CMWC or Our Second Honeymoon, The Prelude.

I've been dropping near this place quite a bit lately. I know nothing of the history of the building. I imagine it was quite the grand hotel when it was built, back when 2nd. Avenue didn't just drop off into nothingness the next block east. I understand that now it's a boutique hotel and really quite nice. In the late nineties it was a good time to be a bike messenger and I was okay in the summers and a two-wheeled god in the winters. Now I'm semi-retired, I work on average two hours a day. I'm looking to get involved in co-op with some other bike messengers then I'll work more hours on fewer days and with the gas thing that day may come soon. My business is a boutique service. I'll work for you, if I like you but I'm not going out of my way to look for new clients.
Anyway back to our story I want to go to "The Cycle Messenger World Championships" my lovely wife has no interest in going. That's fine. I spend a long time going back and forth on whether to go without her because I know that at times I will miss her so much it will physically hurt. I finally decide that I can endure that the tough part will be not whining to much about it. It'll be like being in my late twenties and early thirties again, I can stay at a buddies place, lots of drinking, smoking, two-wheeled shenanigans, staying up late only without the constantly trying to get laid. Almost the bachelor party I didn't bother to have.
The older I get the more I hate to fly and the worse flying coach gets. The only way I can handle a flight that long is if I go first class. I also really do not want to pay full fare and who would. I've hemmed and hawed about it too long for a mileage ticket, an upgradable fare too fucking much. A little Shatner magic and there as if the hand of god is pushing me to Toronto is it first class for a tad over a C-note more than your average coach fare. That's it I'm going. I tell her and another miracle, maybe it was to good a bargain to pass up, maybe she wanted a break from work, it could have been many things but my true love changed her mind. My heart soared. I would have dug the wild boys adventure thing, no doubt. There are sure to be some logistical issues but so what I'll have Cheryl at my side. I'll continue the rest in segments, kind of like blog novel. Or would that be "blovel"?

Hey you!

I think that it's great that your riding your bike downtown, keep up the good work, good on you, really I mean that. Just one small request, when it's time to lock up your bike and you lock up on a bike rack in front of a bar just for one second consider that besides paying for the bike rack the owner of the bar for years and years paid for a permit to have that rack outside of his bar. Go in buy a drink or stop parking there because you're taking a space from someone who goes there or works there and helps pay for that rack either kick in or fuck off. In a real city I'd double lock your ass.

What I live for

Well I live for many things but at the top of that list would have to be my beautiful wife. After dealing with this freakish spring and the start of the Alaska Bar convention along with the day to day struggle to survive I would have to put her at the top of that list before steel bikes and clearing a "tweener" with more then five minutes to spare. Every day I'm reminded of the many reasons I fell in love with her and why I broke the "no dating lawyers" rule. Cheryl, this is my public love letter to you.

4/25

That's all I have to say about today

Thoughts on BBQ during a weird "spring and a visit to a nice town

So, Sunday I've got the urge for some serious barbecue the slow smoked kind. Yes, a brisket! It occurs to me I'd do this about once a month if there were more bike messengers in town. I'd have to purchase some meat free grates and come up with something for the dam vegans. For brother or sister messengers I'd make that extra effort. I most likely won't do that when we throw a barbecue for friends, bar buddies and people we know from work. I'll have some stuff they can eat. I don't dislike vegans after all. I just don't see myself making that extra effort to accommodate them at a barbecue. A bike messenger barbecue would be an entirely different matter. A bike messenger thing should be as inclusive as possible at least for other bike messengers and their companions.

This got me thinking about a visit to Seattle last month where spring was in full effect. What terrific hosts the messenger of that city were both to me and my wife. Thank you.One of the nice things about Seattle. The coffee shop where a lot of the messengers go is located real close to Cheryl's favorite stores. Hitting Nordstrom's or Sephora, want coffee, look for some bike messengers. That's the place to get it.
This also had me thinking about what terrific hosts the messengers in just about every messenger city I've visited were too . Thank you as well.

Shouldn't it be spring?

It should be spring but winter is hanging around like a Mormon missionary with an Amway franchise. BTW in that last picture is the " Volvo of death" avoid this vehicle at all costs. I am not in anyway speaking ill of AMS, just if you see this car get the fuck out of the way. Trust me, have I ever lied to you before.

NACCC in Anchorage 2010, why not?

On a recent visit to Seattle I had a chat with an ex-messenger who's still quite active in the messenger community. Apparently there is great enthusiasm to bring the North American Cycle Courier championships here to Anchorage. Problem is there's only one bike messenger and he's a boring married old fart who tires easily. We need help? Since this thing is bringing more people to my humble blog. I'm going to blatantly solicit for the help I need. First volunteers to go to meeting deal with city officials and such. Ex-Bike messengers I know you're out there. Wouldn't it be nice to have a little bike racing and a big ol' party with friends old and new? Second cash and Lott's of it, prize sponsors shouldn't be an issue. I am incredibly open minded as to who's cash I'll take. Oil companies, Greenpeace, Nudey bars or Anchorage baptist temple, it all good. There's just one little catch you can in no way compromise the quality of the event. You can sell your product or ideas in the expo area and any parties you sponsor, you can even hang banners along the race course. Just make an effort not to be a bother elsewhere. Third the most important sponsor, a beer sponsor. Here's the pitch. Bike messengers for the most part love beer. If you provide us with free and/or cheap beer through out the event and if we like your product we will start buying it, we will pester our favorite bars and stores to carry it, we will make a point of being seen drinking it. At this point a certain demographic will start buying your product to drink what the real bike messengers drink. In a short time your sales in urban areas not just in North America but other parts of the world will go up. Any potential sponsors or volunteers are welcome to E-mail.