It is 23 outside and its cold for sure. Christmas is over and in many ways I am glad, but I will miss the excitement you see in the kids eyes awaiting Santa.
NO I an NOT sitting outside in this cold smoking a cigar, but I would love to be doing just that. The image here is from last week and I’ll chat about that below in a bit.
About me, I am struggling right now a little more than usual for different reasons. The off season of racing has really took its toll on me this year. The disastrous 09 season will never be forgotten as one of the worst we ever had at ARP. New management this season; we shall see. I know they are really fired up for change, but I “have seen that before”, and the fired up feeling is quickly shot away by those who you will least expect to do so. Ownership has really done a 360 degree turn around on certain procedures on directions the track will take this coming season. As far as me working there this year, I am really struggling with that decision. In retrospect, I really think 11 years is enough and I should step down and let new blood take over completely. I still have a lot of investments out there and I really do not know how to handle those items if I step down; guess time will tell.
I found a really good cigar link I been visiting lately, Cigar Obsession. The site is an informational blog by Bryan Glynn of Holiday Florida; of course he has to be located in WARM Florida. I really wish I could just bust up roots and move to the coast where it is warm and I can smoke my cigars year round in comfort. Anyways it is a very respectable site with a very personal non forceful approach to the enjoyment of cigars.
Did I mention it is cold? I sat out side a while last week on the only day it was warm enough for me to grab a smoke. No sun and and temp was in the upper 40′s I suspect. 
It was a very enjoyable hour spent enjoying a Perdomo 10th Anniversary Reserve Series Toro, and chilling out the rush of the holiday season and the approaching ’10 season at the track.
I had my smokin’ buddy with me, Max, the rescue dog Jay and his family gave home to. Max is my buddy. He loves to sit out and get his nose wet from the cool air and he loves just being outside even if he chooses to sleep his precious moments away its really cool that he likes being around me.
The cigar doesnt bother him and I do not place him down wind ever. If he sneezes I know the wind played tricks on us both and I quickly adjust his positioning. I do know one thing, Max has played a huge role in my being able to get off the meds as I did back in the summer. The little dog probably saved my butt numerous times when bleak was the high point of the day for me. Thanks Max for being there when you didn’t have to for sure.
