Tag Archives: beer
sam-adams-utopia-xl

Thing to Do #25 (40/40): Complete the GQ beer list

January 9, 2012 by Jessica 8 Comments

On the 40 things to do before I’m 40 list is to drink all the beers on the GQ beer list. You would think this would be one of the easier (and enjoyable) things to do but honestly, the reason I haven’t tried most of these beers is because I simply can’t find them! Below is the total list. The beers in red are the ones I haven’t tried yet and in black are the ones I have. It’s on my 2012 goal list to drink 20 this year. Let me know if you find any of the missing beers in your neck of the woods (my birthday is in April if you were trying to think of a gift to get me…)

Allagash White
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier
AleSmith Speedway Stout
Anchor Christmas Ale
Anchor Steam
Bear Republic Hop Rod Rye
BrewDog Smokehead
Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
Bud
Cantillon Iris
De Struise Pannepot
Dieu du Ciel Route des Epices
Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA
Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron
Double Mountain Black Irish Stout
Founders KBS
Fritz Briem 1809 Berliner Weisse
Great Divide Espresso Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout
Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold
Harviestoun Old Engine Oil
Hitachino Lacto Stout
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja
Leelanau Whaleback White
Marin Brewing Company IPA
Monk’s Café Flemish Sour Ale
Ommegang Hennepin
Orval
Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale
Oskar Blues Old Chub
Picobrouwerij Alvinne Melchior
Port Brewing Shark Attack Red
Pretty Things Jack D’Or
Red Stripe
Rodenbach Grand Cru
Russian River Pliny the Elder
Russian River Valley Brewing Co. Beatification
Saison Dupont
Samuel Adams Utopias
Schneider Aventinus
Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale
Sixpoint Sweet Action
Smuttynose Barleywine
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Stone Old Guardian
Tecate
The Bruery Saison Rue
Trumer Pils
Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
Westvleteren Abt 12
Yuengling

40 Before I'm 40, Excitement
, ,
2012

Goals for 2012

January 2, 2012 by Jessica 16 Comments

I’m pretty pleased with what I did in 2011 but that doesn’t mean I’m slowing down any! This won’t be a big year for travel or too much adventure but there are still plenty of things for me to do!

#8 Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #28 on the 40/40 list)

#46 Scuba Diving: Continue practicing my newfound SCUBA skillz by going to the rock quarry at least once.

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written (#7 on the 40/40 list): I mostly have really long ones left so out of the 10 remaining, I’m going to tackle 4 this year. As ONE of these things to read is the ENTIRE works of Shakespeare, I also want to see 2 plays performed live.

#65  Shout ‘Drinks Are on Me!’ in a Pub or Bar (#17 on the 40/40 list): I’m waiting to go my bar on a Tuesday afternoon at 3pm. I can swing buying drinks for 5 people.

#68 Save Someone’s Life (#8 on the 40/40 list): Donate 6 pints I’ve gone back and forth on this. I know they say donating blood can help save someone’s life but I guess I feel like I can’t be sure if MY blood actually saved somoene’s life. But most people seem to think this counts so let’s compromise. If I donate 5 gallons (which is 40 pints and the quickest I’d be able to accomplish that is 7 years), then can we say the likelihood of ONE of those 40 pints actually saved somebody’s life?

#84 Learn to Ski (#32 on the 40/40 list): As a hold over from the original list I had in high school, it’s high time I did something about this one.

#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor:  I completed this goal in 2011 but I’ll have my plate unveiling this year.

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#1 Be Able to Do a Pull Up

#11 Learn to Rock Climb: Already have the Groupon in hand to make this happen!

#18 Watch the Top 1,001 Films: Watch 100 this year

#25 Drink All the Beers on the GQ List: Drink 20

#35 Visit all of the NC Breweries: Visit 10 this year

#36 Learn How to Ballroom Dance: Have the Groupon in hand to do this one as well! I think I’m going to try Salsa!

#37 Start Using Coupons

#38 See a Movie in a Drive-In Movie Theater: I’m putting a stipulation on this one. If they simply insist on showing family movies I’m not interested in, I’m not going to force myself to sit through some animated drivel just to check this one off. I think it would be super fantastic if they showed something like Star Wars. Could you imagine seeing that outside at a drive in movie theater? You’d really feel like you were in space!

