DadJack.com Blog

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

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

Well summer officially ends this weekend…  And I think overall it was a pretty good one.  Although short this year (L.A.U.S.D. changed their schedule so the kids really only had about  6 weeks or so) it feels like we had the chance to do a bunch of stuff (Even with the limitations of my messed up work schedule.)

To be honest, I’m not looking forward to the fall/winter… Not due to the weather, but the stress of my under-employment.  With the change in the leafs comes Halloween, school fundraisers, both my kids birthday’s and the holidays…  All things I cannot afford right now.  I have been searching high and low for a better paying job (and I don’t make much, so it is not like it should be that hard), so far I have had a few little nibbles, but no actual bites.  Since being fired from STAR 98.7 and getting divorced over 5 years ago I have continued to hope things would get better, but they have just kept plunging…  There have been little teases of hope, usually followed by greater disappointment.  It is truly exhausting (Not to b***h too much, I know many of you are in the same boat.)

To get off the subject of my crappy life… The Space Shuttle flies into L.A. tomorrow! I was kind of bummed it was delayed, it was supposed to land today and I have the day off work so I could have watched it cruise over the L.A. skyline… I’m hoping to be able to see it take off from Palmdale from my work!

If you haven’t yet, check out Lucy’s website, she is very proud of it… And I’m proud of her for her passion for sharks and her creative output.

Stench has a New Project where he does a daily morning show (click link to listen live)…  There is also a handfull of TV and internet shows associated with it, more details as they become available.

I still post news stories daily on Facebook… If you get a chance “like” my page!  Until they start streaming again (which I don’t foresee happening any time soon) there is no need to promote my radio show…  I’ll let you know when/if it comes back online.

Other places you can find me online: On The Pod,  Klout, Instagr.am, Facebook (my personal page), Twitter and Four Square.

And the Pod Hotline is 916-MR-BACON

Rock On, Jack

She is so excited for her new blog/website and wants to post non-stop…  It made me feel guilty about posting so little!  So I thought I’d give some quick updates

Stench has a new TV project he’s working on, as soon as he releases  the details I will post them (He’s really excited, I hope it works out for him!!!)

I continue to rock mornings at KMIX 106.3… Although we are still not streaming!  If you want the stream back be sure to let our GM know at nelson.rasse@highdesertbroadcasting.com . It was fun having you Non-A.V. people listening too!

Speaking of the A.V., the kids and I have become quite fond of Drytown Water Park…  It’s worth the drive out there!  It’s smaller and less crowded than the more well-known water parks…  and less expensive! If you have a chance this summer hit it mid-week, you’ll hardly wait for anything!

I’m excited for the Olympics…  Although I’m not a fan of the edited, pre-packaged, time delayed presentation we get now… I miss when they would air them live! (I know you can watch live online… But you have to be a cable/dish subscriber to get the feed, and I am not!)

My Sister organized a Burbank Instameet yesterday, which was a lot of fun!  I think (keyword think, I’m still not 100% on how to link to my pics)  you can see my pics here… Or search #instameetburbank for all of our photos.

Podcast chugs along, we’re up to 1316 shows!!!

Ok, I think that’s it… If I think of anything else I’ll post it!

Rock On, Jack

OK it’s my Book, I just got my copy today and I thought I’d let you guys know what I think.  (I ordered the soft cover version) I liked the overall look, but next time I will include more photos, it wasn’t quite enough.  I enjoy the simple design and Blurb does a great job printing (The one photo that is a little soft on the focus is totally my fault), the colors and blacks looked very good.  This was my first attempt and I learned a bunch, I can’t wait to try again!!!

I you listen to the Pod or not the Pod Quote Of The Day is a fun (ADULT!!!!) twitter feed…  We say some messed up stuff!

Kids are still gone.  I had a nothing Father’s Day, I went grocery shopping and for a bike ride.  The kids called… But a 5 minute phone call is not the same as celebrating the day with your kids.

The stream is still down at work, they promise me they are working on getting all issues resolved and getting it back up!  I will post as soon as they do, I really appreciate all of you who took the time to check it out, it means a lot to me.

I got a new phone so I am able to be on Instagr.am… But I’m not sure how to direct you to my pics?  I’m “Dadjack” on there, maybe that will help.

It is the first day of summer and the longest day of the year!  So have a great summer!!!

Rock On, Jack

The Heine Family Brick

The Pod Brick!

As promised here are photos of the bricks that the Pod Peeps purchased for us… They are so cool!!!!

Post at you shortly!

Rock On, Jack

Spring is a fun time of the year! (Other than taxes being due!!!)

Let me start with stuff going on this weekend.  Saturday is Burbank On Parade…  A Burbank tradition!  The parade goes down Olive Ave. between Buena Vista and Victory, right past the Tallyrand!  I know they’re predicting rain, but I’m hoping for a dry few hours during the parade.  While in Burbank stop at the Downtown Burbank Arts Festival which runs both Saturday and Sunday…  Right in the heart of downtown, it’s a cool mix of art and entertainment.

