Tag Archives: The Less Desirables Network

Beantown Piggyback or: Triple Play

10 Monday Sep 2018

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Salutations™!!

This week will be a full complement of podcasts for The Less Desirables Network! There are currently five shows on the network and five podcasts this week. That doesn’t happen that often these days and one of them is a bi-weekly show (for now) so that would cause a little wrinkle in the “full complement” department.

Anywhat! Today we have produced/published three of them!

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The Beer Dads took Labor Day off but return to talk about what fall/autumn brings and what kind of traditions they look forward to, dread or participate in. You can listen to that episode HERE.

Faninterference

Fan Interference is next and TC and I talk a little bit, or a lot, about Week 1 of the NFL, injuries, who looked good, who looked bad and how a tie is not a loss. We also talk about Nick Saban’s winning and whining ways. You can hear that episode HERE.

TMWATTLogoFinally, there’s The Man Who Ate the Town and “The Tims” talk about Chef Travis Myers (because why wouldn’t you?), Mary’s Gourmet Diner, The BCPF’s and my trip to Boston, food holidays and history. New conversations and segments coming to this show. You can hear this week’s episode HERE.

As always, thank you, Dear Reader, for reading my rantings and thank you if you’re a listener to any of our podcasts. If you’re not, you’re a “short timer” and it’s only a matter of time!

Until tomorrow, keep listening…
Scorp out!

—
“The Regulars are coming!” – Paul Revere

Anniversary in Beantown or: Champagne, Strawberries & Chocolate

02 Sunday Sep 2018

Posted by in Beer, Food, Honeymoon, Life as We Know It, Travel

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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!

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

Just Another Wednesday Night or: Let the Vacay Begin

29 Wednesday Aug 2018

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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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!

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“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

Posted by in Beer, Food, Podcasting, The Less Desirables Network

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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)

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!

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“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

Posted by in Food, The Less Desirables Network

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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!

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“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

Piggybackin’ x3 or: Triple Play

20 Monday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

So, this week, on a Monday, I have three podcasts to post to you about, because I posted them all today. Yay me!

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Making a crêpe at Penny Path!

We were able to do Fan Interference today and TC talked about NFL, his Redskins, injuries, ridiculous rules, NBA, money and so on. You can hear that episode, HERE.

On The Man Who Ate the Town, “The Tims” talk about Atelier on Trade, Canteen Market & Bistro and Penny Path Café and Crêpe Shop. You can hear that episode, HERE.

And, finally, The Beer Dads talk about how their tastes in beer and styles may have changed over the last few years. You can hear that episode, HERE.

At The Less Desirables Network, we really appreciate you listening to all of our shows and I appreciate it, too. I also appreciate you reading this blog every day. You do, right? Sure you do!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“Located at 4th and Spruce, Canteen Market & Bistro is a small, urban food and beverage market and a full-service, bistro-style bar & restaurant.” – Canteen Market & Bistro

The New Show on the Block or: Knock! Knock!

15 Wednesday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

So, you know last night I said I had something to write about, right?

Well, that “something” was the addition (and somewhat subtraction) of the Apartment 5B Podcast to The Less Desirables Podcast Network! We have been doing Apartment 5B since February, publishing them (usually) every two weeks. We are working on getting the frequency to weekly because studies show that a weekly produced podcast is more likely to get listened to than one of any less frequency. A5BLogoTestCrop

Well, what is Apartment 5B, you ask? I’ll tell ya. First, 5B was the apartment number of Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld. Since this is basically a pop culture podcast, with TV being a huge part of it, why not use a good pop culture reference? Why not indeed.

The tagline for this podcast is “Your Podcast home for Irrational Conversations
with the Cool Breezes of Anytown, USA.” It can be about anything or about nothing. See the pattern here? We talk television, movies, music, weird news, we spin a wheel and decide what random topic we’ll talk about.

Does any of that sound familiar? It’s really what The Less Desirables podcast started out being and it’s what I wanted it to become. Don’t get me wrong. I love The Less Desirables and what it has become but it wasn’t my original idea. Also, this isn’t my show. It’s the brainchild of Jeff Evans and “Rory.” I’m just trying to get it more traction by introducing the TLDN audiences to a new podcast. I’m even a “cast member” that goes by the name “Producer Tim.”