From the Sports List:

#18 Attend a rugby game (and learn the rules): There are actually some local teams

#19 Attend a cricket game (and learn the rules): There’s actually a local league!

#24 Attend the Kentucky Derby: There is SOME talk about going this year with my good friend Jessica so hopefully this is happening this year.

Also, not officially on any lists but I’m hoping they do the “Over the Edge” event this year so that I can repel down the side of a building and I have also never been to a tea room and I want to try that out.

Think that’s enough? What’s on YOUR goals for 2012?

101 Things before you die, 40 Before I'm 40, Achievement, bucket list, Entertainment, Excitement, life list, Life Management, Miscellaneous, Nature, Recklessness, Relationships, Sport and Activity, things before you die, Travel
, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Scuba

Final Results 2011

December 30, 2011 by Jessica 12 Comments

This has been quite the year, having very little to do with the list. But despite things going on in my personal life, I still managed to get some things done on the 101 Things to Do Before You Die list. May not have been as exciting as 2010 but still managed to tick things off the list!

#1 Write a Novel:  Big FAIL on the National Novel Writing Month again. I feel like I keep coming up with excuses but seriously I just had WAY too much going on in November. I said this last year but maybe I just need to pick another month.

#11 Visit Every State:  Original goal was to go to Pennsylvania but I’m not going to complain about checking Hawaii off the list instead!

#16 Get into the Guinness World Book of Records: I haven’t donated blood all year so epic fail on that. HOWEVER…AANR didn’t try to break 2010′s Skinny Dip Record, so that still stands!

#46 Scuba Diving/#87 Conquer Your Fear:  COMPLETED! (Well, at least the SCUBA diving portion. Time will tell about whether I’ve conquered my fear of water)

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written: The only one I read this year was The Master and Margarita. I spent all of my time working on the Global Challenge. But I also read Fantastic Mr. Fox, Rabbit, Run, Mildred Pierce, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and the latest Sookie book. 13 books total for the year. Not my best effort but better than most, I guess!

#52.1 Shakespeare Reading Challenge: Originally I was going to attempt to actually see some plays performed but my schedule never worked out. I really haven’t put any energy into this one :(

#52.2 Global Reading Challenge: COMPLETED! I read Winesburg, Ohio (North America), Evil Angels (Australiasia), The Good Earth (Asia), Out of Africa (Africa), The Master and Margarita (Europe), The Road (Future) and Love in the Time in Cholera (South America).

#89 Learn to Cook:  COMPLETED! (Sorry, I haven’t posted about my last 5 recipes yet. I’ll do that in the next couple of weeks).

#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor:  COMPLETED! Planning on hosting my plate party in 2012.

#105 Krispy Kreme Challenge: COMPLETED!  Warrior Dash: COMPLETED!

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#6 Start Saving for Retirement: COMPLETED!

#19 Watch AFI’s 100 Best Films: COMPLETED!

#20 Sing Karaoke: COMPLETED!

#28  Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #8 on the 101 list): FAIL!

#38 See a Movie in a Drive-In Movie Theater: Anytime I thought about it and had a free weekend, they weren’t showing anything I wanted to see. Pushed off to 2012.

#39 Lose 20 Pounds: COMPLETED!

Not on the list for this year’s goals but still to be noted:

On the official list but not planned at the beginning of the year:

  • #7: Eat Exotic Foods: I ate Haggis at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and bugs at BugFest
  • #98: Go on a Demonstration: COMPLETED!
  • #22: Go up in a Hot Air Balloon: COMPLETED!

So in 2011 I completed 11 of my goals, 4 of which are from the original 101 things to do before you die list, which brings the total to 38 things completely done and 13 things partially done. Not too shabby if I do say so myself. And I’m thinking 2012 is going to be even better!

So how did you do with your goals for 2011?  What do you have planned for 2012?

