a resolution for bike messengers...

i still look back at my days as a bike messenger...why? to be honest...it was probably the greatest job i had. i didn't have as many bills as i have today so there's no way i could do it again...it just doesn't pay but it really was a great job.

i remember having some really horrible days. you know...days where the weather was just disgusting, days when security was treating you like sh*t, days when the traffic lights weren't cooperating...you know, those type of days. i also remember the days when things would just flow, work was more than steady, i was getting free coffee at spots, i was getting that extra smile from the cute receptionist, the security guard at that one building wasn't working...you know, those type of days. then i think back at how many were good days at work and how many were bad days. to be honest...there just wasn't enough good days.

thats the problem with this industry...messengers have a short memory. well...there are other problems but i believe this to be one of the bigger ones. bike messengers only live in the now...which is great, for now but not for later. if you feed a bike messenger one days he/she is willing to be treated like sh*t for the next week or so because they only hold on to those nice days. the days they were fed. do you get what im saying? bike messengers only hold on to the glory days and seem to forget how crappy this industry can be on them. they dont realize that there is a future out there and they are a part of it.

sure...you made over 100 today but what about tomorrow? i've made over 100 in a day and i've made about 50 bucks in a day. i've seen it happen to many. sh*t...i've seen cats make about 50 for two days of work. are you serious?! the thing is...they forget the fact that they made that little because of the one day...that one single day when everything just flowed in their favor.

to be honest...i used to think, if you put your time in the money will be there. that just isn't true. if you put your time in...the money will be there sometimes. that sucks. so this new year i urge bike messengers to drop the short memory and think bigger. to think beyond the day they are currently in. to think beyond, next week, next month, and so on. will things get better? who knows...but 10 years down the line...what will you have to show for all your work? yes, yes...i know all about all the great memories and friendships that get built. believe me...i have my fair share but memories wont help pay the bills and take care of your family.

happy new year kids...hope 2011 treats everyone better. ride safe...peace.

prepare for next year...

alright kids...the new year is just around the corner. this means...get your passport ready and mark your calendars...oh yeah, and save up money. the new year always brings all kinds of messenger championships. i'll dig around and try to get them all up for us again...you know, naccc's, cmwc's, cimb's, and so on. for now...every messenger and ex-messenger should gear up and save up for a trip to warsaw, poland...



check in with the warsawcarkillers for updates. im sure they will not disappoint. its all going down july 28th through the 31st. enjoy your holidays. for those of you playing in the snow...it's ok to take a day off no matter what your dispatcher says...peace.

happy thanksgiving...

today is a very special day. not only is it thanksgiving but it is also exactly one year ago that my son, wolf granville saravia, was born. talk about things to be greatful for. lets do the usual...family, friends, food, a roof, a job, football...ha! honestly, it's hard to put into words how grateful and thankful i am that our son came into our lives. im thankful he's healthy, active, intelligent, handsome, and the list goes on and on.

we watched him go from this...

pic by max herman...

to this...

pic by max herman...

he loves to smile, cry, laugh, whine, wrestle, stare you down, run, play, sleep, eat...oh man. i can go on for years talking about my little man. he's been...well, beautiful. if you're bored...you can watch him as we did here. we mainly did that site for his grandparents who live in florida but also for other friends and family who live far away and wanted updates on the little man. i dont blame them for wanting to know what he looks like on a daily basis. waking up to him can be a pain(ha!) but, most of the time...brings a HUGE smile to your face.

i cant end this post without being grateful/thankful for...my wife. she is...for lack of a better word, amazing. never mind all the small things she does on a daily basis...cook, clean, and so on. she also...loves me. i have never in my life felt love like that...someone who would give everything and anything to just hold your hand. when i say goodbye to go to work...she smiles at me. when i say hello to her when i get back from work...she smiles at me. when we wake up...when we go to sleep...she smiles at me. its a feeling that breaks me down every once in a while. sh*t...i might cry right now...ha?

