Monthly Archives: July 2015

Four Years On or: Anything but JUST Engaged

31 Friday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

Today is a special day for The BCPF and me. It was four years ago today that I asked her to marry me. That was the best decision I have ever made. Ever. EVER!

Dear Reader, if you’re not into the sappy, then I’d recommend just skipping to my closing, signature and quote and I’ll see you tomorrow. There will be a three second pause… Okay. Let’s back up even further. We “started” dating on July 21, 2010. My 74582-the2bringbirthday is in November; the 20th. That was my FORTIETH birthday and she arranged for friends of ours to meet and just organized a wonderful time. I had known for a while that this was absolutely the best thing for me and I loved her immensely. That was a Saturday. So, on Monday, I legitimately just so happened to be at the mall. I was doing something for Ma Mère, I think. I just so happened to stop by Marks & Morgan Jewelers (before they closed that store; they’re owned by Kay). I fell in love with a specific ring and couldn’t pass it up. That was in November, 2010, remember. Fast forward to July 31, 2011.

I was finishing up my stint as a college student (yes, very late) and knew that my gift to myself was a trip to Walt Disney World. It’s my favorite place in the world and I hadn’t been in almost 5 years at that point (way too long for me). Also, growing up, I had always been somewhat jealous of the folks that I saw in the boats on World Showcase Lagoon during Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, the fireworks extravaganza at Epcot. By golly! I’m doing that, too. It just so happened that it was a great place to get engaged.

I’ll admit, outright, that when I’m on vacation, I don’t care about looks, etc. because I’m not going to see any of these people again and I’m not entering myself into the fair. So, at least at Disney World, I wear a fanny pack. I need all my stuff with me and I don’t need it coming out of my pockets on rides and such. I wear big shirts so usually, you can’t see it. If you don’t like it, well stuff it! ANYWHAT! I had the ring in the fanny pack at the airport and was afraid they’d rat me out going through security, but the worst I got was a wink from the female machine attendant. I don’t know if that was because she liked my fanny pack or because she could see what was in it.

We got to MCO (that’s Orlando) and get on the DME (Disney’s Magical Express) and The BCPF had to wipe tears from my eyes because, yes, I really was crying. I feel that strongly about that place. They take us to Disney’s Wilderness Lodge where they quickly showed us to our room. We had our passes and made our way to Magic Kingdom first, because I always like to start my visit with a hot dog from Casey’s on Main Street USA. We sat and talked about the Ibis (birds with thin, straw-like beaks) that were wandering about the eating area.

We then went to Swiss Family Treehouse inspired by the film Swiss Family Robinson. No line, just walk through and look. We then went to Jungle Cruise, no real line, maybe a five minute wait. That was great, too! Pirates of the Caribbean was next and front row of the boat. Hall of Presidents, no wait. Haunted Mansion, minimum wait. It’s a Small World, front row of the boat (so we didn’t have to deal with the idiots that take flash pics on the ride), Peter Pan’s Flight, minimum wait. Got on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority’s People Mover and relaxed. Stitch, minimum wait.

It was time to head over to Epcot, where we had dinner reservations at 5:40, or so I thought. We get to Epcot via the monorail and of course, we stop at Spaceship Earth and again, minimum wait. We then wandered about Future World and onto World Showcase (my personal favorite spot in “the World”) and to Mexico Pavilion to ride Grand Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros (I still like the old name “El Rio del Tiempo” better) and again, in the front row of the boat. On to Maelstrom (RIP Maelstrom, (sad face)) where, yep, you guessed it, another front row seating. What’s going on here!? To China to watch the Circle-Vision 360 film “Reflections of China.” I looked at our watch and saw that it was about 5:10. We didn’t have time to stop for much more so we needed to get to the Italy Pavilion to eat at Tutto Italia and we made it at 5:20. Turns out our reservations were at 5:25 and not 5:40, so we just made it. I’ll honestly say that that meal was the only less-than-stellar part of the day. It was just “okay” and we’ve not been back since. I miss Alfredo’s that used to be there. Afterwards we had just a bit of time before our 8:00 dock time for the boats for Illuminations. So, we made a run to Canada Pavilion because the Circle-Vision 360 film, “O Canada” had recently been changed and I have a place in my heart for the old one, so I had to critique it. I cried, but it was of joy. They did a great job of it.

