I introduced a special guest yesterday at The Tobacco Hut. All the way from Seattle, my brother-in-law Mark was in town for business and was able to extend his visit to spend time with Paula and me. I couldn't let the Saturday go by without a stop at the Hut for a cigar and a pipe, so we hit the store around 1:30 or so and he got to meet Lou and Joe.
As I filled my Ascorti Pepino pipe with some Tinder Box Reserve 1928 (I must say that this tobacco made exclusively for the Tinder Box by McClelland continues to impress - never harsh, great flavor and excellent room note), Mark picked out a Fuente and we settled in. Joe reminded us that he was heading for the north country on the 21st (Erie, PA) so we probably won't see him 'til the following Saturday. Stay warm, Joe!
I was hoping that Joe's son James "Two Kidney" Koker would call in like he usually does on Saturday afternoons, but he must have been too busy pouring vodka in his ears.
A short time later, Peter arrived and I introduced him to a fellow Bostonian. Mark and Peter compared notes and Boston history, and I think Peter was finally glad to be able to share his love of Beantown (or Tremontaine as the city was originally called) with someone with as much appreciation and love of the town as him. Not that the rest of us don't care, but some of the recondite and arcane points of Boston's history are lost on non-natives.
Barry came in toward the end of our stay and after the introductions and pleasantries were out of the way, the talk turned to baseball, specifically Yankees vs. Red Sox. Barry staked out his position as a Yankee fan and apologist early, defending their numerous championships and maintaining that, with one or two exceptions, his players are squeaky clean. He is quick to point out how juiced the Sox players are though. Mark diplomatically made the point that, like corrupt politicians, athletes using performance enhancing drugs are rampant on every team.
Mark congratulated Barry on the Yankees' 2009 World Series win, making a reference to how their gigantic payroll probably played a not so insignificant role in their win. Barry disputed this, of course, claiming that the payroll between the Yankees and Red Sox wasn't so far apart - maybe $10-20 million. So I did some research. According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, the 2009 opening day payroll for the Yankees was $201.4 million. Opening day payroll for the Red Sox was $121.7 million, a difference of almost $80 million. I'll let my reader decide for himself if, and to what degree, money makes a difference in winning MLB championships. Just an aside, the San Diego Padres' 2009 opening day payroll was $43.7 million. 'Nuff said.
I had hoped for a more vigorous, and logical, fact-based defense from Barry concerning Yankee steroid use and "bought" championships, especially in the face of a united Mark/Peter front, rather than ad hominem attacks accusing the two of a budding "bromance." He did tell the entertaining story of when he met Derek Jeter in a Tampa restaurant a couple years ago. His veritable lust for Mr. Jeter seemed a bit like a "bromance" as well, and Barry unashamedly admitted to it, claiming it would be "just sex."
On that note, Mark and I took our leave. I'm not sure if my advanced hype of the Hut lived up to expectations, but I hope Mark had a good time nevertheless and will consider joining the gang again the next time he's in town.
Until next week...
- Bob
P.S. How did Dallas do in their playoff game, Barry? Sorry, man, had to do it. Still friends...?
Showing posts with label Ascorti Pepino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ascorti Pepino. Show all posts
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Saturday at the Hut - 1/24/09
Saturday at the Tobacco Hut found me smoking Maltese Falcon in an Ascorti Pepino. The combination was especially nice; I'm fairly new to Greg Pease's blend (still working on my first tin) and it is a bit drier now than when I first opened it. The smoke was cool and flavorful and I had no problems keeping it lit.
The day was a little strange, although certainly not for the same reasons as last Saturday, but will get to that in a bit. The eternally cheerful Joe K arrived shortly after I did, and we promptly began talking tech, probably to Lou's dismay. Joe gave us each a business card that his wife Val had printed up for him - he does a lot of computer work (repairs, training, etc.) for friends and neighbors and they always ask if he has a card, so now he does. It's a fine looking card and I wouldn't change a thing on it - well maybe just a little (inside joke for Joe & Val)!
