Do you have a hobby?

Maybe I just think of a hobby as more than it is.
Is a hobby just something you do to bring you pleasure?
Is reading a hobby?
Is enjoying a cigar a hobby?
Or does a hobby need to be an activity?

If you were to ask me what my hobbies are, I would probably say that I don't have any hobbies.
And yet --
I do enjoy reading and have finished 27 books in the first five months of the year.

Enjoying a good cigar is more than just sitting and smoking.
I want to know my cigar. I want to know its origin. I want to taste the cigar and note the subtle changes during a smoke. I want to value the time that it takes to smoke a good cigar and honor the skilled craftsmen (or women) that rolled it. 
It's weird, but I find there is purpose to smoking a good cigar.

Maybe it is more like the practice of meditation, and less like a hobby.
I know -- it's not a healthy choice. 
That is something to consider.

Taking care of the yard and flower gardens is just something I do -- often a bit reluctantly and not very well.. I enjoy the results more than I enjoy the work that goes into it. The work part often feels like -- well, work! 
I suppose it is the closest thing to having a hobby that I can think of.

What are your hobbies?
What activities or projects have you made a regular part of your life and who you are?
Do hobbies serve a valuable function or are they overrated and unnecessary?

John

Too much to do!

Monday -- midday shelter work
Yesterday -- doctor's appointment.
Today -- early car appointment
Tomorrow -- morning shelter work

Whatever happened to my quiet, non-productive retired life?

Actually, the past couple of days have been decent days and I have managed to take advantage of the warm weather by getting a few things done around the house; nothing major, just a few things that needed to be done now are. 
There are plenty of things like that. Yesterday I spent a couple of hours tilling an area for spring planting. I may go over it again today and then once more before planting. Anyone that has tried tilling or plowing land in SWMO understands why there is no crop farming here. The ground is hard, mostly clay, and full of rocks. A couple of hours behind a tiller can beat you up. I'm a bit surprised that my hands and wrists aren't sore today.

Working outside in shorts and a t-shirt was nice for early January. We will have a couple more warm days before winter returns. I am looking forward to spring and planting my Christmas seeds -- pumpkins, sunflowers, and popcorn.
After working yesterday, I sat in the sun and enjoyed a cigar and a tequila and soda. I am looking forward to many similar days. I know that this simple life isn't for everyone, but I do enjoy it.

I hope you have a chance to enjoy whatever today holds for you. 
It's time for me to take a car to the shop.

John

Going and Doing -- or NOT!

Yeah, that's not really for me.
I mean I do like going out occasionally, but the constant rush of having to do things, be places, and see people just isn't really my thing -- at all.

Last night we found ourselves 1700 miles (2700 km) away from home and doing exactly what we would have been doing at home -- Chris inside watching Netflix and me on the deck smoking a cigar.
I guess we truly are creatures of habit.

Aside from getting to visit with the kids, our trip to PV is to finish with my dental implants later this month. My dentista is currently vacationing in Japan, but I wanted to be here for the Day of the Dead celebration, so we came early. 

With the first part accomplished and the second part still more than a week away, we are just here to extend our summer by a few weeks. 

Life is good!

John

Monday Meditation

It has been a minute since I have been purposeful about daily meditation. Recently I have been seeing ads in my social media feeds that promote classes or readings that are teaching meditation techniques. Perhaps, the universe is telling me I need to get back to that practice.
I realize that the season contributes to my lack of regular meditation. I feel better about practicing outdoors where a connection to the world around me comes more easily. It isn't much more difficult inside. It is just a matter of pre-session mindset. I sense that the outside energies are more natural and the inside energies are more manufactured. I don't know if that is the case; it's just the way I feel.

In any case, with spring upon us and the temperatures getting warm enough to be outside for my morning coffee and quiet time, I should be back to a regular practice soon. 

...And some people do both!

John

Who Am I?

