Archives for the ‘Blog Entries.Local’ Category

NPR likes me – health insurance edition

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Nov 15th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Last week someone on Mastodon posted a link to an article on NPR.org looking for people that wanted to talk about health insurance. I happen to have some very recent history in this area so I completed the form. Earlier this week NPR reached out and did a 3-minute interview, of which one sentence ended up in the story. But it was the lead!

Yesterday NPR reached back out asking for a picture, as they are turning the Morning Edition audio story into a print story. I have not seen it online yet, but when I do, I'll add it here.

Keep pressuring your representatives. Trump has lost Marjorie Green Taylor, who was very much acolyte #1 in the cult 12 months ago. Once Trump falls MAGA goes with him. JD Fucking Vance is not going to inspire that type of loyalty.

Ironically, the Republicans have now decided that insurance companies are the problem. They are not wrong, but of course they have no interest in actually fixing the problem. They've been unwilling and unable to produce a single plan to fix healthcare since Trump promised it was days away in 2016, but now that the voters have spoken, they are producing healthcare reform over a couple of evenings of cigars and coke in the basement of the House building.

What could possibly go wrong?

Meanwhile, I watched a YouTube video last night about 10 countries where I I could live for about $1000 a month. I'm sure the video is making all kinds of assumptions that don't apply to me, but even if they are off by a lot, $2500 a month plus whatever insulin pump stuff may cost would be a very dramatic improvement in my life. It definitely bears further research.

I used to occasionally wonder what it was like to live through the fall of an empire. Did the average Roman know the empire was falling? I guess I'm going to get an answer to that the question the hard way, by living through it myself.


NPR likes me – health insurance edition

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Nov 15th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

Last week someone on Mastodon posted a link to an article on NPR.org looking for people that wanted to talk about health insurance. I happen to have some very recent history in this area so I completed the form. Earlier this week NPR reached out and did a 3-minute interview, of which one sentence ended up in the story. But it was the lead!

Yesterday NPR reached back out asking for a picture, as they are turning the Morning Edition audio story into a print story. I have not seen it online yet, but when I do, I'll add it here. The NPR.org story

Keep pressuring your representatives. Trump has lost Marjorie Green Taylor, who was very much acolyte #1 in the cult 12 months ago. Once Trump falls MAGA goes with him. JD Fucking Vance is not going to inspire that type of loyalty.

Ironically, the Republicans have now decided that insurance companies are the problem. They are not wrong, but of course they have no interest in actually fixing the problem. They've been unwilling and unable to produce a single plan to fix healthcare since Trump promised it was days away in 2016, but now that the voters have spoken, they are producing healthcare reform over a couple of evenings of cigars and coke in the basement of the House building.

What could possibly go wrong?

Meanwhile, I watched a YouTube video last night about 10 countries where I I could live for about $1000 a month. I'm sure the video is making all kinds of assumptions that don't apply to me, but even if they are off by a lot, $2500 a month plus whatever insulin pump stuff may cost would be a very dramatic improvement in my life. It definitely bears further research.

I used to occasionally wonder what it was like to live through the fall of an empire. Did the average Roman know the empire was falling? I guess I'm going to get an answer to that the question the hard way, by living through it myself.


Breaking the Porch Routine for an Afternoon at Hogshead

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Nov 14th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
It’s been far too long since I’ve paid a visit to Hogshead Cigar Lounge. Oddly enough, enjoying a smoke at my local brick-and-mortar used to be almost a weekly ritual just a couple of years ago. In theory, retiring last year should have meant I’d visit even more often — a theory that hasn’t panned out. Recovery from back surgery certainly kept me home for a while, but that’s no longer much of a factor.

In truth, convenience has won out. I have a well-stocked humidor at home, and the newly renovated screened porch right off the kitchen makes for a very comfortable smoking spot. Even with colder weather settling in, the heater and air purifier make the space perfectly usable. And of course, it’s right there — no need to hop in the car and drive 30 minutes.

Still, the lure of leather chairs and the chance for conversation finally won me over this week, and I headed to my favorite cigar lounge for a visit.



