Tag: trends

I Tried the Popeye’s Chicken Sandwich and I’m Speechless

I tried the Popeye’s chicken sandwich yesterday and I was floored by how bad it was.  I don’t know what to make of all the hype.  I’m not sure how it all started and I’m not sure how it snowballed into such a frenzy.  I swear I’m not trying to be a rebel.  The Popeye’s classic chicken sandwich is the worst chicken sandwich I’ve had in my life.

The sandwich that has caused long lines, flared tempers, brawls, fender benders and deaths is the worst chicken sandwich there is.  Wendy’s, Arby’s, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King,  KFC, Chic Fil A, college cafeterias, workplace cafeterias, church cookouts, family reunions, me and probably you all make a better chicken sandwich than Popeye’s.  I had the classic sandwich but perhaps the spicy sandwich is better.

I had a problem with the sandwich as soon as I unwrapped it.  The bread is shiny.  Why is bread shiny?  Why did Popeye’s add a glossy topcoat to their bread?  Did they think that would help?  The large piece of meat didn’t have much flavor and then they added a few pickles and mayonnaise.  That’s it.  I had a hard time finishing it.  The only reason I didn’t throw it away midway through was because I was super hungry.  The beans and rice that I got as a side were much more satisfying.

I saw several social media comments that said that the sandwich is good but it doesn’t live up to the hype.  I saw several people on the news claiming that the sandwich is great and worth waiting in line.  Both are lies.  The sandwich is terrible.  I’m trying to understand what made people jump on the bandwagon and what made them afraid to tell the truth that the sandwich is garbage.

Now I know this is subjective but for goodness sakes I don’t see how anyone would describe that sandwich as delicious.  And no, the sandwich is not laced with drugs which is what some seem to think.  That may have made it worth the money.  I also don’t think the sandwich is witchcraft.  That’s an insult to witches.  It’s just a bland sandwich with no pizazz to it whatsoever.

I’m fascinated with the phenomena which is the Popeye’s chicken sandwich craze of 2019.  A subpar product became a sensation out of nowhere and no one had the courage to speak against the trend.  People criticized the hype but not the sandwich.  I didn’t hear one person say that they didn’t like the sandwich.  Perhaps it’s just me.

If you can’t tell I’m a bit of a chicken sandwich connoisseur.  In my educated opinion if you want a tasty chicken sandwich go anywhere but Popeye’s.  But if you want to know what hype, drama and lies tastes like then Popeye’s chicken sandwich is perfect for you.  Now that people aren’t lining up for hours and having knife fights over this sandwich give it a try and see for yourself.

The Early 2000s: The Worst Decade for Fashion in the History of Mankind

We are a few months away from a new year and decade. There’s an old adage that says that hindsight is 20/20. It’s a little ironic that I came to the conclusion that the early 2000s was the absolute worst decade for fashion in the history of mankind just before the year 2020. Sometimes it takes a while to come to terms with your past. Consider yourself fortunate if you were not born yet or were still too young to make your own sartorial decisions.

mean girls

“Mean Girls” 2004

I saw a picture on Pinterest today of a red carpet event that took place in the early 2000s. The image brought back memories of my own terrible fashion choices from that time. We all looked a mess. We all looked a bit slutty, unfinished, sloppy, with big curls in our hair and heavy make up.

2003

Me with blonde streaks in my hair and a suitor in 2003.

I don’t know who we should blame for the lost fashion decade at the turn of the century. Forever 21, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Destiny’s Child can all shoulder a bit of the blame. The film “Mean Girls” did their part to bring about the Thotpacalypse. But most of the blame lays squarely at the feet of every day women that walked around with flared jeans, heels and bare mid drifts.

Who remembers when there use to be a thing called “going out tops”? Going out tops were available at such places as Forever 21, Wet Seal and Charlotte Russe. They cost between $5-$20. Sometimes you might even find one you like at a gas station or Walmart if you needed a new one after 10:00pm for an event you were attending.

prince

Me at a Prince concert with a purple wig circa ’99-’00.

