My dad spent 30 years in the Air Force. As you can imagine that meant a lot of time away from home while me and my brothers were growing up. Other than my dad there have been two influential father figures in my life. The first was a man named Terry Kreft who taught me […]
5th Annual Smoke a JJ for JJ Day
We are less than a month away. This is always a bitter sweet time of year. I find myself always looking forward to this year but at the same time, dreading the emotional roller coaster it triggers. If you remember my post last year about Three Things I Know to Be True (Cigars Edition) you […]
It’s a Boy!
My wife Kate and I are proud to share the joyous news that our son, Charles Francis Greenbacker IV, was born at 10:17pm last night. Everyone is doing quite well: mother and child are resting peacefully, and dad is over the moon. Birth stats: 8 lbs 6 oz, 20.75 inches Since there are already several […]
Mike’s Look at Cutters
Welcome back once again my friends to another week of me battling this dang cold with a sore throat, cough and taste buds that seem to have been burnt off at the roots. I am going to talk just a little bit about different cuts on cigars this week. I know most of you will […]
The Story of The Little Robusto Project
For those of you who come here often, you already know or at least have an idea of what The Little Robusto Project is. “Little Robusto” was the affectionate nickname I gave my son JJ. Sadly, JJ passed away on November 2, 2007 from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) while at daycare when he was […]
Three Things I Know to Be True (Cigars Edition)
This is a bit different post than I normally do. For awhile now I’ve been a fan of TED | Talks. TED stands for Technology Entertainment and Design. Since being the father of a baby girl (she’s actually a toddler these days but she’ll always be my baby) a TED | Talk earlier this year […]
Smoke A JJ for JJ Day Tribute
The generosity of the cigar community never ceases to amaze me. I’d like to thank our long time friend JerseyJay who is graciously holding a tribute and contest on his blog, CigarPhoto.net. You can read more about Jay’s contest to raise awareness for this event and for SIDS in general. I appreciate everyone who helps […]
4th Annual Smoke a JJ for JJ Day
Wow! Its hard to believe my Little Robusto would have been 4 years old this year. Even after 4 years I remember his day and all the smiles and belly laughs that came in his short life. I often wonder what he would be like today. Would his personality be more like mine or his […]
Support Team JJ
A bit late notice but the family and I are participating in a SIDS Charity Walk tomorrow (Saturday, May 7). This is the 13th Annual Walk for SIDS sponsored by the Center for Infant & Child Loss. The Center for Infant & Child Loss works with Maryland families and communities facing the sudden unexpected death […]
How I Spent My Time in the DR
Many of you know that I traveled with Brian Hewitt and many other bloggers to visit the La Aurora Factory in the Dominican Republic. Great trip and I’m still going through the footage, sound bites and pictures that I captured. While the factory tour, cigar tastings and dinners were all phenomenal, the below video was […]