Metallman Hiatus is Now Over

"I learned this, at least, by my experiment: that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours." - Henry David Thoreau, Walden

Hey there friends.  I've been away for awhile.  Not physically away... but mentally away.  I've taken the last couple of months to find myself.  I needed that time to recharge... to reconnect... to refocus.  You see, I'm a guy of ambition but I sometimes lack the motivation to get things done.  Well, let me rephrase.  It's not hat I lack motivation, it's that I have so much that I want done that I don't know where to start.  I have so many pending projects that some end up falling by the wayside.  In essence, I over extend, and to an extent, over exert myself.  I was mentally and physically burnt out... but now I feel ready.  I feel ready to take charge, I'm connected, and I'm laser focused.  I'm ready to take steps forward again.

I know I've been away from my website for quite some time and I wanted make this quick post just to let you guys know that I'm back at it.  I started drafting some reviews and I'm getting some giveaways lined up for you guys.  I'm sorry that I was gone for so long, and I know that I lost some of you along the way, but for those of you that stuck with me, thank you.  The hiatus is now over and Metallman is coming back at full force!  Later!

Best Comfort Food in Fresno, California

Hey there. Fresno, California is one of those cities that often flies under the radar, but it shouldn’t. Fresno is home to some of the coolest attractions in the state, including several zoos and recreational areas, most notably Yosemite National Park. Another thing you may not know is that Fresno has some amazing comfort food. Whether you’re in the mood for wings, burgers, or tacos, Fresno’s got you covered. If that isn’t enough to make you start looking for homes for sale in Fresno, then here are just a few of the city’s best comfort food spots that will have you drooling.

The FandomVerse Expo Sept. 4 - 6, 2015 in Lancaster, CA

Hey there.  It's been awhile since I last attended an expo.  I think the last one I went to was the AM2 Expo in Anaheim a few years back.  Well... I went to LA Fitness Expo as well but I don't think I covered that.  Anyways, when I read online that there was an anime/gaming/cosplay/just about everything else Expo going on in Lancaster, CA, I just had to get inside scoop!  Welcome the FandomVerse Expo! It's a relatively new expo that is still feeling its way and this is their second year holding an event.  Last year, they had a one day expo while this year, they are making it a 3 day affair!  And guess what?!  I have a press badge!  After reaching out to the awesome people behind FandomVerse Expo, I was able to secure a press badge for some primo seating and interview time with some of the guests of honor!  How awesome is that?!

NorthONE Digital Tire Pressure Gauge Review

Hey there.  I recently moved to Lancaster, CA and I wasn't as well prepared as I thought I would be.  Especially when it came to car maintenance.  I knew that the weather would get colder than what I was used to, but I didn't think that it would get to freezing temperatures!  Because of the cold weather, my car tires were constricting, causing them to lose tire pressure over time, and I wouldn't find out until it was too late.  On more than one occasion, my wife and I found ourselves waking up to a flat tire.  After those incidents, I mentioned to my wife how we're going to have to keep an eye on the pressure on the tires to make sure that they stay properly inflated.  Even though I have a standard metal tire pressure gauge, my wife insisted on something that is easier to use and read.  Something that she would have no problem using.  That's where our friends at NorthONE saved the day.  The NorthONE Digital Tire Pressure Gauge came to the rescue.  This thing has everything that I am looking for in an easy to use, easy to read tire pressure gauge.

Mpow Streambot Oval FM Transmitter Review

Hey there.  How many of you listen to music while driving your car?  I know I do.  So when I'm driving through an area where there is no radio signal, it irks me.  I don't like listening to static on the radio.  It reminds of Silent Hill and freaks me out. lol  You see, I drive through a mountain range when I travel to work and I don't get a radio signal.  What I used to do what have my phone on speaker and have music play from my phone.  The problem that I had with that was that I couldn't really hear since my phone's speaker does not compare to my car's speaker system.  If only there was was a way to connect my phone to the car's speakers.  Wait... there is!!!  The Mpow Streambot Oval FM Transmitter does just that!  Our good friends at Mpow provided me this FM transmitter to try out and review and it is simply one of the best FM transmitters that I have tried.  Before I get into my experience, let's talk specs.

Find Your Fortune at Albertsons

Hey there.  I just wanted to let my Southern California friends know about this awesome promo going on at Albertsons.  If you buy select prepaid airtime cards for your cell phone OR select giftcards, you can win up 5Xs the amount that you purchased, up to $500!  That's pretty cool, if you ask me.  Imagine running in there and getting a $20 phone card and you end up winning $100!  I know a lot of people that buy their last minute gift cards at their local market.  Why not get it at Albertsons and have a chance to win?  Sounds like a win win situation to me.  You're going to get the card anyways, might as well press your luck and see if you can find your fortune at Albertsons!  Later!

