Popeye's: chicken with attitude

I. LOVE. FRIED. CHICKEN. And if you're anything like me, when you go out and pick up a box, you get the spicy because mild just won't do. But on Monday December 14, I had to question my loyalty to one particular chain....Popeye's. WTF are they thinking when it comes to customer service. I hope they're reading this.

With over 52,000 followers on Twitter, you would think this chain has got business in check! WRONG. It's the holiday season, and I really wanted to do nothing more than send out positive reviews about businesses I visited that seemed to be doing all the right things. That would have been the case, had I not decided to check out the Popeye's location off Callaghan and Centerview here in San Antonio.

What makes this sad story even more sad is that i was in really high spirits tonight after leaving work, despite the bad news I had gotten earlier that day. Once I got home, I quickly unveiled what appeared to be pieces of an anorexic chicken, or fetus, I'm still questioning it to this day. Let's start from the beginning. It was a Monday. I had been looking forward to December 14 because I had a coupon for a "customer appreciation" special valid that day only at Popeye's. The special promotion was for an 8-pc box of mixed chicken for $4.99 or an 8-pc box of dark for $3.99. Being the thrifty person I am, I opted for the dark to save a buck. I was so excited to walk in and order.

As I walked in, the only person at the front counter was a young girl who was already helping another customer. Because I wasn't in a hurry, I didn't mind waiting at all. I mean, who wouldn't mind waiting a few more minutes for only $3.99? So as I'm there, practically drooling, a girl who looked slightly rough around the edges, and wore a different colored shirt from the other employees decides to pick up her head from the nook in the back where she appeared to be sleeping, or just stoned (you never know with kids these days) decides to come out into the light and has the balls to ask if I need help. In my head, I'm thinking: "It's all good, Teardrop. You can go back to reminiscing of your days in prison with your home girls."

I'm only being ugly about it because I that's how pissed off I was about the crap she gave me. So she continues to ask if I want spicy or mild, and as to not burden them, I just told her she could give me whatever was available. I could be wrong here, but I hardly think the only thing available were 8 pieces that were equivalent to three pieces I would have gotten at Bill Miller's (It's a barbecue chain here in San Antonio). Oh, that's right. In the photo I have provided is just one of the "thighs" in my box. All the others were the dame size, and if you can picture it, the legs were even smaller. Maybe the coupon should have read, "Customer Appreciation: Baby Chicken pieces on sale!"

But that's not all. This girl with the tattoo on the back of her neck and permanent bitch-face, decides to charge me for the mixed piece special when she clearly gave me the dark. Well here's a message for you, Popeye's: You can keep on selling your sad chicken, and keep on allowing your sad manager at that location to do customers this kind of injustice, or you can have your marketing department change the coupon so that it reads: "Customer (UN)appreciation," because you obviously could care less about what you give us. If I were a performer, this would be the part where I drop the mic. BOOM.

48 Hour Film Project showcases local filmmakers work

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to participate as an actor in a project for Mala Mujer Media.  It was a film short for the 48-Hour Film Project titled Masa y Amor (Dough and Love).  Several filmmakers were given certain criteria and the opportunity to shoot a film, in a short span of two days. The result? Well I can’t speak for everyone, perhaps not even for my own director, Rachell.

What I can tell you is that I must have put Rachell through hell while I became a total diva on and off set, calling “cut” when I didn’t feel a shot was going my way, or taking long naps when I was asked to be on set to shoot. Would my behavior have been the same had I gotten more than three hours of sleep the night before? I really can’t say since it didn’t happen.

In any case, tonight I get to see the final results, and you can too. Each of those entries will be playing tonight at Santikos Bijou Cinema at Wonderland of the Americas located at 4522 Fredericksburg Road in San Antonio, from 6:00pm to 11:00pm.

As short notice as it is, I just found out about this myself last night. Entries were divided into Groups A and B.  Masa y Amor is part of Group A with screenings at 6:00pm and 9:00pm. Although tickets are available online, I’ve contacted the producer coordinating the event who informed me tickets may be purchased onsite. 

