View Full Version : Should I Shouldn't I - How to decide???
Herf N Turf
03-11-2015, 06:45 PM
That's it folks! You've already smoked a nice cigar today and, as always, thoroughly enjoyed it. Trouble is, it makes you want another!
Question is, what to do? Do you indulge yourself, your passion, your desire, your interest... or do you save up, curb your appetite and bravely move on?
As we all know, our cigars are a luxury, but where are we supposed to draw the line? I mean, if we're fortunate enough to be able to afford more luxury, isn't that what we've worked so hard for?
Then again, we might decide it better to deny today so we can indulge another....
Bottom line, it's a DAMNED hard choice to make.
So, how do you do it? Do you go with your gut and spark up another as you like, or do you seek to serve the more "christian" impulse of self denial in the hope of greater reward?
For me, it's often like the scene in Animal House where "Pinto" had the devil and the angel on opposite shoulders...
bluenoser
03-11-2015, 06:49 PM
I rarely light anything up during the day unless I have some down time at work, and when home I have young children I don't want asking questions about /pretending smoking so I usually only light up after they're in bed, leaving me little time for a second. I guess to me it makes it more of a luxury knowing I'll have time for 1 bowl or stick so which do I choose tonight?
Old Smokey
03-11-2015, 06:50 PM
Life is too short. Toga! Toga! Toga!
Or I could wait until tomorrow and spend a quiet evening reflecting on my day, looking for any wrongdoings I may have made and how I could have done it differently.
Don, I think I see your dilemma. I got nuthin.
jhedrick83
03-11-2015, 06:57 PM
My chances to partake are far between, so I tend to give in when I have the chance. I just try to take a break and cleanse the palate some between.
Bruck
03-11-2015, 06:59 PM
I only smoke in the evenings on weeknights, and there's usually only time for one cigar (or a couple bowls of pipe tobacco).
Weekends, the devil usually wins :)
droy1958
03-11-2015, 06:59 PM
Patience my ass...I'm going to kill sumptin'....
Jordan23
03-11-2015, 07:02 PM
I typically choose one of my favorite cigars when smoking, so usually my smoking experience leaves me very satisfied. Therefore, I rarely feel the need to spark up another. Also, I'm usually crunched for time which prevents a second stick.
If I do want another, I smoke another. I like to think of cigars as a treat and treats are more special when occasional. However, tomorrow isn't promised, so I indulge if I want.
gordo1473
03-11-2015, 07:03 PM
I usually smoke one a day. Rarely do I have enough spare time to smoke a second. But if I did I would smoke 2-3 a day
Bowtech4ever
03-11-2015, 07:04 PM
I only smoke in the evenings on weeknights, and there's usually only time for one cigar (or a couple bowls of pipe tobacco).
Weekends, the devil usually wins :)
Yep! X2 on dat.
My taste seems to dwindle after the first smoke, so I either chose stronger cigars if I follow one after another. However, I usually don't have enough time to smoke more than one per evening on weekdays.
Indyhp
03-11-2015, 07:59 PM
Weekdays I only have time for one after work.
Weekends I might sneak two, but I like to give my taste buds a few hours rest in between. I've found that, if I smoke two cigars back-to-back, I get trench mouth and risk singeing the tip of my tongue.
When I'm out camping, I might get three in, with a rest in between.
ChiefIlliniwek
03-11-2015, 08:02 PM
I'm usually smoking at the end of the night, so it's typically only one a night so I can get to bed. If I'm at a herf for several hours, or my wife is out of town - I'm smoking two or three sticks.
I normally smoke 2 nice cigars a day. Something small around lunch and something bigger after dinner. As long as Ive given my palate enough time to refresh I don't feel bad about it.
RogueBallBoy
03-11-2015, 08:37 PM
I usually can have only one, around this time each night. On the rare occasion when I can overindulge, I will smoke like a chimney and never regret it. If I have ever not really wanted to smoke the next day I think it has more to do with alcohol than tobacco.
Tombstone
03-11-2015, 08:40 PM
Depends on a regular day its one and done. If there is a group of us just relaxing then I will indulge in another.
Cardinal
03-11-2015, 08:45 PM
I typically choose one of my favorite cigars when smoking, so usually my smoking experience leaves me very satisfied. Therefore, I rarely feel the need to spark up another. Also, I'm usually crunched for time which prevents a second stick.
If I do want another, I smoke another. I like to think of cigars as a treat and treats are more special when occasional. However, tomorrow isn't promised, so I indulge if I want.