There are times when the person we think we are differs from the person other people perceive us to be. Sometimes that's a good thing. Sometimes we might want to work on changing one or the other so they match. I obviously spend too much time portraying myself as an introverted, cigar smoking, bourbon drinking guy. 
While that is an inaccurate description of me, I've not really considered it to be a part of my identity.

However, after receiving these two sweatshirts and a t-shirt as gifts from friends, I may have to do a little image work.

I say I may need some image work because I have apparently neglected to emphasize that I also enjoy tequila! In fact, the best gift of Christmas is this expensive bottle of extra anejo tequila!

Chris paired the tequila with a nice H Upmann cigar that is resting in my humidor until I have an appropriate time to enjoy it with a neat pour of this super mellow Mexican spirit.

For the wardrobe additions, thank you (from left to right) Mike and Dena, Lenny and Libby, and Kathi.
And thank you to Chris for the great bottle of tequila and fine cigar.

After receiving these wonderful gifts,I'm not sure if I should work on changing my image or just embrace that this is who I am -- a cigar smoking, bourbon (and tequila) drinking introvert.
Hmmm...

John

Twofer Tuesday

Ave Maria Immaculate

Kirkland's spiced rum eggnog 

Cooler Temps Ahead

The last three days have been sunny and warm, but now the cooler temps are settling in and I think we've seen the last of the summer like days. It has made it into the 80s (27c) each of the last three days, but I don't even see a 70 (21c) degree day for the rest of the month. Nights will also be much cooler with a few nights towards the end of the month dipping down to the freezing point.

Sitting by the fireplace in the early morning or late evening is nice, but it really doesn't compare to sitting on the deck and enjoying the view and the sounds of nature. I know there are still going to be afternoons when I will sit out and enjoy a cigar, but the evening smokes are going to be few and far between as the colder nights settle in. I took advantage of last night's temp to enjoy a good, long smoke and sip a nice bourbon. 

I tend to smoke less expensive cigars during cold weather. That way I don't feel bad about letting them go out if I change my mind and decide it's too cold to be outside. I'm considering not putting up the plastic panels this year. I don't know if I'll stay with that or feel like I need to be out here enough to justify it. I guess we'll see.

Looking on the bright side, the daytime 50s (10c) and 60s (15c) will be perfect for shoveling the topsoil into the new flower bed!

John
 

Monday Meditation

Sorry about another post on religion, but my thoughts keep coming back to how much I have changed since I set aside that evangelical thing about needing to tell everybody how much they need Jesus and how they are going to hell unless they pray the magic words.
I have a very different attitude about the bible and a different approach to reading the instructions and lessons that Jesus taught. I also wonder how people read the bible with a perspective of how it teaches others how they should live without ever considering that it is supposed to be teaching us how we should live.

When I focus on my relationship with the Creator, on my relationship with others, on my relationship with creation -- there really isn't time to worry about what others are doing. Sure, I would love for others to experience peace and to work on making the world a better place, but that is a decision and action that they have to be responsible for making and taking on their own.I am happy to encourage them -- even help them -- along the way, but I can't be responsible for them. I have a full time gig taking care of John.
I really don't know how people find the energy to concern themselves with how everybody else acts or what they believe.

Something I do believe in is being kind to one another.
Last week, an old friend that I hadn't seen for quite some time messaged me about getting together for a bit. While on a Caribbean cruise celebrating their 10 year wedding anniversary, they made a stop in the Dominican Republic and he picked up a cigar for me at a boutique cigar shop. 

It was quite an enjoyable smoke.
I like the pigtail finish at the cap end, and the two tone wrapper. I also like the size of this one - 6 x 60.
It was a mild, easy smoke with nice flavor subtleties that changed over the course of the nearly two hour smoke. It's difficult to express how touched I am that he thought of me. The thought and the cigar together made for quite a gift. It was also great to visit for a little while and catch up on life.

