Useless Things Need Love Too

Oops, I did it again...

2012-02-06T07:05:00.000-08:00

Well, salutations genies and jokers!

The title this time isn't really a look into the everything, it's me saying, I let you down. Or, if you weren't paying attention too closely, it's all alright! HA! I let a month go by (a full named month, too!) with out a post and I know how you all want to hear about me and my happenings. I am such an interesting creature; emPHAsis on creature.

Well, late December brought the lovely BCPF and I our second beautiful Christmas together. We once again locked our two families together for the festivities and I think we did a wondermous job. My Sugar Booger (no I don't ever call her that, really) got me a most-fab Kindle Fire for a gift and my comic book reading days returned. I bought a lot and have read a lot in the last month and few days. The New 52 from DC is fantastic if you've not read it - check it out!

Are you ready for some football!!?? Well, you just have to wait 6 months to see any NFL games and really college games, too. The draft and off-season are some of my favorite times, though. I love behind the scenes moments and really the entire off-season is a soap opera-like spectacle with a bunch of cock-gesturing and who-can-pay-whom-more antics. But, it is so fun to watch it all unfold. But, that being said, the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl Bunchaletters (XLVI). That's a good thing. Sure, the Giants got their 4th trophy, but they at least weren't the Patriots. Tom Brady was brought back to earth, which I predicted. This Giants teams was far better than the one in '08 that beat Brady in that year's Super Bowl ('07 season) to make it 18-NO. The real reason I hate the Patriots are because they beat the Steelers so many times in the playoffs and Belichick is a smug and pompous a-double-dollar-signs! So for now, go Giants!

We know I like my musical theater, or theatre, whatever... Late December and early January brought me to good shows. Let's start with Million Dollar Quartet. On Dec. 4, 1956, Sam Phillips was able to assemble for ONE TIME and one time only, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. It was based on a true story. I liked it so much, I bought extra tickets right away and 2 weeks later I took my mom and dad to see it, since that was my dad's kind of music. Dad would always sing that stuff, even though I didn't really get it. We also the night of the first showing went to see the Cirque de Symphonie in which visual artists performed along with the Charlotte Symphony to some of classical music's most famous and beautiful tunes.

One show was right up my alley, albeit cheesy as hell-o! That was "Rock of Ages." A story about a girl moving to LA, trying to be an actress in the mid- to late- '80s and the club/bar life and on-again/off-again love affair with a bar employee; read: janitor. Filled with much '80s rock/metal music, it certainly rocked, but again, was quite the K-R-A-F-T. The next week we were back in the Queen City (that's Charlotte) to see "Memphis" which was written by Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan. Story of a white DJ that loved the "black" music of the late '50s/early '60s and how he fell in love with a black girl and the tumultuous relationship they had dealing with success and the bigotry due to their "taboo" love affair. A surprisingly good show, energetic with an emotionally stirring story. Off the show route but still cool, was late January when BCPF and I took her mother to see Paula Poundstone in Charlotte. She was funny, witty and completely improv against some funny and (some) goofy audience members. She was a great entertainer. So the shows have been great. Coming up: Spamalot and Jersey Boys (again).

My blog would be remiss if I didn't mention what my big fancy is right now: The Less Desirables. This pop-culture podcast and conversation amongst friends has continued its rise in popularity. With musical guest Clay Howard to the man that made all our website and logo dreams come true, Mr. Richard Smith, plus a whole lot more. On February 1, we celebrated our 2 Year Anniversary. Due to an illness, Eugene Sims couldn't make the show but otherwise, the Beer Guru, C. Jay Platt was on hand talking about Porters! Delicioso, indeed! We have a lot of things planned for the future of the show including (maybe) a new location, but we're working on some details with that. We are trying also to gain more and more sponsors. I know it's advertising and you don't want to hear that, but we are trying to focus on actual pop-culture items in our advertising. It's all 'bout beer, coffee, wine, sandwiches, pubs, food and other poppy-things. I say that because on our website (just click anywhere it says The Less Desirables, or the TLD logo) we have a fan survey link. It is important that you tell us how and why and when you listen and what subjects are relevant to you so we can get sponsors that are apropos to you. WE love doing the show but we'd like to make some money doing it, pay for the equipment we buy and to sustain a positive business model. Help us out won't you? I know asking for money and help is less desirable, but hey! so are we!

Ok, enough of the banter, tail-kissing, bragging, huffy-puffing and whatever else you want to say I'm doing, I'll be back, hopefully sooner than a month....

Until next we meet: same blog channel at SOME blog time...

Scorp saith adiós, arrivederci, Auf Wiedersehen, vaarvel, au revoir, adeus, so long, catch ya on the flip side, see ya in the funny papers, bye now... OUT!

Does this Podcast Party Make Me Look Fat?

2011-12-05T07:10:00.000-08:00

Salutations! I have been a long time writing this post. Not nearly as long as Wheelers' Dog, but a few good months. Here it is December already and I've not posted since mid-September. EGAD!

I'm writing this as I'm watching The Dan Patrick Show on Audience Network on DirecTV. This is the sort of model that I want The Less Desirables to follow in the future. Not necessarily all our support cast on the other side of glass, but a team to work on providing a great show. That's where we'll be one day, that and other, future plans are on their way. You'll hear more about them in the upcoming months-to-a year or so. We'll talk more about The Less Desirables here in this blog post in a bit.

We know that I got engaged to the BCPF this past summer, yep, yep, yep. Everyone keeps asking when the "big date" is and we have continued to say we don't know. And nothing has changed there. We still don't have a date. But, we do have some ideas as to where. We have both been married before so we're going to fore-go the fancy-schmancy Bridezilla-esque wedding and put ALL our money and efforts into the honeymoon. I've done some looking back and of my four family surnames: Beeman, Flanagan (Paternal Grandmother), Houchins (Maternal Grandfather) and Blankenship (Maternal Grandmother) Houchins is an off-shoot of Hutchins or Hutchen or McCutchin, etc. Anywhat, those names are all Scottish. AND, because Scotland has no residency requirement, but do require you to do the civil ceremony (legal, religious=not legal) in designated places and because many of these places are castles, we're going to take a trip to Scotland to "do the deed." I hunted down the clan that my lineage belongs to, which happens to be MacDonald (mmmm McNuggets... NOT THAT McDonald's!) and will be wearing the tartan of that clan in the form of a kilt, yes me in a kilt, complete with a sporran (that little purse thingy). The crest is to the left and our tartan is to the right. So other than the date, that is up in the air, we've gotten that much closer to doing our thang. Go us!

My biz partner, we'll call him "B," just got accepted to Wake Forest's MBA program which is a feat in and of itself; a difficult program. So congrats to him!

We've talked about me finishing my degree finally from Kaplan University. I, too, have elected to go back to school and will be working on my Masters of Fine Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in Winter Park, FL. Yes this prog is online, as well. You wonder what New Media Journalism is, well you're looking at it right now. You're looking at a blog. All the links to the right here are blogs. They're what you listen to when you're listening to the show, The Less Desirables: a podcast. All these things - new media!! Woot! Go me!

Now, onto The Less Desirables. Since my last post we have a new edition to the show. My friend Eugene started out as the Official TV Guru but he's moved into being The Official Third Wheel (which is NOT a bad thing) and a creative (focus) force for the show. He's made it better and we're glad for that. At one of the "Meeting of the Minds" we talked about a Christmas party and by golly! we had a Year-End Holiday Party this past weekend. All our gurus, greatest guests and featured listeners were invited and most of them showed up and the shindig was a success!! We had our special listener, Damien from Durham come and B's parents came from Maryland (and left the next day) to be with us. BTW, B has the coolest mom in the world, just so that's known. Awesome indeed.
Thank you to Jerry Chapman, Lee & Susan Terry for your musical contributions. Thank you Finnigan's Wake for the awesome use of the space including Nicole and Holland two AWESOME servers that waded through the murk of a crowd to keep everyone completely happy! Thank you Dan DesNoyers for the awesome banners that hung with the NC TLD logo (pic coming soon). Thank you Richard Smith, as always for taking the designs that B and I have and turning them into reality for us; from stickers to t-shirt designs. Thank you PR Babe and BCPF for being the awesome significant others you are. B, BCPF and I (along with our team) worked hard to prepare for this thing and the party, as stated, was a success. I said it before: the future looks good. 2012 is The Year of The Less Desirables!

I hate New Years resolutions and the thing I'm thinking about is completely serious. Other peeps are informing me of the dangers and I'm feeling it myself. So, this is NOT a NYResolution. I am the heaviest I have ever been. I mean EVER. I won't necessarily go into the details but if you look on Facebook at the pics from this party you will see a tub of lard in a TLD shirt, albeit a handsome TLD shirt. My blood pressure is up, my cholesterol is up, I feel lethargic, I feel beaten. I have sleep apnea and I don't use the CPAP machine out of sheer stubbornness, although I wake up through out the night and can't breathe.
I have this awesome show to look forward to. I have a wonderful fiancee that I want to be here for and to take care of and live a happy life with. I have an awesome 9-year old son that I want to see graduate, go to college, get married, have kids, etc. None of that will happen if I don't take better care of myself. So that is what I plan on doing, not because it's approaching the end of this year but because I'm tired of defeating myself unnecessarily. At the party someone told me I looked happier than I've ever been and then asked how my health was. This person has known me for a long time, high school, actually and when I said, "I'm the heaviest I've ever been" her response was, "I know." She's not the first to tell me. SO, I have to do something. And I am. I need some suggestions. I need a motivation (other than "do it for her" or "do it for him" etc.). So I'm imploring my listeners and my readers to help me find a direction here. Leave me emails, comment here, comment in the comment box for the show. Do whatever you need to do but give me some direction. Whatever helps me the most. By June I want to lose at least 45 lbs. I'll give the contributor or contributors some free TLD swag. I know the owners. :)
I will say, I can't give up the beer because I get paid to do that, so while I can just have it on show nights and occasional weekends, I will not give it up completely. I already have a bad liver; if I am allowed to drink with that, I can do it and still lose some weight and be healthy.

Anyway, enough of the sad and degenerate mess, let's hit the road and have fun. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season as I'd predict to say I probably won't be writing again before January, although you never know. Good luck in whatever you do to celebrate; even not celebrating is celebrating in some way or another!

Until next post, same blog place at SOME blog time...
Scorp is dragging out....

Just dropping by...

2011-09-21T08:17:00.000-07:00

Salutations™...

I do really want to update this thing more often. Maybe I'll just drop by every once in a while, even if my mouth (or in this case, fingers) has little to say. How's that? S'ok? S'ok!

I do want to pause for a moment of silence to remember a friend of mine that died in a motorcycle accident last month. So, here's a few seconds for Noel Livengood (do at least take a second to close your eyes and breathe before moving on).

I'm still looking for a band. I am torn because I don't know if I have time to look seriously or not. I have a lot going on and The Less Desirables is going GREAT! Beyond any expectations BPA or I could have foreseen. This is seriously becoming a job and I mean that in a GOOD way. Maybe I should say it's seriously becoming a good career move. If we got paid, that would be a great step towards the career-thingy.

Anywhat! Music has always been my passion and over the last few years I've gotten out of playing in bands and really playing a lot of music at all, even sitting in my studio (where TLD is recorded). I miss it, a lot. I miss being in a collaborative effort with other like-minded musicians. I have friends that I can get together with, maybe sing a few songs along with them, even do a solo-type thing between their sets and I'm so thankful they let me do that, but I miss feeling like I REALLY am a musician. The BCPF pushes for me to do something because she sees me fret over it (pun!!!).

I want to do my own stuff, but I feel like I want to do some collaborative stuff with others. I don't mind doing covers, in fact, I've done those all my life and I've really never minded doing it, as long as it is songs that I like (read: NO Lynyrd Skynyrd). So I don't know if it is that I'm not really wanting to ask about playing with anyone else, or if I don't want to go through a "screening" process that I had to deal with as a younger musician/band member. I guess I'm psychologically needing an ego stroke and waiting for someone to come to me and say, "hey, I/we need you and your talents in this band!" What is a blog if I can't put down honest thoughts, eh? I don't know, this is just where my mind is going right now with the whole music thing.

Speaking of the BCPF, she's starting a blog, but with her career, who knows when she'll have time to update it? The point was, she's doing great, we're happy. Very. Yes, I'm speaking for both of us. She's stressed a lot because of the new steps she's taking every day with this career thing, but she's a strong woman and I'm proud of her determination and perseverance. I love her madly.

Ok, so it wasn't just a short jotting of ideas after all, albeit not a novella like I normally write. Listen to The Less Desirables. Listen, I say. Listen, learn, love it! You have no choice really. Resistance is futile!

Until next time dear readers,
Same blog spot at some blog time....
Scorp ....
...
...
...
Out.

A Whole New World!

2011-08-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Salutations, all! SO... I said I wasn't going to wait to update and it looks like I failed that. BUT! I feel I have good reason this time, however, my excuses are gone now, too. Let's talk about it, shall we!?

I have talked about this school thing for three years now. THREE years! Well, I FINALLY have finished my Bachelor of Science degree in Communications from Kaplan University Online - or, how I like to say, I have my BS in BS! :) Started in August of 2008 and now in August 2011, I have finished. It was grueling at times, I will say. Other times, not so bad. This last term: my capstone and one other humanities class, has been a ball. My Capstone project is something I've been working on for the last 10 weeks and finally turned it in. Hopefully, one day the procedures I put in there will come to fruition. I'll not discuss any of that because it's a) a secret, 2)no relevant right now and III) none of your beeswax! I'm kidding on that last part, yo. Anywhat! I'm kind of at a loss right now. I can't figure out what to do next. I feel I want to continue my "learnin'" but don't know, just yet. Oh well, the student loans don't kick in for another 6 months, maybe I'll figure it out then, lol.

Well, speaking of school, you'll remember that my sweet BCPF has been looking for a teaching job and she found one! She is going to be a first-year, fourth grade teacher at the same school that 3B goes to, and yes, he is going to be in the 4th grade and, no, he will not be in her class. She's excited, a bit scared and will do awesome. Why do I know this? Well, other than the fact that I know everything, she is just that amazing. She rocks and rolls, everything she does and I know that this team that we have can accomplish anything, especially when she's the strong one on the team! So to say I'm proud of her... can we say understatement!!!

