I Need Caffine (Or a Drink) Sunday, Feb 22 2009

My basement is slowly being engulfed by the smoke of a CAO Criollo while I watch Christian Bale go crazy in American Psycho.  Go figure.

I am writing this the ‘old-fashioned’ way, pen and paper, for two reasons.  The first of which is my mistrust of the virus-ridden computer upstairs.  Surely the variety of websites and downloading services I used in high school did  that  machine no favors.

The second, more practical, reason is the basement is the only place in the house my mother allows smoking.  I wouldn’t dare let the chilly winter gusts outside cramp the style of this smooth, rather rustic cigar.

I went home to Rochester Hills this weekend so I could discuss my plans to study abroad this coming fall with my mother.  (No, not that kind of broad).  I am talking about my lofty plans to attend the University of Stirling in Scotland.  Nothing is finalized, but I am going to drop in the study abroad office tomorrow morning to see what I can swing.  Naturally, my visit home was a success, the stockpile of food I managed to ‘nick’ alone filled me with satisfaction…(Just practicing a bit of U.K. slang).

From there, my motivation will slowly deteriorate throughout the upcoming week I have cleverly dubbed “Slap Me Silly Week 2009.”  This is not due to my workload including two projects, a 5-minute presentation, two papers and a blog to write, exam,  or even the few quizzes in need of taking.  I simply enjoy getting slapped from time to time!  (If you don’t believe me, ask my ex-girlfriend).  Just kidding, but seriously.

After all those obstacles are dealt with, I am free to turn my Thursday evening  into nothing short of a night of celebration that would rival the kegger I hosted on New Years Eve.  I can hardly wait.  Alas, I must apply the old “business before pleasure” motto…for now.

Friday morning I will wake up, thoroughly dehydrated, pack a weekend bag, and meet with other students from the volunteer center.  We are shipping out to lovely Saginaw,MI to help at the Hospitality House.  They call it an “Alternative Break,” I call it practice.  I am trying to place myself in situations “out of my element” in order to prepare for studying abroad.  I have been informed not to bring anything of value, and there is a strict ‘no alcohol policy.’  About that…

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, and I know three things I will not be giving up this year.  Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Drunkenness.

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President’s Day Pointers Monday, Feb 16 2009

Americans often use Presidents’ Day as an excuse to have fun, spend money, and/or  honor the great history of leadership the U.S.A. has been blessed with.  My fellow Americans…today I will exercise all three of these options.

If I worked at the Secretary of State, I would have the entire day off to do as I please.  But I don’t.  I’m an unemployed, hard-working, full-time student at Central Michigan University.  Allow me to bore you with my plans on celebrating this historical day in America’s repertoire of holidays.

At 6:15 p.m. EST, I will be released from my fourth and final class of the day.  I will then walk home in the dark, dreary, bone-chilling weather of Michigan about a half-mile to my apartment.  This is where the Presidents’ Day celebration will begin.

After the layer of ice is melted from my windshield, I will drive up to the cigar store and buy a fresh, aromatic, hand-rolled stogie to appease my senses.  Upon returning to my messy apartment, I will proceed to kick back and watch the 1. U Conn. vs. 4. Pitt game in hopes of gaining some insight for my personal bracketology in the near future.  My newly purchased  cigar will be accompanied by a few, perhaps a few too many, ‘hoppy’ beverages.  Ahhhh…….Presidents’ Day never tasted so sweet.

With my money spent and fun being had at my fingertips, I will take a moment to honor the presidents, former and current, of the United States of America.  This will probably be during halftime.  A cigar to me is not just an oral fixation, it is an event.  A chance to celebrate the day’s events, a recent accomplishment, or simply to provide myself with an introspective look into my future.  -Getting serious for a brief moment by splurging a mental ‘to-do list’-  I plan on studying abroad for the Fall ‘09 semester, but I have no idea where.  Perhaps I will travel to Ireland to improve my writing and discover my heritage.   Maybe it will be visiting the outback in Australia, or being a robot in Singapore (probably not).  Either way, I would like to have an idea before I go home and speak with my mom about it while  we fill out the dreaded FAFSA.  God, help me…

So, my fellow Americans, no matter how you decide to celebrate Presidents’ Day, make the most of it.  After all, it comes but once a year.  Maybe one day I will grace that historic list, shortly after I retire from the Boston Red Sox after discovering the “meaning of life.”

