DadJack.com Blog

I realized that my life is in kind of a weird limbo.  I have slowly regained what most consider a normal life back… I have my own place, a job, car, et cetera.  But really I live two lives, one when the kids are over and we go do things, hang with friends and enjoy ourselves… And then a second of isolation that occurs when I’m kidless where I mainly stay home and save the podcast and work have very little other human contact.  This is part because of the weird hours I keep and part due to a lack of desire.

The other day we were driving in the car and Lucy asked “Daddy when are you going to get married?”  Now marriage is top of her mind because her Moms wedding is just weeks away, thus it’s been a big topic in that household.  This question got me thinking about my Dad (and how I fear I will turn into him, seeing the similarities in the way our lives have played out).  After he and my Mom divorced (Mind you, under very different circumstances than my divorce) he dated a few women.  There was one he was pretty interested in (even at my young age I could tell)… But tragically, she killed herself during their relationship.  I think this was the last punch he could take, because after that he moved on to a safer bet…  Someone who owned their own home (solving a housing issue he had, as he too had gone through a bankruptcy) and who for lack of a better word was crazy and either wouldn’t leave him and if she did I don’t think he would have cared.

It was when he got into this relationship that a rift developed between he and his children.  She is a horrible person, but she suited his needs and to their credit they are still together today.  I, on the other hand, have no desire to just be with someone, especially based on financial reasons.  Through the whole divorce process I felt “owned” due to my lack of power…  The court system owned me, controlling when I saw my children then and for the duration of our lives, deciding how much money I was allowed to keep (At one point they ruled I had to give up more than 90% of my take home pay), My Ex owned me and still does in that she can threaten legal action that she knows I cannot afford if I contest her decisions, so the idea of getting into a relationship I feel owned in couldn’t be less desirable.

I’m not one of those people that has to be with somebody… We all have those friends who are never single and constantly have to be with someone.  I would rather never again be in a relationship than to be with someone just to fill a relationship void.  After going through what I have the last 2 1/2 years I will seriously think things through before allowing myself to trust someone wholly and completely.

So I explained to Lucy on that car ride that Daddy didn’t need to get married…  And then she said something that really broke my heart.  She said “But if you did our step-mom could watch us while you’re at work.”  She was really just looking for a way to visit longer… With my new work schedule the kids can only come over midweek if my Mom is available to stay the night and watch them.  And again I thought about my Dad and how I may be following the same course, he distanced himself from my sister and me through a relationship and I am doing it through work… The only difference is I have to work and given the current economic environment I can’t be too picky.  So I try and make the best of the time I have with them and not begin a rift that my Dad let tear further and further apart until there was no way to across the valley created.

Most of this weekend was dedicated to the Dalt’s Reunion… For those of you who don’t know, Dalt’s was a restaurant in Burbank for about 20 years that I was a regular at and where I actually met my Ex-Wife.  People came from all around the country, we had a BBQ during the day Saturday and a party that night.  It was so great to see so many old friends (I was tagged in many photos, you can see them on my FB Page) and get caught up.  It was weird to sit in that room with people I have known 20+ years and think about all that has transpired in our lives in that time and how a diner in the Burbank media district brought us all together.  It was also strange for my kids to meet these people that were so involved my younger life and see the connection we have… It was like finding out your Dad had a secret life.  I never thought all those years ago, sitting at the bar having drinks that two decades later we would be sitting around a pool with all our kids sipping ice tea and sharing stories.  It was a really great experience.

Still no word from The O.C. Fair, so I’m assuming they don’t want us… Well we will just plan our own event, we don’t need fried Oreos and Weird Al to have a good time!

A “mancation“, really!?!?  Magically stuck.   What a clown.   This is sad and weird… I have my suspicions about the Fiance?  Geeks gone wild.  Being called “four eyes” might not be a bad thing.   And he’s has money waiting for him there!

Rock On, jack

Sorry I haven’t posted this week, work has been super busy.  I’ll get a post up over the weekend.

Hope you’re having a great summer! Rock On, Jack

What happened to Nelly?  Anyway, I’m glad the summer weather has finally kicked in.  There is just something about hot summer nights that I love, I just want to sit out on a patio and drink ice tea all night.

My Mom and I took the kids to play a little tennis yesterday… We went to the park where I took tennis lessons as a kid.  It was weird to be back there, I clearly remembered what it felt like when I was a kid spending evening there hitting tennis balls at Daisy Wong… If you played tennis in Burbank in the 80′s you knew Daisy.

It ended up getting too hot for any bike riding for Lucy yesterday, but she pretty much has it down… She just needs to learn how to start on her own.  Speaking of childhood memories, I can’t remember who taught me how to ride a bike (I would assume my Mom), but I vividly remember the feeling of independence that bike gave me… It was only topped by getting a drivers license . It’s a different world now, I don’t think Lucy has that same feeling… She is not aloud to just go out and ride around on her own, I would take off on my bike and ride all around the neighborhood with my friends.  I want her to love her bike like I loved (and still do) mine… But you can’t force her.  By far my favorite thing as a child was cycling and it carried over into adulthood… I can’t wait til she finds her favorite (And I hope it’s something fun!)

Now if Bing doesn’t get involved in sport I’ll be shocked… That kid loves almost every sport.  We hit baseballs, kick soccer balls, roll bowling balls, put golf balls, shoot basketballs… We’re only a few years away from him realizing that his Dad sucks at all those things!

