Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

Sunday Links #6

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Feb 9th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

It's Super Bowl Sunday, and I don't care. I'm not watching the game. We bought my wife a new iPhone today. She needed one, and we decided to pull the trigger now before prices go up 10% due to Trump's tariffs. Everything went fine except regaining access to her Google account. That took me an hour to figure out. I wish I could get her off Google, but she hates change, and it's not a hill worth dying on. One secret to staying married for 33+ years is understanding which battles you can't win, or are not worth winning. Like the computer in Wargames said, sometimes the best move is not to play.

10 Things We Can All Do to Protect Democracy - We being US residents, although I think a lot of this is generally applicable.

4 Things to Do Right Now to improve your online security posture.

Aloha- Waiter Rant was possibly the first blogger to score a book deal back in the day. He hasn't been a waiter for almost 20 years at this point, but he is still one of the most thoughtful writers around.

WikiTok - A TikTokish interface for Wikipedia. Bookmark this on your phone and instead of doom-scrolling you can learn something when you have a few minutes to kill.

Buffy is coming back - Some good news to offset, well, everything else.

Attend a protest safely - Seems like good stuff to know.

The Field Notes Thing - I can't make taking notes last more than a week or two. This guy has 13 years of notebooks, all scanned and organized too.

Immigration wiki for transpeople - Seems like the info they are gathering is somewhat universally useful for Americans.


Sunset, Smoke, and a Sip: Le Carême Pastelitos & Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 8th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Mother nature is teasing with brief interludes of pleasant weather — between reminders that it is still winter. During a recent afternoon that hinted at spring, I reached for a Crowned Heads Le Carême Pastelitos LE 2023 for a quick smoke. Seeking a milder bourbon to accompany it this afternoon, I selected a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select.

I picked up this bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select a couple of years ago, more out of curiosity than anything else. The 375ml bottle is attractive and takes up little space on my crowded shelves. Jack Daniel’s is classified as a “Tennessee Whiskey.” It meets all the legal requirements of bourbon before undergoing an additional filtering process through sugar maple charcoal—known as the Lincoln County Process — to enhance its smoothness. No additional flavoring components are added. In my opinion, it still falls into the bourbon category, though enthusiasts on both sides of the debate have strong opinions.



Bottled at 94 proof, a step up from the classic Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7, this whiskey offers mild aromas of freshly baked bread and caramel. The charcoal filtering results in an exceptionally smooth mouthfeel and a soft flavor profile. Even at its moderate proof, it drinks quite mildly. Sweet caramel, oak, and butter cookie impressions coat the palate, making for an easy sip.

The Crowned Heads Le Carême Pastelitos LE 2023 is a special format of one of my favorite cigars. I’ve enjoyed the Le Carême in various vitolas and with a range of beverage pairings. This limited-edition Pastelitos, released in 2023, is a compact 4 x 54 Robusto-sized stick. Despite my fondness for the cigar, I still have a couple left from my April 2023 purchase, now well-aged in my humidor.

The dark chocolate-colored USA Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper encases an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder and Nicaraguan filler. The Pastelitos is adorned with a small pigtail twist on the cap. Given its small size, a large portion of the cigar is covered by bands, so I removed the first two before lighting up.

The Le Carême Pastelitos delivers a well-balanced smoke, rich with creamy, sweet chocolate and nutty notes. A mild cedar spice emerges later in the session. The cigar burned evenly, providing about 45 minutes of smoking enjoyment.

Always a pleasure, the Le Carême line pairs well with milder bourbons and even coffee. While the Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Select is certainly a mild whiskey, I found it perhaps too mild — even for this creamy cigar. Despite multiple tastings, whether on its own or alongside a cigar, it has yet to leave a memorable impression.

Nonetheless, the experience on the deck was enjoyable. The timing of my smoke coincided with sunset, and as the sun dipped below the horizon, the shifting colors in the sky and fading light added to the peaceful ambiance of the evening.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Revisiting my Music Collection – The Highballers

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Feb 8th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

This is an ongoing series in which I dig into the dustier corners of my MP3 folder.

The Highballers - The Highballers / Soft Music and Hard Liquor

I owe both albums by this band. They were playing a local club in Fredericksburg on a night we were looking for something to do. I went home with a CD. I'd call this cow punk. They play loud, they like twangy Gibson guitars, and they write great songs about heartbreak, drinking too much, and breaking hearts while drinking. This is classic honky-tonk stuff. They are still playing a few gigs a year around the DC area, so if you have a chance definitely catch them live. They got shut down early for being too loud the first time I saw them.

