Mixed on McDonald's- La Gallina Vieja's 1st Guest Post

Hola Hola Hola My Beautifuls!  Today Babushka is letting La Gallina Vieja write her first post- y por supuesto, it's a bit confrontational.I've known her my whole life so BB assures you her heart is in the right place, she's just more opinionated than Babushka.  Queee??  JU SO FONII!!!  Ok si, BB definitely has opinions, but LGV is more vocal about them.  Continuing.

MIXED ON MCDONALD'S  by La Gallina Vieja

While in Miami, I usually stay with my grandmother, La Tata in Little Havana.  Along with many other things, Little Havana had a neighborhood McDonald's that really was a neighborhood McDonald's.  The architecture was Spanish style shingles,they served Cuban style coffee, the menu was bilingual and the playground a nice diversion for children with no nearby park. FUERA! GONE! Totally demolished and rebuilt to match everyother cookie cutter McDonald's they're making across the nation.  Well, before I continue w/the tirade let me share the good times-because we all know there's good/bad in everything.

Grandsons w/their best "Ok Grandma,
we're smiling for this picture- now can we go play?"

Funslide, Face Painting and Frisbees 

not to mention a Funky Ronald-

Fun times yes, but fleeting and fragile.  In a community proud of its' Hispanic roots they've totally removed everything Spanish- except for the employees and the cafe con leche which is the only Spanish item left in this McDonald's.  The language isn't the only thing missing from our culture.  Latins have a very strong sense of community and that includes knowing what everyone else is doing- they've taken the prior configuration where you could see everyone and compartmentalized the place. Ciao Chismeria and socializing.  Another very essential part of our upbringing is being good hosts and sharing whatever we may have.  Anyone who's ever been to a Cuban's home knows the first thing asked is "Would you like anything to drink?"

So you KNOW this is so WRONG.

Also wrong- how can you put calorie count on the now all English menu, especially stressing how health and weight concious your brand is and then turn around and take away the playground?  And adding insult to injury you've now added a video game section, further immobilizing our youth and curtailing their physical and social skills.  Que? Our children don't get enough of that?  Is that what your ultimate goal is?  To have a world that looks all the same with drones who follow blandness because individuality is not welcomed? Easier to control huh?  Bueno, so sorry con escumi but not here.  We've already lost our individuality somewhere else,  and I for one don't take this lightly.  

White bread is fine for others, but in this neighborhood bring me my pan Cubano. 

 Obviously it's all about the buck for you Mickey D,

therefore I'll be going to a place where my culture is King.

Hasta la proxima- LGV

further info:  http://www.littlehavanainc.com/Mcdonalds.html

LGV  facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Gallina-Vieja/297314457051368

Civic Duty & Pride - Day 26 of SMCSF 30 day blog challenge

Yesterday Babushka did her civic duty and voted. 

Early. 

With Pride.

Quickly, look at the picture and what do you see?

Two Flags.  

The American flag and the Marine Corps flag.

My tagline- JU SO FONII!!!

BB's picture and website.

Do you know what Babushka sees?

Two Flags.

The country that welcomed my people and those who would give up their lives for that welcome.

My tagline.

The freedom to say what I believe in.

BB's Picture and website.

I don't need to go into hiding.  I can express myself without fear.

And though I believe in being an individual and following one's dreams, I believe in something else even stronger.

 In a country of individuals there are times we must think of the whole.

It's a privilege to be able to live here. 

Our "Right" to vote is a privilege too.

You only need go 90 miles off Florida's Keys to relinquish that right.

Go VOTE My Beautifuls.

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.