Gallina

So this weekend we went for my Milwaukee Sister's birthday! We had a blast! Margaritas, "vag", VJ Bobby @ Crew, gallina and drinks galore. He already gave a detailed account of the night so I won't bore you all. Instead enjoy a visual recap!





Last night my boo boo and I finally made our way to Francesca's Forno. My friend and her bf had bought me a gift card for my birthday and we've been meaning to check this place out. Holy delicious!!



I can't stop raving over this place. The food was fabulous, the service excellent. Great location. Jeez, I feel like this guy for gushing over a restaurant on my blog. Hope everyone is having a happy hump day.

I missed the bus yo

No I didn't, I just wanted something with the word bus in it. So I took the bus yesterday to work. Big mistake. Well it wasn't that awful, it was just über crowded and it took 45 minutes to get downtown. People were just clammoring to get on that bus. I mean I was sitting near the back and at least 4 people got on through the back door w/out paying. I decided to just get over it and keep taking the train. I just have to get my ass out of bed earlier each day. Uff!

Ok so back in January I bought Katharine McPhee's debut album.



I like it. She has a nice voice, the songs are decent. But lately I find myself singing her 1st single Over It to myself all the time...until I went back and revisted one of the album's trashier moments....Open Toes...this song is so awful it's good! LOL! Check it out:



How can you not love it??? Plus she's friggin' gorgeous!

This weekend look to be a drunken good ol' time as we're taking over St. Patty's day for my Milwaukee Sister's birthday. I can't wait! Gotta get something green to wear ASAP!

CTA Blues

Since moving to Chicago I've lived in at least 3 different areas that required me to use three different train lines. My first apartment was in Uptown and I took the red line. Ghetto as all hell...but it was reliable. While I absolutely loathe the south side of Chicago I must say the one thing I miss are my 15 minute commutes via the Orange Line. For the past 2 years or so I've been taking the blue line. It's always crowded, but it gets to where I need to go. For whatever reason the last few months the service on the blue line has been horrific in the AM. Today it took me an HOUR to get to work when it shouldn't take more than 25 minutes. WTF!!!

I have decided starting tomorrow I am going to take the bus to work. This is ridiculous! I for one am a fan of public transportation. Especially living in a large city like Chicago...so I like to take advantage of what my city has to offer. Hopefully my commute won't be as time consuming. I can deal w/ traffic, I can't deal w/ stalled trains.

Gym class

So I picked up the redeye today like I always do. If you don't know, in Chicago we have this free dumbed down version of our newspaper that is usually filled w/ celeb gossip and local stories. Anyhoo on the cover it says Dance Fever. So I immediately think they must be talking about the upcoming season of Dancing With The Stars (did I mention Joey Fatone is gonna be on??? Grrrr)....anyhoo apparently it's some sports reference to March Madness.

Yeah whatever that means. It made me flashback to high school gym class. The most dreaded days of my high school existence probably took place on days on the days we had gym class. Not only am I athletically challanged (I of course was the last person picked for gym class at EVERYTHING)...we also had to take tests about whatever sport we were playing. Like what the terminology was, rules, how to score, etc. I always failed those tests.



Ha ha! I wonder how I even passed that class.

In other exciting news the itunes store has a bunch of rare videos from some of my favorite flop artists for sale! I found the video for Ana's dance song Shy Boys



They even have Keedy's video for Save Some Love!!! Now if I can just figure out how to burn these damn things to a DVD!!! I'm working on it.

Peace out.

Sorry for the lack of updates lately. I had someone shadowing me all week so it made it a little hard to blog. What was I supposed to say? This is what I do when I should be working..

Can you believe I am still ripping CDs to add to my 80GB ipod I bought last Dec??? It's taking me longer than I thought to wade through everything. But I've been rediscovering some CDs I haven't listened to in awhile. Everyone remember this one? I know my Sista M does...



I actually met Minerva at the Palladium back in the day. She was very pretty in person and sounded a lot better live than on record. A rarity w/ dance artists. Apparently she recorded a new version of Llorando por ti last year. How did this get past us???



Spring seems to be creeping it's way back into Chicago. I for one LOVE the winter and the cold, but it was getting a little ridiculous these past few weeks. With the arrival of Spring comes the inevitable Spring Cleaning. Which I must admit I have to do today. So I promise I will try to write more than once a week. Ciao Ciao.

