Items From 2005 Gatherings: December '05 -- This month Randy brought us out to Bailey's Pub, on Canton Center Rd. in Canton. (SW Corner of Ford Rd. and Canton Center in plaza) Wednesday night, December 28th. We met up in the "Burgundy room", and were surrounded by big screens with a great view of the Alamo Bowl (Michigan v. Nebraska). The food was outstanding, the salsa was amazing, and a great group of old and new friends were there. In attendance this night: Scott K., Randy, Barry, Jason C., Jeremy, Mark & Judy, Bob P., Marty, Rich, Hal, etc... need pics to remember... ;) November '05 -- Ron had us meet up at Robusto's Martini Lounge (19271 Mack Avenue Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236). This place is supposedly one of the best cigar/martini bars in the Detroit area. Unfortunately they do not serve entrees -- only appetizers, e.g. crab cakes, grilled shrimp, buffalo wings, etc. Still, Ron and I (Jeremy) arrived first on this first snowy day of the year. We found out the cook was running late, so we got to drinking ($5 happy-hour martinis) and smoking right away in the upstairs VIP section. The rest of the gang showed up as the time flew by (even Patrick, direct from the plane!). We ordered the appetizers a-plenty once the cook arrived, and they were mighty tasty. I left around 10pm and I believe that the remaining group was going to make its way downtown to the Pulse (See September)... Officially in attendance this night: Jeremy, Ron, Mark, Judy, Antonio, Marty, Bob, -guy-, Patrick, and -guy-. Pictures from Mark: Antonio, Mark, Ron, and Jeremy Antonio, Ron, and Jeremy Bob and Judy Jeremy, Marty, and Guy Jeremy, Waitress, and Marty Marty and Guy Marty, Guy, Bob, Jeremy, Mark, Ron, and Antonio Ron and Jeremy Ron, Jeremy, Marty, and Guy October '05 -- The plan was Thursday, the 27th, at Camp Ticonderoga on Rochester Rd. atCamp Ticonderoga It's a pretty nice rustic-style place with pretty good food (and fresh chocolate-chip cookies!). They gave us our own room, pretty much, and we had a good time experimenting with strange sounding menu items, while sampling the cigars and drinks. And what a long sting of people that showed up! People wafting in throughout the evening. It was great. Marty reminded me who was there: LouAnn, Ron B., Bob, Dave P., Mark G., Judy G., Jeff, Patrick, Barry, friend of Barry (can't remember his name), Tom Haddad, Dave Reed, Bob Dorsch, Marty, and Jeremy. Pictures from Mark: Barry and Randy Bob, Guy, Jeff, and Jeremy Guy and Ron Judy, Ed, and Guy Judy and Marty Patrick and Dave Ron, Barry, Randy, and Patrick Ron, Patrick, and Bob September '05 -- Pulse Detroit! What a night. Great place, great friends, great cigars, great drinks, great sandwiches! Owen, Joe, and the rest have done a wonderful job to make the Pulse a great place to hang out. Thanks for arranging a special night, guys! And, if you forgot to bring a cigar (Barry), Ulysses was there hand-rolling cigars on-site for you for $10 - I (Jeremy) got one and it was great. Rich (the Market Manager for Woodford Reserve) was there to lay down some serious schooling on why Woodford is better than what you drink now (my words not his). He provided much in the way of taste tests and evaluations. Whattaguy! Thanks again Rich! The guys also brought in some cuban sandwiches from down the street - tasty!! There were so many people in attendance, please remind me if I missed anyone: Bob P., Ron, Jeremy, Patrick, Rich, Jim H., Barry, Mark, Judy, Dick, Joe, Ed, Scott, Scott's Wife, Gary, Baffy, Green, Skinner, and of course the regular customers of the Pulse. There are so many pictures, I'm keeping the listing very simple: 1-JimEdBobJoePatRonRich.JPG 2-Ulysses1.JPG 3-MakersVsWoodford1.JPG 4-MakersVsWoodford2.JPG 5-JoeJudyMark.JPG 6-PatRonRich.JPG 7-JimEdBob.JPG 8-CustOwen.JPG 9-RonRich.JPG a-ScottWife.JPG b-BobTasteTest.JPG c-JimBobTasteTest.JPG d-JimBobTasteTest2.JPG e-Barry.JPG f-Ulysses2.JPG