DadJack.com Blog

Burbank Sunset #1

I’m not exactly sure why, but I am looking forward to this summer.  It feels to me that things are getting better (I read all the negative posts online about the end of the world and the destruction of America… which I firmly think are crap), although I have not secured a better job yet, I have noticed way more opportunities available (and have applied to a bunch! Wish me luck!)

The kids and I have no firm vacation plans as of right now, but we always seem to find fun stuff to do.  A few weeks ago we took the subway to USC for the book fair which was fun… Los Angeles is a huge city, there are many adventures to have right in our backyard.  I want to take them to Grand Park (which is right off the subway) when it warms up, there are some great fountains for them to play in.  Bing has been hounding me to visit the Vasquez Rocks, we see them when we travel to my work events and he really wants to explore them.  They always love the La Brea Tar Pits, we’ve been about a dozen times and they never get board.  ( A really good deal is to get a membership to The Natural History Museum, it not only gets you into the NHM but the Tar Pits too!)  And then there are all the fairs and festivals that take place all over the city.

My Sister signed us up for a 5K walk for the California Wildlife Center this past weekend.  Lucy did an amazing job, finishing with ease (I know 3.2 miles isn’t crazy long, but for a 9 year old it’s pretty far!), I am very proud of her.  Bing made it half way… Not bad for a little guy! (He rode the 2nd half back on my shoulders… Surprising, I wasn’t sore the next day.)  The walk was actually on the beach, the weather wasn’t the best, but it was still nice to trek the sand of Malibu.

Burbank Sunset #2

In pod news, we crossed the 1500 hour mark this week… Yes, that is over 62 days of straight podcasts (If you were to listen to them all in a row… which I do not recommend!) It hasn’t always been easy, but I am proud of Stench and myself to sticking with it and equally proud of all the great people who have stuck with us!  Thank you so much to all the Pod Peeps… You Rule.

I thought I’d share some new music that I’ve been listening to, this one Brian at work turned me onto, It’s called “Let Her Go” by Passenger… The whole album is pretty good, if you get a chance check it out on Spotify:

You might recognize this one from the credit card commercial it was in, it is actually a really great song! “Into The Wild” by LP:

David Usher has new music out and it is really good, but since I’m pretty sure most of you aren’t familiar with him I thought I’d share my favorite song from him “St Lawrence River” (click here to check out his new stuff!):

If you get a chance check out my Instagram gallery, I post there almost daily!

Burbank Sunset #3

Alright, that’s it for now.  Just wanted to post, I haven’t in a while!

Rock On, Jack

Ok, it wasn’t quite the Wizard of Oz, but it was a fun adventure. Last weekend the folks at Dana Wharf Sport Fishing & Whale Watching invited The kids, my Sister and me out to do some whale watching.

Dana Wharf

The Tours are 2 hours long, the boat is large with plenty of room for everyone to get a great view and the crew was kind, informed and helpful.  The Captain is constantly pointing out interesting ocean life and had a vast amount of information on all the animals we were able to view.

Sea Lions welcome us to the open sea

Keep in mind there is no guarantee which or how many animals you will see, a lot depends on the time of the year, migration patterns, weather and a host of other things. On our tour (we took the noon-2p boat) we were able to see Fin Whales, Sea Lions, Sunfish and a bunch of Dolphins (and to be totally honest, just being able to see the big herd of dolphins would have been enough… They were so cool to watch.)

Fin Whale

Fin Whale

Lucy and Bing hanging out on the boat

Sunfish

Waiting for a fin whale to surface again

Dolphins all lined up

I think the kids would second my opinion (And I know my Sister would!), I highly recommend Dana Wharf Sport Fishing & Whale Watching for a fun, educational, exciting afternoon on the Pacific Ocean.

For More Info:

Dana Wharf Sport Fishing & Whale Watching

(949 496-5794 or email: info@danawharfsportfishing.com

To See more photos form Angela Channel (My Sister) – Flickr or on her Whale Watching Page

Rock On, Jack

We had such a good time at Burbank On Parade , it couldn’t have been better.  It was so great to get to hang with Stench (We talk everyday, but we don’t actually see each other that often) and the kids had a blast…. Well, Lucy did!  Bing is not a public appearance kind of guy, although he was excited to get to sit in the front seat of a moving car.

Riding shotgun!

