Got screwed outta Christmas, so GIVEAWAY!!!

[Chas.Alpha]

Traditionally, my family gets together every Christmas Eve to share food, wine and tales of yore and recent events. I am always expected to bring the cigars and a wild rice casserole. Obviously, this didn’t happen this year...

While moving some stock from the cabinet to a desktop (<10 left) I found the three earmarked for Paul, Bob and I. A shame that they should languish lonely in the desktop. So...

GIVEAWAY FOH CONTEST!!!

Here’s the rules:

1: Write a few short lines why you would enjoy these fine cigars more than your fellow BOTH/SOTH.

2: My wife will read them, then award the entry that made her smile! PRO TIP: Including pics of a dog or cat will likely move you up the rankings... 🤔

That’s it. No strings attached. A good smoke is one that is shared.

The prize consists of:

1) Trinidad Fundadores ARS AGO 19

1) Punch Double Corona UGO NOV 18

1) Romeo&Julieta Churchill ESL MAY 19

Debbie will announce the winner to me, then I’ll DM the winner for shipping details.

Simple and fun. Proud to be an FOH! 😀

[Kaptain Karl]

That's awesome man!! I'd throw my hat in the ring but there's definitely others who deserve it more. 

[Chas.Alpha]

Almost forgot, winner chosen on Monday, April 5 at 2100 GMT

1 hour ago, Kaptain Karl said:

That's awesome man!! I'd throw my hat in the ring but there's definitely others who deserve it more. 

Dunno. Those ARS Fundadores are a sight to behold... 🤔

[SpecialK]

I'm blessed beyond measure and there are so many more that deserve it,  but I'll submit the best dog and Christmas picture that I have... The Big one has crossed the rainbow bridge over 5 years ago and is sorely missed.. The Little one is still around and still Rotten  

[sho671]

What if no one comes up with a deserving reason? Because I’m not sure what would make one deserving of free cigars, but I definitely don’t fit the bill.

[benfica_77]

I don't feel like im deserving either but I'll throw my name in....I've never tried the RyJ Churchill or the Punch DC so it would be helping me broaden my cigar horizons. Also very kind offer for the FOH community. Thanks for doing this!

Attached are a couple photos of my cat Oscar. He likes to hang out with me on the balcony while I smoke. 

 

[triphitter]

@Chas.Alpha I am certainly not deserving, but like many I did get screwed out of Xmas, mostly in the form of free babysitters for my 1 year old son so that I could have some cigars and adult beverages in peace and good company. Him not getting to see his grandparents, 3 uncles (1 of which peruses this great forum), and dozen cousins was the true punishment. Instead he had only his two feline brothers, Freddie and Ovi, to play with.

I feel shameful writing this, but they are gorgeous cigars. If I shall win they will likely be shared with the uncles or maybe I'll age one until the little guy is 18 and of age. Cheers! Extremely gracious move on your part!

[Kaptain Karl]

31 minutes ago, Chas.Alpha said:

Dunno. Those ARS Fundadores are a sight to behold... 🤔

Alright here’s my wiener and puss FTW 😂😂😂

[Fuzz]

I was all excited for the giveaway....until I realised it was for cigars and not the rice.

The Asian part of me is very sad. 😞

[Chas.Alpha]

1 hour ago, Kaptain Karl said:

That's awesome man!! I'd throw my hat in the ring but there's definitely others who deserve it more. 

Deserve was definitely the wrong choice of words. I edited it to “would enjoy.” 
 

After seeing Oscar the kitten, Freddie and Ovi and the wiener dog, Debbie has prompted me into some consolation prizes...😀

 

57 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

I was all excited for the giveaway....until I realised it was for cigars and not the rice.

The Asian part of me is very sad. 😞

The only thing I miss about Minnesota. Well, the rice and maybe my sisters... 🤔

 

1 hour ago, sho671 said:

What if no one comes up with a deserving reason? Because I’m not sure what would make one deserving of free cigars, but I definitely don’t fit the bill.

