Los Angeles, CA Alright, I’ve had a little fun with my Flyers and Bissonnette posts, so let’s get back to the Farewell Tour. After my return from Texas, I knew there was still a chance that I would be seeing some NHL hockey. I knew this because, for Christmas, my aunt gave me a North American flight as my gift, and I hadn’t cashed it in yet. In order to be as efficient as possible, and by that I mean use the flight to go to an arena that I hadn’t been to yet, I had two options. The first was to do the Southeast Division thing and try to check Tampa, Atlanta, and Carolina off my list before the end of the regular season. But there was what; one week left in the regular season? No thanks. I decided, instead, to gamble on the chance that some unchartered arenas would be hosting some playoff hockey in the post. By the time all was said and done, there were only three teams in the postseason that I hadn’t seen play on home ice: Vancouver, LA, and San Jose. I decided to go for the 2 for 1 special, and, so, I was off to California.
April 20th I was back at the airport and doing the thing that I loved most of all. Due to all the travelling that I have done for hockey in my life, I knew that I’d never be happy in what I was doing professionally unless I was flying from city to city on a weekly basis at the very least. I’m addicted to it. I love the feeling of blowing through a hockey town with that love ‘em and leave ‘em kind of attitude. I meet so many great people along the way, but I don’t have to be accountable to them. It’s the best of both worlds if you ask me, or at least if you asked me before I boarded my flight to LAX.
The best part about travelling with Air Canada is definitely the top notch movie selection. While I was browsing the titles in the New Releases section, the newest(?) George Clooney movie caught my eye. I had heard that Up in the Air was supposed to be good, Oscar nominated and all that glittery crap, so I decided to give it a go even though a romantic anything was the last thing I wanted to see.
But I have to say the movie spoke to me. It was like I was watching my life play out on the screen, and the message of the film was not lost on me. You might say that I had a bit of wake up call. For the last eight years of my life, experience was what was most important to me. I was always chasing that next great story. Truthfully, my life is full of a lot of drama and strange events. Some have even referred to me as the female equivalent of the Dos Equis guy. However, what dawned on me after watching this movie was that no matter how interesting a person is or how great their story is to tell, their greatness is irrelevant if they don’t have someone who will listen to their legends. What will I do when people stop reading this site? When my story becomes tedious and annoying, and people just lose interest? (It already has). The last thing I want to become is some 75 year old man sitting around the bar with a beer (not always) in hand, who tries desperately to intrigue hot 25 year olds into sleeping with him.
Perhaps this lesson came too late. I was leaving for Korea in only a matter of weeks trying to escape from the only people and lifestyle I knew. There was no going back now. But I have to admit that I’ve changed since I’ve been here. I’ve settled down a lot (is this what they call being dick whipped?) and my restlessness is no longer an authentic urge, but more like a mere recollection of a distant bad habit. What’s happening to me? I even find myself enjoying the odd chick flick (mostly because they are in English, but still!)I need to snap out of it!
Anyway, by the time my plane touched down in Los Angeles for the third time in the previous twelve months, I was a little shaken and even lost the will to track down an IN-N-OUT Burger that day. I did, however, make it out to Hermosa Beach that night to meet up with Blyn (perhaps you remember her from Mother Pucker’s Hotties of Hockey challenge) for drinks. I had a mere two ciders that night, and yet sometime in the wee hours of the morning, I was awoken from my slumber, and puking my guts out. A perfect start to my final NHL roadie.
Top Photo: Wearing the wacky tobaccy lei that they were handing out at the bar in Hermosa Beach *rolls eyes.*
Roll the credits…
Tags: Farewell Tour, Kings, los angeles
Hi Psyco Lady .
I love your write up I can relate it in some ways . I have the same passion for the game of hockey aspecially the Toronto Maple Leafs . When I’m town I try to get to as many game as I can . I also love to travel when I get a chance to . I right now am having what I like to call is the offseason withdrawls . I can’t wait until October 7th which is the leafs season opener against the Canadiens . This season should be a good one for the Leafs . Last season the Leafs had a really bad start to the season and never recover from it . With all the chances Brian Burke has made I hope the Leafs will get off to a good start and make all the way to the Post season for the first time in 6yrs . Any how I thing I said enough . I don’ t want to bore you my off season blues . So until then . Take care