DadJack.com Blog

It was my first day back this year volunteering at my kids school as a P.E. assistant.  This year I’m alternating between Lucy and Bing’s classes week to week.  I kicked off with Bing’s class… I have a new respect for Kindergarten teachers, it’s not easy keeping 20 4/5 year old’s attention.  The rain forced us indoors… which reminded me of rainy days in elementary school playing rainy day games.  Duck, duck, goose, Heads up – 7 up, Red Rover and anything else you could play in a small class room filled with 20+ kids.  Those days were always fun, probably because they didn’t happen that often here in Burbank.

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

Like to share our favorite things… Only people care when Oprah does it!  I haven’t been posting in awhile so I’ve slacked on sharing some cool sites and events, so here I go:

- 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

We visited the Pierce College Harvest Festival Halloween morning, here’s a few videos of our adventures:

Looks like we are going to wrap up September with the heat we should have had all summer long…. Don’t get me wrong, I’m enjoying it, I just wist it would have been here when it was supposed to have been!

It was an OK weekend. Friday I was kidless and just hung out by myself and watched movies… I will admit, I am really liking my Blu-Ray player (I bought it reconditioned for super cheap!), I love technology and movies, so it’s the perfect combo. Red Box now has Blu-Ray’s for $1.50 a night…  Although they get sold out quick!

Saturday was Lucy’s first soccer game.  She did great, although was a little worn down from the heat…. All the kids were, even on that side of the hill it was hot!  Her team, The Killer Mermaids lost, but they put in a great effort.  Afterward we headed to the Pierce College Pumpkin Patch… always a favorite with my kids, it runs now til Halloween.

Sunday morning Bing awoke early complaining of eye pain?  I thought he had just poked it and got him back to sleep… But as the day progresses it continued to hurt.  We are off to the Doctor’s in a hour or so to figure out what is going on?  To keep him from rubbing it I got him an eye patch… so he looked like a tiny pirate all day yesterday!  (There’s a pic on Facebook)

As I sat on the grass watching Lucy play in her first soccer game, on her first team and across the field could see my Ex and her new husband (who unannounced to me is the coach of the team) my mind wandered a little.  I thought about my experiences playing sports, my Mom and her partner the coach of my t-ball team and how my Dad never came to my games.  And I thought about trust and how you can give it to someone, allowing them access to your memories, fears and insecurities… And some people can so easily turn against you using that trusted information as a weapon of destruction.  It’s not much different than handing someone a loaded gun and thinking they won’t turn it on you… Only to be shot execution style moments later.  People amaze me, be it the Dad who skipped out on his chubby kids soccer and t-ball games or the self proclaimed partner who gathers your most intimate secrets for later use against you.  But then Bing grabs the video camera and I have to give a brief technology lesson and I am brought back into the moment, back to watching a tried six year old run her pigtails up and down the field.

Is that Bunny loaded?  Good for you guys!  Segways don’t fly!!!  Good news for pie lovers.  Bears never give up… Unless zucchini is involved!  Good for Kim.

Rock on, Jack

Sorry for the blog void lately, I’m going to catch up, I have a lot I want to write about!

Rock on, Jack