Endure like Bruce Lee - Inspiration

Sometimes we all hope/wish/pray that today will be easy. Perhaps we are going about it all wrong...

Peace out peeps. Make today the best day you can, tomorrow may never come.

Blackberry Pear Izze Sparkling Water Beverage - Review

I've been a fan of fizzy drinks for, well, my whole life. I enjoy the bubbles dancing on my tongue.

Today's drink of choice is the Izze Sparkling Water Beverage, flavored with blackberry pear. I'll be doing the Mandarin Lime at a later date... perhaps tomorrow?

Every selection I've had from the brand has been right up there with some of my favorite fizzy drinks (especially the clementine soda), so I was really looking forward to this. Right on the bottle it states that it is organic, and turning to the back the ingredients are only 4 simple things - fizzy water, flavor, sweetener, and acid. No artificial bunk makes Stanley a happy boy. 

I've had some sparkling water beverages with sweetener that were much sweeter than this, and much more 'rich'. This is pleasantly refreshing and light, and while it was balanced between the sweet and sour, I wouldn't mind a bit more flavor, and perhaps a touch-bit more sweetener. The blackberry is certainly the dominant flavor over the pear.

Would I get it again? Sure, it is decent. Being honest, though, I think that I like their soda-juice concoctions more. Continuing with the honesty, the sweetness level isn't really all that monumental and there are other sweetener-free sparkling water beverages that execute as well at a fraction of the cost.

Pros: Refreshing and light, not full of artificial ingredients. Low calorie drink with sugar.

Cons: Perhaps a bit too light, needs a bit more flavor/sweetener to set it apart from the standard sweetener-free bubbly water.

NOTE: I find it odd that their website does not have this showcased anywhere. Perhaps I, and Google, missed it? While I realize this is new, a good marketing plan includes updates to your website as the product gets released if not just previous to its release - chop chop, Izze!

See ya, suckas.

Portland Pie Company - Nashua - Review

I'm full. Like, topped off. A friend suggested we go to Portland Pie Co., and so it is where we went, kids and all. Normally they go to the Manchester location, but today we went to Nashua. It was a great time. The place was clean and quiet (before we showed up). Our waiter was a nice dude and was knowledgeable providing excellent feedback when requested. Life is good. That is all.

...

No, just kidding. I'm going to tell you what I got, cause that's how I roll.

App:
We started off with the Baked Potato Fries. While I expected something a touch different, more like potato wedges, they were really good. A decent amount of fries smothered in cheese, bacon, and chives. On the side, sour cream and ketchup. Kids and adults smiled.

Dinner:
The dude got Mac and Cheese (Kraft is my guess) and chips. Nothing monumental, but he enjoyed it and I am happy with that.
I got heaven on a heavenly crust (beer). It was 1/2 Harbormaster (BBQ chicken, bacon, caramelized onion) and 1/2 Matinicus (prosciutto, cream cheese, pepperoncini). The bacon was great, and no shortage, and the entire dynamic of the Matinicus was amazing.

Dessert:
No surprise, my son wanted dessert, so we all shared a brownie sundae. That for sure could feed 2 adults, who had nothing else. It was satisfying fo' sho'. It was about 5" or 6" square, big scoop of ice cream, and some whipped cream and hot fudge drizzle.

Drinks:
Their drink menu isn't online, but I had the hard iced tea (similar to Long Island), and the margarita. Both very tasty! Not overly sweet, and actually pleasantly tart. I'd be more than happy to partake of another few glasses of each.

Overall, I was happy I went and would go back again in a heartbeat. Gluten-free options, too (which I should have had, but wanted the Full Monty tonight - PPCo virgins must partake of the whole experience). If you haven't gone and like pizza, make it happen. They have other offerings beside pizza and they all sounded appetizing, so even if you do not do pizza, there seems to be something for all.

Sayonara!

Oak Aged Mocha Stout - Review

Have you ever been stumbling around, only to find yourself tripping over a real gem? Well, I just did.

Tonight.

In my fridge.

I forgot that I bought this. It kept getting moved further and further back in my fridge (and I have a small fridge, how it got lost is a mystery). Today, I guess, was the day I was supposed to celebrate life with this delightful capturing of tasty malts, smooth coffee, and delectable chocolate. Welcome Peak Organic's Oak Aged Mocha Stout to your table, everyone.

I don't know about you but dark beers do it for me (unlike Prince Valium). The complex and arousing notes fill my tongue and nose with joy and in no way put my taste buds to sleep

After you open the bottle and take a nice deep nose-worth, you get a whiff of coffee and the undertones of malt. Dark chocolate hits you at the end. Taking a sip gives a smooth mouth feel, at first, with a strong, yet not overpowering, low-acid coffee flavor. You then get the vanilla (from the oak) followed by dark chocolate (comparable in flavor to the Ghiradelli 60% Cacao bittersweet chips) in a just-sweet-enough offering. Once it passes over your tongue completely, the oak kicks back in and you get the signature 'tannin mouthfeel' as you do in red wines. Very little bitter. The top notes (coffee and chocolate) linger for a few moments...