Not only did this simple act of kindness lift me up, but it also serves as an encouragement to do the same for someone else. I wonder how far the ripples of this act of kindness will reach.


John

January -- eight years later

It was at the end of January 2015 that I hung up my ATC headset and retired. A week or so ago another ATC retiree posted all of his many accomplishments and a list of projects, jobs, and stuff he's done in his retirement. My list is pretty short.
I heard that retirees are so busy that it's hard to imagine there was ever time to go to work.
I haven't really experienced that.

I haven't been bored.
I don't miss going to work.
I don't miss doing magic shows for kids' camps.
I don't miss doing kids' camps as camp pastor.
I don't really miss traveling to churches as an itinerant evangelist/revivalist.
And I don't miss the daily interaction with people.

I enjoy my simple (now our simple) retirement.
We have a nice new home that takes a bit of time to care for in the spring and summer.
We get to do a little traveling.
We can afford to eat out often, but also enjoy cooking and eating at home.
Although we have pretty much quit actually going to church, we still get together with a small group of church friends for dinner on a monthly basis and enjoy those friendships.
We do a little bit of volunteer work from time to time and occasionally work with different groups that help in the unsheltered community.
But mostly I sit on the deck, listen to music, read books, and smoke cigars. It's a pretty simple and non-productive life.

Two gifts that I got from a couple of co-workers when I retired were some good cigars and a bomber of a barrel aged stout. Every year, sometime around the end of January, I treat myself to a good smoke and a barrel aged stout. This year it may be the end of February before it's warm enough to sit outside for a couple of hours to enjoy a smoke, but I've got a bottle of 2022 Bourbon County barrel aged stout and a 95 rated CAO Flathead 660 ready for the occasion. It should be a fine pairing!
In case you were wondering - retirement does not suck.

John

What's Next?

It's the final week of 2021 and 2022 is just around the fast approaching corner. I suppose this should be a time of reflection and consideration of the past year, but I think I'll just put it behind me and look ahead. I wonder what 2022 will hold for me in particular and for all of us in general.

At the moment, I don't really have much in the way of plans or goals. I do want to have a better garden than last year and have plans to get an earlier start on the planting. I'm thinking that flower gardening and landscaping will be as big (if not bigger) of a project as the vegetable garden. 

My motorcycle has been parked in the garage for all of 2021. I really need to get back to riding. There is a part of my thinking that says riding to be riding is a bit of a waste -- a waste of resources and a waste of time. It doesn't cost or use anything to sit on the deck and read, or to do a little work in the yard -- and I enjoy both of those things. I need to get back to using the bike as my main means of transportation and just ride whenever I need to be out. I also need to plan a round about trip to Colorado Springs -- maybe OKC, Amarillo, Albuquerque, CO Springs, and something equally round about for the trip home. I might need to upgrade the bike for the mountains. Just thinking for now.

I'm not really making any life changing plans nor resolutions for the coming year; just more of the same movement towards a more healthy and less consuming life. I like traveling, but am also happy staying home. I'm thinking about cutting back on the cigars a bit. I seldom smoke more than one in a day and don't smoke one everyday. There is something contemplative and relaxing about cigar smoking. It's like everything stops for an hour or so while you just enjoy a simple pleasure. But it certainly doesn't make it on the healthy living side of life's habits, so...

I feel like a bit of a slacker by not having any goals for the year. If I come up with something in the next few days, I'll be sure to let you know. If not -- well, I'm okay with that.

How about you?
Any plans, goals, resolutions for 2022?

John

Ready for Spring (okay, not quite)

Like most mornings I am starting my day drinking coffee and perusing the interwebs while sitting on the screened-in deck. This morning instead of the usual shorts and t-shirt, I am wearing flannel pajama pants and a long sleeved shirt (and am still a little cold). It was 46f (7.8c) when I got up this morning and I'm thinking -- 1) Is it too soon to be missing summer, and 2) I'm ready for spring!

