Where you been hiding?

[Mister Moo]

Crap. bigswol2 calls me out. i don't answer so, fortunately, he sends me a text about meeting up for a stogie sit-down and general chit chat. Glad he did.

I gots lots of friends here and, the fact is, I am one of those internet forum casualties. I should have at least said, "See you later. I got business."

I started moderating on another forum which is (almost exclusively) about pipes. I have slid away from cigars and Cigar Asylum, a fantastic cigar site, is a bit away from my area of interest.

Mom moved in a couple of years ago and stayed with us til she passed away at the age of 97. That took a lot of time away from my browsing. Then, a year later, my father-in-law moved in. Hope he makes it to 97, too. I had knee surgery (a clean and buff). We got us Roxie, a 90-lb Airedale/Newfoundland rescue mutt; she needs a lot of time. Then followed a 4-stage cervical fusion, i.e., I had my neck screwed together. My partners and I bought out an investment group and we own our business now - it is time consuming and, fortunately, profitable. Somewhere in there I got into housing two problem children exchange students (the Belgian and the Russian) for the better part of a year and, after they left, I got mixed up with a 19 year old homeless high school drop out. It took nine months but we got him through a bona fide diploma, mononeucleosis, proper diet, lots of exercise, mega- weight loss and, finally, admission to the US Navy. I sold the Goldwing GL1800 I rode for nine years (after knee surgery) and lasted amost a month without a bike. I picked up an '07 BMW R1200R, half the weight of the Honda, and am back to riding. Oh yeah, then for some reason I picked up a 1987 Porsche 911 Carrera Targa. The car of my dreams this little guy except it had a few problems that took a year and a half to massage out. Been working on it a lot, mostly nickel and dime stuff that demands time more than money. And a few other things I can't remember.

So, I've been around but mostly away. Been busy. Anyone needs me? bigswol2 has my phone number.

All y'all have a good Spring smoking them yard gars and enjoy plenty of long summer nights with long fat cigars out on the front porch.

Also, a good friend has her Japanese father coming to visit in May. He is 78, speaks no english and is scared of flying and airports. Anyone in Chicago who wants to meet the old man in from Japan and escort him through O'Hare to his connecting flight gets a free cigar and a pitcher of martinis.