Now, let's focus a bit on something I talked about last time: the trip to "The World." That's Walt Disney World for you non-cool, non-geeks out there. I scheduled our trip, sans 3B this time, for the celebration of me finishing my degree, I mean after all, you don't graduate from higher learning every day, right? Anywhat! So, BCPF and I got up and went soaring through the big blue sky via the ATL to get to a magic bus to take us to WDW. That first day was absolutely perfect (minus the heat).

We checked in at The Wilderness Lodge and it was as beautiful as ever. Took a boat to Magic Kingdom (don't put the "the" in there) and had lunch at Casey's Corner, which means some of the dangedest hot dogs you'll ever put in your gullet. MMmmmmm. I proceeded to show her why this is my favorite place ever, with details like "Swiss Family Robinson's Treehouse" and then the "Jungle Cruise." Of course, we went to "Pirates of the Caribbean" next. Lovely (and cool; both in coolness and temperature)!!! A stop at the Hall of Presidents to see the new changes and then made our way to Epcot (my favorite park) via the monorail.

That meant we stopped at "Spaceship Earth" and I must say, as much as I love Dame Judi Dench, I do not like her doing the voice for SE. I liked Jeremy Irons much, much better. The new platform is a bit weird, too. Doesn't seem to fit really. I think it was rushed, but don't let that deter you from the story at hand. Then we made our way through a few exhibits to pass some time. Oh! "Living with the Land," "Journey into Imagination" and "Captain EO" were on ticket. "EO" was there when I was there in '89. "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" was better I think. More involved, but with MJ's passing a few years ago, they had to pay tribute, I get it. So we finish those and make our way to World Showcase, which is the place I want to spend all my time when I'm there. Rode the boat ride that took the place of "El Rio del Tiempo" in the Mexico Pavilion (boo, the old was better). Rode the awesome "Maelstrom" in Norway Pavilion and then watched the "Reflections of China" film in China Pavilion. Time for dinner! Tutto Italia took the place of L'Original Alfredo's Ristorante last year and it wasn't the same but still, I'm eating with the BCPF, nothing was bad. After dinner we walked the promenade a bit and headed for Disney's Beach and Yacht Clubs' marina where we caught a boat tour.

This tour took us through the lagoon that connects the "Clubs" with Disney's Boardwalk Inn then on to Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin, two oddly themed hotels that aren't part of Disney but have some of the perks. From there we learned trivia about the waterway to Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios). Once that was finished it was time for the coup de grace, which was sitting the boat in The World Showcase Lagoon for Illuminations, the nightly fireworks extravaganza. The tour guide said they spend $55,000 a night on this fireworks show. WHEW!!

We tethered up to the other 4 tours for that evening and watched the fireworks from the water they were shot from. That was exciting. BCPF mentioned how the day had been perfect right before the show and the show was almost the perfect finish. I say almost because I saved the best for last. As the announcer started his "Thank you for..." I told her that there was only one thing that could make the day more perfect. I proceeded to drop to my knee and asked this beautiful woman to marry me. She welled up and finally said yes as I stood in the boat and yelled to the top of my lungs that "she said yes!!!!!!!!" So the trip was more than just a celebration of my finishing school, it was to celebrate her, as well. Dang! I love that woman! (here's a pic of the ring)

Lastly, I want to discuss The Less Desirables. The show has grown substantially since we last talked. We've had our first live session of musicians, now have wine gurus and the list in only growing. This past Saturday, Aug 13, my esteemed colleague and co-host, Brian Attridge along with The Official Beer Guru attended the Twin City Taps First Annual Beer Festival and tasted a lot of great NC beer and made a lot of good contacts. It was delicious and wonderful and hopefully we'll have a few great things come from it. Stand by!

Well, the title was more than just an homage to one of my favorite Disney films (Aladdin), but also a brief description for the direction my personal life is going and I really couldn't be happier. I'm healthy, I have a great son to my right and now I officially have the most wonderful woman in the world by my left and it truly is a Whole New World!

Until next time... Same blog place at SOME blog time...
Scorp out!

Almost there...

2011-06-13T06:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm working towards my BS in BS as I've said before. So here am I, in my LAST (supposedly) term in school for that. The Capstone, the "this is the shite that I learned in my 3 years here" class. I say supposedly because I've only got one class scheduled right now, although I've been approved by the registrar's office for the other, they've not placed me in there yet. So I'm waiting. And speaking of finishing, I have decided to treat myself (and my WONDERFUL, MARVELOUS and AMAZING BCPF) to my first real vacation in FIVE years!!! I know what you're saying, you've been to the beach twice, Atlanta, blah blah blah... well you're right, but I feel for a vacation to be a vacation, you have to be gone for at least 5 days, I wasn't gone that long any of those. I will be taking 6 days coming up 7/31-8/6 and spending it in my absolute favorite spot in the "World..." Walt Disney World!!! I haven't been in 5 years and I was used to going every other, if not EVERY, year. I know a lot has changed and I am in dire need of some WDW time. I'm not so thrilled about the time of the year, late July/early August, but I'm dating a rising teacher so I take what time I can! When she's accrued some time, we'll do some days in an October, sometime soon. We will be lounging in the lovely and theme-some Wilderness Lodge. It is fantabulous!!!! It will be the first time that the BCPF and I have flown together and hopefully many, many, many more trips like this will be in our future. We're très excited!!!

On to other news, The Less Desirables wormed our way into the realm of wine this past week. Of course, we have NOT abandoned our precious beer. No, no way, huh-uh, forget it! But, we did want to move into the wine world to expand our horizons a bit. We visited the NC Salute! Wine Festival in downtown Winston-Salem and interviewed several wineries, which you can hear the fruits of our labours on the website: www.thelessdesirables.com. Also, we were sporting our brand new t-shirts at the event and was approached by several people about the show. I think we gained a few new listeners from the deal. Awesome! We have new swag and new stickers. New business cards and new outlooks. We have new guests and old guests returning. And our newest news... The Official Fishing Boat of The Less Desirables made regionals in their tourneys! Yay team! You never know, you may see TLD out there on the water's edge rooting them on, or doing a remote show! Keep an eye out. No promises.

3B the other love of my life, is on his last two days of 3rd grade. I'll have a rather large 4th grader in my house at that point. He's darn near a genius, so big things to come from that!

I don't really have much more to say, but as always, check out the TLD podcast, be a fan on Facebook and rock on! Until next time, same blog channel at SOME blog time...
Scorp out..............................

Layin' the Smackdown!

2011-04-20T08:35:00.001-07:00

Ack! I told myself (and probably you, too) that I wasn't going to wait so long to do an update. But, truly true-believers, my life is quite boring to write about more often. Maybe I need to go back to ranting about things. But even then with my life right now, I have nothing to really rant about. Maybe I'll try to be less positive and see if that works... :)

ANYWHAT!

Let's see what I've been up to since we last talked...
I mentioned Momix Botanica and In the Heights. Truly, I thought In the Heights was going to be just another time passer, but DANG-O-MITE! I must say that it moved me AND the BCPF. Moved in such a way that it "moved" right into my Top 5 Broadway Shows along with Wicked, South Pacific, Jersey Boys and Mary Poppins! Great stuff indeed. Momix Botanica was a visual/performing arts show with a lot of dancing and as a former ballerina, BCPF liked it a lot. 3B dug it as well. I kind of slept through some of it. But ITH was really, really good and I recommend it to anyone that loves theater. You won't be disappointed. We also saw Young Frankenstein in March which was a great show but it was quite predictable since the film has been around for 35+ years. Still was worth seeing. Also, we saw Avenue Q (for me again). Much better this time around, for me. The sound was better, the production was better, the company was fabulous. THIS weekend BCPF and 3B will accompany me to see Blue Man Group and we're all excited about that... well, maybe not 3B because he doesn't know what he's in for yet!

Upcoming shows THIS season still... Cats, Shrek: The Musical, Next to Normal and Mama Mia! And yes, kittens and cats (not the musical), I have renewed my Broadway season tix again for next season! On the slate then: The Addams Family, West Side Story, Million Dollar Quartet, Memphis, Jersey Boys (again... YES!!!!), Bring It On: The Musical, Come Fly Away, La Cage Aux Folles, Rock of Ages, Monty Python's SPAMALOT, Stomp and Beauty and the Beast. I LOVE theater and it's ok if YOU don't.

Another recent excursion that 3B and (reluctantly) the BCPF accompanied me to was to the A-T-L. That's right Hotlanta. Why? Go ahead, ask... I'll wait... (whistles.... looks at watch), Oh! Glad you asked. We attended Wrestlemania XXVII (27 for ye Romanly challenged). One thing that 3B and I like to do together is watch wrestli.... er... sorry, Sports Entertainment. So to take him to the Grandest Stage of Them All was amazing. Our seats weren't great but that didn't matter. It was freakin' Wrestlemania! The Georgia Dome, by the way, is HUGE! We got a room deal at the Ritz-Carlton and thought it was darn near amazing. We also saw Ric Flair as he entered the restaurant we were walking out of. AND the entire cast of the new Tough Enough series was eating in a room next to us in another restaurant where we ate as well. We visited the World's Largest Aquarium, The World of Coca-Cola and CNN to name a few. Ate well, we did. The whole trip was fantabulous and I'd not trade that for anything. Wrestlemania is in Miami next year, maybe a road trip (or air trip) is called for? Here's waiting...

I have 5 weeks of this term left at Kaplan University and then one more term (including my capstone) and I graduate with my Bachelor of Science in Communications, most likely Magna Cum Laude and with honors from the university and as part of three different Honor Societies when I walk in Chicago in August. I'm stoked. I'm contemplating moving on with the Masters online program from Drexel University in Philly, but ponder if I want to amass another $45k in student loans for a 2 year program. I could do my PhD and DEMAND that everyone call me Doctor! :)

I've mentioned her enough in this spouting session but I have to say to BCPF... I love you, you beautiful and wonderful woman!

Lastly, I have to talk about The Less Desirables. We are growing fast (yet organically enough to please us) and our listenership is growing every week. We have sponsors and now we sponsor, too. Just this morning, on an early recording, we had the captain of The Less Desirables boat, Brad Houchins on talking about what he does and where. Great show! April has been and is the month of guests. Already this month we've had AC from the WSSSC, The Official Beer Guru and Wizard of Oz.(ounces) C. Jay Platt, Brad this morning. Keep listening for the guests. Oh...? Where do you find TLD? HAVE YOU NOT READ THIS BLOG BEFORE!?!?! Sorry... you can find it at... www.thelessdesirables.com. Click all the links, visit the sponsors, see the boat, drink and be full of mirth, b*tches!

A'ight, that seems like enough rambling. Til next time... Same Blog Channel at SOME Blog Time...
Scorp ............................................... out.

Bleeding black and gold and green and...

2011-02-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

Salutations friends!
Keeping on schedule of about one post a month (I really need to have more go on to talk about), here it is 1-2 weeks into February and I have a few things to ramble about... Aye.

Last month, I posted before going to see the musical Billy Elliot, the Tony Awards®-winning musical that was written by Elton John and Lee Hall. Basically, the story is set in the coal-mining towns of Northern England in the '80s and the plight of the union to fight off the oppression of Margaret Thatcher and the government of the times. When other kids are learning to box, young Billy accidentally walks into a ballet class and gets sucked in. The over-macho attitude of the town refused to accept his new dream, so the plight wasn't only the county's but young Billy's as well. 5 different young men traveled on the tour to portray Billy and while our Billy was Asian, with a British accent, with everyone else completely Anglo, the chemistry of our cast was incredible. All was well! The BCPF and I saw it and it was fantastic! One of the top 5 I've ever seen. The next two things coming up on the "show" front is In the Heights and Momix Botanica which we will take my young son, 3B to see.

On February 2, the break-out podcast of the year (in our own minds), The Less Desirables celebrated their first annual anniversary (is that a redundancy?) and did a lllooooonnnnggggg, but awesome show. We had The Official Beer Guru, C. Jay Platt on the show and talked about our Barley Excursion (I just made that up) to the Triangle, NC region's beer playlands. We visited 6 breweries and had a s#it ton of beer. Also, since our beginnings, our Friends (listeners) have asked about info about us. So B, CJP and I gave our biographies (shortened) where we talked about ourselves and you know we loved that. We like talking about ourselves. Also, I've been asked the whole time to play some of my own music. I have always put an emphasis on how much the show is NOT about me, but about giving our Friends information. But, since it was a special occasion, I gave in this time. I had written a song directly to my BCPF and went into a friend's studio to record it. I took that opportunity to highlight that for the anniversary show. I have gathered grand reviews, which may be just because the people listening are my friends, but I feel good about what they have to say anyway. I know BCPF loves it and really that is what matters. Anywhat! Love doing the show and hope if you aren't currently a listener you learn to love listening soon. ("Bleeding green" is the color scheme of The Less Desirables)

Ok, I've probably mentioned more than anyone has really ever cared to know that I AM a Pittsburgh Steelers fan and have been since I was 10 years old. We got to play in the Big Game vs one of the other greatest franchises in the NFL, the Green Bay Packers. Super Bowl XLV didn't hold the outcome I'd have liked - the Steelers winning - but I have no reason to hang my head about the loss. The team that capitalized best on mistakes walked away with the victory and since the Packers really didn't have any, and we did, they won. No excuses, we had 3 turnovers and that adds up, but we gave them that game. Handed it right to them. But, even with all that, we still only lost by 6 points. So really the only debacles for us was the National Anthem from Christina Aguilera and the halftime show with The Black Eyed Peas (horrible!!!!). So I STILL proudly bleed black and gold and always will.

I feel I have gone on long enough so dear readers until next time, Same Blog Channel at SOME Blog Time....
Scorp o-u-w-t!!!!!

Ringing in the new...

2011-01-02T10:35:00.000-08:00

Salutations, readers. I don't really have a lot to write about this week, but I did want to touch on some of the happenings going on in the life of Scorp.

