It is always a great time of year for us… although it kicks off the crazy season for us.  It’s Halloween, then one week later Lucy’s 8th and Bing’s 5th birthday, followed shortly thereafter by Thanksgiving and then Christmas craziness.  As fun as the holiday’s are I’m not looking forward to the stress… It’s a tough time of year for many of us who are unemployed, especially those with kids.  You have to get creative on a limited budget!

Some of the things that I found that help are: Keep an eye out at local retailers for pre-holiday clearance sales and grab any deals you see.  Target will sometimes clear out last years toys to make room for new arrivals saving you sometimes over 50%.  Sites like Groupon , Fab.com and others give you credit for referrals… Which then gives you credit to spend on gifts.  And let’s not forget one of the best options, a handmade gift.  Go through the photos you’ve shot over the past year, find some good ones of friends and family, print them out and frame… In this age of digital photography we really actually print out our photos, so it makes for a thoughtful, unique gift.

It’s looking like Stench may have a job… And it’s in radio!  I’ll post details as soon as he is able to publicly able to discuss.  I’m really happy for him…  After the slaughter of a bunch of radio people nationwide this week I’m just happy to see anyone actually get hired in the industry.  Not much on the horizon for me, I’ve been trying to escape radio, but so far no other industry wants me!

Stench had technical problems this week so I’ve been posting the Podcast… I’m always amazed when I see how many podcasts we have in the can! 1137 hours of pod power…  or over 47 days of non-stop listening!  Thanks for sticking with us!

Have a great Halloween!!!!!! Boo, Jack

I have been unemployed 2 of the last 4 years (I know, shut up, I’ve already complained about this), so I’m currently right about where I was 4 years back… the difference is my level of hope.  I used to still hope I could find a job in radio.  I used to hope that someday I may be able to actually better my situation.  I used to hope that things would get better for us all in general.  Now I hope I can pay my bills.  That things won’t get any worse.  That I’ll find a job that won’t require  another massive pay cut.

My only hope is that things are better for my and your kids… I hope by the time they graduate college there are some good opportunities for them. (Especially since they’ll have to support their Dad! Only joking!)

To help to restore some faith I have tried to do some good.  I volunteer at the kids school (which is actually pretty fun!)  and Stench and I are going to jail… But it’s for a good cause!  We will be locked up to help MDA …  Yes, Stench is my cellmate, I guess I’ll have to rough him up and make him my b***h!

I had a great time Friday night hanging with some of the pod peeps at Champ’s in Burbank… Although the service was horrible!  I’d say avoid it if you’re looking for a cold one in Burbank!  I recommend The Snug (drinks only, no food), The Hollywood Way (for food and drink), Gordon Biersch (food and drink), The Tallyrand (breakfast and drinking with old people), Mo’s (small bar, great food) and Tony’s Darts away (currently the hip spot in Burbank – food -beer and wine only).

I was originally bummed about Halloween being on a Monday this year, but it has made it possible for lots of cool stuff to happen on the weekend.  Some ideas: Enchanted Hallow’ Eve at the Eco Station, Boo at the L.A. Zoo, Mickey’s Halloween party at Disneyland, All About Pumpkins at The Underwood Family Farm, The Harvest Festival at Pierce College, The Anaheim Fall Festival and Parade and tons of other great events!

Have a great Monday! Rock on, Jack

Tomorrow is another Happy Hour, this time at Champs in Burbank from 5p on.  They’re always a good time and last time we had a lot of people show up.  I like to throw these together and see what happens… It reminds me of the old radio days!

The kids are pumped up for Halloween.  As of right now Lucy is going to be a witch (good or evil she has yet to decide) and Bing is going to be a frog.  The older they get the harder it gets because they stop making cute costumes in sizes larger than 6X.  It will always amaze me the slutty costumes they market in little girls (and I’m not just talking teens), they have fishnets in toddler sizes.  If I had any talent what-so-ever I would market my own line of costumes for sizes 6 and up that are fun and cute, instead of trampy and whore-like!