i am thankful that she came into my life. have you ever felt something like that? i rarely hang out with anyone anymore...why? because i rather be at home with my wife. i rather sit around and talk about nothing than go out. not that i dont like hanging out with my friends and family but i hate missing moments with my wife. when i am away from her im constantly emailing her or texting her. just seeing what she's up to...updating her on what im up to. why? not because im some weirdo...wait, that might be the reason...ha! but because i want to share as many moments as i can with her...even when we're not with one another.

pic by max herman...

this thanksgiving is the most special thanksgiving in my life...i get to spend it with my wife and my 1 year old son. remember to hug those you love and dont be afraid to tell them you love them...peace.

one last word...

people all over have not stopped sending in their experiences with andre gordon. a friend to this blog...jerome abramovitch...sent over his kind words and a great picture of the man.

I only got to hang out with him briefly when I was in Chicago two years ago, but the moment I laid eyes on him, I knew he was special.
His vibe was pure, cool, down to earth and friendly. His importance in the local messenger tribe was evident to a non-local like me,
and he truly represented the universal best-of features that makes awesome messengers even more awesome human beings.

there are so many words i want to say about andre but...well, i'll leave those words between me and him. he is greatly missed by our community. have a happy and safe holiday...peace.

the man meant a lot too many...

The first time I met dre was over 5 years ago. I was riding down Elston to work. It was my first month or so as a messenger and didn’t know a single soul. I was all giddy at first, riding as fast as I could, my adrenaline flowing full. So this one day im cruising southeast down elston and I pass this cat and out of nowhere he yells, “WHAT’S UP!!!!!” Turns out to be Dre.

that’s when I start to slow down, take a look and appreciate my surroundings.
This man was the man. And if you didn’t’ get the chance to meet him, you probably should be wishing that you did.

Literally one of the coolest cats I’ve ever encountered. I told him one day that he reminded me of my pops…. And then he asked me why…… and that’s kinda when we connected on a level i’ve never had with any other courier. Every time I saw him on the streets he ALWAYS was yelling out “PRRRRIIIIMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOO…”. He once told me that biking saved his life… That’s when I realized that being a courier; being a biker was more than just riding a bike. It’s a lifestyle, it’s freedom, it’s a breath of fresh air, it’s braggin rights, it’s laughing at the desk job; it’s scoffing at the status quo…. This was Dre.

He never gave in to anyone’s bullshit. Dre was a man of principle…“What’s right is right” I can imagine him saying. So when I heard the news that he passed my heart skipped a few beats. I thought Jerry was joking at first but when I realized he was for real all of a sudden I felt like I lost a family member…Dre will be remembered by many with his legacy not only as a courier but as a representation of Chicago…..

HE IS THE REAL DEAL…..

For real, I feel touched, blessed, more complete, more a man, more connected, more powerful, and definitely happier….I never saw this guy not smiling…And I’ll never stop smiling cause of him…

PEACE,

primo

pic by carey premeau...

for more details on funeral arrangements head over here. the man will be greatly missed. i apologize for the mood around this blog lately but sometimes...life is what it is...peace.

the kid with the glasses...

my wife and i walked into barneys new york one random summer day. we were cruising on our bikes and decided to stop in and say hello to a friend. Lord knows i cant afford anything in there...ha? he was nowhere to be found. we asked one of the employees if she knew who sean was but she just looked at us like we were making it up...like we didn't know someone who worked there. we say..."you know, the kid with the glasses"...she immediately knew who we were talking about.

i laugh sometimes at sean being known as "the kid with the glasses"...why? mainly because i think of it as a ufc main event of sorts. you know...in this corner we have CHUCK "THE ICEMAN" LIDELL!!! and in this corner we have SEAN "THE KID WITH THE GLASSES" CALLAHAN!!! hahahahaha! i mean come on...thats funny. alright, alright...that might only be funny to me but still. you are greatly missed kid...rest in peace.

this sunday...

chicago is just doing their part to spread some holiday cheer. come out for stage one and have some fun for a good cause...peace.

dre day...

