Well, I've noticed that when life gets particularly busy for me, I can kind of vanish from the boards, and for this, I apologize.

I think about you guys often, and I've come to the conclusion through my many ventures that there is no place like this.

As most of you know, I'm an engaged man. I've been engaged since october, and a lot of my time has been spent planning for a wedding. Image

Here's a photo of us only minutes after the engagement. We have nailed down a date and we're getting married April 15th (this year). Yes, we're both fully aware that it's tax day, but whatever. It was one of the few dates she had available because she photographs weddings herself. It should be pretty hard to forget my anniversary date now!

I'm on my last semester of school and if I don't graduate this spring, I will certainly be done by the summer. Whippersnapper is growing up...

Over this last summer, I worked at a cigar store (for about 6 months total) and I left this early fall to pursue a job in construction with my father. It's manual labor, and it's temporary, but it's great money for going into a marriage. Unfortunately, construction work can only be done when the weather is right, and it usually isn't in the winter, so I'm looking for a part time job until march when things will pick back up again.

Some of you know that I picked fishing back up again. I recently joined the UMKC (my university) fishing club. It's a bass fishing club, and we're signed up to do several college circuit tournaments, some of them televised, so look out for my ugly mug on the VS. channel.

Here's a picture of a trophy I caught this late fall-
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I don't get to smoke as many cigars as I'd like since quitting the job at the store, but I've come to realize that this hobby will always be a part of my life, and I hope to continue to share it with you all. The last memorable smoke I had was a Cohiba Behike 52 in cozumel, and if I remember correctly, I think I shared that experience with you all. It was wonderful.

Speaking of which, I'm gonna be needing some good suggestions for celebratory smokes- with the wedding and bachelor party and all!

Another hobby that I'm trying to get into is tea. It's another leaf world and I have no idea what I'm doing, but it's quite a bit cheaper that cigars with some of the more "expensive" teas only costing around 25-50 cents a cup.

Little did I know that some teas can be aged and bricks of the stuff can cost anywhere between 75-350 bucks. Sounds like another slippery slope...

Hope you all are well, and I hope to check in more often.
-Whippersnapper
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Congrats, Blake and it's good to see and hear from you.

I'd venture the true prize catch is in the first photo. :-)
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You better believe it :-)
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Congrats again, Whipper-Snapper...always good to hear from you.
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Engagement, fishing, and manual labor. Your doing well Blake :-)
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Good to hear from you Blake.
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Congratulations!
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Congrats Blake! You are so getting domesticated. You still modeling underwear for gay magazines? :-)
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Congrats, brother! Thanks for the update and don't be a stranger here. Piping is another hobby that can- underline can- be cheaper than cigars.

Does your bride to be shoot digital 35mm? And what brand does she use? I understand mothers of the bride can be very difficult, I wonder if she gets more slack being a woman?
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Congrats and good to hear the update Blake.:-)
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Congrats on the engagement! Many blessing for the both of you.
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Hey you're getting married on my Birthday. Congrats
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Your life's path has been kind Blake,you are doing something right :-)
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Congrats from one Missouri brother to another!
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The most embarrassing photos I have of myself since the time are as follows. (It has been a while since you all had the privilege.)

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Me trying to give myself a blowhole induced enema in cozumel.
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I imagine this bizarre photograph is a reaction of how I felt after the fact.

I stopped modeling women's underwear in favor of sunglasses
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She really is my better half...
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:-)

Congratulations on the engagement!
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Good to see ya again Blake. Congrats.
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Good to hear from you again, Blake.
Congrats (again) on your engagement.

Don't be such a stranger here.
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Congrats on the engagement and not blowing your bunghole out on the blowhole enema!
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Congrats and nice to meet you. Now please don't pose your Bikini pictures anymore. Very disturbing!:-)
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