So BIG WEEK!!! BIG WEEK!!!
Had enough workouts last week to achieve a #cigarWeekend and my first Cigar of the Month Club package arrived!! It has def amped up my drive to get my workouts in this week so I can try one of these beauties.
I am not even going to go into detail on each of them yet until i have a chance to try them with a pairing. What is really cool is that they come with a booklet of information on the cigars and what they should be paired with, I appreciate that amount of detail.
This week though, I went with something familiar, maybe my last Don Thomas product for a while, because this week I also received a box of cigars from my favorite mom an dad in-law after their recent trip to Cuba. So basically making it rain, cigar style, right now. 
I am seriously going to have to start doing 6+6+6 work outs a week so that I can have more cigars per weekend.
So back to this week, as stated in the Weekly Workout Log portion of this blog it was transition weekend this weekend. 
It is a time for nostalgia.
Not about the year, silly, more around that it was a transition weekend 2 years ago that renewed my love affair with cigars. I decided that it would be an ideal place, having a sit on the deck of the cottage, overlooking the CB countryside, the mountains, the water sparkling in the crisp spring air. The perfect place to have a cigar. From that time two years ago until now, what a cigar ride its been. From just having a cigar every now and then, to trying it to my workouts, to hosting a blog and pairing it with various beverages, wow these two years have gone by in a blink of an eye.
This particular weekend I had 3 different cigars but kept consistent with the beverages. Friend of the show, Dark Horse whiskey was the selection for the weekend. This is also one of the first whiskeys i tried after a very long absence from any brown liquor. 
The 3 cigars were a Presidente Don Thomas Classico; a CAO Box Press; and Romeo and Julieta No.10. I also smoked them in that order. The Don Thomas as the mild/medium appetizer pretty much pairs well with anything, and lit well, had a easy draw and lasted a healthy amount of time. 
The CAO Box Press, Dark and Flavourful, a def medium in terms of color and flavor, again lit well and little stronger draw needed, but very easy to smoke. This one probably worked the best with the Dark Horse flavors and I wished it could have lasted a little longer. 
Lastly the R&J No. 10. Of all the R&J's that i have had this is probably in the middle of the pack. It lit well, and smoked okay, it seemed like it was over very quickly like it wasnt rolled properly or something. In regards to the whiskey I dont recall if i was overly blown away by the pairing so that should tell you all you need to know.
Transition weekend is always different. This year it was a bit more relaxed in regards to style, but intense in regards to information and presentation. It is always interesting to watch a group of leaders try to explain the importance of leadership to a group of incoming leaders. To pass on their successes and challenges in an open and sometimes startlingly honest way. It was hopefully a chance for the new people to be challenged in their thinking about the jobs they will be taking on and the responsibility they will now inherit; and a chance for the outgoing group to start the process to let go of the good, the bad, and sometimes ugly parts of these jobs. 
Every year is always different, but for those of us that do these jobs and work with student leaders it is also part of our process for letting go. I dont know if its better preparing me for when my own kids leave home, or its going to turn me into a sloppy mess. Probs sloppy mess.
I have never been great at goodbyes, my mom tells a story about when I was little, when my grandparents would be getting to leave after a visit that I would disappear, go outside and start throwing rocks at them as they were leaving. Luckily my grandparents never took this to heart, and knew it was my way of coping with them leaving.
So to all the execs over the years, I may not have throw a rock, but consider the sarcasm and chirping,  my verbal rocks. Always wishing you the best, but not a fan of the leaving.
Sean "BigBoyRunning" Ryan

After many long weeks, bouts of gout, lack lustre weeks for workouts, finally after a month, i finally was able to get enough work outs in for a #cigarSaturday. 3 swims + 3 bikes + 3 runs = #cigarSaturday. 
Finally giving myself the opportunity to have a cigar and a scotch was like having crawled through the desert and finding an oasis; it was like finally peeing after having to hold it because your dad would not "stop again for your tiny bladder" on a long car ride, you get the idea, it was nice.
Even though this was over a week ago, i can still taste the smokey flavors mingling; the ease and delight I experienced watching the swirls of purple and grey smoke circle and twist in the crisp winter breeze and it was released into the air and up to the heavens....
Okay maybe that is a little much, but it was great to finally get back to doing that many workouts a week and getting a reward.
So for #cigarSaturday i decided not to go with anything new, as I didnt want to chance it with untried cigars or scotch and sully this reward, so i went with the Don Thomas Corona Classico and the Longmorn 16yr old. 
With the Don Thomas you get a great smoke, lights well, is very medium to light in body, and can really pair with most scotches as it is usually my go to, as there is not much selection in my local smoke shop. 
With the Longmorn 16yr old you get an incredibly smooth, carmel color beverage, that has great notes of spice, and smoke, neither overpowering and just coats the tongue and hits the senses in all the ways a great scotch should.
I would highly recommend the Longmorn, but it has been discontinued by the NSLC and mores the pity for that, but happy i have it in my lil collection.
As i have pointed out, and the calendar shows, hey its March. I have signed up for a cigar of the month club, and my first month is MARCH!! How pumped am I? Super pumped. 
Not that it hasnt been a great romance with the Smoke shop at the superstore, and I cant say enough about the Don Thomas products that I have tried from there, but I am really looking forward to trying some new to me cigars from around the world. Each month they select 5 different cigars and send them out lovingly into the world for those lucky of us cigar of the month subscribers.
Now they wont actually get here until the end of March, so its Don Thomas until then, but DAMN DANIEL i cant wait for that little package to get here in a few weeks.
I am also on track this week for a #cigarSunday, so fingers crossed, I may even get a new scotch to try. *Thinking Emoji*
Sean"BigBoyRunning" Ryan