DadJack.com Blog

That Christmas Eve is tomorrow!?!?!  Where did ‘09 go?

Apparently, there was a flood of Zhu Zhu Pets released yesterday… I bought a pair at the Toys R Us in Burbank, but heard reports of CVS and Target having them in stock too.  At first I was kind of upset about it because it seemed kind of cruel to create this false demand causing people to pay triple for them from resellers, but then I started to think it was cool, because it gave people like myself, the thrill of getting that hard to get gift at the last minute, it lifted my spirits a little knowing I found something exciting for my kids at the final hours.  I had trouble finding good Christmas candy, the big stores were sold out of the stuff we really want and only had crap left… I ended up finding a decent selection at my local Ralph’s.

The Balloon Dad ended up getting some jail time (so did the Mom)…  I’m so glad, a message had to be sent that it’s not alright to scam emergency services in your quest to get a television show.  I’ve written blogs about it, but I really am turned off to fame and famous people.  It’s become way too easy to at least have the appearance of being famous… I want to strive for something bigger, like being great!  I was reading the advice and thoughts of some great people tonight and I started to think, that’s what I want to be, Great.  Not famous, great is so much more than famous, so many mediocre to horrible people are famous.  I heard the argument tonight that Tiger Woods is a great golfer, in fact he was voted athlete of the decade, but I do not think he is great… He had the potential, but not the strength, not that the truly great are without flaws, but I think they are without malice.  I believe they know right from wrong, and try to be as right as possible.

There are a few things I have to consider: one, what can I be great at? and two, can you be great without people knowing?

I really don’t think I’m a great photographer… I look at other peoples photos and am blown away by their vision and talent.  As far as radio goes, I am far from great… I am real and I give 100% of myself, but the best I am not even close.  Then there is being a Dad… I think it’s too early to tell, I’ve only been doing it 6 years.  Now I have read on court papers and been told in great detail by my Ex that I am far from being a great father, but I am willing to see what happens in the years to come, I think time might be in my favor.

The amazing thing is, I know so many great Dads!  So many of my friends or my friends husbands are the best Dads.  They inspire and impress me on a regular basis.  If you watch television or read the news you would not think this was the case… The deadbeat and neglectful fathers seem to get the bulk of the attention, but let it be written here, there are so many Great Dads out there and they don’t get the credit they deserve… So here you go, Good job guys, You Rule!!!

As for if it is required for people to know who you are to be great, I think ultimately if you are truly great, someone will know… It might be your mate, or your kids, co-workers, your family,  someone will realize that you have done your best.

I’m not holding my breath, but I hope this catches on, because the world could always use more great people…  We have plenty of famous people!

I hope you and your family have a great holiday season!!!!!!!!

Rock On, Jack

The kids and I are taking a mid-day relaxation break, we went for a walk by the mini cooper and smart car dealerships… Bing loved it, Lucy was only slightly interested, but I figure that makes up for all the visits we’ve made to the aquarium that Bing could have cared less about.

Yesterday we had a few holiday adventures.  We started at Angela Channels house where the kids decorated her tree (OK, Lucy did… Bing played outside), then it was off to the Christmas tree lot at Pierce College, where the kids met Santa (Well, again only Lucy, Bing did not want too and I refuse to force him), rode ponies, a little train and a merry-go-round.  After dinner we loaded up in a couple cars and did the woodland hills Christmas light tour (Just north of the 101 freeway at the Winnetka exit)…  Bing enjoyed yelling “Merry Christmas!” at people as we drove by… It really a fun thing to do, either driving or walking it. And we ended by watching the Charlie Brown Christmas dvd… It was a good day.

Bing actually went wee-wee on the potty last night…. It was a celebration on the level if we had just won the lottery!  He’s getting closer to no more “polka dot diapies!”

It’s weird to have no podcast or CRN show to do today…  We are really excited to make some improvements to the podcast in 20-10!!!  Can you believe we’re going on our 3rd year (in March) and have almost 700 shows in the archives?  Time flies when you’re playing radio.

It’s a tough time for Tiger…  Nothing like a party on your yacht to make you forget screwing over your family!  Enjoy the shortest day of the year…  Each one gets a little longer after tonight!  R.I.P. white rhino.   We had Rob on the pod.  Look who brought a gun to a snowball fight.  Interview with Santa.   You don’t want this guy to love you.  Maybe that’s how her brain got sucked out?  I sadi “This screwdriver really went to my head”, not “I want one in my head!”

