Stephen Whitener's Mancave

Stephen Whitener's Mancave

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Glad 2010 is nearly finished...let's hope 2011 is much better!

2010 has been a year of a few ups and many downs. Throughout this year my dad has been in and out of the hospital and he continues to struggle getting to good health. My finances have been really strapped down and it's been next to impossible to put anything aside for savings. Relationship wise....well still hoping to find that right woman to fill an empty spot I have in my heart. Certainly not everything this year has been gloom and doom though. I have done much more artwork this year than the previous. I have met some new friends. My van is one year closer to being paid off (halleluyah baby!) I also was made the photo manager at my Walgreens (should have happened years ago but better late than never!)
2011 I hope is going to bring positive changes and energy to my life. I am going to be starting to live and eat better, that is one certain change I am going to make in my life. My goal is to lose upwards of 80 pounds. I want to do this for my daughter and set an example and for myself. I hope to find love in the coming year! Who knows! I'm a damn good guy who is a "hopeful" romantic with a lot to offer a woman. I am in a great local movie that is coming out in the new year "Fantastic Stan Goes To Hell" I'm super excited to see this at the local cinema! I'm hoping to do more conventions and sell more of my artwork and release my own self published comic.
I hope all of my friends have a great new year and only the best comes your way!!

Cheers
Stephen

Sunday, December 19, 2010

El Gitano es no bueno!!!

Good morning/afternoon/evening ladies and gents! I haven't done a karaoke bar review for quite some time and I finally got to go out friday night to El Gitano at Sunset Square here in the city of subdued excitement. I arrived at the bar at about nine o' clock, which in most karaoke bars is the standard time to start. The place was about three fourths full of patrons, however no host was seen or heard. Nine thirty rolls around and finally the host announces that there's karaoke and people should start handing in their slips.
The rotation was very small- only three to four people. The crowd was very unresponsive and didn't pay any attention to the singers. That is one of the things that I hate the most at a karaoke establishment. After people would sing I think you could hear crickets chirping. The crowd was a rough bunch- white trash wannabe gang bangers and the table with the drunken twenty somethings having a birthday party.
The host Shelby has no presence what-so-ever. The monitor was turned down so low that you might as well not even use the microphone-ridiculous! A good kj knows how to tune in singers and how to work their sound board. Apparently this host was more worried about who she was texting than doing her job that she's being paid to do.
The waitress was attentive and I must say that's the only thing this bar had going for it. The margaritas were essentially slurpees with a little kick. At the prices they charge, that's damn ridiculous! A little later in the night a couple of my friends joined me to sing. Unfortunetly even good singers couldn't wake up this crowd of stiffs!
We went home that night unsatisfied and still wanting an actual karaoke experience. El Gitano was voted the best place in Bellingham for karaoke by the Bellingham Herald. Apparently someone's palm got greased for this one because this place is beyond a doubt the SHITTIEST place for karaoke in whatcom county!
El Gitano gets an "F" from the me. Again this is my opinion of this bar. I haven't been there for months on a saturday night, but I doubt things are any better. The last time I did go on a saturday the host was so stoned that he lost my slips three times and it took over an hour and a half before I could sing.
What has happened to a city that just two years ago had great karaoke? It's so damn sad and something needs to be done!

Cheers
Stephen