Lucy on the other hand loves to be out and about and loved riding down the center of Olive Ave. waving at those who lined the street!

Here we are on the route!

And I was excited not only to show my civic pride, but to create a memory that the kids and I will have for the rest of our lives.  Thanks again to Burbank On Parade and Ross Benson for inviting us to participate.

Stench (and a Little Person!) waiting for the parade to start.

And speaking of getting to see Stench, he started a new job last week!  I’m so excited for him, he is starting at the bottom, but there is much potential to move up the ladder.  That is so important, it is so demotivating and mentally taxing to be in a dead-end job…  It is so much easier to struggle when there is an end in sight or the chance to improve your situation.  This last year at my current job is the first time in my life that I truly feel there is no room to grow… and it really beats you down.  I can’t wait to watch Stench climb in his new endeavor.

I made a huge jump in pop culture, I high-jacked my sisters Netflix and watched the first two seasons of Walking Dead… Now I won’t be totally clueless to what a bunch of you post in your status updates!  I enjoyed it, I can’t wait for season three to be released.  I’m thinking next I’ll try Sons of Anarchy and Breaking Bad…. I see lots of love for those shows on Facebook too!

In music I have really been enjoying the new Cold War Kids , if you get a chance check it out on Spotify.

I’ll post at you again soon!

Rock on, Jack

But I have to admit I’m excited for Burbank on Parade.  This year Stench and I have been invited to be in the parade…  I have been in a bunch of parades over the years, but there is something about being in your hometowns parade, going down the streets you grew up on that is special.  This will not be my first time in it, but it will be the first time for Bing and Lucy was a baby last time she was in it… It means a lot to me that they are old enough to remember it… I know it’s lame, but I love Burbank and having one of the kids childhood memories be having been in the cities parade is cool to me.  Thank you so much to Ross Benson, who is launching a new website Burbank & Beyond tomorrow, for inviting our little podcast to participate.

While I’m thanking people, I would also like to say a special Thank You to Jason McCormack (Click here to check out and like his art page) for the amazing painting.  It is always interesting to see how others see you, and Jason did an incredible job.

Jasons painting... This is a crappy photo of it I took with my cell phone, in person it looks even better

While I’m sharing artwork, here is how another of my favorite artists see’s me.  This is part of a drawing Bing made for me for Christmas.

How Bing sees me

For 6 he’s not bad either!

Work continues to be a struggle, both financially and mentally…  But I do have a great deal of hope for change this year.  It has been tougher and tougher not only getting by, but trying to live a somewhat normal life…  Here’s to something better in 2013!

Something I’ve been enjoying is taking photos and posting them on instagram , click the link to check out my gallery.

Both kids are doing great!  Lucy is an amazing reader (She reads at the 6th grade level, she’s in the 3rd grade) and she loves it…  The Easter bunny left her a book in her basket and she was excited (When I was her age I would have been bummed!) and Bing is reading way better than I ever did in kindergarten.  They both really enjoy learning, I hope they never lose that.

The podcast continues on… We’re almost to 1500 shows, which is crazy! Who thought it would go on this long!?!?

As always, Thanks for all the support!

Rock on, Jack

Trust me, I know there is no such thing as “normal people”, we all have our quirks and issues…  But it was nice to feel like a normal person on Friday.  For years now I have had bizarre hours (I currently wake at 2am for work), financial issues (divorce and years of under-employment will do that to you) and have chosen to focus most of my available resources on my kids (This doesn’t bug me!) which has made for little to no social life.  Friday I decided to meet up with people for happy hour (something years back I used to do fairly regularly) and had a very good time.  It was so great to get to hang out with friends, be out after the sun was down (I’m like a reverse vampire!) and have a few drinks (which I rarely can afford to do… and really couldn’t right now, but decided I needed to get out!)  When you are not able to live in the normal world with normal people (you know what I mean!) it takes it’s toll on you…  I enjoyed my furlough from my isolated life.

Both kids wrapped up their basketball seasons on Saturday… and they both did a great job!  Lucy has played for several seasons and continues to get better and better.  This was Bings first time playing and he improved and learned so much, I am so proud of both of them!

Bing hustles down the court

Bing blocking (I'm not sure what the rest of the kids are doing?)

The ball gets inbounded to Bing

Lucy blocking

You can't take the ball from Lucy!

This little guy thinks he can guard Lucy

making a pass

So proud of her trophy

Next up, baseball!