Just long enough for your hand to pick that delivery vessel back up again and get it to your mouth for another reminder that you made the right beverage choice tonight.

Perhaps I was a scoche over-dramatic. What can I say, I felt like using my creative writing skills I learned in high school. I promise you though that it is every bit as good as I made it sound. This is a great treat for you dark beer lovers, coffee drinkers, and purveyors of fine chocolate, and hope you consider picking up a bottle the next time it becomes available in your neck of the woods.

Headfirst PMP - What I'm Reading

I don't have a lot of time to read, to be honest. I work a lot, run a freelance graphic design gig, go to the gym, and most importantly have family obligations with a super 6yo kid.

Well, that whole "I work a lot" statement changed a short while ago when I got laid off my full-time job due to "restructuring".

My goal is to get back into project management, and here is the thing: I believe I am good at it. The recommendations I received on LinkedIn from the clients I worked with verify my feeling. So, I didn't waste time. I got back out there and started looking for a new PM job where I could use my hard and soft skills to bring another business success, enthusiasm, and leadership.

Easier said than done. Many employers now-a-days require (or strongly recommend) that project managers have PMP (Project Management Professional) Certification. Instead of sulking, or trying to find a lower end job, I decided to go get the cert to advance my career and knowledge base.

Small problem though... I don't have enough hours in project management to even take the test! Son of a motherless goat!

A lack of hours can't stop this man-in-motion. I enrolled in the class regardless of my shortcoming (thanks Carl and the John Mason Institute) and am now 5 classes in, with another 4 to go. I tell you though, this is as tough a course as I've had since my science courses back in college. Lots of memorization of functions and processes and PMI terminology (oh my!). If you are devoted to the craft, I suggest that you find a way to make it happen. Don't come lacking in vigor and vim, though, you will need it to survive.

So, onto the textbook, or this month's (and probably next month's) reading material. It is 850 pages of hunka-hunka-burnin'-love. I find it fairly easy to follow along while the instructor does his thing. Not a bad choice. From what I understand, at the end of the course I will be getting another piece of 'literature' ... the PMBOK. The so-called Project Mangement Bible according to PMI. Perhaps I'll let you know what I think of it after I take the test. If I pass. And I'm still conscious.

All kidding aside, I look forward to finishing up this class. While it has absorbed a ton of my time, I truly feel as though it will end up being juice worth the squeeze (right Bryan?). I'm getting a ton of knowledge, and even if I do not take the test right away I have gained so much more than I would have otherwise. Regardless of where or what my next career opportunity is, there is no doubt that I'll be using everything I am learning. Win-win.

Moral of the story: Don't let your goals be stifled by speed bumps. Make it happen, peeps.

Rook out.

Angry Orchard Hop'n Mad Apple - Review

Since realizing that I should lay off the gluten, I have been trying to find options that are still tasty. I have had a handful of gluten-free beers, but let's be honest: No-to-the-bueno. So, that leads me to the hard cider side of life when looking for a beer-alternative.

This post is going to be all about Angry Orchard's offer, Hop'n Mad Apple.

Seeing the word mad made me hopeful that I could Hulk out and smash something, but this calms the inner beast. A tart hit like a granny smith, a little sweet like white grape juice, and a bit of bitter due to the hops. I think the only thing that would add to this would be an oaking, adding some vanilla tones. Perhaps that could be a warming fall variety of the brew? I for sure believe that this should be a long-term offering, with or without the vanilla. This will have a permanent spot in my fridge as long as it is made.

Pros: Decent flavor. Smooth, yet sharp, tongue tantalizing refreshment

Cons: Only being ultra-critical can I state that I would like to get some vanilla undertones.


Is there something I should try? Have a favorite cider? Let me know!

Keep on smashin', smashers.

Not Your Father's Root Beer - Review

I had high hopes for this alcoholic root beer. I mean, root beer, at 6%. Bottoms up! ...Right?

Well, kind of.

The root beer flavor that it has is decent. It's spicy and has pizzazz (can I still use that word?), but like the old-school root beer barrel candies it is way too sweet. You even get that artificial flavor aftertaste after it goes down. While that is great for nostalgia, my adult palate wants more. Think Virgil's Root Beer.

My input: make it half as sweet and it would be phenomenal! Due to its sweetness, the drink-ability factor goes down. After two bottles, my taste buds get sick of it and I start to get a twitch from the sugar rush. Not that having one is a bad thing, but hey, sometimes you want more. Am I right?

Pros: The vanilla flavor is good, and almost has a Madagascar vanilla bourbon hit. Spicy notes add depth.

Cons: Too sweet - increase the alcohol content (beefier yeast) or drop the sugar. Decreased drink-ability due to it being too sweet for my taste.

Note: After going to Small Town Brewery's website, I see that they showcase a 10% AND 19.5% beverage in the same vein (ale with spices). I would love to get my hands on that and compare the three. I would like to determine if the increased ABV knocks the sweetness down. The draft options sound tasty as well: chocolate porter and apple pie beer. If you make it out to Chicago, or live there now and want to give input, I'd love to hear it.

Peace out, suckas!