I have yet to hear of a hot toy this year… I can usually gauge by what the kids want but this year they both asked for generic things (Books, puzzles, golf stuff, etc.)  I am glad they’re still young and like fun stuff (I like playing with their toys too!)… I just read an article on what teens want this year and cash, cloths and iPads topped the list.  I like to get the kids stuff that inspires imagination and creativity (because if they had their way they would play on the computer and ipod all day!)  Bing loves to play with “toy food” ( like Melissa & Doug Wooden Sandwich-Making Set ) …. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “Daddy eat this… but don’t really eat it” as he hands me something he has “cooked.”  Both kids are really into making art and they love having their own supplies ( like Darice – ArtyFacts – Portable Art Studio. Deluxe Art Set. 131 Pieces w/Wood case. )…  The link goes to Amazon, but check your paper for Michael’s coupons, they have a huge selection and you can almost always get 50% off.  Lucy is currently really into Junie B. Jones books ( Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (Junie B. Jones, No. 1) (Book & CD) ) … It’s great to see her enjoy reading (Especially since I’ve never been a big reader!)  They also both love to put on “shows” and make videos, so I’m thinking puppets ( like Melissa & Doug Chef Puppet )  might be a good idea.  Just some ideas to help you start thinking about what the kids in your life might enjoy.

On the podcast front we have submitted the pod to the Guinness Book of World Records for most recorded hours… We currently have 1155 hours of podcasts in our archives, so we’ll see what happens?  It takes them 4-6 weeks to process and decide.

And I know I’ve mentioned it before, but I post interesting/funny/disturbing news stories daily on my facebook “fan” page … So if you get a chance like me!

Rock on, Jack

ROCK ON! Jack

I had a good solo weekend.  Friday the Magnolia Park area of Burbank had a big holiday kick off street party… I have to say it was an excellent event.  Burbank has a history of some cheesy events (Burbank on Parade for example), but this was really well done.  They blocked off all of Magnolia from Hollywood Way to Buena Vista and the street was full of Burbankians getting in the holiday mood.

On Saturday I decided to take myself to a concert, I very rarely get to go to shows anymore and it is something that I love to do.  I saw Bob Mould (ex – Husker Du and Sugar) at The Bootleg Theater (which I highly recommend, it’s supper small).  I guess that’s one of the benefits of getting older, bands you liked when you were young are no longer playing huge venues to thousands, you get to enjoy small, intimate shows.

My sister and Ethan returned from Australia yesterday, so I’m sure she’ll be posting tons of photos soon… I know they has encounters with koalas and kangaroos, but haven’t heard their stories of The Great Barrier Reef yet.

This is horrible, I’ve seen (drunk) adults almost fall from there too.   Stench would do this if she provided Hot Wings!  Here’s a big surprise.    You know he hooked this up through Facebook!  Jake is the walrus.   Problem solved.   Why didn’t they mooooove?

Rock on, Jack

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.