First there was Thanksgiving and the first time I met BCPF's brother. Don't remember if i mentioned that last post or not. Oh well - I just did if not.

Then we went to the Queen City (that's Charlotte, after the German princess who went on to be queen consort of King George III) to see Irving Berlin's White Christmas. I was asked if that was the same thing as Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby. The answer is no. The song White Christmas actually debuted in Holiday Inn but the story, movie, etc came later. Anywhat! That was good and fun. You can't beat theater with the BCPF, not even with one of those big scary sticks.

Early in the month of December, I attended a wedding of a friend of the BCPF with her. And it snowed. It was our first snow together, so we took the opportunity to "classic movie" the moment and I removed my bowler hat and took her in my arms and kissed her deeply, madly.

Then, BCPF, her brother and mother actually came to my family's holiday shindig on Christmas Eve, which was the first time that's happened with the family of someone else's comes to our "Big Deal." I hope they felt welcome because we were all glad they were there. Then I went to her mom's house to join them for Christmas Day. And what's more: IT SNOWED!!!! "Weather Wizards" (smell the sarcasm) called for it to be a "maybe" on any snow; at best a dusting. Well, it, being the snow, decided on Christmas to come play with the Christmas toys and stayed around for a few days. The weather finally passed by and then we trounced down to Noma in downtown Winston-Salem on New Year's Eve to see a few of my friends, we'll call them The Mediocre Bad Guys ring in the year of all years, 2011.

It was the first Thanksgiving, the first wedding attended together, the first snow, the first Christmas (with snow) and now we start our whole new year of wonderful, creamy goodness.

I can't not take the opportunity to talk about the biggest (non relationship) venture I have undertook in the past year and that is the wonderful podcast we like to call "The Less Desirables (www.thelessdesirables.com)." Brian Attridge and I have come a long way in 48 webisodes. We started out not knowing what we were doing and now we're to the point that you can't tell we don't know what we're doing. We have been at it almost a year and it is more fun now than it was when we started and that was DAMN fun!!!!! We had our year-in-review this past week and it was a long, long, long show. Love it! This year, 2011, is now OFFICIALLY "The Official Year of The Less Desirables" and we are heading high, we're going to be big! You wait and see!
Starting this week, we'll have a monthly State of the Hops Address with our resident Beer Guru, the Wizard of Oz (ounces) C. Jay Platt. Every first Wednesday's show will be a beer webisode since that has become one of our most popular spots! CHECK IT OUT!

Wow, I said I didn't have a lot to write and I didn't shut up, huh? Man...
Well, hopefully I won't have a lot to say a whole lot more, heh heh heh

Until next time, same blog channel at some blog time...
Scorp o-u-w-t!!!!!

Hello Old Friends...

2010-11-29T09:28:00.000-08:00

Salutations!
JEEZ O'PETE!!! I realize I haven't updated this thing since September. It's not really that I haven't had anything going on, maybe it's just that I haven't had anything DIFFERENT going on.

I know I've already told of the BCPF becoming the BGF, but for the purposes of having a nick(name) and keeping her anonymously hidden from the droves of wild fans of the show, we'll leave it as BCPF. Things are still going swimmingly there, dear readers. I love that woman more than anything I can remember with the exception of my dear son, 3B, but that's a whole different type of love.

I mentioned the show. I have mentioned the show, right? Chances are, if you're reading this, you got the addy from the "show." If you're not familiar with it, let me remind you... THE LESS DESIRABLES!!!!!!!!!!! The Less Desirables, to recap is a podcast with my podcasting partner, Brian Attridge (his blog: B's Bistro is to the right, there...). We cover movies, music, sports, beer, technology; all around pop culture. You can find this shindig at: www.thelessdesirables.com. Anywhat, the big deal is that we've just launched our brand new and redesigned website. It's easy to find everything right THERE on the homepage, but you can explore deeper into the annuls of The Less Desirables archives.

I don't really have a lot more to say, I've spent all my time lately on both my BCPF, the show, the website and school. So, how's about we be good boys, girls and otherwise and take all the hard work that Brian and I, not to mention the time I've dealt away from BCPF to put into it and look at the website and LISTEN TO THE SHOW!!!

Until next time, tune in: Same blog channel at SOME blog time....

Scorp OUT!

Everything's All-Wrightsville With Me!

2010-09-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

Salutations mes amis!

Wow, been longer than I wanted since I've posted. I's got mumbles to make so I figured I'd make it a good long (ish) one :)

Where to start? Let's go with the PTA. My boy, 3B, just started his year as a 3rd Grader. And usually, the tenure of a PTA president has been two years, which I served. Well, now they changed it to one-and-done! That's the good news. The bad news... His school and another merged to make a NEW school. With a new school comes a new, fresh start. So, I took the position, again. New school, new board, new attitude. He's a genius and I expect him to be top of the 3rd grade class; good luck 3B! Things are all-Wrightsville for me there!!

Me and my many-timed-aforementioned BCPF (Beautiful Close Personal Friend) went to see Mary Poppins. Yes, the Disney-infused spectacle of nannidom and it was spectaculicious! The FX were unusually extraordinary. Things coming from nowhere, flying through the air and all kinds of other cool gadgetry abounded the visual. Wicked is still my favorite and MP probably falls in about #3 or 4 in favorites, but #1 in FX and visuals. Things are all-Wrightsville for me there!!

Next-0! We come to my favorite stomp/haunt, that being one Finnigan's Wake Irish Pub and Kitchen. I've documented MANY times that I have had streak going on. Started as earning my place in the 90-Day Club or: How I Forwent a Normal Existence to Get My Name on the Wall. The initial 90 days weren't nothing to sneeze at (yes grammar was meant that way). But, as I've rambled about before, I didn't stop at 90. I went 180 because no one else probably would. That was half a year... well why not just make it a year. WHAT!?!? That's unheard of! Egad! Well, I did it. Everyone figured I'd be done soon after that. Well, no. Not exactly, not at all, really. I went for ANOTHER year. Is this guy crazy!? That's debatable, but I did it. Last Wednesday, September 1st, was 1097 days in a row. If you do the math and figuring (one year was a leap) that's 3 years. Well, I didn't stop there! Oh no!!! I went TWO WHOLE DAYS MORE!!!! :) So, Friday, September 3 was 1099 and I went out of town. Things are all-Wrightsville for me there!!

I guess you're wondering, what in Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom I'm talking about this all-Wrightsville stuff, eh? Well Saturday, my BCPF and I went on an adventure. A new one for us, in many ways. My gift from Finnigan's Wake was two nights out of town. I wasn't going without my BCPF and by-golly! We went. I have never been one for the beach. My family deals with sand and my excuse has always been, why would I want to go on vacation to see what I can see anytime I want?!? I've been a few times before and I think I just hadn't experienced it right with the right people (or person). This time I was in Wilmington, NC and (you guessed it) Wrightsville Beach, NC. Along with time with my BCPF, it was one fantabulous trip. I mean if I rated it on a scale from 1 to 10, this easily was a 1000! And with that, things are all-Wrightsville for me there!!

Now for what I consider my bestest, grandest and most HECK YEAH moment of the blog...
This weekend, my BCPF lost her title. Yeah, I know, it's sad. No more BCPF. But that's ok, because now she is my BGF or my Beautiful Girl Friend. We are, will stay and will always be close personal friends. But, now she is officially MY woman. I can leave off the "dare I say" parts and say without a doubt I absolutely LOVE THAT WOMAN!!!! Do I ever!(?)! Uh-huh! Whew! She takes my breath just thinking about it. She is one amazing woman that makes me smile just knowing I have her in my life. We had wine sitting on the beach Sunday night, under the stars with waves crashing and the breeze coming off the water. The only thing missing was the moon, but I felt like I had already gotten it and put it away for her. I know I'm being a mush-ball, but I think you're all used to it by now! Truly, it was a most memorable weekend, that I will never forget and hope to repeat, as close as possible, until I die. I gots it bad!! And, I like it! And, truly... THINGS ARE ALL-WRIGHTSVILLE FOR ME THERE!!

Until next time... Same blog channel at SOME blog time...
Scorp is O-U-W-T!!!!!

I am sixteen... going on noneteen...

2010-07-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

Salutations...

One of my favorite spoonerisms is: "time's fun when you're having flies." Well, time was fun. April 9, 1994. 2pm. At about 2:09 or so I said, "I do." Flash forward 16 years, 101 days later... It was about 2:19pm when I said, "Yes, you Honor" and my divorce was finalized. Now before you take the approach my parents take with "that's so sad..." don't feel bad. I don't. My ex-wife doesn't. All is fine in Scorpland, I promise. One awesome son and 9 trips to Walt Disney World, I'd say we did alright. She and I talk every day, have become friends and will probably always remain that way. We have both moved on in various capacities and I dare say we're happy where we are.

Speaking of happy; my Beautiful, Close, Personal Friend (I certainly have to come up with a different way of saying that; hopefully in the not-too-distant future) and I went last Wednesday, July 21 to see the Cowboy Junkies in Charlotte, NC. I had heard of them but didn't know anything about them. BCPF had me watch some YouTube vids and I liked the sound, laid back and serene but somewhat sad in the lyrical category - it happens; makes it all good. Most importantly, it was more close time with a beautiful woman that makes me smile (even over the CJ lyrics); great conversation and still my heart swells. I'd dare say I love that woman. Earlier in the evening she got to hear (for all intents and purposes) the debut of a tune inspired by, written for and really written TO her. She seemed quite pleased. It was a beautiful hug afterwards, no matter what.

This weekend coming, July 31, one of my best friends, business partner and fellow squawker on the interwebs (B from www.thelessdesirables.com) is getting married. Hopefully, he has a lifetime to harp on the vows he took at a certain time of the day and not just a passing memory sixteen years later. To Brian and Kaylin, I certainly wish you guys twelve lifetimes of happiness. AND may all your children be born naked!!! To everyone else, I wish you good times listening to The Less Desirables! Is it Wednesday yet?

Until next time, Same blog channel at some blog time....
Scorp out!

New additions and being more desirable...

2010-07-08T10:15:00.000-07:00

Salut my friends!!!!

Once again my promise to update more often has fallen through. Truthfully, I wish I had more going on in my life that I can say, ooh guess what I did today! Well, I have not a lot going on, BUT what I do have and the repetitious schedule of my life is completely fabulous!

I am in probably the best emotional state I've been in quite a long time. I'd say a few years. You know why!? I'm not having to worry about making anyone happy. I'm not worried about where I stand in a relationship or worry about holding up someone else's end. I can breathe. I can move outside of a circle. THAT being said, I have... an "interest." I have a wonderful friend that if I never get to be anything but her friend I'll die a happy man. If I only get to tell her she's beautiful (and mean it) and how wonderful she is everyday and never get to kiss her any more than just on her forehead, I'll die a happy man. Now, if I get to hold her hand and kiss her lips and walk night paths with her and tell her I love her until I die, well you guessed it, I'll die a happy man. Have you guessed that this lovely lady makes me happy? And right now... all I get to do is kiss her on her forehead and I'm ecstatic. Ok didn't mean to burst into mush! Just sharing my life OK!?!?! :)

I may have mentioned the fact that I'm in a "upstart" cover band called Hobby Horse. We started off as a "yet another 80s cover band." Well, in this area there is quite enough of those. We decided this year marks the 20th anniversary of the start of the 90s and while for many years I thought the 90s were inferior to 80s in terms of music (and still to some degree feel that way) the 90s have a plethora of awesome songs. Some of the things will be 80s; some 70s or even 60s... you never know with us, we're a party band we do what we can :) ANYWHAT! In order to do some of these 90s songs I decided it would much better to play those songs on a 5-String bass. Some of the odd tunings and the fact that the 5-String, although been around for a while, really came into prominence in the 90s. I've never had a real 5-string (as opposed to fake ones) so it was time. So I bought a brand new Ibanez 705. Good stuff! Good stuff indeed!!! I also, in order to satisfy some of the keyboard needs of the band purchased a new synthesizer. Growing up in the 80s there were some standards in the keyboard biz. There was the Yamaha DX7 which was the mac-daddy of synths, at least the most used in pop music; the Roland Juno series; and the Korg DW8000. I owned a DW8000. It was the first synth to offer a real digital delay. Great stuff.... OH I'm not here to talk about that.. I bought the brand new Juno-Di (which means it can interface with a computer to edit the sounds better). It's a low-budget synth, but it really packs a punch for the money you (don't) pay. So that's my new additions :)

Have you listened to the podcast yet? Yes!? GREAT!!! Wait, you! There in the corner.... you haven't!? What are you waiting on you foul-tasting mollusk you!!!??? Just kidding, you have an opportunity to listen to all of the back webisodes :) All 23 of them (as of today). Where you may ask, well just follow the yellow brick link: www.thelessdesirables.com!!!! You can subscribe via iTunes if that's your preferred avenue! The show is going great we have a never-ending resource of podfree music that we'll bring to you every week! If you're a musician, songwriter, band and you want your stuff promoted to areas you may not have access to already, write me at tim@thelessdesirables.com and we'll hook you up!!!

Well I have nothing more to say right now, I do have news in the next few weeks but we'll save those as this is already quite verbose. Until next blog.... same blog channel at SOME blog time (my podpartner would say... YOUR CHOICE! Speaking of which check out his blog in the links section B's Bistro!!!)...

Scorp is out! (yeah)

Everybody's a Little Bit... WICKED!

2010-05-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

Greetings friends!

I've not made any attempts to hide the fact that I'm a HUGE fan of musical theater (or theatre). Well in the last two weeks I've had the pleasure of seeing two very popular Broadway productions, just not ON Broadway. Last Saturday (that would be May 15) I went to Greensboro to see the Sesame Street-esque Avenue Q. With hits like "Everyone's a Little Bit Racist," "The Internet is for Porn," and "It's Ok if You're Gay" it is hilarious.... mostly! The first act was righteous, hilarious, funnier than the Deep South (if ya know what I mean). All the good songs were in the first act, the show blew its load. The second act was still good but it was more of a come-along that brings the story together, a bit predictably, but was still worth seeing it.

