Are you enjoying the Snowmageddon that is happening outside right now? Or at least if you’re in the Southeast… I hate it, as you’d hear if you listened to the last two Useless Things Podcasts (which you can do here). We had breakfast, picked up the remaining tile we had for the bathroom redo, and went to Underdog Records. Here’s what we got:
The Moondoggies – Tidelands — Indie folk/country/pop just the way The BCPF likes it. One of the cool things about Jonathan is that he gives descriptions on the labels of the used stuff which may have trivia or genre-specific stuff. That’s what he did on this and The BCPF bought it because of that. And, he was spot on and she loved it. NM.
George Martin – Beatles To Bond And Bach — Limited Edition, Numbered, Reissue, Blue 180 gram. Record Store Day 2018 exclusive, limited, and numbered, 180-gram audiophile vinyl. Limited Edition of 2.500 Individually Numbered Copies on Blue Vinyl. The number of this version is 002488. NM.
Amor De Días – Street Of The Love Of Days — The only thing you and I have to know about this is “Merge Records.” We know that just about everything that that label puts out is going to be exactly what The BCPF loves and looks for. That’s what we have here. NM.
Great Northern – Trading Twilight For Daylight — 1st pressing translucent red vinyl. I know absolutely nothing more than that. The BCPF was listening to pieces of some of these albums on YouTube to see if she’d like it. EX.
It was an All-The-BCPF Saturday. I picked up the Elvis Costello but I did that for her, so…
Again, I reiterate the importance of what Jonathan does for his customers. He puts descriptions (when applicable) on the labels so you can be better informed about your purchases. Watch the social media for Underdog Records and you’ll see what he has just gotten in and is putting out for purchase. He had probably 1000 records come in this week that he has either purchased or made an offer for. That means something awesome is going to be showing up. Those kinds of collections are always abundant with awesomeness. You can buy NEW vinyl (meaning anything unused, not necessarily new releases) day or night, 24/7/365 by visiting the Underdog website. And, Jonathan, several of my friends and I use Discogs to keep up with our collections. You should, too.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Please don’t let on that you realized we keep our hopes on the night’s skies. And if it’s just one big lie, heaven knows what we all hide.” – “What Took So Long” (Moondoggies)
It’s time to talk about that trip we just took around the sun. It’s birthday time. Good ones, not so bad ones, memorable ones. Plans for this one. Also, It’s time to talk about that trip we just took around the sun. It’s birthday time. Good ones, not so bad ones, memorable ones. Plans for this one. Also, a new discussion starter question.
Leave comments or just join the conversation by calling the TLD Network Hotline at 336-422-NUMB (6862).
The BCPF and I got up early and went to some yard sales. That’s the first time in probably six or seven years that we did that. Early in our relationship, we would go to yard/rummage/garage sales and we got away from it when we didn’t have much money and we got up late and most yard sales are done by noon. We still don’t have much money but we were up early and well, why not? We got some cute things and whatever and we spent maybe $10? It was more about just doing it than what we got. We had lunch at The Sherwood, went to Underdog Records, and because my “Beeman Belly” kicked in, we had to leave early from Underdog. So our “haul” is anything but. So, here’s what we got.
The War On Drugs – I Don’t Live Here Anymore — I thought this was a Merge band, but it’s Atlantic. Cool. We have some of their stuff and, of course, The BCPF loves them. This is their brand new album, it came out two weeks ago. 2×LP, Limited Edition, Blue Translucent. New.
Peter Gabriel – Up — By now, you know I love me some Peter Gabriel. I have all of his albums up to So (except for Birdy the soundtrack for the Matthew Modine and Nicholas Cage film), but nothing beyond that. There are a few good songs on here that I know of. It was released in 2002 and is the last album of new material he’s released. Everything since has been live, reimagined, or redone stuff from his catalog. 2×LP, Reissue, Remastered, 180 grams. New.
That’s it, sadly. Danged Beeman Belly. Jonathan had gotten in some sweet used turntables that have been tested and approved for sale if you’re in need of a record player. If you read these posts and don’t have a way to listen to records but wish you could, then Underdog Records is your place to get started. Watch the Facebook and Instagram of the store and order new vinyl day or night by visiting the website. Use Discogs, like I do, to track your music collection, no matter the format. If it was available on reel-to-reel, and someone has had it, it will be on there. 8-Track, cassette, vinyl, and possibly digital. I’m not sure. But, check them out, too.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “My ghost likes to travel so deep into your space” – “Growing Up” (Gabriel)
As you may or may not know, Dear Reader, I have written this blog “every day” (at least FOR every day) since November 1, 2014. That was right after, well a month and a half after, my honeymoon. I did the Rolling Stone Top 500 Albums of All Time list (the 2012 list that matters) and reviewed that. I did the Honeymoon Chronicles. I have posted while traveling. I have started several podcasts since then.