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Fire It Up! Monday, Feb 9 2009

I have always wondered what a Sunday dinner would feel like if I were a mobster.  If you haven’t guessed, The Sopranos is my all-time favorite show.  It might as well define television as a whole, because half the junk on now does not even compare…

I decided to brew up my own version of a nice Sunday dinner (If there is such a thing while living on a college budget, this was it).  I had a bunch on ingredients ready to go in my first stew.  Keep in mind this was also my first time using a slow-cooker.  Painfully-slow, rather.  I chopped up a bunch of veggies and threw them in with some kidney beans, beef broth, and diced tomatoes.  Lets just say the soup didn’t go over as well with my roommates as the sweet aroma of my Arturo Fuente “Short Story.” This little cigar is short and stout, rips like a cuban, and comes out my spout!  For six bucks, it rivals any other cigar in this range I’ve had the chance to puff on.

So I had the fine cigar, stewing  vegetable medley, all I needed was a cheap bottle of red wine.  Luckily, Meijer had some Aussie wine on special (2 bottles for 12 bucks).  Cha-Ching.  It wasn’t the greatest Merlot, but it definately helped in biding my time while I waited on dinner.  Needless to say, I was living the good life Sunday night…Sopranos style.

By the time the stew was “cooked” and didn’t literally melt the roof of your mouth, it was time to cap off my night… more like weekend of utter indulgence.  I boiled the kidney beans for 10 minutes before throwing them int he mix as suggested, but for some reason they were very firm.  I don’t know if that means they were over- or under-cooked.  (If someone knows, do tell).  Either way, after a bottle of wine and a nice stogie, it tasted good to me!

One of my roommates had some of the stew/chili/soup, and I have yet to ask his thoughts.  Lets just say when I woke up this morning, I had to pick out a number of kidney beans of our garbage disposal-less sink to finish rinsing the dishes…Ugh.  Never sign a lease with four other gentlemen if the tiny kitchen is crowed with everything except the most important thing…a garbage disposal.  (We do have a dishwasher, though.  And that is really the most important kitchen appliance..I just figured it went without saying.)

Well, there you have it.  The college Sunday dinner.  A few hold-ups, but still a welcomed break from constant….studying.  Bon Apetite-

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Super Bowl Blues Monday, Feb 2 2009

Many people watch the Super Bowl year after year for the commercials alone.  If you are one of those viewers, I’m sure your disappointment equals mine.  Except my disappointment is aimed towards the referees and the “eyes upstairs.”  I’m not trying to take anything away from the game, it was an exciting battle until the–untimely end.  If you don’t believe me, see for yourself: Oops.

Sorry, done venting.  At least I had a plump Partagas No. 1 to aid me in watching the Cardinals demise.  This cigar was an even burning, pleasant  smoke throughout the halftime show and deep into the second half of the big game.  While my life wasn’t changed by it (Romeo y Julieta No. 1, where art thou Romeo?), it was a welcomed addition to my overall game-watching experience.  So were the Coors Light tall-boys.

I have decided since it will be tough to equal, not to mention surpass, my previous cigar experience of the Cuban R & J.  Therefore, my blog will be focusing more on the experiences associated with my classy new habit.  I will attempt to pair cigar smoking with various aspects of my surrounding atmosphere, or  other ways to ‘live the good life.’ (You said it Zman).

Furthermore, I will try and offer suggestions to you guys–and gals–on ways to enjoy cigars while keeping your wallet intact.  One of these inexpensive ways to do so is buying packs of cigars.  All of the major brands (Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo y Julieta, etc.) have these tins/packs of 5-10 ‘mini’ versions of their larger brothers.  They aren’t always hand-rolled or as much of an experience as the ‘big-boys,’ but they do the trick.  You can get some nice stogies for under $10!! If you want some of the nicer/larger cigars, it ends up being closer to $15.  They are convienient, practical, and still lets us college students fuel a true gentleman’s habit.  Obviously, they don’t last as long, which is fine if your roommates make you smoke outside during Michigan’s cozy winter season…(No, I smoke inside..BECAUSE STONE COLD SAID SO!)

Well, my caffine buzz is dwindling and my eyes are tired. Next time I will try and squeeze in some vino into the picture.  Focker out-

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