Adam Rodriguez moment: “Call my friend Box to try some surfing. He’s a good guy I met down there and he took me surfing for the first time in my life on Bondi Beach.”

Destination: Bondi Beach

Inspiration: CSI’s Adam Rodriguez

Actualization: Adam met Rod (Box) when he was in Sydney hosting an awards show there and the head of the network asked Rod to teach Adam to surf. If I make it back to Bondi, I’ve enlisted Rod to teach me too!

Since we didn’t have time for a surf, Rod and I agreed to meet up for a drink in Bondi when I had a one hour window of time between meetings. Rod wasn’t so keen on my last-minute calls and scheduling but I trapped him into this one. Rod Kerr is basically a prepubescent boy in a 30-something year old body. He has a high pitched laugh that people turn to see. He’s always got a little lopsided grin and a boyish charm. He ran into Ravisis to meet me with his pants falling down, holding his belt, and causing a scene. We immediately hit it off. I laughed a lot and made fun of him for repeatedly saying, “well I had to meet you because I couldn’t let Adam down….but oh. you’re cute.” It was 1pm on a Thursday afternoon and I had already had a productive day. I ran the park, wrote for a few hours, and did a video interview. When Rod said let’s have a drink, I felt okay about my glass of Rose. However, when Rod convinced me to get another, I didn’t think about the rest of my day…..I couldn’t resist. I deserved a day drink and it was too much fun listening to Rod talk about working on Bondi Beach. And anytime I mentioned him to the Aussies, they all seemed to know the ex-pro surfer from the TV show, BONDI RESCUE. Rod is one of the lifeguards who stars in the show. When we talked surfing, Rod had the positive attitude you cannot fake that made me want to get out and do it. He wouldn’t listen to my excuses about being the worst surf candidate – uncoordinated, always most improved but never athletic, a wrist that still couldn’t bear weight, the mascot in me. He had me convinced by the end of the first rose, that I would be surfing easy breezy. His confidence in me made me see how he had made his career as pro surfer. Rod tried to convince me to stay for more but I had already delayed my trip all the way over to Manly long enough. This he could not convince me. I had a 2:30 appointment and it was now already 1:45. Rod, the gentleman, walked me to go grab the cab and sent me on my way.
I wasn’t quite sure what he was doing when we hugged goodbye. Did he lean in for a kiss? Nah…and then I received the the following text at 2:27pm: “babe I so wonted to do you xx sorry”
Nuff said.

Realization: Rod brought back the confidence I needed in myself. Do a little investigation,maybe CSI style, and you can always find a dude in a foreign country to make you laugh, remind you what you are capable of, and give you proof that you still got it.

Your moment:

Adam’s recs: “WAY TO LIVE LIFE ANGIE!!! I know we don’t see or speak to each other often, but I just wanted to reach out and say that I love what you’re doing! ENJOY!!! You already did Iceberg’s. Did you climb the Harbor Bridge? Call my friend Box to try some surfing. He’s a good guy I met down there and he took me surfing for the first time in my life on Bondi Beach. His name is Rod “Box” Kerr and I’ll text him to let him know that you might be reaching out to him. He was a professional surfer for many years and a beach legend down there. Have fun and let me know how it works out!”

Rod Kerr
Adam Rodriguez
Bondi Rescue
CSI: Miami