DadJack.com Blog

Memorial Day weekend is just a few days away!  I’m excited for summer to start… Although it would be so much better if I had a job.  I was extra bummed to lose my job when I did because I was in the process of planning a little vacation with the kids… Needless to say that’s off the table now.

I have been giving much thought to the “American Dream” lately.  There was a time when I believed in the American dream, I thought that someday I could better my situation and achieve some success.  I used to work with people who held similar positions as me, had them for a long time and made over 7 figures…  Must of those people are out of work now or have drastically reduced those salary to something followed with a lot less zeros.

There isn’t that feeling that I can gain ground, get promoted… or even get a job now.  The dream has been replaced with a desperate desire to just be able to maintain my current lifestyle without having to give up anymore.  And I know it’s not just me, I have heard from some of you who have been out 2, 3, even 4 years.  There was a time when I thought you could get into a company and work your way up… now it’s hard just to get in and if you do keeping that job for any extended amount of time is just a difficult.

It would be nice to have the illusion back that we can all achieve the American dream…  As shallow and untrue it may have been, it was nice to have a glimmer of hope.

Enough of my whining.  My Sister and I took the kids to the Long Beach Aquarium yesterday for a sneak peek of a few new exhibits.  The kids always love it there and the new stuff was cool… They got to touch jellyfish!  They have really done a nice job with that area of Long Beach, you can go a make a day of it down there with the great selection of restaurants and attractions.

I was bummed for Ron (Insana… the host of the show I used to prooduce) this morning, another one of his CNBC colleagues passed away.  Mark Haines passed yesterday, so thoughts to his family.

The pod is on the mend… Stench is doing much better, no longer medicated or hospitalized, he just needs to stick to his diet.  Alina is also getting her voice back and feeling much better… And she told us on today’s pod that she be  on a new British reality show, so fingers crossed for her!

OK, go get your white pant out of mothballs and polish your white shoes!

Rock On, Jack

Blurry girl looks at blurry fish

Bing sees a crab (he doesn't like them!)

Bing runs from a ray

nice smile

Shark from below

I just finished watching the President speak at the Tucson Memorial Service, he spoke much of civility… This has been something I have been thinking about much, even before this recent tragedy.

When I started working on The Insana Quotient I didn’t know much about politics or finance… Heck to be totally honest before working on the show I had never watched CNBC or ever heard of Ron Insana.  I needed a job and radio is what I know how to do, I figured it was no different than other radio situation I had been in… I had never run an audio board before starting to board-op the morning show, Never been part of a talk show before The Jamie and Danny Show, knew nothing about country music as I entered the Executive Producer position on The Tony and Kris Show, so I figured I could work this out.

I didn’t really know the format of the show when I started… I mean I thought I did, but I didn’t.  It wasn’t until I had the chance to get to know Ron that I truly understood what his vision was.  In a world of Beck, Limbaugh, O’Rielly and Schultz, where enthusiasm and opinion mask as fact he wanted to deliver fair, balanced debate based on fact…. It sounds simple, but it has been lost somewhere along the line.

He and I have discussed this at length and tried to figure out how to market the show so people who really want to discuss topics with civility and intelligence could find the show.  It’s a hard sell in today’s media… It seems only the extremists, the radical gain attention, no one is interested in civility.

So when the tragic events in Tucson took place last weekend Ron took it pretty hard… He really believes what he preaches, it is not a show for ratings like that so many others perform nightly in the circus that masks as news.  He was honestly considering leaving the business.  But we chugged on.

So yesterday, totally unrelated to Tucson, Ron posted a blog on The Huffington Post giving his views on the state of the economy and where we are headed. Which I thought was pretty cool… But when I spoke with him this morning he was kind of bummed.  Apparently of the over 200 comments 90+% were negative.  It’s not that he can’t take criticism, it was that many attacked him personally and totally discounted his ideas without ever really considering their validity.

If there is one thing I have learned in my 6 months in the financial/political news world it’s that no one wants to hear anything positive.   If you’re not advocating the demise of our economy and the investment option of buying gold and burying it in your backyard no one wants to listen.  There is no room for positivity or an optimistic outlook in finance and politics.

I know things are and have been horrible for many of us… I personally was unemployed for 2 1/2 of the last 10 years, had to declare bankruptcy and short sell my home.  And yet, I still don’t think it’s the end of the world or the dollar.  I can see, although faint recovery building and I know that as in the past things will rebound, America will be back on it’s feet.

And it’s not as if Ron is just spouting sunshine and rainbows, he actually has based his opinions on his experience and knowledge of the economy and financial theories… It just was disheartening for me to see someone stepped on because he isn’t selling doom and gloom.

Rock On, Jack

And I’m not upset about it!  I can’t wait for the kids to get back… And they’ll be with my Mom and me for 2 weeks!  We have lots of fun stuff planned, Universal Studios, Classic Car Show in Burbank, Dodgers Game, tide pools with Angela Channel and whatever else we can think up.

