Ol’ Reliable
When I first got into cigars, I found the jet lighters I bought to be very unreliable. Once I learned that one needs to purge the lighter of all fuel when it runs out, and before refilling, my lighters became slightly more reliable. The only lighter I’ve had that has lasted more than say 20 refills, is a cheap ($3 I think) Ronson from Wallyworld. If you don’t like Walmart, say because they kill small town America, ebay has them, and I bet some mom and pops might as well. Another interesting fact is that Ronson was the preferred brand of my favorite protagonist, James Bond.
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Beautiful picture of the Appalachian mountains I found on twitter
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The Browning Maxus, and learning to hunt Part II
I forgot to mention, on that first upland outing, I got to hunt with a celebrity:
Badger has pointed birds for me several times now. I think thats him on the left.
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The Browning Maxus, and learning to hunt
I grew up around guns, but I did not grow up hunting. Both my parents shoot guns, but neither hunt. My dad did some hunting when he was younger, and I may get him to take it up again, but he never took me. My papaw and an uncle of mine took me shooting almost every time I visited them, but outside of taking a few shots at squirrels in trees with an iron sighted 22 before I knew what I was doing, I didn’t do any real hunting.
In college, a lot of my fraternity brothers hunted, and I felt left out. After I graduated, I decided to do something about it. I’ll admit, going from a twice a year shooter to a hunter is no easy task, but its certainly possible. The first thing I did was head to the internet for some research. I decided to start with the shotgun. I knew I liked shooting shotguns, and thought duck and upland hunting would be eventual goals of mine. I started researching the best all around shotgun, so I could keep my options open as I learned more. I’d shot the Remington 870 with my relatives, and at Goshen Scout Camp, where I got shotgun merit badge. If you’re on a budget, its my opinion that you should look no further (I own one now, and will probably end up with a few more before all’s said and done). That said, I read a lot about clay and skeet shooters saying that having to operate a pump is difficult, particularly for a novice, and that an auto or over/under is preferable. I though I’d do at least as much sport shooting as hunting (I shoot clays pretty often now, and I’ve competed in tournaments twice) so I wanted a scattergat that could do it all. After much research, I decided on the Browning Maxus as an all around shotgun. Mine is the hunter model, 3.5 inch chamber, 28 inch barrel. I picked the maxus because of all the positive reviews, but I’d say it was luck as much as anything else. I’ve been quite happy with mine, and a buddy of mine got a similar one and likes his as well. I’ll let an expert tell you more about it if you’re so inclined:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/browning_maxus_hunter.htm
Buying a firearm for the first time is a bit daunting, but it is not particularly difficult. The following link describes a purchase from a gun store, but it is quite similar to purchasing from a gun show, or private FFL:
http://www.wikihow.com/Buy-a-Firearm-in-Virginia
I’ve purchased from a store (in the case of the Browning Maxus), a gun show, a private FFL, and via private sale. As a first time buyer, I found it easiest to purchase from a store. They helped walk me through the process, and answered all my questions.
As I mentioned before, I had some experience with firearms prior to buying my first gun. Even so, I took an exam at the NRA range in Fairfax, which goes over the basic tenants of firearm safety. I also took a learn to shoot class at Bull Run Shooting Center. I found this to be particularly helpful. The folks over at Bull Run Shooting Center are very friendly and helpful, and are happy to help novices in my experience.
After getting aquatinted with shooting again, and learning about my new shotgun, I took a lesson. To find an instructor, I just called Bull Run Shooting Center, and they gave me a phone number to call. I explained my goal to my instructor. I wanted to hunt doves and/or quail the following year. He taught me the fundamentals, and after maybe three one to two hour lessons, said he thought I’d be able to take some birds.
My next step was signing up for a Virginia Hunter Education class. It looks like you can do the whole class online now. I took the self study and learned in an actual classroom, which I found helpful, but I do admit that it was inconvenient to find an open class close to home.
With my own shotgun, safety knowledge, the fundamentals from my lessons, and my VA Hunter Education Certificate and License (they’ll teach you what you need and how to get it in the class), I was ready for my first hunt.