Okay, so I'm not really ready for spring because I've got a lot of garden and yardwork to do before spring gets here, but I think you understand what I'm feeling here.

(after a few calming breaths)

I am going to embrace the moment and be thankful for the 70 degree temps today as I work outside. I'm going to take advantage of the fall/winter seasons to prep my garden area for next growing season since I didn't do that last year and my garden kind of sucked this year. 
Accepting what I can't change and changing what I can -- all a part of that serenity thing, right?
My version has a little different ending--

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And a good cigar to smoke while I figure out the difference.

Dang! That might be marketable!
The Cigar Smoker's Serenity Prayer

I'm going to have to breakout the wood burning tools I got for Christmas and make a sign to hang on the deck. Maybe have t-shirts printed to sell. Oh, and pint beer glasses.
I think I'd better grab a good cigar and think this through.
Well, I've got my day planned out. What's up in your day?

John

Monday Meditation

 

Happy Earth Day from Highlandville MO!

This is my first Out of My Hat post from the screened in porch of our new home and a fine way to celebrate Earth Day 2020. It's a little cool this morning but not uncomfortable in sweatpants and a heavy sweater. I have my coffee (an Ethiopian blend) and am listening to the birds as the day begins.

There is plenty to do to get unpacked and settled into our place so tending to the earth with planting some trees, flowers, and a vegetable garden will have to wait. The land is a natural Midwest pasture and doesn't have a single tree on it. I hope to plant a few fruit trees, maybe a couple of Missouri pecan trees, and probably some evergreens in the way of a windbreak on the west side.
I do want to be a good steward of the land.

But first -- we have to get settled in and that will take some time.
I look forward to beginning many days with a cup (or two) of coffee on the deck, listening to the sounds of nature.
And I look forward to ending many days sitting here and enjoying the night sounds while smoking a cigar and sipping a good whiskey.

Happy Earth Day!
Take good care of her.
This planet is our home.

John

Nov 29: Quiet time

It's late afternoon and I'm just getting around to posting today. My morning coffee and quiet time was pleasantly interrupted by a text message from my daughter wanting to know if I wanted to meet her for coffee. I had slept in today (I'm retired, so...) and it was almost 10:30, but I was just on my first cup of coffee.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy having coffee with my baby.  It really is a thrill that she still wants to spend time with her dad. We enjoyed our coffee and conversation for about an hour and then I came home to work in the yard for a couple of hours.

It almost made it to 60f (15c) in the Ozarks today, so it was a good day to be out.
I knocked off early so that I could sit and enjoy a cigar while relaxing in the afternoon sun.
I call this Nicaraguan the best cheap cigar you'll ever smoke!

One of my blogging friends posted this blog about silence today.
Personally, I don't think I'd have a problem with it. I'm more comfortable with quiet than with noise. I realize that total silence may be different, but I still don't think it would be a problem.
How about you?
Would total silence drive you crazy?

Just wondering...

John <><

Nov 19: The sun is shining!

The sun is making its first appearance in a couple of days!
It is always a welcome sight after cool, cloudy days -- especially in the fall and winter!

I'm going to keep today's post short and go take a walk!
I'm probably going to negate some of the healthful benefits by enjoying a nice cigar while I'm out.
Mondays are pretty nice days when you're retired!

I hope you get to see and feel a little sun today!

John <><

Travel Weekend!

Yes, I know it's only Thursday, but the weekend begins early for us retired guys.
In a short while we'll be on the road towards Central Illinois for a family reunion. I think there will be lots of cousins and grand-cousins and even some great grand cousins (isn't that easier to understand than all of that 1st cousin, second cousin stuff?).

With many of us that have moved away from our Central Illinois home, it isn't often that we get to see each other. I honestly don't know most of the grand-cousins and great grand-cousins. One of the few blessings from Facebook and other social media networks has been the ability to connect with distant family members. There is a cousin (grand-cousin) of my mom's from the Philippines that will be there, too! Everyone else is from my dad's side of the family.

