Very few times in my life have I been dumbfounded to the point of a slack jaw stare but today it happened.
Let me give a bit of backstory here to add flavor to this savory tale.
The last week or so has been a real shit bucket. I got a virus or the plague, I really have no idea what it was except awful chest congested no cigar smoking hell. Now mind you, I am a big audio book guy and about the time this infectious demon bug decided to invade my strada-choco-lada, I began a new book series called "Breakers". Now you may be wondering "what the hell a book has to do with the price of butter" and I will explain. This particular book is about a nasty little virus called the "Panhandler" that does egregious things to the delicate human body.
So for a few days I am convinced that my precious and most personal temple has been invaded by a world ending concoction of air-born ManBeard destroying herpo-syphil-aids and to top it all off I don't even want to look at a cigar let alone smoke one. In addition to my aforementioned physical state, the book really started off slow so I'm thinking yeah this is great, I am going to pass on to the great blue yonder before I even get to finish this shitty fear instilling bastard of a book I started. But fear ye not as this story is not that of a tragedy but of the strength of human endurance and redemption.
On the fifth or sixth day of this battle with natures destructive forces, and about the time it no longer felt as if I had swallowed 3 pounds of thumb tacks I began to hope, dare I say believe that I might actually survive this ordeal at least long enough to finish my book. So full of determination I decided to get on with my life and while not quite ready to embark an a cigar smoking mission I gathered the family and we made about 6 gallons of cider in preparation for the upcoming winter, if we survive that long. After a grueling day of work and careful preparation the yeast was added and the airlock attached to the carboy. Not yet knowing if the alchemy was a success we journeyed to bed with hope and the satisfaction that we had given our all. At this point not only am I still alive but the book has started to pick up and I fall asleep listening, not even realizing I am not coughing every 6.5 seconds and will get a good nights rest.
The following day I awake, and whats this, I feel not too bad. Thoughts of sitting out back and smoking a cigar are a possibility, maybe a stretch but stranger things have happened....right? So I hop in the shower then get dressed and wander into the kitchen thinking cigars when I see the cider, sitting there in its glory. Suddenly with anticipation I creep up to it keeping an eye on the air-lock.....will it bubble will it....yesssss, success the cider has started to ferment!!!! This is when I know today is the day, I will return to the cigar brotherhood in smoke billowing glory this very day.
In preparation I made about a half gallon of hot cider with a few secret ingredients, chose a cigar and got it all prepped and ready on the back patio before returning to the kitchen to clean my mess so my beautiful bride wouldn't murder me for destroying her kitchen. The cigar, an "Asylum" while not the best cigar I have ever had was pretty good and the cider seemed to enhance the flavor nicely. The funny thing is I think I will remember this cigar experience for the rest of my life, it was just one of those times when things just seem to come together and fit perfectly.
So now to the point of this rather long winded glimpse into the life of ManBeard. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to navyvet. He doesn't know me from Adam and sent me a few messages welcoming me and let me know he sent me a package. This alone caught me off guard and I was expecting a few smokes or a sampler and was pretty stoked and excited about a mystery gift.
Now I may have embellished a bit in the above story but I really was sick as a dog, and yesterday was the first smoke I have had in over a week, and today is the first day that I actually feel "good" and back to my old self so been looking forward to a good cigar all day. So I pull into the drive and I spy a white package on the porch, so I am giddy as I get out and go grab it. I sit it on the counter rip it open to see what goodies lay in wait.
I kid you not I opened it and stood there for maybe a minute with my mouth open, kinda stupefied.....the picture says it all
Thank you again navyvet, it is truly too much. I will do my best to pay it forward and if anyone gets half of the feeling and excitement that your kind act gave to me its a win for the ages!! I hope I at least made a couple of you smile or chuckle with my story and if I did please send navyvet a message and a kudos as he made my week.
Cheers to you all as I am feeling blessed for the opportunity to be a BOTL.....ManBeard
Let me give a bit of backstory here to add flavor to this savory tale.
The last week or so has been a real shit bucket. I got a virus or the plague, I really have no idea what it was except awful chest congested no cigar smoking hell. Now mind you, I am a big audio book guy and about the time this infectious demon bug decided to invade my strada-choco-lada, I began a new book series called "Breakers". Now you may be wondering "what the hell a book has to do with the price of butter" and I will explain. This particular book is about a nasty little virus called the "Panhandler" that does egregious things to the delicate human body.
So for a few days I am convinced that my precious and most personal temple has been invaded by a world ending concoction of air-born ManBeard destroying herpo-syphil-aids and to top it all off I don't even want to look at a cigar let alone smoke one. In addition to my aforementioned physical state, the book really started off slow so I'm thinking yeah this is great, I am going to pass on to the great blue yonder before I even get to finish this shitty fear instilling bastard of a book I started. But fear ye not as this story is not that of a tragedy but of the strength of human endurance and redemption.
On the fifth or sixth day of this battle with natures destructive forces, and about the time it no longer felt as if I had swallowed 3 pounds of thumb tacks I began to hope, dare I say believe that I might actually survive this ordeal at least long enough to finish my book. So full of determination I decided to get on with my life and while not quite ready to embark an a cigar smoking mission I gathered the family and we made about 6 gallons of cider in preparation for the upcoming winter, if we survive that long. After a grueling day of work and careful preparation the yeast was added and the airlock attached to the carboy. Not yet knowing if the alchemy was a success we journeyed to bed with hope and the satisfaction that we had given our all. At this point not only am I still alive but the book has started to pick up and I fall asleep listening, not even realizing I am not coughing every 6.5 seconds and will get a good nights rest.
The following day I awake, and whats this, I feel not too bad. Thoughts of sitting out back and smoking a cigar are a possibility, maybe a stretch but stranger things have happened....right? So I hop in the shower then get dressed and wander into the kitchen thinking cigars when I see the cider, sitting there in its glory. Suddenly with anticipation I creep up to it keeping an eye on the air-lock.....will it bubble will it....yesssss, success the cider has started to ferment!!!! This is when I know today is the day, I will return to the cigar brotherhood in smoke billowing glory this very day.
In preparation I made about a half gallon of hot cider with a few secret ingredients, chose a cigar and got it all prepped and ready on the back patio before returning to the kitchen to clean my mess so my beautiful bride wouldn't murder me for destroying her kitchen. The cigar, an "Asylum" while not the best cigar I have ever had was pretty good and the cider seemed to enhance the flavor nicely. The funny thing is I think I will remember this cigar experience for the rest of my life, it was just one of those times when things just seem to come together and fit perfectly.
So now to the point of this rather long winded glimpse into the life of ManBeard. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to navyvet. He doesn't know me from Adam and sent me a few messages welcoming me and let me know he sent me a package. This alone caught me off guard and I was expecting a few smokes or a sampler and was pretty stoked and excited about a mystery gift.
Now I may have embellished a bit in the above story but I really was sick as a dog, and yesterday was the first smoke I have had in over a week, and today is the first day that I actually feel "good" and back to my old self so been looking forward to a good cigar all day. So I pull into the drive and I spy a white package on the porch, so I am giddy as I get out and go grab it. I sit it on the counter rip it open to see what goodies lay in wait.
I kid you not I opened it and stood there for maybe a minute with my mouth open, kinda stupefied.....the picture says it all
Thank you again navyvet, it is truly too much. I will do my best to pay it forward and if anyone gets half of the feeling and excitement that your kind act gave to me its a win for the ages!! I hope I at least made a couple of you smile or chuckle with my story and if I did please send navyvet a message and a kudos as he made my week.
Cheers to you all as I am feeling blessed for the opportunity to be a BOTL.....ManBeard