So, then it was time to get to Disney’s Yacht Club where we were meeting the boat. You get there from where we were via the International Gateway located between the France and UK Pavilions. We make it over there and… there’s no one there. WHAT!? I get my phone out to call the 800 number on the signage. Literally, and I mean literally as I was about to hit the send button, a door on the back of the Yacht Club opens up and a line of five boat captains and one clerk come marching out onto the dock, each pulling a rolling cooler. A boat captain by the name of “Captain Ron,” who looks and sounds like Uncle Fester from Addams Family, asks, “Who’s from North Carolina!?” I raised my hand and said that we were. He directed me to go over and pay the clerk in the kiosk. As I did, she winked at me and said have a good sailing. Caveat: they all knew what was going on, because I called ahead to plan it.

After waiting a bit for the weather to decide what it was going to do, we got the all-clear and boarded our boats. Captain Ron steered us around Bay Lake giving us a history of how it came about and how long it took to fill (it was man made). He stopped in front of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and told us some facts about that (I knew most of them… hey! I’m a Disney specialist). He would pause intermittently at some “picturesque” locations. I would just hold my girl tight and do nothing. We eventually made it around to the World Showcase Lagoon and we tethered to the four other boats in preparation for the fireworks spectacular. I sat regularly in the boat bench seat and The BCPF sat with her feet in the seat leaning up against me, my right arm around her. We sat and talked about stuff, what I really can’t remember and I don’t think she could either, now. The show starts and I unzip my fanny pack (see you’d already forgotten about the fanny pack) and took the ring and box out, set it on the bench cushion, opened the box and straightened it up to look just right.

Part way through the showcase, The BCPF asked if I’d like to move to the other side. We stood up and I passed the ring box behind my back to the other hand and placed it beside me as we resumed the position on that opposite side. After about three minutes, Captain Ron came over and said, “You know… the view is really better from the other side.” Thanks a lot Captain Ron. So, we repeated the process and I again, maneuvered the ring behind my back and once more, resumed into position. The BCPF turned her head to me and said, “You know, this day has been perfect,” and my reply was, “it certainly has.” Just the show was ending and the announcer came on and said, “On behalf of Walt Disney World…” I told her, “Today has been perfect. There’s only one thing I can think of to make it more perfect,” and proceeded to stand up. I got on one knee and asked, “will you marry me?” She stared at me, and yes I could still see her eyes in the dark from the flames of the cauldrons lining the lake, and she reluctantly asked, more than answered, “yeah?” Maybe five seconds of silence before she asked if I was serious. I looked down at the ring and back at her and I said, sheepishly, “I got a ring.” To which she replied, “yes!!”  Captain Ron announced that I had proposed. One of the boats was full of two older women and three daughters so the women all had to know what happened. I stood up and at the top of my voice yelled, to anyone within earshot: “SHE SAID YES!!!” Applaud. Applaud. Captain Ron offered to take us not back to the dock but to Hollywood Studios because it was right where the bus station was to take us back to our resort – it was shorter.

On the trip back I told her about the few people that knew about it, how long I’d had the ring (remember November 22 until July 31) without her knowing. How I’d called her brother and asked him permission, how I’d had to chase her mother down and ask her on the phone; both of which said they couldn’t guarantee she’d say yes and how I’d gone to the grave of her father and older brother and promised them that I’d take care of her. A few other people knew and it somewhat threw her for a loop. Mind you, she still hadn’t seen the ring; it was dark. We stopped under a light but she couldn’t really tell. It wasn’t until we got on the bus and those bright lights could she see it.