Star

Yes I'm alive. I've just been über busy at work and haven't had much time to blog lately. Sorry to the few that actually read this :)

So what have I been doing? Not much really. We attempted to spend a weekend home in Milwaukee last weekend but w/ a pending snowstorm in both IL and WI we only spent one night there. We had a mini reunion w/ some of my cousins:



We went to some new Mexican place in Bay View named Maya Riviera. It was alright. It's nice that they are fixing that area up. When I lived there the only trendy neighborhood if you will was the East Side. Good for them I say. I ran into someone from grade school there which was odd because I met out a friend from grade school who's sister used to date my cousin later on for a drink. Ok that was a mouthful.

Anyhoo though our visit was short it was nice seeing everyone.



I am currently reading Star by Pamela Anderson. Yes the fake boobies Baywatch Pam Anderson. I know I like trashy books but this one is too funny, and not in an on-purpose sort of way. I almost done w/ it. It's about a girl from a small town in FL who ends up becoming an overnight sensation after appearing on the cover of MANN magazine. I'll let you fill in the rest. I guess I can't complain, it keeps me occupied on the train. Speaking of the train, don't get me started on the lackluster service the Blue Line has been having lately. That'll be another post. Back to books...I know I've asked before, but if anyone has any good suggestions on what to read let me know. I love fiction, and biographies if it's someone really trashy. LOL. The last two books I read before this one were Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld which was a great read on the life in boarding school.



I also just read this:



I love me some Janice Dickinson! Too bad she's no long on America's Next Top Model.

Speaking of can we talk about how excited I am that Cycle 8 has started???!! I have to say my favorite thus far is a girl who didn't make the final 12 (or is it 13) from Cycle 7...but she made it back for this one. Even though I think she's a total tranny, her walk is fierce and her picture was amazing! She looks a lot like Janice if I must say. Ladies & Gentlemen, Jaslene:



Knowing my track record, I've never predicted a winner. All the ones I like always end up being in the top 5 but that's as close as I've gotten. I must say I've been happy w/ the last few winners. Danielle and Cari Dee. Love them!

OKies I must head out. Thanks for stopping by.

BYOB

Wow I haven't posted in over a week. Sorry for that. If anything I've been busy catching up on work as I was out a few days this week feeling under the weather. Not to fret, I am doing much better.

This weekend was quite eventful. My favorite cousin Mari and her friend Paty came to stay w/ us so we ended up at this great BYOB in Wicker Park called Barcello's. It was the bomb and being that it was a BYOB even better. We were a party of 6 and between all of us we practically downed 7 bottles of wine! Here are some moments from the evening.









After that we ended up at El Kallejón, which is basically the old Lola's. OMG was I wasted by the time we got there. After an eventful cab ride, and more drinks, dancing, drag show, etc....wait let me share some pics before I continue:





As you can see we were having a good time. Well let's just say that last Saturday I finally joined the drink & purge club. In my 30 years I have never thrown up from drinking. Well that's not true anymore. LOL! I guess you could say I am a late bloomer and I broke my seal that night. And boy did I!!!! I hear it was rather hilarious. I must say I felt much better after the fact. So sorry I made Paty's cousin Noelia (aka Kelly Ripa) throw up as a result of my puking my guts out at the table! LOL.

I am still cracking up about the whole incident. From what I've been told it pretty much resembled an infamous scene from Stand By Me:



LOL! We were so lucky we weren't kicked out. I think there were too many drag queens running around to even care about us. But what a fun night it was. We must do it again!!!

In other news, I'm still trying to watch Charmed. I'm almost done w/ season 3. This is the season we bid farwell to my dear Shannen Doherty:



Why does everyone hate her??? Yeah she's a bitch but aren't we all? As soon as I'm done w/ this season only 5 more to go! I swear it's going to take me all year to finish. On a good note, one of my other faves replaced her, Rose McGowan.



I found a new blog I wanted to share w/ you all. It's called Electro Queer and I'm loving it! It's just the right mix of current electro pop and retro cheese. I mean Tiffany is his favorite singer of all time, how can you not love it? Check it out!

