Knowgonzalo

For you folks that want some pictures, here you go. I hope to add more as I come across interesting pics.

To give you an idea of how much gas is out here, today I filled up our Mystery Machine and the grand total was $71.50!!

This past weekend I ran into a guy who claims to have worked with the Mexican Consulate. I find that hard to believe because he was selling pots and pans outside of a Mexican supermarket. (if he was with the mexican consulate, he must have messed up big time to end up in a Santa Ana supermarket). He was a nice guy, friendly and even helped us distribute the product every now and then...even though he also took some for himself. Near the end of our event, this guy asked me where we were from, I said Chicago. To which he said, "Ah, Al Capone. Do you know of him?". Come on people, Al Capone was an early part of Chicago History. But that's not what bugged me. He then goes on to say that he has heard nothing but bad things about Chicago. He said it was windy, it has no rivers and here is the kicker, he said there are no lakes around Chicago (hmmm, I guess Lake Michigan does not count). So, not only does this guy not know what he's talking about, he also does not know his USA geography. He went on to say it has to be one of the worst cities in the world. This is where I started getting mad. I'm not one to usually start an argument. But there are certain topics that I will fight for, one of them is Chicago. (the other topic I'll fight over is Family). So I go on to tell the guy that of all the cities I have visited, which include Paris, London, Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Milan, Florence, Munich, Osaka, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Guadalajara, Mexico City and Las Vegas. [I actually named each city I've been too. This produced a face of shock on his. I guess he wasn't expecting me to name off so many cities] Of all the cities I've been to, Chicago, Illinois ranks as one of the best, if not THE best. I made sure to let him know that he was misinformed and that we do have various rivers, one of them being the Chicago River. And I let him know that we do have a lake and that it is located right next to our city. Finally, I said that Chicago is my kind of town and it can very well be his kind of town too if he actually makes his way out there and told him to not speak bad of a city until you actually visit it. Like me: I have not spoken bad of Los Angeles until I visited it (and now that I have experienced all that is Los Angeles, man, L.A. is not worth it). So Mister, you and any Chicago haters out there come to the best city in the world first before you diss it. Only after you experienced Michigan Ave, Wrigleyville, Millenium Park, Navy Pier, Gino's East, Portillo's, Taco Burrito Palace 2, China Town (TONY's CHICKEN!!), the Field Museum and the rest of what our great city has to offer, then and only then, can you diss Chicago. Thank you. Go Bulls: Da Bulls, da bulls, da bulls da bulls.

I'm trying to keep up with my weekend movie fix while out here in California. This weekend, I saw a great film. The movie is called "Hostage" and I know what you're going to say: "not another Bruce Willis action flick." But let me tell you, this movie was excellent. I think this movie is going to set the trend for action movies for the 00's (just like "Die Hard" set the trend for action movies in the late 80's and through out the 90's.) You will not be dissapointed. The action comes at a good pace and the suspense is tense. Get out and see it now. If you see it around Los Angeles, let me know, I'll see it again with you.

Traffic in Los Angeles is crazy! All the complaining, all the talk you've heard about Los Angeles highway/freeway/expressway traffic is true. It is about the worst I have ever seen, and Chicago is know to have it's terrible jams. But this L.A. traffic is ridiculous. Now I know why people ride in SUV's all day around here. You would want to have a big, roomy car to make the wait more bearable. Being stuck in bumper to bumper traffic for a stretch of 30 miles (which probably takes an hour and a half) will seem a lot better being able to have plenty of leg room and video screens all around.
Driving around in our Cargo Van does not do it. Can anyone spare me a Hummer?

You know, when you're in your in a hotel room with no one else but yourself, you find yourself watching movies that you would never EVER see otherwise. Take for example the movie I was watching earlier today: Sugar and Spice. The movie, for those unfamiliar with the cheerleading movie, is about a squad of cheerleaders that decide to rob a bank in a grocery store to help their pregnant squad captain. It's a dark comedy. At the end, the movie teaches you that...hmmm, what does it teach you? Exactly: nothing. It's a movie that was made with the TBS hotel crowd in mind. Did they honestly think that a movie about a cheerleading squad robbing a bank would make any significance on the movie landscape? NO. What am I getting at here? I guess what I am trying to say is, THANK YOU creators of the movie SUGAR AND SPICE. Thank you for reminding me that there is a reason behind everything. There is a reason I'm in California (to remind mexican consumers that PELON PELO RICO is a trusted brand Mexican families can be proud of. And it's completely safe). There is a reason for the Super Bowl (to crown the best team in the NFL and to celebrate competition). There is a reason for love (to love). And there is a reason for movies like SUGAR AND SPICE (to end up on TBS and force you to get out of your hotel). Speaking of which, time to get out and explore La Mirada on a Sunday nite.