We got “Just Engaged” buttons from the hotel gift shop and wore them the whole week. People gave us free stuff like a dessert in one location, and other things and would call to2631c-just2bengaged us from across the promenade just to congratulate us. It was a great week and it has been a great life the whole time. Life has given us ups and downs but she and I have never had a problem. We’ve really only had one or two real arguments. Life’s short don’t waste it “being right.” Okay, this went on a lot longer than I had expected and I apologize, but it’s very important to me. I believe she even considers the engagement ring the “greatest gift she’s ever gotten.” If I’m misquoting, I’m sorry. But, happy engagement anniversary, baby!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“My mother says I didn’t open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw was an engagement ring. I was hooked.” – Elizabeth Taylor

To the East or: To the FAR East

30 Thursday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

So traveling. I like it. I’m going to be doing some of it here in the next few days. Going someplace that I’ve never been (well, other than sitting in the airport for six hours waiting to go to Europe) and it’s exciting. But daunting as well. Chicago is the third largest U.S. city behind New York and Los Angeles. But, I’ve been to London and that was not only huge, it was foreign (ish). So, it’s not a problem.

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St. Basil Cathedral, Moscow. (photo ©EuropeanDestinations)

What about you, Dear Reader? Where’s some place that you’d like to go but are somewhat anxious about it? Or, where is someplace that you went while anxious about it, and how was it when you did? Was it too much, was it not as bad as you’d thought it was going to be? Did it shape your perception of traveling to similar places or similar situations?

Growing up, I always worried about traveling to places. I’m not always great with things that I’m not that familiar with. The beauty of being a travel professional is that I do a lot of research on a lot of places. I’m working on a “specialist” certification on a location that I can’t wait to tell you about. I’m not going to post it until I’ve finished with it, but it is definitely a place that i want to go. It’s also in another country.

I’m not unpatriotic, but there is really very little about the U.S. that I care to see. I’d kind of like to see the Pacific Northwest and the wine regions in California, and I guess I’d like to see a few big cities in the West. I’d like to someday see New York City. Maybe venture to Vegas once, although it really doesn’t excite me. I want to see a Pirates game in Pittsburgh. But, really, the U.S. does nothing for me. Walt Disney World… I’d go there in a heartbeat. As soon as I ever leave it, I’m ready to be back again.

But, for me, it’s Europe. I want to see so many places in Europe. All the way over, too. I want to go to all the Eastern European countries, not just the “sexy” Western ones. I want to see Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Bosnia and Hertzegovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Belarus, Estonia, Russia and the list goes on and on and on. The Western ones, though, I can go to France, Paris specifically, time after time after time. I love it there. I want to own a place there. I want to see Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Italy and even though it’s struggling, Greece. I love Europe and I love the idea of Europe.

I want to go everywhere. I also have a weird, and deep interest in Mongolia. Not really many of the other Asian countries, perhaps Vietnam, but only on the Mekong River on a river cruise. Some people don’t care about traveling but it’s become a passion of mine. What about you? If you could go anywhere right now where would it be? I’d like to hear. Send me a line via any of the channels and let me know, I’m very interested. I’ll give you break about sending you there this week, but I’ll say if you do need help with travel planning, I am your man!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Vienna is the gate to Eastern Europe.” – Niki Lauda

Hoppalachia IPA or: The Less Desirables Beer of the Week

29 Wednesday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

The Less Desirables Beer of the Week, brought to you by City Beverage, the Official Beer Sponsor of The Less Desirables, is Hoppalachia IPA by Granite Falls Brewing Company. Granite Falls is a brewery out of, yes, you guessed it, Granite Falls, NC. That’s over in Western NC and they have a brewery and restaurant all in one.

