What's It All About?

Many people ask that question about a great deal of things. For me, today, this question is two fold. What's this blog, BUCKET LIST, all about? And, what's life all about?

This blog is where I keep a running record of my bucket list, you know, the "kick the bucket list" of all the things that you want to do before you knock off for that one last time. At a few weeks shy of 26, I know I may be young to start one, those guys in the movie were much older and knew their time was limited. My list isn't about fitting everything in at the last minute. Rather it's about keeping a running record of the experiences that I want to take part in, small or large. Some of the items on this list can be done on a rainy day, others will take time, planning, and money to actually see through to the end.

I've never been any good at keeping journals but want there to be some record of my life of the things I did, what it was like, ect. So I started this list back in March, 2009 and keep an actual journal with me at all times so that when I think of something I want to do I add it to "the list". The plan is that when I complete something on the list I write about it. Because my handwriting is legible to few and because Blogger has a built in spell-check I'll write about my experiences here.

As for the "What's life all about?" question, at this point I have no clue, maybe creating and completing things will help me figure that out. I'll get back to you on that one.

The List

1. Create a LEGO font and use it to create something for myself or Kevin (Here's How) - 3.22.10
2. Participate in a craft show - 3.22.10
3. Take the Maine Beer Trail (Here's How) - 3.22.10
4. Take swing dancing lessons - 3.22.10
5. Do the Trek Across Maine (Here's How) - 3.22.10
6. Learn Irish Step Dancing - 3.22.10
7. Spend a day on a ropes course, including a zip line - 3.22.10
8. Write a letter to my future self (Here's How) - 3.22.10
9. Photograph the alphabet in found objects (no letters!) - 3.22.10
10. Another disposable camera project, this time make it so I can make a book out of the images - 3.22.10
11. Photograph a location determined by flipping a coin at intersections - 3.22.10
12. Drive the entirety of Rt. 1, from Fort Kent, ME to Key West, FL (or vice versa) - 3.22.10
13. Re/Learn how to play the piano - 3.23.10
14. Make collage animals using the insides of business envelopes - 3.23.10
15. Felted stuffed initial magnets - 4.10.10
16. Baby/kids door hangers, ex. Do not disturb, Enter Mess at own risk, Nap time - 4.10.10
17. Paisley cupboard doors - 4.10.10
18. Old door knob hangers - 4.10.10
19. Picture frame room dividers - 4.10.10
20. Paper canvas paintings - 4.10.10
21. 1,000 origami cranes from recycled paper - 4.23.10
  • Updated 5.22.10 - Make a before and after photo book of these cranes, picture of the recycled paper before, and picture of finished crane.
  • Updated 7.26.10 - Before/After pics uploaded. See Post
22. Backpack through Europe - 5.12.10
23. Positive News Source - 5.12.10
24. Photograph letters - make into alphabet poster - themed by color, location, 3-d, 2-d ect. - 5.12.10
25. Bike the Kangamangus - 5.22.10
26. White water rafting - 5.22.10
27. Skydiving - 5.22.10
28. Hot air balloon ride - 5.22.10
29. Trip to Machu Picchu - 6.8.10
30. Alaskan Cruise - 6.8.10
31. Make my own Beer - 6.27.10
32. In the 1st 4 years of the Dempsey Challange, ride each route, 10, 25, 50 & 100 - 6.27.10
33. Read/Re-read all of Kathy Reichs books in order - 7.15.10
34. Read/Re-read all of the Harry Potter books in order - 7.15.10
35. Read/Re-read all of the Redwall books in order - 7.15.10
• Updated 6.29.11 - See Post
36. Learn how to play the Harmonica - 7.29.10
37. Pay off my 7 years (18 year old me to 25 year old me) of debt and from then on stay as debt free as possible - 7.29.10
38. Geocaching - 8.15.10
39. Rent an RV & go cross country - 10.5.10
40. Go to Montana - 10.5.10
41. Make a picture frame from the old window I have from Mom & Dad, like these - 10.26.10
42. Make a bookshelf from old shutters, like these - 10.26.10
43. Make some unique onsies, like this one - 10.26.10
44. Bake through the 12 days of cookies! (dedicated to my dear friend, Jessie Magoon!) - 10.30.10
45. See the Northern Lights - 10.30.10
46. Learn How to Surf - 10.30.10
47. Try 50 Different Cocktails - 10.30.10
48. Eat at, and review, 50 different restaurants - 10.30.10
49. Try 50 different beers - 10.30.10
• Updated 6.29.11 - See Post
50. Go Snorkeling in a Shipwreck - 10.30.10
51. Make 50 different, new recipes - 10.30.10
52. Eat a Garbage Plate - 11.04.10
53. Eat a Krispy Kreme right from the Conveyor - 11.5.10
54. Learn how to Blow Glass - 11.5.10
55. Old Photo/New Photo Project - 6.29.11

