FOH: A Week In Pictures.

[El Presidente]

 

 

[El Presidente]

At.my brothers farm. Frogs coming out.

 

[El Presidente]

[BrightonCorgi]

On 12/17/2021 at 11:05 AM, El Presidente said:

Cooking a Paella for the deck lads today 

Been wanting to buy a paella stand to cook like that. 

[riderpride]

15 hours ago, El Presidente said:

At.my brothers farm. Frogs coming out.

That's odd - I was under the impression they were able to change gender. Biologists will be fascinated so take solid notes

[Nevrknow]

18 minutes ago, riderpride said:

That's odd - I was under the impression they were able to change gender. Biologists will be fascinated so take solid notes

It doesn’t matter. Everyone knows every animal in OZ will kill you. Even frogs. 😂

[Habana Mike]

And another one. Cloudy tonight 

Elon burning more fuel. When the electric rocket?

[SigmundChurchill]

Every winter I take my family on a ski trip.  Most often, Vail or Aspen, but occasionally Canada.  This year we decided to try somewhere we have not been before, so we went to Breckenridge, CO, about 45 minutes from Vail.  We are having a great time, but I think this one trip is enough.

We took a day trip to Vail today, figuring we couldn't bare the thought of being so close to Vail without skiing there for at least a day.  All it did was remind us why we should have just gone to Vail again instead of trying somewhere new.  Breckenridge has a beautiful, quaint downtown which is very nice.  Main Street is like an old fashioned American Main Street, that looks remarkably like "Main Street USA" at Disneyworld.  Vail is a Swiss-style ski village, also quaint, and also Disney-like in it's own way, but the difference is, if you are in Vail village, you are also right at the main gondola, while at Breckenridge you have to decide whether you want to stay near Main Street OR by the slopes.

Also, the altitude is noticeably higher in Breckenridge.  There are Breckenridge shirts that say "Got Oxygen?" in all the tourist shops.  (That's a satirical take on the "Got Milk?" commercials we have here in the US). 

I find myself having to catch my breath going down a challenging run, or...bending over to tie my shoe, or...standing completely still.  It also negatively impacts the cigar smoking experience.  There is not enough oxygen to keep the cigar lit, so you start puffing on it more frequently, but you are not inhaling.  So you are taking an already oxygen starved body and depriving it even more of oxygen while you are puffing away trying to keep the cigar lit, and next thing you know, you are completely out of breath.  

On our day trip to Vail today, we all noticed how much easier it is to breath.  And it is at least 10 degrees warmer.  If I had known in the planning stage that the nickname for Breckenridge, was Brecken-fridge, I might have altered my plans.

All that aside, we are still having a great time.  After all, we could all be at work or in school right now.

Christmas dinner at a Swiss restaurant.

Their absinthe setup.

Our day at Vail.

[Nevrknow]

standing completely still.  
 

I literally spit beer on that. Thanks! 😂😂😂

[Islandboy]

Saw something really cool in the dead of night a few weeks ago - a Moonbow!

Conditions were just right, with the full moon low in the evening sky, and passing trade showers. A perfect compliment to the Pink Floyd I was listening to 😎

[Connoisseur Kim]

I finally received a signed copy of Around The World in 80 Cigars from Nick Hammond today. I was really happy to see this majestic cigar travelogue, but it came with some warped spots on its cover unfortunately 😢. Even worse, I suddenly got sick during last night and because of this, I was almost passed out for whole day 🤧.

Can't wait to read Nick Hammond's Around The World in 80 Cigars while puffing Cuban cigars (one of my FOH Korean BOTLs already read this book and highly recommened me to read it) 😄!

Note. You still can get a signed copy of Around The World in 80 Cigars from Nick Hammond by either submiting form on his website or email.

[inter4alia]

Happy New Year! 

 

[Chibearsv]

Wife surprised me with a snack plate in the garage. 

[Nevrknow]

8 minutes ago, Chibearsv said:

Wife surprised me with a snack plate in the garage.

No fair! My wife surprised me with a plate in the garage too.

But mine was airborne. 😂

[El Presidente]

Great night!