As expected for a weekday afternoon, the lounge was quiet. A steady flow of customers came and went, but few stayed to smoke. I settled in with my cigar of choice — the Black Label Trading Company Eletto.

Italian for “the chosen one,” the Eletto is a limited-edition release celebrating the 10th anniversary of Fábrica Oveja Negra, the factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, where Black Label Trading Company cigars are made. Released this past summer, I hadn’t yet picked one up to try.

I selected the 6? × 50 Toro. It features a dark, oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, an Ecuadorian Habano binder, and Nicaraguan fillers, all topped with a decorative pigtail cap. The cigar opens with dark fruit and a good dose of spice. As it progresses, cocoa and dark licorice develop, adding depth and balancing the heat. As one would expect from Black Label, it’s a bold and complex smoke.

My smoking session lasted about 90 minutes. While conversation was limited, the visit was a comfortable and relaxing escape. Still, as I sat there sipping sparkling water, I remembered another factor that’s been keeping me smoking at home — I have bourbon in the house.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Breaking the Porch Routine for an Afternoon at Hogshead

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Nov 14th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
It’s been far too long since I’ve paid a visit to Hogshead Cigar Lounge. Oddly enough, enjoying a smoke at my local brick-and-mortar used to be almost a weekly ritual just a couple of years ago. In theory, retiring last year should have meant I’d visit even more often — a theory that hasn’t panned out. Recovery from back surgery certainly kept me home for a while, but that’s no longer much of a factor.

In truth, convenience has won out. I have a well-stocked humidor at home, and the newly renovated screened porch right off the kitchen makes for a very comfortable smoking spot. Even with colder weather settling in, the heater and air purifier make the space perfectly usable. And of course, it’s right there — no need to hop in the car and drive 30 minutes.

Still, the lure of leather chairs and the chance for conversation finally won me over this week, and I headed to my favorite cigar lounge for a visit.



As expected for a weekday afternoon, the lounge was quiet. A steady flow of customers came and went, but few stayed to smoke. I settled in with my cigar of choice — the Black Label Trading Company Eletto.

Italian for “the chosen one,” the Eletto is a limited-edition release celebrating the 10th anniversary of Fábrica Oveja Negra, the factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, where Black Label Trading Company cigars are made. Released this past summer, I hadn’t yet picked one up to try.

I selected the 6? × 50 Toro. It features a dark, oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, an Ecuadorian Habano binder, and Nicaraguan fillers, all topped with a decorative pigtail cap. The cigar opens with dark fruit and a good dose of spice. As it progresses, cocoa and dark licorice develop, adding depth and balancing the heat. As one would expect from Black Label, it’s a bold and complex smoke.

My smoking session lasted about 90 minutes. While conversation was limited, the visit was a comfortable and relaxing escape. Still, as I sat there sipping sparkling water, I remembered another factor that’s been keeping me smoking at home — I have bourbon in the house.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Cellar Surprise: Wicked Nymph Stout & Event Horizon Cigar Pairing

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Nov 11th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I pulled an old beer from the cellar to enjoy this past weekend — Wicked Nymph, a barrel-aged Imperial Stout from Adventure Brewing. The corked and caged bottle was purchased back in 2015 and had been quietly collecting dust in the basement for the past decade.

When I worked out the still-tight cork, I was greeted by a satisfying “pop” and a wave of sweet, roasted aroma. Aged in bourbon barrels from A. Smith Bowman Distillery, the beer clocks in at 10.4% ABV.



A thick beige head formed during the pour, though it faded fairly quickly. The first sip revealed rich notes of cocoa, coffee, and a hint of bourbon warmth. A touch of dark fruit sweetness lingered in the background creating a smooth finish with just a trace of bitterness. It was a tasty pour that leads me to wonder what other treasures are still hiding in the basement.