Ok peeps I must get going. Enjoy yourselves.

Bad Latino movies 1.0

Mi Vida Loca. Enough said. Watch the fine acting in this scene where Mousy confronts La Sad Girl or whatever chola name was popular in the mid 90s. I think their hair evoked more emotion.



But what this scene leaves me pondering...WTF is a leva?????????

edit
I found out what a leva is!!!:

hispanic slang for traitor A term used by Chicano urban/barrio youth to mean that a member of a group has turned his/her back on the rest|meaning that a member of a gang/group has disappointed his/her peers by joining another group/gang.

RIP Anna Nicole

Un rayo de sol

Do any of you remember Sor Inés? Well she was a singing nun who had one hit in 1996 in Mexico. Produced by José Ramón Flores (the man behind Fey's teeny-bopper hits), her single Un rayo de sol became a favorite on the now defunct Siempre en domingo. Seriously, can you get any campier than a nun singing over euro dance beats? It was awful, and I could not pass it up! So here I leave you w/ a chance to download this forgotten EP:



Sor Inés 1996 EP

Get it while you can kiddies!

In other news, it's friggin' freezing outside, but I can't complain...give me -10º over a nasty hot summer heatwave anyday!

Bear fever has overcome the entire Chicago area. I don't think I've felt this gay since...well...ok I've always felt über gay, but it's at times like these that I realize how removed I am from sports and all their hoopla. The only bears I know hang out in boystown. Grrr indeed.

Shuffle It!

Put your music player on shuffle. Press forward for each question. Use the song title as the answer to the question.
No cheating! (This is really funny and often quite true)

What does next year have in store for me?
Eternamente Bella (Alejandra Guzmán)

What's my love life like?
Higher Plance (Cyndi Lauper)

What do i say when life gets hard?
Giving Up Giving In (Sheena Easton)

What do i think when i get up in the morning?
Bye Bye Mon Cowboy (Mitsou)

What song will i dance to at my wedding?
Love Reaction (Divine)

What do you want as a career?
(We Want) The Same Thing (Belinda Carlisle)

Your favourite saying?
Missundaztood (P!nk)

Your pets name?
Lucky Girl (Gloria Estefan)

Favourite place?
Calido (Kiara)

Describe your sexlife:
Te tengo que aprender a olvidar (Mía)

What do you think of your parents?
Cover Girl (New Kids On The Block)

What's your Pornstar name?
Anything At All (Clear Static)

Where would you go on a first date?
Noche tras día (Marta Sánchez)

Drug of choice?
The Safest Place (LeAnn Rimes)

Describe yourself:
Chips On My Shoulder (Soft Cell)

What is the thing i like doing most?
Ángel de amor (Ely Guerra)

What is my state of mind like at the moment?
I Had A Dream I Was Falling Through A Hole In The Ozone Layer (Deee-lite)

How will i die?
Luna Nueva (Sasha Sökol)

When co-workers poo

OK so I have a question for y'all. The other day I was in the bathroom at work (and if you know me I am pee shy so I ALWAYS use the stall)...well as I was in there I heard one person leaving and another coming in. As they did so they said hi to one another. So I knew who left and who was coming. So I'm finishing what I came in there to do when all of the sudden I hear my coworker rip some nasty farts. Now is it wrong to laugh? I mean I was trying so hard to stifle my giggles...I hope he didn't hear me. So what is proper bathroom work etiquette? Is ok for you to laugh when your coworker poos or let's an explosion come out of their ass?

30 feels so good

I survived my bday weekend! For those of you who missed it here is a visual recap:

29

Today is the last day of my 20s. I must say I am embracing turning 30. I mean some people make such a big deal about it, but I am totally cool w/ it. It's a milestone people...besides I've been planning for this since I was 25 ever since one night my friend Freddy and I were drunk and we were talking about when we turn 30 I wanted to have a Quinceañera.

So what have I learned these past 29 years? The fuck if I know. But I will tell you this, life is too short. Make the most of it.

I got a brand new copy of one of my favorite Pedro Almodóvar films on DVD, La ley del deseo.



After watching this for like the zillionth time, I remembered that this was probably the first gay film I ever saw...and boy did I watch it all the time. That sex scene w/ a young Antonio Banderas...holy shit...that was like whack off material for weeks back when I was like 15!!!