101 Things before you die, 40 Before I'm 40, Achievement, bucket list, Entertainment, Excitement, life list, Life Management, Miscellaneous, Nature, Recklessness, Relationships, Sport and Activity, things before you die, Travel
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
tumblr_l794qjwWpp1qznflb

Thing to Do #35 (40/40): Visit All NC Breweries

November 28, 2011 by Jessica 7 Comments

I added “Visit All NC Breweries” to the 40 Before I’m 40 a few months ago and I plan to try to visit 10 in 2012. North Carolina boasts more craft breweries than any state in the American South, with 21 brewpubs and 28 production breweries statewide. My rule is that if any are added while I’m doing this goal, I’m not going to break my neck trying to go to any new ones added after this date. Another rule is that I have to have drank a beer at these places because there are several I’ve visited but didn’t drink a beer while there. But the good news is that I’ve already been to a few (marked below) including Fullsteam, which I visited this past weekend.

I had several Fullsteam beers while I was doing my 200 beer challenge and I really liked Workingman’s Lunch (which, how could you not love a beer that’s served with a Moon Pie?) but I also tried their El Toro this past weekend, a cream ale I enjoyed as well. The actual brewery is pretty cool, a renovated warehouse offering picnic tables within where patrons can bring in  from the food trucks parked outside. It looked like people also brought in board games and other things too, so the atmosphere is obviously one of just very chill, “anything goes” type mentality.

(Updated January 9, 2012)

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company

Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company

Craggie Brewing Company

French Broad Brewing Co.

Green Man Brewery

Highland Brewing Co.

Lexington Avenue Brewery

Oyster House Brewing Co.

Wedge Brewing Company

Pisgah Brewing Co.

Nantahala Brewing Company

Carolina Brewery – Chapel Hill (DONE: Oatmeal Porter)

Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery

Four Friends Brewing

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Ass Clown Brewing Company

Bull City Burger and Brewery

Fullsteam (DONE: El Toro/Working Man’s Lunch)

Triangle Brewing Company

The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery

Huske Hardware House Restaurant & Brewery

Mash House Brewery & Chophouse (DONE: Raspberry Porter)

Aviator Brewing Company (DONE: Black Mamba Stout)

Natty Greene’s Pub & Brewing Co. – Greensboro

Southern Appalachian Brewery

Loe’s Brewing Company

Olde Hickory Brewery

Liberty Steakhouse and Brewery

Mystery Brewing Company

Carolina Brewing Company

Weeping Radish Farm Brewery

Outer Banks Brewing Station

Mother Earth Brewing Co.

Hops Grill Brewery

Carolina Beer Company

Catawba Valley Brewing Company

Old North State Winery and Brewery

Carolina Brewery – Pittsboro

Big Boss Brewing Co.

Boylan Bridge Brewpub (DONE: Pullman Porter)

LoneRider Brewing Co.

Natty Greene’s Pub & Brewing Co. – Raleigh

Roth Brewing Company

Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company

Dry County Brewing Company

Heinzelmannchen Brewery

Frog Level Brewing Company

Red Oak Brewery

Front Street Brewery

Foothills Brewing

40 Before I'm 40, Achievement, Entertainment, Recklessness
, , , ,
301984_2087047574292_1188262217_31975043_5272785_n

Third Quarter Results 2011

September 28, 2011 by Jessica 9 Comments

I have to admit, it’s really gratifying to look back on where I started with this list and see how much I’ve accomplished. When people ask me “What’s next on your list?’ and they expect some big adventure, I have to admit that I’m really mostly just down to travel at this point (by and large). But, never fear, I’m always adding new adventures to the list-I’ll never run out of things to do!

#1 Write a Novel:  Nada, yet. Big plans to do the National Novel Writing Month in November.

#11 Visit Every State:  Managed to cross Hawaii off the list.

#16 Get into the Guinness World Book of Records: I haven’t donated blood all year so epic fail on that. Plus, I bought the Record Book for last year because I thought I’d be in it for the Skinny Dip but it wasn’t included. It doesn’t mean I’m not in it, it just means the Skinny Dip record is in the BIG official books that Libraries get, not the fun little one available for simple people like me. :(

#46 Scuba Diving/#87 Conquer Your Fear:  COMPLETED! (Well, at least the SCUBA diving portion. Time will tell about whether I’ve conquered my fear of water)

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written: I spent all summer on The Master and Margarita but I’ve mostly been working on the Global Challenge. I’ve also read Fantastic Mr. Fox, Rabbit, Run, Mildred Pierce, and the latest Sookie book. I’m really not doing very well with reading this year compared to my last few years.