I remember when it all began. There came a time when young women in America and probably world wide could not buy clothes that met in the middle. The pants were all low-waisted and the shirts were all cropped. Even blouses that were intended for business casual wear were that way. If you had a job working in a bank or in a law office or something you had to find a way to modify the outfit as to not reveal your belly button. I relied on tank tops and blazers.

I was twenty five in 2000 so I followed the trends of the time when I was out socializing. I learned to cover my belly for church and work. I also became very conscious of keeping my underwear and butt crack covered. Butt cracks and exposed thongs were an epidemic in the early 2000s. We can blame Sisquo for that.

“Thong Song” 2000

Hindsight is 20/20 and I have come to the realization that the early 2000s were the dark ages of fashion. It was dreadful and I’m glad it’s over. Thank God Instagram hadn’t been invented yet.

note: The video on early 2000s fashion featured sunglasses with rhinestones. I loved that trend but I was not able to pursue that trend the way I wanted because I need prescription sunglasses. However, Isaac made those shades trendy in the 70s, the golden age of style and fashion.

isaac hayes

“New Horizon” 1977

Instagram Culture

It’s time for an Instagram cultural revolution.  I really enjoy Instagram.  It’s frivolous, light hearted entertainment.   It is my favorite social media platform.  It’s fun to see people tell their stories and express themselves through visual images.  Instagram is very well suited for those of us that are nosey.  I have learned the darnedest things about celebrities, old classmates, relatives and even beautiful strangers.  And Instagram doesn’t carry the emotional baggage of Facebook or Twitter.

There are people in the world that make their livings as Instagram models.  I don’t exactly understand what an Instagram model is because it seems to me that everyone that has ever downloaded the app is an Instagram model.  But these so called models make a living posting pictures of themselves and promoting products on their pages.  Good for them.  Many of them seem to do quite well for themselves.

My problem with these Instagram models is that most of them have zero style.  I don’t see any fashion.  Fashion requires fabric and thread you see and most of these women are as close to naked as Instagram will allow.  That’s pretty darn naked.

I don’t consider myself to be a prude.  I have no problem with a person photographing their nearly nude or even completely nude body.  But why does everyone need to do that?

When you scroll through Instagram images most of the women that are photographed are wearing sexually suggestive clothing in suggestive poses.  Perhaps they are Instagram models or that is their goal?  But it is sad to me that young women are being taught that in order to be successful and have financial freedom you need to look a certain way and put your body on display.

Instagram models photograph themselves in luxurious surroundings with high end goods.  A lot of them date or imply that they date wealthy men.  These images are juxtaposed with images of them in bikinis.  And these are not natural looking bikini shots of them enjoying a day at the pool with friends.  They are in bikinis in full make up, oiled up, with their hair did arching their backs and **** like that.  The message that is being conveyed to a very young audience is that if you want to be successful work on your body and sell it.  Some of these girls talk about their higher education.  That’s great but they’re not using their education to be successful.  They’re using their flesh.

There needs to be an alternative.  That’s why I love Kate Middleton.  She is a young woman with a good figure but she presents herself with modesty, dignity and class.  And she’s going to be a queen one day; not some fly by night reality star or the baby mama to a professional athlete.

I am far older than Instagram’s target audience.  I am not wealthy and I don’t live in a glamorous, coastal, high rent city.  But I have more style in my left heel than all of the Instagram models that I have seen.

If you are a stylish woman, even if it’s only on special occasions you should put up a few Instagram shots too.  The world needs them.  Someone needs to remind the world that women can be pretty and her beauty can be admired without being ogled and lusted after.  And if you’re going to call yourself a model of any sort please have some style.

My name on Instagram is showmeshannon.  I would appreciate your follow.  I would also appreciate it if some of you ladies would show the world your style and creativity through fashion.  Kate Middleton and I can’t do it alone.

VICTORIA, BC – SEPTEMBER 26: (NO UK SALES FOR 28 DAYS) Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attends a Goverment of British Columbia reception at Government House on September 26, 2016 in Victoria, Canada. (Photo by Pool/Sam Hussein/WireImage)