[emodx] Good morning, how ya been?
[MattR] Yes it is and a good morning to you.
[MattR] Busy, but very well, thank you
[emodx] Cool...For the record, how long have you been on CP, and how/why did you join?
[MattR] I don't remember the exact date, but I think it was in July of 2000. The same month that Rod created the site. I saw a thread posted at ICG about the site and thought I'd check it out.
[emodx] Which other cigar boards are you active on? How do you think CP stacks up to the others?
[MattR] I post at Cigar Family, Club Stogie, Cigar Pass, a little bit at Cigar Weekly. I read ICG (Internet Cigar Group) but don't post there much anymore. Oh and also a bit at Cigar Divan. I think Cigar Pass have carved itself a nice little niche in the Cigar Forums. I like it here most of the time.
[emodx] How and when did you get into cigars?
[MattR] I smoked cigars every now and then back in college ('86-'90), but never really knew much about them until about 8 years ago. I started hanging out at a local shop after buying online for a bit and then it just grew from there.
[emodx] So what have you been smoking a lot of lately? What is it that makes you pick that one?
[MattR] I have been pretty much stuck on Cohibas for the last year and a half. Not sure why, but they have a unique taste that I seem to enjoy more than the other lines right now. I also enjoy a vintage Davidoff or Dunhill from time to time too.
[emodx] lol...rough life... I have never been a fan of Cohibas. The taste never did anything for my. I guess I am in the minority on that one.
[emodx] So tell CP what it is you do for a living. Gotta have a decent job to pay for those 'hibas.
[MattR] I don't think so. A lot of people find them to be too expensive for what you get.
[MattR] I am the Operations Manager for a manufacturing company that is in our family. We build sports lighting systems.
[emodx] So USL is family owned and operated. What do you like about working for the family business?
[MattR] Someday I'll change my title to boss, but for now it has to stay politically correct I guess. LMAO!
[emodx] LMAO@politically correct
[MattR] Yes, my father started the company about 8 years ago after working at the same place for 30+ years. My brother also works here as well as a friend of his who has pretty much grown up around our place. Working for a family business is nice when we are turning a profit.
[MattR] When times are tough though, it can get a little straining
[MattR] Luckily we all get along and have learned to do our own thing and strive to make the business better.
[emodx] So is it work that has been keeping you busy lately?
[MattR] Work and family. I have a beautiful wife of almost 13 years now and twin boys who will turn 5 in July. So, I'm kept on my toes all the time. Tonight we are going to the Monster Truck Show. My kids can't wait!
[emodx] I bet they are a handful sometimes. Kids that age have so much energy.
[emodx] So besides cigars, do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy?
[MattR] They are non-stop! Trust me, I rest at work and work at home!! LMAO!
[MattR] I play golf on occasion, or at least try. LOL! I also ride motorcycles. I enjoy getting out and seeing as much live music as I can find time for too.
[emodx] I know the feeling, I go to work so I don't have to work so hard at home. LOL
[emodx] What kind of bike do you have? What is it about riding that appeals to you?
[MattR] Right now I have a Honda Shadow ACE 750. I almost traded it in last weekend on a Honda VFR800 Interceptor, but decided against it. There's just a feeling of freedom when I ride. I don't think about anything else while I'm riding, except riding.
[MattR] I have a need for speed sometimes too and riding motorcycles seems to quench that more than cars. LOL!
[emodx] For the record, are you a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
[MattR] Hmmm.. good question.. a little bit of all three. LOL! I don't vote party lines, I vote for what I believe to be the best for me. ROTFLMAO!!
[emodx] I can understand that. I’m kind of fed up with both major parties because of all the mudslinging that goes on... It detracts from the issues at hand.
[MattR] yep
[emodx] Hear any good jokes lately?
[MattR] Yeah, probably, but I can never remember them. LMAO!
[emodx] So how are you involved with the LOL events?
[MattR] Myself and two other gentleman do almost all of the planning, though lately I've been too busy to do anything much with it. I help with the donation raising, setting up accommodations and so forth. I also do the auctioning and raffling at the herf itself.
[emodx] What charity are you giving to this year?
[MattR] It is the same every year, so far, The Springfield Area Boys and Girls Club.
[emodx] What kind of turn out do you guys average?
[MattR] Last year I think we had around 75 people show up, give or take one or two.
[emodx] Wow, that's a pretty good turn out.
[MattR] Yeah and we hope for more this year. If it gets too much bigger though, we'll have to find a larger room. LOL!
[emodx] In closing, is there anything you want to say to CP? Anything I may have missed along the way.
[MattR] Yeah, whenever you have extra vintage Havana’s or extra Cohibas laying around, send 'em to my attention.
[MattR] Oh and also... come to the Land of Lincoln Herf IV October 8-9, 2004!!!
[emodx] Keep us posted with the latest news about LOL...Thanks for sharing with CP bro!
[MattR] Thank you my friend and best wishes to you and all the other CP’ers for a wonderful summer!
[emodx] Thanks, have a good one. And get back to work! Must be tough being boss.