yesterday was a special day...many got together to remember a good man...andre gordon. it was nice to come out and hang out with old and new heads. catching up and sharing stories...always feels good. andre was/is a special man...he made many feel good and welcomed. i dont recall the man ever feeling down and out...always upbeat. as corny as it may sound...i never really heard him mention family...why? cause we were his family. chicago, im sure like many other cities, has a close knit messenger family. although we may not all get along...we all have respect and love for each other. dre...well, he was like the father of the family. naw...he was more like that crazy uncle...ha! he would just sit with you for a beer, a smoke, or to just plain talk. you will be missed...peace.



my scanner is horrible. for those interested...come out to cals around 530 and roll to union park in memory of andre gordon.

r.i.p. dre...

pic by chris dilts...

dre was out there no matter if it was cold, hot, rainy, snowy, or just plain nice. he was out there before me...before many. he will be greatly missed. a quick story...right before i decided to call it in and take the dispatch job i bumped into dre on the street. we were rolling north on franklin. he started calling me out and calling me a b*tch...as usual...ha! we raced from jackson to randolph...luckily, i beat him...ha! he says..."you're lucky i have these old man legs. if this was 15 years ago you would be my b*tch". i couldn't help but laugh. thats how the man was. always laughed at sh*t. r.i.p. dre...we'll always love you...peace.

more trailers...

alright...i've been plugging marie's short film faster for the longest time and i wont stop now...ha! dont be afraid to follow the film and where it'll be screening on facebook...

pic by chris dilts...

check out the trailer here. if you missed it during the international film festival you have a chance here in chicago to check it out at columbia college on november 19th. keep your eyes peeled and ears open for more news...great job marie...peace.

standing by...

i told you...im all for posting about people in the industry that have other talents. especially when those people are good people like rene. if you've kept up with my blog you've read about rene before...now, here he is demonstrating some acting, producing, writing, and directing skills...



damn it!! my blog wont let the whole screen show so for a better view head here. just a trailer and still in production but i have to say...im very intrigued. i cant wait to see the final product. i'll keep you kids posted if and when it is ready to be viewed. great job...peace.

checking in...

it's always good to hear from old faces...well, i guess he isn't that old but it's been a while since i last spoke to ryan aka 6645. even better...it's nice to hear from heads i've had the pleasure of working with and hearing what they're up to.

the messenger business can be quite a pain and sooner or later many move on and try to make moves to better themselves. ryan is no exception...he's made the move to the southeast and opened up a screen printing shop with his brothers - tropicolor. hearing from the man that things were looking good and hoping to get better was nice but the fun didn't end there...i received this gem in the mail...



what?! honestly, i had no idea the man had this hidden talent. i cant wait to frame it and put it up in my kids room. who doesn't love a good chicago flag. dont sleep on these kids from the southeast. check their site here. try your best to get your hands on one of these chicago prints here. they're fairly brand new so lets help them get popular on facebook...ha!

seriously, it's nice to hear from messengers from the past. especially when they have good news. good luck out there ryan...from the looks of things, you wont need it...peace.

get your naccc on...

if you haven't registered you only have 1 more day to do so. head over to dirtysouthmessengers to register and for more info on the weekends madness...peace.

faster.faster.faster...

marie ullrich has been around the world and back but finally...the movie will be within our reach...ha! the chicago international film festival is coming up...along with other great films to watch dont skip out on faster! for a list of showtimes head here. the movie will take place at the river east amc. i cant wait...peace!

sometimes...

people forget that this industry is literally just a job. it doesn't define who we are. we get caught up in the romanticism of the whole job...we get caught up in the never ending struggle between the have and have nots. we forget that at the end of the day we...couriers, dispatchers, managers, and so on...still go home to a family, friend, pet. what am i getting at? we forget that we have more to our lives than this industry. i want to share a story about one of our drivers...i know, i know, you guys just love to hear about bike messengers but they are not the only ones in the messenger industry...

