robbiex0r
scum
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2007
- Messages
- 1,138
Recently, I celebrated a very momentous anniversary in my life. Las weekend marked a whole year of single life for me. I’m not going to dwell on the emotions that I struggled with during that long summer. Rather I wish to extend a very humble and gracious thank you to the entire CigarPass family on this, the anniversary of membership.
First Impressions
My first impression of CP came during my research on building a humidor. What better thread to come across than Bill Clinton’s meltdown. *found here*
“WTF is wrong with these people?” I thought. Then, as I read more, I realized it was not the community ganging up on some noob, but rather a group of all-knowing (seemingly), cigar enthusiasts trying to get a wound up man to settle down and listen. I knew I had found a place with the answers I sought. My eagerness was likely apparent in my intro, which not only introduced me, but also my project.(link)
Long hours on support center phones coupled with tough love from CP Chat got me through the summer work day, and dedicated crafting of a silly table ensured my mind was busy in the evening. CP chat kept me sane during the work day. And although the people there were often … rather crass about my relationship, they got me though it.
Wealth of Information
I read many of the informative threads and debates, checked out cigar books from the library, and learned all I could. I wasn’t even a fan of smoking at the time (in fact, my first cigar was yet to be lit). The world of tobacco and tobacciana engrossed me. The care and devotion that went into a well made hand rolled cigar amazed me. The scents, aroma, and ambiance of a cigar shop engaged me. I was so done for. It wasn’t long before the table was usable and I was involved in applying all the seasoning tricks I had gleaned from the board. Note: this can be done without starting a topic soliciting the help of others.
A sampler of Gurkhas to share with friends, and I was on my way. I really had no idea what I was getting into. For me the fun was in the meticulous design and maintenance of a humidor and its contents. Smoking could wait. Afterall: nuts, clove, honey, flora, leather, citrus? How could those be present in a rolled stick of tobacco? And $20 a stick? I think not.
Priority Mail
Before I knew it, packages were coming in. What had I done to deserve this? I remember being thrilled with the simplest of gifts. I remember gazing upon my first Opus, Anejo, and Cuban. The Opus being something I had read about on vitolas.net before ever finding CP. I truthfully never expected to see one. Again, I had to think, “WTF is wrong with these people?” :sign:
With the effects of the breakup still haunting me everyday, I took comfort in knowing I had such a great group of people behind me. I could feel myself growing along with the community. These people were my friends, and although nobody here in La Crosse understood why a stranger would send me a package of premium cigars, I started to understand just what this place is all about.
It wasn’t too long before I outgrew that table. Plagued with temperature and humidity battles, I started my research all over again on a coolerdor project. My mindset changed from cool display to serious cigar storage. Old cigar boxes came off my wall as decoration and went into the cooler. The adventures never stop on CP, as I was soon to find out.
Herf!
In late Fall ’07, I trekked up to Minneapolis to visit my younger sister. Her lame boyfriend conveniently drove six hours to overshadow my presence. I ditched the lovey-dovey couple to take a leap from online conversation to real life interaction. The Minnesota grew is a great group of guys, even if they are from Minnesota… I found them to be generous, fun, and talkative. I was seriously hooked. A few months later, in April ’08 I was flying down the interstate on an eight hour drive to Kansas City, for a little cigar get together. I told my friends there’d be a few hundred people there, (what? I didn’t know). I can honestly say, the group of guys I met at the Fuente Event at the Outlaw are some of the nicest, most hospitable, and generous human beings I have ever had the pleasure to sit quietly amongst.
I’ve forged great friendships here, and had an overall blast. I owe a lot to this community and it may take me a lifetime to repay it, but I will do my best. I’ve been allowed into passes, had the pleasure of ordering twice from Al (puffstuff), seen people smoke cigars in the highest tiers imaginable, been on both ends of tactical cigar strikes, become a whore to specific vitola, and upgraded my cigars and my storage a few times over.
Many Thanks
Thank you. Thank you to the FOGs for all you do and all you share. Thank you to my closest CP friends, my drinking partners, chatting buds, and herfers. Thank you to Rod for his quality work and service to the board. Thank you to anyone who has been generous to me, patient or honest with me. Thank you to the newbs who have asked for my opinion. And thank you to everyone else for being who you are; my family.
A Warning (and the p0rn I know you fiends crave)
Now a word to the newbs (noob is a negative term, imo):
Heed the advice of anyone you find here. When they say, “go bigger”, you better. When they say, “relax”, it means you can relax. You may think you know what you’re doing and you might first start with a collection like this:
Before you know it, you’re buying a cooler larger than the one you keep beer in. Then you realize that’s full.
Suddenly, you’re dropping mad coin on a VinoTemp
You’ll have a ‘funbox’. How that happened, you won’t know.
…and a box of Cubans.
You’ll end up with some weird stuff in your collection... (like culebras **link**)
In all that you do, you will take comfort knowing that whole board supports you, and has the same problem as you. So listen to them, they’ve been through it all.
Finally, you will come to the realization that in just a year, you’ve found a new home.
There’s nothing left to do but smoke a super premium and indulge in our romanticized pastime.