THIS Saturday, yesterday (22nd), I saw my favoritest musical ever... Wicked! This is my second time seeing this delicacy! The first time I saw it about 4 rows from the back of the upper balcony. The nose bleed section did NOTHING to keep me from thinking it was one of the most awesome spectacles I'd ever seen... AND I'VE SEEN KISS IN CONCERT MANY TIMES! This time I saw it from 6 rows back left orchestra and DAMN! you can really see the emotion in the actors' faces. Emotion makes it 1000% better. That's right I said it... 1000%. Wicked, if you're not familiar is the story, is the "untold" story of the witches of Oz, Elphaba and Galinda (yes I spelled that right, at least for the first act). A lot of it really brings some sense to the original movie, some of it is just good fantasy. The story is well told and it is well presented. I'll be reviewing this show in lieu of the "Non-Current Movie of the Week" on The Less Desirables this week, it's sure to get a great review so listen in.

Obviously, going to a good show is better when you have good company and my awesome friend Robyn Ray accompanied me to both of these! I must say she was radiant and the Belle o'the Ball this weekend. Truly beautiful. She made both of the shows quite memorable. So to you, Robyn, thank you immensely and deeply. There is not enough thank yous in the world.

Speaking of The Less Desirables (www.thelessdesirables.com), things are going strong and we've just tapped into a an endless supply of music that we will be able to use without threat of running out. Getting new (and free licensed) music every week is a task, not that I was complaining. Just now, I don't have to worry about it anymore. We've recorded 16 new ones and we don't see it ending anytime soon. We have listeners all of the country and just featured our first British band. Although we're happy with our current listeners, we're not ready to settle. We want more! And MORE! And MORE!!!!!!!!! So give us a listen, follow us on Twitter (@less_desirables), Facebook, MySpace (myspace.com/thelessdesirables) and subscribe on iTunes, PodcastPickle.com, GameFly.com or any other aggregator that you get your podcasts from. If they don't carry us, tell them you want us! Or contact us and tell us what it is and WE'LL do it for you!!!!!

This past week (May 15-22) had two very important dates for me. May 21 was my nephew Cory's 11th birthday. And on Saturday, May 15, EIGHT years ago, I was (somehow) blessed with the World's Most Awesome Boy!!! Timothy G. Beeman III, aka Trey aka 3B was born and has been THE best thing that has ever happened in my life. Nothing makes me prouder (and on occasion madder) than him. So in his honor (well and just because I wanted it) I got a tattoo of a green "3" (his favorite color) intertwined with a purple "B" on my left arm near my heart! The purple and green scheme is because I'm huge fan of The Joker and that's his colors... I was going to post a picture on here of the tattoo but I can't take a self pic of it and Trey hasn't learned the art of standing still while taking a picture with an SLR camera... ANYWHAT! You'll get a pic of it soon, I promise.

So for all yous guys and femaliens...
Next BLOG channel at SOME BLOG time... (your choice!)
Scorp

(You're) Just Too Good To Be True...

2010-04-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Can't take my eyes off of you. You'd be like Heaven to touch, I want to hold you so much. At long last love has arrived and I thank God I'm alive. You're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off of you...
Enter horn section...

Ah, Frankie Valli. Never knew that I was a fan. At least not that much. That was until I saw Jersey Boys. Jersey Boys is a Broadway musical that I saw last week in Charlotte. I have season tickets to the Broadway Lights series there. Jersey Boys was just the latest in a long line of musicals that I have seen and took this past week as an opportunity to renew the subscription. The story (exaggerated most likely for stage and story purposes) was written by Bob Gaudio who is one of the original Four Seasons and the writer of most of their big hits as well as songs for Valli alone and other artists. He was only a young teen when he wrote "Short Shorts" and his hits kept on coming. The cast was awesome and the young man, Graham Fenton, who played Valli was amazing. The hoo-hoo part was he was like the 2nd-Team guy. He only plays the part on Sunday Matinees and select other shows, luckily we got him this day. If he's not the main one I'd love to hear the other because Fenton tore it up and I mean that in a good way. His falsetto was spot on and the harmony and musicality of the on-stage performers were excellent! If you get a chance, my dear readers, to see this gem, DO IT!

This upcoming season's creamy goodness will include Shrek: The Musical; 9 to 5: The Musical; Next to Normal; Irvin Berlin's White Christmas; Dreamgirls; Young Frankenstein; In the Heights and the coup de grace for this season: Billy Elliot. The bonus shows include Avenue Q; Botanica; Blue Man Group; Cats; and Mama Mia!
I've made no secret of my love for musical theater much to my friends' chagrin (Eug) and I plan on continuing as long as I can.

I have to post a sad note. Today I found out that one of the sound guys that my band Heavens Sake used in our heyday has passed away. He was a great sound technician, a great musician and someone you'd call a friend. So to where ever you are Chris Pennell, take your finger off the "SUCK BUTTON" and let the music play!

Until next time: Same blog channel at SOME blog time...
Scorp....
out....

Epiloge: I love you baby, and if it's quite alright I need you baby to warm a lonely night. I love you baby, trust in me when I say: Oh pretty baby, don't let me down I pray, oh pretty baby, now that I've found you stay and let me love you baby, let me love you...
You're just too good to be true...

Here, hear!

2010-03-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

Salutations!

I can't believe I let so much time go from the time I updated this thing-a-ma-bob called my blog.
So, hello again! I know you've missed me. :)

Not a WHOLE lot has been going on since we last met. The Less Desirables, the podcast that I've been working on is EXPLODING and that is awesome! We recorded our 8th webisode just tonight and it was great. Last week was St. Patrick's Day and we had our resident Beer Guru, Jay Platt, on to give us the "state of the hops" address. That day also sent the four of us (Brian, his fiance', Jay and myself) to Finnigan's Wake Pub to celebrate the Wearing-of-Green Day and man it was fun. My musical pals, Jerry Chapman and Doug Davis and their sometime-gig, The Go-Aheads were playing and I got to stand on stage and sing some backups with them. I love doing that.

I have started working out at not one, but TWO gyms. I'm trying to become a Sexy Biotch and I feel I've made some progress in that! Today, though, Ashley (my personal trainer) set out to kill me and I thought she had succeeded at one point. I couldn't breathe, was about to pass out and just felt like crapola, but it turned out ok. The Metabolic Effect she called it. Well, let's hope it doesn't kill me :)

My high school will be having a reunion of sorts. It's actually a "get-together" of 4 years "88-91" yeah, so I tell you I'm old... oh well. It will be fun. Lots of people that I've not seen in a long time and I will be in a room staring at each other and saying, "hey, weren't you the one that... wait, YES! it WAS YOU!" As weird as that sounds, I'm definitely looking forward to it!

Well, I won't bother you any more this posting. Just take a listen to The Less Desirables at www.thelessdesirables.com and enjoy! If you know (or are) any bands/artists/musicians that do original music and have recordings of such, PLEASE send them our way, we're looking for music to feature on the podcast!

Anyway, until next time... Same Blog Channel at SOME Blog Time...
Scorp

More Desirable

2010-02-19T13:41:00.000-08:00

Salutations!!!! Can you believe it!? Two posts within 2 weeks!!! YES! I'm giving myself three high fives right now and an "atta-boy" on the back! Woot! I'm my very own Mutual Admiration Society! Anywhat!!! The benefits of advertising the site means I need to update it often!

I've finished yet another "term" at Kaplan U, and I have to say I have mixed feelings about it. One class: Fundamentals of Grammar and Editing, I loved. LOVED! Which was evident with the 98.05% I got as a final grade (that's a ton of awesomeness!). The other class: Group Dynamics and Team Building, er.... guh! This class was a beast! I had to work in a (initial) group of 5 members to work on a "group" or "team" project. The project was the now-road-worn topic of 9/11. The whole thing went ok. We performed the group project well; did a good job; functioned dysfunctionally together. The problem is we couldn't garner a good team leader, get one to communicate with us then then get things rolling. The whole thing was a cluster mess. However, I held up my end and did a pretty good job. My final project was 5 pages and I only had 2 pages of info. So I used my vast, extensive, all-embracing, all-encompassing, broad, panoptic, wide and large vernacular of adjectives and filled the paper up nicely. I used that experience to convey to my (almost) 8 year old that you need to write elaborately when writing when it calls for it. ANYWHAT! I ended up with a 200/200 (without rereading) on the final, bringing me to a 96% in that class! WHEW! I thought I was going to fall back with that one.
My next two classes are Writing for Multimedia and Public Speaking. I dread both of them but hey! my academic adviser said I should walk in July 2011, so I'm inching my way closer to having to start paying off the amassed student loans. How about that for a goal!? Before these grades come in I had a 3.70 GPA so I am happy, it can only go up :)

The new band, Hobby Horse has started its practices and we are starting to settle into the tunes and learning each others' idiosyncrasies. We should working into some shows around May or so if we keep this schedule going. So look here because I'm sure I'll be updating you all!

And now here's a reminder of Facebook users to add The Less Desirables group to your list. Also check out www.thelessdesirables.com to get our weekly podcasts. We've done three so far and the reviews are positive! We are featuring good music and pop-culture so check it out. I think we're getting the Twitter page ready to go, too!

Well, I've rambled enough gonna make like a baby and "head out." So check me out next time same blog channel at SOME blog time!
Au revoir!
Scorp

Running My Mouth.... For Good!

2010-02-07T20:12:00.000-08:00

Salutations!

See it didn't take too long to get back to you guys this time! I'm going to talk about something new I've started. Those who know me know that I love to talk and love to hear myself do it! Well, apparently I'm not the only one! My good buddy, Brian Attridge of B's Bistro (check out the link-thingy to the right to read his posts), and I have started a podcast. What is a podcast you say? Well basically a podcast is free-radio. Free-radio that is pre-recorded. We record a little talk show-type-whatchacallit and you can download it and listen to it on your computer, your iPod, your Zune, your cans-and-string, etc. We cover topics like sports (Big Game happened this evening), technology (iPad), music (Grammy Awards), movies (Oscars) and just about anything else that has to do with the world around you. We call our little ditty The Less Desirables. You can check out our spouting into microphones at www.thelessdesirables.com. Have fun and listen!

Let's touch real quick on a music thing, I'm in a new music project. Mitchell Snow of the Winston-Salem-based cover band, The Plaids and the concept band Vagabond Saints Society along with Patrick Ferguson and Karrie Sheehan of Winston-Salem band Vel Indica and myself have started a new cover band called Hobby Horse. We're working on our first pack of songs so look for us soon!

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints. They are the NFL's 2009-2010 World Champions! They beat Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 tonight in Super Bowl XLIV. So I'm wondering if New Orleans will have so much fun it sinks itself!? Hmmm... the things that go through my peanut...

Anyway, tune in next time same blog channel at some blog time...

Scorp

What in the Wide World of .....

2010-01-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

People!!! WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY!?!?!?!?!? Why have you let me go this long without writing? I sent myself an email just to see if I was still alive! Scared me too, because I didn't reply for a couple of days. Never-you-mind, I gave my self a good tongue-lashing for that!

Anywhat!!!! I really haven't had a lot of stuff to talk about. I did get on an airplane (FOUR TO BE EXACT) back in November. I went to see a friend of mine and her family in Pennsylvania, I have to say, my fears about flying, as of right now, have been put aside. I actually LOVED every leg of the flight. It was awesome! So I'm now looking for a few hundred locations to fly to next!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday and I also hope that the new year has been a wonderful for everyone. I am sure there has been some great things (and maybe not so great) that has happened to me since the last post, but right now, I'm just trying to get back in the groove of writing again and if you missed me, PLEASE let me know. If you didn't, let me know that, too!!!!

I'll not take so long next time to write!!!

Til then...
Scorp O-U-W-T!!!!!!!!!!!

A New Slice of Pie (Filler)

2009-08-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mes amis!
Again! It's been a while since I've posted. At least I'm consistent. I'll not bother you with the promise that I'll try to post more often, because face it, I'll probably be lying. I don't like lying.
I'm writing you at this time to talk about a few things, I guess.

One thing, THE BOY is getting ready to start 2nd Grade. SECOND GRADE! Jeez O'Pete!!!!
He is growing up so fast. Plays a mean game of Gears of War AND Guitar Hero, too. I'm proud of him. Seems like I'll be heading up the school's PTA again, as well. Go me!

My new time-killer (other than Big Brother) is Harry Potter. I know I'm a late bloomer, not to mention OLD! But, not as old as my friend Eugene (sorry had to add a poke there...). Mission Miche, THE BOY and I went and watched the latest installment a few weeks back. Watching that, I decided I wanted to watch all the movies again, in order. Now get this! Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely HATE reading. But, I've collected and started reading the books as well. Ain't that a mawfaw!? ME! Literate and all. It's funny, I love to write but hate reading. Just like I'm a musician and can't do math for squat. Just don't make no sense (drawl)!
Anywhat! In about 2 and a half weeks (maybe three) I've read the first two (Sorcerer's Stone, Chamber of Secrets) and am several chapters into the third (Prisoner of Azkaban). The movies make a lot of sense when you have a background and watch them all in order and close to each other (again a major undertaking with MM and me).

I have a new addition to my family. Well, I guess technically the marriage of my cousin to her new husband makes it two, but I gots me a new guit-fiddle (that's guitar to you Northern folk). It's a Wechter Grand Auditorium Elite Cutaway. Plays awesome, sounds awesome (acoustic) and I think, looks awesome. I have yet to plug it into my amp as I have to find a good acoustic or clean sounding preset. Have I mentioned I hate that amp? May try to trade it for an acoustic amp or something, we'll see. I included a pic for those in the want-ofs.

Finally, I not only have this blog to be slack at, I've created another one. A specialized one. One that allows me to show my thoughts and critiques on area restaurants and food-related events. If you're interested, and if you're not, humor me, the address is: www.imthemanwhoatethetown.blogspot.com
There's only one post so far and it's probably a bit too long, but as I state, I'm not a trained food critic nor am I trained in any culinary arts, it's just my opinions and we ALL know what they say about opinions... "DEM'S GOOD EATS!!!!"

So until next time: Same blog place; SOME blog time!
Scorp has left the building!

Can't beat that...