For more information, please visit the website www.48hourfilm.com as the host theatre itself does not have much information on the event.  Come out and support your local filmmakers and me in my first ever lesbian role….and “CUT!” That’s a wrap, y’all.

Should a child be allowed to make decisions on their own appearance?

According to one person representing one industry, the answer is yes. I recently learned of a salon which refuses to work with parents if the employees feel the person is at an age to speak for him or herself. I then learned the age at question was 11.

Forgive me if I’m wrong, but at that age, I was not allowed to speak for myself unless the law depended on it. When I questioned this, I was told it was called bad parenting if someone could not let their 11-year-old child make their own decision.

But doesn’t it start there? If you allow someone that young make their own decision about what they want to look like, they will begin making their own decisions on other things. What they eat, what they wear, who they associate with, etc.

Maybe I’m wrong, but I call letting a child that young make all the decisions bad parenting. Perhaps this is why we have children more often than none getting more and more in trouble with the law. It all started with a haircut.

It’s my opinion that someone who refuses to work with a parent is bad business practice. It’s one thing to have an overbearing parent. It’s another completely to protect someone who is too young to make their own decisions.

Don't get me wrong, I do believe that any establishment has every right to refuse business to someone who is unwilling to cooperate, but bullying that parent into trying to make their child make decisions for themselves is not a business any parent should take their child to. Parents, perhaps you should pay a little more attention to what is happening in your kids’ lives and less on what social event you might be planning your next drink at. You may learn that when your kids make their own decisions, they also let out your dirty little secrets.

It might just be me, but at that age, anything my mom decided for me, I believed to be for my own good. I was a shy child. I'm nothing like that anymore. At 11-years-old, I'm glad I had someone to speak on my behalf because I may not have made the decisions that made me the person I am today. At that age, I needed to be protected, not out fending for myself.

Then again, I'm not a parent. If you're reading this, and you have children that age, feel free to let me know whether or not you feel comfortable enough to let your child make their own decisions. I know a haircut is a simple one, and not all parents must worry about what their children do, but for those of you who feel their kids are easily influenced, perhaps this questions is targeted more to you.

Rumors, splits, and complete fall outs for these celeb couples

In the wake of Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert’s divorce, rumors are amidst once again over Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. RadarOnline reported Monday that the Smiths were pulling the plug on their 17-year-marriage, quoting one source as saying the “marriage has been on life support for a long time.”

Will Smith denied the split rumors on Facebook, according to New York Daily News, telling fans “…if I ever decide to divorce my Queen – I SWEAR I’ll tell you myself.” Divorce rumors have put them in the tabloid spotlight the last four years.

Over in Nashville, country star Reba McEntire and husband and manager Narvel Blackstone announced on Monday they are separating after 26 years of marriage, according to the Associated Press. In a joint statement, the two said they had been separated for several months.

Both have worked together for 35 years, and will continue to do so, they said in their statement. A spokesperson for the two however declined to comment whether they planned to divorce. Blackstone runs a management company that represents McEntire, Blake Shelton, and Kelly Clarkson.

And speaking of divorce, TMZ was one of the first to report that Gwen Stefani has filed for divorce from husband Gavin Rossdale.

According to TMZ.com, Stefani has cited irreconcilable differences in the divorce petition, which will put an end to the 13-year-marriage. Rossdale’s rep filed his response at the same time, making it “clear the petition and response were orchestrated to be filed simultaneously,” the website states.

TMZ also stated there was no prenup, and with Stefani worth a reported $80 million and Rossdale $35 million, given the length of marriage the 50/50 California community property law will combine everything before it is divided. Both are asking for joint custody of their three children.



Sources:

http://radaronline.com/celebrity-news/will-smith-jada-pinkett-smith-divorce-240-million-secret-split-decided-pull-plug/

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/smith-jada-pinkett-smith-set-divorce-report-article-1.2312895

http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/celebrity/reba-mcentire-narvel-blackstock-announce-separation/ar-BBlmKFK?ocid=ansentap11

http://www.tmz.com/2015/08/03/gwen-stefani-files-for-divorce-gavin-rossdale/

Trump reveals income, Wallace too soft for The View, and Jenner spreads emotional message.