g-DickJim.JPG h-RichPat.JPG i-JoeGaryBaffy.JPG j-BobRonPatBarry.JPG k-MyCigarWoodford.JPG l-CustRichBarryPatRonBobEd.JPG m-RichBarryPatBobEd.JPG n-BobEd.JPG o-Group-JoeBarryGaryRichDickJeremyPatMarkRonEdBob.JPG p-Group-BarryJoeGaryRichDickJeremyPatMarkRonEdBobBaffy.JPG q-Group-GreenBarryGaryJoeDickRichOwenJeremyPatMarkRonEdBob.JPG r-MarkJeremyJudy.JPG s-MarkSkinner.JPG t-WhiteCastleSignRedford.JPG August '05 -- Festivala de la Marina! Barry and Randy hosted the July/August cigar outing at the Toledo Beach on Saturday August 13th, starting around Noon. The Sandbar was having their Mardi Gras party Saturday night (but I - Jeremy - don't know if anyone stayed late enough since I left around 7pm). As usual, it was an amazing display of food, drinks, cigars, football, and great converstaion. Officially in attendance this day: ... Pictures from Mark: Bob, Barry, and Jeff Bob, Judy, and Mark Bob, Randy, and Jeff Carol Carol and Mark Drinks And Smokes Group Guy, Judy, Carol, and Randy Guy and Randy Jeff and Bob Jeff, Bob, Randy, Mark, Judy, and Guy Jeremy Judy Patrick Randy July '05 -- Barry and Randy did a joint July/August Marina gathering... see August. June '05 -- No June gathering. May '05 -- Ron called us to The Piston's Hoop City Grille, inside the Star Theatre of Southfield. The interesting thing about this particular gathering is that it was Friday, the first day of the Memorial Day holiday weekend. So it was that none of us could stand to stay at the office very long, and we ended up starting the gathering early - like around 4:15... We had great seats in our purple fuzzy bar seats, and great service from our bartender and staff. Though my (Jeremy) steak was a bit overdone, all the rest of the food looked great. People wafted in and out of the gathering over the few hours we were there, enjoying the food, drinks, smokes, and company. Tim even handed out stogies (H.Upmann!) in honor of his beautiful new daughter. Barry and Randy called in from the boat as they opened their first Guinesses from somewhere far away. Ahoy! Officially in attendance this night: Patrick, Mike U., Jeremy, Nik, Marty, Karen, Scott S., Ron, Tim R., Mark, and Judy. These pictures were taken on Patrick's camera-phone, so they are seriously crappy... Marty and Nik, apparently saying something interesting... A very happy Karen... Scott and Ron lighting up... Jeremy, upclose and personal... Patrick and Bob... Tim, new dada... Mark and Jude... Bonus picture from Patrick... These pictures were taken by Mark, so they are a little nicer... Judy, Jeremy, and Ron Mark, Jeremy, Ron, and Scott Mark, Ron, Jeremy, Patrick, Bob, Karen, and Tim Patrick, Bob, Karen, and Tim Scott, Bob, Karen, and Tim April '05 -- No April gathering. March '05 -- Jeremy. Original email: "It's March! Time for another Cigar Gathering! This time it will be a pre- St. Patrick's day theme, at an Irish bar/restaraunt... Here's the plan: I will be lighting up a premium cigar with a drink UPSTAIRS at the John Cowley and Son's Irish Pub in downtown Farmington on Wednesday, March 16th at around 6pm. I hope you will join me. I have called the place and spoke to Sean the manager, he said no reservations required. Since it's the day BEFORE St. Patty's, we should be able to get a seat. Whoever gets there first (Barry?), make sure to grab a section... So, c'mon and join me in the celebration. I'm sure you all have something to celebrate since the last get-together in.... what was it, November? I forget... You can celebrate a birth of a child, a new home, a new job, a new certification, and up-coming trip to exotic Utah, or just life in general - whatever you want. Or if you don't want to celebrate that stuff, just come out and sulk - it's all good." Barry, Randy, Jeremy Patrick and Barry Randy and Jeremy Ron and Patrick Ron, Patrick, Barry, Randy, Judy, Jeremy The Ring Core February '05 -- No February gathering. January '05 -- No January gathering.