Bucket List Addition #49: Try 50 Different Beers

Could be part of the food blog "50 different", should maybe get a list going of possible ones I would like to try, hey I could even start next weekend at the Maine Brewers Festival!

Update 6/29/11-
So this is going from memory of what I have tried recently, you won't get a full review, but basics on if I would drink it again or not.

One rainy spring day Kevin & I went to Baxter Brewing right here in the L/A area. I had a killer cold so my smells & taste buds were off a little. We tried their two regular beers than two new ones they were testing out on people to see which would be their 3rd beer.

Beer #1: Pamola Xtra Pale Ale, Baxter Brewing, Lewiston, ME - Would definitely drink again.
Here is what they have to say about their beer:
Subtle, sophisticated flavors from choice barley and select hops, combined with cold conditioning, give this beer its exceptional drinkability.

Technical Specifications:

  • A proprietary blend of North American 2-row malted barley, including barley grown in Northern Maine’s Aroostock County
  • Domestic and imported “Character” malts provide complexity, color and body
  • 3 different hop varieties, all with European roots and grown in the Pacific Northwest
  • Fermented cold and then cold conditioned
  • Clean, well attenuating, top-fermenting American ale yeast
  • Pure, soft water from Lake Auburn, Maine

4.9% ABV
27.5 IBU’s

Flavor Profile:

Brilliant clarity, bright golden in color. Pours a nice creamy head. Subtle malt and hop aroma. Crisp, clean, effervescent start with a touch of malt character and a balanced bitterness. Hop flavors linger nicely. Finishes clean, crisp and dry with a light body. Beautiful lace left all the way down the glass. Extremely drinkable.

Beer #2: Stowaway IPA, Baxter Brewing, Lewiston, ME - would probably not drink again unless it was the only option and I really needed a beer. It was too hoppy for my likings.
Here is what they have to say:

Bold, complex flavors with a solid malt backbone and assertive hop profile, along with cold conditioning, give this beer its crisp, clean, hoppy finish.

Technical Specifications:

  • A proprietary blend of North American 2-row malted barley, including barley grown in Northern Maine’s Aroostock County
  • Domestic and imported “Character” malts provide complexity, color and body
  • 5 different hops varieties grown in the Pacific Northwest
  • Double dry-hopped during fermentation and conditioning
  • Clean, well attenuating, top-fermenting American ale yeast
  • Pure, soft water from Lake Auburn, Maine

6.9% ABV
69 IBU’s

Flavor Profile:

Deep amber-to-orangish in color; pours with a nice, creamy head; huge hop aroma of citrus, pine and grapefruit rind notes with a big, complex, and intense hop flavor that lingers for a very long time. The malt flavor up-front turns dry and crisp; full bodied and a dry finish with a pleasant, long lasting, hop aftertaste and beautiful lace left in the glass. Stowaway leaves you wanting more.

After visiting Mara in the hospital before she had little Charlie, Kevin & I went to Sea Dog in Portland. Blue Paw is one of Kevin's favorite beers hands down, we actually got a keg of it for our wedding party. I wanted to try some of their other beers as well so we got their 10 beer taster. I know Kevin isn't a fan of the darker beers so I started with those. I wish I was able to try each of the 10, but that wasn't the case. I'll just have to go back one of these days :-)

Beer #3: Sea Dog Stout, Sea Dog Microbrewery, Portland, ME - Not usually a stout drinker, but I would drink it again. Wonder what it would taste like to have a black & blue, Sea Dog Stout + Sea Dog Blue Paw...
What they have to say about it:
This is a classic Irish Stout. Full bodied yet soft and spectacular in appearance.