If you’re wanting to hear a fun (and sometimes explicit) podcast, give Apartment 5B a try. You can find it on The Less Desirables Network website. We release them every other Tuesday evening, currently. Again, we’re looking to up the frequency. You can find this week’s episode HERE. Enjoy it!

And, again… WELCOME TO THE NETWORK APARTMENT 5B!!!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“The aim is to have fun with the ‘everyday,’ or at least our everyday. That usually is shared agitation, alcohol appreciation, ridiculous journalism, sports, pop culture – you name it, it’s all there, simultaneously inappropriate and hilarious.” – Apartment 5B Podcast

Double Piggybacking or: May I Introduce You To…

13 Monday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

Today I was scheduled to do three podcasts but TC couldn’t be there due to an appointment.

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Timmy VO doing his food thing.

But, I did two. And, that was fun.

First, let’s talk about this week’s The Beer Dads. Can you believe we have been doing it for 3½ years? Yep. And in that time we have gone through a few changes: kids graduating, kids starting law school, kids driving, it’s a lot. But, that was last week’s show. This week’s show is about what may have changed in us; our views, opinions, etc. It’s a good show. You can hear it HERE.

Now, to The Man Who Ate the Town. Last week I put out a call to get a temporary podcast co-host while we wait for Kelly’s return. I really didn’t have to look very far because my pal Timmy VO stepped up and took the spot. The show was snappy and speedy but that’s okay. He had fun and we got to hang out, so that can’t be bad. Tim J. brings voice-over experience, he and his wife are friends of mine (his wife I’ve known for 30 years), he is a personal trainer (so he’ll bring that aspect), and we just like hanging. His wife and he are big into clean eating, home eating as well as going to good restaurants. He adds a lot to the show. You can hear that episode HERE.

To be clear… Kelly has NOT left the show. She’s doing her business and that’s okay with me.

Hope you enjoy the episodes because we had a fun time recording them.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“I really like food and I like beer, so…” – Tim Johnson

Ain’t You Cool? or: The Lab

10 Friday Aug 2018

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Salutations™!!

I have been in The Less Desirables Studios in The Lab at Industry Hill for about six weeks, now. And, the only two problems I had with the space were the fact that I have a six-foot round table in the small podcast room where there should a four-foot table and that there was no AC in my suite but was everywhere else in the building.

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What I thought I was going to have to do to cool off in the studio!

I’m happy to say that one of those things have been addressed and I hope the other will be in the next few weeks.

On Monday, the awesome folks at Piedmont Sheet Metal came out and rewired the AC unit and now, I have to actually turn the air up to let it warm up a bit because it can get cold. Now, the suite cools down but the podcast studio is still a bit warm. I guess I need to check the vent to see if anything is blocking it. Nothing is on the outside, but it could be on the inside. There are smaller holes and the holes are directional so that could be part of it, but I really just need to check it out. But, at least the suite is cooler.

I sat in there for several hours on Wednesday, prepping, recording and producing The Less Desirables. And yesterday, I was in there over two hours editing a podcast that I produce and while it was a little warm, it wasn’t unbearable. And, after 3B and I cleared the parking lot from the debris left in the lot, I was sweaty. However, that passed not too far in.

On Wednesday night during the TLD taping, guest host Tracy Bush said she was chilly and wished she had brought a sweater. I don’t really understand that as I don’t even want to wear a coat in winter. I don’t mean I don’t get why she’d want a sweater. I guess I’m saying I can’t empathize because I don’t experience cold like most people. I get cold, don’t get me wrong, but I have a wider tolerance for it, I guess.

I’m hoping to get the table situation worked out in the next week, perhaps the week after. I just want the guests and podcasts’ hosts’ to be comfortable when in my studio. I don’t know what I’ll run into when winter comes, but it’s around the corner so we’ll see when we get there. But, thanks to my landlords and Piedmont Sheet Metal for getting me chilly again!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

—
“A name you can trust. Solutions you can rely on.” – Piedmont Sheet Metal