It's a lazy, dreary morning in the Ozarks. We had planned on a mid-morning departure, but since there is no hurry and it seemed like a good morning to sleep in -- we did. As a matter of fact, Chris is still snoozing while I enjoy my coffee and my blog.

My parents now live in Metamora IL where the Rohman side of the family grew up. I remember Sundays at the Rohman home and many nights crashing on the enclosed front porch after some post season high school football games (their HS, not ours). We are expecting members from the Rohman clan (my dad's sister's family) and from the Dunlap IL Hills (my dad's brother's family). It should be a grand time.

We'll arrive sometime tonight (it's about 7.5 hours of road time) and most of the family will be in tomorrow afternoon or evening. Saturday is the big gathering and I'm sure that the other families may be planning smaller family gatherings as well. I know that we are.

It's too bad that we will be in the cage (that's the biker term for car) rather than riding the motorcycle, but Chris is a non-rider and we'd have to pull a trailer for luggage.
Wow! That'll be 5 days without taking a ride! I might have to go for a long ride when we get back on Monday evening. As it stands, I'm less than 100 miles from 7,000 miles on the bike since March 1st. Maybe I'll get that on the 31st for the 7K in 5 months.

There will be no magic show at the reunion this year as I still have to rebuild and replace the things I lost a few weeks ago. There are many talented family members to provide entertainment for us, though. And it would be good to see somebody other than Uncle John with his lame magic show.

I have a selection of Nicaraguan cigars packed for the few cigar smokers in group. It is always a joy to be able to share a good smoke with someone that appreciates a good cigar. I have recently become a fan of the Nicaraguans and hope to convert others, as well. I have four different Nicaraguan cigars that I'm bringing and am currently out of a fifth one that I like.

So -- in spite of the fact that I'll be many hours in a car for the weekend, I plan on a very enjoyable time. I hope that your weekend will be a good one, also.

John <><

Oh, I'm Goin' for a Ride...

I'm getting a bit of a late start for my ride today. Late -- in that it's later than I was planning on, but when you have all day and you sleep until you're finished, I'm pretty much right on schedule!

For now, I'm at the local Starbucks inside of the Ozark Price Cutter grocery store. Here, again, I'm noticing a slimmer clientele than the general public. It's not as obvious as it was in the stand alone store, but still significant. I may have to start working out if I make this a regular habit.

I'm on my way scout out a place for viewing the eclipse next month. I'm thinking that I'll end up with around 500 miles for the day. It'll be hot and humid before the day is over, but it is July in the Ozarks!
I'm taking the long way, just because I can and I have no schedule to keep. Chris is in Denver this weekend for her annual sisters' weekend.

I rarely stop for pictures or conversation on my rides; I'm happiest when I'm just cruising along.
I managed a 100 mile evening ride yesterday and will top 22,000 miles for the 16+ months that I've owned this light cruising '06 Vulcan 900.

It is a bit of an exercise in patience to sit and enjoy my coffee and get a light breakfast before getting on the road. The coffee is a necessary evil and the breakfast will keep me from stopping for a junk food snack a little later.
But I'm like a little kid when it comes to riding and I am really looking forward to the day. I should be home in time to watch the UFC fights this afternoon while enjoying a cigar from my humidor and deciding which cigars to bring as gifts for next weekend's family reunion.

Ok.
Coffee's finished and it's time to hit the road.
Here's a song that pops into my head when I'm looking forward to going for a ride. There isn't a verse for a motorcycle. Perhaps one of you would care to write one for me.
And a bike goes "Vroom, vroom!"



John <><

A, B, C, ... D?

Once again I am faced with a difficult decision: choosing between watching the postseason baseball game or the final 2016 presidential debate.

I do suppose that I could choose to watch neither and find something more constructive to do, but that is unlikely.