Wowser!

So Rob is super geeked because they began reairing Rosa Salvaje on Telefutura in the mornings. How did he get me hooked on it and it's only been 2 days??? It's just so campy that I can't stand it!



Plus it's so funny to see Verónica Castro play a "young tomboy" when it's obvious she's pushing 40. Ok maybe not that old but she was old. I love it!

Well peeps gotta run. Ciao Ciao.

Feliz 2007

Hope everyone had a safe and happy new year. We had a blast. A picture can say a thousand words:



We ended up going to Hydrate w/ Jorgillo & my Milwaukee Sister. It was a blast and am glad I was able to ring in the new year w/ such good friends.

Every year people make resolutions and by Jan 23 they've already broken them. Usually while I don't make them. But this year my goal is to keep my house clean! Contrary to popular belief, not all gay men are clean freaks. I know I sure as hell am not. So far I've been able to keep our house clean since Christmas! Chava our house will be clean for your arrival!

A week from Saturday is my big bash for my 30th birthday! I can't wait! I drank so much on New Years eve and didn't get wasted, so I know I can survive my party! Milwaukee I'll do you proud!

xoxo

Felices fiestas

Christmas has come and gone, and now the new year is upon us. I think overall 2006 was a good year for me. I've had my share of ups and downs but I'm still here so that's always a good sign :) We had a nice cozy christmas. Chus loved his gifts, I'll post pics soon.

So I've been on this Beverly Hills 90210 kick because Rob got me Season 1 for Christmas. I love this show! It's so awful. It makes me wish that I still had my 90210 dolls, yes I had them. I gave them away though :( Back to 90210...I was so obsessed w/ this show in high school. I remember writing notes back and forth w/ my friend Kathy and all we would do is talk about what was going on that week on the show. Such losers! I tell ya. It's 6 discs and I am almost done w/ disc 4! It's so addicting. Season 2 doesn't come out until May of 2007. Whatever shall I do until then???

So aside from watching 90210, I am also juggling watching Charmed Season 2. Do we see a pattern here?



Aside from both being Aaron Spelling shows, they both feature one of my favorite bitches of all time! Shannen Doherty! Ever since she was in Heathers (My favorite movie of all time), I've had such a soft spot for her. Too bad all she does is b-rate reality shows. Makes me love her even more.

Speaking of b-rate, I must also thank my Milwaukee Sister for turning me onto another show starring another ex-90210 alum, Tori Spelling...



Can we talk about how much I love this show??? And how much I love Tori!!!???!!! I know people either hate her or love her. I am of the latter, especially after seeing her in Trick and The House Of Yes. But this show is hilarious!!! It kinda reminds me of Fat Actress in that it's a mock reality show. If anyone knows about making fun of themselves, that would be Tori Spelling. I love all the cracks she takes at herself, the 90210 flashbacks, the childhood flashbacks, and her wicked mother played by Loni Anderson. Trashy!

Plus I think her gay bff (Zachary Quinto) is kinda cute.



My big bday bash is now 2 weeks away! I am so excited. If you don't know I am turning 30 and am having a double Quinceañera. It's gonna be a hoot. I've been working on a fierce playlist for the music, and I know it's going to be a drunken gay ol' time of mostly me and Sista M screaming at the top of our lungs every time one of our childhood fagalicious songs come on :P

So since I am in quince mood, it got me thinking to the one and only time I stood up in one. It was for my friend from grade school. I don't recall much, just that we had to practice outside at the playground @ St. Anthony's and we had this really bitchy closeted choreographer who would always yell at me cause he said I had too much rhythm. Jealous cunty queen! With that said, it reminded me of one of the songs we had to perform a dance to as a group...so I share this campy video w/ you...

When I hear music

Since I am home sick today, I figure I may as well do something constructive, like write on my blog :) It's that time of the year when people compile lists. So here's mine for my fave musical picks of 2006. Now these are in no particular order mind you...



Nelly Furtado Loose: Now this was a fun album. '06 seemed to be a breakout year for Ms. Furtado. Her debut made a splash, the second one tanked (in the US at least)...but this album was huge, thanks mostly to its infectious lead single Promiscious. A truly electic album that is at many times a throwback to when music was fun (Do It anyone?). I even liked her crappy reggaetón song No hay igual.

