I’ve been watching a lot of “Cribs” on MTV. It all started when they had an “Extreme Sports Edition” where they showed the homes of professional skaters, surfers, and BMX riders. So I got a season pass with Tivo and now I have a new show to watch whenever I feel like it.

I never got into “Cribs” before because it seemed like a bunch of foolish celebrities flaunting their foolish purchases. But the extreme sports celebrities have a lot more flair. It’s like they each build a fun house they dreamed about as a kid. One guy had a ramp on the roof of his house in Bel Air, another guy has a full BMX course in his backyard, and almost every skater has a full skate park behind their house. Inside the house is always full of character with art, bright colors, and memorabilia. Their cars are always fun. One guy put shark teeth in the grill of his Dodge Ram V10 pickup to make it look more menacing.

I’ve enjoyed watching the show because I can see how different people deal with having a lot of money. I know on a show called “Cribs”, they aren’t going to show their investment portfolio, but get an idea of where their priorities are. You just watch what they brag about. Some people brag about their flat-screen televisions, and others show off their recording studio. Then others take pride in their collection of art or family photos.

One new R&B singer had a modest one-bedroom and one-bath townhouse in southern California. I thought that was cool to show someone at the early days of the big pay checks. Then the singer took us out to the parking lot of the complex, and she had a fully-loaded toy box: Escalade, H2, BMW, and a custom chopper that she’s never ridden. Why do you have as much money in cars as you do in your house? That’s foolish investing.

I was most fascinated with the house of Brazilian skateboarder Bob Burnquist. His wife is a pro skater, and they have a daughter together. There house is in the hills of San Diego, and their backyard is a massive organic farm. Plus, he has a HUGE skate park. He just seem to have so much character…like there was more to his life than trying to look cool.

One snowboarder in San Diego lives down the street from Candyce’s parents house. I thought it was so wild because I’d heard rumors that Shaun White lived close, but I had to see it to believe it.

Anyway, watching “Cribs” has been fun. It’s given my brain an break in the middle of the hectic pace of working.