 

[havanaclub]

On 12/28/2021 at 2:54 PM, SigmundChurchill said:

Every winter I take my family on a ski trip.  Most often, Vail or Aspen, but occasionally Canada.  This year we decided to try somewhere we have not been before, so we went to Breckenridge, CO, about 45 minutes from Vail.  We are having a great time, but I think this one trip is enough.
We took a day trip to Vail today, figuring we couldn't bare the thought of being so close to Vail without skiing there for at least a day.  All it did was remind us why we should have just gone to Vail again instead of trying somewhere new.  Breckenridge has a beautiful, quaint downtown which is very nice.  Main Street is like an old fashioned American Main Street, that looks remarkably like "Main Street USA" at Disneyworld.  Vail is a Swiss-style ski village, also quaint, and also Disney-like in it's own way, but the difference is, if you are in Vail village, you are also right at the main gondola, while at Breckenridge you have to decide whether you want to stay near Main Street OR by the slopes.
Also, the altitude is noticeably higher in Breckenridge.  There are Breckenridge shirts that say "Got Oxygen?" in all the tourist shops.  (That's a satirical take on the "Got Milk?" commercials we have here in the US). 
I find myself having to catch my breath going down a challenging run, or...bending over to tie my shoe, or...standing completely still.  It also negatively impacts the cigar smoking experience.  There is not enough oxygen to keep the cigar lit, so you start puffing on it more frequently, but you are not inhaling.  So you are taking an already oxygen starved body and depriving it even more of oxygen while you are puffing away trying to keep the cigar lit, and next thing you know, you are completely out of breath.  
On our day trip to Vail today, we all noticed how much easier it is to breath.  And it is at least 10 degrees warmer.  If I had known in the planning stage that the nickname for Breckenridge, was Brecken-fridge, I might have altered my plans.
All that aside, we are still having a great time.  After all, we could all be at work or in school right now.

Christmas dinner at a Swiss restaurant.


Their absinthe setup.


Our day at Vail.

Beautiful views! Crazy the altitude and climate/temperature change just 45 mins away.
Btw nice Sweater


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[Wookie]

happy new year! 

[El Presidente]

Dinner propped. Time to read the paper.

 

[SigmundChurchill]

11 hours ago, havanaclub said:

Beautiful views! Crazy the altitude and climate/temperature change just 45 mins away.
Btw nice Sweater


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As long as you brought the sweater up, we have been wanting to go back to Whistler for the last 2 seasons, but Canada wouldn't let us in.  I think that has changed now?  Or no?

[Bijan]

2 minutes ago, SigmundChurchill said:

As long as you brought the sweater up, we have been wanting to go back to Whistler for the last 2 seasons, but Canada wouldn't let us in.  I think that has changed now?  Or no?

As far as I know vaccinated Americans can visit Canada since around October I think.

Omicron might conceivably throw a wrench in the works but I doubt it. The main risk was back when it hadn't spread yet. Now that it's everywhere it would be totally pointless.

Anyways here's the government website:

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start

[SigmundChurchill]

1 minute ago, Bijan said:

As far as I know vaccinated Americans can visit Canada since around October I think.

Omicron might conceivably throw a wrench in the works but I doubt it. The main risk was back when it hadn't spread yet. Now that it's everywhere it would be totally pointless.

Anyways here's the government website:

https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start

Thanks.  I thought I heard something about it changing.  When you travel in a group of 5 people, you have to plan everything far in advance.  If I do make arrangements, hopefully they don't revert back and screw me up right before my trip is supposed to happen.  I have been wanting to do a Swiss Alps trip one of these years too, but haven't for the same reason. 

[El Hoze]

On 12/27/2021 at 10:54 PM, SigmundChurchill said:

Every winter I take my family on a ski trip.  Most often, Vail or Aspen, but occasionally Canada.  This year we decided to try somewhere we have not been before, so we went to Breckenridge, CO, about 45 minutes from Vail.  We are having a great time, but I think this one trip is enough.

We took a day trip to Vail today, figuring we couldn't bare the thought of being so close to Vail without skiing there for at least a day.  All it did was remind us why we should have just gone to Vail again instead of trying somewhere new.  Breckenridge has a beautiful, quaint downtown which is very nice.  Main Street is like an old fashioned American Main Street, that looks remarkably like "Main Street USA" at Disneyworld.  Vail is a Swiss-style ski village, also quaint, and also Disney-like in it's own way, but the difference is, if you are in Vail village, you are also right at the main gondola, while at Breckenridge you have to decide whether you want to stay near Main Street OR by the slopes.

Also, the altitude is noticeably higher in Breckenridge.  There are Breckenridge shirts that say "Got Oxygen?" in all the tourist shops.  (That's a satirical take on the "Got Milk?" commercials we have here in the US). 