Rock On, Jack

I remember how exciting the last day of school before Christmas break was!  Lucy wasn’t sure if they were doing anything special today? When I was in kindergarten I remember Santa stopping by for a visit… But I’m guessing they don’t do that anymore.

Tonight is our unofficial Christmas Party at the CRN from 8-10p…  It should be a lot of fun!

I can’t believe now beautiful it was outside today, it was in the high 70’s and crystal clear.  I took a nice long walk along Ventura Blvd…  I saw “Chuck” (Zachary Levi) eating lunch at an outside cafe.

Still not really not in the holiday mood, but I am excited to get to spent time with the kids over the break… We have all kinds of adventures planned.

I thought they might go with a “Time To Cheat” campaign!  You know I love crime fighters. Talk about “Not in the Christmas spirit.”  I hope this means we can stop caring about them!  Pre-decorated trees!  Look who will be hosting “America’s Best Prison Crew.”  At least we’re not #1.  Now if we could just keep idiots off the tracks.  You can’t let this cow get away with this!  Naked guys hate Christmas!

Rock On, Jack

Lucy had her holiday show at school today!  She did a great job, that kid is a natural performer.  Bing was excited to see his sister on stage… But that wore off and then he just wanted to play with my camera.  My Mom was there to see Lucy rock and see her school for the first time.  It was packed… no one misses their kid on stage belting out holiday classics.

Can you believe there are only 9 days until Christmas… Time flies when you’re having a crappy year! I guess it’s time to start thinking about 20-10… Hopefully it’s better for us all, although I hoped for that for ‘09 too and that didn’t really pan out.

Rest in Peace Roy, he was one of my customers when I worked at the photo shop, he was always very kind and friendly, just a normal guy… A normal guy who happened to be a Disney.

That’s one overdue book!  More fun in Mexico.  This is disgusting.   Do not hide your gun in the Christmas tree. Surfs up.  Bad, Bad Santa!  Speaking of Santa. Good News, Stretch has something to do in April! This is cool!  Wow, 8 months.   It was a win-win for him.

Rock On, Jack

The kids and I enjoyed our weekend…  We didn’t let the rain keep us from having a good time.  Friday we decorated the tree and house… Lucy was very proud of her work, Bing was more interested in practicing his bowling.  Saturday, we had a bagel at Panera, baked cookies and watched holiday movies.  Sunday, we had a play date and a party to go to… See, we were pretty busy!

It’s our last week of Podcasts and CRN shows before the holiday break… I am interested to see what 2010 will hold for Stench and Me?  Friday we’re having our unofficial Christmas Party at the CRN Studios, if you’re in a festive mood come on down any time between 8-10pm!

Bing told me that he was going to buy me a BMW (He knows they are my favorite) and himself a Mustang… But then he realized he had no money, but it was the thought that counts!

It’s been fun watching all the holiday programming… although, The Flight Before Christmas was kind of lame… even the kids tired of it about half way through.

I’m sure you’re all tired of the Tiger story, So all I will say is that I’m glad that his sponsors have started to drop him… Although Nike is sticking by him, way to support cheating, disrespect marriage and show little concern for children Nike!

Got a kidney for Gris?  I think Heidi and Spencer should have been #1!  This should have happened sooner.  Bell ringers are not feeling gay.  Kids love the weed.  Quick get Stench a glass!  I can’t even imagine what these poor parents went through.   Some cool drinks.  This is too hard, I’ll just walk.

Rock On, Jack

My current state of affairs has left me with little to enjoy lately, mainly my soul source of joy is spending time with my kids… And they haven’t been around much lately.  But last night I got to enjoy one of my simple pleasures…. A car chase!  But not on TV, it came right by me on Lankershim on my way home, my Mom had called and tipped me off that there was drama in the hood, but at first it looked like it would come nowhere near me, but then they turned around.  My mom even saw my car on the news as they passed me… What can I say, it doesn’t take much to amuse me I guess.

I got my little Christmas tree today… Now I just need those kids to decorate it.  Lucy informed me that she had decorations her mother didn’t want to bring over, she was excited about it, so I too had to act excited…  But I’m sure this will be like when we moved out of our house, I will be left with all the junk she didn’t want.

