http://www.iamjacksbrain.com This is a personal website dedicated to food, travel, cigars, and anything else I might happen to be enjoying. en-us Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:10:00 MST iamjacksbrain@yahoo.com Copyright: (C) Mario. All Rights Reserved. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/images/JacksRSSIcon.gif http://www.iamjacksbrain.com 120 42 This is a personal website dedicated to food, travel, cigars, and anything else I might happen to be enjoying. 072209Cigars Wed, 22 Jul 2009 23:10:00 MST Right now my humidor is covered with a thick layer of dust and the cigars within are drying out from lack of maintenance... http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal 062309RamonAllones Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:10:00 MST The return of one of my early favorites. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 060709SeaSaw Wed, 08 Jul 2009 21:40:00 MST A couple of weeks ago Kodak announced that they're discontinuing Kodachrome, their classic slide film (which is older than most people likely to read this). http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ photography film Kodachrome 062309RamonAllones Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:30:00 MST It had been at least a couple of months since the last time I got to smoke a cigar, and it was Father's Day, so I wanted something special. Not equipped to deal with the nicotine from my favorite Cohiba Edicion Limitada 2001 "Piramides" I went for something else Cuban instead. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 061609Japan Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:40:00 MST I finished the text for my 3/9 Japan trip! No pictures yet though. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/travel/Japan0309.html travel food japan osaka kyoto 060709SeaSaw Sun, 06 Jun 2009 13:50:00 MST It's not unusual for restaurants I like to go out of business and about once a year I even lose a restaurant I love. I've loved Sea Saw for years and I'm heartbroken because this is their last weekend in business. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ food japanese food restaurants scottsdale scottsdale restaurants 042609AirlineUpgrades Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:10:00 MST Thanks to persistence, and that recent flight to Japan, I should have enough frequent flier miles to get an international upgrade on American Airlines and US Airways. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal airlines 042509TemporaryNormalcy Sat, 25 Apr 2009 23:50:00 MST This week Lynn started training so she's actually working a day schedule for the first time in years. It only took a couple of days before I felt like life returned to normal life; watching movies, smoking cigars, and actually writing. Unfortunately Lynn's training only lasts a couple more weeks so I'm going to enjoy it while I can. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal 041309NotDead Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:50:00 MST The last thing I was doing before I disappeared in November was writing about our experience at the All Souls Procession in Tucson. Before I knew it months passed and we went to Tucson, New Orleans, and Japan. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal 113008Maxx Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:10:00 MST I got this cigar free at a Maxx tasting. I'd tried a couple of Maxxs before, and didn't care for them, so I hope this one would be better. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 111608LaAurora Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:10:00 MST The flavor started medium and was deepened by my Dr. Pepper, but while the cigar was enjoyable it wasn't sublime like I know they can be. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 111308Video Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:40:00 MST This is the funniest thing I've seen in a while. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ video 111208LifeUpdate Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:50:00 MST Just a quick update. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal 101908Chateau Sun, 19 Oct 2008 10:50:00 MST The Chateau Real "Small Club Corona" was a decent cigar I'll probably never get again. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 100508TwoWeeks Sun, 05 Oct 2008 23:50:00 MST I haven't accomplished much these last two weeks at home. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal photography 092808Cusano Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:40:00 MST This was my first Cusano 59. I hoped it'd be better than the Cusano Habano LXI I had tried a few weeks earlier. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 092008TimeSpaceMotivation Sat, 20 Sep 2008 22:40:00 MST For some reason when other people are around our house, even if they're watching the kid for me, I can't seem to concentrate enough to write. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal photography writing 082108Rocky Patel Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:00:00 MST Still one of my favorites. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 090108Baby Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:40:00 MST We had a cesarean section scheduled for the fourth, but Morgan must've thought Labor Day was more appropriate because she was born 3:19 this morning. Lynn and Morgan are both fine. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal baby 082108Cusano Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:40:00 MST I think this was the first Cusano I've had with horrible burn problems. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 081908Nub Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:50:00 MST The Nub Habano "460" wasn't as good as the Nub Cameroon "464" I just tried. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 081008QuickBites Sun, 10 Aug 2008 22:00:00 MST Just a quick update about sandwiches. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ food american food sandwiches restaurants restaurant reviews mesa mesa restaurants phoenix phoenix restaurants tempe tempe restaurants 081008Nub Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:00:00 MST Typically I don't like large ring gauge cigars because it seems the blender is so worried about making an overwhelming cigar that they go to the opposite extreme and make a yawner. Nub's marketing message of we'll make a fat cigar worthwhile (heavily paraphrased) made me curious enough to give large ring gauge cigars another chance. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 081008Photography Sun, 10 Aug 2008 20:00:00 MST About a year ago when I purchased my Ricoh GX100 the only other real contender was the Panasonic LX2. To me the LX2 had a couple of major issues and was already due for an update so I hoped the LX3 was impending. It wasn't and I got a GX100 instead. Finally a year later Panasonic finally announced the LX3. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ photography cameras 080608LA Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:00:00 MST Last weekend I went to LA for some eating and picture taking for the second time this year. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ travel food photography la los angeles 080508Kentucky Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:40:00 MST This was the ugliest, stinkiest cigar I'd ever seen so of course my wife encouraged me to try it. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 072408FoodMap Thu, 24 Jul 2008 23:00:00 MST I finally updated the food map with new restaurants instead of removing ones that fell off. