Tomorrow I begin a job as the Director of Marketing and Communications at THINK Together that in many ways brings me full circle to something I started nearly 20 years ago.

THINK, which is an acronym for Teaching, Helping, Inspiring, Nurturing Kids, was started by Randy Barth, a businessman and visionary whose goal is to improve literacy rates and give those children who have little educational opportunities and avenues a new chance to be successful.

I love what they do and am so proud to be part of this wonderful team.

Back to my original story from 20 years ago. Then, I was a working in Huntington Beach as the city editor of the Independent. I learned of a program that was beginning at the HB library called the Family Literacy program.

That program offered literacy and tutoring help to recent immigrants who wanted to learn the English language so they could read to their children.

I was teamed up with a young father named Rogelio. He and his young daughter, whose name escapes me now, met me on weeknights at the library and we began the long process of teaching him to read in English. I am sure it was a much more fulfilling experience for me than it was for Rogelio. And I so admired this young man who worked long hours on a production line during the day and tried to improve himself at night. We became more than just tutor and student, we became friends.

But after about a year of the program, I had to quit because my job changed and I started working nights on the copy desk.

I’m sorry to say I lost touch with Rogelio, even though I always hoped and prayed that he continued to learn the language and succeed as both a father and provider for his family.

That’s why I’m announcing my new job on my Go Ask Your Dad blog. Because I know there are many fathers like Rogelio out there whose children are benefiting from THINK Together’s programs. Get ready to hear all about them.

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.

OK, so here’s what transpired. My friend Jane Gillespie, who does PR for the Irvine Spectrum Center, emailed just before the holidays and invited me and others to bring their kids to the shopping center to take part in a TV shoot being done by Bob Decastro of Channel 11′s Good Day LA program. The only catch? We needed to be there by 5:45 a.m. on Dec. 26, the day after Christmas!

An obviously easy assignment for the kids, but excruciating for mom and dad.  Thank goodness Jane had plenty of coffee, hot chocolate and muffins to go around.

Early or not, the kids had a ton of fun, even though they really are soccer players and not ice skaters. In fact, two of the friends who tagged along, Emily Boyzo and Makenna Fuerher are teammates of Danielle on her OC Revolution Club soccer team. Perhaps their athleticism helped because even though they were in the presence of some very accomplished figure skaters (see video below), Guy Hebert former Mighty Ducks hockey player and some very fast speed skaters, they held their own out there on the ice.

The ice skating is part of annual Irvine Spectrum Holiday on Ice event. It’s been going on for nine years now and the event is so popular it now runs from the first of November through Feb. 20.

Skating sessions are 75 minutes and are $14 for kids and adults. It costs $2 to rent the skates.

Some fun facts about the rink. It holds 2,500 gallons of frozen water and is maintained by the world’s smallest custom Zamboni. About 25,000 ice skaters enjoy the mini rink each year.

So if you are hankering for a little winter fun in between your shopping excursions, then look no further than the Irvine Spectrum.

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.

The campsite is up on the bluffs where the mobile homes used to be just south of El Morro Elementary School. The site is nice with new amenities and beautiful ocean vistas at every campsite. The downside is that it isn’t really a “surfing” beach and more of a bodysurfing or bodyboarding beach. More importantly, it is a GREAT beach to bring the family to. Even if you are not camping, you can spend $15 for day use and park on the east side of Coast Highway and walk underneath the tunnel to the beach. The other downside to camping there is there are no fire pits and no campfires allowed, except for portable gas fires.

Also joining us on the trip was my daughter’s friend, neighbor Bridget Gross, and Joe and Helene Duarte and their daughters Bella and Sophia. Sophia brought a friend too but I can’t remember her name right now.

Posing in front of Mike's still functioning 1965 Ford Econoline van.

Bella Duarte is on Danielle’s OC Revolution Club soccer team and is a superstar player. Joe and Helene, ironically, hail from Cerritos, like Mike and me. In fact, Joe and I even spent a short time together at St. Linus Catholic School.

Kristen, Nate, Bridgett, Danielle and Bella

Of course, there were lessons to learn also. Mike’s son Merritt, got stung by a scorpion and Kristen stung by a bee. That’s right, a scorpion, California brown scorpion to be exact. The little critter was hiding under the tent. Both Merritt and Kristen were just fine. So just remember that while it looks like paradise, nature isn’t far away. Also, a few of us paid the price for not enough sun screen after the fact. Another lesson to keep in mind. Despite those minor glitches, if you get a chance, pay a visit to Crystal Cove El Moro State Beach. You won’t regret it.

Check out more photos of our trip on my Facebook page.

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.

I’d love to hear your impressions too. Mine is just one idea. But we need to do something. The state is bankrupt and we can’t just dismiss something as bad because it is a private enterprise.

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.

And while I am lucky to still have my dad around, I know today is particularly painful for many of my family and friends who have lost their fathers. I want them to know that the memories of their dads, especially Leo Wurm, Jesse Duke and Tony Ramos, are still strong with me.

I love you pop, Happy Fathers Day.

Finally, I couldn’t go Fathers Day without pointing out the other reason I’m so lucky today — my wife and kids. Being a dad to my kids is the greatest work I will ever do on this earth. Beth and I are working hard to make sure they are thoughtful, caring kids. Parenting can be a tough thing sometimes, but the rewards are so immense.

I love you Beth, Danielle, Kristen and Nate.

A pirate's life for us

Happy Fathers Day to all those dads out there who work so hard to be the best parent to their kids. I know lots of them and I’m inspired by them and proud to call them friends.