Monthly Archives: August 2018

A Mound o’Seafood or: What We Leave Behind

31 Friday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I asked the concierge for recommendations for dinner last night and we were given a few choices. We know we’re going to have Italian in “Little Italy” and being as we are in New England and on the coast, we’ll have plenty of opportunities to grab seafood. We also are probably going to grab something in Chinatown. Plus, we need to do something special for the anniversary on Sunday.

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The Fisherman’s Platter from Boston’s Sail Loft

We chose the recommendation of a local favorite, Boston’s Sail Loft seafood. We each had a cup of the clam chowder, sorry… “chowdah.” We’ve had clam chowdah in WSNC a few times, and as good as those were, this was eating it from “home.” Now, that being said, King’s Crab Shack nails it.

The BCPF had the fish and chips and I had the “Fisherman’s Platter.” A lot of fried food, but, it was delicious. But, something that rarely happens, happened. I actually had to leave food behind. I rarely take food with me and rarely leave anything on the plate other than small remnants of what I had. I considered taking it with me, but we are staying in the oldest continuously running hotel in the country and as charming and awesome as it is, there’s no fridge and no microwave to reheat it, so we just had to skip it.

The BCPF leaves food a lot. Not “on purpose” but because she doesn’t eat a lot of fried food during the week, usually. This was a lot and when we thought about it later, with the cups of chowdah, we should have just shared my platter as it was a shload of food. It was really good food, but much food. We’ll consider that in the future, but I don’t like sharing plates. The last time we did it, it was also seafood at King’s. That “Dreamy Steamy Bucket” was what it was and I hate counting piece-for-piece to make sure that I’m not just running away with food and not being fair. So, we just decided not to share. Joey in Friends once said, “Joey doesn’t share food!” We say “Beemans don’t share food!” But, we probably should have.

We then had a nightcap here in the Omni Parker House with chocolate, port, Scotch and cognac. Being as we had to be up at 3pm and only had about 20 minutes worth of a nap, we didn’t take long to fall asleep and I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and ready to go. So, whilst I usually post these at noon if I do them early, because of Facebook’s ridiculous new rule, I have to copy and paste the shortlink on Facebook and I don’t know when I’ll be back, I’m posting it at 8am, instead. You’ll know more about what we did in the next few days. I’m off to walk the Freedom Trail, today. I can at least tell you that.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m a big tradition guy. If you love this country and study history, then you will love Boston.” – Marcus Luttrell

Beantown or: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

30 Thursday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!

So, we’ve made it to Boston, Dear Reader. The flights up (to Laguardia in NYC and then to Boston) were pretty good. I am a fan of Delta’s Comfort+ class of seats. But, we were able to grab an Uber to our hotel and the driver sounded just like Cliff Claven. John Ratzenberger was pretty spot on with his Bostonian accent. Then again, he’s from Bridgeport, Connecticut, so…?

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Outside “Cheers”

Our hotel is old and quaint but it’s a charming little hostel and it has some serious history. Well, it’s in Boston so why wouldn’t it have a history? We got here just prior to noon so we couldn’t check in just yet, but they stowed our bags and we went walking.

The Omni Parker House is right off of the Boston Common so we walked all the way around it, not knowing where we were going and ended up in front of the Bull & Finch bar which was the inspiration for the bar (and was the outside shot of the bar) in the television show Cheers. So, of course, we needed to go in and have a beer. The downstairs was very small but there was a bar upstairs, as well. We made our way up there and had us a “Cheers Beer” that is made from Ipswitch Brewing and the tap handle had a bobblehead of Norm. It’s a pilsner style beer and it was really good.

We have made it back to our hotel and let me tell you, Dear Reader, Boston is every bit as hilly as WSNC is. I should have thought to take the name of the area, “Beacon Hill,” fo’ serious! I have to let my phone charge a little because I packed up my charger last night and it’s on fumes. Plus, we were able to get checked and settled in. But, I’m sure we’ll do something fun tonight. I’ll talk about it tomorrow, okay?