one of our drivers called to say he couldn't come in. he got some bad/horrible news. his daughter was in an accident...she passed. things like this happen in life but this isn't where the story ends...its never that simple. the driver...he's a good man. always showed up to work. was more than professional and courteous. well, turns out he had lost touch with his daughter long ago. for what reasons...i am not sure but it doesn't matter. things happen in life and sometimes we lose touch with one another.

he had spent the last 18 years or so looking for her. he finally was able to reconnect with her. he found out he had two grandchildren and could not be happier to try and reconnect. to try and be there for the grandkids even though he was not able to be there for his daughter. then...just like that...she was taken from his life again. i could not believe it when i heard it. it's like he was meant to see her again...life was simply waiting for them to reconnect before she would be taken. i got so choked up when i heard this news. i still get choked up.

well...the man decided that working as a messenger was eating too much of his time. he had another part time gig that could hold him over. he had decided that...this industry wasn't worth the time he was losing to spend with his grandchildren. you could tell that he regretted not being able to share his life and love with his daughter and he would not make that mistake with his grandchildren. they have a father but he wants to be there for their moments. their first "A" in class...their prom night...their first date...their first everything.

this happened early in the year. im not sure how life is treating him but i do know that the man made the right decision. family definitely comes first. i wished him the best of luck. not that he needed it...you could tell that the love he had for his newly found family would bring him more luck than one could imagine.

why do i share this story? well...for the reasons i stated earlier. sometimes we get caught up in the silliness of this industry. sometimes we forget that the end of the day we go HOME. like another messenger told me once..."with things like this all you can do is go home and hug your wife...huge your kid...hug your loved ones"...peace.

dont forget...

this weekend kicks off with the cuttin'crew classic...



be at the blue frog, 676 north lasalle, around 1130am on saturday the 25th. then take a shower and get ready for...



then on sunday you can show up to humbolt park around 1300 to watch some polo...maybe even participate...blue city cylces and cuttin'crew present...



thats a stacked weekend. good job to all the people who put this madness together...peace.

worlds on velonews...

head here for the video, pics, and story...im sure there will be a lot more coming out from guatemala. once again, great job to all who had a hand in this...peace.

it is done...

mark your calendars...the worlds are coming to Chicago!!! 2012!!! very exciting news...great job out there in Guatemala kids...peace.

you can always count on christina...

the results are in and how did chicago do? congratulations to christina peck for coming in 2nd for the women and 3rd in the trackstand.



as usual...the men have disappointed us...ha! head here for the podium results and here for general results for each event/stage. congratulations to all the participants and winners. great job christina for making chicago look good...peace.

something more local...

the perfect saturday...wake up, have some coffee then head to the blue frog for registration...



then...head home. relax...eat some late lunch/early dinner...take a shower and get dressed up all nice and stuff...



then drink, laugh, drink, cry, drink, share stories, drink, dance, drink, and have a good time. its that time of year kids...the cuttin'crew classic followed by the messenger prom. good job to augie and the crew at fourstar for keeping this event alive. for more details head to chicago messenger prom. i have no doubt that this year will be as good as others...peace.

you're best bet...

dont sleep on moving target...buffalo bill and friends are keeping us updated with the fun in guatemala. not only that...they're providing the photo proof that there are indeed messengers in guatemala...





check out the moving target flickr. i cant stress enough at how proud i am to be a part of this industry. it is the weekend though...i wonder how long that'll last...ha! seriously, great job kids...peace.

september 11th...

here in the states and around the world...september 11th will always be remembered. i know i will never forget the day. now, september 11th will have new memories for messenger around the world...as put by Shawn "bega" Blumenfeld...

so 10 years from now, remember where you were, 10am on saturday september 11th 2010 when the first messenger championships in Latin America, on top a crumbling volcano in a city torn assunder by a hurricane, the main race will begin.

be safe out there kids. i would say keep an eye on the website for results but it's had so many hits that it shut down...holy moly! just know that the show continues to roll. im very proud of all of you. the participants, the organizers, and the people of guatemala...peace.

the show must go on...

guatemala is experiencing some heavy rain at the moment...