Make the Best of Summertime with Coastal Dog Swimwear

I participated in a Blogger Activation on behalf of Dad Central Consulting for Coastal Dog. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and to thank me for participating

Hey there.  I live in Southern California.  There's a running joke in our family that the weather in Southern California is "warm, hot, or hotter."  lol  Well, considering that it's been a warm Spring, I'm expecting it to be a pretty hot Summer.  Especially now so that I've moved into the Lancaster area.  From what I know, that's pretty close to the Mojave Desert.  So... what's a family of 6 to do to stay cool in the Summer near the desert?  BEACH AND POOL TIME!!!  We have family in Lancaster that has invited us to their pool anytime it gets hot and guess what... IT GOT HOT!  We grabbed our swimwear and were about to head out the door when my young one yells out, "WAIT!!!  DID YOU GET MY NEW BLUE SWIM SHORTS WITH THE DOGGY?!?!?!"  Why yes, son, we did grab your Coastal Dog swim shorts.

Nintendo Kicks Off The Play Nintendo Tour at Westfield Mall in Culver City

Hey there.  Who wants to play the latest Nintendo games?!  Who wants to meet some of their favorite Nintendo characters?  If you said yes to any of those questions, then you can't miss Nintendo's upcoming national tour!  The Play Nintendo Tour will take over malls across America to showcase Nintendo's hit games and they'll also have some of their top characters on hand to interact with their loving fans.  Not much in details are out just yet but I do know that they'll be kicking off that national tour right here in Southern California.  First stop?  Westfield Mall in Culver City!  And guess what... I'M AN INVITED GUEST!  Whoo hoo!

The PB+J Organization Helps Fight Against Severe Acute Malnutrition

Hey there.  I'm pretty big when it comes to letting people know about awesome charities.  Don't get me wrong, any organization that does charity work for the better of mankind is awesome.  Whether it be providing games for sick kids to play or provide resources for life saving research.  No charity is too big or too small for a shout out.  And with that, the organization that I want to bring to the forefront?  The PB+J Organization!

Anker Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Headset with Charging Dock Review

I love the design of the Anker Wireless Bluetooth headset and charging dock.

Hey there. I live in sunny California and I spent a lot of time in traffic.  And I mean A LOT!  If any of you have ever had the experience of driving on the freeways around Los Angeles, you'll know that you could be in for a long car ride.  One of the biggest no nos of the road out here is that you can not be caught with a cell phone in your hand.  It doesn't matter if you were using your phone's GPS system.  If a police officer finds you with a cell phone in your hand, you will be ticketed.  Trust me... I should know.  You could always have your phone in speaker mode or turn on the "car mode" on your phone, but that still means you need to touch it and risk being ticketed.  Well, worry no more, friends!  Our good friends at Anker provided me with an Anker Wireless Bluetooth 4.0 Headset with Charging Dock to try out and review and let me tell you, it's fantastic!  It's small, it's sleek, it's stylish, and IT WORKS BEAUTIFULLY.  Before I get into my experience with this wireless headset, let's get some of the technical details out of the way.

Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at the Los Angeles Zoo Nintendo Event

Oh yeah!  I'm there for the event!!!

Hey there.  Last weekend was Memorial Day weekend and it was a time of remembrance.  Many of us spent the day out with our families and gave thanks to those brave men and women of the United States Military that gave everything they had to protect the freedoms that this great nation believes in. Many of us celebrated by enjoying that freedom by enjoying it with our families.  I spent Memorial Day weekend with my family as well.  But I also spent it with Nintendo.  How so?  Well, this Memorial Day weekend, the great people at Nintendo offered my family and I a press pass to enjoy the LA Zoo AND meet Donkey Kong!  How awesome is that?!

Donkey Kong Country Invades the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens this Memorial Day Weekend

Hey there!  Who has any plans for this Memorial Day Weekend?  Many of us will be firing up the grill and having outdoor BBQ and others will venture off to the beach or other main attraction.  It's almost as if Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of Summer.  My plans for this weekend is to take the family to the LA Zoo!  It's been awhile since we last visited the zoo so I think it'll be a great time to check it out.  Our young one is now 3 so he's old enough to enjoy checking out the animals.  Who knows, maybe he'll enjoy spotting lions, snakes, alligatots, Donkey Kong.  Wait... What?!?!  DONKEY KONG?!  YUP!!!  This Memorial Day weekend, Nintendo has partnered up with the LA Zoo & Botanical Gardens to host an event!  How awesome is that?!  The event is taking place in the Campo Gorilla Reserve to commemorate the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D on the Nintendo 3DS on May 24th, 2013.

