Moments of Clarity

New Belgium Brewing!

via blip.tv

wow. just great stuff. can't wait to visit.

Posted via web from Doug's posterous

Vacation On the Horizon

Here it is...September 2009 and I can't believe how long it's been since we took a real vacation.  There have been quite a few "go out to CA and the family does stuff while daddy works all day and night and squeezes in a couple rounds of golf" trips...but no real vacation so to speak. 

So this year, no matter what it takes, we're going to take the first vacation we've had since Steph and I went to Germany in 1998 together (pre-kids).  After that, start up life took over and it's been an awesome ride every since...but I've been married to work/phone/laptop/email/connectivity. 

So, here's fair warning.  December 18-January 3 we're gone somewhere warm and toasty with no work on the agenda except a stack of books and some sand toys. 

 

Best Buy Has Musicial Instruments and Recording - Live Sound Gear

Image via Wikipedia

I just cruised over to the Best Buy in West Des Moines on University Ave. to recycle another 2 electronic devices including a laptop and a printer...and found that Best Buy now has a musical instrument section stocked with mixers, some mics, cables, and DJ equipment.

The key for me is that they carry a rotating rack of Hosa Adapters (the bane of my live sound recording).  "Do we have one of those dooohickeys that does that dealwupmus?"  Nope.  Blurgh!

Back to recycling.  If you have old stuff, Best Buy will take it with zero hassle.  If it has a "screen" like a TV or laptop, they charge you $10 and give you a $10 gift card on the spot.  Total transaction time w/no line about 32 seconds.  Nice.

So don't toss those old PC's in the trash.  Let the pros handle it.  Recycle them for free.

Then go buy a mic and mixer and start a podcast in the same day.  Yeah...you.

Which Store Has the Best Meat? Costco is Prime

Image via Wikipedia

Strolling casually through the meat isle at Costco the other day...a favorite and very soothing pastime of mine, I was taken by some new blue meat trays.  Based on the layout, I knew the blue trays were in the rib eye and New York Strip neighborhood.  What could that be I questioned on the approach.

As I vectored around a few inexperienced costco'ites...my eyes focused on the steak.  Hark! This red meat has more fattylicious marbling than normal!  And then it happened...my eyes connected with the label.

BEEF LOIN (NEW YORK) PRIME

After picking my lower jaw off the floor, I began inspecting the delicious striated flesh and an inner monologue started riffing.

Wow...I can't believe Costco has USDA PRIME beef!  It's not even that much more expensive than CHOICE HERE.  Man I better buy a lot so they keep it up (is that a potsticker sample I smell)...I better ask the butcher if they sell the whole pieces of PRIME BEEF so I can cut it myself into delicious "chocolate cake" sized portions and save money per LB to boot.

I discovered through cool old butcher dude that they didn't even know it was coming in and that he "hopes restaurants buy it" so sales go through the roof.  Agreed.

So get this, they had PRIME TOP SIRLOIN too!  Top sirloin is one of my favorite cuts.  It's more flavorful than many and if quality top sirloin is cut, seasoned (a whole 'nutha topic), and cooked properly...it's the number one value/experience in beef.  Ready for the hook...it was only $2.95/lb.  You'll pay $4.99 for crap elsewhere.  Yes there's a little work in cutting the entire piece into delicious steaks...but I'll do a video tutorial if you need one.

Remember, if you eat meat...don't skimp when you don't have to.  A 16 oz PRIME top sirloin at a fine restaurant is at least $22.  A Prime New York Strip or Rib eye of similar size...$32+.  If you're in the know like I am (now you are for reading)...you'll be able to rock the house for a fraction of the price and treat your guests to the best of the best bovine beauties for bottom buck. 

So please run down to Costco and grab your PRIME beef if you're in Des Moines.  If your Costco doesn't have it yet...tell them "Doug from Des Moines says bring in PRIME".