Heavy rains from Tropical Depression 11-E have pelted Guatemala for days, unleashing deadly mudslides in several areas, cutting highways and forcing officials to evacuate thousands of people.

even through this tough time messengers are doing their best to get to pana...the location for the worlds. little by little they're all showing up. its a bit difficult with roads closed off but still...they try...

Here in Panajachel the river has broken it’s banks and washed half of the proposed bike polo court and half of La Ocho into the river. However the people of pana are well equiped to deal with this kind of situation and plans are in action to move the polo tournament and rebuild the track by the end of the week.

from moving target...

it wont be easy but, if i know bike messengers, they wont stop till a champion is crowned...ha! seriously kids...be safe...peace.

now thats a figure 8 DIRT track...

for a nice write up on the madness in guatemala click here. the track looks insane. cant wait to see pics of cats riding this thing. its the rainy season in guatemala so i can only imagine the madness that will take place. great job to all the organizers and the people of guatemala for making this happen. good luck to all the participants...peace.

UPDATE!!! mexicana headache...

the kids in chicago are scrambling to make magic happen and enjoy their time in guatemala...hope this is helpful to those who got jammed up by mexican...
 
from our superstar nico,
 
if you call mexicana air and talk to an operator within 24 hours of your scheduled departure they can put you on a flight with american airlines. nordy and i were put on a flight out same day, just 6 hours later. we will have to do it all again for our return flight, but it is not costing us any extra money. so if you ...haven't made new travel plans yet, this is an option (though more of a headache).
 
i was hoping some travelers would catch wind of this. the number to call is 1 800 531 7921. give them the reservation number or ticket number and they will do what they can.
 
chicago is rolling deep to the fun in guatemala...keep an eye out for them.  they cant be missed.  still bummed im not coming but it is what it is.  btw...for those not going...can we see some pics of the figure 8 please?  i hear chicago will not be putting in bids to host the worlds but dont count them out quite yet.  the sun will shine on our beautiful city soon enough...peace.

THIS JUST IN!!!

for those of you going to guatemala for the worlds and flying with air mexicana you might want to pay close attention...

Mexicana Airlines (Grupo Mexicana) suspends its operations indefinitely

The current administration received the company seven days
ago under Business Reorganization (Concurso Mercantil) and
technically bankrupt.

Financial deterioration and lack of agreements force Grupo Mexicana to stop flying.

Grupo Mexicana deeply regrets all inconveniences caused to
its passengers.

wtf?!?! get your money back and make other flight arrangements. this will definitely put many messengers in a bind. i hope you guys can all work something out to make it to the worlds. remember the madness starts september 3rd...good luck kids...peace.

naccc's 2010...

we hadn't heard much from the dirty south crew and people were starting to get worried...i knew they would come through. head over to dirtysouthmessengers for registration and schedules. if you cats need help don't hesitate to contact them at nacccs2010@gmail.com...also, dont be afraid to hit up the no brakes crew. they are more than willing to help. keep an eye on the site for more news. good job kids...see you in october...peace.

a few years ago...

i was having beers with a fellow messenger...ryan boudreau. i gotta say...me and him didn't see eye to eye all the time but you could always depend on ryan for a good story. well, you could always depend on ryan to have your back but that goes without saying. anyway, he was telling me how he was headed to a pick up. i cant remember where but i remember what side tracked him on his way to the pick...

ryan...i saw this dude shoving this lady. i don't know if they were together but i jumped off my bike. beat the man down...then headed off to my pick.

j.dot...wtf?! hahahahahaha!! you're lying bro...no way you did that...

ryan...look at my hand.

sure enough...his hand was a bit swollen. i don't know how bad he beat this man down but im sure he deserved it. see...you could always depend on ryan to do random sh*t like this. he was/is the type of cat that would help anyone out. i still laugh at this story because he hop'd back on his bike and went to his pick up as if nothing had happened...haha!

the messenger community lost a good man, his family lost a good father, but...well, i know wherever he is now...he's still helping...peace.

posted a while ago...

click to view larger...

this was brought to my attention by eight-7 a while back...came across it on my desktop and thought i should finally share it...haha! hope the messenger was able to be seen again so that the lovely lady could help with the tiredness...oh-messenger love! btw, quit looking so tired...you're making messengers look bad...peace.

im a bit jealous...

im stuck inside all day and the crew gets to ride in great weather and witness the transformers movie set...

