Cruising

So my wife and I just got back from a Caribbean cruise to celebrate our 1 year anniversary. Cruises are about relaxing, exploring, consuming, and cigars. If you haven't figured out that last one, I encourage you to find out for yourself what I'm talkiing about.

There were people from all walks of life on this ship. I don't care to make a plug for any particular cruise line (at least not unless some sort of complimentary VIP package can be arranged) so I won't mention the ship's ownership; however, I did want to make a couple of observations about last week. First of all, cruises are not only for society's elite... at least not the one I went on. In fact, it would seem that just by making snap judgements, I couldn't figure out why most of those people were on the ship, living it up as it were.

Of course, I only had to lay on the deck soaking up the full Caribbean sun for about half an hour before my judgements of all the people I had seen turned out and looked back at me. Why was I on the cruise after all? Did I look I "should" be on the boat? Was there a more pleasing aroma in my room after I left the cramped little bedroom restroom with the (rather awesome) vaccuum-operated toilet than the couple down the hall who put the whole vacation on their credit card with no intention of paying it off soon?

As much as I'd like to argue with myself, I know the answer is emphatically: no. I came to enjoy myself and my wife and our marriage and get back above the clouds because the day-to-day grind of the real world can poison the soul. We were all meant to do great things and think great thoughts, and it can get pretty difficult if we don't shake things up every once in a while.

It was a great trip. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and I got caught up on all of the stellar smokes being offered in Stokes Cigar Club over the past couple of months that I hadn't found time to enjoy properly. Even more importantly, though, I got to re-evaluate what I was doing with my life and what I would like to do differently to be a better friend, husband, and thinker. I hope you all can find time to do the same soon.

Cigar Smoking and Cancer

I've got some good stuff and hope you and all your friends read it. I'm not going to tell you though; I'm going to let the National Cancer Institute do it for me. If you're anything like me, and you believe that pretty much anything in moderation will not only not harm, but actually broaden your enjoyment and and fulfillment of life, then you probably don't think that occasionally smoking a cigar will kill you. What is more, I've always believed that there is actually NO scientific proof that the occasional cigar has ANY correlation to cancers or premature death.

But I'm not trying to trick anyone into smoking cigars, and I understand the inherent conflict of interest I have by being a founder of Stokescigar.com. So, I don't really want to get too much more in depth on this topic right now. Just read the top 10 list below and use your own good common sense.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/cigars

Also, read what the American Cancer Society says about cigar smoking:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ped/content/ped_10_2x_cigar_smoking_and_cancer.asp

The thesis from these articles, and this post is most simply stated on both sites:

The health risk associated with occasional cigar smoking (less than daily) is not known.

Have to start somewhere

So I don't live in a vacuum. I've known about weblogs for a while now, but have never had the motivation or concern to start writing one until now. Thursday, April 12, 2007. A date which I will certainly never remember. At any rate, this blog, if it's ever going to be read by anyone other than myself, has to have a theme. My theme will be cigars.

I guess I've tried a great many different brands, shapes, blends, sizes, and lengths since that first counterfeit Cuban I had in Tijuana shortly after turning 18. Boy did I ever think that was a steal at $8. That vendor's probably still laughing at my broken Spanish and half-hearted attempts to get him to come down. Truth was I didn't care. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

Cigars for me are not a panacea; but they are a fairly magical escape. People that know what I'm talking about are probably thinking about a specific time and place where they enjoyed a cigar right now. The sights and sounds of their friends laughing and the outrageous stories being told. I don't know what all I hope to accomplish with this meager blog right now, but I trust it will enhance my life in at least some small way in the days ahead. If you read this, please let me know - you'll probably be my first reader; ever.