#52.1 Shakespeare Reading Challenge: Originally I was going to attempt to actually see some plays performed but my scheduled never worked out. I really haven’t put any energy into this one :(

#52.2 Global Reading Challenge: So far I’ve read Winesburg, Ohio (North America), Evil Angels (Australiasia), The Good Earth (Asia), Out of Africa (Africa), The Master and Margarita (Europe), and The Road (Future). All that’s left is Love in the Time in Cholera (South America), which I’m currently reading.

#89 Learn to Cook:  I was working toward 52 recipes this year and I’m currently up to 47.

#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor:  COMPLETED this one too! We’re planning the “plate party” as we speak.

#105 Krispy Kreme Challenge: COMPLETED!  Warrior Dash: COMPLETED!

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#6 Start Saving for Retirement: COMPLETED!

#19 Watch AFI’s 100 Best Films: I only have Shane and Intolerance left.

#20 Sing Karaoke: COMPLETED!

#28  Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #8 on the 101 list): Nada, so far.

#38 See a Movie in a Drive-In Movie Theater: I’ve been making excuses on this one. Anytime I’ve been free, the Drive-In movie theater closest to us wasn’t showing something I wanted to see. Hopefully the stars will align and I’ll get both a free weekend and a good movie.

#39 Lose 20 Pounds: COMPLETED!

Not on the list for this year’s goals but I also joined the Bone Marrow Registry, so between that and donating blood, I’m working on #68 Save Someone’s Life. I visited Savannah and I saw UNC play (and win) in the NCAA tournament. We went to a Ren Faire and I also got a star named after me, which could fulfill #94 Get Something Named After Me (I’m still holding out hope for a street or a building or something.) Also, while SCUBA diving in Hawaii, I saw a Sea Turtle in the wild; that’s not on the “official” list but still cool.

We went to the VA Derby where I was in the top 10 finalists for the hat competition. I ate Haggis at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and bugs at BugFest (both part of #7 on the 101 list). I went on a demonstration (#98), Hot Air Ballooning! (#22 on the 101 list) and visited the Biltmore Estate.

So how are you doing with your goals for 2011?  Only 3 more months until 2012!

101 Things before you die, 40 Before I'm 40, Achievement, bucket list, Entertainment, Excitement, life list, Life Management, Miscellaneous, Nature, Recklessness, Relationships, Sport and Activity, things before you die, Travel
, , , , , , , , , , , , ,
EXIF_JPEG_T422

Thing to Do #93.5: Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor at Flying Saucer

August 29, 2011 by Jessica 21 Comments

COMPLETED!

Yesterday I finally completed something I’ve been working on pretty regularly for almost 3 years: I drank my 200th different beer. I started this thing to do in March 2009 and drank a LOT of beers I’ll never drink again. As someone who doesn’t even like beer, this was all the more the challenge. However, I do have to say, I have found a few I’ll gladly drink again. And the best part? I can finally be the type of girl to grab a Solo cup of beer with everyone else, rather than be that high maintenance girl who is swilling hard liquor…or just settle for water.

Now technically we don’t have our name in the Ring of Honor…yet. Our “Plate Party” will be Sunday, November 6th at which time we’ll have $200 to use for our bar tab and our plates will be “unveiled.” We’ve chosen Sunday because North Carolina drafts are $3 and $200 will go far at that price! If you happen to find yourself in the Raleigh area that day, feel free to stop by!

My 200 beers are below, in reverse order (my latest beers are at the top of the list and the earliest beers are at the bottom). I foolishly didn’t keep a diary or some record of which beers I liked and which I didn’t, but by and large I enjoyed most stouts and porters, as well as many fruit beers, lambics, ciders, and wheat beers. I found I didn’t like IPAs, barleywines, or kolsch.