Bad choice of words. Yeah, all FOH are deserving of these... 😀

[Chibearsv]

53 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

I was all excited for the giveaway....until I realised it was for cigars and not the rice.

The Asian part of me is very sad. 😞

Not rice Fuzz, wild rice.  It’s almost black with a firm shell that pops open a little when you cook it.  For those of us that have/had a lake cottage in northern Wisconsin or Minnesota, we see it growing in the shallows and in the channels between the lakes.  Our old cottage was in Manitowish Waters and we fished on Wild Rice Lake every day we were up there. Good stuff and since Chas is from Minnesota, I’m betting he knows just how to cook it. A great side dish for fish or poultry. I’ll put my name in the hat for the giveaway if Chas will send his recipe too. 😁

[sho671]

27 minutes ago, Chas.Alpha said:

Bad choice of words. Yeah, all FOH are deserving of these... 😀

Well I’m living the bachelor life with no pets or anything cute to share so good lock to everyone else.

[Chas.Alpha]

2 minutes ago, sho671 said:

Well I’m living the bachelor life with no pets or anything cute to share so good lock to everyone else.

Just snatch a pic off of the internet. My wife won’t know the difference! 🤣

Come one, come all. I will be sending these to a FOH next Tuesday...

[sho671]

3 minutes ago, Chas.Alpha said:

Just snatch a pic off of the internet. My wife won’t know the difference! 🤣

Nah, wouldn’t be honest on my part.

[Chibearsv]

Well, I’d better add my pic of miss Tilly too. Just celebrated her first birthday 

[TobaccoRoad]

My 16 year old cat Bubby. He is a grumpy old man and only truly happy when he is in my lap. As soon as I sit down and put my feet up he is right there ready to curl up in my lap to take a nap. When I get up before he has had sufficient lap time he will walk along beside me yowling and batting at my ankles to show his displeasure. Bubby can't go with me to my detached shop/man cave/cigar lounge so he is 100% against me winning this contest. Cigars, especially long ones, are a severe imposition to his life as he does not have access to my lap while I'm smoking. In the pic he is sitting there in my lap planning his escape and journey to your house to yowl at you and bat your ankles if you pick me as the winner.

As for me I'm willing to take a few bats on the ankle from a grumpy old cat to get to smoke those long, beautiful habanos. So please pick me!

[Fosgate]

DC's are my fav size and preferred smoke. Good flavor and by the time you get to the end I'm ready to put it down and fully content. All three are on my list to collect though I have not tried two of those. Trying to find DC's seems to be getting tougher and tougher and more expensive. much longer and many will beyond the pricepoint I'm willing to spend. The Trinidads are already there for me. They would certainly make a nice special occasion cigar. 

Wild rice cassarole??? I love it but the only time I get to eat a decent recipe is a biannual meeting my company has at Craguns Resort, Brainard MN. Unfortunatly one has to tolerate being at the resort itself. The drunkfest is ok with the exception of the distance it is held from my room and I'm usually considerably more sober that I'd like to be by the time I get back to it. 

I usually opt for what we call the "Lyndon B. Johnson" Suite. You can immediatly see why by this photo. 

This place is straight out of the 1960's-70's resort and buffett. It's like stying in a time capsule from the 1960's-70's all the way down to the buffet with hot dishes, cassaroles and jello molds. Only place I have been to that still serves "funeral meat sandwiches," (Ham Salad) and I havn't had those since the 70's. 

Anyway, we should be up late summer to go but I doubt we will because of COVID. 2019 I came from out west and made it to Sioux Falls and dropped off a drunk coworker at her hotel on the south end of Sioux Falls and I went to my Hotel on the North end of town. Half hour later a storm hit and I get a call from said drunk coworker standing in the lobby of her hotel freaking out how windy it looked outside and tornado sirens are going off. I told her she should probably seek shelter. "You sure?" she asked. Yup. The next morning I went and picked her up to goto the local office. Needless to say several tornadoes hit and as Insurance Claim Adjusters we staying in SIoux Falls for a few days and the meeting in Brainard was cancelled. 

