I am blessed. It's very difficult to put into words just how much I'm blessed. I'll try to explain..
A group of BOTLs decided to honor this oldfart with an outpouring of love and generosity that's just mind-boggling. These BOTLs, in no particular order, were Wayne @wylaff and his wonderful wife Carol, Peter @peter4jc, @Bob Luken and Debbie, Patrick @patrickbrick, Brett @90+_Irishman, Jiunn @Jliu, and Chris @Yakster.
Now, try to wrap your head around this - it was Wayne's birthday. He held a herf in Reno and the others mentioned attended said herf. I had planned for my child bride and I to attend as well but prior to the herf date some health issues in our family caused us to sadly decline the invitation. So, what do Wayne and the others do? Well, you've all heard the saying, "If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, then Mohammed will go to the mountain", right? So, at the end of Wayne's birthday herf they all loaded up the wagons and brought the herf to my house. All the way from Reno to Yuba City, CA. About a 2 1/2 hour drive. Now, that's pretty mind-boggling all by itself, but...
Not only that, they put together a lunch of beautiful, thick-cut pork chops, potatoes, asparagus, and garlic bread and had all but the pork chops pre-cooked and ready to serve after a warm-up and they grilled the chops on my grill and served lunch to the whole group. My child bride and I just stood gaping, with our mouths wide open while Patrick, Wayne, and Peter prepared and served the meal.
Afterward, they all pitched in and cleaned up after themselves. We did nothing but eat and enjoy. Can you believe this?
Some may exist but I can't imagine any other groups, forums, or whatever where members show such love and generosity as these folks did. My heart swelled with emotion and gratitude and it's hard for me to choose the words to explain the honor I felt and continue to feel as a result. To put it in street terms, these folks just blew us away.
I can't thank them enough for what they did. It was a gracious outpouring of love and camaraderie and it made Barbara and me feel wonderfully special.
Many thanks to all of you. We love you and are proud to call you friends.
Man I wish this would have been in my cards. Looks like a great time with some great peeps.
Team O'Donnell FTW!
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
Marty it was our absolute pleasure and honor! Thank you and your lovely child bride for putting us up and welcoming us into your beautiful home, it was such a wonderful time and I was floored by how good the company, food, smokes and libations were thank you! I sincerely hope to smoke with you again, it was my honor and I loved the time I spent with you and everyone else!
When I get home I will post up all the pics and put together a "brief" synopsis of the trip, as it is I'm sitting here with Wayne and his wonderful family smoking a Cromagnon from Nick @Usaf06 drinking some Parabola that Jiunn @jliu left while I spend one more day with Wayne and Carol as they have graciously let me into their home.
It was great to meet everyone in person. Thank you Wayne and Marty for hosting us, I had a great time all around. And yes the chops were slightly over done.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give". Winston Churchill. MOW badge received.
@jlmarta... Marty, I had nothing to do with the food. Once I surmised that Wayne and Patrick had it under control, I let the grasshoppers do their thing. My only regret was not supervising Patrick with the pork chops. :-)
@Albinfk... my motto is 'why stand when you can sit'.
Like Marty, I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around what a spectacular weekend this was; if every beer was flat, and every stick was cracked, it still would've been worth it just to meet everyone, especially you Marty. After all, you're my mentor is Oldfartsmanship.
I don't even want to think about how much premium beer and liquor was flowing, but it was sure nice to try and share some delicious barrel aged and sour beers with y'all.
Join us on Zoom vHerf (Meeting # 2619860114 Password vHerf2020 )
...... especially you Marty. After all, you're my mentor in Oldfartsmanship.
I seem to recall you saying you, like I, have an advanced degree in curmudgeonry which is a prime requisite in oldfartsmanship. Well done, grasshopper.....
I have to say that I'm drinking coffee right now and not enjoying it. I have been ruined, by Chris and Peter. I was handed the best cup of coffee I have ever had in Wayne's house. Peter roasted it, and Chris took his time brewing it. I will never be the same, thank you, you two.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give". Winston Churchill. MOW badge received.
I have to say that I'm drinking coffee right now and not enjoying it. I have been ruined, by Chris and Peter. I was handed the best cup of coffee I have ever had in Wayne's house. Peter roasted it, and Chris took his time brewing it. I will never be the same, thank you, you two.