Sweetwater 420
Ska Mexican Lager (CAN)
Ska Special ESB (CAN)
Wychwood Hobgoblin (BTL)
Duck Rabbit Doppelbock
Wells Banana Bread (BTL)
Amstel Light (BTL)
Fosters Oil Can (CAN)
Asahi (BTL)
Oskar Blues Dales Pale Ale (CAN)
Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils (CAN)
Unibroue Ephemere Cassis
Lhasa Beer
Bass Ale
Bells Amber (BTL)
JK Scrumpys Apple Cider (BTL)
Carib Lager (BTL)
Sierra Nevada Summerfest
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Yuengling Lager
Leinenkugels Sunset Wheat (BTL)
Schneider Edel-Weiss (BTL)
Pyramid Apricot (BTL)
Foothills Pilot Mountain Pale Ale
Sam Adams Summer
Fullsteam Carver Sweet Potato Lager
Bells Kalamazoo Stout(CASK)
Belhaven Scottish Stout (BTL)
North Coast Old Rasputin NITRO
Crispin Hard Apple Cider
Anderson Valley Summer Solstice (CAN)
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout (BTL)
Avery White Rascal (CAN)
Brooklyn Brown (BTL)
Lost Coast Downtown Brown (BTL)
Blanche De Bruxelles
Duck Rabbit Rabid Duck
Duck Rabbit Porter (BTL)
Orginal Sin Hard Cider
RJ Rockers Son of a Peach (BTL)
Lost Coast Rasberry Brown (BTL)
Lindemans Cassis (BTL)
North Coast Blue Star Wheat (BTL)
New Belgium Fat Tire
Southern Tier Hop Sun
Sierra Nevada Kellerweis (BTL)
Lindemans Peche (BTL)
Raspberries N’ Cream
Half and Half
Snake Bite
Lime N’ Lager
Lava Lamp
Cream of Wheat
Black Velvet
Foothills Red Ale
Aviator Saison De Aviator Royale
Fullsteam Southern Lager
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
Green Flash Double Stout (BTL)
Duck Rabbit Brown Ale (CASK)
Black n Tan
Aviator King Rat Stout
Duck Rabbit Amber Ale (BTL)
Roth Raleigh Red
Flying Dog In Heat Wheat (BTL)
Old Speckled Hen
Lost Coast Great White
Brooklyn Lager
Blue Moon
Oskar Blues Mama’s Little Yella Pils
Tecate (BTL)
Red Stripe (BTL)
Spaten Optimator (BTL)
Oskar Blues Old Chub (CAN)
Warsteiner Dunkel (BTL)
Anchor Porter
Dos Equis Amber
Sweetwater Festive Ale
Rogue 21
Ska Nefarious Ten Pin Porter (BTL)
Terrapin Moo Hoo Milk Stout
Rogue Shakespeare Stout (BTL)
Founders Dirty Bastard
Sam Adams Winter Lager
Big Boss Aces and Ates
Sierra Nevada Celebration
Lindemans Kriek (BTL)
Bells Oarsman
Foothills Hoppyum IPA
Lonerider Grave Robber
Negra Modelo
Eel River Acai Berry Wheat (BTL)
Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale
Heavy Seas Marzen
Abita Purple Haze
Sam Adams Oktoberfest
Fullsteam Workingman’s Lunch
Chocolate Truffle
Duck Rabbit Marzen
Carolina Oktoberfest
Woodchuck Amber
Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter (CASK)
Foothills Barrel Aged Total Eclipse Stout
Stone Imperial Russian Stout
Mother Earth Endless River Kolsch
Foothills Hurricane Hefe
Fullsteam Summer Basil Farmhouse
Bullpen Pale Ale
Carolina Pale Ale
Carolina Summer Ale
Samuel Smith Nut Brown Ale (BTL)
JW Dundees Honey Brown
Big Boss Blanco Diablo
Carolina Strawberry Ale
Big Boss Bad Penny Brown
Sam Adams Imperial White (BTL)
Smuttynose Robust Porter (BTL)
Floris Pomme (BTL)
Xingu Brazillian Black (BTL)
Kulmbacher Festbier
Ommegang Hennepin
Dogfish Head Palo Santo (BTL)
Sam Adams Double Bock (BTL)
Anchor Steam (BTL)
Allagash White
Samuel Smith Imperial Stout (BTL)
New Holland Dragons Milk
Founders Centennial IPA (BTL)
Red Oak
Duck Rabbit Brown Ale (BTL)
Left Hand Milk Stout
Rogue Chocolate Stout (BTL)
Pyramid Apricot
Guinness Draught
Samuel Smith Taddy Porter (BTL)
Magic Hat #9
Smithwicks Ale
Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
Mad River Steelhead Scotch Porter (BTL)
Lion Stout (BTL)
North Coast Old #38 (BTL)
Pete’s Strawberry Blonde (BTL)
Founders Porter (BTL)
Aviator HotRod Red
Lonerider Shotgun Betty
Flying Dog Tire Bite
New Belgium 1554
Carolina Winter Porter
Woodchuck Pear Cider
Samuel Smith Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Woodchuck Granny Smith (BTL)
Lindemans Framboise
Big Boss Angry Angel
Duck Rabbit Baltic Porter
Foothills People’s Porter
Lonerider Sweet Josie
Breckenridge Vanilla Porter (BTL)
Ipswitch Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Leinenkugels Berry Weiss (BTL)
Battlefield Bock
Duck Rabbit Wee Heavy
Hummingbird Water
Flying Dog Road Dog (BTL)
North Coast Old Rasputin (BTL)
Flying Dog Gonzo Imp. Porter (BTL)
Avery Out of Bounds Stout (BTL)
Great Divide St Bridget’s Porter (BTL)
Fullers London Porter (BTL)
Brooklyn Brown
Victory Donnybrook Stout
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout
Murphys Irish Stout
Breckenridge Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Highland Oatmeal Porter (BTL)
Anchor Liberty Ale (BTL)
Lagunitas IPA (BTL)
Sea Dog Raspberry Wheat (BTL)
Holy Mackerel Mack in Black (BTL)
Ska Porter (BTL)
Highland Black Mocha Stout (BTL)
Sam Adams Imperial Stout (BTL)
Leinenkugels Sunset Wheat
Sam Adams Honey Porter (BTL)
Anderson Valley Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout (BTL)
Lost Coast 8-Ball Stout (BTL)
Duck Rabbit Milk Stout
Sam Adams Black Lager (BTL)
St Pauli Girl Lager (BTL)
RedHook ESB
Sam Adams Light (BTL)
Highland Gaelic
Sam Adams Boston Lager
Sam Adams Cream Stout (BTL)
Wolf White Wolf Golden Ale
Becks (BTL)
Rogue Dead Guy
Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat (BTL)
Spaten Franziskaner Hefe-Weiss
Foothills Seeing Double IPA

