Roads in D/FW area are sheets of ice today, maybe even more treacherous than yesterday. Lots of businesses didn't open. My optometrist was closed so I have to re-schedule the fitting of some bifocal contacts.

I live in an apartment complex not far from the airport that looks ordinary enuff from the parking lot. A bunch of nondescript 3-story buildings. But my second story unit backs up to a wooded area and that's all that is visible from the rather large patio that I screened in against the onslaught of summer mosquitos and other critters. (There are bugs here that can stand flat-footed and f*** a turkey.)

Sitting out there with a radiant heater and a hat and heavy coat smoking a Vega Talanga tercio that wasn't too bad I counted the following:

3 male cardinals with firey red-orange color

3 female cardinals more subtly dressed, and to me the more exquisite of the species

2 or 3 bluejays

a robin

several titmouses (titmice?)

several junkos

some black-capped chickadees

some old-world sparrows and a million or so of the common variety

a red-tailed squirrel (fox-squirell?)

a bunny

My esposa keeps the bird feeder full of seed.

Too damned cold out there, but the sun peeped out and shined up the white stuff frozen across the forest floor. Beautiful day. Rod Stewart singing You Go To My Head from his new CD. Now for some hot soup and a blood-pressure pill. And how's your day going? Whatcha smokin'?

It's pretty cold here in San Antonio too. Goin' to the neighborhood cigar-friendly restaurant/bar and burn a Bucanero after we dine. Maybe a few libations also...

Had one of them Vega Talanga things last night, not too bad, while observing the strange light show going on. Not northern lights, but coming up from the ground all around after some snow clouds passed.

I quickly smeared blue paint on my face and shaved the neigbors St. Bernhard.

LOL I hope thats not a typical Tuesday night! That poor dog 🙂

KC

lol at Meanie. Isn't a shaved St bernard called a Chihuahua?

They keep him inside now.

BWahahahahahahahahaha! Mr. Mean!

Last night I burned a Bolivar Fuerte Delmonico that has about 6+ months age on it. Not a breeze whatsoever. Couldn't tell what kind of bird it was, but as of last few years, I don't sit under my trees while smoking at night any more...there is one up there that is a pretty accurate "bomber"...

The bigger dog stayed in but the little dachsy wanted to play ball. So we did. Then she sat in my lap snuggling under my coat--hey it was 50 degrees out! Downed the last shot of El Tesoro and went in. Tonight, prolly a year old Flor de Oliva grand cameroon churchill...or Partagas Black..either of which will be nice with a dark German bock.

What, no grackles? The sounds those critters make crack me up.

LLT,did see your neighbor give you the bird? X

It's even cold down here on the South TX gulf coast. Closed the garage, fired up the gas heater and smoked a BFO. Tonight, I'll do the same with a MNC. Those VTRTs are very good smokes BTW.

Picked up a Trilogy maduro to test drive this afternoon. Pretty good smoke. The shape is a little off-putting, but it feels fine. Got a little soft the last half, but drew very well and burned straight. Pretty good cigar for the right price, such as a good c-bid price. It finally got above freezing at noon today, and the roads cleared up enuff for a trip to the local.

I don't think that's all Mr. Mean has been smoking! Next thing you know he'll be telling us about the "Aglowing Aspiders".

LMAO @ Ed

Barry

You seen em to eh? Sneaky little bastards. If I catch em, I put bells round there necks and throw them into the fields.

I think Mr. Mean's ancestors were berzerkers! yep berzerkers!

I think so too.

My brothers name is Tom Bomb cause you never know when he's gonna go off.

Eletea, sounds like some nice "birdwatching" opportunties in store for you in the Spring months! Here in Southern California we have a "Blue Jay" that is called Steller's Jay and it is almost as big as a Black Bird! They are Blue in the body and have Black head and crest...rather nice looking birds! No Cardinals in So CAl, and that is one bird that I really miss seeing being a Southerner, but we do have Robins, Mockingbirds and lots of great hummingbirds to view while smoking cigars outdoors. Lots of finches and a gozillion sparrows. Another site in Southern California is the flocks of parrots that appear from time to time....BMW would love this!

Charlie

Charlie, I lived most of my life in southern Cal and never saw a parrot in the U.S. until I went to Florida. Where do they show up? San Diego? I didn't spend enuff time in San Diego, but if I ever come back, that's probably where I'll light.