing some (thankfully unfounded) concern.

Pre - Light: Clipped easily producing a very pleasant prelight draw and a light, but rich, tang.


Burn/Draw: The burn on this cigar was just fine,never an issue, never needed a touchup. Just light and forget. The draw was great the whole way through, the cigar yielding billows of thick rich round smoke. The ash was firm and light grey to white and held on as long as I wanted it to. The concerns I had about the fragile wrapper were not needed as this was not an issue.

Taste: This one was a goody. It also was an interesting example of how the barber pole thing doesnt have to be for show. It combined the richness and mocha notes of the maduro with a nice tang from the natural. It had notes of earthiness and leatherbut also of sweet honey and cinnamon. The best part was this great flavorful smoothness that lasted the whole way down through. Overall a great cigar. I want to know more about LOVO's. Find me more info on LOVOs! While I still may like the rosado better, one of the better cigars I have had of late.

TomC

Celtic Clip Killie In Scottish Cup

Scottish Cup – Fifth Round
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

KILMARNOCK… 1
(Hamill 66)

CELTIC… 5
(McDonald 22, 67, Caldwell 52, Vennegoor of Hesselink 57, Samaras 85)

KILMARNOCK (4-4-2) Combe; Corrigan, Ford, Wright, Hay; Fowler, Bryson, Hamill, Gibson (Fernandez 46); Wales; Invincible (Di Giacamo 75).
Subs not used: Harpur, Johnston, O’Leary.

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Caddis, Caldwell, McManus (O’Dea 76), Naylor; McGeady, Donati, S Brown (Sno 81), Nakamura; McDonald (Samaras 67), Vennegoor of Hesselink.
Subs not used: M Brown, Hartley.

Celtic turned on the style in what could have been a potentially tricky fifth round Scottish Cup tie against Kilmarnock, with debut-Bhoy Georgios Samaras scoring in an excellent five-goal win.

The Greek striker came on as a late substitute to ram home Celtic’s fifth, but by then the game was all-over as a contest, with Gordon Strachan’s men having played with flair, confidence and invention in what was one of their most entertaining performances of the season so far.

This cup tie came at the tail-end of a busy week for the club, one in where the disappointment of the postponed midweek game with Motherwell was tempered by the acquisition of four late, transfer window signings.

There was no place in the starting XI for any of the new arrivals though, with the only significant addition, right-back Paul Caddis – a late substitute in last weekend’s win over Falkirk who made his first start this afternoon.

When the teams last met in the Scottish Premier League, a fortnight ago at Celtic Park, Alan Combe was all that stood between Kilmarnock and at least a five-goal hammering and as it transpired, the home side would again have good reason to thank their inspirational goalkeeper.

Article.

Thats is a much more satisfying result!

'Mon The Hoops!

TomC

Camacho Triple Maduro Torpedo (Redux)

(Has it Ben Mentioned That The Band Is Real Pretty??)

Vitola: Torpedo
Country: Honduras
Wrapper: Maduro
Filler: Maduro
Size: 6" X 52

I posted my initial opinions on this cigar once before. . .

BUT

In Lieu of my current opinions of this cigar the ultimate review of this line may have been wriiten by my pal, Rob the Long Island Cowboy!

Okay, I am not going to spend a great deal of time on this cigar, because frankly, it does not deserve it. In my opinion this cigar pretty much failed on all fronts. The burn was dicey my cigar actually went out halfway through (though that could have been because I lost interest in it). the draw was okay and produced a lot of smoke, but the thing is, the smoke didn't taste like much of anything, at all. It felt like I was smoking a nicotine cloud. In the last third of the cigar a little flavor came through, but it was in turns bitter and then sour. This cigar has a nice long finish on the tongue that lingers forever, but the problem is, that that is bitter and sour as well. This is probably the worst cigar I have tasted that I can guarantee was stored and smoked properly. I would take a Te Amo any day over this. Or even a Phillie Blunt.

This cigar definitely had a strong nicotine presence, and I did get a little buzz from it after a while. the thing is, if I wanted to smoke crap tobacco to get a nicotine buzz I would give up, sell my humidor, and go with these:



CRAP CRAP CRAP!!!!!!!! NOT RECOMMENDED!

TomC

Oliva Serie V Ligero Especial Lancero

Vitola: Lancero
Size: 7" x 38
Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Habano Sun Grown
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Jalapa Valley Ligero

I reviewed another vitola in this line, the Special V, in August. Well in lieu of my recent review, and commentary regarding how enjoyable that a lancero sized cigar can be, as a special occasion smoke, I thought I would revisit the lancero of this line as well, and give some impressions.