2009-06-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

Hidee-ho! It has been a bit of time since I've last deposited my brainstorms, or what is closer to a slight drizzle upon you all. Well, let's see... a lot of things have happened since I've last posted.

My son, the usual right or left fielder for the South Little League Pee Wee Phillies enjoyed his first league championship! The team only lost 3 games the entire season. They also went undefeated in the double-elimination tournament for the, well, pins. Well you can't beat that! For his hard work, he received a plaque with his nickname, Buttercup (I have no idea...), as well as a dogtag with the nick and the team's name upon it. To my chagrin, he's decided he doesn't want to play football in the fall, but to play fallball baseball, but whatever makes him happy, he has my support. We do have to work on his hitting, looks like I have to buy a pitching machine now :) On top of that, he celebrated his 7th year upon this green ball. SEVEN YEARS!! I can remember EVERY aspect of his birth - everyone always says this but it is true - like it was yesterday!

My 2002 Mitsubishi Montero Sport, which I affectionately call "Monte," just turned the big 1-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, or 100,000 miles. It seems that both of my babies are growing up. Of course, I had to pull over and get a picture of the big event, and yes I know it is a bit dark, it was, of course about 11:30 in the P.M. But it was a big occassion, nonetheless... and you can't beat that!

I just finished my fourth term in school and I did something that I have never done my entire school career, from Kindergarten all the way through high school to my first attempt at college to now. That feat is my first final grade of 100%! That along with my other class, in which I received a quite honorable 95.05% moved my GPA back to 3.96 and back on the President's List of Kaplan University. Ok, I'm starting to brag, and I don't want that, so just give me the opportunity to say, "YAY ME!!!!" Ok, enough about that, except, you can't beat that!!!

On to the sadder implements... We mourn the passing of several icons of our pop culture. Although, I'm already really tired of hearing about it, they all have their places and I feel the need to address them. First we have probably the greatest side-kick or talk show co-host there has ever been. And what would we know about Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes or TV's Greatest Bloopers, really, without Ed McMahon? Although, not a shocker, it is still a great loss and a bit overshadowed as such considering the circumstances.

Next we have, literally, the poster girl of the 1970s. A red bikini with a more-than-winning smile and flowing sandy blonde hair, Farrah Fawcett was on the wall of nearly every adolescent to teenage boy's wall, most likely right over the headboard. A slow to rapid decline with rectal cancer took our beloved Angel at the relatively young age of 62.

The biggest, but not only, shocker was the loss of the King of Pop. Michael Jackson started as an innocent child star to a Thriller before turning Bad. In later years, his fame was overcome with infamy with allegations of bad deeds, none of which were ever proven. And on the eve of his "comeback to farewell" tour, he suffered a heart attack, slipped into a coma and then passed away. Of course, there are still questions to be answered about his death but none of it matters, really in his legacy as a world-class, no less than fantastic performer and singer. Long live the King!

Finally, we have seen, purchased from and been quite annoyed with the pitchmanship of Billy Mays. He, as annoying as he was, seemed to always make the products he sold jump out of the television and into our laps. My mother recently bought the Slider Station, although I don't know if she's used it. I still want to buy a ton of Mighty Putty and I don't know why, other than Billy told me I should. These four persons will not be forgotten anytime soon, I'm sure and we will miss them all, to that I'm also sure.

I know I say this all the time, but I hope I don't take as long as I have this time the next time I flap my proverbial gums to you, but we know it probably will. And you can't beat that!

Until then...
Au revoir!
Scorp... out!

U2 and Growing...

2009-05-03T14:24:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mes amis!!!

Much to the chagrin of some of my amis, I have grown to LOVE the band U2. They don't understand there is more to them than The Edge's fine use of various name-brand digital delays. There is Bono's awesome penchant for story telling (which I think blows Bruce Springsteen's and even Billy Joel's abilities away), solid and non-obvious drumming of Larry Mullen, Jr. and the thunderous bottom end of Adam Clayton, NOT to mention The Edge's guitar playing underneath the effects.

Anywhat! I have listened to the new album, No Line on the Horizon about 200 times now and think there's not a song on it I don't like. I DO have my faves of course. They show signs of their earlier albums with guitar (that's right guitar) riffs like in "Get on Your Boots" and "Stand Up Comedy." "Magnificenct" (I changed it you bastards! :P) is classic U2. Bono laments wonderfully as if he's preaching from on high in "The Moment of Surrender." I recommend NOT missing this one guys and gals.

And now, this October 3, I will be attending my very FIRST U2 concert. I have general admission on the field tickets and I am stoked!!! I have a few friends that will be going with me and it's going to be a great time.

I've become totally immersed in all things U2 and am loving it. I know this is not my normal post, just wanted to let you peeps in on my newest obsession!

Au revoir!
Scorp

One Hundred. Top to Bottom...

2009-04-06T16:11:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mes amis! Yet another tardy post from yours truly. I really wish I had more interesting things to write about - at least more often. I'd like to think you, my readers, actually enjoy my posts. I'd also like to think that you look forward to them and wish I'd do more. Then again, if you don't, I'm not wasting your time, lol. Anywhat!

Late last year I embarked on an adventure. A movie adventure. I am a paying member of the American Film Institute (AFI). WHY?! Because I love movies. Here's where my closest friends laugh because their idea of movies and mine are usually vastly different. So, I had read somewhere about the 10th Anniversary of AFI's Top 100 Movies of All-Time. So I started reading through the list and surprisingly, I had seen a great deal of them. Not half, mind you, but a great deal, nonetheless. So I started thinking to myself: "Self, why don't you do something crazy! No, not that, that's illegal, but why don't you try and watch all the movies on this list that you've not seen?" Well, I decided, YES! I can do that. And I did, just today. My final two fell.

There were several reasons for this. One, like I said, because I love movies. Two, it would make me watch the kind of movies that I wouldn't normally watch. Three, I just wanted to say I did it. Again, my friends roll their eyes because they know how much I love to talk about myself. The number one film on the list is Citizen Kane, which I own, but had never seen. I started to watch it once and the disc was messed up, so I took it back and got another one, but didn't start it again. Number 100 on the list was Ben-Hur, which I also own and, yep, you guessed it, I haven't seen it, either. So, I decided that I would save those two until last. Ben-Hur would be the 99th and Citizen Kane would be last. Along the way I saw movies that I should have seen before, either because of my generation or because they're just outright classics like the two mentioned above, Apocalypse Now, It's a Wonderful Life, The Graduate, To Kill a Mockingbird, Tootsie, King Kong (1933 version), M*A*S*H, etc. I had never seen those, either because of stubbornness or just no interest on my part. That was just plain DUMB!

During my journey, I found many that I would recommend that everyone see. Films like: It Happened One Night, High Noon, The Best Years of Our Lives, Duck Soup, Sunrise, Bringing Up Baby, The Apartment, Modern Times, Bridge On the River Kwai, The Searchers, Lawrence of Arabia, Some Like It Hot, The Deer Hunter, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and many more, just ask me!

There are also some that I just couldn't figure out what in the Honey Baked Hell (thanks Eug) they are doing on the Top 100, much less nominated for it. Those would be: Raging Bull, Annie Hall, Intolerance, The Wild Bunch, The French Connection and The Last Picture Show. I didn't find them interesting, personally, nor did I see the big deal in any of them. This is especially true of Intolerance (a 2 1/2 hour silent film) and The Last Picture Show (other than Cybill Shepherd's nude scenes). They bored me to tears. And on the #s 1 and 100? I had already had the ending of Citizen Kane told to me so I wasn't surprised at that, but the movie itself was AWESOME! Ben-Hur is a classic and I think people should see it, but it wasn't phenomenal to me. My question is WHY WASN'T THE CONQUEROR EVEN MENTIONED OR NOMINATED? Ok, that's half joking. The movie is awful, but it's beautiful at the same time! John Wayne as Genghis Kahn is laughable but ingenious! So if any of you find the time, I recommend that as well. My bestest buddy Eugene will concur, I'm sure!

So, now that I'm done with that list, what do I do? WHAT DO I DO!?!?!?! Well, they had to get this list from somewhere, right? They sent out a catalog to the upper echelon of AFI members (couple of thousand I think) with 400 nominations in which to vote from. I looked over this list and I have seen (with my Top 100) exactly 200, so what's a OCD-kind of guy to do? That's right watch ALL of them. So I'll keep you informed on where I am.

If you're interested in the American Film Institute, check out their website www.afi.com.

To this all, I say "To infinity and beyond!" (Toy Story #99 on the list)....

Au revoir!
Scorp out!

A Flooding of the Senses

2009-02-03T11:07:00.000-08:00

It seems like a lifetime since I last posted an entry. I had wanted to have something spectacular to write about. Then things would happen and I'd just forget to post. I hate that because I want this to be a fairly regular stop for you, faithful readers. So I decided to step outside the tackles and throw it to at least the line of scrimmage to let you guys know what has been going on.

Well, I finished my second term of matriculation at Kaplan University while maintaining a non-bragging 4.0 GPA. I figure I'd done so much wrong my first time around in school and in not giving a hoot-de-hoot at that time that this time I am going to bust arse when possible and do my damnedest! To top that off I was told I was going to be on the Dean's List. Well, in the mail came my certificate and it turns out I wasn't on the Dean's List after all. Instead, I am on the President's List!!!!! I am psyched!!! To do that I had to maintain a 3.96 or higher GPA and thank (enter entity here) I did! I'm having fun this time and am really excited about my studies and finally getting to use my brain for something other than keeping my ears from slamming together! Attaboy Scorp! Attaboy!

Early January, after a pretty rough holiday season (with transition and new traditions and such along with fundage problems) I decided to do something nice for myself. I've been looking at HDTVs for a while being as it's REALLY the way to go and with Blu-Ray Disc Players getting cheaper and Blu-Ray becoming a little more prevalant than its rough start, heck I WANTED ONE O'DEM!!! My son, had Santa deliver a NICE plasma tv for the holidays and gave him my "old" DVD player (about 4 mos old; it upconverts to 1080p although his tv is only 720p but still awesome picture). I got a Blu-Ray for Christmas and figured it was time. My mother called me early Jan on a Day o' Saturn and told me to check out ShopNBC. They had this Sah-WEET 56" Samsung DLP with stand and cables included for 5 easy payments. I have to digress a bit and quote Mitch Hedberg: "I wish I could get it for 4 easy payment and one difficult one. 'We're not going to tell you which one, but one of these payments are going to be HARD!'" Ok, I always thought that was funny so... Anywhat! I couldn't pass that op up so, I bit! I was a bit worried once I got it, because I still had my SDTV receiver and the picture was NOT very good. I watched a movie on my Blu-Ray and the picture was FABULOUS!!! I felt a little better. I hooked my XBOX 360 up and it too was FAB-U-FRICKIN'-LOUS!!! When I FINALLY got my HD DVR from DirecTV, all my fears were weigh-laid when I saw the NFL Network looked A-W-E-S-O-M-E!!!!!!!!!!! I was so elated that my son and I had several friends over to watch the "Big Game" this past Sunday!!!

Speaking of the Super Bowl, everyone that knows me knows that I've been a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers since I was but 10 years old! I can't come out and say that this is the best Super Bowl ever, but I'll venture to say it's one of the Top 3 best I've ever seen. One of the most exciting, too. The sad thing for me was that the Cards had to lose. I followed them all last year and this year. I wish they hadn't played the Steelers as I'd have pulled for them most certainly. BUT, seeing as they did play my beloved Steelers, too bad... too sad!!!! My team has proven (albeit not pretty) they were the best team this year, what with the toughest schedule in the league, the questionable offensive line that in the post season showed they could handle the pressure and the tenacity of Big Ben Roethlisberger. THE first team with 6 Super Bowl titles, the first team with 6 Lombardi trophies and still contenders to the crown next year. I love my team. I'm even considering my first tattoo (although I doubt it will happen) to be the Steelers emblem. Here we go Steelers! HERE WE GO!!! My only two requests for the team are 1) get rid of Steeley McBeam and 2) NEVER... EEEEVVVVEEEERRRR use those horrid throwback uniforms ever again!

I have also decided not to promise that I'll keep this up with greater frequency because I don't want to be a liar. I want to still use this forum as an outlet for my views and not a daily journal. I'll be here when I can and when I deem an event so important that I just can't shut up about it. So until next time... Same blog spot at SOME blog time....

Au revoir!
Scorp

That's Not Very Niacin of You...

2008-12-03T06:36:00.000-08:00

GASP! WHAT!?!?!? HUH!? EEK! Who the (aych-ee-dubble-hawk-ee-stiks) is this stranger!? Hey! Where in the Honey Baked Hell (kudos to Eugene) have I been!? How did you let me go this long without posting?!? Well, true believers, the undeniable truth is, I've a boring life. The title of this blog is "Useless Things Need Love Too," NOT "Let's Bore the Ever-Loving Fecal Pudding Out of Our Readers!" I've told my self that I'm not going write here unless I have something to write. I understand that a blog is really designed to be a daily or weekly journal. But really, what can I write? "Dear journal. I got up today. Scratched the nether-region. Made bubbles in the porcelain bowl. Took a shower. Went to work. Came home. Watched TV. Ate a couple of times. Scratched the nether-region again. And again. Fell into partial sleep on the couch. Woke up. Went to bed. 3:30am. Body pretends to be asleep, but isn't really. Alarm Clock. Snooze. Scratch...." Yeah I could do that, but not every day, you guys would never come see me again. And after just the example I'm sure I run that risk, but stay strong you'uns!

In reality, or so they say, there have been things going on. Some things of importance that I just can't talk about right now for one reason or another. Some things of importance that I won't talk about because, even though I love you all, it's none of your danged business! Some of it I'll get to eventually.