Wow! That’s a long list!

101 Things before you die, Achievement, bucket list, Excitement, Life Management, Recklessness
,
palm

Second Quarter Results 2011

June 30, 2011 by Jessica 16 Comments

I’ve got one more post on Hawaii but I’ll take a quick break to update you on the first half of the year’s goals. It’s funny to think that at the beginning of the year I didn’t think I would have much going on this year. I’ve done a LOT!

#1 Write a Novel:  Nada, yet. Big plans to do the National Novel Writing Month in November.

#11 Visit Every State:  Originally the plan was that we would go to Pennsylvania but that got scrapped when I got a new job without vacation. But then Alex had to go to Hawaii for work and I decided to tag along!

#16 Get into the Guinness World Book of Records:  Working on being the world’s largest blood donor.  Between being on antibiotics and having a low iron count, I still haven’t donated this year yet.  So far I’m up to 6 pints over my lifetime.

#46 Scuba Diving/#87 Conquer Your Fear:  COMPLETED! (Well, at least the SCUBA diving portion. Time will tell about whether I’ve conquered my fear of water)

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written: I’m working on The Master and Margarita right now but I’ve mostly been working on the Global Challenge. I’ve also read Fantastic Mr. Fox, Rabbit, Run and the latest Sookie book.

#52.1 Shakespeare Reading Challenge: I’m supposed to be reading 12 plays this year but I’ve got nothing yet.

#52.2 Global Reading Challenge: So far I’ve read Winesburg, Ohio (North America), Evil Angels (Australiasia), The Good Earth (Asia), and Out of Africa (Africa) as part of the challenge. The Master and Margarita counts for Europe and then all I have to read is The Road (Future) and Love in the Time in Cholera (South America).

#89 Learn to Cook:  So far I’ve done 32 recipes (Look for a coming post about the last 4 I’ve done).  That’s a little better than one a week so I’m doing really well with this goal.