Transformers 3: Michigan Ave, Chicago (7D) from Steven Bogda on Vimeo.

sometimes i wish i was still out there. i know, i know...it's been a long time since my last post. i apologize to my loyal 3 readers. things have been hectic in life and i haven't had too much time to update. slowly but surely i'll catch up. remember kids...keep the rubber side down...peace.

happy 4th of july...

lightning...

i have to share this video for a couple reasons...first, this video is just awesome. who doesn't like a lightning show? second, remember a few posts ago when i thanked my late crew? well, this is why...

Lightning strikes three of the tallest buildings in Chicago at the same time! from Craig Shimala on Vimeo.

our guys deal with a lot of crazy situations...the weather is no exception. also, i really like the way the city looks in this vid...ha! on another note...things are changing at work and not sure how much longer i'll be talking to these cats but, for now, im gonna enjoy these last couple of weeks. i am sort of happy i wont have to be babysitting anymore...sometimes it sure felt/feels that way...ha! seriously, its just dispatching but i will miss messing around with these cats...peace.

start planning...

some news from atlanta for those planning on making the trip...

first, there are no alcohol sales in the state of georgia on sundays. i had completely forgot about it...when i used to live in savannah we would make the drive into south carolina to fix this problem...ha! bars still sell but you can't buy a six'r to enjoy at the park. that being said...the race will be taking place at a park so plan ahead. stock up on saturday...not that there wont be plenty of beer provided by the organizers but you might want to have your own?

second, if you're planning on flying...now is the time to buy tickets. the longer you wait the more expensive atlanta gets. if you're driving...this won't be a problem...this is my plan.

third, if you are flying and you find that boxing your bike is cheaper than putting it on a flight with you...the cats over at "no brakes" will be glad to accept your bike and hold it down for you. make sure you contact them to work out the details.

fourth, this is mainly for the messengers who deal with flatlands like chicago...

It's far hillier in GA than in Chicago, so if you're rocking the singlespeed you might want to consider gearing down, but if you find yourself in a bind once you show up we'll be able to take care of that for you!

there you have it folks...start registering for the race as soon as possible. don't be afraid to contact the organizers with any questions at nacccs2010@gmail.com. big ups to the cats at "no brakes" for any and all help. that weekend they plan on helping out as much as possible...

The shop will be having a sale throughout the entire weekend on everything in stock. We've got a big huge backyard with plenty of places to lock your bike or chill. We'll likely be grilling, should have plenty of beers around maybe we'll pull out all the stops and make yall some sweet tea etc. nice little restaurant/coffee place next door.

keep an eye on the naccc's page for more info...if i understand correctly they'll be updating with more info soon...peace.

get yours now...

even if you can't make it to guatemala get your t-shirts now! good job to the organizers...great design...




head over here to order your shirts. again, great job and good luck to all attending the event...peace.

the late crew...

i can't say this enough...thank you. my late crew is, for lack of a better word, awesome. like i've said many times before...not many stick around to play from four to six. why? im done trying to figure that out. anyway...i would like to thank the five cats that constantly stay with me...

1117 wendell
1168 kyle
1141 kirby
6721 jerry
6787 nick

not sure if anyone heard but chicago got hit with a nasty, nasty storm on friday. we knew it was coming and apparently it was only going to last one hour...wtf?! how did they even know it was gonna last that long? don't know how they do it but just like they said...it swooped in at exactly four, right when i get to dispatch...yay? it lasted more than an hour...ugh! the winds were so strong that windows were being blown out of the sears willis tower...check it. newspaper stands and garbage cans were flying across the streets. grills left on peoples balconies of their condos were crashing down on the street. rain and hail...damn!! trees didn't stand a chance...