Well it's been well over a month since I told you anything in my life. I think I needed time to get over the death of my grandmother and I'm still not over it yet. But let's skip ahead to Nov. 20. This date happens to be my birthday, some of you didn't know because I didn't tell you so I won't hold it against you for not calling or texting or emailing or carrier pigeon or smoke signaling me happy birthday. Bastards! Just kidding. So anywhat, I had scheduled a doctor appointment for that day. Who the hell does that? I guess I do. My weight is still up (I knew that), my blood pressure is slightly up (I figured that) and "I'm gonna give you something OTC to take to try to help the cholesterol." Doc Ragonesi goes on to explain that this SUPPOSED wonder drug or Niacin, is cheap and should be a good substitute for fish oil. Start at 250mg, or one pill and work your way up to 4 pills over a 4 month span. Ok, no problem. Oh yeah! My liver functions were stable! Woot! I called the nurse to make sure I read that right because of course, I had been partaking in quite a few rounds of frothiness and wanted to make sure it was ok. She also told me to "eat an apple or some yogurt about 30 mins before Niacin to counter the hot flashes." Wha.........? I'm not an estrogen-deprived woman. Why would I be having hot flashes. She said it was a side effect. Oooooooooooooo....k......?

So I go a week+ before I get my new hypertension meds and go looking for Niacin. Walmart (yes, I hate Walmart, but hard to beat their prices when you're BROKE!) had the pills only in 500mg doses. So I went to a locally owned GNC knock off. They had it in 250mg and two different versions: regular and "Flush Free." I asked the hippie standing there in the store's colors and branding, "um.. what's flush free?" He said that it was a watered down version that didn't have the hot flashes. But, he went on to say that if I wanted the full effect to go with the regular because the hot flashes would be gone in about 30 mins and after a few doses or about a week that it would disappear completely. I'm thinking if it works and I can get my innershell cleaned and working right, then by (insert Deity) I'll take that chance! I threw down some funds and stormed out of the store ready to burn!

Or so I thought I was ready....

Fast forward to this past Sunday. I am watching the glorious ass-kicking of the Patriots by my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers and decide to go ahead and take my first Niacin. I also took my first BP meds. About 20-25 mins later I felt a slight warming of my skin and innards. I called my mom and made jokes about it, ha ha ha ha ha hummmm.... Itched a bit. Turned a bit pinkish. Had my son (mind you only 6) to come down and feel my head and see if I felt hot. He was actually quite mature about it. He said no and that I didn't look all that pink. He's a genius, didn't know if I had told anyone that or not. Anywhat! About 20-30 mins it was all gone. It wasn't too awfully bad and I'm like if that's all it is, I can clean up the arteries and get healthy! Woot! The woots weren't long lived, aye!

Monday, I decide to take the nurses advice and eat some applesauce before my daily fire pill. Ate the murdered little apple and in 35 mins I took the pill-o-death. Funny how it went from wonder drug to pill-o-death... Not really that funny. So I sit and wait for the embers to kick in. Try doing a little work, a little song a little dan.... BAM! Holy SHITE! I went from prickly to my bones are melting and I'm going to spontaneously combust! I could visualize my guts all over the four walls of my office! That would be a byotch to clean up, I thought, along with The Scorp, The Scorp, The Scorp is on FIRE! My skin swelled so bad that I couldn't move my fingers and my ankles and wrists and neck and face actually HURT, not ached but HURT. HURT!! My eyeballs were literally bulging from my head and my skin was so dark pink it was almost glowing. I had to make my way outside to try to get some air on me. Here it is in late fall and it's too warm outside. I tried to walk around to get some windchill on me and it wasn't doing anything more than getting my blood vessels wider and injecting more heat. Finally a breeze came through and I stood there taking my stiff 504 (that's a cap for those that don't know) and fanning myself. My mom threatened to take me to the ER but I nixed it. I had felt an allergic reaction to meds two years ago and I knew what it felt like now. Just 3 times as bad. I made my way back to the computer and single finger typed in WebMD.com to look up the drug. By then, some of the burning was going away and was being replaced by chills, nausea and dizziness. I thought I was passing out about 3 times through this whole thing. Finally it said some of the side effects were normal but when I called the triage nurse, she told me to stop until I heard back from the doc.

I knew it was bad when a nurse didn't call me back, but Dr. Peter Ragonesi himself called me back. Don't ever take another of those, he said. I was all too inclined to agree with him. SO it was back to the fish oil. Upon mentioning it in my Monday email to my trivia league, the very lovely Caitlin told me she worked at Whole Foods and that she had some things to help me. I went and saw her Tuesday and I must say, if you ever have to take fish oil, go to Whole Foods and buy the Omega-3 Swirly stuff, I don't remember the name but if anyone wants it call or email me and I'll tell you. I tastes JUST LIKE Lemon Pie or Lemon Pudding and you taste absolutely NO fish in it at all. And we all know I love pie :) I'm on the road to recovery or at least not dying. WOOOOOOT!

I know this was long, but hey! I've not been here in a while... AND IT'S MY BLOG!!!! Pie anyone?

Scorp Out!

Time stands still at record speed...

2008-10-10T23:19:00.000-07:00

Ok, what the hell does that title mean? I don't really know, to tell the truth. It sounded clever when it came out of my face and into my pudgy little phalanges (o'the hand). Why has it gone from me spouting 1-2 times a week to almost a month at a time now? Have I gotten this busy? Have I filled my schedule with so much stuff? Have I gotten bored with doing it? I don't think any of those are correct. I just can't explain any of it.

While the meaning of the title is elusive, the meaning of the blog is not. This past Thursday (Oct 9), I buried my grandmother, JoAnn Houchins. I've lost grandparents before; as a matter-of-fact she was my last. I've lost other friends and loved ones. But, dammit I can't seem to shake this one. I can't explain this feeling. There's an emptiness that feels like it's just sucking emotion - like a raging black hole - from my being.

I'm not going to do the usual, this is how great my grandmother was or there was no one like her. I think she deserves honors that even I, in my infinite ridiculous vernacular, can't put into words, nor will I try. Neither am I going to press form into my mother, my aunts, uncles, cousins, their children, my nephews nor my son and their collective feelings. That is their business and how they deal with it will be their own doing although they all know that I am right there with them and I'll do anything I can to help them deal with it. I love them all and hopefully we'll all be a little closer to each other than we ever have been and never fall apart.

I will say that my grandmother, to whom I named Mamaw (honor of 1st grandchildren), was the matriarch of my family. The rock. And this stone shall never be rolled. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. That is all that needs to be said.

The picture I'm putting in here is the shot right after they sealed the vault. It is the first time she laid next to my grandfather (a great man that also can't be described) in almost 28 years.

RIP JoAnn Houchins (1932-2008)

I love you Mamaw!

A Masterpiece in the Making or: The Making of a Masterpiece

2008-09-14T11:31:00.001-07:00

Salutations!!!

First off, I feel that is the best salutation that fits me. I'm apt to say it in real life and I just like the word. Ranks up there with debacle and sphygmomonometer as just damned fun to say! I may change it up some but it will be my main take on the opening spew!

Ok, I was asked to write about this from a close friend. The subject is the process of recording an album. The album in this case is Shinola from my band, Heavens Sake. This is by NO means the way that all albums, EPs or singles are recorded. This is just the path that we took to make the album. It was recorded by Mitch Easter at the Fidelitorium in Kernersville, NC. It was recorded several years back so forgive me if I get a bit fuzzy.

First off, this album (as was the debut disc) was recorded on analog equipment to give it a warmer, more classic sound. It was recorded on 2" tape on a 24-track reel-to-reel recorder going through slew of outboard equipment and an MCI mixing board that Mitch obtained from the BBC in the UK.

We recorded 3 songs: Second Time Around; Mornin', Noon & Night; Devil's Own for a CD-Single before deciding to do a full album. Second Time Around was the "single." We later that year came in and recorded the other 9 songs for a total of 12.

How we go about our songs' recording is we go in at about noon on a Saturday. The first 3 songs (the Single) we did the basic tracks which means that we do the bass, primary rhythm guitar track and all drums at one time. We sit in a circle so we can watch each other and cue our stops and starts visually. If the bass (me) or guitar (David Barker) mess up, chances are we can fix it. The drums have to be about spot on, so that puts pressure on Bobby, but he's a great solid drummer so he doesn't usually have a lot of trouble. If there are "stops" in our songs and we usually have a lot of them, we can usually pick up from there if Bobby does actually skip a beat. In the case of "Second Time Around" we did the piano, drums and guitar at the same time. Essentially, "STA" was a "one take." That means the basic tracks were done in one single recording. So after those three songs' basic tracks were finished, meaning that we were satisfied with our performances for those songs, David then went in and did what is called "overdubs." That would be any second and/or third-fourth guitar parts that he may have worked up for the songs. Once we have all decided that, up to that point, everything is as perfect as we can get it, we will usually break for the day.
Another day will be scheduled and we will start the vocal recordings. This is usually what we spend the majority of our concentration on. None of us consider ourselves fantastic lead vocalists or singers. Therefore we are really meticulous about the vocals. Of course, the lead vocals get laid down first with the lead singer in the studio and the rest are in the control room with Mitch making notes on lyric sheets if they hear anything that may need to be redone. Once everyone is satisfied we move on to backing vocals. Sometimes we would do one person at a time and sometimes we would do them in the room at the same time. Again, once we're satisfied that everything is as perfect as we can do them, we are normally exhausted, so we break for the day again.
The next time we come to the studio we begin work on the mixing process. Mixing involves meticulously listening to everything that is going on. Sometimes we'll hear things we didn't hear when our ears were tired the session before and luckily we can do the vocal things pretty quick. Then the actual mixing starts. This sometimes can take several days to get finished. Generally, we spend about 2 hours on each song. This is necessary to run through the song a few times "practicing" what we're going to do with any effects, EQ-issues, and fades and such. Sometimes it takes Mitch, David and myself to do all that needs done with the songs. From there we will actually re-record the song from the 2" tape to a 1/2", 2-track tape which will hold our stereo "mixdown." Once the songs were finished we put the 2-track on to a Digital Audio Tape (or DAT). The DAT will then be sent (usually by David) to Dave Harris at Studio B in Charlotte to be mastered. Mastering is essentially the final EQing and volume leveling. This is necessary to get the maximum output that will go down on the CD. From that point we sent the the CD that Dave Harris made to the CD printing company. I am not sure who David (HS) used. If we have any CD artwork that is done at another location (none was used for STA Single). We just had a rolls of discs sent to us and we usually bought jewel cases of used paper CD holders to distribute them.
When we recorded the last 9 songs for Shinola, we spent the first day recording all 9 songs' basic tracks. Luckily, when we go into the studio we have usually practiced the songs so much without vocals that we can generally do our cues and things with visual nods and such. Then we go back another day, do the overdubs and maybe some vocals. Then another day to do vocals and fixes. During the recording sessions for the last 9 songs of Shinola, Bobby left the band after doing his drum tracks and the vocal line for Get Up! so all the vocals done after he left was done by David and myself. Most everything else was done as it was mentioned previously including mixing, mastering and duplication. We did have art work done for this album and that was done at The Sound Lab in Greensboro (incidentally the location of the debut album's recording).

Today a lot of albums (and songs) are recorded using digital equipment and computer programs like ProTools, Cakewalk, Cubase, etc. Editing, recording, overdubs and everything are worlds easier with them, but with analog, you'll always have a warmer, richer sound.

So hopefully, you get an idea of how the album process works. I'm open to questions and hopefully I'll be able to answer them!

So 'til next webisode, Same Blog Place; SOME Blog Time!
Au revoir!
Scorp

Jeez o'Pete That's a Lot of Days!

2008-09-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Let's start this MUCH overdue blog entry with a little RIP for the Cat salutations and the Smell Ya closing. I will leave both the salutation and closing off for this blog as I'm still thinking of something to put in their places. Those were hold-overs from my MySpace blogging days. And since I don't do that blog anymore (still have the page, though) and want to concentrate on writing for the masses and not just MS members I feel it's time to start anew!

SO! How ya been? What's been going on? How's the fam? How's ya bod? Really? Mine too!

Now all that's outta the way, let's get to what the title of this entry is all about!

We have many many many many times heard (ok, read) me mention the GREAT place for beer o'plenty, Finnigan's Wake Irish Pub & Kitchen (Fins). Well last Monday, September 1st, I had the pleasure of attending this lovely place for the 366th day in a row. Why 366? Well, in 2008 we celebrated a leap year. So for me to complete a year I felt it necessary to include that extra day. Ok fast forward to Friday, September 5th (fast forwarding tape sound). My VERY good, close, personal and beautiful friend, Michele organized a most special, and for the most part, secret festivity for me.

Several members of the 90-Day Club were there; themselves knowing the sometimes gruelling feat of a long streak of attendance at Fins. Michele, herself is a member of this club. My good pal, Brian Attridge (see B's Bistro at the right), too with his smokin' number and my friend, Kaylin Murphy. Derek Stamey had to work (at Fins) that night but stopped by a few times to congratulate me. But, in addition to those peeps, I was surprised by many of my bestest buddies. The drummer from Heavens Sake and Busted Uncle, Bobby Richardson was there with his ready-to-drop hottie of a wife, Jeni. Tattooed Beauty: Heather (aka Heether) Alva, woot! Brewer's Social Club member Jay Platt and part-time member Stephanie Hudson sat with me. One of my oldest (in terms of knowing me) friends Britta Holtzclaw and her dude friend Brian. I was quite surprised at that one. Trivia fan Jennifer Kiger came and hung. One of my best musical friends, Jerry Chapman was there. Another musical friend, Patrick Ferguson was there and his band Vel Indica actually played there. Bret (don't know his last name) from Chelsee's Coffee came and hung for a while as did my friend, the mysterious Kat. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone but if I am and any of you fearless readers can give me a hint, I'll write an amendment later!

Anyway, it was a most fabulous time to be had by me at least, hopefully by all that came. So hopefully my 731st Day party will include all my friends as well as the ones that were there this time will make an appearance. That's right 731st. You've not seen me stop yet, today is 372 days. 366+365 is 731.

Again, I want to sincerely apologize for my lack of posts. I have been so busy with school, life and everything included that I've had to ignore some of my pleasures and let me assure you my readers, this is a pleasure of mine. I will do my damnedest to keep this thing to some sort of positive frequency!

One thing I won't change:

'Til next time: Same Blog Place at SOME Blog Time....

(this space intentionally left blank)

Scorp

Update of Sorts...