#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor:  I’m currently up to 174.  My new job is only one block from the Flying Saucer and I’ve gone there after work a number of times for a pint.  I’m getting this one done this year!

#105 Krispy Kreme Challenge: COMPLETED!  We’re also signed up for the Warrior Dash for August.

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#6 Start Saving for Retirement: COMPLETED!

#19 Watch AFI’s 100 Best Films: One thing I HAVE been doing is watching films (for proof visit here, here, and here). I only have 20 left.

#20 Sing Karaoke: COMPLETED!

#28  Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #8 on the 101 list): Nada, so far.

#38 See a Movie in a Drive-In Movie Theater: No plans yet

#39 Lose 20 Pounds: So far I’ve lost 13.4 pounds by using Weight Watchers!

Not on the list for this year’s goals but I also joined the Bone Marrow Registry, so between that and donating blood, I’m working on #68 Save Someone’s Life.  I visited Savannah and I saw UNC play (and win) in the NCAA tournament.  We went to a Ren Faire and I also got a star named after me, which could fulfill #94 Get Something Named After Me (I’m still holding out hope for a street or a building or something.) Also, while SCUBA diving in Hawaii, I saw a Sea Turtle in the wild; that’s not on the “official” list but still cool.

So how are you doing with your goals for 2011?  Is the year flying by for you too?

101 Things before you die, 40 Before I'm 40, Achievement, bucket list, Entertainment, Excitement, life list, Life Management, Miscellaneous, Nature, Recklessness, Relationships, Sport and Activity, things before you die, Travel
, , , , , , , , , , , ,
EXIF_JPEG_T422

Little Bit of This and That

May 11, 2011 by Jessica 11 Comments

Just a filler post with what I’ve been up to lately.
  • Finally booked the Hawaii trip, officially. We’ll only be in Honolulu for 5 days and outside of a day trip to the Big Island to see the volcanoes, this will be more a relax-and-rejuvenate vacation rather than an adventure vacation. But I’ll check off #27: See an Erupting Volcano (if I see lava) and it will help towards #11: Visit Every State.
  • SCUBA Lessons were canceled this past Saturday so we may not be certified before going to Hawaii. I’m not too concerned; I’m sure we can still go diving with an instructor while there if we’d like.

BBQ Porkchops with onions

  • I’m kicking butt at cooking lately, having made three dishes in four days. That’s like a record for me. I made Fried Rice (added chicken), BBQ Porkchops, and a Slow-cooker Chicken and Rice dish, Recipes 21, 22, and 23. The Fried Rice tasted like…fried rice, so nothing special but good to just have something “classic.” The BBQ Porkchops I liked; citrusy and spicy. The Chicken and Rice was …okay; it tasted fine but it smelled like feet. Must have been the mushrooms.
  • I’m up to beer #159. Being on a diet is obviously slowing down my beer intake (they take up a valuable 5 points each!) but I should still finish this year.
  • And finally, films I’ve seen recently:

Suspicion I’ve seen quite a number of Hitchcock films, mostly his later stuff.  This is one his earliest and while it certainly has the appeal of suspense, it doesn’t quite deliver like his later films.  Of course, it could be one of those times where by the time I’ve gotten to it, I’ve already seen it rehashed in every other way.  And, after seeing a number of Cary Grant films recently where he plays comic figures, it was hard to separate him out as a threatening figure.  I never quite bought the idea that there was any real danger.

Jezebel I guess I may get blasted for this, but I really don’t think Bette Davis is very attractive.  Great actress? Yes, but really not very pretty.  That aside, I liked this movie in the beginning.  A very strong lead female character but then everything just kinda falls apart and I didn’t feel I was given enough reason for why the characters made the decisions they made.

Anything random you’d like to share about what’s going on in your life?

157.4/-6

Miscellaneous
, , , ,
EXIF_JPEG_T422

Mixing It Up With Beer

April 8, 2011 by Jessica 21 Comments

Since I began my quest towards 200 different beers at Flying Saucer, I’ve been intrigued by a certain category on the back of the “Fly Paper” (beer menu that lists the over 300 beers they have at any given time).  The drinks in this section are a little different as they are beer cocktails: beers mixed with one another to make a new drink…and these count toward my total.

