Checking in.....

**Razor** · 11-17-2006, 10:09 PM

Good day all, my name is Brian. I am 28 years old and I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I live with my sometimes understanding girlfriend, 2 wonderful pitbulls, and a cat that shouldn’t be trusted. During the day, I am a heavy equipment operator and my weekends are also spent unwinding in the great outdoors by means of my horse, quad runner, or jeep.

My father-in-law introduced me to cigars this past summer and I have been hooked ever since. He taught me a few basics and the rest I have been absorbing from this great site. I love the relaxation and quiet contemplation that comes with enjoying my cigar. I usually smoke every few days in the evenings or on weekends and i can be found on my front porch with a cigar and a coffee or 3 fingers of scotch. There are a few local shops with quite a varied selection of cigars and knowledgeable staff to help me select new sticks to try. I usually spend $15-20 Cdn. on my cigars but I just got an amazing deal on a box of Cohiba Esplendidos and I quite enjoy them. I look forward to learning more about the entire cigar experience from the members of this site…….

Puff, puff………

**cigarsarge** · 11-17-2006, 10:13 PM

Greetings..I live with a couple of Pit Bulls and a wife that tries to understand too. Thank God for Pit Bulls...They understand.

**drew_goring** · 11-17-2006, 10:25 PM

Welcome from...oh yeah...Calgary.

What shop do you normally frequent? I usually go to Sheffields in the Chinook mall. The owner is very nice and doesn't mind talking shop for a couple hours every time I go there.

Stick around and before you know it you will be buying a coolidor/cabinet.

**Razor** · 11-17-2006, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by drew_goring

Welcome from...oh yeah...Calgary.

What shop do you normally frequent? I usually go to Sheffields in the Chinook mall. The owner is very nice and doesn't mind talking shop for a couple hours every time I go there.

Stick around and before you know it you will be buying a coolidor/cabinet.

The Sunridge Shefields is closest to me but the chinook store has 100 times more selection. One of Roham's posts recommended the chinook store and i can see why, so i go there now......

**drew_goring** · 11-17-2006, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Razor

The Sunridge Shefields is closest to me but the chinook store has 100 times more selection. One of Roham's posts recommended the chinook store and i can see why, so i go there now......

Yes, Joe the owner is a great guy.

What sticks do you prefer? Do you have a humidor yet?

**cls515** · 11-17-2006, 11:09 PM

Nice to have you here on the Boards.

**Razor** · 11-17-2006, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by drew_goring

Yes, Joe the owner is a great guy.

What sticks do you prefer? Do you have a humidor yet?

So far i like Santa Clara 1830, AZ Maduro, Leon Jimenes Maduro, and Cohiba Espendidos but i love trying new sticks. I just bought a humidor off ebay but i think that was a mistake. I can't keep the humidity above 58 even with the special jar of gel. I'll probably end up getting a good one from joe......

**drew_goring** · 11-17-2006, 11:30 PM

Well, if you are interested in this: http://www.cigarsmokers.com/t5661-ne...er-thread.html

I would be more than willing to help you out with something local from my stash.

And yeah, before you start building up a collection, make sure you have a decent humi. I made the ebay mistake too. Joe has a lot of reasonably priced humidors too, and they all have great seals.

**Desert Rat** · 11-18-2006, 12:08 AM

Welcome, our family pooch is a pitbull mix, a real sweet doggie.

**WOXOF** · 11-18-2006, 12:09 AM

Nice intro, welcome to CS!

**heftysmokes** · 11-18-2006, 12:10 AM

Welcome from MT!

**CoventryCat86** · 11-18-2006, 12:27 AM

Welcome!! What kind of heavy equipment do you operate? My brother is an expert mechanic on the "big stuff" and is a licenced crane operator here in Connecticut. He can run cranes, bulldozers, graders, excavators and pretty much anything. We also have an old (1974) John Deere model 410 backhoe that I pretend to operate

. When I get it stuck in the mud, I have to call my brother to help me get it out. He says I'm an idiot because he tells me it's impossible to get stuck with a backhoe.

**Razor** · 11-18-2006, 01:07 AM

Originally Posted by CoventryCat86

Welcome!! What kind of heavy equipment do you operate? My brother is an expert mechanic on the "big stuff" and is a licenced crane operator here in Connecticut. He can run cranes, bulldozers, graders, excavators and pretty much anything. We also have an old (1974) John Deere model 410 backhoe that I pretend to operate

. When I get it stuck in the mud, I have to call my brother to help me get it out. He says I'm an idiot because he tells me it's impossible to get stuck with a backhoe.

Right now I'm in a brand new JD310SG backhoe, but I also run a Komatsu WA180 payloader and a JD200LC excavator. Soon I'll be running a JD892ELC which is kind of overkill for my line of work. I install shallow utilities (power, gas, telephone, cable tv) in new residential developments. I've never had my backhoe so stuck i couldn't get it out but i have been close to putting it on it's side - not fun! Bulldozers and graders are still on the "to do" list...someday..........

**ashauler** · 11-18-2006, 09:04 AM

Welcome from the flatlands of Kansas!

**nhcigarfan** · 11-18-2006, 10:03 AM

welcome to cigarsmokers

**sprangalang** · 11-18-2006, 04:58 PM

Welcome from IL!

**Cabaiguan Juan** · 11-18-2006, 06:36 PM

welcome from DC. Honesty, get a really really big humidor, or get a cooler. You may not understand now, but give yourself a year and you'll know what I mean. Boxes can be so tempting and yet difficult to store with out the room.

**drew_goring** · 11-18-2006, 06:39 PM

Originally Posted by Cabaiguan Juan

welcome from DC. Honesty, get a really really big humidor, or get a cooler. You may not understand now, but give yourself a year and you'll know what I mean. Boxes can be so tempting and yet difficult to store with out the room.

Well, living in Canada boxes aren't TOO tempting

**stjohnroe** · 11-19-2006, 12:40 PM

Welcome from the UK and buy the cooler.

**Roham** · 11-19-2006, 12:56 PM

Ahhh! Another fellow Calgarian!! Joseph at chinook is one of my best friends. We actually purchase lots of rare boxes together lately and enjoy collecting them.

Anyways, me and drew have been trying to set up a herf for a little bit now, so I think it just got a little bit bigger.

You've got a lot of the same interest as me it seems. I head out to Mclean with my 85 4Runner often for some fun in the sun(or rain). And I've got a great 2 yo German Shephard.

Nice intro! And good to see you are already taking some great advice from people on this site!