Happy Belated Anniversary to My Union with Taco Bell
Yesterday marked year one of the "I Dream of Taco Bell" blog. Who's impressed that a little lady from St. Louis, MO has managed to commit to a blog for an entire year. and a blog on a very specific subject that doesn't necessarily influence one on a daily basis? well i am impressed.
I have learned somethings about myself during this past year care of writing on this blog:
1. i now understand what a blog is. 2. i now understand why people are so obsessed with blogging. 3. i now understand how fun it is to write about nothing in particular for fun: not for school or work. just for ME. 4. i now realize that i really am a better writer than most and i enjoy it and i should do something with that knowledge. 5. i now know that jose padilla, accused terrorist, worked for taco bell. 6. i now know that it is possible to fill my brain with even more pointless information than i had previously collected. 7. i now know how taco bell brings out the curiosity in everyone. and how, whether or not people admit it, taco bell is a more important part of their lives than they had realized.
some other stuff too but that is enough for now.
so happy birthday, blog!! may you last another year for everyone's sake and may YUM! finally offer me a fun, creative, and useful work from home job.
One of the coolest things about having a blog devoted to a very specific, semi-absurd topic is that when shit goes down with said topic, people remember me and my devotion to the topic and help me get vital information to the masses.
Today, I received 3 emails from friends within 10 minutes, reporting the news that a Taco Bell/KFC in New York was shut down because it was infestated with rats. Unfortunately, i saw the video and "infestation" is not an exaggeration. the reporting in this video is terrible, of course. a bit sensationalistic despite the issue at hand. Rats are running around in the DAYTIME. it is gross.
i am sad for Taco Bell. It takes a lot for me to (momentarily) question my allegience to taco bell but these rats did it.
also, in this video, the caption reads taco bell. however, it is a taco bell/kfc. why didn't the news put out an alert about KFC? they are trying to sensationalize the name, following up on the e-coli bit. tsk tsk tsk.
but do no fear. the blog and love shall continue because i have the real culprit in this situation: New York City. It is a dirty, dirty place. If that argument is not convincing enough for YUM! Brands to save its name, I suggest they ditch KFC. who needs fried chicken anyway? not me. not my blog.
so here are the articles on the topic. both are in the "money" section which is inapt.
While awaiting inspiration, I am going to veer from the Taco Bell track and discuss politics.
no, not the awful president. or the even worse vice president.
TOPIC: Democratic Canidates for the Prez Nomination 2008
Faithful readers know my adoration of Mr. Barak Obama. I think he would serve our country a plate of much needed optimism. not the foolish because ignorant optimism Bush has been giving people for the last 6 plus years. Rather, Obama is a smart guy who has some optimism despite being well aware of our country's plight. i don't know where he gets it but i would like some of it.
and he's cute.
so i've said he's delicious as an enchirito. i will stick by that.
as for hilary, i think she'd be a terrific president. she is serious and smart. a little too politician-y but i would be happy with her nomination, supposing i thought she could win which is doubtful.
but now apparently the hilary and barak "camps" are in a fight. they are talking smack. i do not approve of this. barak does not support this but maybe he's going by the "anything for a buck" road. hopefully that won't last. hilary, well, she never promised to not run a negative campaign so i won't call her a hypocrit, but i am still disappointed.
which is why today my endorsement goes to bill richardson. i like him. he's out of the political fray. he's smart. he's reasonable. i don't know that he will stir the passion in liberals and democrats that hilary and barak could but as long as i decide to punish them, i am endorsing bill. i reserve the right to change my endorsement whenever and as often as i like.
congrats, bill. you did well in nevada. enjoy the pedestal while it lasts.
I am not going to lie. My posts have been lacking in the last few weeks. There are a number of explanations, and i feel the need to share the to ensure that my readers do not lose faith in my uncanny ability to keep this blog interesting week after week, month after month, and soon, my friends, year after year.
here are my explanations:
1. last week i was sick 2. the week before i was consumed with a grad school application. 3. the week before i was really busy at work. 4. the week before i was uninspired.
so the excuse this week? i think i am still uninspired. i haven't had taco bell in awhile. no great news has arisen. despite the unseasonably warm january, february has been cold, perhaps the creativity part of my brain has frozen. i don't know.
looking for something funny and weird on which to comment, i google imaged taco bell. basically, there was nothing interesting. except for this sad finding:
A microscopic photo of E-Coli is on the first page of taco bell images. when will we be able to forget sad part of burrito history?
Anne sent me these links recently. My hiatis unfortunately hindered my posting them immediately. It's good stuff, though.
the song:
You can't hear it in its entirity (copyright stuff) but give a listen. It's good. Then you can get a feel for the beat and read the lyrics linked below.