I don't want to just say, "+1" so instead I'll say, "That's exactly how I feel on all counts." :stogie:
quo155
03-11-2015, 09:11 PM
Don, I look at it this way...and this is not to be grim, at all...but we both know there is never the guarantee of tomorrow. With that said, if you feel the urge to smoke another and you feel like you've plenty on hand, then by all means do so.
"Waste not thy moment, for tomorrow thy moment may never come." -quo
piperdown
03-11-2015, 09:42 PM
It seems I rarely have time between assisting with kids activities, working on proposals at home, getting yard work or housework done so when I do have a chance I go a bit crazy. I've been known to be accused of chain smoking cigars at herfs before.
Now that the weather is turning I'll probably grab more yard gars and try and set time aside for ones I can savor.
Tom Cruise in "Risky Business": "Sometimes you just have to say, 'what the @#$%?'"
herman
03-11-2015, 10:11 PM
Hate to crash the party, but honestly, I could be happy with a Saturday morning cigar at most.
I tend to fluctuate between periods of extreme discipline, and some where I get sloppy, but it doesn't get too disbalanced.
I do want one more the first 36 hours or so but have too many hobbies and goals to give into the habit.
On vacation I let impulse have free reign and find if I have 4 in 2 days, I actually don't want another for a few days. Kind of like a day of heavy drinking I guess. I just don't wake up craving bloody marrys until the chemistry balances out. Or maybe it's a sign I need to smoke weaker cigars. Doubt it.
Lostmason
03-11-2015, 10:29 PM
I guess I with herman on this,I might go weeks between cigars or pipes,or I may have two or both on the same day.It's a hobby for to enjoy and relax so I indulge when I can sit back and watch the squirrls play.
OnePyroTec
03-11-2015, 10:33 PM
I rarely have more than two smokes on any give day, be it two cigars, two pipes, or one of each. However, if/when the urge comes along for an "extra" I take it. :cool:
Skeat5353
03-11-2015, 11:11 PM
My tolerance of personal introspection only allows me one cigar a day. Otherwise, I'd jump.
Ropey
03-12-2015, 05:11 AM
If I'm tempted to smoke a second one that day, I think of oral cancer, and that usually stops me.
anthony d
03-12-2015, 05:36 AM
Generally the only times I have smoked more than one stick was while having a bbq/pool party at my house. I had one while grilling during the day, and another later that night after everyone has left.
B daddy
03-12-2015, 05:39 AM
Time permitting, I smoke. It infrequently permits more than one. I think of activities that lend themselves to multiple smokes and I generally take advantage of the opportunity. 2-3 during a round of golf. 2/ day fishing. 2-3 a day camping.
herman
03-12-2015, 06:03 AM
Time permitting, I smoke. It infrequently permits more than one. I think of activities that lend themselves to multiple smokes and I generally take advantage of the opportunity. 2-3 during a round of golf. 2/ day fishing. 2-3 a day camping.
Yeah that's a weakness for sure. I don't like smoking while fishing, but if I hit the usual evening traffic on the way home from fishing and have one in the herf... I'm probably smoking or cussing for forgetting my lighter.
cheaphumidors
03-12-2015, 06:50 AM
Nowadays I only smoke when I read, be it a trashy magazine or a book. If I finish one cigar and notice I only have 5 more chapters in order to finish the book (or another magazine just showed up in the mail), I give in to temptation and light another stick.
OR if I am at the cigar lounge, then once I finish one stick, I ask all my buddies how long they are going to stick around to determine if I am going to grab another.
Horsefeathers
03-12-2015, 07:15 AM
I often find I have the urge for a second stick, and on the occasion that I have lit up another one, I've found that I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I was going to before I lit it up. At this point one a day is fine with me...unless I'm herfing. Then it's game on.
Yarddog
03-12-2015, 07:16 AM
I typically choose one of my favorite cigars when smoking, so usually my smoking experience leaves me very satisfied. Therefore, I rarely feel the need to spark up another. Also, I'm usually crunched for time which prevents a second stick.
If I do want another, I smoke another. I like to think of cigars as a treat and treats are more special when occasional. However, tomorrow isn't promised, so I indulge if I want.
I'm with Troy on this...a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do...
Aithos
03-12-2015, 07:35 AM
I generally only smoke a couple a week at most, I think I've only ever smoked two in one day a single time...so I tend to not want more than one.
