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.