A -- abstain
B -- baseball
C -- cigar
D -- debate

Some of the pros and cons of each:

Abstain -- In reality, it's probably not gonna happen. The only way I end up watching neither is if we decide to go out and do something else.

Baseball -- So far, all 3 three of the Cubs vs Dodgers games have been good games. Although the final score of the first game was lopsided, the game was close until the bottom of the 8th. Even though my team is no longer playing, baseball is still baseball and the build up to the Fall Classic and the Series itself is the ultimate in the game.

Cigar -- I get to choose to enjoy a good cigar if I decide on watching the game. I have to watch it on my phone via the Fox Sports Go app and sit outside, but B & C are options that can go together.

Debate -- I won't say that I am uninterested in the debate. I will say that I don't believe it will change my mind. I know that I will be seeing parts of it in clips for the next week or so and that I can watch it later or read the transcript.

It's looking like it will be a B and C kind of night.

What are your options for the evening and what will you be doing during the presidential debate?

John <><

Back at home!

Well I am back at home!

I'll have a few days before hitting the road again and heading north for the UFC Chicago Fights. I am looking forward to the fights and to visiting with Aaron and Jenny. Right now I have plans to make a stop in Metamora, but that could change depending on my baby sister's plans. I think she is planning on being in Chicago the same weekend. Getting to see her may mean a single day's ride home. I might have to leave a day early and stop to see my folks on the way up. I need to be home Monday night due to an early morning Dr.'s appointment on Tuesday.

On of the nicer things about being at camp is the little bit of isolation from the rest of the world. I did have my phone and Chromebook and I had plenty of time to peruse the 'net at night, but I also enjoyed not really keeping up with things during most of the day.

This was also a good week to at camp when it comes to watching baseball. Since the first part of the week was the All-Star Game break, I didn't miss a single Cardinals' game and will be home tonight to watch their first game since last Sunday. Timing was just right!

As I mentioned before, this was a smaller camp and not as well organized as some. However, there were some really good key people in just the right places and God worked things out in spite of our interference. I think I heard the number of campers at 54. Nine kids made new professions of faith and committed to follow Jesus! There were also re-dedications -- including one of the adult leaders!
It has been a good summer of kids' camps but I am glad that it is over. I am looking forward to relaxing for the remainder of the summer.

Have a great weekend!
John <><

PS - As an added bonus to being back home, my 21 Gun Salute sampler package of 21 cigars from Thompson Cigar Co. arrived and was waiting for me!

Thursdays are for Thanksgiving -- Cancun Style!

I'm thinking it would be impossible not to be thankful on a day like today!
The sun is warm.
The ocean is beautiful.
After a light breakfast, my tummy is satisfied.
I have a fine collection of cigars to choose from later today.
Chris will be down to join me on the beach.
...And we have friends with us, as well.
It is another good day to be John Hill!

As for the trip update...
Wednesday was even more of a do-nothing kind of day than Tuesday.
There was a walk on the beach followed by smoking a cigar on the beach, followed by sunning on the beach, followed by lunch on the beach, followed by more sunning on the beach, followed by another cigar on the beach, followed by another walk on the beach.
Beach time was occasionally interrupted by ocean time or pool time which was always followed by more time on the beach!

My new-found Canadian friend Gord made cigar smoking time especially enjoyable by visiting the local market and bringing back this fine selection for us to enjoy!

My first choice was the Bolivar. Gord went with the Cohiba.

I also enjoyed a couple from the selection that I brought with me -- a VS Cabinet '99 and a Rocky Patel Vintage 1992. I can't ever remember having the time to enjoy three good cigars in a single day!

I don't know what Thursday will bring, but I suspect I'll be spending a little more time in the shade as I may have been a little heavy on the sun yesterday. It will be beach-shade which is way better than Ozark sunshine! I am happy that my friends back home seem to be experiencing unseasonably warm weather for January and hope that it continues next week when we return home.

Be thankful.
Enjoy your day.

John <><