Want to have the most amazing seasoning you've ever had on beef?  Try the UltimateSteakSeasoning that I've been perfecting my whole life.  This seasoning turn vegetarians in salivating carniverous beef loving "dip bread in the juice" 'ers.   I promise :)

Until we eat again.
Doug

One Crazy Summer in Clive

The kids just left with Mimi for one last cool "spend time with grandparents" vacation before school starts later this month.  They will have driven with us and grandparents over 7000 miles this summer hitting CA, OH, and AL and everything in between. 

Now that they're 6 and 4, they have a bit more "outside freedom" that stretches a couple houses up and back too where they play from morning til dark with the neighbors.

Add into the mix the fact that we've become much closer with our amazing neighbors and you've got the formula for a weekly "camping trip" through our backyards that starts Friday at 4PM and leisurely takes us through Sunday afternoon.  "Plans" on weekends have become much more lax which is a dream for me.  "Let's see how things develop" and "What should we bring" are as deep as we get lately...and that's perfect.

The kids aren't overloaded with structured activities...so they can focus on bikes, scooters, doing "chalk art" on the driveway, or swimming in the 12 foot pool in the backyard.  They're getting up after 8 and staying up til 10 (or later) as the moms and dads bend the rules a bit since there's no pressing schedule the next day.

I wouldn't say this summer is flying by.  Rather, I'd say it's been like watching a super cool kids dream in slow motion. I've had some time in the kids absence to ponder what this summer must be like.  Are they enjoying it as much as I've enjoyed watching it evolve?  I think so. 

Each night as they climb into bed and literally pass out from a full day of "being a kid off of school" I'm very thankful for our neighborhood, our friends...and One Crazy Summer.

RAGBRAI wrap up

Thanks to Rich Drake (@richdrake) for hosting Team Transplant at his house in Indianola.  Sorry to have exposed you to "Doug in Spandex" Rich but those scars will heal :)

We had a wonderful bbq and got to know Rich's family and had a darn good time.  People often ask me how riding 250 miles on a bike is relaxing.  Seeing our great state, eating your way across it, and finishing up the day with a campsite (while using showers and bathrooms in homes of friends) keeps bringing me back year after year. 

I've done RAGBRAI every year I've lived here and I'm going to keep doing it.  Thanks to all including wives, hosts, and teammates.

Houses with Dual Incomes

I had a conversation with a buddy yesterday about the usual range of dude topics over a beer like politics, taxes, sports, and the economy.

So when we touched on taxes he mentioned how expensive day care and day camp programs are over the summer and how his wife's paycheck goes mostly out the door to fund those things.

It hit me at that point that we're now 6 years into a single income household and the concept of additional revenues entering our coffers would truly feel a bit like the lottery. 

We'll have both kiddos in elementary school by fall of 2010 so look out after that. It's on.

The Power of Face...to Facebook Communication

In the last 48 hours I was:

1. Found organically by an organization looking to do some video work in a specific niche here in Des Moines.  The firm is NOT anywhere near Des Moines and they found me.
2. Re-contacted by someone who heard me speak at an event that led to another event where they heard me again...and now they're at another firm and are "finished with their agency contract and looking for new ideas and options to grow their organic findability.

Never discount the power of being findable online...nor the power of speaking to groups in person passionately.  That's connecting Face...to Facebook.

Biz Tactical inaugural show streaming LIVE! from ABI convention

A while back I had this crazy idea about creating an Extreme Makeover show for Iowa Businesses.  So I sat down and created Biz Tactical.  Biz Tactical is modeled after the show called "We Mean Business" on A&E.

Video about the show below.

We will take submissions from businesses that want HELP!  We'll assemble a panel of experts and descend upon this business bringing tangible resources, connections, and solutions that rapidly accelerate success.
We're building our team of panelists and the show's anchor hosts are myself and Adam Steen.  I'm proud to announce that we'll be doing our first show from the upcoming Iowa Association of Business and Industry convention at Lake Okoboji on June 10 at 530PM.  The show will be produced as a live radio broadcast with commercials and special sponsored segments.

If YOU are going to the ABI convention, please stop by the social media suite upstairs where you'll find the createWOWmedia team coaching, connecting, and capturing the excellence of the ABI membership.

mitchgroup links that matter 05/22/2009

• Tips for Avoiding Deceptive SEO - ReelSEO

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Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.