Donald Trump earned almost $214 million dollars from NBC for 14 seasons of his reality television show, The Apprentice, according to one source.

Trump, a Republican Presidential candidate, detailed the information of his earnings in a filing with the Federal Election Commission this week, and was later released by his campaign.

NBC parted ways with Trump in June after he announced his bid for the GOP presidential nomination in a news conference, in which he made comments about Mexican immigrants travelling across the U.S. border being rapists, and drug smugglers. Some people found his remarks offensive.

NBCUniversal and Trump were also partners in the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants. Univision also cut ties with Trump, saying it would not broadcast the Miss USA pageant to its viewers, which instead ran on the cable network, Reelz, this year.

Macy’s department stores, having a partnership with Trump, also ended their connection with him after receiving many petitions against him.

With all his success, I’m guessing it’s been a long time since Trump heard the phrase he made famous for television viewers, “you’re fired!”

Speaking of being let go, after just one season, Nicolle Wallace will not be returning to the table of The View, according to an article in Variety.

Comments have not been made by either Wallace or an ABC spokesperson. According to the article, Wallace was brought onboard in September as the resident Republican because she was the former communication chief for George W. Bush, but she underwhelmed ABC execs with her lack of knowledge on celebrity news and not being opinionated enough on political issues.

Her departure comes in the wake of Rosie Perez and Rosie O’Donnell also leaving the show this year. Ratings were down 16-percent for The View second quarter compared to the same time last year, and ABC plans to revamp the show for its 19th season with Whoopi Goldberg returning to the show, alongside Raven Symone, and comedian Michelle Collins.

Although she won’t be at the table on a daily, ABC has asked Wallace to return as a contributor and would appear on the show from time-to-time. Candace Cameron Bure, former Full House actress, is amongst the candidates being considered for the conservative role at the table. Producers are impressed with her as a fill-in host who offers strong opinions that generate buzz on social media.

As much as I disagreed with the opinions of Elizabeth Hasselbeck, one thing is clear: she set the bar pretty high for conservatives at that table.

One person not being conservative anymore is Caitlyn Jenner. The trans-woman (not sure if it needs a hyphen) accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at yesterday's ESPY awards. Jenner shared her story with the world to get a message across.

"It's not just about me, it's about all of us accepting one another," she said. Her speech was received with a standing ovation in the end.

Is it the end of an era for San Antonio's Bonham Exchange?

Whatever happened to that trendy, gotta-be-there every Friday night, hot spot once known as Bonham Exchange? If you're unfamiliar with this lost little gem, it used to be THE place to be for any gay man making his presence known in the Alamo City. I like to refer to it as the Daryl Hannah of this town, it was all the rage in the 80s. It was going places, then suddenly it just lost it's vibe, and who the fuck knows what's happening there now (just like Hannah's vagina). I'll tell you....big fat NOTHING is going on there. No one seems to care that this place was once like our own Studio 54, with people practically stampeding over one another just to get through those plush velvet ropes. Today, it's like leftover lasagna. It's there, you know it is, but you just don't wanna seem to touch it. You'd rather have that two-day old rump roast instead. No one blames you, so don't feel bad.