Here’s to you CigarPass! It has been one fantastic year, and there will surely be many more.
-robbiex0r
edit: broked links
First Impressions
My first impression of CP came during my research on building a humidor. What better thread to come across than Bill Clinton’s meltdown. *found here*
“WTF is wrong with these people?” I thought. Then, as I read more, I realized it was not the community ganging up on some noob, but rather a group of all-knowing (seemingly), cigar enthusiasts trying to get a wound up man to settle down and listen. I knew I had found a place with the answers I sought. My eagerness was likely apparent in my intro, which not only introduced me, but also my project.(link)
Long hours on support center phones coupled with tough love from CP Chat got me through the summer work day, and dedicated crafting of a silly table ensured my mind was busy in the evening. CP chat kept me sane during the work day. And although the people there were often … rather crass about my relationship, they got me though it.
Wealth of Information
I read many of the informative threads and debates, checked out cigar books from the library, and learned all I could. I wasn’t even a fan of smoking at the time (in fact, my first cigar was yet to be lit). The world of tobacco and tobacciana engrossed me. The care and devotion that went into a well made hand rolled cigar amazed me. The scents, aroma, and ambiance of a cigar shop engaged me. I was so done for. It wasn’t long before the table was usable and I was involved in applying all the seasoning tricks I had gleaned from the board. Note: this can be done without starting a topic soliciting the help of others.
A sampler of Gurkhas to share with friends, and I was on my way. I really had no idea what I was getting into. For me the fun was in the meticulous design and maintenance of a humidor and its contents. Smoking could wait. Afterall: nuts, clove, honey, flora, leather, citrus? How could those be present in a rolled stick of tobacco? And $20 a stick? I think not.
Priority Mail
Before I knew it, packages were coming in. What had I done to deserve this? I remember being thrilled with the simplest of gifts. I remember gazing upon my first Opus, Anejo, and Cuban. The Opus being something I had read about on vitolas.net before ever finding CP. I truthfully never expected to see one. Again, I had to think, “WTF is wrong with these people?” :sign:
With the effects of the breakup still haunting me everyday, I took comfort in knowing I had such a great group of people behind me. I could feel myself growing along with the community. These people were my friends, and although nobody here in La Crosse understood why a stranger would send me a package of premium cigars, I started to understand just what this place is all about.
It wasn’t too long before I outgrew that table. Plagued with temperature and humidity battles, I started my research all over again on a coolerdor project. My mindset changed from cool display to serious cigar storage. Old cigar boxes came off my wall as decoration and went into the cooler. The adventures never stop on CP, as I was soon to find out.
Herf!
In late Fall ’07, I trekked up to Minneapolis to visit my younger sister. Her lame boyfriend conveniently drove six hours to overshadow my presence. I ditched the lovey-dovey couple to take a leap from online conversation to real life interaction. The Minnesota grew is a great group of guys, even if they are from Minnesota… I found them to be generous, fun, and talkative. I was seriously hooked. A few months later, in April ’08 I was flying down the interstate on an eight hour drive to Kansas City, for a little cigar get together. I told my friends there’d be a few hundred people there, (what? I didn’t know). I can honestly say, the group of guys I met at the Fuente Event at the Outlaw are some of the nicest, most hospitable, and generous human beings I have ever had the pleasure to sit quietly amongst.
I’ve forged great friendships here, and had an overall blast. I owe a lot to this community and it may take me a lifetime to repay it, but I will do my best. I’ve been allowed into passes, had the pleasure of ordering twice from Al (puffstuff), seen people smoke cigars in the highest tiers imaginable, been on both ends of tactical cigar strikes, become a whore to specific vitola, and upgraded my cigars and my storage a few times over.
Many Thanks
Thank you. Thank you to the FOGs for all you do and all you share. Thank you to my closest CP friends, my drinking partners, chatting buds, and herfers. Thank you to Rod for his quality work and service to the board. Thank you to anyone who has been generous to me, patient or honest with me. Thank you to the newbs who have asked for my opinion. And thank you to everyone else for being who you are; my family.
A Warning (and the p0rn I know you fiends crave)
Now a word to the newbs (noob is a negative term, imo):
Heed the advice of anyone you find here. When they say, “go bigger”, you better. When they say, “relax”, it means you can relax. You may think you know what you’re doing and you might first start with a collection like this:
Before you know it, you’re buying a cooler larger than the one you keep beer in. Then you realize that’s full.
Suddenly, you’re dropping mad coin on a VinoTemp
You’ll have a ‘funbox’. How that happened, you won’t know.
…and a box of Cubans.
You’ll end up with some weird stuff in your collection... (like culebras **link**)
In all that you do, you will take comfort knowing that whole board supports you, and has the same problem as you. So listen to them, they’ve been through it all.
Finally, you will come to the realization that in just a year, you’ve found a new home.
There’s nothing left to do but smoke a super premium and indulge in our romanticized pastime.
Here’s to you CigarPass! It has been one fantastic year, and there will surely be many more.
-robbiex0r
edit: broked links
). Now go smoke one of your culebras!!!
