The Smell Alone Is Worth A Visit.

A new cigar shop opened not far from my place of employment. After work, I went in to check it out. As I always do when visiting these shops, I asked for the owners' recommendation. The LegendArio by Camacho was the recommend stick I headed home with. It is much cheaper to order from online retailers, but I have always enjoyed the experience and smell of a quality cigar shop. Forgive the out of focus photo. It was starting to rain and I wanted to get a shot before this guy turned to ash.

It was a long enjoyable smoke. The rains came down and I savored every draw. To me, the perfect setting for a good smoke is late in the evening with a good, hard, steady rain to help drown out the stresses of everyday life.

Mark

Tennessee Handgun Carry Info

I came across a great blog post today outlining Tennessee's carry permit laws: When you can use it, and where you can't carry it. I remembered most of it from the permit class I took, but it was good to get a refresher. The link to the article is HERE. I went on to read some more of this man's blog, which was very good. (Mark, be sure to check it out). The address is www.lesjones.com.

On a side note, even though Mark and I talk about drinking, guns, and other things on this blog, we are responsible gun owners and citizens. Neither of us EVER handles a firearm if we have had anything to drink, and we obey all gun laws. Gun safety above everything if you are a gun owner, and remember that the barrel should NEVER pass across anyone or anything you don't intend to shoot...even if the gun is unloaded.

Dave

Ace Is Back...

Everyone that knows me knows I'm a longtime KISS fan. I have always been a fan of Ace Frehley too. The above pic is a screen grab of his new website (one of the coolest I have seen in a long time, I might add). He has a new album coming out in September called Anomaly, and the countdown has begun. I will be picking up this album as soon as it's out, and I will review it here. It's good to see Ace back in the "Groove". Everything I am hearing is that the album will be in the same vein as his '78 solo album. I can't wait. To find out more, click HERE.

Dave

Cheap-Ass Whiskey

Who would have thought it? My whiskey of choice is Gentleman Jack. However, here lately, I've been trying out some cheaper alternatives given the state of the economy and my economic situation. I generally will drink Gentleman Jack straight, and mix anything else. I mixed a glass of Canadian Mist and Sprite, and was pleasantly surprised that it was very good. Granted, Canadian Mist is nasty straight, but if you do a 30/70 mix with Sprite, it's pretty damn good (30% Mist, 70% Sprite). Gotta tell ya, I enjoyed it.

Dave

"Sticky" Holster Review

I recently purchased the above holster for my Ruger LCP. It is an inside the pocket holster that is supposed to keep the gun from moving around and keep it upright. They call it “sticky” because it is made of a “special high-adhesion fabric” that makes it resist slipping around in your pocket.

I wear cargo shorts most of the time and like to carry in the side pocket. I thought this holster would be exactly what I needed…and it is. It works great. It does prevent the gun from sliding around, and keeps it upright. The way the outside of the holster grips the fabric inside my pocket makes it easy to draw the gun while the holster stays in place. I also like the fact that the holster covers the trigger since this gun has no safety.

If you have an LCP, and carry in the pocket, I would recommend this holster. They’re easy to find…just do an eBay search.

Dave

Fish Crack!

One of the many time-wasting hobbies I have is lure making. I use home made lures most of the time I'm wetting a line. This one in particular, is a balsa popper that out catches any store bought popper I have ever used. It is designed to be used with a popping-cork rig. The schooling Stripers, Hybrids, White bass, Spots and Large mouths go crazy over this thing. By far, the best original bait I have created. I am posting this in the middle of the summer because I am really getting the itch for the fall top-water bite.

Summer fishing is not my forte. But come fall, I will be stocked up and ready for battle.

Mark

Weak Knees...

North end of lake Eufaula on the Chattahoochee River - this part of the river is covered up with these guys. Bass fishing can be phenomenal but beaching the boat to take a leak aint gonna happen. Even though they look fat & happy, they are quick to let you know whose house this is. I believe a camera in the boat is bad luck but when I launch in gator land, I always have one with me.

There is a place on the lake called "The Witches Ditch" that is home to a 18ft. monster. Seeing this girl out of a 18 ft. bass boat sure puts things into perspective.

Mark

Impossible Odds

This is a 5 ft. Alligator Gar. Also referred to as trash fish by most respectable Bass anglers. About 20 of these guys were cruising the shallows. The temptation was too much. I threw in the Baby Torpedo top-water plug and faced the fact that I would probably never see that plug again. It took only 3 casts to get a taker.

He came up out of no where and hammered my offering. Took almost 5 minutes to delicately work him to the boat. While holding him on semi-slack line, I also managed a couple of photos. Seconds after this photo was taken, he threw my plug and retreated back into the safety of deeper water.

I won this battle. I got my plug back. I got the shot. On this day, I was da man!

Mark

A Thief In The Night

Could not figure out what was eating the bird seed during the night. I knew it could not be squirrels due to the fact that they aren't nocturnal. Last night the cats were going crazy. The bird feeder right outside our kitchen window was squeaking back and forth and this little thief was going to town at the all you can eat buffet. I grabbed my camera and through the glass I managed one decent shot.

Now that he has found it, I will need to leave it dry for a while. They are cute and fun to watch but they can carry diseases and will be mean and nasty if they loose their fear of man.

Mark

Perfect Saturday Evening...

How's this for a Saturday evening? Start out with grinding 100% whole grains into flour. Convert the flour into pizza dough. Add a base of home made pizza sauce, red onions, black olives, jalapeno peppers, pepperoni, sausage and mushrooms. Top it off with a nice combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano and Asiago cheeses. Wash it down with an ice cold Bud served in frozen mug. Kick back with a few more cold ones while the NASCAR Nationwide series takes place in Missouri. Finish with a Oliva Master Blends III.

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity! Let's go racing boys!

Mark