I need to get back in shape, I’ve been trying to workout but life keeps getting in the way… Although that’s just an excuse, the biggest part of staying in shape and healthy is diet, and I’ve been eating crap!

Why do we have to repeat this every year… Don’t Leave Your DogIt’ In A Hot Car!  Hey Dad, Thanks for dying this year!  Kind of awkward don’t you think?  Lucy would think this is cool!  You too can be like Mel.   Didn’t he see Caddyshack?  Finally, someone Stench wants to help!  We spoke about this on the f**king pod!

Rock On, Jack

Those two things were pretty much what our weekend was about.

We saw Despicable Me… and we all liked it, Bing laughed out loud many times during it.  We went to the 9:30am showing on Sunday morning and over half the audience was adults without children (And about 80 % of them were men)… I’m sorry butif I didn’t have kids you wouldn’t find me at an early morning weekend screening of a kids film.

Lucy continued to kick butt on her bike… Well, except for a tiny spill that resulted in a minor scratch, that she needed to stare at for about 15 minutes waiting to see if it would bleed… Bing napped in the bike trailer during all the drama.

Bing was excited, we found a bowling game at the Toy’s R Us annex near the Burbank AMC (you  can see pics on my twitter feed ) … That little Toy’s R Us is pretty cool, everything is on sale (It’s just down from the Urban Outfitters).  That kid is crazy for anything bowling… he played with that thing for the rest of the day.

I was kidless on Friday night and did what any single guy in Los Angeles would do… Stayed home, watched a dvd and went to bed early – OK, maybe I did what any 80 year old guy in Los Angeles would do!

So far the remaining fish is still alive… Which is good because Lucy is still reeling in the drama of the last fish passing.

America’s best place to live.  Where not to go with the kids this summer.   He had a good run.  He fails.   Bacon fight.   Look what they found in the garage!

Rock On, Jack

I’m bolting out of here soon to go deal with my “fix it” ticket… which to “fix” I have to go before a judge!  What a pain in the a**!

Many of you have heard me mention  Jack Roberts from the CRN… He is actually one of my favorite people.  He fell ill a couple days ago and ended up in the ICU.  Well, I am happy to report that he is making a pretty good recovery and was moved out of the ICU yesterday.  He is honestly one of the big reasons I continue to help the CRN and it was lonely without him there yesterday.

My neighbors were actually getting home when I left for work this morning… I don’t know why, but I felt like I should explain why I’m leaving the house at 1:30am?  You just feel like people think you’re up to no good when you’re stirring at that hour.

Alina is not going to be happy with today’s pod… although, I don’t feel that we often give her anything to be happy about anyway!?!?  I’m not sure why she is our friend?

OK, off to finish up work and get to court.  Have a great weekend!!!

Rock On, Jack

I like these short weeks!

I know I’ve mentioned it many times, but today (again) there is a good Groupon for those of you in the I.E…. $20 for unlimited games at Gameworks (Click the above link, it’s one of the side deals posted to the right).  I have bought many of the deals on the site and they really help you have more affordable family fun… in fact I’m going to use the mini-golf passes I bought next week with the kids!

Last night was Wipeout night.. which means I was fully distracted during the podcast (Sorry).  I want Stench and I to audition for their “Couples” show… We would rule!

O.C. Fair starts in a week and a half…  I hit them up today to see if they would be interested in having us back out again?  I’ll let you know what they say.  Lots of good bands playing the fair this year: Train, Orainthi, Ziggy Marley, Ratt and The B-52′s to name a few.

The kids are all fired up to see Dispicable Me this weekend… I want to see it too, although, at least in the previews, it  bugs me that Steve Carrell kind of sounds like Mike Myers.

That’s a good day!  It’s mullet madness.  Don’t wear high heels if you’re pregnant!  Checkmate.   Check out this game.  It only took 27 years to work this out.   It’s a real race.   Your horn is dope!   Bad kitty! Are you hung like a squid!?!?

Rock On, Jack

It’s been so cool for July… Although, I know those of you on the East coast are frying! It’s going to be over 100 in New York today… and humid!

The kids and I had a nice weekend. Lucy learned to ride her bike (she is very proud)… Now I will move onto Bing, he is all amp’d up to learn. We went to a couple parties which are always kid favorites… A tad stressful for me, but fun for them. And we did a little BBQing… Overall a very good weekend.

It’s back to the grind today… And to court on Friday! Apparently, if you get rid of a car you have received a fix it ticket on only a judge can deal with clearing it up.

Stench announced on the podcast that he is hosting a new podcast on Tom Lykis’ new network… Good news for him, bad for Tom if Stench decides to participate in Flash Fridays!

I so got screwed Friday… Betta 2.0 died while the kids were over (although they think it was the original fish). It was very traumatic, especially the burial at sea… via the toilet. All weekend long Bing went up t people and told them “my fish died, my Dad flushed it down the toilet.” The kids want Betta 3.0… but I’m thinking maybe we go goldfish this time, they seem harder to kill!

George is a mess.  Don’t jump off piers.  Gross.  It’s good to have friends.  Here’s a good reason to quit smoking.  Nothing like a naked guy on the couch. Stench needs this!!!

Rock On, Jack

Hope you’re having a great 4th!!! Lucy learned to ride her bike today!

Rock On, jack

Another betta fish dies today… and the kids were here!  It was very traumatic!

A good friend of ours had a going away party at the Remo Drum Circle today… Bing took over the cirle briefly!

Have a great 4th!!! Rock On, Jack