Fantasia Fantasia: I am not really a huge fan of current R&B, mostly because it's all so cookie cutter. But there are a few exceptions, and this former AI winner is a HUGE one. Not only do I love her raw voice, but I love this album. The newest release on my list, I can't stop listening to it. She's gut-wrenching on the ballads and she knows how to get down like on my personal favorite Hood Boy. That cover has to be one of the most gorgeous I've seen in a long time.

Fangoria El extraño viaje: Gone is long-time producer Carlos Jean (Thank God!) and for the first time Fangoria tackle producer, and the results are fabulous. In keeping w/ their signature dark electro pop sound, they have also added elements that throw back to their Dinarama days and the results are glorious. If Estés dónde estés is not a single I think Alaska and I need to have a serious conversation.

Pink I'm Not Dead: First off, let me say that I looooooove Pink. I love her quirkiness and her outspokeness. I love her music for that very same reason. While this album is very similar to her previous disc, Try This, it's still a good album w/ some catchy tunes via Pink's kick ass voice. Pink, you rock hard!

Belinda Utopia: Mexico's other teen titan returns w/ one of the most exciting pop albums en español in years. The Spanish language pop market is over saturated w/ wannabe punk rockers or sappy coffee house schmaltz (Reik, Sin Bandera, etc.). While her voice is nothing to write home about, and she kinda looks like a squirel, she's made a hell of an album....who knew?

LeAnn Rimes Whatever We Wanna: Is she country or pop? I'd say a little bit of both. While this was supposed to be a "pop album" geared towards the European market (as it has yet to get a US release), it still very much sounds like a country album as the two genres go hand in hand if you ask me. LeAnn proves why she is one of the greatest vocalists to emerge from her generation (in any genre), and she does so on this flawless album. Get it for It Feels Like alone.

Naty Botero Naty Botero: Colombia's newest pop star is quickly becoming my favorite new act of the year. Fun, fun and more fun on this electic party album via Naty's quirky vocals and tounge in cheek lyrics. Why can't more pop stars be as fun? I hope this gets a worldwide release as it must be heard! NATY...te quiero mucho

Tiga Sexor: Sexy electo beats from a sexy Canadian boy. While nothing special in the vocal department, what Tiga lacks he makes up for and then some w/ his sexy beats and simple lyrics.

Fergie The Dutchess: Oh Stacy, er Fergie, er Stacy...oh I'm so confused.I've been a huge fave since Wild Orchid and it's so nice to finally see her achieve the success they were never able to obtain. The only reason I ever even bought Black Eyed Peas album was because of Stacy, so it's even nicer to finally hear her solo. Fergie made a fun album of infectious 80s influenced pop/r&b and so forth that can be listened to from start to end. This is the album Gwen Stefani should have made.

Dirtie Blonde Dirtie Blonde: Hands down my favorite new act of 2006. Great scratchy vocals and a kick ass band equate a new band to look out for. Seriously this band is a breath of fresh air, here's hoping to an even greater follow up. I hope to see another album, I'd hate for them to fall into the "one album wonder" black hole.

Since 2006 was such a great year for music, there had to have been some bad music...right? Oh yeah. For my worst album of the year I have a 2 way tie. Drumroll please....



Alejandra Guzmán Indeleble: WTF...I am sorry, but this album was B-O-R-I-N-G! It was like one long boring ballad. Where's the fun? Just because Reik and all those sappy groups are hot right now doesn't mean you have to jump on the band wagon.



Paulina Rubio Ananda: Were Alejandra and Paulina in cohorts to see who could make a more boring album??? Paulina, you are a trashy artist who makes trashy music. WTF is up w/ this snooze fest of an album??? I've said it before and I will say it again not since EL TIEMPO ES ORO has Paulina made an album this bad. Here's hoping her forthcoming English album will be trash-tastic!

EDIT:

So after I did my best of list I realized I forgot one of my favorite albums of the year!!!!



María Daniela y su Sonido Lasser!!!! Hands down one of the best albums of the year. She's so awful she's good...and she knows it! That's what I love about her, there is no trying to be an artiste if you will...just fun fun fun! Enjoy her video for Miedo. Trust me if you haven't already you will be enamored of this song!