 

Anyway, It'll be 4 years without a decent wild rice cassarole. So if you don't send cigars a good wild rice recipe would be appreciated. 

As far as my guy. Doing what he does best. 

[Smatthews607]

I will shamelessly throw my hat into the ring, simply because I have never sampled any of the three cigars you missed sharing over the holidays. If I can help ease this loss in some way by sharing your stash with me, I am happy to help a brother of the leaf out. To help advance my shameless plea, I am including my partner in crime's picture. My constant companion for the past 5 years, he is spoiled rotten.

Kinda looks like a Churchill, doesn't it?

 

Can you really say no to that face?

[djrey]

What a generous offer. The FOH community never ceases to amaze me.

My girlfriend of 9 years who I met in college were just recently engaged back in January. She’s always been great with my cigar hobby to the point of occasionally smoking one with me! I have always marked special occasions with cigars. Some of our first and most memorable dates were sitting by the local lake at college and watching the sun set with a cigar. 
 

While saving money for the ring I mostly purchased (and still do) from the cheap and cheerful category, Partagas shorts, HUHC etc. 

We’re months away (and years overdue) from moving into our first place together. All these years living apart, then engagement, settling on a new place and wedding planning is nothing short of a celebration for us. With some big gun smokes like that I’d plan a surprise date to our local lake and light them up with her just like our first days back in school. 

Below are my two adopted cats. Sisters Ducky and Piper.

 

[Focal_Banger]

I don't think that I am deserving of these cigars as I've been doing well even with the state of the world. However, I wanted share a funny Christmas story. 

Every year my family submits our Christmas lists so everyone can get an idea of what to gift each other. I had the usual: tech, tools, games, etc. I also has a couple clothing items, one being flannel shirts, but I just wrote down "flannels." Not thinking anything of it, I gave my Christmas list in and did my shopping. 

Come Christmas morning, it was time to open gifts. I take pride in getting my family quality and nice things, because they deserve it. My sister and I usually open our gifts first, together. She opened my gift, excited to receive a brand new Apple iPad, battery pack, case, wine, and some other trinkets. I open her gift, to receive 4 pairs of flannel pajamas pants and a gift card. Then I went on to receive 2 more complete sets of flannel pajamas from my parents. Apparently my family's first thought to the word "flannels" was nightwear. We all had a laugh as I explained to them that I meant shirts. Oh well. It was a memorable Christmas for sure.  Family, am I right? 

Even though that year's Christmas was a bust, I sleep comfortably knowing that my sister was enjoyed her gifts.

[Çnote]

Wow!

I've not had any CC of that size, much less such good looking examples. I've had a fair amount of smaller Trinidad and RyJ, but only a couple of Punch. I'd tuck them into a dark slightly moist box for as long as I could stand and then set fire to them, either around a smoker full of meat or a campfire.

 

Please, post up that wild rice recipe and maybe a link to gets some appropriate rice, that sounds perfect for the holiday.

 

 

 

 

 

[PigFish]

I have no shortage of cigars so there is no real need to send these to me. If I had to make a mooch attempt, it would be for the Trinidad. I am curious as to what a newer one tastes/smokes like. I just like to tell my stories and share my pictures.

 

We live in the burbs and we used to have a robust equine community. Similarly, we once had a community parade. The parade would shut the town down on a Saturday in September, so all kinds of people from all walks of life, could join in and walk down the middle of the main drag in the parade, or just watch it. There was a day when a local liquor store would put a guy in a rolling tub and shoot a stream of beer at people! Can't do that anymore. Beer hose or no beer hose, eventually the parade itself was 'too risky' and so the city ended it. 