By searching online, I found a place that offers preserve (wild upland birds are hard to find in this area these days) quail, pheasant, and chukar hunting. I explained that I (and the other members of my party, fraternity brothers I convinced to join my quest to become a hunter) was a first time hunter. They said that would be no problem, and that they’d be happy to show us the ropes. We had a successful hunt, a great meal, and an amazing and unforgettable time on our first hunt.
Stay tuned… I’ll write up my first successful squirrel hunt (rifle hunting), and first dove hunt soon.
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Cafe Du Monde and Sally Lunn bread
I generally only read one book at a time. When I read a book I really like, I like to try to experience the book. For instance, if I’m going to Breckenridge, I might read a Bond book such as, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, which based on the cover (but not my memory), involves skiing and perhaps, a ski town. In an earlier post, I suggested reading a Louis L’Amour book while in the desert. When I read The Right Stuff, I had several conversations with my father about what the space race was like (as I was not yet born). I also like to try things that are mentioned in the books. Bond books provide a wealth of items such as champagne, clothes, destinations, food (full english breakfast for instance), activities, cars, watches, etc. In the book I’m currently reading, A Man in Full, a character enjoys a breakfast of Cafe Du Monde chicory coffee, and Sally Lunn bread.
What really caught me is that they say its a Virginia recipe, yet I had not heard of it. I ordered some Cafe Du Monde on amazon prime, and asked the wife to whip up some bread. She found a recipe for Old Virginia Sally Lunn:
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/old-virginia-sally-lunn-10000001962845/
It was delicious. I fixed it up with butter and blackberry jam (I believe they used plum in the book).
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Lee – Jackson Day
My recent post on Andrew Jackson got me thinking about another Jackson. I sent out an email invite for the recent long weekend. In the email, I called the weekend, “MLK Jr. Day weekend” since that Monday was a Federal holiday. In reply, a buddy of mine (from Richmond) suggested that I had meant, “…the Lee – Jackson Day weekend…” At the time, I assumed it was a joke, perhaps a friendly jab at my expense that I was not as southern as my buddy. After doing a little research on the old interwebs, I found out that Lee – Jackson Day is still celebrated in Virginia. I knew that Lee – Jackson Day had become Lee – Jackson – King Day. What I did not know, was that in the year 2000, Lee – Jackson – King Day became two separate state holidays in Virginia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee%E2%80%93Jackson_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee%E2%80%93Jackson%E2%80%93King_Day
So the bottom line is that Lee – Jackson Day is a currently celebrated holiday in Virginia, and the weekend was both the Lee – Jackson Day weekend, and the MLK Jr. Day weekend simultaneously. Wikipedia states, “In 2000, Virginia Governor Jim Gilmore proposed splitting Lee–Jackson–King Day into two separate holidays after debate arose over whether the nature of the holiday which simultaneously celebrated the lives of Confederate generals and a civil rights icon was incongruous.”
The compromise that was reached is confusing to me. It seems that Virginia politicians have decided that Lee, Jackson, and King deserve to be celebrated, but that it is not appropriate to celebrate them together. I’m not sure segregating the two holidays, but having them occur the same weekend, is the best course of action. I don’t think anybody (maybe some crazies) is going to question the merit of celebrating MLK Jr’s day. The merit of celebrating Lee and Jackson seems much more debatable to me. My first thought is that if one believes that the Civil War (or War Between the States as I was taught in the VA public education system) was based on slavery (not everyone believes this to be the case, in school we were taught it was States’ Rights), and that Lee and Jackson were fighting for slavery, then one could conclude that Lee and Jackson probably don’t deserve to be celebrated. But then one starts thinking about all the American slaveowners that are celebrated. For instance, George Washington. He did not fight specifically for slavery, but he was certainly complicit in slavery. So is participation in the fighting of the Civil War the difference? Why can’t Jackson and Lee be celebrated for their positive contributions to America, while we recognize, but don’t focus on the fact that they were pro-slavery for at least some time, or at the very least, complicit (similarly to the way we view Washington, among others).
