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Getting older is certainly a blessing and a curse. What is left of my hair is slowly graying and I certainly don't move as freely or swiftly as I used to, but I'm finally getting to the point where birthday gifts are about getting what you want, not what you need.

This past week I celebrated yet another birthday and found that happily I was able to stretch that celebration into a week long event! We were able to make a little trip to España, about which I'll be posting once we get our pictures sorted out. I was also inundated with gifts related to my favorite hobby, cigars. Dana got me a number of interesting books:

Cubans: The Ultimate Cigars
The Cigar Companion: A Connoisseur's Guide
The Ultimate Cigar Book
Holy Smoke
The Good Cigar

...as well as the ultimate in cigar luxury items, the Xikar X3 Mammoth Ivory cutter.

Did I mention that it comes with a stingray skin carrying case? It will come in handy for cutting all the cigars I buy with the numerous and generous JR gift cards that I also received. I am a lucky man!

Update...

We've been applying for work back in the U.S. somewhat frantically as we want to get the heck out of dodge! It has been slow going and is really testing our patience. I'm holding strong that we won't be applying in places like Pennsylvania, Nebraska, Mississippi...etc. You wouldn't think that would be much of a challenge, but these are desperate times.

In the mean time I've been keeping myself distracted with World Cup Mania! The Americans drew with England last week, Mexico beat France today and Spain lost their opening match to the Swiss (those are all big deals in soccer world). Tune in tomorrow when the U.S. take on Slovenia (no walk over) and have the chance to go top of their group.

We are also back on the travel scene. Next week we are off to Spain to visit Seville, Granada and Malaga. Sun, tapas and wine. I can't wait!