I Didn't Mean to Get Drunk Last Night

Doing Time in Pennsylvania

Live to Let You Down

No songs with over 500 plays on YT Music. That ain't right.


Revisiting my Music Collection – The Heyday

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Feb 8th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

This is an ongoing series in which I dig into the dustier corners of my MP3 folder.

The Heyday - The Heyday

This band was another Amie Street find. It was released in 2007. It's straight ahead power pop, with catchy hooks and melodies that suck you in. I think they may have been just out of high school when they did this record. Unfortunately, they couldn't maintain the momentum. Their Bandcamp has the debut album, an EP released in 2011 that takes a bit of a Keith Urban country pop turn, and a single in 2012. They seem to have given up in 2013.

This record is better than most of what was released in 2007.

Come In of Stay Out - 4000 stream on YT Music. It's by far their most popular tune.

Turn Me Around - My favorite tune off the album.


Road Trip Relaxation: Cigars, Coffee, and Good Company

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 7th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
My wife had an appointment in Winchester, VA, recently and asked if I’d make the two-hour drive with her. Since there’s a cigar lounge in town that I follow on social media, I had an extra incentive to play chauffeur for the day. (Of course, her asking was already reason enough.) After the drop off, I headed over to Long Ridge Cigars.

Long Ridge Cigars is a stand-alone building with the traditional wooden Indian stands tall by the front door. After parking in the back, I was greeted by another morning patron, a regular at the shop. We chatted for a bit before the door was unlocked.



I took a quick tour of the walk-in humidor before settling on the Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Maduro in the Toro vitola. I was familiar with the cigar by name but had never smoked it. When the shop attendant mentioned they had recently received a few boxes of this limited release, my decision was easy. I grabbed one to smoke now and another “to go.”

The Aganorsa Leaf Aniversario Maduro is a Nicaraguan puro featuring a Nicaraguan Shade Grown Maduro wrapper, along with a Nicaraguan binder and fillers. In addition to its striking black and silver bands, the cigar comes wrapped in decorative tissue paper that covers most of the 6 x 54 stick. After sliding off the sleeve, I cut the cap and wasted no time lighting up. I anticipated the cigar would provide a solid two-hour smoke — about the time I had before meeting back up with my wife.



From the start, the Aniversario Maduro delivers a bold pepper spice note. After a few puffs, flavors of rich dark chocolate, coffee, and a toffee-like sweetness come into play. The overall profile is flavorful, bold, and well-balanced. Despite being a full-bodied smoke, it never overwhelmed, even as a morning cigar. The burn was flawless, producing copious, thick smoke throughout.

Before arriving at the lounge, I had picked up a cup of chain-store coffee. I finished that quickly and was pleased to discover the lounge had a large urn of fresh, delicious coffee available. I refilled my cup and continued my enjoyment of the bold coffee and cigar pairing.

While I smoked, I struck up friendly conversation with another patron and the proprietor. One of the great things about cigar lounges is how easy and enjoyable it is to meet fellow enthusiasts. Time passed too quickly, and soon I received a text from my wife that she was ready to be picked up. I replied that I needed “another 5–10 minutes” and enjoyed a few more puffs of the cigar. At about the 90-minute mark, I estimated there were at least another 20 minutes left when I finally set the cigar down.

Before heading home, we met a local friend for a delicious lunch at a German restaurant — a perfect way to cap off the morning smoke.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Long Ridge Cigars. The shop boasts a wide selection of cigars and a spacious, comfortable lounge. Outside, the backyard features tables and a fire pit, which seems to be a popular gathering spot. In fact, I’ve already told my wife I’d be more than happy to chauffeur her to any future appointments in Winchester.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Revisiting my Music Collection – Cabin Creek

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Feb 6th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

This is an ongoing series in which I dig into the dustier corners of my MP3 folder.

Cabin Creek - Cabin Creek

Cabin Creek is/was a "modern folk" band in Fredericksburg VA when I lived there. I think I first encountered them busking on a street corner, and I eventually saw then live several times in the bars in Fredericksburg. Their eponymous EP is solid. It's 5 songs that I'd put more in the bluegrass category than folk. They don't appear to be particularly active these days. I think they were college students or maybe recent grads when I first encountered then in 2014ish. So 10 years later they probably have careers, kids. etc., so it makes sense that the band is back-burnered. It's a shame though, because they had some songwriting chops.

