X

Spending a few days in Southern California is always a good way to put things in perspective. Katie, Kai, and I went out together but had two different experiences. We flew into San Diego and drove up to Carlsbad in a rented Civic. Kurt, Becca, and Nevada Hoy were our hosts. We arrived late and I had to leave early for L.A., but was able to spend a nice morning with everyone. Katie and Kai had a nice week of vacation with the Hoy's. They shopped, went to the zoo, the beach, and were able to relax and enjoy good company. Unfortunately, Kai had three new teeth coming in and was pretty whiney and then pretty much everyone got sick. D'oh!

I spent the week working at the X Games. I'd printed out directions to my hotel on Mapquest, but got lost in the city anyhow. In a sort of classic move, I hadn't actually asked when I was supposed to be at the venue and ended up barely making it on site in time, which was pretty miraculous considering the traffic and getting lost. The first three days I was posted at the Staples Center right in downtown L.A. to help with the Big Air and Moto Best Trick and Step-up events. As always the lights and sounds of the X Games are a total buzz unto themselves. The arena is huge and filled with technicolor lighting, massive speakers, and the mega-ramp used for the Big Air event. Ad the athletes, television cameras, events people, fans, and non-stop marketing machine, blend on high, and you have the basic feel for the X.

Events came and went as I worked through the routine of my jobs. Hustle to find friends and family, connect cameramen to said family and friends, keep my eyes and ears open for anything else that needs to be done around my staging area and then watch the events unfold. The electric atmosphere of the arena compounds with the audio traffic on my headset to make the time an anomaly. The action seems slow motion, but the pace of the audio traffic is frenetic. The live television broadcast creates a need for constant motion while we are on air, then stifling stillness while we wait through commercial breaks. There are hosts in the arena that try to keep the arena crowd going through the lulls, and another set of "talent" for the live broadcast. Hearing the directors orchestrate the whole show while watching what each athlete has to bring to the event creates a unique experience for me.

I moved to the Home Depot Center for the final two days of the event. My job was pretty loose at this point. I backed up a girl named Alycia who was an assistant to a pit reporter named Erin Bates - a super-sexy motocross personality who I had no idea about. Anyhow, I got the head set and basically just ran around doing little odds and ends. It is a great way to get incredible access to these events. I covered Supermoto, freestyle Moto X and the Rally events and was able to watch Ricky Carmichael crush the field in the Motocross race. I was able to hang out with my friend George during the second half of X, which was a nice treat. He is a source of good conversation and another perspective on things we have in common.

After X I got lost again trying to find my way back to Carlsbad. Eventually I found my way back to the house of sickness. Kai seemed great and gave me a very warm welcome, which filled me with an unbelievable happiness. This on the heals of several days of a good emotional high. Kai is a whole new level of love and happiness to me. Poor Katie just needed to lay down and rest. I think she hit a low when I returned, so it was nice to let her rest.

Kurt, George, Kai, and I went down to the beach for a quick surf. Kurt and Kai actually hung on the beach. The waves were tiny, but it was nice floating in the Pacific with George and trying to get Kai's attention on the beach. He was really just trying to get his hands on some seaweed. We had a great meal together that evening in the Hoy's backyard. Kurt built a little fire in their fire pit and we laughed and talked until past bedtime. George's girlfriend, Jessie, joined us as well, which was cool because they've been together for a while but Katie and I had never got to meet her.

We made the trip back to the airport without getting lost, but I did manage to forget my computer bag at the Hoy's with my computer still in it. Smooth. Katie managed the trip pretty well for feeling ill. Kai was better on the way home than on the way out. He's a pretty good, albeit very squirmy, traveler. I wish there was more time for me to spend with the Hoys, but it was good to get back on the road and home to CB. We made it back in time for a nice sunset.