Tag Archives: Life

Justice of the Younger Kind or: Outsiders

17 Tuesday Sep 2019

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Salutations™!!

I have always talked about how I love superheroes. I love DC and Marvel and some outlying characters. I have to say that I have always been more partial to DC’s heroes. I was a huge fan of Super Friends and all its incarnations. That, of course, was the television version of Justice League.

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©DC/Warner Bros

I subscribe to DC Universe, which I talked about before, as well. I’m finding a lot to see on there and the Young Justice series has been awesome. It is basically all of the DC Universe thrown together and focuses on a lot of the Outsiders and Young Justice characters. It started in 2010 and a second season happened in 2013. This was on Cartoon Network and just this year seasons three and four are on the DC Universe app.

I’m loving that in the second season there was a Native American who wears an orange headband and has long black hair and has the ability to create a large, man-like, astral being which alludes to the character Apache Chief from Super Friends. There is an Asian girl who wears green and can control energy flow. She alludes to Samurai from Super Friends. An African American kid who wears blue and black and controls electricity, just like Black Vulcan from Super Friends. Lastly, there is a Mexican (his family is Mexican, I’m not being racist) boy who is named Eduardo Dorado, Jr. who has the ability to teleport just like El Dorado from, you guessed it, Super Friends (albeit the later versions). None of these kids were actually named any of those things, but it’s really right there in your face. I love it.

I just started season three and it’s a lot of great stuff. I don’t like some of the voice actors doing the characters. Their voices for the characters, not the actors themselves. But, the storylines are great. I’m loving this app.

You should check it out. I am not compensated at all for this, I just dig it and I pay for it.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Despite its title, it is not a direct adaptation of Peter David, Todd Dezago and Todd Nauck’s Young Justice comic series, but rather an adaptation of the entire DC Universe with a focus on young superheroes.” – Wikipedia

Crud For Giggles or: Feeling It

16 Monday Sep 2019

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Salutations™!!

Yesterday, I felt like utter crapola. I can only assume it was an allergy. I sneezed probably 350 times and I’m not really sure I’m exaggerating there. I sneezed so much that when I do anything today, my sides, my stomach, my everything is so sore from it. I ache.

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©Viacom

Luckily, I actually got to sleep and rested but the whole day today, I’ve felt zapped and worn out. I would love to write a long blog post right now, but I don’t really feel up to much. So, forgive me (or you’re welcome) for this shorter post.

Until tomorrow, stay healthy…
Scorp out!

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“I have allergies, and I’ve had my share of nosebleeds, but that’s usually related to pollen.” – Stephen Curry

The TLD 500 or: Breaking at the Speed of…

12 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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Salutations™!!

There are milestones and there are milestones!!! Last night, I recorded the 500th episode of The Less Desirables. Of those 500, I have been on 497 of them. I’ll explain. In 2012, on April 18, a Wednesday, I had my heart surgery. That was the first show I missed. In 2013, I was in Europe for two weeks. Brian and Eugene handled the recording for those. Also, in 2013, I was in Costa Rica and Brian had to be at a school function (he was in the MBA program at Wake Forest) and Eugene had a problem with the studio equipment so he went home. That was the only week in 501 weeks that we missed a show. I don’t blame Eug for that. My setup isn’t the easiest to operate. TLD

Last night, Danielle had a family function to attend so she couldn’t be there. Our friend Tracy Bush was there to fill in. Of course, Bethany was with us, because that’s her spot! Eugene was there to celebrate with us. Our guest for the night was Chad Nance, who hosted a podcast on the network at one time. He was instrumental in the whole John Lawson story, or as the press wants to call it (and how Lawson would want it), “Pazuzu.” We really talked just a little about story and more about the production. It was a fun show. A bit long, sure, but still great.

501 weeks. That’s almost 10 years. That happens in February. I’m planning on a big deal for the 10th-anniversary show. So, keep an eye on that. It was good to have my pals on the show with me. I did talk a little bit about doing all I feel I’ve accomplished doing the podcast.