The pod continues on, hot topics recently:  Should adults go to Disneyland alone?  Is it dressing in a costume when you wear a sports jersey while watching sports?  After 39 do you have to settle or can you still find true love?  And whatever other random things pop into our minds and out our mouths!

You know I love to share sites I’m into, lately it’s been Fab.com …  They sell cool designer stuff (Housewears, t-shirts, toys, furniture, etc.) at discount prices.  Sales run for about 3 or 4 days and they have some really unique stuff.

Have a great weekend!

Rock on, Jack

The kids and I visited Disneyland this weekend which was great (even if it was packed due to Gay Day!)  The best part of the Magic Kingdom is seeing how much your kids enjoy it… Lines, heat, crowds they don’t care, it’s the best place on Earth for them!

Speaking of great things to do:  The Pierce College Pumpkin Fest continues to run.   For walkers and cyclists, CicLAvia is this Sunday (October 9th) from 10a-3p…  They block off 10 miles of roads in the heart of Los Angeles and open them to walkers and cyclists.  Angela, Ethan and I did it last year and it was really cool… When else will you ride your bike down the middle of L.A. streets without fear of a road rage attack!?!?  Next weekend (October 15 & 16th) there is a cool art event going on in the desert, High Desert Test Sites  spreads the works of established and up-and-coming artists all over the desert.  In the Toluca Lake/Burbank/North Hollywood area the Toluca Lake Pumpkin Patch is now open… It’s a smaller, easier to get to pumpkin patch with a haunted maze and petting zoo.  For my Santa Clarita friends (and anyone who wants to go to a classic pumpkin patch) Lombardi Ranch is now open.  There is so much going on around town, no matter where you live, so get out there this weekend and enjoy!

Rock On, Jack

There is still much going on around town.  I already told you about the Pierce College Halloween Festival which runs now through Halloween.  Speaking of Halloween, if you’re looking for a place to get costumes and really cool decorations check out Halloweentown in Burbank… It’s open year round, but obviously this is the time they really rock.  My sister found this one, the final cemetery screening at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is this weekend and they’re screening E.T.!  Nothing like a movie under the stars, next to the dead stars!   This is also a great time of the year to get out and ride your bike (not too hot, not to many tourists), this Sunday is the Folk Art Bike ride downtown… It’s a fun way to get some culture and get some exercise in.  Also, The L.A. County Fair is still running… There’s never a bad time to have something deep-fried!

Stench and I (with occasional drive-by’s by Alina) continue on with the Podcast …  We are on show #1110 or 46.25 days of non-stop podcast power!

I have Back To School Night tomorrow… I’m excited to meet the kids teachers and find out what they’ll be up to this year! Not so excited to see the Ex!

Rock on, Jack

- This weekend it’s the Port of Los Angeles Lobster Fest!  This is the original Lobster Fest founded in 1999 by podcast friend Jim.  We have broadcast live on radio from this event, podcasted many shows and judged contests at this event over the years.  It’s always a great time… And where else can you get an amazing lobster meal for 19 bucks!?!?  They also take great care in booking stellar up and coming bands (and a few classics, like Teri Nunn and Berlin on Sunday!)  The kids and I will be popping in at some point this weekend to enjoy a family tradition.

- Now through October 31st (Halloween, duh!) you can enjoy the Halloween Harvest Festival at Pierce College!  This is another tradition in my family, I’m pretty sure Lucy and Bing have gone every fall of their lives so far (sometimes multiple times!) Not only can you buy a pumpkin grown right there at Pierce College by kids who will soon graduate and be unable to find jobs, but there are rides, food and (my kids favorite) The Spookley Show.   In the heart of the valley (Woodland Hills) it’s usually a nice place to visit in the early evening.

- I have always loved art, but never had the income to actually become a collector…  Except for in one of my favorite genres, street art…  Many times limited edition prints can be purchased for under $100, here are some of my favorite places to browse (I’ve been unemployed and unable to grow my collection, but I love to check in and see the latest cool prints): Obey Giant featuring the work of Shepard Fairey, Poster Child Prints which sells limited edition prints from many well known artists including Skullphone, Fairey, Tim Armstrong (From Rancid), Mark Mothersbaugh (From Devo), Curtis Kulig and many others,  1X Run which features limited runs of limited edition prints from known and upcoming artists.

