Nathan, Kristen, Emily, Danielle and Makenna enjoying a frosty morning before getting their 15 minutes of fame.
It was 40 degrees and the ice was looking pretty inviting to my kids and their two friends. Not because they knew how to skate or anything, but because all they had to do was glide around the cold stuff a bit and voila! — TV fame.
And sure enough, they did. They all got cameo shots on Monday morning’s Good Day LA broadcast.
Nate staying a head of everyone else!
Ever since high school, I’ve rarely missed an opportunity to do a surf camping trip. Most of my trips have been with my surf buddies, Larry Ramos or Michael Duke. Or as my son calls him “Mikeduke.” I don’t think Nate knows what Mike’s last name is.
This year, Larry and his family couldn’t make it, but Mike and his family, wife Lilly, sons Warren and Merritt and daughter Angie, all joined me, Beth, Danielle, Kristen and Nate, for a beach camping trip at the new Crystal Cove El Moro beach campground, which formerly was home to mobile homes. The campground opened to the public the beginning of July.
As a journalist, I often wrote about the mobile homes that were situated on state park lands. They had been there for years as a part of land deal with the Irvine Co. that is too complicated to explain today. But I reported, with much criticism from the mobile home owners, that the land needed to be available to all the public. This trip proved that correct.
Watching the Alaskan racing pigs at the OC Fair.
I’ve written before on this blog how important I believe it is to preserve the Orange County Fair for generations to come.
Recently, I met Guy Lemmon, one of the principals of Facilities Management West, a private firm who had the winning bid to purchase the fairgrounds property. Even though the appellate court has struck down the sale, I wrote about my impressions of Lemmon and how I believe he also has the best interest of the fair at heart, and the Daily Pilot, my former newspaper, published it. You can read my op/ed piece here.
Dad Gone Fishin'
Those who know my dad, know sometimes he can be on the gruff side. But they also know that deep down he has a heart of gold and would do anything to help.
So today, I needed to send a shout out to the man we sometimes call Mr. Toad because, well, he drives like a crazy man. He’s the guy who taught me how to fish and throw a baseball. He gave me a love for the outdoors, the Dodgers, the UCLA Bruins and the Los Angeles Rams.
My dad isn’t afraid to tell all of us that he loves us and is proud of us. He believes in his kids to the core and will always stand by our side.
Children’s Hospital of Orange County will always have a special place in my heart. Two of my kids had to make visits there right after they were born. Nate was there just because he had a little fluid in his lungs when he was born. But Kristen was admitted at one month of age with RSV, a minor illness that can have serious effects on infants. Both obviously recovered nicely.
And a good friend of mine is spending many nights and days at CHOC as his son battles cancer.
So when I got this email below from soccer mom and school teacher Julie Borsari, I was happy to see that another sick kid is in the good hands of the CHOC medical staff. But as you will read below, he and his family could use some help.
Parenting issues