If it weren’t for TLD, we may not have ever done the Camel City Dispatch (now defunct) or Fan Interference, the first two podcasts that made The Less Desirables Network an actual “network.” There wouldn’t have been a Tart & Tangy Triad which eventually led to The Man Who Ate the Town. There wouldn’t have been The Beer Dads, Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking, Apartment 5B, or Beeswax Vinyl & More. Without doing those podcasts, I wouldn’t have gone on to produce the TVA vaping podcast, the Thrive podcast, Rule One podcast, Open the Blue Door podcast, The Owner’s Manual podcast, Wine About Real Estate podcast, Dr. Shawn Ricks’ podcast, a few new ones that I can’t talk about, yet and more. I would never have gotten the local nickname “the Podfather.”

With all these shows (and other things that either is in the works or never materialized), I estimate that I have produced around 1300-1400 podcast episodes. I really need to go back and do a full count because I’d really like to know. I have every episode of every podcast I’ve ever recorded, published or not, save one episode, or so I think. I may have found it on the server and downloaded it but if I did lose it, it was from 2011, I think. Jerry Chapman was our guest. But, other than that, I have every single one. Perhaps I’ll put that number together someday.

But, 500 episodes. To toot my own horn. That’s really something. And, it’s really impressive, for any show. Especially one that is weekly. Some podcasts do several a week and may have bigger numbers but I don’t know what those are. After all, The Less Desirables is the longest, continuously-running pop culture podcast in North Carolina. Some may have been there before me but didn’t keep it up or they showed up just after me, but I have been at it longer. Toot! Toot!

Here’s to the next 500 and I appreciate every listen you may have ever given us, Dear Reader. Thank you so very much. Thank you, Brian, for starting this with me. Thank you, Eugene, for bringing us into prominence. Thank you, Caitlin, for keeping us all in line and taking those shots at Eug and me. Thank you, Bruce, for teaching us how to be more professional in our “radio selves” and being there for us. Thank you, Danielle, for coming in and teaching us humility and how a badass woman can run a business with authority (and taking over as the “shot-taker” from Caitlin). Thank you, Bethany, for always having my back and being my other badass “work wife.” I love you all for what you have meant to this “little project.”

So, I’ve rambled enough. Until the next 500,
Scorp out!

—
“Better than tuna fish on cinnamon swirl raisin bread…” – TLD Announcer

Before We Fell or: We Live On

10 Tuesday Sep 2019

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Salutations™!!

Here we are, September 10. Today, 18 years ago, my ex-wife and I found out that we were going to be parents. We were on a high. The emotions were grand. The world our oyster, now, right?

We told our parents. We relished in the news. This is what we should have been looking forward to. We were going to raise this kid in a world full of hope and promise. And then…

That Tuesday came. Early morning, September 11, 2001. I had just gotten out of the shower and walked into the bedroom where the news was reporting that a (small) plane had hit one of the “Twin Towers” of the World Trade Center. Hmmm, I said. And prepared to go on about my business. I turned the television on in the living room and as I was watching the Today show, a second plane hit the other tower and we all knew at that moment, this was no accident and the world was to never be the same. We knew it the whole time. We felt it. We lived it. We didn’t have to live in New York, or Washington or Shanksville, PA to have our collective teeth kicked down our throats.

This high that we were riding was a sudden crash. We were gonna rule the world and suddenly, why would we ever bring a child into this world? Well, we did, thankfully. 3B was born in May and our lives have never been the same. His mother and I have been separated most of his life, but we’ve remained friends and we make decisions about him together. The BCPF has been with him for most of his life, too. She’s probably more strict on him than anyone.

So, even though the world fell apart the next day, and even though we thought it was a tragic world we’d expose him to, we did and he’s a wonderful young man today. He works hard and sometimes does his school work. But, he’s a respectful dude and he’s a protector of those he loves and cares for. I guess I couldn’t ask for more.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“He who fears he will suffer already suffers because he fears.” — Michel De Montaigne

No Pep on the Back or: TLD Balanced

04 Wednesday Sep 2019

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Salutations™!!