So this place came up the other day when one of my best friends mentioned to me an article in the San Antonio Current, talking about how I HAD to read it, as if someone I disliked had just died. I did read it, but all I could make out from the piece was "blah, blah, blah...who cares." It was a rehash of a piece I wrote for Spots magazine back in 2004. Yeah, so the likes of artists from Debbie Harry to Tina Turner to Taylor Dayne and even The Ramones once graced the historic landmark. But what's happening there now? Anything to keep the sinking ship afloat. Ugh, poor Hap Veltman must be turning in his grave as I'm blogging this. BX, as it's known to many in the LGBT community around here, was Veltman's baby. He fell in love with the building after his previous club, San Antonio Country had been sold to a conglomerate. After much needed renovations, Bonham Exchange was born. If you look at the website, it reads: "...we have been going strong ever since." Obviously someone isn't keeping up with that site, am I right (elbow nudge....to nobody since I'm sitting at this laptop alone)? Click on the link below for the previously referenced article in the SA Current.

http://www.sacurrent.com/sanantonio/has-the-bonham-exchange-sas-lgbt-mainstay-nightclub-lost-its-way/Content?oid=2448885

So I still haven't been able to figure it out myself. What DID happen to BX? It was a tradition of sorts. Every Friday night, I'd show up before 10pm for free cover, one....sometimes two drinks, and that oh-so-stylish wristband that let all the wannabes know I was a badass because I'd be returning later that night for $1 drinks! No bargains were getting past me. This little weekly ritual gave me time to go home, take a nice long shower, and put on whatever hot little number I had purchased to wear that evening (usually a really tight fitting tee shirt, and jeans that showed off my package). I wasn't the typical twink back then. For those of you not familiar with the term, let me get you up to speed. Twink definition: a gay twentysomething who often thinks his looks will get him anything at the club/bar. I didn't think of myself as some twentysomething little hottie, in fact, I wasn't all that crazy about my looks. They didn't stop me from getting free drinks though, and I was always polite and courteous to anyone who bought me a drink. Ok, let's get back on track....the issue here was the Bonham.

So anyone who was anybody would return to BX for $1 drinks until midnight, then slowly trickle out of the club with their cliques onto what we call here "the gay strip," and as of more recent the "gayborhood" (taken from every other gay friendly neighborhood everywhere). It's a block of Main Street behind San Antonio College where most of the other gay clubs/bars are hidden. For me it was usually the old Saint or Heat. You'd end up here and finish out the night with drinks and dancing. Like I said, it was tradition.

I don't think anyone can really give you a real answer. When I asked my friend, Michael Hernandez, senior morgue specialist for the Bexar County Medical Examiner's office, he attributed part of the problem to parking. PARKING? REALLY? I don't think so. Parking sucked even back in it's heyday, and no one complained. The article made reference to the smell in the building, but if you've been there recently (which for me was one day in April), the only thing I guarantee you will smell is tired and old....if that were ever to be a real scent. Smoking was banned from buildings like 5 years ago, so there's no smoke odor, and unlike a really bad bar known as Silver Dollar Saloon on Main Street, BX does not give that freshly puked aroma. I believe it was the GM Niecy Lewis who was quoted in the above mentioned article about how it's still jumpin at the BX. Of course an employee isn't going to admit their business is now the equivalent of a public library, where there isn't much action in the books anymore, and everything is dusty.

These days, the only twinge of nostalgia I still get from BX is their annual Fiesta San Antonio Battle of Flowers after party. You'll see all of the original (well from back in my day) regulars from the bar all gather there again for this huge party. Don't get me wrong, it's a blast, and I hate missing when I can't make it, but it's like back in it's 2001 all over again. If I had to put my finger on it (and ask anyone, I'm not a finger kinda guy), I'd pinpoint it to sometime around 2006/2007 when it began to fizzle. I don't know what happened, but after about a year hiatus for me, I remember going back, and not having to wait in line. I also noticed more and more heterosexuals frequenting the old gay stomping grounds. It didn't help that they were allowing a local radio station, KTFM, to broadcast there every Saturday night (very, very bad move....and if you don't believe me, ask Barbara what happened to the lesbian bar, Electric Company. What's that, you ask? Exactly!). Also, drinks got smaller, vet staff left to work at other up-and-coming clubs. They weren't dumb, they knew it was the end of an era (ahem....Vicki). Smart move....atta girl!

So to Luke Anthony Schulte who wrote the piece recently in the SA Current, I agree. The days of the Bonham are now a distant memory and it seems they're holding on to whatever they can in a sad attempt to bring in whatever traffic they can. Your lights have dimmed for now, BX, but I have a good feeling you're going to make a comeback. You have to! You can't let Veltman's dream just get buried (no pun intended....ouch!).