Ode to Milwaukee

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

So I am in the midst of my 3 day work vacation :) I had some time to use before the year was up so...here I am using vacation days...and doing NOTHING! It feels great :)

I feel like I haven't written in ages. After my Exposé high it was kinda hard to follow it up. First things first. My ipod died. Just died. I have no idea, but when I went to plug it in, it said I had to restore it and it would erase everything! I had 40 gigs worth of music on there! So I figured if I was going to go through the trouble of ripping my cds all over again (and this time backing the files up) I might as well get a new one.

So let me introduce you to my new ipod. The 80 gig.



I had this horrible feeling that my ipod was going to die during my big birthday bash next month. Well I must have jinxed myself. Whatever...it was time to get a new one.

Friday is the company Xmas party, only it's not being called that. Rather it's being called Employee Appreciation Party. Who cares what it's called, will there be booze??

I have a bunch of new TV shows on DVD to watch. Well new to me. Charmed season 2 and Ghost Whisperer. Plus I can't stop listening to the new Fantasia CD, it's fierce! I love me some Hood Boy!



Plus I can't get over this cover, it's gorgeous!!!!

Point of no return

Wow! Wow! Wow! That is all I can say about last Wed's Exposé show!!!! OMG!!!! OMG!!!! I have not had this much fun at a show in ages. I literally sang along to every song they performed. What a show!!!! This totally makes up for having to wait 17 years to see these gals live. We got there early like nerds. We met up w/ my childhood best friend Carlos and his bf. They were super sweet and it was so nice seeing each other after all these years. Since we were dorks and were in the front, drank and laughed our asses off before the show. But when the lights went down I screamed like a little girl at the top of my lungs. The setlist was a fan's dream come true, not only did they do the obvious hits but they did a lot of more obscure album cuts, and by doing this my girl Ann was able to sing lead on a lot. I can't remember every song but I know I sang along w/ 99.9% of them. Gioia kept pointing me out durning the show because I was singing along to every song :) Off the top of my head they did the following:

Come Go With Me
I Wish The Phone Would Ring
Angel
December
Seasons Change
What You Don't Know
I Know You Know
Exposed To Love
As Long As I Can Dream
Let Me Be The One
When I Looked At Him
Let Me Be The One
I Specialize In Love
Your Baby Never Looked Good In Blue
Point Of No Return

I could be missing a few, but that's what I can remember. That setlist was heaven, especially when they did my favorite Exposé song of all time, Angel. The show was about an hour and a half and I had a blast. So much so that Gioia even came down to dance w/ me and Carlos! OMG it was so fun!!! Here's a pic, sorry it's a bit blurry, but I just got a new digital camera so I'm still learning to use it.



At one point they were like We're gonna do a disco song, they came up to me and Ann asked me You know this one right? I said I Specialize In Love and they were all like We knew you'd know. LOL.

I danced, screamed, clapped, sang until I had no voice....OMG it was just too much fun.



After the show the ladies did a meet and greet and we were one of the first people in line, and when I got up there Jeanette said I am so glad you were singing along to every song, otherwise I would have forgot the words!. I proceeded to tell them my story about how I'd waiting 17 years to see them and thanked them for making me feel 12 again. They were so nice and I even told Ann that I wished they would have saing Stop, Listen, Look & Think, Gioia then proceeded to sing it a bit and I sang along :) I thanked them so much, I don't even remember what I all said 'cause I was so excited that I must have had diareah of the mouth. LOL. I told Ann that I hope they come to Chicago soon as we had come in for the show. They thanked us told us we were amazing :) I swear I was on a high all night. We then ended up at Bryant's and drank and had a great night.

On a seperate note, I had written a message to Jeanette on myspace before the and never heard back, but this morning I got a message from her asking me how I liked the show :) What a sweetie!

The rest of our time in Milwaukee was nice. Thurs we went over to my old roomie's place for dinner and so our children could finally meet. Chus and Shakespeare! Yay!



We got snowed in so we ended up staying a little longer than we were hoping for, but it was nice to get away from Chicago for a few days. But by the time we got home I couldn't have been happier to be back. Hope everyone's well. Ta-ta for now!