Tag Archives: Boston

Now Normal Chronicles or: Loads and Loads

27 Thursday Aug 2020

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Salutations™!!

Today was a big day in releases. A lot of things came out. Let’s run through some…

Love To Love You Baby from Donna Summer (with the title track, her first big hit) turns 45. The Roaring Silence from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (with “Blinded By The Light”) and No Reason To Cry from Eric Clapton each turn 44. Alan Parsons Project’s Eve turns 41 as does Pat Benatar’s In The Heat Of The Night. Wild Planet from B-52s is 40. Garth Brooks’ second and breakthrough album, No Fences, is 30. Pearl Jam’s debut, Ten is 29 as is Hoodoo from Alison Moyet, The Prodigal Stranger from Procol Harum, Bad English’s second and final album, Backlash, and Bob Seger’s The Fire Inside. No Code from Pearl Jam is 24. Uncle Kracker’s No Stranger To Shame which had his cover of “Drift Away” is 18, as is Corporate America, the last Boston album to feature Brad Delp before his suicide.

So, that’s a lot! I had to pick one to do and that was hard. This is the easy out, I think, but such a great rendition. That guy’s voice dips deep in the low baritone, high bass range. I dig it. Enjoy!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Blame it all on my roots. I showed up in boots. And ruined your black-tie affair. The last one to know, the last one to show, I was the last one you thought you’d see there. And I saw the surprise and the fear in his eyes when I took his glass of champagne. And I toasted you, said, honey, we may be through, but you’ll never hear me complain.” – “Friends In Low Places” (Blackwell/Lee)

Spinning Sunday or: The Listen 5/23/20

24 Sunday May 2020

Posted by in KISS, Records, Spinning Sunday

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Salutations™!!

Another Saturday passes that we didn’t get to darken the door of Underdog Records. That doesn’t mean Underdog isn’t busy. Heck no! Jonathan is running himself ragged to make deliveries and has extended the reach to Greensboro, High Point and other places. So, definitely watch the Underdog Records Facebook and Instagram and watch what he’s releasing. Purchasing is first-come-first-serve so be on the lookout. Also, you can purchase new vinyl anytime day or night on the website. If you’re outside of the delivery area or just don’t want Jonathan to drop stuff off at your door, then he offers “unlimited” LPs (I’m sure it’s a little limited) for a flat rate $4.

This week’s “listens” were abundant. 22 albums I got through from Monday-Friday.

And, per usual, this week’s streaming listens comes from Discogs’ shuffle feature and it has to be an album that I own on vinyl (outside of peripheral things like Beeswax Vinyl & More listens), that way it’s like listening to my vinyl but with headphones from my computer whilst The BCPF works 10 feet away. Here’s the list (this is in order of listens):

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Whew! A long listening list indeed! It was spread out, too. The BCPF remarked how I went from Streisand to Megadeth. It worked. I love Streisand and I’m not afraid to admit that. But, I was ready for something heavy after having gone through The Mamas and the Papas and Streisand back to back. It worked, as I said.

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Well, yesterday, here’s what The BCPF and I listened to, actually on vinyl:

All-in-all, it was a great listening week. I just hope to get into Underdog Records soon to rummage through the used vinyl.

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Again, check out Underdog Records’ social and web stuffs. Buy records. Use Discogs to keep track of your collection and use it’s groovy (see what I did there) shuffle feature.

Until tomorrow, keep spinnin’…
Scorp out!

—
“I was seventeen, you were just a dream. I was mesmerized, I felt scared inside. You broke my heart and I still can feel the pain. I’ve been counted out, I’ve had fear and doubt. I’ve been starry-eyed, never satisfied. Because late at night I still need you just the same.” – “Sure Know Something” (Stanley/Poncia)

Yawn or: All By Myself

04 Tuesday Sep 2018

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I are worn out! A long day of flying and waiting and walking and carrying bags and, and, and, and! We finally got home around 6pm this evening and I went on to trivia because I didn’t want Our Jim to be alone. Turns out, we had no representation other than me. The BCPF was catching up and getting ready for her week while Our Jim had a fantasy football draft to do.

It was the end of the season anyway and being the day after a holiday, no one really showed up for the trivia except for the season leaders and me. So there were six people on that team and me all by myself. Well, I took ’em! I won 27-22 including betting five on the “boneless” (bonus” question and getting one of the two “betwixt round” guesses right (worth 1 point). I sent The BCPF and Our Jim a text telling them that I won and that they were fired! Just kidding about the being fired part. They’re still on the team.

But, all that being said, I am done for today. I’ve had all the fun I can handle for the last 5 days. A lot of walking, a lot of eating, a lot of drinking, a lot of Ubering. A lot. A lot. A lot. So, I’m getting off of here and going to bed!