Gender identity....have you found yourself yet?

Never would I have imagined someone as famed as Bruce Jenner, after all these years, to announce that he was living in the wrong body all his life. But for him to publicly come out took some balls (pun intended). As I've always said, even as a child, I always knew I was gay, but gender identity is different. I can't imagine how difficult it would be for anyone to try and explain to their parents that under their penis there's a vagina waiting to come out. If this offends you, then screw off. I'm trying to find humor in this for those who would rather be disgusted. This is real life, and gender identity is a real issue. This is why parents need to talk to their children at an early age and be supportive about who they are (unless you think you'd be comfortable with losing them and being reunited years later with a complete stranger). Personally I find Caitlyn to be somewhat of a hero, just like Bruce had been for many athletes. I guess it just goes to show that sometimes it really does take a woman to do a man's job. 

Is life really what YOU make of it, or is it what SOCIETY makes of it for you?

Why is there so much pressure for status in this country. It's like everyone wants to be something that someone else almost expects them to be. Do we really all want to rule the world, and if you answer yes, then why is that? At what age was it instilled in our minds that success is based on societal status. Look around you. If you're reading my blog from your phone, then take a peek at your contacts. I'll bet of the first ten people on your list, you can name at least one person who has made it their life's goal to be in a power position in corporate America. Am I right? If I'm not, then you need to evaluate your own life because the person you didn't find on that list of ten is you.

Even for me, who never saw myself as wanting to live in a castle and live forever and ever just like in the fairy tales (to quote Selina Kyle). I just wanted to live a humble life, be comfortable, work in broadcast news, and move into network eventually.... Ya see, there I go! It was all simple with wanting a comfy life in news, but then I wanted more. Oh no, some local affiliate wouldn't do it for me. It HAD to be national. Not that it matters now because I never worked in network news. In fact, as I aged (gracefully, I might add) I realized I had become somewhat disgusted with news delivery. Not only that, but I had become repulsed by what I was seeing on television in general. No ma'am, I'm not talking about the stories (and why is it that people claim not to watch the news because of "violence" yet they go home and beat their own kids and then proceed to watch the most violent movies because they got great reviews? That's just stupid. You people are idiots, and I hope your kids resent you later).

What I'm talking about is far worse. I'm talking about individuals working on television that just don't seem to give a shit. About their jobs? That's questionable. About their lives? Well by the looks of their television presence, I'm leaning more toward the latter. You have people on in the morning who look like they just rolled out of bed and barely made it to work. Run a damn brush through that mess, really! This is your job. I was always taught to look professional and respectable. Obviously for me, these people have FAILED. They're lacking professionalism so I CANNOT respect them. I know they didn't just roll out of bed because there's a lot of prep that goes into their delivery--getting to the studio, finding a story, looking for witnesses/leads. If you have no fashion sense, I strongly suggest finding an outfit for work the night/day before so that you don't go to work looking like you had battle in the war zone also known as your closet. Ladies, a blazer is fine, but lose the fucking chunky jewelry. You're not preparing for a damn JC Penny catalog photo shoot. You just look stupid. You don't need perfect hair, but if you're not a wiz at styling your mane, then at least run a brush through it. The last thing I need to do is laugh at the annoying tangles all over that shit, and then take a screen shot and post it on Facebook (because I do. So I have extra time on my hands, so?!)

Guys, please wear a matching shirt and tie, not to mention something that pops on camera. I can't take the news seriously when someone who looks like he could be a notary is delivering it. And please stop A-NUN-CI-A-TING everything. Give us the news like we're seven-years-old, not like we're dumb. And if you're going to be out in the woods/the park/nature, lose the fucking suit! Watching you makes me uncomfortable, so I can only imagine what you must really be feeling. My ADHD must have taken control of this blog because I started with society and status, and segued into tv news jobs. So yeah, back to my original topic.