pic courtesy of the gromanowski's...

holy sh*t!! are you serious?! even though trees didn't stand a chance my late crew fought it and got the work done. i called every single one of them and told them that if they need to chill for a few...that was completely fine. no package is worth their life. even then...these soldiers toughed it out in weather that b*tch a*s trees couldn't handle...ha!

in all seriousness...these five are usually the cats that stay with me no matter the weather. a big thank you to them for toughing it out with me no matter the conditions. i will do my best to keep you guys happy during my shift...peace.

the perfect storm...

friday was an interesting day. i don't dispatch as much, sorry i keep saying that(ha!), but i can still tell when a day is going to be horrible. the phones kept ringing to place orders and to check on orders...ugh! it's not that big of a deal...this is the nature of the job. calls come in and the work gets dispatched.

for the most part, the last day of the week is usually busy. people are trying to get work done before the weekend and people are trying to leave for work early, especially right now that its warm out. again, this isn't a big deal...we're used to fridays. this past friday was special for several reasons...

1. the blackhawks won the stanley cup. this is a HUGE deal for chicago sports. they haven't won it in 49 years...one of the longest droughts in sport history. i'll get to the longest one in a minute(thats what she said). on friday, chicago celebrated the monumental ocassion with a parade that brought out millions...thats right, millions. have you ever tried riding your bike or driving your car through millions of people? it is not an easy task.

2. the blues fest at grant park. to be honest, if it wasn't for the parade the blues fest wouldn't be that big of a deal but still...the crowds went from one party to another. the streets were supposed to clear up around noon but thats not really how it went down. the blues fest had us singing the blues? allllright...enough with the silliness.

3. the crosstown classic. when the cubs and sox meet...it's always a big deal. the rivalry is something that people take very seriously. when it takes place at wrigley...well, the traffic is even that much more dangerous. the wrigleyville area is packed with bars and people flock to that area like they were giving away free milkshakes. wait, what? btw...the cubs have the longest drought in sport history without a championship...im still a fan but it sure is getting harder and harder(thats what he said).

4. only 7 riders came out to play. wtf?! seriously? i just don't know what to say...i would say im disappointed in the crew but my hatred for this gig has been growing to the point that i just don't care anymore. im not hating the crew...just the nature of the biz is starting to grind my gears. work will get done when it gets done. like i told one of our riders who was angry..."just breathe, this sh*t ain't worth you getting up in arms about it...lets just get the work done and start the weekend". im done caring about whether cats show up...i seriously just don't care anymore. i don't let this job get to me anymore...the manager looks at me/us like we don't know what we're doing...not much we can do when no one comes out to play.

there you have it boys and girls...friday was the messenger version of the perfect storm but we got through it. those who came out got the benefit of those who didn't. well...they also had to be pushed all over the city and for that i thank them. i know its nice to be busy but its annoying to be behind and annoying to feel over worked.

on another note, usa looked horrible agains england. i still have faith in our boys...peace.

it was nuts last night...

chicago blackhawks are the stanley cup champions...that is all...peace.

food...

there's a lot of info going up on the guatemalan site...the big week is quickly approaching. for those of you going...i thought i would share some personal favorites as far as food is concerned. don't get me wrong...guatemala has all kinds of cuisine that shouldn't be missed but i figure i would highlight some...

chuchitos...



this is basically a miniature tamale. nice and bite size but packs a lot of flavor. im sure it wont be expensive and makes for a great snack.

hilachas...



this is a cant miss in my opinion. shredded beef in a tomato sauce of sorts with chunks of potato. usually served with rice and make sure to roll up some tortillas with it. you'll be full for days after eating this sh*t...delicious!

chiles rellenos



damn! my aunt still makes these bad boys here in chicago. when she does...i make it a point to not miss out. stuffed chiles with pork and random herbs, spices, vegetables. i love this too much! put some rice on it with a tomato sauce and you're in heaven. trust me...much like the chuchito, it's also small in size but packs a sh*t ton of flavor.