Today is November 1, 2021. That’s 2,557 days. 2,557 blog posts. On October 1, I started counting down for this. That’s what that number has been. Probably over 750k words because when I was on, it was verbose. Especially in the early days, I had a special rule that said I had to have at least 250 words per post. Usually, it was over 500 but had to be at least 250.
As you may have noticed over the last two years, there’s been a bit of a shortage of topics to talk about. Most of the stuff I post anymore is just “piggybacks” off of my podcasts or other blogs. I’ll admit my heart hasn’t really been in it but I have to keep up streaks. I can’t let something go.
I loved posting in the beginning. There were a lot of cool things to talk about. It could be a rant. It could be a review. It could be an observation. It could just be spouting off about something, I mean look at the subtitle of this blog. I used to really love writing. That has waned, a lot. I think some of it has to do with time, which I have very little of, at least free time, anymore.
I’ve lifted my fingers from my laptop…
The pandemic threw things into disarray even more. At least pre-C-19, I had places to go, people to rub against, things to see and do. That’s where I drew a lot of inspiration for this blog that may or may not have been 100% true and accurate. You know that technically, I write this blog as a character and not as myself. That’s why it’s always signed “Scorp” short for Scorpio, short for ScorpioNC, the name I’ve used most of my adult “online” life. Scorp had a lot of things to say, sometimes just to rile people up, especially during the RS List days. Not all of it was how I actually felt. That’s creative license and I used it.
I think the key word in that last sentence is “creative.” Once the pandemic hit, and I found myself working on so much research and writing on The Man Who Ate the Town to keep up with what food and beverage establishments in WSNC that I became a bit burned out on writing. Because my scope was limited, so was my writing channel. I didn’t want to write so much but I also didn’t want to let this thing go. At least not then.
It went from making sure I had a post in before midnight to constitute that day’s post to “eh, I’ll write the whole week’s worth on Sunday.” And, that’s what happened. I was getting up early on Sunday to write Monday’s, Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, Thursday’s, Friday’s, and Saturday’s posts. Saturdays are fairly easy because it’s just picking a video to play for Sounds Like Saturday. But, skip back to five months ago, and every day it was a “Now Normal Chronicle” post about a video of something, mostly anniversaries of albums. That’s because it was easy to pull off. I think it was an interesting topic. So much that everything that Beeswax Vinyl Daily is, is exactly that. Music history. So, I didn’t see the need to post that every day, any longer.
It’s not fair to you, Dear Reader, to have to endure my boredom and frustrations. I don’t know if “fair” is the right word. You can just not read it, that’s okay. But, I haven’t stopped getting new followers and readers. I haven’t stopped getting likes on a good number of posts, mostly the food ones or where I say something profound (at least in my head). It’s not fair to me either, though. I started this to mean something. I still want it to mean something. At first, I missed being a “journalist” and this was the way for me to do that, bring you something exciting or at least entertaining. Through all these years, I think, especially in the beginning, that this was at least entertaining. It’s become a chore for me.
So, here we are, again, November 1, 2021. Seven years, to the day, that I started the NABLOPOMO (National Blog Posting Month) “30-Day Challenge” that I just couldn’t stop writing (thanks a lot Kristen Daukas). I am announcing that I am stopping the “every day posting” that I have committed to and somewhat adhered to, effective today. But, what does that mean? It means that there won’t be a dedicated Monday-Sunday daily blog post. But, I am not giving up blogging altogether. I do still plan on doing Sounds Like Saturdays and Spinning (or Silent) Sundays. I want this blog to go on.
But, that’s not all. I will be going back to the spirit of this blog and that’s posting with purpose. If I have something to say, to announce, to rant about, to promote, then I’ll come and post about those things. The blog is still here. In addition to that, I’m working on a weekly blog post along the lines of what was “Talking Tuesday” posts for seven weeks in 2016. It’s basically a blog post that is in podcast form. In fact, I am planning to start a Useless Things Need Love, Too podcast for those. I may look at the Wheeler’s Dog platform and do one on here (or its own website) and then do a BONUS episode each week on Patreon. I’m weighing my options.
It comes down to this, I changed my “daily” focus from this blog to the Beeswax Vinyl Daily and trust me, that takes up not only my work time but my free time, too. I put more hours into that than almost any podcast I do or have ever done. It’s my daily release. This used to be. This used to mean so much to me, and it really still does, but it’s not a priority. That’s its sad reality and sad truth. But, I still love it and I’m going to keep it. I think I’m going to take a virtual page out of the book of my friends Honu Global and refurbish, refinish, reimagine what this blog will be.
I thank all of you who may have read these ramblings daily, at least in the beginning. Thank you if this is your first time. Thank you if this is your last time. Thank you for pushing me through. Thank you for just being mildly interested. Thank you for tuning in to see what kind of train wreck it may be.