As was the case in other lancero cigars I have had the opportunity to smoke, the vitola cuts a unique and sophisticated visual. Long and thin and oily, without visible flaws, the cigar looked about as classy in its makeup as it did in shape. And thankfully, when it came to burn and draw, it lived up to my construction standards. The burn was slow and cool and the cigar lasted well past the ninety minutes. The draw had the tiniest bit of resistance but produced plenty of rich, flavorful smoke. The ash was very light grey and held admirably. This cigar, like the other lanceros I have had, really lived up to the luxuriant experience I expected. It really is a rather cool shape.
As for the flavors of this cigar, they were very much the same as the Special V. . .but different. Sure the cedar, notes, along with the coffee notes and rich earthiness were still there, but the shape of this cigar concentrated the strength of flavor of these notes across my palate. I clipped a rather decent sized cut into the head of my cigar the last time around. Over the last three inches of this cigar the flavor really amped up to a great spicy, woody tangy finish. With the caveat that this is a strong cigar and you should have a meal before smoking, I can RECOMMEND this cigar as another great vitola it what seems to be a very good line.

TomC

La Flor Dominicana Double Ligero Lancero Cameroon

7 1/2" x 39, Cameroon

Appearance: This lancero is one sophisticated looking cigar (well, actually I think lanceros in general are very sophisticated looking). Long and thin, it really cuts a distinctive visual in comparison to the robustos and coronas one might see otherwise. Evenly packed and draped with a beautiful, oily, rich ever so slightly reddish hued wrapper, just added to the luxuriousness of the experience. There was nary a flaw or vein to be seen.

Pre-Light: Clip was easy and the pre light draw seemed just right. This alleviates one of the few fears I would have with a vitola such as this, that the thin ring gauge might cause the draw to be on the tight side. The pre light draw was earthy and tangy and begged for the cigar to be lit!


Burn/Draw: Never an issue with this cigar, which added to the overall sophistication of this smoke. The burn was "set and forget", burning razor straight down the entire length of this cigar, never really wandering at all. The draw was equally as exquisite, allowing this cigar to burn long and slow, and producing a great volume of rich round, full bodied, flavorful smoke. The ash was firm and rather bright white, and held on to the cigar as long as I wanted it to. This cigar was one well constructed, and great burning smoke.

Flavors: Well this cigar was bound to be good because it had a good base to work off of. The "Double Ligero" like are a bunch of tasty sticks, no matter what the variation. This little twist on the line is no different. After an initial burst of strong black pepper, This cigar settled into its groove. Base notes of sweet tobacco and a rich earthiness ran down the whole length of this stick, along with this delicious sweet tanginess I almost always derive from a Cameroon wrapper. During the course of this smoking experience I caught many other notes, among them cedary woodiness, leather, and deep dark roast coffee, wafting in and out over that very tasty base. This is a strong, full flavored, full bodied cigars that pleases at every turn, one of the finest cigars i have had in quite a while. If you can run one down, I highly RECOMMEND it!

VIVA LITTO!

TomC

McDonald On Target As Hoops Grind Out Win

Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk

FALKIRK…0

CELTIC…1
(McDonald 45)

FALKIRK (4-5-1) Olejnik; Ross, Barr, Scobbie, Holden (Milne 37); Arfield, Riera, Cregg, McBride (Latapy 81); Moutinho; Barrett (Finnigan 86)
Subs not used: Barclay, Aafjes, Bradley, Stewart

CELTIC (4-4-2) Boruc; Hartley (Caddis 75), Caldwell, McManus, Naylor; Nakamura (Sno 68), Brown, Donati, McGeady; McDonald (Killen 90), Vennegoor of Hesselink
Subs not used: M.Brown, Riordan, Pressley, Zurawski

Celtic ground out a precious 1-0 win against Falkirk to close the gap at the top of the table and stay in the hunt for a third successive SPL title.

Sitting seven points behind leaders Rangers before the match, the Hoops knew that a victory was vital to maintain their championship challenge and they delivered. Scott McDonald, with his 19th goal of the season, gave Celtic a narrow win.

It wasn’t a classic match by any means, but at this stage of the season all that matters is that Celtic picked up three points. The Hoops also recorded a fifth successive clean sheet, which equals the club’s best run since October 1999.

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was able to take his place in the Celtic starting line-up after recovering from a head injury suffered against Kilmarnock last week. However, Andreas Hinkel missed out, with Paul Hartley filling in at right-back.

With a heavily-sanded surface and a strong wind blowing, the conditions were far from ideal but both sides started the match in a committed fashion, with players flying into tackles all over the pitch.


(Article)

It wasn't pretty, but three points is three points!

HAIL! HAIL!

TomC

Fishies!!

(PLECKY!!)(Betta-Man!)

I'm not sure anybody cares about this too much, but its what I feel like writing about right now. For me, the majority of my cigar smoking time is quiet and contemplative. I often have my cigar late in the evening after Carrie goes to bed. While I don't get the social aspect of herfing as much as some, it can be a very relaxing and refreshing experience for me. One of my favorite things to do while having that late night, meditative smoke, is to watch our fish tank. As dorky as that may sound, I spend a lot of time doing it. We have a 25 gallon tank with 7 fish in it right now. We have two male Black Mollies, and three female gold mollies, as well as the Plecostomus and Betta Fish pictured above. Now if I could only convince Carrie to let us get some Dalmatian Mollies and a couple of little catfish (either Pictus, or Cory), life would be complete!!

LOL

TomC

"The Kids" Take On The Juan Lopez No. 2

Another great video review by "The Kids!" I did review of this vitola, if you would like another point of view:









Enjoy, (especially that last segment!)!

TomC