To complement the beer, I paired it with a Black Works Studio Intergalactic Event Horizon. I’d picked up a five-pack of these cigars back in July and hadn’t yet gotten around to lighting one up. The 5.5” x 50 Robusto features a dark Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper over an Ecuadorian Habano binder, with Nicaraguan fillers. It’s finished with a small pigtail cap and a mostly closed foot.


Right from the first light, I was enveloped in a rich, dense cloud of smoke — a sign of things to come. The cigar produced copious smoke throughout and maintained an impressively even burn.

Flavor-wise, the Event Horizon delivered bold notes of roasted pepper, bitter espresso, dark fruit, and a mix of pepper and chili spice. Despite its full-bodied intensity, the smoke was remarkably smooth, with a subtle sweetness that kept everything in balance.

I went into this pairing hoping the beer had aged gracefully and that its dark, roasted character would complement the cigar’s richness. I was not disappointed on either count. Sadly, the Barrel-Aged Wicked Nymph is now just a memory — but thankfully, I have more Event Horizons waiting for the next occasion.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Cellar Surprise: Wicked Nymph Stout & Event Horizon Cigar Pairing

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Nov 11th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
I pulled an old beer from the cellar to enjoy this past weekend — Wicked Nymph, a barrel-aged Imperial Stout from Adventure Brewing. The corked and caged bottle was purchased back in 2015 and had been quietly collecting dust in the basement for the past decade.

When I worked out the still-tight cork, I was greeted by a satisfying “pop” and a wave of sweet, roasted aroma. Aged in bourbon barrels from A. Smith Bowman Distillery, the beer clocks in at 10.4% ABV.



A thick beige head formed during the pour, though it faded fairly quickly. The first sip revealed rich notes of cocoa, coffee, and a hint of bourbon warmth. A touch of dark fruit sweetness lingered in the background creating a smooth finish with just a trace of bitterness. It was a tasty pour that leads me to wonder what other treasures are still hiding in the basement.

To complement the beer, I paired it with a Black Works Studio Intergalactic Event Horizon. I’d picked up a five-pack of these cigars back in July and hadn’t yet gotten around to lighting one up. The 5.5” x 50 Robusto features a dark Pennsylvania Broadleaf wrapper over an Ecuadorian Habano binder, with Nicaraguan fillers. It’s finished with a small pigtail cap and a mostly closed foot.


Right from the first light, I was enveloped in a rich, dense cloud of smoke — a sign of things to come. The cigar produced copious smoke throughout and maintained an impressively even burn.

Flavor-wise, the Event Horizon delivered bold notes of roasted pepper, bitter espresso, dark fruit, and a mix of pepper and chili spice. Despite its full-bodied intensity, the smoke was remarkably smooth, with a subtle sweetness that kept everything in balance.

I went into this pairing hoping the beer had aged gracefully and that its dark, roasted character would complement the cigar’s richness. I was not disappointed on either count. Sadly, the Barrel-Aged Wicked Nymph is now just a memory — but thankfully, I have more Event Horizons waiting for the next occasion.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Sips, Smoke, and Peppermint Bark: A Surprising Trio

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Nov 8th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Most of my cigar enjoyment over the past week has come in the form of quick smokes after dinner — usually paired with coffee, a small pour of bourbon, or even just water. When the weekend rolled around, I finally set aside time for a longer, more relaxed sip-and-smoke session on the porch. I reached for a Black Label Trading Company Last Rites Toro and the bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon.

The 6” x 50 Last Rites Toro, a vitola added to the line last June, was part of the July Cigars and Pipes COTM package. The Last Rites was once one of my go-to cigars at the Olde Towne Tobacconist at the Farm before it closed a couple of years ago. Just lighting one up brings back memories of good times with friends in the cigar lounge at the brewery.



The cigar wears an oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a Honduran binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. The full-bodied smoke delivers notes of dried fruit, coffee, and mild pepper spice throughout. It’s flavorful and well-balanced from start to finish.

As I headed out to the porch, my wife offered me a piece of Peppermint Bark — a treat she enjoys every Christmas season. She happened to have a box still tucked away in the pantry. I’ll have a piece on occasion, though it’s not usually one of my favorites.

The Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond was once an allocated bourbon under Virginia’s antiquated ABC system, but it now sits regularly on the shelf. Aged seven years and bottled at 100 proof, it’s a fine bourbon at a very reasonable price. Aromas of caramel, vanilla, and oak fill the air as it rests in the glass. The sip begins with moderately intense oak and baking spice, followed by sweet vanilla and dark cherry. The finish lingers with caramel sweetness that pairs beautifully with the cigar’s flavor profile.



Mixing puffs of the cigar with sips of bourbon — interspersed with bites of peppermint bark — made for a surprisingly enjoyable tasting experience. I often read that cigar “reviewers” should taste cigars without food or drink to experience the “true” flavors. Good thing I simply share my experiences rather than trying to be an industry critic. (In fact, if you ask ChatGPT about this blog, it’ll tell you the same thing!)

The evening on the porch was extremely pleasant. It gets dark early now, so I’m smoking by lamplight instead of the sunset. I’m still fine-tuning the balance of ventilation and heating in the newly enclosed porch. The recent addition of an air purifier is doing wonders to clear the smoke, and I’m optimistic that I’ll be needing fewer clothing layers when winter truly sets in.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

Sips, Smoke, and Peppermint Bark: A Surprising Trio

Author: From http://www.musingsoverabarrel.com/ • Nov 8th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local
Most of my cigar enjoyment over the past week has come in the form of quick smokes after dinner — usually paired with coffee, a small pour of bourbon, or even just water. When the weekend rolled around, I finally set aside time for a longer, more relaxed sip-and-smoke session on the porch. I reached for a Black Label Trading Company Last Rites Toro and the bottle of Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon.

The 6” x 50 Last Rites Toro, a vitola added to the line last June, was part of the July Cigars and Pipes COTM package. The Last Rites was once one of my go-to cigars at the Olde Towne Tobacconist at the Farm before it closed a couple of years ago. Just lighting one up brings back memories of good times with friends in the cigar lounge at the brewery.



The cigar wears an oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a Honduran binder and Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. The full-bodied smoke delivers notes of dried fruit, coffee, and mild pepper spice throughout. It’s flavorful and well-balanced from start to finish.

As I headed out to the porch, my wife offered me a piece of Peppermint Bark — a treat she enjoys every Christmas season. She happened to have a box still tucked away in the pantry. I’ll have a piece on occasion, though it’s not usually one of my favorites.

The Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond was once an allocated bourbon under Virginia’s antiquated ABC system, but it now sits regularly on the shelf. Aged seven years and bottled at 100 proof, it’s a fine bourbon at a very reasonable price. Aromas of caramel, vanilla, and oak fill the air as it rests in the glass. The sip begins with moderately intense oak and baking spice, followed by sweet vanilla and dark cherry. The finish lingers with caramel sweetness that pairs beautifully with the cigar’s flavor profile.



Mixing puffs of the cigar with sips of bourbon — interspersed with bites of peppermint bark — made for a surprisingly enjoyable tasting experience. I often read that cigar “reviewers” should taste cigars without food or drink to experience the “true” flavors. Good thing I simply share my experiences rather than trying to be an industry critic. (In fact, if you ask ChatGPT about this blog, it’ll tell you the same thing!)

The evening on the porch was extremely pleasant. It gets dark early now, so I’m smoking by lamplight instead of the sunset. I’m still fine-tuning the balance of ventilation and heating in the newly enclosed porch. The recent addition of an air purifier is doing wonders to clear the smoke, and I’m optimistic that I’ll be needing fewer clothing layers when winter truly sets in.

Cheers!


[ This content originated at Musings Over a Barrel ]

I won Mastodon today

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Nov 5th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I'm just going to leave this here where I can find it later.

Screenshot from Mastodon showing a reply from George Takei


I won Mastodon today

Author: From https://odonnellweb.com/pelican/ • Nov 5th, 2025
   Category: Blog Entries.Local

I'm just going to leave this here where I can find it later.

Screenshot from Mastodon showing a reply from George Takei


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