Lucy is in for a surprise, She thought she was getting an iCarly lunchbox this year…  But check out this Groupon, She’s getting a “My Dad Rules” lunchbox with my face on it!!!!  Speaking of that, I need to get her the backpack she wants (iCarly as well), Target is already starting to sell out of back to school stuff.

I didn’t do much of anything yesterday, nice long walk, short nap, some afternoon work (We recorded Carly Fiorina for today’s show yesterday, so it was a little busier than normal… If you’re interested in hearing her click here).   I must admit, I wasn’t really that into politics or finance, but I have  learned a lot from Ron and am enjoying it greatly… It’s an interesting time both politically and economically to be entrenched in this world.

I did a little project yesterday, I have a picture frame that I hated the color of the wood… So I sanded it and re-stained it.  I’ll see how it turns out after it dries… initial assessment is that it’s too dark, but we’ll see.

Duck cops a feel.  This isn’t good news.  No toad licking in the kitchen please.  Attack of the huge ice chunk! Stench and I may be married by the end of the day.  No one said molesters were smart.  Gross.

Rock on, Jack

I’m excited, the show I produce, The Insana Quotient, launched in Los Angeles this morning on KGIL 1260am …  If you are up between 4 and 6am check it out.  I’m not going to lie, it’s vastly different than Stench and my show, but if you’re interested in finance and politics it’s very interesting… And Ron truly is a great guy.

The kids and I had a fun weekend.  We did some cycling with Angela Channel, Lucy learned to start by herself (Up to this point I had to give her a push to start)…  Bing rode in the trailer which he now dislikes because he wants to ride his “Big Boy Bike.”  On saturday night we went to The Valley Cultural Centers movies on the green and watched Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (A Bing Fave) with Angela and Ethan, Mike in GH and Kids, and small other friends… It’s really a good time, the kids loved watching the movie outside and having a picnic.  I highly recommend it and Up is screening in a few weeks!  Yesterday we tried to fly our kites, but there just wasn’t enough wind.

I can’t believe it’s already August, kids start going back to school locally in a few weeks… This summer just kind of breezed past.  Lucy and Bing have already starting discussing Halloween costume options… Lucy is leaning towards whale and Bing wants to reprise “Bowling Girl.”  I want to try and make a “Baby” costume for myself this year fashioned after the monkey blanket of that name Bing carries around everywhere.

Kids leave the end of this week for their Mother’s wedding, luckily I miss read an earlier email and they’ll only be gone a week and then I get them for two weeks (We’ll my Mom and I get them, since she’ll be helping while I’m at work).

Stench and I will be taking a vacation from podcasting the end of August, so you will be dorkless for a week!

Lindsay is free!  I think we all already know this.  Not at my work.   And I thought I was hard-up.  This is gonna piss some people off. I’m going on a diet right now!  But she’s such a good girl?  Everything old is new again.  Congrats Miss Chubby!

Rock On, Jack

All this Farrell’s talk… Well today is finally the day.  Stench and I will be there tonight recording the podcast live and eating ice cream… What more could you ask for?  Alina is a confirmed guest tonight… She’s driving with Stench, so I know she’ll be there.

One betta down… I walked into the kids room yesterday and Bing’s betta was sleeping on the bottom of it’s tank.  I tried to wake him, but he was sleeping so soundly, so I shook his bowl a little harder!  I realized something was wrong, so I started CPR and hooked to wires to a 9 volt battery to act as a defibrillator… But I couldn’t bring him back, after 3 hours of trying to bring him back I called the time of death and made the very difficult flush.  Knowing the sensitive nature of this event, I did what any responsible adult would do… returned to the pet shop and purchased a look-a-like betta.  As of this morning, betta 2.0 seems to be doing fine.

Speaking of passing, I was arranging the disposal of the “Busty Old Car” yesterday… Why is it that everything revolving cars is a pain in the ass (even driving them most of the time in this town)?  It looks like the ’93 Altima will meet it’s final resting place later today.  R.I.P. Busty Old Car.

Stench and I had technical difficulties on yesterday’s pod…  Sorry, considering we’ve recorded over 800 1-hour episodes it’s bound to happen every once in a while.

I had to go to the Do It Center yesterday to get some keys made… There’s something about a hardware store that makes you want to build and/or remodel stuff!  Luckily, I realize I have no construction skills (Other than carrying bags of rock… That’s what I did when I worked with the construction company.  I did get to drive a truck, the kids thought that was cool) and only purchased my keys and not the skill saw that looked so cool.

I really feel like Ron’s Show (The show I produce) is gaining momentum.  Ron is such a great guy, I really want this show to blow up (I mean that in a good way… I guess blow up could mean go away too!).