Once again, I’m not quitting this, I’m just repurposing it.
Until next time, same blog channel at SOME blog time… Tim out.
Let me start by saying that the number in the title has nothing to do with what I’m going to say here.
I tallied up my totals for my podcast episodes. The last I checked, in September, it was 2186. As of today, I have produced or co-produced 2281 episodes. So 95 since September 16.
Me doing my thing…
That includes The Less Desirables, The Man Who Ate the Town, Fan Interference, Asylum – Tales from the Devereaux Diaries, Beeswax Vinyl Daily, and Wheelers Dog (the general public editions) for the network (The Beer Dads is on hiatus as Beer Dad Jon acclimates to his new job).
This also includes my clients, Forsyth Magazines, Lewisville-Clemmons Chamber, Health Geeks Book Club, Nailing It, Eat Drink Triad. With the exception of LCC and EDT right now, I have actually produced more, but I’m trying to not count them until they are published. I guess I could say that I’ve had 2281 published. Whatever.
I am proud of my numbers. I have done this longer than anyone I know and anyone I’ve heard of, at least around here. Some may have started earlier. Some may have more episodes (not collectively, I feel) but, this is continuous since at least 2010, but I started in 2007.
I am a podcast producer that can get you quality recordings and listed on major podcast directories. It’s up to you, the client, to provide the content and do your own marketing. I don’t do that, but I am a one-stop shop for your podcast needs. Contact me here if you’d like to talk about your own podcast.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “I like the freedom of podcasting. With podcasting you can really mess around with the form and the format. You can do as much time as you like without having to pause for commercials.” – Adam Carolla
Tonight on The Less Desirables, I thought we were going to have a guest but it turns out that is scheduled for next week. Before the show, we ordered food from Xcaret via Door Dash and from what we were told the food would be there in 24 minutes. Well, it was an hour later. We talked about it on the show and then we just shot the breeze. I felt like it was a great flow to the overall show. We had fun. Listen to the show, here.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “I’d say you need to take that up with Door Dash.” – Door Dash driver
Tonight, The BCPF showed up on The Less Desirables so that our Official Astrologer, Cindi McNulty of Essential Zodiac could read and explain her natal chart. We have certainly “embraced the woo woo” on TLD. Cindi was fun and she pegged The BCPF. You can listen here.
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Cynthia’s philosophy on astrology is that each person has positive and negative attributes in their chart.” – Essential Zodiac
Today, I learned some very sad news. Finnigan’s Wake will be closing its doors permanently on October 30. Finnigan’s Wake is THE reason the Arts District in Downtown Winston-Salem exploded in to ’00s. Yes, there were other now-staples such as Sweet Potatoes and 6th & Vine, but none had the impact that Fins did. But, for me, the impact was even more than reinvigorating an area of town.
Practically nothing in my life right now would be like it is if it weren’t for Fins. How, you ask?
Me and My Best Girl
I was able to realize what others may say is ridiculous but something I’m very proud of. I was the second-ever person to join the 90-Day Club. Not only did I do 90 days, I did 1099 days. That got me some recognition and status.
I was “Trivia Tim.” I didn’t start the pub trivia at Fins but I took it over after the first three weeks and I did it for six years after. Again, people got to know me, spend time with me, and my network was greatly and largely expanded because of that.
The Less Desirables was conceived, hatched, and born sitting at the high-top table right next to the hallway. Without that, I probably wouldn’t have started other podcasts after it. No Fan Interference. No Camel City Dispatch/Electric Camel Pod. No Tart & Tangy Triad. No The Beer Dads. No The Man Who Ate the Town. No Sipping NC: The Art of Drinking. No Apartment 5B. No Beeswax Vinyl. No Beeswax Vinyl Daily. No Asylum – Tales from the Devereaux Diaries. No Wheelers Dog. No The Less Desirables Network. No podcast clients. Heck without Fins, there may not be a podcasting community here in WSNC to speak of, at least as it is. I know two or three podcasts in town that are thriving because they were inspired by me doing The Less Desirables (or one of the others) and they’ve told me that. No podcasting would mean no “Podfather.” All that I am and do wouldn’t be if there was no Finnigan’s Wake. In fact, the first place I ever met Brian Attridge who started The Less Desirables with me, was at Finnigan’s Wake.
The revitalization of downtown, in general, may still have happened but it wouldn’t be what it is if Philip “Opie” Kirby and John Cahoon hadn’t opened THE Irish pub in October of 2006.
Me, Brian and Eug, TLD…
The first place I met Jon Lowder, one of the Beer Dads and a partner/friend that I have come to thank for many of my accomplishments was at Fins.
