Thanks for the link. I will be making a pilgrimage to the Lost Abbey in San Marcos thanks to you. :)

Need to keep editing, Jet! :laugh:

Cool story, Mark. My sister is a hippy - rolls her own, too. :) I like the central coast. How far north did you go?

I have heard the plasmas suck a lot of juice, as well. I recently saw a 70" 1080p JVC DLP with stand for $2200. I'm tempted.

Islay scotch is an acquired taste for sure. I think only camels, goats and really FOGs have the palate for that stuff. :p

I prefer the plasma picture to the LCD picture, but at that size I'd go rear projection, probably DLP.

I used to steal cigars all the time. Had quite a collection. Not sure why an eight year old thought tiparillos and tijuana smalls were tasty sticks. :)

Wait a minute!! This is tremendous news! Azucar's lounge is super nice. The gentlemen there were also very gracious and entertaining. Great cigar selection, reasonable pricing by Cali B&M standards, good beer pricing.... I'll pass on the shaves, but expect me back soon, LOL!

i'm sure it is effin fantastic! i'm actually sipping ice cold kirkland vodka out of a frozen caballito at the moment - $30/.5 gal. :)

I usually read lots of beer bottle labels on vacation.

Checked out the Bradleys, too. I may have to use some of my stimulus check here to get something really trick! :D

Thanks very much gents, both of those look awesome - if a wee bit costly. The convenience of the smokeshack product is compelling. Based on my past experience the offset smoker/grills need frequent tending, and there is a bit of a learning curve involved.

I had a New Braunfels offset smoker/grill for many years but got rid of it a while back. I'm thinking a smaller vertical smoker would be the best thing to replace it with. I'm also guessing purists and connoisseurs, such as the gentlemen on this board, would favor the wood burning types, no...

I'll go in this order: Pappy 20 yr (too good, too expensive, was gone way too quick) Weller Centennial 10 yr old (tasted blind it kicked ass over a bunch of others, IMO) Blantons (never bought a bottle, just had a few here and there) Ridgemont Reserve, Eagle Rare, bunch of others depending on...