It looks like they may have worked on each other!  Way to go Jimmy!  AZ might be anti-immigrant, but their nun’s are pro-choice.  I know people are mean… But don’t kill puppies!!!!  It’s a tough job.  You have to be quite when having sex with a homeless woman!

Rock On, Jack

Wouldn’t it be great if every decision had just two choices, one good and one bad… Then life would be easy.  But it turns out life isn’t easy and doing the right thing doesn’t always mean it’s the best thing.  I bring this up because Lucy told me that she misses me and wants me to drop her off at school again over the weekend.  Due to my new work schedule I cannot drop her off at school and the kids don’t come over mid-week anymore.  I explained that I had to work (which is very, very true) and that I would see her on the weekend… But it doesn’t make it less painful to know that your kids miss you and they’re sad.  If I had any other option I would have done it so that we could afford to live and I could still see them more often, but that is not the way things have currently worked out…  I tried to make it clear, and I hope they understand, that I’d much rather be hanging out with them.

Speaking of hard decisions, I’m trying to figure out how I can still work at CRN… I really love everyone there and have so much fun, but there are so many hours in a day and I seem to use them up pretty quick.

I was let down by the Lost finale.  It didn’t explain many to the situations they created throughout the series.  It was a very emotional, visually appealing episode, but I just felt it was kind of a cop out… They took the easy way out and left so many things unfinished.  What did you think?

I move next weekend, so I’m on super packing mode this week.  I actually got a bunch done today.  It’s always kind of weird to look at your life all packed up and sitting in boxes.

The kids and I went to a chili cook-off at my sister’s work this weekend.  The company she works for, Line 6 , is pretty cool… through good and bad economic times they always throw events for their employees… So many other companies have cut these out, Line 6 has done sized them a bit, but they still do them, I think that says something about them.

The show I’m working on, The Insana Quotient is coming together… We’ve worked out most of the technical bugs, now we can focus on the show more.

Don’t forget, we’ll (Stench and I) be out at Farrell’s in Santa Clarita June 23rd from 7-9pm… Ice cream and Podcast, what more could you want?

Rock On, Jack

I just fund out today that they are moving my hours back to a 3am start time… And I’m actually pretty happy about it.  Those were the hours I originally signed up for, they actually afford me more time with the kids.  The show has been going well (I produce the  Insana Quotient hosted by Ron Insana), it’s business talk, so it’s a little different from what I have done in the past… But it’s always exciting to try something new.

The kids Mom called, I guess Lucy has been running a fever, but has no other symptoms… So I’m not too worried, Bing had something similar a week or so ago. It’s been so crazy around here I wasn’t able to schedule a time to see them midweek this week… Luckily, things are getting all ironed out and that shouldn’t be a problem from now on.

Lost has been doing a fairly good job of wrapping things up… I’m kind of bummed that it will all be over soon, there aren’t that many shows I currently look forward too.

The apartment search continues on, we’ve seen some good ones (My Sister and Mom have been helping)… But haven’t found the “one” yet (Although I’m willing to settle!  I just need to find something OK, in my price range).

We found out yesterday that we will be doing a live podcast at Farrell’s in Santa Clarita on Wednesday June 23rd at 7p!!!!! So if you can make it come hang out!!!  Speaking of hanging out, I will be doing just that at The Tallyrand Restaurant in Burbank this Friday (In 2 days) for some Happy Hour fun (I’ll be there anytime after 5:30p)…. Just decided to celebrate the launch of the new show and hang with my peeps!  All are welcome.

Rock On, Jack

It only took a year and a half, but I have a full time job!  Starting in May I will be the producer of the syndicated Ron Insana Show!  I’m so excited to be back in regular broadcast radio… I love the podcast, but there is just something energizing about working live on-air.

It is so refreshing to have things moving in a positive direction, after two years of divorce hell, things are looking up.

The apartment search continues on, there are actually a lot of options.  I have to figure out where the best location for the kids and me is?  Work is in Valencia and Sunland, the kids are in Venice and most of my friends are in the Burbank/North Hollywood area, I have to find the middle.

The kids and I had a fun weekend… A little Burbank on Parade, some time with friends and we checked out a few apartments.  This upcoming weekend I am semi-kidless (No kids Friday and Saturday), I’m going out to celebrate with my friend who recommended me for the job… Thanks Brian!

I met Mike (in Granada Hills) for some late night tea last night, he has another great opportunity for me that I’m pursuing.  He is such a great guy, He’s one of those people that you’re just always comfortable around.

More good news, Bing told me I’m invited to his birthday party!  I like that he gave me advance notice, I’ll mark it in my daytimer.

One lucky chicken.  Almost ready ladies. Crime fighting photographer! And I’m impressed when my 3 year old says his ABC’s.  Cool Banksy art in L.A.  This package was not the bomb.  Grandma v. Bull… guess who won?  HUH!?!?

Rock On, Jack