There are plenty of folks with a lot of 'bread' in my town. Finding someone with a million-dollar horse is not unheard of here. There are farms/ranches nearby for the uber rich, and ones that support every type of horsemanship, including some world-renowned grand prix show jumpers. Then there are those like my wife and I, backyard horse owners in a handful of neighborhoods that can support them.

With that being said, Connie (aka Lady Piggy) and I were one of few people who raised miniature horses. You would rarely see them decades ago. Many standard horse owners looked down on our horses as freakish critters that would spook their skittish, high-strung animals. There was no shortage of comments like, 'what is the use of that....      animal...? You can't ride it!' “I heard those things are all mean…”

“… they kick…. they bite… devour small children…” We heard them all.

The point of miniature horses, for us anyway, was about the simple love of the animals. And, as we come full circle here, not unlike this thread, the desire to share them. There was a day when a lot of people were unfamiliar with these little horses. They were not that common, somewhat rare to see, and quite often a really big hit with kids and the general public. Little kids just go crazy for them. To kids, they are just these warm, living stuffed animals.

Some years ago, Connie and I had this great idea. What better than to front all these million-dollar horses and their dolled-up riders in the annual parade? Why did one need a 6-figure horse and 10K saddle to be in the parade anyway? Well, you didn’t, and we signed up. Okay, they did not exactly want to have us 'up front,' not in the beginning anyway, so they put us in the back of the pack with the pooper scoopers! That was fine by us. Sometimes the ass end of a horse is the better view, than the front end of some people, if you get my perspective.

So back of the horse pack we would go, right in front of one of the local car clubs or some other group.

Connie and I would not walk together, but each take a side of the street. A parade crowd in our town was like a living thing. The sides, lines of people, baby carriages and all would move and swell, even close in not he parade at times. The cops would hold people at bay.... not by any show of force, but rather by shooting 'Silly String' at the onlookers. They would sneak up on people, on their motorcycles and blast them, especially the kids with Silly String. Better yet, you could buy or bring your own silly string, run up to a cop on a motorcycle and assault him/her as well. And they would retaliate… with Silly String of course. Some people, especially the cops would be covered with the stuff by the end of the parade.

Now, most people don’t know a million-dollar horse from a plow nag! Not if it is groomed anyway. Everyone clapped at the proud riders and their mounts as they came strutting down the lanes. And then there was Connie and I, and our little bookend black and white minis, Lacey and MoMo. We did not get clapping… we got mobbed.

Everyone wanted to pet, and twice as many wanted a picture! Me and my 3 gals, Connie, Lacey and MoMo were often the result of an hour delay in the parade. A whole mob of onlookers would follow us the length of the parade route to get their picture with one or both of the girls.

We would often have to switch sides, or get a group shot. Pets, pats and even an occasional assault by Silly String. Our horses got to be known and expected. We even made it to the front of the horse section. The ‘mascots’ of the horse group. Of course, I suspected that they just wanted to herd us along!!! There was even an occasional pat or pet on one of the big horses….

Did I mention occasional???

Thanks for reading! -Piggy

 

[Fuzz]

On 3/30/2021 at 11:12 AM, Chibearsv said:

Not rice Fuzz, wild rice.  It’s almost black with a firm shell that pops open a little when you cook it.  For those of us that have/had a lake cottage in northern Wisconsin or Minnesota, we see it growing in the shallows and in the channels between the lakes.  Our old cottage was in Manitowish Waters and we fished on Wild Rice Lake every day we were up there. Good stuff and since Chas is from Minnesota, I’m betting he knows just how to cook it. A great side dish for fish or poultry. I’ll put my name in the hat for the giveaway if Chas will send his recipe too. 😁

The Asian in me is even sadder now. 😭

[Çnote]

Fingers crossed!

[Chibearsv]

On 3/30/2021 at 6:39 PM, PigFish said:

 

I'll have to show the wife this picture.  She absolutely loves mini horses.  Something about their butts according to her.  I understand why you'd get mobbed, they're very cute.