I don’t really know much about them, but I want to find out more. The carton reads unnamed (1)that it has Cascade, Simcoe and other American hops and that is double dry-hopped with Citra hops. It goes on to say there will be complex citrus, grapefruit, caramel notes and a finishing with a pleasant hint of orange peel. It says, too that your taste buds will soar. We’ll see. I look forward to trying it. Yes, Eugene and I have talked about our tiring of IPAs, basically because people have gotten into a my-hops-are-better-than-your-hops-and-I’ll-prove-it-by-adding-even-more-until-your-mouth-turns-inside-out fest and honestly, we’re both over it. But, this is a local brew and we want to support that.

It’s 6.7% ABV which is a good start. It’s no rating on BeerAdvocate but I’m sure that will change. Untappd has it rated at 3.66 Caps. I have rated it before, it seems and it was 3 caps for me. Still, it’s beer and I’m looking forward to it.

Have you had it before? If not, perhaps you can grab a sixer from City Beverage, located 915 Burke Street and listen to this week’s show to see what Caitlin (who loves IPAs), Eug, Jon (who calls himself “The IPA Guy”), perhaps his co-pilot, myself and whomever else may just show up, think of this brew. What did you think? Have a beer recommendation for us? Hit us up!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Hoppalachia will take you to the peak of the mountains, feeling like you have finally reached your goal! Welcome to the Land of Pioneers.” – Hoppalachia’s carton

Caught by the Net or: Quite the Disruption

28 Tuesday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

I’m in an industry that is internet-based. Actually, I’m in two industries that are. The travel agency I own is about 90% internet and only a few people actually call me anymore; it’s all online. The podcast industry is the internet. You have to be online to get any content beyond your own house. The same goes for the video production part, too.

Another thing that I do is review films for the “Movie of the Week” for The Less Desirables. 95% of those are watched via Netflix and Amazon. That, too, obviously requires the internet. Research that I do for The Less Desirables show material is all done on the internet. Right now, I’m talking to you, Dear Reader, via the internet with this blog.

So, when the haven of the interwebs is interrupted for whatever reason, it throws the universe out of balance and things are bad. It’s bad on the travel side, it’s bad on the podcast side, it’s bad on communications. Sure, we can use the telephone, still, but I prefer to do my business via email. Not because of the lack of human interaction, but because everything I do then has a readable record and “paper trail” if you will. So, yes, I do still use the phone, but I’d rather use Skype to talk to the person I’m communicating with in the business world.

When I’m on my “own” time (which technically is never since all my jobs I consider my “half time” jobs) the loss of connectivity is really just an annoyance more than anything. But, like I said, I’m not on “personal” time because I’m always working. I’m working on research (everything is pop culture if you look at it right), films, music, etc. Everything is reliant on that internet. So, the inconvenience is more than just annoying.

I use two different internet companies right now. I’m going to call them out because they both give me grief whilst giving me “life.” They are Time Warner Cable and X1 Communications. I have TWC at home and X1 in the studio. I’m not placing blame on either individually but on both at the same time. I will say that TWC does it more than X1 anymore.

I’ve never had a problem with TWC at home until the last few months. Netflix and Amazon are constantly buffering because, somehow, as much as I pay for internet, it doesn’t seem to be getting enough back end to push through the signal. I never really believed the “throttling” thing and I’m not so sure it’s real now, but something is definitely going on. Last night the internet went down and I couldn’t do anything. I was stuck. I could watch regular TV and did, but I had things that I wanted to watch but couldn’t. Stuff happens and I get that. Can TWC help it? Maybe or maybe not.  But it’s not helpful.

I want to reiterate that I love technology and I love what I do. It just shows that I am so reliant on tech and the internet and really, I’m okay with that. But, I also reserve the right to be upset when the companies let me down. Just how it is. How reliant are you on tech? Social media? Let’s talk about it!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.” – Bill Gates

Certifiable or: Up to New Hyatts

27 Monday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

I have done it again. For my want to be the best travel professional for my clients has prevailed and I’m certified in yet another travel aspect. This will benefit you all. I have become a Certified Hyatt Travel Specialist.