I find myself having to catch my breath going down a challenging run, or...bending over to tie my shoe, or...standing completely still.  It also negatively impacts the cigar smoking experience.  There is not enough oxygen to keep the cigar lit, so you start puffing on it more frequently, but you are not inhaling.  So you are taking an already oxygen starved body and depriving it even more of oxygen while you are puffing away trying to keep the cigar lit, and next thing you know, you are completely out of breath.  

On our day trip to Vail today, we all noticed how much easier it is to breath.  And it is at least 10 degrees warmer.  If I had known in the planning stage that the nickname for Breckenridge, was Brecken-fridge, I might have altered my plans.

All that aside, we are still having a great time.  After all, we could all be at work or in school right now.

Christmas dinner at a Swiss restaurant.

Their absinthe setup.

Our day at Vail.

My wife and I joke that for many people, including many or our good friends, there is only one place to ski in the US and that is Vail! I totally get it! You should check out Steamboat if you’re ever looking to switch it up again. I’ve been fortunate to ski just about every major resort in the US and many places around the world and we love Steamboat - so much so we just bought a condo there. Steamboat is undergoing a pretty major expansion to make the base feel more like Vail, Alterra is looking to make it their official flagship resort. United even has a direct flight from EWR now into Hayden/Steamboat.

As of right now it is still a bit of a “Main Street” type of thing 5 min away from the mountain, but great restaurants and lower elevation than even Vail. Anything above Steamboat - even at Vail - I rent an oxygen machine for my room to suck on the first couple of days…really helps. We head out next week to Steamboat for three weeks…my son is barely 3 so we can still get away with that!! Looks like a great trip your family had. 👍🏻

[BrightonCorgi]

1 hour ago, SigmundChurchill said:

 I have been wanting to do a Swiss Alps trip one of these years too, but haven't for the same reason. 

Covid has been screwing up me visiting CH (friends and family) for some time.  I am going this year no matter what! 

[SigmundChurchill]

53 minutes ago, El Hoze said:

My wife and I joke that for many people, including many or our good friends, there is only one place to ski in the US and that is Vail! I totally get it! You should check out Steamboat if you’re ever looking to switch it up again. I’ve been fortunate to ski just about every major resort in the US and many places around the world and we love Steamboat - so much so we just bought a condo there. Steamboat is undergoing a pretty major expansion to make the base feel more like Vail, Alterra is looking to make it their official flagship resort. United even has a direct flight from EWR now into Hayden/Steamboat.

As of right now it is still a bit of a “Main Street” type of thing 5 min away from the mountain, but great restaurants and lower elevation than even Vail. Anything above Steamboat - even at Vail - I rent an oxygen machine for my room to suck on the first couple of days…really helps. We head out next week to Steamboat for three weeks…my son is barely 3 so we can still get away with that!! Looks like a great trip your family had. 👍🏻

Thank you.  Steamboat is a mountain that is always on the list.  My wife used to go there with her family as a teenager, but I have never been.

And 3 years old is the perfect time to start skiing.  Congrats!  That is when I learned, as well as my wife, and all of my kids.  

And if this comes to fruition about creating a Vail-like village there, buying a property there might be a good investment opportunity.  I will look into it.

Thanks again!

P.S.  Is that direct United flight every day of the week?  Or is it just certain days?

[El Hoze]

1 hour ago, SigmundChurchill said:

Thank you.  Steamboat is a mountain that is always on the list.  My wife used to go there with her family as a teenager, but I have never been.

And 3 years old is the perfect time to start skiing.  Congrats!  That is when I learned, as well as my wife, and all of my kids.  

And if this comes to fruition about creating a Vail-like village there, buying a property there might be a good investment opportunity.  I will look into it.

Thanks again!

P.S.  Is that direct United flight every day of the week?  Or is it just certain days?

That was part of my logic, Steamboat real estate is still relatively reasonable compared to say Vail and with some growth it might just appreciate a bit. And with low property taxes in Colorado I can rent it out Xmas/NYE and Presidents weekend and cover all of my overhead. 

Pretty amazing he just turned 3 in December and can already ski and snowboard pretty well (albeit I keep him on a leash!). I learned at that age as well…my wife learned at 30. Luckily she is pretty determined! 

I believe the EWR flight to Steamboat is every Saturday with some Sunday flights. I live in South Florida and Jet Blue also now has a new direct flight from Ft. Lauderdale on Wed/Sat…..that also played into my decision to pull the trigger on a place out there.