(Sorry for the picture quality but that’s a Cream of Wheat to the right.  Most of the half and half beers stay layered, which I was trying to show in this picture, but dark bar + cell phone=crap photo).

Some are fairly common, but some are unique to Flying Saucer:

  • Black and Tan-Bass and Guinness (tasty on St. Patrick’s Day ;) )
  • Black Velvet-Guinness and pear cider
  • Humingbird Water-pear cider with raspberry lambic
  • Lava Lamp-stout and lager with a splash of raspberry lambic
  • Cream of Wheat-Stout and hefeweizen
  • Chocolate Truffle-Chocolate stout with raspberry lambic
  • Lime n’ Lager-Harp Lager with a splash of Sprite and a twist of lime.
  • Raspberries n’ Cream-Raspberry lambic & a white ale

It’s probably because I like most of these on their own (raspberry lambic=liquid candy) but I’ve enjoyed all of these…very much.  I’m up to 149…only 51 more beers to go!

Have you tried any of these?  Have any beers you think I should get in during my last quarter of the list?

bucket list, Excitement, life list, Recklessness
, ,
K2C

First Quarter Results 2011

March 30, 2011 by Jessica 20 Comments

I posted my annual goals back in January and, as is custom, here is my progress for the first three months of the year.  Some goals are having to be readjusted but thus the nature of life!  Afterall, the biggest reason for the change is my new job, so I certainly am not complaining.  I knew it wasn’t going to be a big travel year anyway and quite honestly I’m exhausted thinking about all of these little trips we have planned over the next several months.  I’m sure I’ll feel like we’ve accomplished a lot at the end of this year.

#1 Write a Novel:  Nada, yet.

#11 Visit Every State:  Dang.  With no vacation for the first year at my new job, I won’t be able to do the Pennsylvania trip.  Oh well, we have lots of little weekend vacations planned, including a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC in April, the NC Mountains for the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games  in July, and Asheville, NC for Hot Air Ballooning and the Biltmore Estate in September.  We’ll stay busy, even if we’re not very exotic this year!

#16 Get into the Guinness World Book of Records:  Working on being the world’s largest blood donor.  Between being on anti-biotics and having a low iron count, I haven’t donated this quarter yet.  So far I’m up to 6 pints over my lifetime.

#46 Scuba Diving/#87 Conquer Your Fear:  I have a Groupon for a SCUBA introductory lesson scheduled for April 16th and plan to complete the course in June.

#52 Read the Greatest Books Ever Written: I haven’t read any from this list yet.  I’ve been focusing on the Global Challenges.

#52.1 Shakespeare Reading Challenge: I’m supposed to be reading 12 plays this year but I’ve got nothing yet.

#52.2 Global Reading Challenge: This got added to the annual goals a bit late but so far I’ve read Winesburg, Ohio (North America) and Evil Angels (Australiasia) as part of the challenge.

#89 Learn to Cook:  So far I’ve done 15 recipes.  That’s a little better than one a week so I’m doing really well with this goal.

#93.5 Get Your Name in the Ring of Honor:  I’m currently up to 146.  My new job is only one blocks from the Flying Saucer and I’ve gone there after work a number of times for a pint.  I’m getting this one done this year!

#105 Krispy Kreme Challenge: COMPLETED!  We’re also signed up for the Warrior Dash for August.

Goals from my 40 Before I’m 40 List:

#6 Start Saving for Retirement: COMPLETED!

#19 Watch AFI’s 100 Best Films: One thing I HAVE been doing is watching films (for proof visit here and here). I only have 21 left.

#28  Sell a piece of art (and realize my childhood dream, which is #8 on the 101 list): Nada, so far.

#38 See a Movie in a Drive-In Movie Theater: Gotta wait until it warms up a bit!

Not on the list for this year’s goals but I also joined the Bone Marrow Registry, so between that and donating blood, I’m working on #68 Save Someone’s Life.  I visited Savannah and I saw UNC play (and win) in the NCAA tournament.  I also got a star named after me, which could fulfill #94 Get Something Named After Me (I’m still holding out hope for a street or a building or something.)

So how are you doing with your goals for 2011?  Is the year flying by for you too?

101 Things before you die, life list, Miscellaneous
, , , , , , , , ,
Older Entries

Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 111 other followers