Tonight on The Less Desirables, we had my friend Melissa Curran from Scented Balance on and she talked about being a certified aromatherapist and Bethany talks about the thing you don’t do with peppermint oil.

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You can listen HERE.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I’m here to help you find your happy, feel less stressed, manage your pain, soothe your emotions and feel like you can take on the world – and win.” – Melissa Curran

My Ultimate Super Power or: I’m Delicious

03 Tuesday Sep 2019

Posted by in Beer, Blogging, Food, Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

Essentially, through my entire adult life, I’ve struggled with my weight. I’ve fluctuated up and down, huge, big, whatever. Currently, I’m the biggest I’ve ever been. I’m over 300 lbs. I go between 302-314. At least those are when I can bring myself to actually get on the scale.

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©Sam the Cooking Guy

Now, what bothers me the most isn’t that I am fat. Yes, I said it. Fat. F-A-T. Fat. It doesn’t bother me to say that. It doesn’t bother me that I am fat (like I said). What bothers me is how I feel whilst being fat. I’m sluggish. Lethargic. Mopey. Slow. I ache. I hurt. The adjectives go on. I am working on that with Liz Hronek, Miss Fit Boss.

But, that’s not the point of this post.

I was reading another blogger’s post, from someone who simply goes by Your Fat Friend. I would love for you to read this post. Please. Do it for me. She brings up a lot of points that I agree with. Really, there’s nothing in here that I disagree with. She just lays it out that being called fat shouldn’t be a stigma or meant as mean. You don’t feel bad for telling someone, “hey! your hair is brown” or, “your car is lime green!” I mean, you may be silly for that, but you’re just stating the obvious. I know my hair is was brown and my last car was lime green. I know I’m fat and I think I wear it well.

Do I wish I didn’t wear it at all? Well, yes. But, there’s a lot of factors stacked against me.

First off, I do two podcasts (minimum) that have to do with beer/alcohol. So, I drink beer. It’s the ultimate sin to taste and spit it out. Only in wine competitions do I do that. I’m also a foodie. My social media revolves around food, I have a food podcast, I write a food blog. There’s a lot of food. A lot of good food.

I embrace and joke about my fatness. I sometimes say that fat is my superpower, if not my beard. Also, I love what Sam the Cooking Guy says, “if fat means flavor (and it does) then I’m f*****g delicious!”

So, what I’m saying (and what Your Fat Friend says) is don’t feel like you’re being mean for saying I’m fat. Only if it’s meant maliciously is it mean. Otherwise, you’re just stating facts.

I’m going to grab a big fat something and eat it right now…

Until tomorrow, I’m still fat…
Scorp out!

—
“Your Fat Friend writes anonymously about the social realities of life as a very fat person.” – Your Fat Friend (website)

The Last or: 13th Time

26 Monday Aug 2019

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Salutations™!!

Today was the first day of school in the WSFCS system. That means it was 3B’s first day. I know a lot of people were posting “first day of school” pictures on social media all day. I know some people have a problem with that. I don’t understand what the problem can be. You don’t like it, stay off of social media. That’s what I’d be told if I complained about something, right? Right indeed! It has happened.

I’m not big on posting mine on social media, although I have done it. And, of course, I’ll be adding one in this post and then sharing on social media so, yeah, I too will be adding mine. But, I get how people get tired of seeing it. I don’t care one way or another. We are proud of our kids and rejoice in it. I say this because today was the last “first day of school” that 3B will have. At least for the elementary/primary/K12 school life.

He’s a senior, a twelfth grader, last year. Senioritis kicked in around Third Grade so he has been living that for a few. I’m kidding mostly. I saw him a few minutes ago and asked how his first day was and he said “boring.” That explains what we’ll deal with all year. I love him and am proud of him, but I wish he had more gumption to do better in school. We’ll see what happens.

Anywhat! Here’s his first picture.

