Thanks for the contest Jamie!

I checked out about 5 or 6 cigar forum sites and am so glad I went with cigarsmokers.com. This site stands out from the others in that it doesn't put up with the typical annoyances experienced everywhere else on the Internet. I love how the site is member-moderated; the ban polls are genius. I like how people are not just simply given answers but told to search for them first, to make an effort - and how poor spelling/grammar are frowned upon here.

I've learned a lot about the hobby in just the last couple months, almost completely due to this website. Lopaka's humidor guide is solid gold, and I'll be putting BWA's instructions to use when I set up my coolidor. I've learned how to store a cigar, how to cut it, how to light it, how to keep it burning evenly, how to purge it, how to ash it, and most importantly, how to enjoy it. Mangyrat tot me how to use the spell-check, and Paddy showed me how to correctly quote someone. Crazy Frank (who I think is locked up now), taught me to always check the date of the post before I reply to it. A whole bunch of now-banned users taught me the value of reading more, and posting less. And my good friends at the USPS taught me to use at least 5 pounds of bubble wrap to ship a glass container, especially when it is full of delicious amber liquid.

I've enjoyed many great cigars since I started the hobby; here are a few of my favorites:
A Rocky Patel Vintage 1990, which was my first "official" cigar. I had many other cigars in the past, but never paid attention to the brand, or the taste. A Camacho Triple Maduro; after I had a wicked bad day, this puppy perked me right up. The RP 1961; my wife got for me to celebrate being done with the studying for the FPE exam. A RASS, which was my first "official" ISOM. I had been given cubans before, but who knows (I didn't) if they were real or not. And coming up, a RP Decade, which I will be smoking as my celebration cigar for passing the FPE.

In addition to the wealth of information I have found on this site, there are many humorous posts I feel are worthy of putting into my top 9 quotes of 2009 list...
9. "Are you joking when saying that? I can't tell - it's the internet." -Fark
8. "You bastards done went an' ran him off before I ever got an answer to my cat question." -CoventryCat86
7. "Happy Birthday Six Pack!!! (and then the red-faced double-bird smiley) -cigarsarge
6. "Don't flinch Buzz. Ash can smell your fear." -logan37
5. "I don't want no pictures of douchnozzles!" -Shelby07
4. "Just run everything threw a spell checker." -Mangyrat
3. "Pointless? I dunno, seems to be a lesson in here somewhere." -ashauler
2. "I like the cigar shaped ones, in my mouth, burning at the opposite end. Those are my favorites." -badwhale
1. "Isn't that when a dog "farts" and "barks" at the same time?" -Roger

I've "met" a bunch of really great individuals on this website - I hope to herf with you guys in person in the coming years.

This community
Where we smoke cigars and laugh
Is an awesome place

ohh fark... I guess I even learned how to break the contest rules from da "socket wrench" jones

-Buzz