Category: Cigars

notes on cigars

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Visiting Graduation-Bound Ivan at U Chicago

Yesterday afternoon I took a drive downtown to visit our Ivi, who is close to graduating from ‘UC Hicago’. The drive from Fermilab proceeded through the Pine/Kirk Road gate, there was a major power incident that had the Warrenville gate closed, and started from Wilson Hall around 4:20pm… not the best time to travel but not much choice here. The first 35 miles were flying until we hit I290 where the traffic jam began; probably the usual it said +25min in google maps and it was at least that much. On the way on the south shore drive I swung by Binny’s to pick up a bunch of my favorites (Herrera Esteli’s) to make it an even more memorable evening. I arrived pretty much at 6:15pm, Ivan had finished his exam at 5:00pm so he was ready.

We parked the car in the back and took off from 5747 South Chicago Ave on foot to walk to the iconic Medici on 57th – Restaurant | Bakery | Delicatessen. A inexpensive but rather good restaurant where we enjoyed a Pizza Prosciutto/Arugula (medium) and a Pork Sandwich. We could not leave out the desert, hand made in the bakery next door. Pecan pie and a Garbage Sundae. The conversation included Peter Thiel’s 21 point manifesto (after further inspection the manifesto is actually the Palentir Manifesto and has 22 points), Thomas Mann’s ‘Zauberberg’, networking-is-king in job search, Dostoevsky’s ‘Brothers Karamazov’ and much more.

After finishing dinner we strolled back and got in the car to finish the evening at the famous view point on the lake to see Chicago on the lake in the evening light. After some soul and parking lot searches we found the perfect parking spot and walked over. We found a great bench, took a pic, and called mom and the ‘babes’.

Then we lit our stogies and embarked into more conversations. What a great night, in light of Ivan’s important moment, shortly before finishing up at UChicago as a Applied Math and Computer Science double major it was an evening to remember. After dropping this young man off at the dorm I raced home in about 50mins and arrived at 22:50pm.

We and me in particular are very proud of this young man!

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Friday before Easter

Today we went with the kids along the minuteman bike path starting from Mill Street. We unpacked the scooters and Blaki’s stroller and off we went along the bike path direction Lexington. It was a perfect spring day with wonderful sunshine but still a little brisk. The kids were glad to be outside, at least that is what it looked like and Ana an I hoped for, and we strolled along the really nice path. Unfortunately there are actually quite some cyclist on the path — no surprise of course — and we had to watch the kids so they would not get in the way to much. Marki tried his new scooter (he has it already since we left Geneva, but rarely used it) and as it is a little more difficult to steer we had some falling but Marki mostly took it his usual way ‘I’m okay!’.

Gisele is by now quite good at using her scooter and she kept up pretty well with our two rowdy boys. Blake meanwhile just took in the fresh air and enjoyed the stroller ride commenting at times in his peculiar way. He demanded food and at times pointed out the good stuff on the path. I was calmly working on my large ice-coffee black which we had picked up at Dunkin Donuts right around the corner. I lite my cigar and Ana and I slowly followed or trailed the kids.

After some time they got bored of the scooters and we started to play racing. Ivan would mostly win, and Markus was the coach, so he would not loose :-). Gisele just played for the interactions and was happy, most of the time. After about 30-45 minutes we arrived at the playground which we figured must be part of Arlington Heights playground.

After our long walk we thought it was a good idea to pick up the two drawers from my ‘new’ office table which I had recovered from the office from one of our retiring researchers. A very nice old simple but solid wood desk. The material is in pretty decent condition but the varnish is all dirty broken up and scratched. Anyway we got the two drawers and on our way back I figured, if I restore the desk I should start with the drawers. So we stopped by ACE hardware and got some stripper and polyurethane and some sand paper.

After we unloaded the car I got started on the drawers while Ana made a classical wok and the kids played with our neighbors kids in the garden. When it was lunch time (a typical Spanish one at 4pm) I had just finished to strip both drawer and sand the first one. The result was rather promising. After an excellent lunch (many mmmmmms!)  I sanded the second drawer and carefully put the first layer of polyurethane on. The result I though was really wonderful. The table has a rather dark color but looks so much better in its natural wood color. I really hope I can do the same with the desk.

After this is took a beer and lit a fire in the back to burn off some of the smaller and bigger branches which had fallen off the trees. A very ‘zen’ activity which I shared with Blake. Blake seems to enjoy to spent some quality time with his papi, and I do enjoy my time with him.

 

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News on Cigars

Recently I have been getting back to my old vice somewhat more seriously…. yes I love cigars. Smoked together with a whiskey, a bourbon, a decent Rum or maybe a Cognac, there is few greater pleasures.
Due to the Cuba embargo, which is still active since the October 1960, there are no Cuban cigars around in this country. At least they are not sold over the counter to a normal person like me. Making the best of it I am studying the locally available cigars again. After spending 8 years in Chicago you can imagine that I am not a novice to non-Cuban smokes, but after three years in Geneva I had to brush up on my inventory.
I still like the Padrons which are really a great deal, as well as the CAO Brazil cigars which are a bit more flavorful. But there are also some new ones which had not tried. Right now for example I am sucking on a wonderful cigar from Alec Bradley (Vice Press). This is really as good as it gets, flavorful, a big gauge, which I do like when I have the time. Together with it I am sipping slowly on my Laphroaig a wonderful tart whiskey — Andreas recommended  it and I have thankfully accepted as one of my preferred drinks — straight up and please, not too cold.