I had no idea when I volunteered to coach my seven year old daughter’s soccer team that I would become a hero to her. I think that more than most things we’ve done in our lives together this single act […]
Championship Performance
The day of the county wide, Marin Swimming League Championships we had to wake up before 6am. You wouldn’t expect that to be an easy feat for any 6 and 8 year kids, but because of the coming days events […]
Home Stretch
Skylee’s last regular season meet went exceptionally well. It was her best meet of the year! All year our mantra has been, “It’s not how you start the year, but how you end it,” and Skylee has continued to get […]
[INTO THE DAWN] Excellence Odyssey
“Do you know how big the trophy is for being the fastest in the County at the Championships?’ I asked my eight year old daughter Skylee. She looked at me and shook her head, her expression consternate. ‘Well I don’t […]
From All Star Hopes to Team Record Dreams

Incredibly my eight year old daughter Skylee has gone from last year literally thrashing her way across the pool in an effort that was at times painful to watch to now having her sights set on a 27 year old […]
[INTO THE DAWN] All Star Qualifying Meet
This was it. In 24 hours we would know if my eight year old daughter Skylee would get times to qualify for the All Star meet later this month. It was her last opportunity. There was still another meet prior […]
[INTO THE DAWN] Water is Getting Thick
With Labor Day weekend coming up we are now in the thick of the swimming season. So far there have been the initial Time Trials and three swimming meets. Still on tap we’ve got four more regular meets, the County […]
[INTO THE DAWN] The Incredibles
After my eight year old Skylee took first place on her team in the breast stroke time trials I told her that it’s not often in your life that you can say to yourself, “I’m the best at what I […]
[INTO THE DAWN] The Pool
Parents gathered around the pool, bundled up in coats and sweaters to watch their young children at the first swim practice of the season. It was a cold day at the beginning of March, and there were 15 or so […]
[INTO THE DAWN] SMART Goals for the New Decade

Last century I worked for the Palace Hotel in downtown San Francisco as an Assistant Hotel Manager. As part of the Sheraton Hotel management group it was taken over by the larger Starwood Hotel Corporation. I was there for the […]
[INTO THE DAWN] Surfing Again
Ten years ago I gave up surfing. At the time I was only able to get into the water occasionally and I wasn’t paddling well. I recall being in the water at Fort Point, under the Golden Gate Bridge. I […]
[INTO THE DAWN] Fever
Eight year old Skylee had a 102.4 degree fever this morning at about 7:30am when I checked it, shortly after waking up. She had the fever for the past two days, but this was the highest point. With all the […]
[INTO THE DAWN] Sabrina and SM
Imagine your greatest fear. What was the scariest experience in your lifetime? Unquestionably mine was paddling out at Ocean Beach on a 20 foot + day all by myself. You know something is not right when you are the only […]
[INTO THE DAWN] Memories of Summer 2009
Elementary school began yesterday, and on the one hand it seems hard to let the summer go, but on the other hand there were some moments I could have done without. For instance, all summer long I put off getting […]
[INTO THE DAWN] Mid Life Transformation
Since April 16th I have been trying to ride my bike instead of drive whenever I can. I’ve ridden 900 miles and lost about 15 pounds in the process. My weight is down to 165, which amazingly enough is where […]