The EP I have does not exist on YouTube Music. I found this iPhone quality video of one of the tunes that'll give you the flavor of the album.

Peace

Verdict: It's a keeper.


Winter’s Intermission: Bourbon, a Cigar, and 50° Bliss

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 5th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
It was a warm weekday in the late afternoon, with the temperature climbing above 50° — a worthy cause for celebration, especially in February. The sun still hung above the horizon as dinner wrapped up, so I quickly grabbed a cigar and poured myself a bourbon.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the ground was still blanketed in snow during my last cigar session on the deck. This unexpected break in the weather was an opportunity not to be missed.

For my cigar, I selected a Tatuaje Cojonu 2015, one of three Tatuaje cigars included in the December 2024 Luxury Cigar Club shipment. It had been resting in my humidor for about six weeks. The Cojonu line from Tatuaje typically has a scheduled release every three years, though the 2015 edition was delayed until 2022.



To accompany the smoke, I poured a glass of Bowman Brothers Small Batch Bourbon from Fredericksburg’s A. Smith Bowman Distillery. This flavorful 90-proof bourbon has become a go-to for an easy-drinking daily pour. Unlike the distillery’s John J. Bowman Single Barrel Bourbon, this one is readily available and comes in under $35. Noting the low level in my bottle, I made a mental note to pick up another soon.

Bowman Brothers Small Batch offers a mild, slightly floral aroma with hints of brown sugar and cinnamon. The full-bodied flavor profile delivers notes of toasted oak, vanilla, and dark fruit, rounded out by a peppery spice on the finish.

As expected from a Tatuaje, the Cojonu 2015 delivered a full-bodied smoke, rich with notes of coffee and cocoa. Earthy undertones mingled with a subtle sweetness, and at first light, I wondered if the cigar might overpower the bourbon. I needn’t have worrie, despite its bold character, the subtle spice of the bourbon held its own, making for a well-balanced pairing.



As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky was painted in shifting hues of orange and red. The landscape, now free of snow, added to the tranquil ambiance of my time on the porch. When the 80-minute smoke finally came to a close, the temperature was still comfortably above 50° — a rare gift for a February evening.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Seeking Warmth and Flavor at the Cigar Lounge

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 3rd, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
It’s been an extremely cold couple of weeks—so cold that I haven’t felt the urge to step outside for a cigar. Fortunately, I managed to make it over to Hogshead Cigar Lounge a couple of times to enjoy a smoke in warmth and good company.

Since I hadn’t explored Hogshead’s extensive selection in a while, I took my time wandering through the humidor during my visit two weeks ago. The sheer variety made choosing even harder. Eventually, I grabbed a handful of cigars and headed to the counter. When the proprietor asked, “What are you smoking today?” I made a quick decision: the New World Puro Especial. The rest went into a bag for my home humidor, reserved for warmer days.



The 5 1/2 x 52 Robusto is a Nicaraguan puro created by A.J. Fernandez, using tobaccos from his farms in Estelí, Nicaragua. Right from the first draw, I was impressed by its full yet balanced flavor profile. Notes of cedar, coffee, mixed nuts, and cocoa unfolded, all tied together by a subtle creamy sweetness.

I enjoyed every minute of the one-hour smoke, though I found myself wishing for more. I told myself that next time, I’d opt for a Toro to extend the experience.

With an overload of medical appointments this past week, I wasn’t sure if I’d squeeze in another lounge visit. But when my schedule opened up on Friday afternoon, I took the opportunity for a relaxing smoke before dinner.

Walking into the humidor, I had the New World Puro Especial on my mind—but I couldn’t quite remember where I had found it among the shelves. A quick glance around didn’t help, and, in typical guy fashion, I wasn’t about to ask for directions. Instead, I grabbed a My Father La Opulencia that was right in front of me.



This time, I chose a 6 x 54 Toro for a longer session. Like the New World Puro Especial, the La Opulencia features Nicaraguan binder and filler, but it’s wrapped in a Mexican San Andrés leaf. The elaborate double bands add an ornamental touch to the softly box-pressed cigar.

The La Opulencia starts off bold, with an immediate burst of black pepper spice. The smoke is earthy and rich, with notes of pepper, chocolate, and leather. It’s a powerful and intense cigar—less nuanced than the New World Puro Especial but equally full of flavor.