Beer #4: Riverdriver Hazelnut Porter, Sea Dog Microbrewery, Portland, ME - Again usually stick with the lighter beers but I actually liked this one, more so than the Sea Dog Stout that's for sure.
What they have to say about it:
This beer is one of a kind! Four different malted barleys combine to create a distinctive, full-bodied beer with a roasted nuttiness, uniquely enhanced by a hint of hazelnuts. Smooth and creamy with the nose of the Willamette hop, this porter is a beer style unto itself.

Beer #5: Old Thumper ESA, Shipyard Brewery, Portland, ME - This was a rotating cask conditioned beer they had, would drink this again.
What they have to say about it:
Old Thumper Extra Special Ale was created in 1979 by veteran British brewer, Peter Austin, founder of the Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire, England and mentor to Shipyard's master brewer Alan Pugsley. A British Grand Champion beer, Old Thumber is a non-traditional English Bitter, brewed in the US solely by Shipyard.

Malt: 2-Row British Pale Ale, Crystal, Chocolate
Hops: Challenger, Progress, Goldings
Yeast: Top-Fermenting English
Color: Light Copper
OG: 1060
Character: Hint of sweetness with fruit aromas, smooth texture, dry hoppy finish
Food Pairings: Hearty Casseroles, Stews
First Brewed: October 1994
Available in: 120z, 22oz, Keg, Cask Conditioned
Beer #6: Old Gollywobbler Brown Ale, Sea Dog Microbrewery, Portland, ME - Would definitely drink again.
What they have to say about it:
A traditional and true English mild "session" ale. A rich, malty profile is punctuated by hints of hop flavor and aroma. A complex, understated fruitiness makes the signature statement.


Beer #7: Sea Dog Pale Ale, Sea Dog Microbrewery, Portland, ME - Would drink again, think Kevin would like it as well.
What they have to say about it:
An English style classic pale ale brewed with all English grains including pale and crystal malts, the latter of which gives the beer a nice coppery hue and nutty flavor undertones. This pale ale is crafted with 4 different varieties of hops to give the beer a complex but well balanced hop character, finishing with a delightful but subtle Cascade hop nose.

Beer #8: Apricot Wheat Beer, Sea Dog Microbrewery, Portland, ME - Have had before, and will drink again! Nice change from the Blueberry. Wish I could find it in 6 packs more often!
What they have to say about it:
Sea Dog Apricot Wheat Beer is a crisp and quenching wheat ale with a subtle essence of fresh apricots.

(And now I'm craving one....)

Beer #9: Woodchuck Pear Cider, Woodchuck Cidery, Middleburry, VT - Love this, will absolutely drink again, and again, and again! Hard to find sometimes and you have to go looking at specialty beer stores. I owe Mara one as I bought a 6 pack before our wedding party and told her I would save her one for the night of the party. Yeah.... that didn't happen.....
Here's what they have to say about it:

To understand that Woodchuck Pear tastes like, take a deep breath, close your eyes and imagine yourself floating down a cool crisp mountain stream in the middle of July. Ok, got it? Now put an entire pear in your mouth.
Beer #10: Woodchuck Summer Cider, Woodchuck Cidery, Middleburry, VT - Like this one too! Went looking for the Pear to bring to Mara as a "Congratulations, Charlie's Here" gift but couldn't find the Pear, so grabbed this. Again really good, and I owe her another 6 pack as I drank most of it in the hospital room while visiting her & little Charlie!
Here's what they have to say about it:

The sounds of the lapping lake-shores, the mountain views, and memories of fresh picked blueberries, now in a convenient six-pack. Exhibiting a slight tartness, this cider begins with a full, robust flavor followed by a rich summertime taste.

Posted by KaitLavin

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