-  My Sister mocks me because I care about this, but Klout measures your social media influence.  With social media growing more and more important to business everyday I believe Klout (or some site like it) will grow in importance… And it’s fun to check your score and see how you compare to your friends.  They also offer “influencers”  perks to try out new products and services and Tweet/Facebook about them.

-  Rocket Fizz is a cool retro soda/candy store where you can relive your youth and your kids can catch a really good sugar buzz… and the best part is they are opening a location a block from Porto’s in Burbank, which means you can have some potato balls and then chase them with a Faygo soda.  (there is another location down the street, the location near Porto’s is set to open at the end of this month.)

There you go, I know I’m no “You get a car! And you get a car!” Oprah, but those are some of the cool things I’ve come upon lately.

Rock on, Jack

I see the manifestation of recession rage into the tea party, intolerance and fringe elements gaining mainstream acceptance and it makes me even more disillusioned with the direction this country is headed.  I know it is human nature to need someone to blame, but it seems that the American people have focused their energy on the wrong targets.  We’re mad at Muslims, Mexicans, health care, homosexual marriage… I have seen no rallies, heard no outrage against the banks and mortgage lenders who’s profit over ethics lending practices lead to the housing bubble and it’s ultimate explosion.  Even now Bank of America had to stall foreclosures…  They screwed us buying our homes and how they’re screwing us taking them.  I know many have spoke out against the TARP program,  the problem is not only was the TARP program necessary to keep the economy from failing further, but it has on some fronts actually turned a profit and will ultimately only cost a fraction of originally projected…  Again I see this as misguided, we are upset at the government for the bailout and not those who needed bailing out.   I guess what I’m saying is that I want to see that hatred for Muslims trying to build a mosque in Temecula (over 2000 miles from Ground Zero), the anger over illegal immigration (even if our Republican candidate for Governor knowingly employed one for years, not to mention Lou Dobbs…  Don’t take this as an endorsement of Jerry Brown he is a huge “whore” too), the disdain for health care reform with cries of socialism (Although no one is complaining about public schools or social security), directed towards those who actually got us where we are today.   OK, that’s enough politics, I know it’s boring.

To totally shift directions.  I have been thinking about something kind of strange in the past few weeks.  Have you ever had a hallucination?  I have had only had one in my life, it was in the hospital after my suicide attempt, as I laid in the emergency room, nurses and doctors working on me, I saw a baby lying next to me. I plead with them to help the baby, as they assured me there was no baby.  I remember very few details of that night, but I remember that baby… I remember it as if it was real, I remember my concern and worry over it, how badly I wanted it to be cared for and comforted.  I know it was not real, it was not there… But i remember it as real, it’s just strange.  That baby could have been me, maybe I was seeing myself as helpless, in need of saving?  It could have been my kids, who I felt were helpless victims of my failed relationship in need of saving?  It could have just been the innocent projection caused by three bottles of prescription drugs?  I may never figure it out, but I will always remember that baby as real.

Time for another transition, I guess I’ve been backing up a bunch of posts and now it is time to unload.  Halloween and my kids birthday’s are right around the corner… And I’ve been slacking on both, which is weird because they are my three  favorite events of the year.  Halloween is all set for the kids, but I gave up on my “Baby” costume.  The birthday’s have been stressful in trying to decide what kind of party would fit into my budget.  The kids originally wanted to have the party at the miniature golf course, but that would mean limited guest list and we’d have to pick and choose who to invite.  My sister is out of town, but we may use her house to have a bigger, less elaborate party so more friends can attend… All I know is I need to figure it out in the next few days because it’s less than 3 weeks away!

Work has been going really well, the show has found it’s groove and Ron has been rocking it.   It was hard launching a show from scratch, but has been rewarding to see it mature into an entertaining, informative radio program.