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Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Starting a new job is always scary, or at least for me, it’s always scary. It’s like the first day of school.” – Sean Maher

Down in the Waters or: At Least It’s Cool

19 Monday Aug 2019

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Salutations™!!

I Mondayed in my pants this morning. Actually, it was last night, but whatever. Last night when The BCPF and I were cooking dinner, we had gotten to the end of a side on a record and it was quiet for a minute. I asked her if she heard what sounded like a waterfall. She said she could.

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Looks like a tunnel on a ride in Walt Disney World

It was funny that one of the things we were talking about was getting the AC serviced. I looked into the closet where the AC unit is and noticed there was water in the closet floor. So, it was time to do something. We’d get to that.

This morning I was walking into our downstairs bathroom and one of our floor tiles squished. I was like what was that!? I stepped back on it again. I could see water coming from under the tile. We had to call the HVAC folk immediately. They came and the exhaust trap pipe was clogged. So that was creating a backup. They blew it out and we figured that was the end of that.

The technician went out to write up the invoice and as I was sitting in the kitchen texting The BCPF what was going on, I noticed I was still hearing the waterfall sound. I went out and told the tech that I still heard the water. He had no clue what I was talking about so he came back in and listened. At first, he didn’t hear it. I have “musician’s ear” which means I spent a lot of time in front of amplifiers so my hearing is pretty much screwed. But, for some reason, I can always hear running water.

He took the vent cover off (it’s a 2.5’x2.5′ or bigger) grill and then he took out the filter out. 20x20x1. It was filthy and I knew it would be. He looked in the hole and saw nothing but darkness. He got his flashlight and that’s when it happened. Inside this hole was standing water. We couldn’t tell how much water. He got authorized to remove the water and brought in his “Shop-Vac.” It was a little, itty-bitty thing with a 2.5-gallon tank. So, he turned it on and about 4 seconds later he turned it off. It was full. He dumped the water in the kitchen sink. Then, he was back to the hole again. Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather, rinse, repeat. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

We stopped counting around 27 but we think there was more. 27 x 2.5 is 67.5 so we figure we moved over 70 gallons of water out of this vent. SEVENTY GALLONS!!!! That is a shload of water. It was pooled in there. Shimmering. So, it turns out that at least a year of this had been going on and formed this pool. I don’t know how this plastic flex pipe held up. The collector box was soaked as well.

So, tomorrow, I have to get an estimate tomorrow for replacing the flex pipe and that box. I hope it doesn’t mean I have to replace the whole unit. We don’t have that kind of money. At all.

I talked about this on tonight’s episode of The Beer Dads. Listen HERE.

I didn’t get to record The Man Who Ate the Town today. That makes me sad.

So, how was your Monday, Dear Reader?

Until tomorrow, stay dry!
Scorp out!

—
“Flooding is the costliest and most common cause of property damage…” – Seth Moulton

Boss or: The Less Fit

14 Wednesday Aug 2019

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Salutations™!!

In my infinite wisdom (or lack thereof), I forgot to schedule a guest on tonight’s The Less Desirables. So we had a roundtable discussion and Danielle talked about going to The Big What Festival this past weekend. She talked about the fun she had, the people she met, the bands that she saw and the bands that were coming to Bull’s Tavern. 20190814_194006-01

Bethany talked about her daughter moving to Hawaii, new cigars and such.

And I talked about how I will be doing some work with Liz Hronek, aka Miss Fit Boss. I told you last Wednesday of the connection I felt with her about my weight problem. We talked about how to at least try to combat that over the weekend and into this week. Liz is teaching me to believe that I can get to a reasonable goal of under 300lbs and then work on other goals of less weight from that point. But, anyway, she’s awesome to work with. I just wanted to say that again.

You can listen to our episode HERE.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Whether you are the BOSS of a business, the BOSS of your family, or the BOSS of whatever life throws your way…You can also be the BOSS of your BODY, SOUL, & NUTRITION. This is what Miss Fit Boss is all about!” – Miss Fit Boss (Liz Hronek)