[MattR] Yes it is and a good morning to you.
[MattR] Busy, but very well, thank you
[emodx] Cool...For the record, how long have you been on CP, and how/why did you join?
[MattR] I don't remember the exact date, but I think it was in July of 2000. The same month that Rod created the site. I saw a thread posted at ICG about the site and thought I'd check it out.
[emodx] Which other cigar boards are you active on? How do you think CP stacks up to the others?
[MattR] I post at Cigar Family, Club Stogie, Cigar Pass, a little bit at Cigar Weekly. I read ICG (Internet Cigar Group) but don't post there much anymore. Oh and also a bit at Cigar Divan. I think Cigar Pass have carved itself a nice little niche in the Cigar Forums. I like it here most of the time.
[emodx] How and when did you get into cigars?
[MattR] I smoked cigars every now and then back in college ('86-'90), but never really knew much about them until about 8 years ago. I started hanging out at a local shop after buying online for a bit and then it just grew from there.
[emodx] So what have you been smoking a lot of lately? What is it that makes you pick that one?
[MattR] I have been pretty much stuck on Cohibas for the last year and a half. Not sure why, but they have a unique taste that I seem to enjoy more than the other lines right now. I also enjoy a vintage Davidoff or Dunhill from time to time too.
[emodx] lol...rough life... I have never been a fan of Cohibas. The taste never did anything for my. I guess I am in the minority on that one.
[emodx] So tell CP what it is you do for a living. Gotta have a decent job to pay for those 'hibas.
[MattR] I don't think so. A lot of people find them to be too expensive for what you get.
[MattR] I am the Operations Manager for a manufacturing company that is in our family. We build sports lighting systems.
[emodx] So USL is family owned and operated. What do you like about working for the family business?
[MattR] Someday I'll change my title to boss, but for now it has to stay politically correct I guess. LMAO!
[emodx] LMAO@politically correct
[MattR] Yes, my father started the company about 8 years ago after working at the same place for 30+ years. My brother also works here as well as a friend of his who has pretty much grown up around our place. Working for a family business is nice when we are turning a profit.
[MattR] When times are tough though, it can get a little straining
[MattR] Luckily we all get along and have learned to do our own thing and strive to make the business better.
[emodx] So is it work that has been keeping you busy lately?
[MattR] Work and family. I have a beautiful wife of almost 13 years now and twin boys who will turn 5 in July. So, I'm kept on my toes all the time. Tonight we are going to the Monster Truck Show. My kids can't wait!
[emodx] I bet they are a handful sometimes. Kids that age have so much energy.
[emodx] So besides cigars, do you have any other hobbies that you enjoy?
[MattR] They are non-stop! Trust me, I rest at work and work at home!! LMAO!
[MattR] I play golf on occasion, or at least try. LOL! I also ride motorcycles. I enjoy getting out and seeing as much live music as I can find time for too.
[emodx] I know the feeling, I go to work so I don't have to work so hard at home. LOL
[emodx] What kind of bike do you have? What is it about riding that appeals to you?
[MattR] Right now I have a Honda Shadow ACE 750. I almost traded it in last weekend on a Honda VFR800 Interceptor, but decided against it. There's just a feeling of freedom when I ride. I don't think about anything else while I'm riding, except riding.
[MattR] I have a need for speed sometimes too and riding motorcycles seems to quench that more than cars. LOL!
[emodx] For the record, are you a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent?
[MattR] Hmmm.. good question.. a little bit of all three. LOL! I don't vote party lines, I vote for what I believe to be the best for me. ROTFLMAO!!
[emodx] I can understand that. I’m kind of fed up with both major parties because of all the mudslinging that goes on... It detracts from the issues at hand.
[MattR] yep
[emodx] Hear any good jokes lately?
[MattR] Yeah, probably, but I can never remember them. LMAO!
[emodx] So how are you involved with the LOL events?
[MattR] Myself and two other gentleman do almost all of the planning, though lately I've been too busy to do anything much with it. I help with the donation raising, setting up accommodations and so forth. I also do the auctioning and raffling at the herf itself.
[emodx] What charity are you giving to this year?
[MattR] It is the same every year, so far, The Springfield Area Boys and Girls Club.
[emodx] What kind of turn out do you guys average?
[MattR] Last year I think we had around 75 people show up, give or take one or two.
[emodx] Wow, that's a pretty good turn out.
[MattR] Yeah and we hope for more this year. If it gets too much bigger though, we'll have to find a larger room. LOL!
[emodx] In closing, is there anything you want to say to CP? Anything I may have missed along the way.
[MattR] Yeah, whenever you have extra vintage Havana’s or extra Cohibas laying around, send 'em to my attention.
[MattR] Oh and also... come to the Land of Lincoln Herf IV October 8-9, 2004!!!
[emodx] Keep us posted with the latest news about LOL...Thanks for sharing with CP bro!
[MattR] Thank you my friend and best wishes to you and all the other CP’ers for a wonderful summer!
[emodx] Thanks, have a good one. And get back to work! Must be tough being boss.