I can’t tell you how much I love the CRN peeps… They are working so hard to try and make things happen for us.  Don’t forget, Friday the 18th at the CRN Studios in Sun-Land, the Jack and Stretch Unofficial Christmas Party and Hanukkah Hoedown!

I am BBQing right now as I write… It may be a little cold, but it’s not too cold to “Q”!  Although, they are saying the rain will start up again tonight.

I noticed a lack of Christmas spirit (Not that I have much) as I was out running errands… I did not hear holiday music in any of the stores I visited, The bell ringer out Ralph’s was just sitting there not ringing and decorations around town seem to be at a minimum, maybe things will kick up a notch as we get closer?

I guess cheating is good for the economy.  2 in the top 5 isn’t bad.  His truck hated him.  Your heart wants bread!  Godzilla attacks Mexico. Someone stole my X.  Kiss my grits.   TV pays when man loses bet.   The happiest convict on earth.  Norway spiral no longer mystery.   A sassy holiday event.  Can you kill my killer?  This explains Clear Channel management.

Rock On, Jack

I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, I even wrote a blog about it not that long ago, how I was worried that my life was paralleling my fathers.

There was one Christmas I will never forget as a child, in fact it has been haunting me again recently.  I don’t know exactly how old we were, but I think just a little older than my kids are now.  My Dad had fallen on hard times, I remember watching his life crumble.  He lost his job, was not able to find another one and he slowly ran out of money…  I remember it all, he never told us that was what was happening, but even as kids we could tell.  My Dad never had a lot to begin with, not that the divorce cleared him out, he and my Mom split up what they had, and half of not much is even less.  At this point in our lives (My Sister and me) we saw my Dad way more than I currently see my kids, they truly exercised 50/50 custody, so maybe my Dad had less time to hide it from us.  It was painful for me to see his struggle, to watch his pain.

Well, Christmas rolled around, and he was flat broke and he had two kids, now we were not going to go without a Christmas, my Mom and family were more than generous and trust me as little money as we had at points my Mom always managed to spoil us a little.  But as it is in divorced families, the kids celebrate two times, and we were no different, we had our celebration with Mom and then it was off to Dads place on Christmas Day.  There were 2 presents waiting for us one for my sister and one for me.  We opened them to reveal that my father had given my sister his saxophone and me his 35mm SLR camera, knowing that she had always wanted to play it and I was very interested in photography.  This was a very thoughtful and loving gesture and we both knew that these items were treasured by him… But what I remember was the look in his eyes, there was a deep disappointment, not in our reaction, but in his situation.  I could feel the sadness, the sense of failure, the break in his spirit.

I now understand it more that I am a Father, the way your kids look at you and the desire you have to be their hero, the one they can count on.  I know Christmas is not about the what is wrapped under the tree, but about the people who are around it, but when you can not give your kids the things you want to, or the things they need for that matter, it does break your spirit and I have seen my Dad’s eyes looking back at me in the mirror…  The only difference is that when my kids are here they will not see those eyes and they will not feel what I felt.  They will not reflect back some 30+ years later and still cry, not because I am a better Dad, In fact I as much as I fight it have been traveling my failed fathers path for over a year and a half, but because I remember that pain and will do everything in my power to keep them from it.

I guess we can officially start saying it.  Today is supposed to be the biggest online shopping day of the year, so quit wasting your time reading this and do some whopping (I made it up, web-shopping = whopping… Think it’ll take off?)

We are back live on the CRN tonight, and on WBIX 1060 in Boston…  Which is very cool.

Can’t lie, I’m not really into the holiday thing yet…  This will be the most difficult Christmas I’ve had to weather, my financial problems continue and no kids on Christmas Eve.  I know so many of you are going through hard times, which really isn’t comforting for anyone… Wouldn’t be nice is things were better for us all!

The Toluca Lake Holiday Open House is Friday… If you’re in the area, it’s always a fun evening.  Also, Sunday is The Studio City Holiday Parade...  See, there’s a lot of holiday spirit in the valley.

Drunk fish.  Oh deer.   That’s $900 a six-pack.  Too broke to hire santa. Quick Tweet this.  Holy Iron.  I told you this months ago.  This isn’t good news if you’re in Texas. Guess who in Hollywood is getting a face lift now.  See guys, don’t do meth!

Rock On, Jack