Why Hyatt?

Hyatt is a world-wide hospitality giant recognized all over the globe with top-notch brands and a tradition of innovation. All this with over 50 years experience.hyatt_specialist_logo

With almost 600 hotels (and counting) you’ll find hotels under the brands: HYATT, Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Place, Hyatt House, Hyatt Zilara and Hyatt Ziva; each with their own class, style and target clientele.

If you’re on business, have a meeting you need to schedule, need to set up a mini-office, anything business related, Hyatt can accommodate you in one of its brands.

Are you planning a wedding? How about a DESTINATION wedding. Consider Hyatt for those services along with their own registry to help your guests, friends and family give you gifts of travel. Or, if you’re not getting married at a Hyatt, they’re great honeymoon resorts as well.

Just needing to get away? How about a Caribbean jaunt? They offer all-inclusive resorts in exotic locations with all your needs serviced and you satisfied.

There is so much I could talk about with Hyatt and their brands. But, I’d love to do so with you directly. Please, contact me here, on my Travel Professional Facebook page or social media and we can talk about your business travel needs or if for holiday, allow me to help you turn your dreams into memories.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…

Scorp out!

—
“Chilling out on the bed in your hotel room watching television, while wearing your own pajamas, is sometimes the best part of a vacation.” – Laura Marano

Coin Op or: Silent Sunday

26 Sunday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

So, I finally made it to Wieners and Losers as a guest of a previous The Less Desirables guest, Scott Leftwich. I dragged along The BCPF and 3B and I’ll say that we all three had a fantastic time. An early 80s-style arcade that preserves the love, fascination and nostalgia of its time. Crystal Castles, Gyruss, Zaxxon, Pengo, Dragon’s Lair, Spy Hunter, Burger Time, Joust, Star Command, Missile Command, Defender, Kick Man, Frogger, Space Invaders, Qbert, Atari Football, Looper, Mousetrap, Mr. Do, Centipede, Berzerk and a few more that I can’t even remember the names; all I laid my hands on whilst there. I didn’t touch Donkey Kong, Junior or Pac-Man because I actually own my own of those; well mine is Ms. Pac-Man. From mid-1970s to 1983-84, that’s the era of games found here. There is also a concession area that serves hot dogs (hence the wieners part) and other snacky things. There’s a jukebox that plays 45s and features songs, mostly from the early 80s. The only thing missing is the joy  of putting your quarter on the machine to say your next or tragedy of someone putting their quarter on during your turn signalling you have to move on.

You, too, can experience this magical and fantastic place by visiting the Wieners and Losers Facebook page. Send Scott a message and tell him you want to be considered for a future session. It costs $10 for THREE hours of fun. You may think to yourself, three hours? I have so much I want to do, well, I’ll tell you, after three hours my back hurt, my feet hurt and my eyes were crossed from staring at the screens and it was worth every. single. minute!!!!

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Scorp and Scott Leftwich at Wieners and Losers July 25, 2015

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I got a pocketful of quarters and I’m headed to the arcade. I don’t have a lot of money but I’m bringing everything I made. I have a callous on my finger and my shoulder’s hurtin’, too. I’m gonna eat ’em all up just as soon as they turn blue.” – “Pac Man Fever” by Bucker & Garcia

The Lost Boys or: The Less Desirables Movie of the Week

25 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by in Movie Review

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Salutations™!!

a/perture Cinema, the Official Movie Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents The Lost Boys, The Less Desirables Movie of the Week. It is from 1987 and stars Corey Haim, Corey Feldman, Jason Patric, Jami Gertz and Kiefer Sutherland.

