Cheap Eats

I know you’re getting used to seeing me ask, “2.99 Are they OUT of their minds?” but the only deal better than the one I’m hawking in the Spangle’s commercial, is a FREE deal.  Yep, I almost forgot about free Wednesday at Arby’s but one of the blogs I followed reminded me of it, and I passed it along to my facebook and twitter friends.  Wednesday was Beef and Cheddar day.  You buy a drink they give you a beef and cheddar sandwich, free.

I am all about free food these days, in fact I ate free fish tacos at Long John Silvers a few weeks ago, because hey, it was free, and I don’t really even like fish.  So the fact that my favorite Arby’s sandwich was a giveaway pretty much made my day.  The BFF & I had a late lunch today, after some serious manual labor painting dressers, that’s another story.  So by the time we walked into Arby’s  we were covered in paint and probably smelling like something the cat would drag in, but they served us anyway, and what I liked, they EXPECTED us to order up the free eats.

The manager was even nice enough to take our picture for us, because even when we’re not camera ready, we’re camera ready.  Just a note to all you businesses out there giving out free food.  I don’t know what it costs you, but I know what you’re getting out of it.  Loyalty.  The easier it is to take advantage of the deal, the nicer your employees are when I show up to grovel for free grub, and of course, if  it tastes even slightly better than the cost, the more likely I am to come back.  I guess you buying us lunch for a change is a smart marketing move, I hope this little trend continues, because Breaking News Folks, I’m broke, but I’m Anita Cochran and I’m not going hungry and neither should you.  I’ll keep tabs for you on any other free deals.

 

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Spangles, It Just Tastes Better

My Spangle’s commercial has hit the airwaves, and let’s just say it’s a little bit freaky!  You’d think after having been on local TV news for 20 years seeing oneself on television would be no big thrill, but think about it folks, most of the time I was on TV I was LIVE.  I never really had a chance to watch me.  Granted, we did a few promos a long the way, but never enough to get used to seeing myself on the tube.  (Or maybe I just never tired of it.)

Anyway, many of you are seeing the commercial nowadays too.  My facebook friends are asking who I was talking to.    They noticed I’m not looking at the camera when I wondered “if for 2.99, are out of their minds? ”   The answer is, well I wasn’t looking at anyone, but there were at least five people behind the camera, a couple of customers and some Spangles employees lurking nearby, so for the sake of the argument  that I’m not crazy, eating alone and TALKING to myself, let’s pretend I’m talking to Rene Steven.

We all know Rene is THE Spangle’s lady.   So I thought I better set the record straight right now, many of you are gushing WOW, how cool that you’re the new Spangle’s lady.  Dude’s I’m not.  It was a one time appearance.   No this was not my break into the big time money world of commercial modelling…..  I’m still broke, and I’m still just Anita Cochran, but for the next few weeks, wouldn’t it be fun if everytime we went to Spangle’s we all said, “Hey, Anita sent me!!!”   That’s what I’d really like people to say!!

 

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2.99, Yes They Are Out Of Their Minds

It’s done!!  The Spangles commercial featuring yours truly is ready to air, you’ll find it posted on anitacochran.tv, and of course on TV stations near you  soon.  The question probably begs to be answered, how different is it to be on camera for a 30 second commercial, versus a 30 minute newscast?  VERY.

   The biggest difference is the camera itself.  For 20 years, I was asked to talk to the camera, for this little dittie, I was to ignore the camera, and talk to myself.  Now, a lot of you might think I’m crazy, and we all know I talk a LOT, but I rarely talk to myself.  Really, someone is usually in the room at least ignoring me, giving me something to focus on.  So there I sat at Spangles, ignoring the camera, the camera people, Rene Steven, and customers, TALKING TO MYSELF.  I never felt more nutty in my life.  (Except maybe for when I was singing with Cindy Klose and Susan Peters at Gridiron!!)

   As for the next biggest challenge, it’s the bite and smile shot.  Next time you eat a burger, try it yourself or better yet, have someone video tape you.  You smile, take a big OLE yummy bite, then chew and smile again all at the same time.  Oh, and you have to keep your mouth closed so no one can see the food in your mouth.  Go ahead try it, hope you don’t choke on your burger!

  That said, it was a blast.  While I’m in no way qualified to replace Rene as the Spangles Spokesperson, it was such a thrill to step into her shoes, or more accurately, bite into her burger for a day.  I also found that Breaking News dudes, since I’m BROKE, the 2.99 deal for a full meal, really is good for the budget.  It’s even better for your budget if you star in the commercial, since I had trouble smile, chewing and smiling, it took me three Classic Supremes to get the shot.  Now, really Rene, did you think I was stupid?  No, I was milking it for free food, and if you’re really out of your minds you’ll ask me to do it again.  I’m Anita Cochran, you’re listening to KKRDonline.

Orpheum “Food” Fundraiser

  Honored to serve as a date for Go Wichita’s Shakila Saifullah (she’s the new Marketing Director), I attended my first Celebrity & Chef Cook-off this week at Wichita’s Marriott Hotel.    

Wow!  Yes the food was nummy but can you say power crowd?  (Say it with real feeling and it will be ever more impressive.)  The best part of that, is a lot of those people, are some of my favorite people in Wichita.   We gave the chick from Splurge a run for her money, taking advantage of as many photo ops as we possibly could without attracting too much attention to ourselves!  (I did afterall at this point, have food stains on my Paris-bought suit! ) If you must know it was the Right one…and it was chocolate icing!

  I hate to be a name dropper, but really, there’s just no other way to do it.  In no particular order we must start with my very first “vacation” sweetheart.

  Devin Hansen and I met on a trip to Hawaii when we were like 10 years old (YES, our parents were with us).   He’s taken over the family business Sunflower Travel, is obviously a Wichita Wagon Master by his get-up here, and I learned on this night,  he’s also Chairman of the Go Wichita Board, Go Devin.  

Then I think this might be the first picture Spangle’s Spokeswoman Rene Steven and I have ever taken together, though we’ve been to about a bazillion events together.  We also go to the same church and have an idea to “hook” up in the future.  I’ll leave it at that, cause that sounds SEXY.  Might I add, I could eat a Strawberry Sundae from Spangles ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

   WSU’s Don and Shirley Beggs are perhaps the nicest people in our city, probably the state, and perhaps even the planet.  Shirley is battling breast cancer and finishes chemo this week.  Hers is the only story I wish I had been able to tell before my TV career was over.  Heck, Shirley can I just write your book?

I couldn’t NOT post this picture just because Shakila’s finger is the most prominent part of the scene!  I love KWCH’s Bruce Haertl, who was there as a judge.  Competitive son-of-a-gun that he is won the past three years.  He tells me though his chefs worked his butt off, which makes me glad I was never a big enough name to be asked to “cook” for the Orpheum.     

    I have no idea which Celebrity won this years contest, but I do know I didn’t get the bike I was bidding on in the Silent Auction.  I also know that we were all there to raise money for the Orpheum Theatre.  Oh how I love that building.  Funny how I love just about anything old, the older I get.  If you haven’t been to this event, put it on the list for next year.  Good eats, good people, good cause.  (Oh, and there’s going to be a lot more pictures over on Facebook! – Since this is getting long the rest will show up over there.)