Until then, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee’s dead. the morning’s looking bright. And, your shrink ran off to Europe and didn’t even write. And, your husband wants to be a girl. Be glad there’s one place in the world where everybody knows your name.” – “Where Everybody Knows Your Name (The Theme to ‘Cheers’)”: extended version” (Portnoy/Angelo)

Just Another Wednesday Night or: Let the Vacay Begin

29 Wednesday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

Tonight we recorded The Less Desirables and had a fantastic time with my friends, including the guest, Beth Blair and a friend of mine and the show’s Nutrimom TB, talking art, massage, healing, life, beer, everything! You can listen to that HERE! Around 9pm, though, my vacation started. What does that mean? Well, duh, that vacation just started, jeez.

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Boston Skyline (©Juergen Roth)

I kid. It means that there won’t be much social media tomorrow, as opposed to regular Thursdays. It also means that here I am at 11:40p writing a blog post when I have to get up in less than five hours to get to the airport to catch a plane to Beantown. It means that I’ll be really tired in a few hours. It means that I’ll have a shload of fun. It will be fun, dang it!

I will still blog each day whilst I’m gone, but it may be anything like a long-winded post, a video, a picture, a thought, an observation, it may be any danged thing I want it to be. So, really, nothing has changed from normal. I’m just telling you that the random shite that may come from my fingers may be even more random than usual. You have been warned.

Enjoy your Labor Day weekend, Dear Reader. I’m going to enjoy mine. And you should certainly watch my social media because you know I’m going to be posting all kinds of stuff.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m a sailor peg and I’ve lost my leg. Climbing up the topsails, I’ve lost my leg! I’m shipping up to Boston, whoa!” – “Shipping Up to Boston” (Guthrie)

Piggyback the Doorbell or: Howdy Neighbors

28 Tuesday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

I didn’t record Fan Interference or The Man Who Ate the Town yesterday but we did record The Beer Dads last night. You can go listen to that episode HERE.

Since I didn’t record TMWATT, I do need to remind you of my sponsors, Di Lisio’s Italian Restaurant, where you get the best Italian in town, made with the freshest ingredients and really, the coolest Italians (Tony & Maria) you’ll meet.

Washington Perk & Provision Company is better than a convenience store but not quite a grocery store. I get sandwiches there, made fresh and very affordable. They have Wolfie’s Custard, a nice long beer wall, condiments, napkins, toiletries, Larry’s Beans Coffee and biscuits in the morning.

The Humble Bee Shoppe is your home of scratch-made goodies like cookies, cakes, pastries and muffins. B. McGee wants to challenge your perception of scratch made and give you baked goodness in an experience you’ll not soon forget.

And, tonight we recorded the latest episode of Apartment 5B. We covered a town in Florida that has a weird name that is changing it to something even weirder. We talk about history and birthdays and just have a bunch of NSFW humor. Go give it a listen, won’t you? Do it HERE.

Of course, you can always find any of our shows on The Less Desirables Network by visiting the directory site HERE. We appreciate it, no matter how you listen.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson probably gets irritated when people ask him how he slept.” – whistlejames (Reddit User)

A First Like None Other or: Back to School

27 Monday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

I know you’re probably tired of all the “back to school” pictures and posts. Well, I hate to disappoint you, Dear Reader, but this one of those. But this one is different. At least this year and next.

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3B

This is the first first day of school that I’ve not had to drive my boy, 3B to school. For the first time in 12 years (Kindergarten – 10th grade – yes that’s 11 but this is the 12th year), I didn’t have to get him out the door, drive through the crazy car line, park or whatever. I did have to get up early and I had to get him up early, actually earlier than the last few years because he’s doing something new, get him in the shower and out the door for him to drive his own self to school. But, it wasn’t regular school. He started his first day of what we called “trade school” in WV but here, we call it “Career Center.” He’s in the culinary arts program and is going to (at least for now) pursue his culinary ambitions. I’m proud of him.