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/food/FoodMap.html food food map 072408Oliva Thu, 24 Jul 2008 21:00:00 MST Not much to say about the Oliva Serie O "Robusto". http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 072108Video Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:40:00 MST Brobee: "Why are you sad?" Carrots: "We want to go to the party. The party in your tummy." http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ video silly 071908Illusione Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:30:00 MST The Illusione "888" was a good cigar, but required much more time than I normally have to smoke. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 071808SzechwanPalace Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:30:00 MST I have to admit I don't find Chinese food the most exciting stuff in the world. At least that's what I used to think until I heard someone on the radio talking about Szechwan cuisine. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ food chinese food restaurants restaurant reviews phoenix phoenix restaurants 071208Padron Sat, 12 Jul 2008 23:30:00 MST After a slew of disappointing Padron 1964s I stopped smoking them until someone was kind enough to give me a maduro "Imperial" that blew me away. I had to get one after that to see if it was a fluke or worth keeping a couple around for special occasions. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 070508Fireworks Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:50:00 MST I love fireworks, but not enough to actually plan to see them. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal fireworks 070408ITC Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:10:00 MST The ITC "Churchill" was a good cigar, but I expected more. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 070308Photography Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:00:00 MST This week Nikon announced the D700. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ photography cameras 062908In-N-OutBurger Sun, 29 Jun 2008 22:20:00 MST I've had a love-hate relationship with In-N-Out Burger... http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ food hamburgers restaurants 062908ChocolateTasting Sun, 29 Jun 2008 16:40:00 MST I'd put off writing about chocolate bars for a while so you get a lot of reviews all at once. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ chocolate chocolate reviews 062908Ashton Sun, 29 Jun 2008 12:50:00 MST The Ashton Aged Maduro "No. 20" was my first favorite cigar a long time ago. They don't age well so none of the ones I have in my humidor from 2003 are very good so I snagged one recently to see if they were still any good. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 062508Photography Wed, 25 Jun 2008 23:20:00 MST Yesterday Ricoh announced the GX200, the successor to the GX100 (my current digital camera of choice). http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ photography cameras 062308Kid Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:30:00 MST I've been trying to teach the kid to say "love" for weeks now... http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal kid 062208TaqueriaMiCasita Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:20:00 MST Some days you just want food fast so a neighborhood taqueria [taco shop] is a good way to take care of that. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ food mexican food tacos restaurants restaurant reviews chandler chandler restaurants 062208601Connecticut Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:00:00 MST I've really liked two out of two of these cigars so I'm going to have to get more. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 061708Airlines Tue, 17 Jun 2008 23:50:00 MST Recently airlines have been dreaming up all sorts of new fees to help make up for high fuel prices... http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ travel airlines 061508CuveeGrand Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:20:00 MST For my Father's Day cigar I hoped to have a great cigar (without dipping into the Cohibas). I couldn't tell if the Ashton VSG in the humidor was a "Corona Gorda" or an "Illusion" so I just decided to try something new from Cusano instead. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 060708IndianTabac Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:00:00 MST It's amazing that after all these years these are still tasty cigars. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 060608Photography Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:00:00 MST The last couple of days I've been scanning my ass off, but I've only managed to scan 11 of my 35 rolls. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal photography 060508Houston Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:40:00 MST Houston isn't the hub of fine dining that Chicago is, but there's a lot to love about their dining scene (e.g. an abundance of Cajun, Asian, and seafood restaurants). http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ travel food houston 060508TinderBox Thu, 05 Jun 2008 11:20:00 MST This was a decent cigar, and maybe it would've developed into a cigar I really liked if I didn't have a Coke with it, but it's not a cigar I'd get again. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 060308Chicago Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:50:00 MST We ate well often in Chicago... http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ travel food chicago 060108Photography Sun, 01 Jun 2008 20:50:00 MST This was the picture I meant to post while Lynn and I were in Chicago and Houston, but I put it off until we got back. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal photography 042708Baby Tue, 14 May 2008 23:20:00 MST The title says it all. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal baby 051408Oliva Tue, 14 May 2008 23:20:00 MST This cigar was recommended to me by someone working at a cigar shop. Funny how they always seem to recommend the expensive cigars, but I decided to try it anyway (although I forgot that I tried the "Toro" a while ago). http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 050408RockyPatelEdge Sun, 04 May 2008 23:20:00 MST This Edge started with promise, but never delivered. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 042708Polaroid Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:30:00 MST When Polaroid announced they would discontinue making instant film I knew some retailers would stop carrying the film immediately. What I didn't anticipate was that people would panic and start hording film now. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal photography 042608Montecristo Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:30:00 MST I've seen a couple of vintage cigar lines before, but none of them were brands I cared for. When I saw an ad for a Montecristo Platinum vintage sampler it sounded worth trying though. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 042108DonPepinGarcia Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:10:00 MST I liked this cigar enough to get a five pack, but that's usually the kiss of death so I hoped that wouldn't be the case this time. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/vice/Cigars.html#CigarReviews cigars cigar reviews 041508 Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:30:00 MST Yesterday we officially found out the sex of the new baby: it's a girl. http://www.iamjacksbrain.com/ personal baby