I paired both cigars with bottles of S.Pellegrino Sparkling Water. The carbonation was refreshing, keeping my palate clean and receptive to the full-bodied flavors. Naturally, a good bourbon would have been a perfect companion for either cigar, but I saved that indulgence for later—after dinner, in my living room, sans cigar.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Sunday Links #5

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Feb 2nd, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Slow week for links as, for obvious reasons, I've been limiting my online time the best that I can. I deleted Instagram back in December, and I'm still deciding what to do with Facebook. Unfortunately, that is the online home of choice for most people my age (GenX). I don't think "abandon your relationships to teach Zuck a lesson" is a viable argument, primarily because my quitting has zero impact on Facebook. I'm not sure that FB even needs real users anymore. If the advertisers can't tell the difference, why not just have 800 million or whatever AI accounts posting stuff on each other's updates and photos while they clink on links? It'll probably take years before the advertisers catch on.

However, avoiding Facebook because they are using AI to ID potential opposition to the Nazi regime is a very viable argument. Currently, I'm considering deleting everything I've ever posted there and limiting my use to a couple of groups that I can't realistically move off FB. I am not sure if I can completely abandon it due to the groups.

I also joined Signal this week (chrisod.99). Say hi if you are there. I'm going to try to move my regular contacts there because keeping your communications away from the government is a very real concern now in the US. I also reacquainted myself with PGP and generated a private key for the first time in 20 years. I won't gum up this post with it, but please don't hesitate to ask if you'd like it.

True story, when the plane collided with the helicopter last week, I had a brief surge of anticipatory adrenaline when the breaking news thing interrupted Celebrity Jeopardy, on the hope that the breaking news was that Trump choked on a hamburger and nobody could be bothered to help him. Maybe the next breaking news update will be better news. If you are reading this from a country with an oppressive government, I'd love to hear your tips for surviving the next four years. It's only been two weeks, and it feels like two years.

And finally, on to the links. This won't take long.

Culture shock from a woman who left the US for The Netherlands last year, and came back for a visit.

Lessons in creating family photos people will want to keep. The author learned a few things while scanning thousands of old family photos. I have some thoughts on this that I'll try to get into a blog post this week.

Building a T1 diabetes smartwatch from scratch
This is really geeky and interesting on one level. On another level, my wife has been Type 1 since she was 13, and I've lived through about 35 years of technological advancement with her. The fabled self-regulating artificial pancreas is on the horizon, but it doesn't feel like we are gaining on it. Insulin pumps and CGMs certainly help, but also still require a diabetic that wants to maintain control to be aware of it every waking second of the day.

That is it for this week. Until next time, be good to each other.


Celebrating St. Brigid and Her Great Lake of Beer

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Feb 1st, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
February 1 marks the Feast Day of St. Brigid of Ireland, a beloved figure in our family and one of the most revered Saints of the Emerald Isle. Among the many quotes attributed to her, this one is particularly famous:

“I’d like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings.
I would like to be watching Heaven’s family
drinking it through all eternity.”

St. Brigid holds a special place in Irish hearts, second only to St. Patrick in popularity. While her association with beer—through both prayer and miraculous deeds—often takes center stage, her legacy is deeply rooted in charity, compassion, and a life dedicated to serving others.

Born in 451, Brigid is said to have passed away in 524 or 525. During her life, she founded a monastery in County Kildare, which became an important center of learning and spirituality in the 5th century. Unfortunately, the Abbey was destroyed in the 12th century, but her influence endures.

Brigid’s connection to beer goes beyond her poetic prayer for a “great lake of beer.” According to tradition, while working in a leper colony, the community ran out of beer—a vital source of nourishment and safe hydration in those days. Brigid, ever resourceful, is said to have transformed her bathwater into beer to provide for the lepers and visiting clerics.

In another miraculous account, Brigid provided beer for 18 churches throughout an entire Easter season, all from a single barrel in her convent. These stories highlight not only her connection to beer but also her unwavering dedication to ensuring the well-being of those around her.

St. Brigid’s legacy is a reminder of how faith, generosity, and a touch of humor can leave an enduring mark. Whether you’re raising a pint in her honor or simply reflecting on her life of service, her Feast Day is a celebration of Irish culture, history, and enduring faith.
St. Brigid Statue, Knock Shrine,
County Mayo, Ireland

St. Brigid, ora pro nobis!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

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