Time to Tackle Organization with a Brother P Touch Labeler

Hey there.  It's time to tackle the garage.  Spring cleaning season is in full effect and Summer is just around the corner.  That means that stuff needs to be cleaned and organized because once Summer rolls around, everyone is going to be looking for their Summer stuff.  Whether that be the slip and slide, summer toys, the cooler, or the beach chairs.  Our Summers in Southern California are usually spent at the beach and, though it's one great time for the family, getting all of our stuff ready for the trip never is.  "Mom, where is my football!"  "Dad, I can't find the cooler!"  "Mommy, where is my water gun?!"  If you're a parent, you know the drill.  Nobody can find anything when it's time to go.  But you know what?  That's not going to happen this year.  We're prepared.  Well... at least we're going to be.  Thanks to our good friends at Mom Central, we have obtained Brother P Touch Labeler!  I know it's not a miracle worker, but it's going to make our lives a lot easier!  Let me explain.

Hiking at the Turnbull Canyon Trail

A map of the trails available at Turnbull Canyon

Hey there. It's been awhile since the wife and I have gone on a hiking trip. We've been meaning to check out some of the awesome hiking spots here in Southern California but we just haven't found the time.  To be honest, I don't think we've gone for a hike since we last went hiking at Escondido Falls!  That has got to change!  :Last weekend, we decided to get up at 6:30 in the morning and take off to a trail.  Our destination?  The Turnbull Canyon Road Hiking Trails in Whittier, CA.

Metallman Update: Events, Games, GenCon, and More

Hey there.  It's been awhile since I last had a post.  I'm sorry, guys.  I haven't really been feeling well and I couldn't muster the energy to sit and write.  No worries though! I'm back and at full strength and wanted to give you guys a heads up on what's to come.  A few game reviews are coming, in written and podcast form, a few events that I'll be covering, and I received a press pass for a gaming convention!  How awesome is that?!  Ok... so let's get into the details.  Something tells me this is going to be a lengthy post!

Fuel Your Body with SWAT Fuel

Hey there.  Many of us are familiar with the Call of Duty franchise.  Most specifically the Black Ops series.  As I was playing the game last night, I got to thinking to type of training that the men and women go through to be able handle the special operations that are similar to those in the game.  What makes them "Black Ops" ready?  What fuels their body?  I looked online and found the answer! Dan Olesnicky, M.D., is a S.W.A.T. team physician and police officer in Palm Springs, California, and has been training S.W.A.T. and Spec Ops for over a decade.  And guess what, he's the founder of SWAT Fuel!

Introducing Blue Shield of CA Dynamic Duo: Dr. Jim and Bob

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of © Blue Shield of California for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there.  What ails you?  Nothing?  Something inside me tells me that's a lie.  lol  But I'm sure that you are just like myself and many other people that are computer savvy, we'll look up our symptoms online and make a determination as to whether or not we'll make a doctor's visit.  More often than not, the doctor's visit never materializes.  I'll admit, if it doesn't hurt, I don't make that appointment.  I know... I know... It's a bad habit and just because my body doesn't hurt doesn't mean that there isn't something wrong.  I can pose my problem online and hope for the best, but really, that's not the absolute best thing to do.  That is, unless, Dr. Jim and Bob answer my question!

Mud Factor 5K Obstacle Course

Hey there.  The year of fitness continues!  I came out of the Gladiator Rock'n Run a little bruised up and sore as hell but felt extremely good and proud of myself.  Now, the next challenge awaits!  The Mud Factor 5K Obstacle course!  Only this time, the wife will also participate.  It's going to be her first mud run so I'm making sure that she'll be ready to handle the course and I'll help her where I can.  I can't wait for this one to go down!  The only problem???  It's in San Bernadino...  That's about an hour drive away from Los Angeles.  I don't mind driving... but when I know it's a long trip I turn into a little kid and wonder when we'll get there.  lol  Anyways, I'm looking forward to going out there and earning my third medal of the year!  I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Any of you Southern California friends going to be at the Mud Factor mud run?  Time to turn up the workouts to 11 and get ready for another mud filled day of obstacles!!!  Later!

September Photo a Day - Weather

Hey there.  One of the biggest perks of living in Southern California is the weather.  It's sunny about 300 days out of the year.  Most of the time it's blissfully pleasant.  During the summer, it can be scorching hot.  It's summer, so it's been hot here in Southern California and the weather is just that.  Clear blue skies and 90 degree weather.  So what's the weather like in your part of the world?  Later!

September Photo a Day - What You Wore Today

Hey there.  Today was beach day!  We got up all early and headed to the beach for a fun filled day of fun in the sun.  So what did I wear today?  Practically nothing.  Just my do it all black shorts and instead of taking sandals, I wore my awesome Raiders slippers.  Yup, I'm cool like that.  And that hottie sun bathing in the background?  My awesome wife.  Few fewwwwwwwwwwww!  I looooooove beach day!  lol  Later!