IMDb’s synopsis: “After moving to a new town, two brothers are convinced that the area is frequented by vampires.” That’s a horrible synopsis, but I guess it’s not far from what’s happening.thelostboys

Michael and Sam Emerson, two brothers played by Patric and Haim, respectively, move in with their grandfather in Santa Carla, California along with their mother, Lucy (played by Dianne Wiest) and weird things start happening, like people start disappearing. The Frog brothers, played by Feldman and Jamison Newlander run a comic shop and amateur vampire extermination business and attempt to show Sam that he needs to be cautious of vampires. Well, someone should have told his older brother that.

Michael, being both sucked in by a pretty girl named Star and hazed as the “new guy,” has to prove his manliness to a group of young thugs led by Kiefer Sutherland. Whether it’s following the gang in a motorcycle race or drinking ancient “blood” out of a bottle. Drinking that blood makes Michael start acting strangely, whether it means he is “flying” after falling from a bridge, becoming very sensitive to sunlight or having a hunger for blood whether it’s his brother’s or not.

Meanwhile, Lucy starts a relationship with a video rental store owner named Max, played by the late, great Ed Herrmann. She went looking for him during the day, after having to leave their date early because Sam was freaking out over Michael’s weird transformation. She gets attacked by his dog who is only protecting his master. She has him come over and Michael invites him in to their house. Hmmm.

The Frog brothers and Sam become convinced that Max is the head vampire and by killing him they would turn Michael and the other “halflings” back to full human status. They try to show his reflection missing in a mirror, splash him with holy water, inundate him with garlic, anything you see in the basic canon of vampire fodder and it all falls shy of working. He appears to be human.

Well, a big showdown happens between the vampires and humans and it’s a bloodbath (pun intended). The main vampire is destroyed and Michael, Star (Jami Gertz) and Laddie are returned to human status. The revelation of the main vampire is predictable but still fun.

The film is a thriller but has a lot of comedic elements, especially around the Frog brothers and Sam. I was 16 or 17 at the time and was into the vampire elements. I loved mullets and though Keifer Sutherland’s was the best ever; in fact, I wanted one like that, but my hair was too fine to stand up like that. So, I have a place in my heart for this film and yes, it really does go beyond wanting that mullet. I thought the storyline, being a vampire film in the 1980s, was plausible and the execution was pretty good. The soundtrack was great, featuring Echo and the Bunnymen’s cover of the Doors classic, “People are Strange.” Also on the soundtrack: INXS, Roger Daltrey’s version of “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John and Run-DMC’s version of “Walk This Way,” among others.

Rotten Tomatoes has it rated as 72% Fresh while the Audience Score is 86%. I tend to fall on that side, however, most of mine is nostalgic and I’m okay with that. It was directed by Joel Schumacher and I watched it on Netflix. I am rating it 4 Stars. Have you seen it? Do you agree with me? What films would you like to see me review? Hit me up on all the proper forms of social media (or here) and I’ll do what I can to review it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach; all the damn vampires.” – Grandpa (Barnard Hughes)

Friday Night Dinners or: What Would Lorelai Do?

24 Friday Jul 2015

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Salutations™!!

Ah, thank (insert deity here) it’s Friday. Two weeks (and a day) removed from my gall bladder removal, one from the first of four Vagabond Saints Society Bruce Springsteen shows. I’m feeling righteous. Yes, we had a slight setback with the Lipitor but hopefully, that will be a help and not a hindrance. But yes, I’m feeling great!

Friday nights are always “Date Night” for The BCPF and I. Does that mean we always do11659512_10153325572805490_3038189630227575334_n a bunch of stuff? Nope. We generally have what we call “Friday Night Dinner,” a sweet reference to one of our favorite shows, The Gilmore Girls, in which Lorelai had to spend time with her overbearing and meddling, yet loving, parents on, yep, a Friday night to pay off some debt, although it’s not the money they worry about, it’s the only way they can get her there, guilt-laden or not. But, I digress…

I don’t know where we’ll be going tonight, but it’s always something fairly affordable and with some chance of cocktails or what have you. Then we sometimes go to another place for drinks or we just go home. That happens, too. We watch something on Netflix or something on the DVR, or something that someone has loaned us. Eugene has been letting us borrow Newhart and we’ve watched three seasons of that, now. The BCPF has me watching Friends, much to Eug’s chagrin. He says it’s dumbed-down drivel but I don’t always need to be mentally challenged. Sometimes I just want to watch something that doesn’t require a lot of thought, is remotely funny and enjoyable. The bottom line is, we’re watching it together and enjoying it and each other.