This got me thinking, and doing some research. In my googling, I found an official proclamation from Governor McAuliffe:
https://governor.virginia.gov/commonwealth/proclamations/lee-jackson-day/
I found that proclamation by way of another Virginia-centric blog. I haven’t read his blog in its entirety. I’ve really only read a few posts relevant to Lee Jackson Day. I’ve included the links to those posts below to give credit where credit is due. I have not watched the videos or followed the links on either page. Be sure to check out the host’s (his term) theme song (link on the left side of the page, awesome, makes me want a theme song).
http://oldvirginiablog.blogspot.com/2014/01/modern-governors-could-profit-from.html
http://oldvirginiablog.blogspot.com/2014/01/lee-jackson-day-who-is-it-good-for.html
So it seems Virginia recognizes Lee and Jackson for their service to Virginia during and after the war. I’m sure that rubs some people the wrong way. I’m not sure how I’d feel about it if I were black. Perhaps next year, in observance, I’ll visit a battlefield, or start a relevant book. I believe I have biographies of both Lee and Jackson I haven’t started. For MLK Jr. Day, perhaps the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will be open by then.
(I’ve tried to make this post thought-provoking without being subjective or having an agenda. I hope I’ve succeeded.)
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Ol’ Hickory
I saw this in the washington post today (probably not worth your time, I pasted the pertinent stuff below):
While I do enjoy cheese, roquefort, brie, manchego, aged cheddar, etc., what struck me about the article was Andrew Jackson’s party planning. I fancy myself an entertainer, but the article describes the party as follows:
“According to the Wall Street Journal, one witness described the scene thusly, “The President was literally pursued by a motley concourse of people, riding, running helter-skelter, striving who should first gain admittance into the executive mansion, where it was understood that refreshments were to be distributed.” When they got to the executive mansion, glasses were broken, furniture was tossed about, and the punch was spilled.”
Sounds like a good time. I don’t have any cheese on hand, but I do have a bunch of beer left over from last weekend. Maybe I should buy a wheel and have some people over. Jackson is a president I’d like to know more about. Right now, my recollection is limited to his caning a would be assassin half to death, and his good taste in architecture.
However, a brief look at wikipedia reminded me that Jacksonian democracy involves greater democracy for the common man, expanded executive branch power, and increased public participation in government. Perhaps I’ll add a Jackson biography to my kindle queue.
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Louis L’Amour
Ralph Stanley got me thinking about my Papaw. He was never without a pistol and a Louis L’Amour book on his nightstand. After he passed, I got his copy of Hondo, well used, but still with the Hills department store sticker on it. Like Bond books, its a great vacation read. Especially if your vacation is out west. Load up some L’Amour on your kindle, book a golf trip in Arizona (I like the Westin La Paloma in Tucson), and thank me later.
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Dr. Stanley
I’m just trying to learn how to embed a youtube video with wordpress, and I’m in the mood for some bluegrass. Feel free to sing along.
I had the privilege to see Ralph Stanley at the Birchmere in Alexandria a few years back.
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BVVA first cigar review!!!
I’ve been fighting a cold for the last few days, and since one wants what one can’t have, I’ve been craving a cigar. Since I can’t enjoy one, I’ll reminisce about a favorite while I wait for my health to return.
Several years ago I started really getting into cigars. My accommodations at the time included a hot tub and portable tv, so I spent a lot of time relaxing with a stogie. About that time I found the Cabaiguan fan, and immediately became a fan. The Cabaiguan brand is still one of my favorites. I have a Cabaiguan guapos that I’ll probably light up as soon as I’m feeling better.
I’ve tried the just about all the cigars in the Cabaiguan range, but the Robustos Extra is the standout. I find it to be creamy, a little bit spicy, and very enjoyable overall. The strength is not overpowering for me, and I’m not one for particularly strong cigars.
I’ll admit that I’m no expert. That said, I’m not alone in my affinity for Cabaiguan. I’ve linked to a thread on a cigar site I found which a member has distributed cigars for blind taste tests. The testers, with seemingly far more experience/knowledge than I, unanimously guess that the Cabaiguan is from Cuba.
If a straight review is more your style, check out these reviews from one of my favorite cigar review sites:
http://www.stogieguys.com/2009/04/04152009-stogie-reviews-cabaiguan-robusto-extras.html
http://www.stogieguys.com/2011/12/12192011-cigar-review-cabaiguan-guapos.html
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