Several of my friends who are in relationships met at Finnigan’s Wake. Which brings me to the BIGGEST link that Fins has for me: I met my wife, The BCPF, Stephanie, at Finnigan’s Wake. If she hadn’t come with her friends to play trivia and get away from her toxic, dead-end marriage, and we hadn’t started having small talk conversations, I would never have had the opportunity to ask her, “Are you married, Steph?” That conversation and the fact that she had a birthday soon around that time and I did a special trivia category for her, led to us having our 11:10p nightly computer conversations, which led to us being great friends, which led to us being more than friends, which led to us being affianced, which led to us being life partners and husband and wife.
Me and My Eug
Finnigan’s Wake is the portal to my survival, to my life, to my being, to my loves. I so appreciate that Opie has kept the pub going for so long. The pandemic was hard for everyone. It led to changes within the business. But, he says it’s not about the pandemic. He said the restaurant was kept alive by the community and patrons. He says this is about him and wanting to start something new. Move in a new direction. Pursue new ideas and thoughts. He has been all over the world. As far as I know, he’s touched every continent. If he’s missing one, I think it’s Australia. He’s bought houses. He’s raised money for charities. He’s made himself better. He’s made the community better. I am glad for my friend that he’s okay and just starting a new chapter.
When I read that this was happening, it felt as if I had lost a friend, or at the very least, been kicked in the teeth or the crotch. The memories and recollections of the last 14 years of my life (with the exception of the last one) have relied heavily on my time in the wooden doors under the green sign with the huge Claddagh, the hallowed halls of Finnigan’s Wake. Slàinte mhath, Finnigan’s Wake. Slàinte mhath.
Until tomorrow, Erin go Bragh… Scorp out!
— “The most important things to do in the world are to get something to eat, something to drink and somebody to love you.” – Brendan Behan
No, I’m not dating, Dear Reader. The Less Desirables will be doing a remote recording from Cin Cin Burger Bar on November 10. As a promotion, Tracy, one of my work wives/co-hosts is silent-auctioning a date with her for this event. Here are some details about the “silent auction”:
Tracy B of TLD
THIS IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH CIN-CIN BURGER BAR!!!!
To be eligible, you must make a donation. Donations must be made to The Less Desirables Cash App: $TheLessDesirables
Donations start at $50. A donation is just that, a donation. If you are not the highest bidder, there are no refunds. Thank you for your donation. Highest bidder wins the dinner date. Also, where it is NOT affiliated with Cin-Cin Burger Bar, if you don’t win, don’t complain to them, this is our doing.
This a “date” only at the restaurant, Cin Cin. It is dinner and socializing. You will meet her/us there. There is no pickup of her, or her of you. No, physical interaction outside of hugs and perhaps holding hands. NOTHING outside “appropriate social norms.” What you think is appropriate must meet HER criteria/parameters.
There is to be no expectations of continued dating unless she is interested. You will not get a phone number unless she wants you to have it. There is to be no social media stalking, either.
This is open for both men and women. She has no hangups either way. No married men or women unless your spouse is with you and an equal donation to your donation is paid (so if your donation is $50 and you’re bringing your spouse, that’s $50 for EACH of you). She is also okay with couples, too. Don’t bring your kid(s) with you if you’re a single parent.
This is supposed to be fun and kind of a fundraiser for the podcast. Your dinner will be paid for out of the winning pot. This will include up to $25 per person. Alcoholic beverages are not included. You must pay for those yourself, she’d appreciate if you bought hers, too.
When the event is over, your date is over. She leaves when we leave.
If you do NOT agree to these terms, do not donate to the $TheLessDesirables Cash App. Again, there are no refunds.
Let’s have some fun!!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “If there hadn’t been women we’d still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends.” – Orson Welles
You know something, Dear Reader? You wouldn’t know it from looking at me but I love to eat. I love to have a little dessert with my meal. That may or may not actually be true, but I do love me some B&G Pies. B&G Pies have been staples in WSNC for 72 years. They are made right here and like snowflakes or fingerprints, no two are alike.
L-R: Shannon, Scorp, Bethany, Tracy
This week on The Less Desirables, we had Shannon Faircloth who is the owner of B&G Pies. Those little handmade treasures get me excited just thinking about eating them, and we talked about that, the history of the company, her history at that, the pies, how they’re made, and more. Shannon was a blast. Before the show, she didn’t know that she could stay long. She stayed for the whole show. The convo was good. The only thing missing? Pies!
We mentioned, a few times, that we were expecting pies and she totally spaced on us about the pies. But, you can listen to the episode if you visit here. Go have some pies!!! Lemon, peach, cherry, apple and chocolate! Check them out on social media!
Until tomorrow, same blog channel… Scorp out!
— “Lots of love and planning go into each and every handmade fried pie at B&G Pies” – B&G Pies
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Useless Things Need Love Too 