2008-08-07T19:03:00.000-07:00

K's

In addendum to the post about Heavens Sake getting back together, the genius-in-training, Bobby Richardson has put together a montage-style video of the first song I wrote specifically for the band - from our 1997 debut, self-titled album on YouTube. I'm singing the song and it highlights what the three of us looked like back then. A throwback if you will! So you don't necessarily have to run over to YouTube and hunt it down, I'm posting it here. Enjoy!!

Til next time..
Same blog place, SOME blog time
Smell ya
Scorp

Can you blow me where the pampers is...?

2008-08-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

Kit Kats!

I am constantly on the prowl for something to do, be it something to take up a few hours, a few days or heck, even a few sun revolution cycles. Well boys and girls, that is what I'm here to discuss on this lovely day. And did I say DAYUM! It's hot out there... BUT I digress....

There are a lot of things going on in my life right now and it seems a good deal of them revolve around each other in some ways. Let's take a gander, shall we? There's being back in my favorite band; trying to start a voice over biz with my best buddy Eugene (http://www.djeugene.blogspot.com/) which hopefully WILL BE SOON!?!?; me wanting to get back to doing my podcast (was ruined by an Evil Bastard); and of course, as this blog shows, my love of writing that I obtained from writing for a local (and in my opinion the best this area has seen) entertainment rag. Now back to me looking for something to do that may take some time... I'll continue with the hitting of the enter button...

Ok, I'm back! I was perusing over an article on Yahoo! about careers that can do this or ones that make more money or jobs that give you more time off, blah blah bloggedy blah, etc. Well, I really started thinking that I really would love to have more knowledge about what to do with the things I'm doing/will be doing/pretending to do. So I went exploring. With details to follow, I have to stop now and make the following announcement:

I AM GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will be attending via the internet and a distance learning program from Kaplan University. I will be pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Communications with an emphasis on Organizational Communications which includes Radio, Television, Podcasts, new communication technology and effective PR techniques. Kaplan is a fully accredited school in which any degree or credits acquired will be fully transferred and/or built upon at other major universities. Heck, if I wanted to, I could go to Harvard after this. Why? I hate Boston (at least the sports teams), so I wouldn't do that. Anywhat™! Kaplan is owned by the Washington Post and Citibank. Kaplan also boasts the highest graduation percentage of any other online university: 78% (compared with University of Phoenix who's only around the 40-50% range).

I am SOOOOO excited. It will take 180 credits for me to graduate. Each class is worth 5 course credits. Now, I was in college for four years eons ago. 1 year a business major and 3 years of music. I hated college then. The good news is all of my comparable credits from that period will be transferred. PLUS, those in the past only counted as 2-3 credits at that school, every one that transfers will be worth FIVE (that's 5) at Kaplan. The downside of that? Those crappy grades will also lower my GPA at Kaplan, so I know no matter how much I bust tail and try to obtain a 4.0 GPA, it will never be because of that. I just can't fathom going through a lot of those classes again and dang-it! If I passed it, I passed it! Someone said the other day "C=Degree" and although I really don't agree with that, as I think you should really knuckle down and do the best you can do, I'm going to have to take those for what they are. Oh well...

But hey! Again, I am excited! Finally after 14 years away from college that I hated, I can do this on my time and make a difference for myself, for my band, for Eugene and I and our biz (which to tell the truth is the main of these I'm doing it for, outside of me just wanting better for myself and the future of my son), PR in general and to learn to be a proper "salesman" of the things that I truly believe in. (ENTER DEITY HERE) love it!

As for the title of this webisode of Useless Things Need Love Too! I'm including a clip from my favorite college movie: PCU

So until next time:
Same blog place, SOME blog time!
Smell ya!
Scorp

It was bound to happen...

2008-07-28T19:58:00.000-07:00

You crazy felines!

I am excited to write about this. I mean, giddy almost. My nipples are hard, even! Ok, ok, ok! What in the wide-world of sports could I be talking about? Well, who knows really, the weirdest stuff comes out of my face, er... fingers in this case. But, that is normally; this is now! Some of you know me. Some of you don't. The ones who do and have any clue about my history - be it told or lived, know that I am a musician and that my true passion in this world is music.

That being said™ I've spent the last 13 years, on-and-off, with a band called Heavens Sake. Now, don't get confused, you'll notice there is no apostrophe in that, so not to denote any religious affiliation. It's more along the lines, and what we feel represents us, of the old saying, "Oh, for heavens sake!" I said on-and-off earlier in this paragraph because we started back in 1995. We went a few years, released an album, played (quite successfully for this area) many a show and then took a hiatus.

I guess I need to back up and explain the band's history a bit. In 1995, I was playing in a VERY dead-end band that didn't even have a name that I remember. I was friends with the singer/rhythm guitarist and we were both kind of tired of what was going on. I was reading a local entertainment rag and saw an ad about two local musicians looking for a specific flavor of pickers and grinners to form a new band that would be, more or less, a tribute to their (and my) favorite band, KISS. We got together and things went well. After about a month or so, it was evident that the friend I had dragged along with me fit about as well as a small kitten in a den of Rottweilers. Once he was gone we moved ahead as a 3-piece when we realized we really didn't want anyone else in the fold. We each took turns singing lead and had some serious harmonies.

Ok, so we did the hiatus. The hiatus consisted of one of the members (not me) deciding he didn't want to do this anymore. We attempted, only half-heartedly to audition a replacement. The three of us have a special bond and chemistry that is hard to duplicate and we never could in HS. He got bored over time (about a year) and we got back together. We recorded our second (and in my opinion much better) album. We opened for national acts Bonham (Led Zep's late drummer's son) and Warrant (YES THE Warrant). Again, the same member decided he didn't want to do this. We brought in someone to replace him, this time actually keeping someone for about a year, again, before we just came to the realization that without the three of us, THE Heavens Sake that formed in '95, there was NO Heavens Sake. So we just stopped.

So in 2004/05 I, along with HS's drummer joined/started a band with different styles and basically became a cover band. Again, keeping a band together is a real tough job. 4 different people with 4 different personalities with 4 people that has a tendency to be intolerant with other's differences is awful. We broke up and for a year and a half stayed that way. I was happy with it. For the first time, I was so disenchanted with the band situation, I didn't care if I EVER was in one again. Well, after a while, my taste buds yearned for the band again. I hinted towards the two guys from HS about reforming. They weren't really in for it. The guitarist was deeply involved in another band, and still is. The drummer didn't really feel it either. So we reformed the cover band. It started off ok, but then it became the same ol' same ol'. No one really gave 100% and after one warm up session and one opening gig, we stopped playing. We really didn't know what was going on.

Over the last month or so, I've been contemplating leaving that band for good. Leaving for greener pastures, or at least looking for grass seed to plant a pasture. I put out feelers for the other two to do HS once, again. Well, I think the other band just got to where we couldn't go any further. The HS guitarist is in a position to where he can be in both HS and his other project productively. So, officially, the other band, we'll call them Broken Knuckles (not their real name) has disbanded.

The reinvention of Heavens Sake is now an official happening. So those who know what this band means to me, has to know that I am EXCITED!!! Those of you who were/are Heavens Sake fans must at least be stoked at the possibilities. This is THE Heavens Sake. This is Bobby, David and Tim. We are going to work on a new album and a show that we can knock you on your asses and kick you around with! I know this area (Winston-Salem/Triad area, NC) sucks for original music but we will find a way. If nothing else, we'll release albums and promote it on the Internet, I'm just glad that the musical project that I'm most proud of in my life is back together and is moving forward, yet again. The Juggernaut is loose and we're coming to run you over!

Until next blog...
Same blog place, SOME blog time...
Smell ya...
Scorp

Craig, Daniel Craig

2008-07-25T07:28:00.001-07:00

Cats, Kittens:

I've been putting off watching "Casino Royale" for a while.

I didn't see it in the theater, because just like some of the reasons i don't like going to concerts: a) I don't like being in the dark with a bunch of people I don't know b) I can't pause when nature calls c) not many places around here let you drink while watching the movie.

I bought it the day it came out on DVD. But, still didn't watch it right away. "*sigh* I have to be in the mood, my DVD player is messed up, don't like watching on XBox or PS2, don't like watching on laptop, blah blah blah dee blah!!!!" All kinds of excuses, which sometimes I realize I make too many for things. Now, it IS true. My DVD player went on the fritz. It IS true, watching movies on XBox and PS2 just seems weird. It IS true, watching movies on my laptop isn't all that fun. But, now that my XBox encountered the "three red flashing lights of death" and I had to send it off to Texas to be repaired or replaced (they never said what the "hardware failure" was) and I have to hook a strange apparatus or use a wired controller to run the movie on the PS2, then I had no choice but to watch a movie on the XPS (that's my laptop, btw).

Why Casino Royale, I had to ask myself. Don't know if I had waited long enough and my Bond fandom was taking a serious hit or I had seen something that reminded me that I needed to see it... I don't know what it was. I am pretty sure it wasn't the new Bond that had kept me away, although I was slightly apprehensive, but not too much. I've thought that every man in the 6-man roster of the franchise has done a fantabulous job and that Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson have great judgment in their history of being the beef in the Bond Burger. Each actor has brought something different, yet VERY MUCH Bond to the character. Connery had the look. Moore had the suave demeanor. Lazenby, I thought fit what Bond was supposed to be. Dalton was nothing but stern; a no-nonsense Bond. Brosnan was the ultimate James Bond, embodying a piece of Connery, Moore and Lazenby all in one.

What Craig brings in is a hint of what would not be considered weakness, but a human factor. Not saying that any of the others weren't human-like, but making Bond what he was supposed to be in this picture: Green. No not an annoying tree-hugging, Birkenstock, hemp-wearing hippie-type (jeez-o-pete I hate that), but a British agent that was just starting in his career as a "double-O." This film was meant to set Bond in his early days and when he had to learn to be the person that we all came to know and love in the later Bond films. Later, Bond would become hardened; unrelenting. I would venture to say that Daniel Craig gave the performance that would make me indicate that he's my favorite Bond. It was just the conviction that he undertook to evolve into the character that really struck me. Now, I think Brosnan was the quintessential Bond. He was what Bond was when he came in. But, Craig was amazing as Bond in this film.

So, let's say for the proverbial S&Gs you're looking for a movie to watch this week or weekend and you're thinking, hmmm... what would Scorp watch? Well, you don't have to ponder for long, I'm giving you the hint! WATCH CASINO ROYALE!! I don't want to give anything away about the film, just that Daniel Craig was fantastic and will continue to be.

And if you're really feeling silly, watch the 1967 spoof "Casino Royale" and watch David Niven and company make a predecessor to Austin Powers! Ok....

'Til next time: Same blog place, SOME blog time...

Smell ya

Scorp

One Bad MoFo

2008-07-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

Kitty, kitty, kitties!

I haven't been to see any concerts in a while. You know, I've really never much cared for live concerts. Now, that may be hard to believe being I'm currently in and have been in several bands and we like people to come see us live. Now, I've seen a few concerts in my life: KISS (7), Queensryche(3), Santana, Poison (2), Spice Girls, wait... what!? Yeah, yeah, yeah... I saw the Spice Girls in concert. I was 14 rows back and STILL had my binoculars. Anywhat!

I've just gotten to the point where I don't really want to pay these outrageous prices that the concerts cost these days. Most of the bands I like usually end up on multi-band bills where they all demand high-dollar cashola to even do the gig (KISS/Aerosuck) so that drives the price up.

Now, granted I haven't paid for a concert in a while. I've just gotten used to that. When I was writing for ESP (Rest In Peace) Magazine I got to see several concerts for free, because it was my job. It was what I was paid to do. Plus, my best buddy, Eugene, works for a radio station and has taken me to see a few that he's been able to score. So, I kind of got spoiled with not forking over any $$ for me to see the shows.

All that being said, I really haven't wanted to see any bands, either. Nothing to be excited about. Like I said, I don't like going to them. It's hard to hear what's going on, for one. And, usually you have to pay outrageous prices and still are about 1/4 mile away from the action. That or they are all in outdoor amphitheaters and that's NO way to see a show. I like to hear CDs because I am a HUGE fan of production. Some people argue that live is the purest way to hear the songs or call it "the vision they had for the songs." Bull-hockey! To me, on the CD, they get to really expand ideas, they get to let the song blossom (yeah I used that word). Now, I know that a lot of times it's the producers that get to do the manipulating, but when the bands or artists have control they can really be creative. Plus, you don't hear the drunks next to you singing out of key and making up words on CDs (unless you're listening to Scott Weiland... I'M ONLY KIDDING Scott). I'm sorry, I just like production and clean, crisp sounds. Plus, being surrounded by 10,000 people that I don't know in the dark and most of them drunk... really? Nah.

Now, all that being said, I'm here today to promote a band (person) that likes production, not that (I) they use a whole lot themselves in this project. I'm here to promote The MoFo Symphony Orchestra. myspace.com/thmofosymphonyorchestra

Now, of course, the "band" is really just one person. That one person does everything on the songs. Everything from barking in the microphone to tickling the keys to picking the strings of a guit-fiddle or plucking the strings of a thunderstick and even playing or programming drums. That person, dear reader, you're familiar with already if you read this blog. That person is YOURS TRULY, ME! Scorp! The Dude! THE MoFo! Now, I know not everyone who reads this has a MySpace account. But the good news is, the profile is NOT a private profile, so you don't have to have a MS account to hear this stuff. And really, everyone should have a MS account, even if you don't use it. A lot of major bands are on there as well as a great plethora of indie and struggling musicians and bands. It's a good way to hear and connect with bands and music you like.

Anywhat, right now that's the only way I have MY music out there. I've got stuff from Busted Uncle and Heavens Sake (my other two bands) out there but this is ALL ME! I'm proud of my stuff and want everyone to hear it. So, yeah, I'm biased and yeah, I'm a bit egotistical in doing this, but please, PLEASE! Please, give it a listen. For me. I appreciate it.

'Til next time, Same Blog Place, SOME Blog Time!

I'll smell ya...

Scorp

Life's Little Bastards

2008-07-14T07:32:00.000-07:00

Cats, Kittens...