Upstatemax
03-12-2015, 08:01 AM
I rarely light anything up during the day unless I have some down time at work, and when home I have young children I don't want asking questions about /pretending smoking so I usually only light up after they're in bed, leaving me little time for a second. I guess to me it makes it more of a luxury knowing I'll have time for 1 bowl or stick so which do I choose tonight?
I'm in the exact same boat.
Maybe once or twice a year I'll get to have two.
Brimy
03-12-2015, 08:18 AM
If you feel the urge & have the time, burn'em!!
As you said, it's a luxury, something to "treat" yourself. So why not treat yourself right!?!
theHammer56
03-12-2015, 10:42 AM
My favorite setup is to be out with a buddy or two at a cigar lounge for the evening while our wives are off doing their own thing. It's assumed that we're taking in more than one cigar, since these opportunities only tend to present themselves once a month or less. So we start off with getting something on our stomachs like wings or bbq and a beer, and then head to the nearest lounge for cigars and something to sip on. Good times to chat and do some serious bonding. Okay, maybe not so serious, but thoroughly enjoyable nonetheless.
I will definitely spend time analyzing my couple of smokes. How strong each one is is my first consideration. I'll plan to smoke the milder one first, for sure. The next consideration is the length; how much time do we have. Will they be equal in length, or do I want my first one or second one to last the longest? And then, of course, pairing the two together; do they compliment each other? I want to avoid "opposite ends of the spectrum."
As you can see - I probably have a bit of a tendency to overthink the situation. But, hey. I've also had a LOT of very good "smoke nights" with a bunch o' good guys.
EJGarnut
03-12-2015, 11:45 AM
Sometimes you have to ask yourself...
What would Churchill do?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9IAMjxqwL8Q/UBghtK4J4rI/AAAAAAAAAcY/1UateOmvcz4/s1600/winston_churchill.jpg
Browns7213
03-12-2015, 02:27 PM
I deny myself for a few reasons. First, I'm pretty health conscious so I exercise daily, eat right, take my vitamins and say my prayers BROTHER! Secondly, my taste buds get can pretty burnt our after smoking 3-days in a row so I try not to smoke more than 2-days in a row and rarely light one up back to back. This leads me to being primarily a weekend toker and like many things when I can't get my weekend fix I feel like I've been cheated somehow. With the cold winter we had this year if we even had a remotely warm day during the week I would pounce on the opportunity to get a quick short smoke in.
Jordan23
03-12-2015, 07:05 PM
I deny myself for a few reasons. First, I'm pretty health conscious so I exercise daily, eat right, take my vitamins and say my prayers BROTHER! Secondly, my taste buds get can pretty burnt our after smoking 3-days in a row so I try not to smoke more than 2-days in a row and rarely light one up back to back. This leads me to being primarily a weekend toker and like many things when I can't get my weekend fix I feel like I've been cheated somehow. With the cold winter we had this year if we even had a remotely warm day during the week I would pounce on the opportunity to get a quick short smoke in.
Don't you miss Hulk Hogan?[emoji631]
I forgot to mention your point. I also try to limit consumption for health reasons. Everything in moderation. It also helps with aging things.
oleballcoachtn
03-12-2015, 08:58 PM
I like to smoke during some kind of activity like golfing, walking around the neighborhood, being around the farm shooting guns, etc. If one of those things are going on then Im going to smoke for the duration. Halfway through the 2nd one its hard for me to taste anything but I dont waste a good cigar.
Another scenario where I will smoke more than one is when I get a bad stick or smoke one thats not quite "ready." I try to give it a full third, but after that I throw it away and go for another.
These times are few and far between so if the opportunity presents itself for more than one Im all in.
Engineer99
03-12-2015, 08:59 PM
I usually have a plan for my smoking days and that plan usually includes two cigars. The milder/more subtle cigar gets smoked first, and the full bodied/full flavored gets smoked second. This may vary according to the burn rate, smoking time, ect...
Well, I guess I don't really have a plan. I guess I just grab whatever whenever.
jhedrick83
03-12-2015, 09:39 PM
Another scenario where I will smoke more than one is when I get a bad stick or smoke one thats not quite "ready." I try to give it a full third, but after that I throw it away and go for another.
When I get a chance to smoke it's usually at home. Unless I know I am on a very limited time frame (like I was tonight) I usually bring two out to the porch with me. That way if one is a dud my lazy ass doesn't have to go back inside and dig something out to smoke. The happy side effect is, if I have time, usually cigar #2 meets its smokey demise as well.