Cigaring in the Great Outdoors
After one of the longest, coldest, wettest, nasty-ass winters, I have ever seen in all my years, Spring has finally sprung here in the north east. That crotchety sour cretin, Old Man Winter has finally given it a rest and Mother Nature has decided to stop being such a cold tempered bitch. We had a record 20 something snow storms, wearing our nerves thin and producing pot holes the size of Rosie O’donnell’s swim trunks. Temperatures have finally settled into the mid to high sixties as we all have breathed one big collective sigh of relief.
To most people, warm weather means mowing lawns, walking dogs, washing cars, and taking in a ball game or two. But to us cigar hounds it means we FINALLY get to smoke our precious hand rolled happy sticks in the great outdoors. Fresh air and aged premium tobacco is a match made in heaven, and being able to enjoy a Frank Llaneza 1961, Romeo y Julietta Reserva Real, or Maria Mancini on my back patio again is truly a gift from the good Lord, above, I kid you not.
I’m one of those guys who takes pride in his lawn and I actually enjoy hopping on the riding mower and making the yard look purty. I’ve got a nice sized property and it takes a good hour to cut the thing, so I always choose a mammoth sized club of a cigar to light up as I motor my tractor around the property (staying clear of retaining walls at all costs – see Blog July 2009 http://www.jrcigarblogs.com/?p=3375.) With an Arturo Fuente Canone protruding from my jaw, I zoom around the lawn as the scent of freshly cut grass and Dominican tobacco makes everything feel just right. And when doing planting or yard work, I chose a couple of lesser priced sticks from the JR collection – my “yard gars” if you will – and puff away as my leafy companions make the work seem a bit more relaxing and fun.
Nothing is more enjoyable than my after dinner, night time cigar, as I make a few phone calls to my local buddies as we herf it up on the patio and enjoy the smoke filled camaraderie. Since it’s still spring time, the temperatures dip into the 50’s at night, so we toss a pile of logs in the steel bowl pit and like the cromags we are, we huddle and gaze at the flames while puffing our glorious puros. We talk about the days events, the local teams, the idiots in government, and anything else that comes to mind. World hunger is never solved, diseases never cured, and politicians only seem ridiculously more brain dead, but the waxing over life’s little intricacies brings relaxation to our bodies and peace to our minds and souls.
As I write this fine piece of stogified literature, it’s 10:30 Sunday night, and I’m taping away at the laptop key board at the edge of my garage on a 63 degree evening. I’ve basically nubbed a Camacho Corojo as a cool breeze draws the smoke towards the outside air. The tree frogs or whatever the hell you call them are chirping in the woods next to my house as a light rain falls and the slight sound of thunder rumbles in the distance. Yes, Spring has truly arrived in the nick of time and I couldn’t possibly be more relaxed… and thankful.
So, how are things by you guys? What are you smoking and what springtime rituals are you finally enjoying? Share your thoughts in the comments section below and unwind with your stogie-loving pal, the Zman.
From northern New Jersey, Tommy Z signing off, wishing you long ashes and wonderfully and tasty smokes.
Tommy Z . JR Cigars Blog With the Zman