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

Never Met a Stranger or: Oui!

03 Monday Sep 2018

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Salutations™!!

The BCPF and I went to a quaint bistro here in Boston for our anniversary and had a delicious meal that you’ll read more about this week on The Man Who Ate the Town. While we were there, and as I was using my special light to take my pictures, we struck up a conversation with the table beside us. We talked about WSNC and food and life.

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The “neighbors” food, the filet au poivre

It turns out that they were also celebrating an anniversary, albeit a dating one – five years. It was cool, they asked me to take pictures of their food, as well. They were a little bit older than we and they had just started listening to podcasts. Of course, we talked about podcasting and such as well.

The food, beverages and conversation were fantastic at Aquitaine, the bistro. In addition, our Uber driver, Casey, was also a great conversationalist and we enjoyed our ride with her. Add in our Hop On/Hop Off bus tour around Boston (we rode it twice) and we had a wonderful time in Beantown yesterday. In fact, we’ve had a great and wonderful time the entire time! Boston is definitely somewhere we’ll get back to. We love it. We started our day at a lovely little spot where we had brunch (again, more this week).

Tonight, we see The Fixx at City Winery and that will round out our trip. We will head home tomorrow. My post tomorrow may be late just so you know. So, we’re heading to Harvard and Cambridge today, talk to you later!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Every day is an anniversary of another great day.” – The BCPF

Anniversary in Beantown or: Champagne, Strawberries & Chocolate

02 Sunday Sep 2018

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Salutations™!!

I”m going to skip all the anniversary storytime stuff that I normally put on these. I figure that by now I’ve said all I can say without being redundant. I could probably go back a year, two years, three years and copy and paste something, but this one is different. It’s the first time that we’ve been away for our anniversary since we got married.

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Thank you, Omni Parker House!

Really, it’s the first time we’ve been “somewhere” since we got married. We went to Chicago for The BCPF’s work in 2015, in August. Earlier this year we went to Asheville, NC for the weekend with The Beer Dads family. But, we haven’t been anywhere for vacation by ourselves, for ourselves, and we had traveled some before we got married.

We have seen some fantastic stuff, eaten some fantastic food, talked to some fantastic folks. Yesterday, alone, we walked over 13,000 steps just looking for breweries (we really only found one), the previous two days we walked over 9,000 each. We’ve had to walk off all that great food we’ve eaten. You’ll be able to read a recap on The Man Who Ate the Town and the TMWATT Instagram later this week.

This morning, we had a knock on our hotel room door at 8am. The hotel had sent up 4 chocolate covered strawberries and a small bottle of champagne. It was really nice. They also sent a card up in which some of the employees had signed. To be honest, I knew about it, but I didn’t ask for it, I just scheduled the time. It was awesome of them. They have been really nice here. The hotel is old and it shows its age, but there’s plenty of charm and an elegance that harks back to yesteryear. I have enjoyed the hotel and their concierges have been really helpful the whole time.

To The BCPF, I apologize if rehashing our story on here once more was what you were looking for, I just hope you know that I have loved our time this long, extended weekend and I love you more and more every day. I’d walk down that stairway to the gunroom again, in a heartbeat. As you said last night, every day is an anniversary of a great day we’ve already had. Let’s keep that going. I love you, Stephanie.

Until tomorrow, Dear Reader…
Scorp out!

—
“A wedding anniversary is the celebration of love, trust, partnership, tolerance and tenacity. The order varies for any given year.” – Paul Sweeney

Sounds Like Saturday or: Yeah, It’s Boston

01 Saturday Sep 2018

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Salutations™!!

You knew it was coming, right? We’re in Boston so the Sounds Like Saturday for this week had to be a Boston tune. Also, the cover is the work of one of my favorite YouTubers, Mike Massé (with Jenny Oaks Baker on violin). Enjoy! Oh! And happy would-be 85th birthday to my father-in-law, David Hess. I wish I had known you.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“So many people have come and gone. Their faces fade as the years go by. Yet, I still recall as I wander on. As clear as the sun in the summer sky. It’s more than a feeling when I hear that old song they used to play. And, I begin dreaming ’til I see Marianne walk away.” – “More Than a Feeling” (Sholtz)

A Mound o’Seafood or: What We Leave Behind

31 Friday Aug 2018

Posted by in Food, Life as We Know It

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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)

Reaching the Beach or: Shipping Up to Boston

03 Thursday May 2018

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Salutations™!!1tix

Here’s the phone conversation:

The BCPF: “Hello.”
Me: “So, baby… I love you!”
The BCPF: “Um… I love you.”
Me: “I fixed the shower (it had been leaking really badly (I was proud of myself – that’s another conversation)).”
The BCPF: “Yay! Thank you.”
Me: “And… I love you!”
The BCPF (with trepidation): “I love you…?”
Me: “So, I made a little purchase today.”
The BCPF: “Okay…?”
Me: “You know how we’ve gone to several concerts to see your bands and you told me it was my turn next?”
The BCPF (cautiously): “Yeah…?”
Me: “Well, I purchased tickets to something. And, it’s on our anniversary weekend.”
The BCPF: “Okay…?”
Me (after a pregnant pause): “And… it’s in Boston.”
The BCPF: “WHOA!!!”
Me: “I LOVE YOU!”
The BCPF (stutteringly): “Wha… er… um…  Okay, so, two questions…”
Me: “Okay. I love you!”
The BCPF: “First: who is it?”
Me: “The Fixx.”
The BCPF: “Really!?”
Me: “Yep.”
The BCPF: “Okay… Second: how are you paying for this?”
Me: “I had a bit from a new sponsor.”
The BCPF: “So, I don’t have to pay for it?”
Me: “Nope. I’ve already done it.”
The BCPF (still stutteringly): “Wha… er… um… ”
Me: “I LOVE YOU!”

So, that’s almost word-for-stuttering-word the conversation. I partially blame Doug Davis, yes, that Doug Davis for it, although, it’s a good blame. You know, Dear Reader, how I post all these records that I listen to on my Instagram/Facebook/Twitter almost daily? Well, I posted one on Tuesday that was The Fixx’s Phantoms. Doug mentioned that they were still doing gigs with the classic lineup and that they were touring but nowhere around here. I said, “ROAD TRIP!!”

And, apparently, I wasn’t kidding. I went online, as one does, and looked up their tour. There was one in Nashville and some all across the country but here this one was on Labor Day, September 3. Our anniversary – you’ll remember because I don’t dare allow you to forget it – is on September 2. It just so happened to be in Boston. There were four tix left. I bought one. The venue, City Winery, only seats about 200 people it appears so it will be intimate.

We have both mentioned, several times, that we wanted to go to Boston one day. We are also the couple that will talk about doing stuff but won’t actually pull the trigger on making big plans until we “have reason to.” We haven’t been anywhere for our anniversary since our honeymoon and serendipity says that those two stones could be knocked out by one bird. That bird (or Bee-man) was me.

We agreed, once she was able to breathe, that we’d just have to tighten up and save for some stuff. Turns out, I had some Sky Miles with Delta and was able to book roundtrip tix from GSO to BOS for only $56 cash (travel insurance and all). Plus, I still have some Sky Miles to use later. So, that was taken care of. A reason and the transportation.

Now, just to find the right accommodations. I scanned my known inventory of hotels (no I’m no longer a travel agent, but I know where to look) and found something that I know that The BCPF would love (she loves classic “old” places) and settled on the Omni Parker House in the “North End (or just right outside of it)” which is about 2 blocks from the inspiration for Cheers (one of our favorite shows to watch together) and about that far from the venue to see the band. It’s on the “Freedom Trail” and we will get to do a lot of exploring of the “cradle of American civilization (as I call it),” Boston.

The hotel itself has a rich literary history involving both Edith Wharton and Charles Dickens (her two favorite authors) and other literary figures, plus it is where (allegedly) the Bostom Cream Pie was perfected and the Parker House roll was invented. There are about 30 more things I found about it but will save that for when I travel. It was also the least expensive in that area but still a 4-star hotel. We will be there for five nights.

As for The Fixx. I know that I like them. I love what I have heard, which is actually more than what they play on the radio, still. I have three albums by them and really, really dig them. They will be playing Reach the Beach in its entirety which celebrates its 35th anniversary in 12 days (3B’s birthday).  This is the album with “Saved By Zero” and “One Thing Leads to Another.” It’s also the farthest I’ve ever traveled to see a band. The previous record was driving to Greenville, South Carolina to see KISS, Jackyl, and Trixter. You’d think if I was going to do this it would be for my favorite band or at least one that I identify as a “fan” of. Like I said, I love what I have and will learn even more before September. I promise that! So, it looks like we’re going to have fun in Boston.

I know a good bit of you have been to Boston. What would you recommend? I know that she already has most of the trip planned already (not really) but I’d like to hear some “must see,” especially food places and beer places (yes, we’ll probably go to Samuel Adams). Thanks in advance for that!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Crying parents tell their children, ‘if you survive, don’t do as we did.’ A son exclaims there’ll be nothing to do to. Her daughter says she’ll be dead with you. While foreign affairs are screwing us rotten, line morale has hit rock bottom. Dying embers stand forgotten. Talks of peace were being trodden. Stand or fall. State your peace tonight.” – “Stand or Fall” (Curnin/West-Oram/Woods/Greenall/Barrett)