I'm going to keep this pretty vague to protect all the parties involved. It IS based on a true story. And no matter what other accounts are ever revealed, THIS is the absolute truth that I would swear on anything to attest to. That being said™ (I have been told that is unique to my normal vernacular), I won't say who it is about, only that I know the story very well.

So my question is: if someone actually promises to do something, shakes your hand on it, has people around to witness said promise, has a spouse that says he/she has heard "X" talk about the promise and it's details, and talks about it with the person promised for sometime after the commencement of said promise, doesn't one really EXPECT "X" to actually follow through with that promise? Whew!? I know that's a lot of promise. That's because it WAS a lot of promise. Promise in several senses of the word. Promise to follow through with an agreement, an endeavor that shows real promise, etc.

Well come listen to my story about a man named... hmm, let's call him Earl, he is the promisee. Let's call the promiser (promisor?), um Evil Bastard. Also included in this story are Goldilox, a witness and "I Dream of" herein referred to as "IDO," a spouse/ex-spouse.

The story starts in a local sports bar in which Earl, Evil Bastard and Goldilox met to play trivia and embark on the more important reason for visiting, a business venture. Earl and Evil Bastard had an agreement, the details of which is not important just know that Evil Bastard agreed that the company would take care of things provided by Earl in the betterment of the venture. The important part was: Evil Bastard and Earl shook hands after Goldilox hears, witnesses and can still attest to the fact that Evil Bastard DID in fact agree that this "thing" would happen. Woot, time for trivia, apparently all is well... NOT!

Time starts to move forward and things are beginning to NOT happen the way things are supposed to. Things start to fall apart, which they're apt to do, and at first is not a major issue as it can still be resolved. But, things being what they are, they soon became a major issue. So after the complete crumble and fall of the venture, Evil Bastard says he never promised such a thing, leaving Earl holding the empty pot. Even IDO, which is no longer the spouse of Evil Bastard, says Evil Bastard talked about the promise he is supposed to honor to her during the operation of what will from here on be called, "The Debacle." And, so far, Earl still stands holding the bag.

So, back to my question: in all of this is why would one EVER agree to do something that they fully intended NOT to honor? The only answer I can think of is, they're either a true a$$hole, a dirty-rotten-filthy scoundrel, or what I normally just refer to as A LIAR! I personally think that Evil Bastard is all three of those wrapped in one. What are you guys' thoughts on this? I'd love to hear. Really I'm just ranting. To see this happen to anyone is certainly a travesty. To have it happen to someone you care about is as well. To have it happen to you, and I'm not saying it did happen to me, but to have it happen to you, sucks like an industrial strength Hoover!

So let me know your thoughts...
Smell ya™ (going crazy with TM)
Scorp

For the Love of Everything Holy!

2008-07-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

Gatos of all persuasions!

Ok, I know I've mentioned that Finnigan's Wake is my (2nd) favorite place on earth.

But lately, I'm a bit perturbed. First, they shifted off Carlsberg and of course I was ticked off. However, I was MORE than happy with the brewstitute (Franziskaner) they offered. Well last Friday I go in and I nearly walked straight back out. It was July 4 weekend and also Heavy Rebel weekend on Trade Street. Franziskaner was gone and in its place, on draft mind you... PABST BLUE RIBBON!!!! How don't get me wrong, although I don't think it's the best cheap beer out there (Miller High Life holds that distinction) it's not awful. BUT, I don't think that it should EVER be offered as a draft selection. Especially in an IRISH PUB!!!!!

I have been on edge about my beer selections at my watering hole for a the last bit, but jeez! Pabst Blue Ribbon!?!!? This is the bar that doesn't have Jagermeister and Red Bull because it doesn't want that clientele. But wait, you don't want the drunken college boy prep-fest but you want the heavily-laden redneck contingency? What kind of reasoning is that? Let's put a bunch of motorcycles inside and not allow the bikers! K-razy!

I've been told by THE management that they will be getting either Frank-n-Skanker or a damn near marvelous comparison! As of this writing, which is about 2:45 Friday afternoon, the last time I was there was at 7:30 last night and it was still on tap. Hopefully, they get rid of that crap soon!!!

Rant rant rant rant rantrantrantrantrant!!!! Ok, I got that out of me!

Next time... Same blog place, SOME blog time....

Smell ya...
Scorp

Oh For the Love of Carl(sberg): a Eulogy

2008-06-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

Cs & Ks...

OK, so last Monday I went on a rant o'love about a shiny hoppy people's beer called Carlsberg. I also did verbal cartwheels about the fact that my favorite bar bellying place, Finnigan's was keeping it because it was awesome. Yay! Or... Nay...?

Turns out the distributor in our area (I believe it's Berringer, but don't hold me to it) was informed by the regional or national distributor that their quota (not Finnigan's but Berringer) was not high enough to keep them on the short list of sellers. What a bunch of fascists! I'm only playin' I know it's only business but DAMN! I loved that beer. I did get a hat and a soccer jersey with the name emblazoned on them! So pfft! to you Mr. National Distributor AND the proverbial horse you rode in on!!!

I was saddened and, wait did I use the saddened? I was upset. I went out and sat in the middle of Trade Street in hopes that someone would just run over me and my tragic circumstance. Well, a few cars did pass by slowly and just went around me. Not even so much as a horn honk! OK, I really just fabricated that whole thing, although I did think about it. My luck, I would have just gotten hit by one of the bicycle-riding cops anyway. Boo! Hiss!

So I came in on Friday to give one of my bar-famous ghost tours and noticed there was a new tap handle in place of my beloved Carlsberg. I'd seen the tap before. When this so-called "World Market" restaurant bar was in Winston-Salem called Mr. Dunderbak's they had it on tap, but I never partook in the flavor. I am one to try anything that is not made here and ANYTHING that doesn't say "BUD" on it anywhere, but for some reason didn't try it. So, jeez o'pete Scorp, you've talked about it and talked about it, we know you didn't drink it but for the love of pie! WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE BEER!?!?!?!? OK! OK! The name of this beer was Franziskaner. It's a wheat beer or hefeweissen. Could be a weissbier or white beer as well.

Now anyone that knows me knows I love wheat beer. I know you're thinking I'm like a beer-drinking Mikey from Life Cereal. NO I won't drink just anything, but I will try ALMOST anything once and wheat beers are probably my favorite style of beer. Anywhat, this particular beer, have I mentioned I hadn't tried it before?, I did? Ok, well, I said let me try this one who dethrones and see what it's all about. BING! BANG! BOOM! MY (insert your favorite deity here)! That was delicious! As was the second pint and the third and fourth pints. The beer itself, to me has a flavor that is kind of banana-ish. But that doesn't last long enough to disrupt the vitality of the beer. It's unfiltered, too, which is also marvelous. It's quite cloudy and quite yummy! So please let's examine the "how we got here" on this new creamy treat!

Sometime in 1363 - damn that's a long time ago - the brewer Seidel Vaterstetter was mentioned as the owner of this small brewery in Munich's Residenzstrasse. Known at the time, commonly as the brewery next to the Franciscan monestary. So hence the name Franziskaner. I guess hence, since I don't speak Bavarian... Anywhat in the 1800's the brewery moved to another part of Munich and/or one of its suburbs. It was bought by members of the Spaten family (also with a bunch of brilliant brewed goodies of their own) and since has been serving up the goods that it does today. The company that is responsible for this wonderful concoction is called (now get this): "Gabriel und Joseph Sedlmayr Spaten-Franziskaner-Leistbräu AG" Whew... According to the company, Franziskaner is the world's #3 weissbier. I don't know what #s 1 & 2 would be but I figure some names may be Paulaner, Schneider Weiss, Hoegaarten (even though it's a white beer or witbier), Weinstephaner (oldest brewery in the world) or even Spaten themselves.

It's funny if you go into Finnigan's you may have to call the beer by its new nickname, Frank-N-Skanker to get them to know what you're wanting, lol... I think it's really a joke and they really know how to say it, but really, isn't Frank-N-Skanker more fun to spew forth? I think so.

So, am I down because of the loss of good ol' Carl? Yes. Am I devastated? Eh... Am I happy with the new replacement? ABSOLUTELY! I really do love it. Come into Finnigan's and see me, I'll let you buy me one! I'm just nice like that!

Smell ya!
Scorp

The X & Y of A Brand New Thing

2008-06-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Cats, Kittens, Yous & Ya'lls!

Ok, so I was watching the Today show on Friday. Yes, I have a television in my office with a full plethora of channelistic lovliness from our friends at DirecTV. Well on this sometimes mundane morning show, Coldplay was making an appearance for their brand new album, "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends." The first song they performed was the über-smash "Clocks" from their second platter. Because I was at work, I missed the second and third perfomances (MUTE!). So with that and the fact that no matter what the two homophobes from the film "40 Year-Old Virgin" think, I like Coldplay, I went during lunch to the Garden of Eden, some of you may call it Best Buy, and bought the disc.

First off, one negative from the get go: No jewel case. I hate when CDs don't come in jewel boxes. Why? You ask (or don't ask)? Well a) non-jewel cased CDs are the CD collection equivalent of a square peg in a round hole and b) the case is much more succeptable to elements and damage to the case AND disc. The artwork was righteous, though... Anywhat!

I've listened to the album about 7 times now and I have to say it is certainly better than "X&Y," as good as their sophomore effort "A Rush of Blood to the Head" but nowhere near as good as their masterpiece, the debut called "Parachutes." "Parachutes" was a classic from beginning to end. Not a bad track to be found ANYWHERE on it. In this collection of words I call a blog I'm not going to cover the entire "Viva" pie, just a few slices here and there. As we move on...

It takes until track four before I get excited. "42" is a whimsical treat of Beatle-esque vocals from Mr. Gwyneth Paltrow (ok Chris Martin) with beautifully reverbed piano. A-

Nombre six, entitled "YES" is actually pretty heavy for Coldplay. The beat is big and strong from drummer Will Champion. It features Apple's daddy singing in a style reminding us of an early- to mid-90s alternative, almost chin-dropping baritone. Great song. A-

Numero siete is the (half) title track and first single, "Viva la Vida" and is all that fans of Coldplay love about the band. It sounds not exactly like other Coldplay songs but is definitely in the vein of singles you expect from this quartet. Good stuff fer sure! A

#8 is probably my favorite track on the album. "Violet Hill" also is classic Coldplay at its finest. Not much to really say about it other than it's a great tune. A+

Track ten is the other (half) title track. "Death and All His Friends" is a good tune that is somewhat laid back with a hidden tension that is waiting to bust loose. B+

Overall, I give the Brian Eno produced "Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends" an A-. I've left this review kind of open-ended on purpose because I don't want me to be the end-all-be-all of your judgement, which... why would you, other than I'm a genius (in my mind). I think you need to listen for yourself, because if you're a Coldplay fan, or if you don't give a rat's fat patooty about them, it's a good listen. THEN go buy, borrow, steal, swipe, burn, copy or obtain "Parachutes" if you want the lowdown on what this band can do. I am off to once again put this disc in and enjoy it. This delectable musical beauty is definitely a dish best served Cold(play)

So until next time: SAME blog channel, SOME blog time...

I'll smell ya!
Scorp

Carlsberg: The REAL King o'Beers

2008-06-23T21:50:00.000-07:00

Cats and Kittens!
I'm here to preach on about a marvelous golden concoction by the name of Carlsberg.

For those of you in the out, let me explain. Carlsberg Beer is a magnificent brew from our friends (and let's face it, any place that brews beer really is our friend) in Denmark. It was started by the genius J.C. Jacobson and named for his spawn, hmm... what was his name again? OH YEAH! Carl. It's a lager or pilsner depending on your outlook and if you really don't give a flip, it's a "good."

My first tasting of this treat from the gods was in 2006 when I was visiting my favorite place in the world, Walt Disney World. Yes, that's right a grown man with an affinity for a great family theme park in the immodest humidity and unrelenting heat of Central Florida. Anywhat, as I was waxing... the Norwegian Pavilion in my favorite part of the "World" Epcot's World Showcase stopped selling Ringnes (incidentally now owned by the same company that owns Carlsberg) which was one of my favorite vices and the brains down there replaced it with the big "C." So chance as it is, I HAD to taste what they felt was important enough to replace the great Ringnes. BAM! I loved it!

(bunch of intelligible crazy sound effects pointing to me fast forwarding) Just in time for the World Cup tourney (don't get me started on soccer, it's another posting all in itself), my favorite stomp, Finnigan's Wake a superb Irish Pub & Kitchen in my hometown of Winston-Salem, NC decided to bring in the primo sponsor of the games, Carlsberg in for a limited engagement. I was ecstatic when I heard of this, I'm agnostic but found myself thanking any and every deity I could right down to Gene Simmons, the God of Thunder, for this delightful gift bestowed upon me and all that deserved a great glass of heaven (or close proximity thereof). One taste and I was thrown back (Wayne's World dudle-duhs complete with hand gestures) to the descendants of the Nords in good ol' WDW! Rumor has it from a crazy brit who seems to have SOME say in what is served at Finnigan's (or thinks he does), it's here to stay. I mean, think of this, it's been sold out about 45% of the time that they've had it on tap. One day, I know it came in, the next day, it was sold out. HELLO!!!! Can we say TOP SELLER!?!?!?!!?!?!? Ok, I said it so we don't all have to, but I digress...

So with all that crap spewn forth from my face, my advice is to anyone that wants a good beer that is NOT made in mass quantities HERE, please for the love of everything holy have a pint at your favorite drinking spout that offers good beer. If they don't have it, ask for it by name. Again, that's Big C, little -arlsberg. It's highly recommended by me and really what else matters? (rimshot!)

Smell ya's!
Scorp

Cats, kittens, dudes, dudettes...

2008-06-23T13:51:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my non-MySpace blog. I will probably still do stuff on MySpace, but will try to do more stuff on this here newfangled thing-a-ma-jig! I do a lot of retro speak as you'll see in my blogs and some new stuff that I feel like spouting.

So let me first start by saying, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah! There will probably be a lot of that, just with real words but about the same meaning, you dig me? Sweet!

Anywhat, I'm sneaking out the back door and I'll smell yous l8r!

Scorp