Sunday is CicLaVia ….  This is one of the coolest events held in Los Angeles.  About 10 miles of downtown L.A. streets are blocked off from cars but open to cyclists and pedestrians.  You get to see parts of the city in ways you never have before.  It is a great event of serious cyclists and kids on tricycles alike, a must do for anyone who loves L.A.

Next weekend is The Lancaster Poppy Festival, sure it’s about 45 minutes outside of L.A. but it is one of the hippest events in the high desert.  This year they have added a few new attractions including a live shark show and a Zip Line that carries you over the festival.  (We’ll be giving away admission tickets on KMIX 106.3 all next week… But it’s not that expensive – $5 for kids and $8 adults.)

Another upcoming High Desert event I’m excited for is The City of Palmdale’s “Tour de Palmdale Poker Run Fun Bike Ride”…  A 30mile fun ride across Palmdale where you collect cards and those with the best hands at the end will win prizes.  It takes place on May 5, 2012 at 10 am at Marie Kerr Park, located at 2723 Rancho Vista in Palmdale.  It’s all in honor of the Amgen Tour which stops in the city May 18th.

At home I am excited for Bing, he starts his bowling league at the end of this month…  He is really pumped up to be on a real bowling team and have a coach!  Lucy starts Little League this weekend… Although game 1 may be a rain-out!

We still haven’t nailed down a date for a Pod event, but I’m thinking we’ll return to Tony P’s when we do!  Stench has his return to stand-up coming up next month, I will post the exact date and time when they have it nailed down.

I still am a huge FAB fan and have been regularly posting to Pinterest…  And if you haven’t had a chance please “like” my work page!  (I’m trying to build it up!)

I will post more soon!

Rock On, Jack

Don’t worry I’m not going to blog about each week at KMIX 106.3...  I just couldn’t think of anything to start this post with!

Work has been going well, I’m getting my footing.  It was fun having Lucy come to work with me…. The last time she saw me working on air she was 3!  She really enjoyed being on-air… I need to nip that in the bud right now!  She will not get into radio!!!!

I’m excited to participate in the Tour De Palmdale…  Which is a fun 30 mile bike ride around Palmdale on May 5th (yes Cinco De Mayo).  If you’re around and like cycling it should be a fun ride!

We had a few technical issues on the pod this week…  Namely Stench’s computer died!  We are back on track and things are almost back to normal (Or as normal as the pod gets!!!)

I will post more later… Including pics of the amazing bricks some of the Pod Peeps purchased for us!

Rock On, Jack

I made it through my first week at work… Although there were sometimes on the foggy 14 that I thought I might not make it there!

Everyone at the station has been so cool!  It is weird seeing myself on the station website…  I still, and never have, thought of myself as “talent.”  It always been just hanging with cool people and talking on the radio.  I have really enjoyed getting to know Donna (she does news/traffic with me)… It’s such a small radio world, her husband worked with Stench at both Pirate and Power.  Brian Chase (he does afternoons) has been so supportive and helpful too, it’s nice to be wanted some place…  You almost never get that feeling at the big companies.

The podcast is still rocking… Stench and I need to check our schedules and figure out when we can do another live pod… I’m thinking it would be nice to return to Tony P’s.  Alina joined us on the Friday pod…  We always love when she joins us (even if we do torture her a tad!)

Jamie seems to be doing great in Denver… We trade comments on Facebook often and everything seems good.

My sister has way more guts than me… She decided she was not happy at her work and quit!  It’s the dream of most people I know, but she actually did it!  If you know anyone who is looking for a freelance Social Media Marketing consultant contact her at blue@mycolorblue.com .

Kids are on spring break next week!  I have to work all week, but we’ll spend afternoons together, I can’t wait.

Remember Sunday is April Fools, so be on guard!!!

Rock on, Jack

It’s only been 3 days and I’m already exhausted!  When I spoke to Lucy last night she thought it was funny I was going to bed before she was on a school night… That kid doesn’t know how early 3am is!  But it has been fun.

Thank you all for all the support!  How quickly you all “liked” and “followed” my work pages really made me look good to management.  I have already learned a lot…  I’ve never been a “DJ” before, I used to just hang out with two other morons and talk about life!

It looks like Stench will be doing some stand-up comedy soon… He will be playing the Comedy Store on Sunset Saturday May 19th at 7:30pm!  He is very talented, can’t wait to see him again!

Bought another lottery ticket, it just seems lame not to at least try to win a half billion dollars (although I have had absolutely no luck at the lower amounts!)

I’m sure by now you’ve heard the re-cap on the podcast, Kevin and Holly’s wedding was great!  I haven’t been that nervous in years, but I made it through the ceremony (That was my first and last time officiating a wedding!)  The best part was the reception, all the pressure was off and the party was on.  The kids and I danced, we got to hang with tons of friends and celebrated Kevin and Holly’s union!

This is a friend of mine’s blog, if you get a chance check it out… I really enjoy it!

I promise I’ll have more to post next time, still acclimating to the new hours!

Rock On, (DJ) Jack