Ah Britney... The trials and tribulations of her life, with and without Kevin, continue to amuse and entertain. Somehow these two manage to fight their way through the numbing to celebrity gossip to which some might occasionally succumb.
Usually, after a night (or day) of drinking and possibly drugging, Brit hits up Taco Bell (unless she passes out in the bar). However this past weekend, as we all know by now, she took a detour to a barbershop (inspiration for barbershop 3?).
It's wonderful news. I heard it at brunch on Saturday with the headline on CNN reading "Britney's odd behaviour continues". I love that wording. Yes, CNN, how true. Hard-hitting news, indeed.
The blog must take a break. I will return to the blog next week after I regain my health and return from a long weekend in new york.
if i have some overpriced burritoes in times square again, i'll let you know. last time, they certainly were not worth the 50 cent surcharge for "atmostphere".
when the internet unites those of one soul. at least the taco bell soul.
A guy named Freddie alert me to his friends' song and video about their love for Taco Bell.
It is five minutes long but very much worth your time. If I hadn't been blogging about Taco Bell for a year, I'd worry they'd put my devotion to shame.
so i wrote Freddie, requesting vital information: who is the band? where are you located? WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING FROM TACO BELL? that's the thing about finding soul mates in one category of your life--it's best to keep it to that category. otherwise there is disappointment, heartache, miscommunication, screaming, etc.
I received a prompt response from Freddie. He is trying to help his friends get this video out to the public. I am sure they hope Taco Bell will see it and replace their newest line of lion ads (which are LAME) with their video. I think more people could relate to this song and dance (so to speak) than to lions looking for meat in a tortilla. Anyway, Freddie, the acting agent, talked to his friends, the acting clients and musicians in the band. They got back to me with details of their band and lives and why they feel such a special ping in their hearts for Taco Bell.
Then work sucked me into this hole called, well, work. and i had some other obligations on the side which made me not as capable or enthusize to write. Given the effort this band has put into their Taco Bell song and video, I felt that anything but a wholehearted "THIS VIDEO AND SONG ARE SO FUNNY" post would be lacking.
And so, without further ado, here’s the d-lo on The Mike and Gisonda Band’s “Opportunity Knocking”:
1. The “on-site” part of the video was shot at the Levittown, NY Taco Bell - 3946 Hempstead Turnpike. Apparently, this was one of the Bells named in the E. Coli debacle. 2. The “off-site” part was shot in Seaford, NY. That doesn’t mean anything to me but the more specifics, the better. 3. Taco Bell is a way of life for these boys, hence the inspiration. 4. They sing about Choco-Tacos but don’t freak out like I did and wonder if this means Taco Bell still sells them somewhere. They do not. The song has been backlogged for a few years—backlogged from a time when Choco-Tacos were sold, eaten, loved. 5. They sang the song to the Taco Bell staff, as you see towards the end of the video, and the staff’s favorite line was "Take me to fuckin' bell" (see, KFed and I both knew that those working at Taco Bell knew it was a large cut above other fast food restaurants. I am glad these employees now know as well). 6. The song was written and first performed in Boston in Fall 2004. 7. After they filmed the video at the Taco Bell, the staff gave them two apple empanadas for FREE. Okay, I think they should have received more for free than that but as we have discovered, Taco Bell is sorta cheap. And okay, I can appreciate that. These boys didn’t think it was cheap so that is all that matters. I will say that when Taco Bell contacts me to tell me how much they LOVE my blog, I will demand more than two free empanadas for my services. 8. Mike, of said Mike in the band’s name, wrote the song. Kudos. 9. Gisonda named the song
Equally important, here are their favorite menu items:
1. Freddie: grilled stuft burrito, beans instead of meat. My all-time favorite item is the cheesy gordita crunch. He gets extra points for substituting for meat. BEANS! 2. Mike: Cheesy Gordita Crunch, the Chicken Ranchero, the Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes, and the 7-Layer Burrito 3. Gisonda: Beef and Potato Burrito and Cheesy Bean and Rice
To further plug this band in appreciation of their appreciation of Taco Bell, you can check out their website: http://myspace.com/mikeandgisondaband.
FINALLY Taco Bell takes advantage of how dear celebrities' love their runs for the border.
It seems that Taco Bell is combining KFed's love for Taco Bell with his controversial "riches to rags" (and back again?) commercial for an insurance (which will debut during the Superbowl) to bring itself out of the e-coli limelight and into the "I want to make fun of Kevin Federline too" game. I wondered when those CEOs at Taco Bell would finally either read my blog or US Weekly.