What’s your favorite or ideal Friday night? Drop me a line and let me know.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“When you’re emotional you don’t think clearly. I remember a woman who tried to buy a plane when her granddaughter moved out,” says Lorelai. “I tried to timeshare a plane, it is nowhere even close to the same thing,” says Emily.

Cheap Plug or: Really Bee on Your Way

23 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Rant, Travel

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Salutations™!!

I know a few of my friends are travelers and I wonder to myself when I see they’ve gone somewhere, “how did they book that?” Well, there’s part of me which thinks, I don’t want to gripe because it’s like I’m just whining. Then, there’s the other part of me which thinks, wait, what do they do for a living? Are they musicians? Are they managers of retail outlets? Are they restaurateurs? No matter what they do, what if instead of going to their restaurant, I just went somewhere else and bought the ingredients and took it home and made it myself? What if I saw another band play better yet, just get the sheet music and “do it myself” at home, just because I can? What if I don’t buy things from their local shops and buy the same thing from Amazon when I know I can get it right there?

The point is, they’d want me to use their services, right? Then why don’t they use BOYWTmine? The traveling community (leisure, professional, etc.) are a weird bunch, I know this. Why not waste “our” own time sitting at home and looking up various destinations that “we” have no clue about and let Travelocity randomly show a few choice hotels for us to pick from and then “we” book whatever flights they have available without really knowing where the stops are and then when “we” get there just “wing it” to find things to do and then get home and complain that “we” didn’t have a great time because it was all too tedious. Or, worse yet, let’s not even book a vacation because it’s all so daunting. That’s completely absurd!!!! Just like you want to sell your wares, your food, your art to make a living or at least supplement your income, I, too need to feed my family and supplement my income, or as I call it, contributing to the integrity of my household. Some do go to work, solely to make money because they have to, I get it. But, I love what I do, not only in podcasting and media but in travel as well. I take my work very seriously. I take your free time and money very seriously. I want to help you manage it, use it better. Have a better time with your travels.

I can’t look at it as whining that people don’t use me, I look at it as, “hey! THIS is what I do for a living and I need you to help me.” Some of it is because people are just stubborn. The one that gets me is, while no one will admit it, they don’t want their friends to make money off of them. I spend plenty of money with my friends, on my friends, for my friends. Why can’t they do the same? I don’t care if it’s just, “well, we needed to fly to Chicago to pick up (blank).” I don’t care if it is, “well, I didn’t want to bother you at 10:30pm and I needed to get that ticket, fast.” I don’t care if it is, “well, it was a lot of work and I didn’t know how to get it across how I wanted to do it or where to go.” My answer is always the same… “I DO THAT!!” Ok, if it’s 10:30pm and you hit me up on Facebook, I may ask if it can wait until the morning, but if it’s really an emergency, there’s a chance I can get it for you, someway or another. Usually, it CAN wait and I can find them a better rate and honestly, I can make better money.

If I owned a bar and someone came in and just ordered Diet Coke, well I’m going to make about $.20 on that (I am being very guesstimatitive here, I don’t know how much they make on anything), but if they order a draft beer, well, heck, here let me get that real quick. They’re going to make a lot more on the alcohol. I make a lot more on the services I do, personally, but, it doesn’t usually cost the consumer any, or much more (reasonably) to use me.  PLUS, I know about the areas you’re traveling to, or the services you’re needing. I’m trained to do and know that. If I cost you $15 more than you’d do doing it yourself, I’d like to think that I am worth that $15. I’d like to think my family eating this week was worth your $15. Am I asking you to just give me $15? No. What it would take you to figure out where you are going, where you are staying or what to do when you get there will probably cost you (or your employer if you do it at work) or time from your family and friends, or that sports event or whatever, upwards of 10x that amount. What I’m saying, is not only am I paid to do a service, I’m doing YOU a service. I’m giving you back your family time, your work time, your alone time. I’m a time saver and I’m a hard working one at that.