A few links to check out:

Baby Juniorson’s Facebook page (Bing’s blanket)

Lucy’s Shark Blog

My Facebook “fan” page where I post news stories daily

My radio show Facebook page

The Podcast Page (Where you can subscribe!)

Rock On, Jack

My Mom joined me on my radio show on KMIX 106.3 to talk about light bulbs, I thought I’d share the audio with you.

My Mom Talks Light Bulbs On KMIX 106.3

Rock On, Jack

Another Father/Daughter dance.  Lucy had a great time, she was all made up and looked beautiful!  The first thing she said when she saw me was: “See you don’t only wear ties to funerals!”  Sadly that has comprised the majority of my tie wearing over the past 5 years.  I’m not going to lie, I don’t really enjoy these dances, not because of the actual event, but because of the uncomfortable situation my Ex creates around these events.  I shouldn’t have to share my daughter… Just like I would never make her split her time at the annual Mother/Son event.  But that is not the way it works in my world, so I just go with the flow.  Ultimately we had fun (probably more so going out to dinner afterward, but as a whole it was a good night.)  Lucy and I don’t get as much solo time together as Bing and I do, so it is always fun…  It reminds me when she was a baby and we would spend afternoons together hanging out (and napping! Which is something I still enjoy, but both kids have out grown!)

Not sure why this is sideways? But this is us at the dance!

It's only fitting that this one is sideways too! Me in my Non-funeral formal wear.

I think I’ve shared this link here before, but just in case I haven’t, It’s to my Instagram Page…  I post a lot of pics there that I don’t post anywhere else.

The kids and I had a fun weekend, they had their second to last basketball games (although Lucy had what we think was an asthma attack during hers and was only able to play half the game.)

Bing getting ready to pass!

And we visited Griffith Park again (The Observatory was closed last time we went and the kids really wanted to go inside, not to mention we just enjoy being there.)

Hanging out in Griffith Park.

We have also recently got back into playing tennis… we just need to find courts that have fences all the way around, we still have trouble keeping our shots in our court!

Today it is back to the grind, in fact I’m spending the whole day in Palmdale today and then podcasting tonight, so I’ll be fairly beat tomorrow… But such is the life of a radio/pod super star! (only joking!)

I find myself kidless this Friday, so I’m toying with the idea of having the first Jack Heine World Tour stop of 2013…  I’ll post details soon if I decide to do it!

As always, Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read!

Rock On, Jack

I know it’s February 19th, and that’s it’s been a long time, but here it finally is, my first blog of the new year.   Last year ended in a lot of drama and despair for me and my family and I just couldn’t find the right mental place to post, but it’s time to get back to the keyboard.

I’m still waking up the A.V. on KMIX 106.3 , still hoping to find something closer with slightly better pay…  It’s not that I don’t love the people at the station (I have made so many great friends), but the exhaustion of getting up at 2am, the stress of not making ends meet and the long drive takes it’s toll on you.  I really want to be able to rest and actually enjoy life (something I haven’t been really able to do in the 5+ years since my divorce.)

I’m sure by now you know, but Bing’s blanket Baby Juniorson has his own Facebook page…  Well now thanks to Angela and Ethan he also has his own Harlem Shake video  (Which also features our family… and our collection of costumes!)

The kids  have both been playing basketball…  and both kicking butt!!!  Lucy has played many seasons and continues to get better and better!!!  She is sinking her second free throw in a row in the photo above!  This is Bing’s first season and he’s really enjoying it.  That’s my little #1 moving the ball down the court in the above pic!

Believe it or not, the Podcast continues on… who would have thought it would last over 5 years and almost 1500 one-hour episodes! Stench will be featured in a new web series on mahalo.com, I’ll let you know when it launches.  Jamie continues to rock Denver on Alice.

Thank you all for continuing to stick with me, the blog, the pod and every other random thing I do!  You guys rule!!!

Rock On, Jack

I am kidless this week, they have gone with their Mom out of town.  This is how it always it is for me, I lost the holiday in my divorce negotiations, so I am always without children on turkey day.  It bums me out, but it has become more normal over the years…  Which is sad in and of itself.  We always have a nice, small family gathering at my sisters, so it’s not like I am alone…  Well, not anymore alone than normal.