Hee hee. It's insidious, the way ol' Peter works. He's a sneaky rascal who's intent on corrupting us all with that great coffee he sells to we addictees... er, uh,... addicted ones? Well, you know what I mean... ...
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
I have had and love peters coffee, but not like this. It was ground to a specific level, the water was heated to a certain temp, it was hand poured through a filter, the pour was timed out as to not rush the whole process. It was interesting to hear the why, and even more interesting to taste the drastic difference this all made on flavor.
"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give". Winston Churchill. MOW badge received.
Yeah I am spoiled that way as well. It truly is night and day difference when you are consistent with the grind, the temp of water and the timing. My wife looks at me a bit crazy every morning when I'm making coffee and it takes me 10 minutes and her Keurig is a minute or whatever.
Team O'Donnell FTW!
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
I have to say that I'm drinking coffee right now and not enjoying it. I have been ruined, by Chris and Peter. I was handed the best cup of coffee I have ever had in Wayne's house. Peter roasted it, and Chris took his time brewing it. I will never be the same, thank you, you two.
Hee hee. It's insidious, the way ol' Peter works. He's a sneaky rascal who's intent on corrupting us all with that great coffee he sells to we addictees... er, uh,... addicted ones? Well, you know what I mean... ...
I think it was all a conspiracy (it's quite possible Jay knew) to get me addicted to the finest available: from the finest coffee, rum (oh. my. gosh... that rum) and cigars, to the finest company of folks! I already miss you all like crazy. Thank you all so much for an experience I'll never forget. It wasn't even my birthday, but I felt spoiled and loved! Hopefully someday Jay and I will be able to host a NorCal herf that's half the amazing experience this was! Happy Birthday again Wayne! You have a lovely family (BTW, I miss your adorable wife!). I'm honored to know each of you and to be a part of this community!
Great trip! Love to all you guys and gals. Thanks to all for such generosity and camaraderie. Thanks especially Wayne & Carol and Marty & Barbara for allowing us into your homes. And thanks to Wayne and Patrick and all involved in the feast at Marty's. Thanks to all for welcoming Debbie into the group. She enjoyed meeting you all very much. And, speaking of coffee, yes we were spoiled for real. So much so that I nearly died from truck stop coffee last night in an attempt to keep myself awake driving back from the airport. It was REALLY bad. But, it actually helped me stay alert because each sip was a bold shock of awfulness thanks to the coffee commandos we have among us.
“I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f@$# with me, I’ll kill you all.” -Gen. James Mattis, USMC
Comments
but you gotta admit, the pork chops were a bit over-seared
Next, Wayne and Patrick working at the grill with Brett kibitzing
Then Chris (Yakster) and Peter
This is Jiunn on the left (from the front this time), Wayne in the far background, and Bob Luken and Debbie
And lastly, FOOD. My child bride is diving into the goodies...
Carol got a lot of better pix. I'm pretty sure she'll be posting some later....
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
Happy belated Birthday Wayne. looks like you guys had a blast.
What a great day and a nice end to a great weekend that I didn't want to end.
When I get home I will post up all the pics and put together a "brief" synopsis of the trip, as it is I'm sitting here with Wayne and his wonderful family smoking a Cromagnon from Nick @Usaf06 drinking some Parabola that Jiunn @jliu left while I spend one more day with Wayne and Carol as they have graciously let me into their home.
Brett
Happy Birthday Wayne!
MOW badge received.
@Albinfk... my motto is 'why stand when you can sit'.
Like Marty, I'm still having a hard time wrapping my head around what a spectacular weekend this was; if every beer was flat, and every stick was cracked, it still would've been worth it just to meet everyone, especially you Marty. After all, you're my mentor is Oldfartsmanship.
MOW badge received.
...
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
MOW badge received.
"I've got a great cigar collection - it's actually not a collection, because that would imply I wasn't going to smoke ever last one of 'em." - Ron White
Hopefully someday Jay and I will be able to host a NorCal herf that's half the amazing experience this was!
Happy Birthday again Wayne! You have a lovely family (BTW, I miss your adorable wife!).
I'm honored to know each of you and to be a part of this community!
“I come in peace. I didn’t bring artillery. But I’m pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you f@$# with me, I’ll kill you all.” -Gen. James Mattis, USMC
As for everyone else, I'm just sorry it's over. This has really been one of the best experiences of my life.
At any given time the urge to sing "In The Jungle" is just a whim away... A whim away... A whim away...