Ok, so you just want to do that quick order off of Travelocity, I still have a way for you to help me, instead. How about instead of typing in Travelocity, you type in my website, instead? What’s that? It’s BeeOnYourWay.com. Just click the name, it’s a link. This is powered by Priceline and truly, I’ve found some of the best deals for me on that site. You can do flights only, you can do hotels only, you can rent cars, you can book cruises, you can do travel packages. You can do EVERYTHING you do on the other websites on mine and I promise the price is comparable if not better than any of the other places. If it’s something that goes beyond the scope of the website and you need a travel PROFESSIONAL’s advice, then call me, the number is on the website or hit me up in an email, or on Facebook. Heck, watch my Facebook page (my professional site) to see about promotions I may be running. I’ll admit it’s not updated as much as this blog, but it is worth checking out. So there, I’ve ranted and raved about it enough, at least this week, next week will be a different story, I think. Just, please, consider me for all your travel needs, no matter what it is.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” – Saint Augustine

Old Brown Dog Ale or: The Less Desirables Beer of the Week

22 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by in Beer

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Salutations™!!

The Less Desirables Beer of the Week, brought to you by City Beverage, the Official Beer Sponsor of The Less Desirables, is Smuttynose Brewing Company‘s Old Brown Dog Ale. It is, as I’m sure you’ve surmised, a brown ale. We had it on The Less Desirables back in October of 2013. That’s plenty of time to pass to try it again. Heck, if it was last week, that’s plenty of time to pass.

The good thing about brown ales is that they’re not too heavy and they’re not too light. The color is generally caramel-like and there’s not a crazy hop-me-up flavor. The brown is more about the malt and that’s what you’re going to get here. Smuttynose is a company from Hampton, NH and from what Spencer (Davis) from City Beverage says, unnamedthey’re pretty solid. He said, too that this is their top selling brown ale. Plus, there’s a beautiful picture (painting) of “Olive,” a chocolate lab (?) which I’m figuring has something to do with the naming of this beer. Aww, that’s sweet. I mean that.

It’s 6.7% ABV and that’s good and plenty of ABV for a brown ale. 29.5% IBU which measures the bitterness. Three kinds of hops and FOUR kinds of malts. Mmmm yum. Don’t get me wrong, though, you’re going to get hops but it’s more of a flavor enhancement. It’s a deep reddish color, which I’d equate to a slightly used penny from 1994 or so. Not over used and not bright and shiny. Just right, I’d say.

BeerAdvocate rates it 88, which I believe is the overall consensus of users and “The Bros” (I believe the brothers who founded the site) rate it at 97 (World Class). That’s some strong ratings, there. You can visit Smuttynose Brewing Company on the web. Click the link and then when you get there, do what it says on their carton and “just click stuff.”

Have you had this beer? What did you think of it? Write us and tell us. Also, run by City Beverage and grab your own sixer of it and tell Spencer (or whomever is behind the counter) that you heard this was The Less Desirables Beer of the week and get 5% off your purchase. Listen tonight or tomorrow to hear how Caitlin, Eugene, J Gobble and I rate this beer.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“This is comfortable beer to drink. Imagine yourself curled up on your favorite chair, reading that totally worn out copy of your favorite book that you should probably replace, with your favorite, loyal dog, sprawled at your feet. But instead of an actual dog, it’s a glass full of beer, and it’s not on your feet, it’s in your hand. Pretty great, right?” – Literature and Libation, March 29, 2012 (reprinted from Smuttynose website)