paches



these are the same as tamales but instead of being made with corn they use potato. in my opinion...much more flavor and more delicious than a tamal. don't get me wrong...i'll get down on guatemalan tamales any day but if i have to choose im going with the pache, period!

mixtas...



oh-boy! the guatemalan version of a hot dog. instead of a bun they use a tortilla...any self respecting guatemalan knows you use corn...ha! then you grab a salchicha and put it with some repollo and guacamole...boom! my mouth is getting watery just thinking about it.

candy...




if you see boxes like these for sale...don't skip them. they're filled with delicious sweet guatemalan candy. especially the canillitas de leche...be ready for sweetness like you've never tasted. if you're diabetic or hyperglycemic...you might want to proceed with caution but, well...take a chance? candy in guatemala is like nothing else.

pollo campero...



yes. yes...it's a chain but it's delicious. here in chicago we are very fortunate, in my opinion, to have two in the city. seriously, i don't know if they'll have them in panajachel but if you happen to come across one...don't hesitate to stop by and have some chicken. don't skip on the sauces either. man-o-man...now i sorta want to go and get some.

anywhoo...i'll try and post some other random guatemalan stuff i can remember. i love my parents homeland. unfortunately, i won't be able to attend...i guess thats just the way the canillita crumbles? see what i did there? instead of cookie i said...ah, forget it. i reserve my silly jokes for the kid.

remember...keep your eyes on the guatemalan site. they're constantly updating it. they have just added a translator to it. good luck to any and all headed out there for the good times. thank you to all who have a hand in organizing, especially nadir...peace.

if...

if the large scale is anything like the small scale model...the figure eight track will be more than memorable...



see more pics here. thanks nadir for the link and pics and getting everything ready! it's less than 100 days away...don't hesitate to head over and register. guatemala already promises to be amazing...this just puts it in another category...peace.

that was fun...

i got there about 2 hours late but was somehow still on time...you gotta love messengers and their knack for kicking sh*t off on time...ha! anywhoo...thank you to everyone that came out to play. we had about 30 or so participants...messengers and non-messengers. i'll try not too keep talking cause Lord knows all you guys care about are pics and vids...

pic from time out chicago...

1st place messenger...nico deportago-cabrera...pic from time out chicago...

1st place non-messenger (even though he's still a messenger but can't race for the tickets to guatemala therefore gets the bars...ha!)...al urbanski...pic by sage...

see more pics here and here. all in all it was a great day. the weather cooperated. wasn't too hot or too cold. people brought out their families to watch. we had random spectators of kids come by. good times were had. keep your eyes open on the cuttin'crew page for a full write up and hipsternascar for some more pics. thank you to all our sponsors...thank you to all who help put this together...peace.

teaser...

before i show you these pics i want you cats to know that we will return to me complaining about the industry after velocity is all said and done. i have to plug this till the cows come home...wait, what? did i really just say that? anywhoo...check it...




wow.wow.wow! seriously, are there any words to describe these? a big thank you to aaron at 611 bicycle co. and the great paint job from duane at chestercycles. you guys did a great job!

remember, it all starts today. i know, i know...there's a blackhawks game tonight but they're up two games. you guys can afford to miss one game...ha! come on out today and tomorrow...peace.

last but not least...

i cannot forget to show yojimbo's garage some love...

you know...it's not really a messenger event unless marcus is involved somehow. i went to visit him and introduce my little man to marcus...wolf decided to bless his shop with some throw-up...ha! my apologies to marcus for making him clean it up...oops! anywhoo..a big thank you to marcus. the man and his shop have been helping with messenger events from the beginning.

the madness kicks off this friday...



don't miss out kids. we have great prizes. everyone should come out for this. yes...im talking to you henry...ha! for those of you who don't know who henry is...he's so good that the man races for two teams...


pic taken from recycling page...

come on...lets put some pressure on this man to come out and play. we need someone to show up and put al urbanski(last years winner) in his place...ha! henry was saying something about having a pro road race that day or some silly sh*t...we don't have time for that. like the lovely amy said..."bros before pros"...peace.