He did good on his trip up there and back to school. I didn’t doubt he would because he has to drive from Pinnacle to WSNC or vice versa several times a week anyway. I think he’ll do well. He just has to keep at it. That will be his downfall, if anything is. Here’s to a good junior year, my son.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” – W. C. Fields

Spinning Sunday or: The (very short) Haul 8/25/18

26 Sunday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

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©Crown

Yesterday was normal for us, other than we only got about five LPs from Underdog Records. Mostly it’s because we’re trying to save our money for our trip this week. If you will remember how I sprung the trip to Boston on The BCPF, and this is that trip. Plus, a week from today, there will not be a “Spinning Sunday” post but the BIG anniversary post, as that will be #4 for us. Anywhat! That’s next week, let’s do this week.

  • Etta James – Miss Etta James — The only Etta James that I had before this was At Last and that is a fine one to have if it’s your only. So, The BCPF actually picked this one up and I’m glad she did. I am a fan of Ms. James. VG.
  • Whitesnake – Slide It In — The Whitesnake album that really broke them out, and not to be confused with the ’87 album that blew them up. I know plenty of WS fans that prefer this one to the ’87. I am not one of them because I love the ’87 album. But, in all honesty, I’ve not given this album a fair shake, yet. That will happen, hopefully, before I leave. VG.
  • Various – Together – Today’s Love Hits – All Originals — The BCPF and I just laughed the whole time this album played yesterday. It came out in 1979 and that era for “love hits” was really K-R-A-F-T! But, it did contain a few of the songs we hear on the “Yacht Rock” channel on SiriusXM. It’s listed in VG+ condition but there are some serious skips on it. So I think it’s really closer to VG or even VG-.
  • The Time – The Time — The debut album by Morris Day and company. As is par for the course, at least in their early days, this album only has six songs. However, it did have three singles on it. This is before “Jerome” (Jerome Benton) came along. VG-.
  • Emmylou Harris – Cimarron —$1 bin find by The BCPF. We haven’t listened to it yet, so I don’t know what to expect. She’s big on Emmylou and that’s good enough for me. It seems to be in VG.

So, see? It was a short week. There were things that I really wanted during the week but, as I said, we were watching our spending but in two weeks, I’m sure we’ll have a larger list. The monthly budget resets then, too. Go by Underdog Records to see what we left for you. The weather was nice yesterday so Jonathan was able to put the $1 records outside. I always like when he does that.

I use Discogs to track what I have (like when I made sure that I didn’t already have that K-Tel album) and to purchase those hard-to-find used albums.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m gonna slide it in right to the top. Slide it in, I ain’t never gonna stop. Slide it in, right to the top. I’m gonna slide it in, slide it in, slide it, in baby.” – “Slide It In” (Coverdale)

Sounds Like Saturday or: Happy Birthday Demon

25 Saturday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

There were several celebrity birthdays today but I have to point out the one that made me the musician that I am, or at least got me into being a musician. He also taught me to be the best performer on the stage, own the crowd and command the attention. If you’ve seen me on stage, you know I try my dangedest to do all that. He is The Demon, Gene Simmons. He’s 69 this year. Happy birthday, Demon.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Life is too short to have anything but delusional notions about yourself.” – Gene Simmons

Sounds Like the Day Before Saturday or: Trane and Cool

24 Friday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

As you can tell, it’s late and I just remembered I hadn’t written anything today. That usually means that you’re getting a video and that’s what you’re getting tonight. I’m about to watch the documentary about John Coltrane called Chasing Trane and I figured I’d share with you some of his stuff. Well, there’s not a lot of (good quality) live videos with him that are under 20 minutes long. I did find this pretty awesome version of Trane with Miles Davis doing “So What” back in 1959. So, enjoy this.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I think music is an instrument. It can create the initial thought patterns that can change the thinking of the people.” – John Coltrane

Not Goodbye, Just See You Later or: A Fond Farewell

23 Thursday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

It was a bittersweet episode of The Less Desirables last night. On one hand, I got to see my buddy, “Superfan” Damien. On the other hand, it will probably be his last appearance for a while and most likely a long while at that.

