Today begins a rather odd trip. Okay, it’s got nothing on my last two-weeker: Butte, Montana (Evel Knievel Days) to LA (X Games) to San Diego-San Fran-Denver-Long Island (NFL training camps). But the best part about this trip is that it ends with four days of vacation.

This morning, I’m in San Diego (one of my favorite cities in the contiguous 48) for ASR, or Action Sports Retailer, a twice-a-year industry trade show. And by trade show, I mean tequila-and-micro-brew fueled gathering of industry folks—and an excuse to party. So why am I here? This is, after all, an ESPN-funded Friday. (That, I am asking myself at the moment. I’m sure there are several guys back in NY who would have a much greater appreciation for the overabundance of bare ass walking about the SD Convention Center this morning.) No, I would not like a tequila shot. But thank you … Maybe in a few hours, like at noon.

In the days leading up to this leg of my trip, I received no less than four documents from ESPN instructing me on safety precautions. Apparently, it is next to impossible to spend two days in Mexico City without being robbed, raped or kidnapped, becoming the victim of a scam or disappearing entirely. Almost every conversation I had over the past week involved the question, “You’re not going alone, are you?” Followed by, “Do you think that’s smart?” So, although there is no bigger fan of Central and South America and Latino culture than yours truly, I can’t say I was entirely looking forward to this trip.

I love how life works. Whenever I'm going through something tough, it seems someone is sent in from the sidelines to remind me ...
A) life is not fair (my dad also enjoys reminding me of this fact) and
B) life is not so bad. Not even kinda.
I enjoy a good reality check every once in a while (or every day, what the heck?).