I look at the things I've done, jobs I've held, people I've worked with, people I've had fun with, and places I've been. Then I tell myself, "I honestly feel like I'd want more because it's what people would expect of me. If I could afford to have a good time, and have life's little necessities, and still live my life, all while working at 7-11, then why not? Some people seem very content with their jobs and lives, while not doing anything that requires a degree or saving a life. I wonder if they feel any pressure at all? Perhaps the key is just being happy with what you have, and count life's little blessings, like the fact that, for the most part, all of you wake up every morning and simply breathe.

I think No Doubt said it best: "And all I wanted was the simple things, a simple kind of life."

Have I really outgrown Fiesta San Antonio, or am I just getting older.... I mean, wiser.

So honestly, am I the only one who is over the whole Fiesta madness? Yeah, I used to be one of those...attention whores, always having to be the main attraction at the party. I welcomed beer spillage on me. It wasn't Fiesta if someone wasn't dangling a turkey leg in my face. The stacked cups at NIOSA. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. DON'T PLAY! So what happened to me. When did I become so anti-Fiesta?!

Oh yeah, I remember. It all started with a little institution most refer to as "graduate school." No, really, it was graduate school. I only used quotes to indicate people were saying it. That's besides the point. So I enrolled in grad school Summer 2008 and by the time Fiesta came around in the spring, I was drowning in research papers, overloaded with study sessions for hellacious exams, and I was just too busy for anything. I only know that because all my drinking friends would tell me that I was MIA when it came to our four or five times a week outings. Yeah, don't remind me.

I remember my partner, and all my friends, and even people I didn't know just coming up to me and reminding me of the fun I was missing. I would simply push up my large-framed bifocals, and pull up both straps of my backpack and respond, "You guys, I'm totally gonna fail this quantum physics exam, which comes in like eight parts if you don't let me study!" Okay, so I may be over exaggerating just a bit, but I'm sure you get my point.

So for the next two and a half years (yeah, two and a half! And what?!) I sacrificed my Fiesta time to cram information that I might or might have not used ever again. I was being responsible. This coming from the freshman undergrad who would only show up to auditorium lecture classes on test days. I learned the hard way, I know.

Yes, Fiesta was a tradition for me too. Just like any other person in San Antonio, I too looked forward to that one week, where you were allowed to show up to work hungover the next day, or not even show up at all, and call it a Fiesta sick day (Okay, that's not really a thing.... oh wow, at least I hope it's not. You never know with this town). But I gave it up for the sake of my studies. I had lost my concept of being social. But alas, this is the price you pay for an education (not to mention the tens of thousands of dollars I still owe in student loans, which by the way, if anyone knows of some good programs to get me back on track, I'm all ears).

But really, I don't know that some of us need Fiesta to drink and get all bat-shit-crazy. In San Antonio, we call this the weekend. And besides, Fiesta could be a tad competitive at times. If you ever walked around NIOSA (Night In Old San Antonio) with a stack of eight cups or higher, you know exactly what I'm talking about. DO NOT PLAY!

These days, I can only handle Fiesta in small doses. I like my traditional Fiesta dinner downtown with my partner at Historic Market Square, and walking around baking in the King William District for the King William Fair (and if you like to spark it up every so often while you chill at home, this is not the kind of baking I'm referring to). I just can't do Oyster Bake anymore or even the slowest night of NIOSA scares me (if there is a such thing as a slow night.... okay, I'm being told by someone over my shoulder that there isn't a slow night). Yes, King William Fair gets crowded, but it's more of a family event that anyone can enjoy. It's not that college crazed party atmosphere that you find at most of the other venues.

So if you're feeling my pain, and you too feel like you're the odd man out for no longer being that attention queen from your younger years (actually I still am, but I've found other places to get my attention), don't worry. Maybe we really are just old, or maybe we just can't stand to be trapped in the middle of that tsunami of people. OMG! Maybe I'm claustrophobic! Should I test this theory by getting in my closet? Nah, screw it!