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(left to right) “Superfan” Damien, me, David Stanley, Tammy Padgett (Bethany had left 😦 )

Damien has been with the show (and friends with the hosts) almost since the beginning. We met in January 2011 when Brian, The Beer Guru and myself went on a little beer excursion to the Triangle area. The show started in February 2010, so we had just started picking up some momentum. We went to Durham and Raleigh that day, on the schedule that Jay (The Beer Guru) had laid out for us. We started in Durham and it was an early morning jaunt to get to this non-descript little brewery called Triangle Brewing Company as they opened because we had a long journey ahead.

We got in and did a little brewery tour. Afterwards, as we were all in lines doing the tastings and purchasing stuff, Brian and I walked over to the management and asked if we could put our TLD sticker on the cooler door with the other stickers that adorned the heavy aluminum slab. As Damien puts it, “I heard Tim’s big, booming voice saying ‘we do a podcast.'” He walked over and said to me, “a podcast you say?” And, Brian and I proceeded to give him the pitch: “pop culture, blah blah blah, this, that, blah blah, Beer!” We all shined a large grin and uttered a chuckle on that.

He said he’d give it a listen and he did. He even wrote to us to tell us that he enjoyed it and that he listened whilst he was working out or mowing his lawn or other various chores. He wrote in regularly after that. He has been the constant at most of our “Post-Holiday/Anniversary” parties (they weren’t all called that, then) and other than The BCPF, has been to more than anyone else, including all the co-hosts past and present. He made several appearances on the show itself, which was always a fun time for us. He has been with us, really, longer than when Eugene was part of the show. Eugene didn’t come until mid-2011. He’s been with us through Brian leaving, Caitlin coming, Eugene leaving, Bruce coming, Bruce leaving, Danielle coming, Caitlin leaving, Bethany coming. He’s been here the whole time. He’s even been on The Beer Dads with us.

He gives me tips on “out there” films that I either haven’t seen, haven’t heard of or hadn’t cared to watch. I would say other than beer, his movie expertise has been the most helpful to me. He’s always on the lookout for beers that he hasn’t tried and he’s not afraid to voice his opinion of my admitted ignorance of things.

Why am I waxing poetic on the dude? Because I don’t know when I’ll get to see him again. His lovely wife, his beautiful daughter and he are packing (well they have already) up and moving to Kansas City, Missouri on Saturday. Bad for us, but really good for them. His wife couldn’t pass up the job opportunity that was given to her. She is going to work for the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. As Damien said, they “checked off all their boxes” on conditions of the job. It must be nice to get the “job of your dreams.” Wait… I already have that. But, for others, it must be nice.

The good news for us is The Less Desirables is available globally, so no matter where Damien goes and if he chooses, he can listen to our crap-spewing. He can still email and still be part of it. If we teach him how to Skype, we could have him on the show in that capacity. Also, he says he plans on making somewhat-frequent trips back and will definitely come back on when he is in. So, as he said last night, “this is only goodbye for now.”

Damien, you have been so important to the rise and success of The Less Desirables and you are a great friend to the show. More importantly, to me anyway, you are a great friend to me. I love you, brother. Safe travels and happy life to you and yours from all of us: the Beemans, The Less Desirables past and present and The Beer Dads.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“We may not know what each day has in store for us. We could be gone tomorrow. Any minute could truly be our goodbye. But we do have this moment. This time. Today. Right now.” – Grace Gealey

It’s Was So Delightfully Cheesy or: Fromage for All

22 Wednesday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

Over on The Man Who Ate the Town blog today, I wrote about an event I went to eiffel tour1yesterday. My pal, Our Jim Young and I went to try cheese at the Winston-Salem Open, thanks to Cheeses of Europe and 15° Marketing. To hear about what we got to taste, you have to go over there to read about it. And, heck, I walked away with 6.25 lbs of Roquefort Cheese and 8 lbs of French butter. So, they’re in my freezer. If you need any, let me know. I’m going to give some away. Seriously, let me know.

Read the article HERE.

Until tomorrow, stay cheesy!
Scorp out!

—
“With cheese, you want to see it, smell it, feel it. The smell of it is so important to how it tastes. A lot of people at our sampling today who say they don’t want to try it because it may smell a little bit. But, after I convince them to just try it, it becomes their favorite cheese.” – Richard Clarke