One of the side effects of my under-employment has been way more isolation.  I used to meet up with friends for dinner or drinks, hit an afternoon matinee or just go out and do things, but I have neither the energy or funds to do such things, so when the kids aren’t here I pretty much just stay home or o for a walk.  When you wake up at 2am every morning and barely have enough money to buy gas to make it to work it’s hard to fit in much of a social life.  I really live more like an animal, I exist only to find and provide basic needs most the time, and pretend to live a normal life when the kids are here on weekends.  I was hoping that after 5 years of divorce and career collapse things would start to get better…  But they have continued to get worse. I guess I have to just keep hanging on.

Although not as huge a bummer as my life, I was disappointed to hear about Hostess going out of business…  Those snack cakes were really a big part of my childhood.  I had some fun with it at work, here is some of the audio from my radio show on Friday:

The Death of Hostess – KMIX 106.3 11/16/12

And while I’m posting audio from my radio show, here’s Lucy calling in this morning from North Carolina:

My East Coast Reporter Calls In on KMIX 106.3 11/19/12

The podcast continues on, although it’s going to get a little crazy for the next few weeks!  Stench has taken a seasonal job and is going to be on a tight schedule, so we’ll have to get creative to get it recorded every day.

If you are looking to avoid all the shopping craziness this upcoming weekend let recommend a few sites:

Fab has all kind of unique and cool gifts and they have just improved their shipping speed so you don’t have to wait weeks to get your orders!

Threadless is having a Black Friday Sale starting 11/22.  They are home to hip/funny T-Shirts, Bags and Prints.

1XRun has very cool limited edition art prints that you will find nowhere else.  A great source of truly unique gifts!

Amazon I know this is not a new one to you, but a recent internet study compared all the major retailers prices on the top 125 toys for the holiday season and Amazon beat everyone else including Target and Walmart!  And with free shipping on orders over $25 it has never been easier to get your holiday shopping done!

And if you do brave the malls, Good Luck and Be Careful!!!!

Rock On, Jack

Yesterday Lucy turned 9 and today Bing turned 6!  I would love to say the years have flown by, but the past 5 years were pretty rough… I am very happy to say that we have made the best of the time we’ve had together and I can honestly say that I have been able to get in a lot of quality time!  Even though the past 6 months have been extremely tough for me financially we were able to still get a really great birthday celebration together (with a lot of help from my Sister, Mom and Wendy! Thanks!)  I was able to score some park hopper tickets to the Disneyland Resort from work, so we spent an epic day at California Adventure and Disneyland (our goal was to stay until it closed at midnight, but at about 9pm Bing looked at me and said “Daddy I cant make it anymore” and then promptly fell asleep in my arms!)  The new Cars Land is truly great (And you know I’m not a huge Disney person, so if I say it I mean it), although the wait for the Radiator Springs Racer was crazy long!  The following day my Mom and Wendy threw the kids a little party and made sure they had their favorite desserts!  Last night my Sister, Angela, took us out to dinner on Lucy’s actual birthday, so overall it was a really fun 9 and 6!

Bing and Lucy sporting their Birthday Buttons at Disneyland

Lucy called into my radio show yesterday, always fun to have her on! Here’s the audio:

Lucy calls into my radio show on KMIX 106.3 on her 9th birthday!

Baby Bing

Baby Lucy

Halloween was also fun, for the first time we went to Toluca Lake…  It was crazy crowded, full of all kinds of kids and adults in costume, the kids loved it!  I busted out the Teletubbie costume which is always a crowd favorite and Lucy was Katy Perry and Bing was the Unknown Phantom with light up eyes!

Bing as the "Unknown Phantom" and Lucy as "Katy Perry" on Halloween 2012

In the same old news, I continue to be painfully under-employed…  If you know anyone looking for someone with radio and social media skills send them my way!

I was invited to a speed pitching event… basically a bunch of products were presented to us for possible coverage on our blogs.  There were some standouts that I will cover in future blogs, but one of my favorites was Steaz.  Steaz is a collection of green tea based beverages, the energy drink (which I tested out after getting only 3 hours sleep after Halloween) is really good…  It’s not as syrupy and sweet as Red Bull and doesn’t rev you up as much as a Monster, it is a more adult (and natural) energy drink!  I highly recommend giving it a try if you see it at your local market.

The pod continues on, Alina stops by often and we continue to complain… so after 1370 hours not much has changed!

Rock on, Jack