I’m feeling equally as good about the pod, it has been a lot of fun lately.  It has got to a point where it is less of a show and more of us having a daily conversation with an exclusive group of friends.  Also, as different as we are, Stench is one of my dearest friends and I cherish my daily interaction with him.

Speaking of Stench, at his 40th birthday party a couple of years ago a psychic told me I would be re-married by 40… Well, I’m 40 in 3 months and there are no perspectives nor desire, so my disbelief in psychics lives on.  Maybe I need Gary Spivey to make my crotch tingle and my demons disappear!?!?

Fumble!   Finally, a good reason to go to Starbuck’s!  Don’t forget to fill out your permission slip.   This is crazy.  Number 4 on 11/11/11?  I guess you have to be aware to shoot them!?!?  Here’s a back-up!

Rock on, jack

Here’s a classic video… Look how little Bing was!!!!

I read an article on Hipsters yesterday... it explained the look and their outlook on things, how they desperately try to be individuals while all looking exactly the same (Not a slam on hipsters, it's true of all sub-groups... Goths, Punks, Mods, etc. all trying to be individuals yet looking exactly like each other...  It's just kind of funny).  It started me thinking about fashion and trends, (mainly because the article mentioned that Hipsters wear those Docksider boat shoes and I used to wear those in Jr. High)  specifically when they end.  I realized I can't remember any trend I have been involved in ending!?!?  Example: In high schooled I "pegged" my jeans, tightly rolling the cuffs together.  I know I did this in high school, but I can't remember when I stopped?  There had to be a day that I awoke, put on my pants and no longer rolled them?  Is his just me, can you remember the day you abandoned a fashion or trend?  I just thought it was weird that I cannot remember a single instance when I gave up on a trend or fashion.

The Insana Quotient ( The show I work on) has been getting pretty good... It took us a few months to get comfortable working together and get a rhythm going, but it's been going very well.  If you're into finance or politics you should check it out.

The kids are ready for Halloween!  Although I've let myself down a little this year.  I didn't find any really unique costumes, but the kids did pick out exactly what they wanted and are very happy with their choices... And that's all that really matters.  If you have little kids these Tom Arma costumes are really cool!

I've been loving this hot weather, but I know it's not going to last.  You can feel it, it's a fake heat...  When I go for walks and cross into the shade or pass a covered parking structure you can feel the coolness, in the summer it's hot everywhere.

Stench and I need to plan the next pod outing ...  We know it will be in Orange County for sure, it's just a matter of figuring out when we can do it.

We all know guys who have said they've done this!  Congrats Latinos! Sorry, Porn is closed!  Batula!  Attn. Denver: Rabbits will eat your cars!  Bob Saget hates babies!

Rock On, Jack

Anyway, I’ve been in a mood for the last week or so, just ignore me!  We are headed out for an adventure this weekend!  The kids and I are headed to Legoland and to spend a little time in San Diego.   It will be a nice way to officially end our summer before it’s back to the first grade grind for Lucy.

If Bing was just a little older I’d be all over today’s Groupon, He’s so into cars and always gets so bummed that he’s too little to ride the Go-Karts!

Alina’s on the pod today… It’s always fun when she joins us.

I have been slacking this year… normally by this time I already have the kids Halloween costumes.   I decided to be Bing’s “Baby” blanket this year.

(That’s Baby above)

So now Lucy has decided to be her Blankie “Bo-Bo” (Sorry, no photo available)… So I need to figure that out!  And Bing wants to reprise “Bowling Girl”… And since he never seems to grow, all the stuff from last year still fits.  They’ve been known to change their minds (Many times over) before Halloween, so we’ll see what they ultimately end up being!?!?

On to the news:

I hope it didn’t mess up his pretty face! Summer is really over for him.  Congrats Florida idiot, you have sucked the President into your BS. It only took 49 dog years to get home.   Remember when working at McDonald’s was a joke?  What do you think: Funny or Offensive?  I don’t need this, I have Mike in GH to tell me!  Quick grab some butter, global warming is making popcorn!  Well this is kind of depressing.

Rock On, Jack