Peter arrived and was greeted, as usual, with a Cheers-like "Peter!", a la Norm. He announced a new business venture and the four of us brainstormed a bit offering names, logo ideas, slogans, etc. I offered to work on his marketing materials and graphics (or, as Joe says, "fancy stuff"), and I started last night, sending Peter four logo ideas.
Barry came in a short while later and we ended up having a most interesting, and different conversation. As I alluded to above, it was almost strange because the topic between Barry, Peter, Lou and myself (Joe had left by that point to take a nap. He claimed he was going to Home Depot, but we know better. He's retired - we're all jealous) was something that rarely gets discussed at the Hut: religion. And, moreover, it was quite civil.
Speaking of Barry, a few weeks ago he sent Peter a picture of himself with Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Mike Alstott. Peter immediately called Barry out for two-timing on his beloved Dallas Cowboys by wearing a Bucs jersey. The rub was that Barry sent the picture to Peter from his wife's cellphone, and that's where Peter responded. Barry's wife got the text and, of course, had no idea what was going on. The picture appears below, for all the world to see.
Barry recounted another story, this time about meeting New York Yankees great Derek Jeter. He and his wife were in Macaroni Grill in Tampa when Derek Jeter walked in with a group of a dozen or so other people. Barry could hardly contain himself but when his wife urged him to approach Derek and ask for an autograph, Barry begged off, saying he didn't want to interrupt the man's dinner. When Derek's party was leaving, Derek headed off to use the men's room...and since Barry wasn't doing anything about meeting his favorite player, Lori sprang into action. She followed Derek Jeter into the men's room and explained that her husband's favorite sport was baseball, his favorite team was the Yankees, and he was his favorite player, and could he please have his picture taken with Barry. Derek, more than a little surprised, said he would if he could be allowed to finish peeing. The result is seen here, taken just inside the restaurant, not the men's room.
Cheers!
- Bob
The day was a little strange, although certainly not for the same reasons as last Saturday, but will get to that in a bit. The eternally cheerful Joe K arrived shortly after I did, and we promptly began talking tech, probably to Lou's dismay. Joe gave us each a business card that his wife Val had printed up for him - he does a lot of computer work (repairs, training, etc.) for friends and neighbors and they always ask if he has a card, so now he does. It's a fine looking card and I wouldn't change a thing on it - well maybe just a little (inside joke for Joe & Val)!
Peter arrived and was greeted, as usual, with a Cheers-like "Peter!", a la Norm. He announced a new business venture and the four of us brainstormed a bit offering names, logo ideas, slogans, etc. I offered to work on his marketing materials and graphics (or, as Joe says, "fancy stuff"), and I started last night, sending Peter four logo ideas.
Barry came in a short while later and we ended up having a most interesting, and different conversation. As I alluded to above, it was almost strange because the topic between Barry, Peter, Lou and myself (Joe had left by that point to take a nap. He claimed he was going to Home Depot, but we know better. He's retired - we're all jealous) was something that rarely gets discussed at the Hut: religion. And, moreover, it was quite civil.
Speaking of Barry, a few weeks ago he sent Peter a picture of himself with Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Mike Alstott. Peter immediately called Barry out for two-timing on his beloved Dallas Cowboys by wearing a Bucs jersey. The rub was that Barry sent the picture to Peter from his wife's cellphone, and that's where Peter responded. Barry's wife got the text and, of course, had no idea what was going on. The picture appears below, for all the world to see.
Barry recounted another story, this time about meeting New York Yankees great Derek Jeter. He and his wife were in Macaroni Grill in Tampa when Derek Jeter walked in with a group of a dozen or so other people. Barry could hardly contain himself but when his wife urged him to approach Derek and ask for an autograph, Barry begged off, saying he didn't want to interrupt the man's dinner. When Derek's party was leaving, Derek headed off to use the men's room...and since Barry wasn't doing anything about meeting his favorite player, Lori sprang into action. She followed Derek Jeter into the men's room and explained that her husband's favorite sport was baseball, his favorite team was the Yankees, and he was his favorite player, and could he please have his picture taken with Barry. Derek, more than a little surprised, said he would if he could be allowed to finish peeing. The result is seen here, taken just inside the restaurant, not the men's room.
Cheers!
- Bob
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