Live blogging from the New Jersey Turnpike...

...and more exciting it does not get. Long weekend down in Virginia
hope everyone has a great Patriots Day weekend.

Drunkards Welcome:

So I was parked in front of this house today and noticed the yard
ornament. I thought to myself what the hell is this? When is this
ever really a good idea??

Needless to say I could not come up with one set of circumstances
where I'm walking out of Home Depot with this friggin thing.

So basically if you have one of these what's the message? If you're a
drunken fool just hanging around loitering, your drunk ass is more
than welcome here.

Mambo!

I've nothing more to say... I just thought this was a pretty cool
bottle of wine.

I'm in charge here:

He'll be taking control of heaven any time now.

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Former Secretary of State Alexander Haig, a four-star general who served as a top adviser to three presidents and had presidential ambitions of his own, died Saturday of complications from an infection, his family said. He was 85.

Haig's long and decorated military career launched the Washington career for which he is better known, including top posts in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations. He never lived down his televised response to the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan.

Hours after the shooting, then Secretary of State Haig went before the cameras intending, he said later, to reassure Americans that the White House was functioning.

"As of now, I am in control here in the White House, pending the return of the vice president," Haig said.

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Al Haig... Out the house.

Deja Brew:

Made my own beer Saturday with my brother-in-law at a place called
Deja Brew.

Pretty cool process. Pick your type and flavor etc. they give you the
recipe you get all the ingredients, measure it out, grind up the grain
and put it all in a big brewing kettle. Kind of like steeping a tea
bag in a big cup of tea. While you're brewing you can sample as many
beers as you like.

We go back in 2 weeks to bottle it after fermentation. $160 gets you
72, 22 ounce bottles. That's like $2.23 per bottle. Not bad when you
consider the Chimay in the picture above cost me $11.99 and the
homemade stuff tastes as good if not better than that.

I went halfs with the brother-in-law so I've got 36 beauties coming my way.
All I need are some cool glasses and labels. Can you say Jake favors?
I'm not sure they'll last until June but we'll see.

Are they ...

Thought of the day…

Are they really “masterminds” if they get caught?

Yard Work

Anyone Know What I'm Thinking?

They're lovely... I personally prefer a fork but...

I friggin' did it!

Oh baby! I finally figured out how to do this remotely.
Maybe I'll do a bit more posting. We'll see.

Trouble with blogging remotely

Well I got the iPhone and I think it's maybe the best thing in the world.
I tried as you can see by my post on the 25th to send a message remotely to the site but the only thing I can manage is to put something in the title line.
Bummer.

I'll try to upload a photo and see if it works soon.

Happy Halloween to all the Jakers and their families.

I will be heading over to the Dancer's later with my daughter to fleece their neighborhood and toss back a few "sodas" with him.

Cards anyone? Hello?

Rest In Peace "Shifty":

This was sent to me by Hub (a great American), I did not write it but I wish I had...
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We're hearing a lot today about big splashy memorial services. I want a nationwide memorial service for Darrell "Shifty" Powers.

Shifty volunteered for the airborne in WWII and served with Easy Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, part of the 101st Airborne Infantry. If you've seen Band of Brothers on HBO or the History Channel , you know Shifty. His character appears in all 10 episodes, and Shifty himself is interviewed in several of them.

I met Shifty in the Philadelphia airport several years ago. I didn't know who he was at the time. I just saw an elderly gentleman having trouble reading his ticket. I offered to help, assured him that he was at the right gate, and noticed the "Screaming Eagle," the symbol of the 101st Airborne, on his hat.

Making conversation, I asked him if he'd been in the 101st Airborne or if his son was serving. He said quietly that he had been in the 101st. I thanked him for his service, then asked him when he served, and how many jumps he made.

Quietly and humbly, he said "Well, I guess I signed up in 1941 or so, and was in until sometime in 1945 ... . . " at which point my heart skipped.

At that point, again, very humbly, he said "I made the 5 training jumps at Toccoa, and then jumped into Normandy . . . . do you know where Normandy is?" At this point my heart stopped.

I told him "yes, I know exactly where Normandy is, and I know what D-Day was." At that point he said "I also made a second jump into Holland , into Arnhem ." I was standing with a genuine war hero . . .. . and then I realized that it was June, just after the anniversary of D-Day....

I asked Shifty if he was on his way back from France , and he said "Yes. And it's real sad because, these days, so few of the guys are left, and those that are, lots of them can't make the trip." My heart was in my throat and I didn't know what to say.

I helped Shifty get onto the plane and then realized he was back in Coach while I was in First Class. I sent the flight attendant back to get him and said that I wanted to switch seats. When Shifty came forward, I got up out of the seat and told him I wanted him to have it, that I'd take his in coach.

He said "No, son, you enjoy that seat. Just knowing that there are still some who remember what we did and who still care is enough to make an old man very happy." His eyes were filling up as he said it. And mine are brimming up now as I write this.

Shifty died on June 17, 2009 after fighting cancer.

There was no parade. No big event in Staples Center … No wall to wall back to back 24x7 news coverage. No weeping fans on television. And that's not right.

Let's give Shifty his own Memorial Service, online, in our own quiet way. Please forward this email to everyone you know. Especially to the veterans.

Rest in peace, Shifty.

Chief's Dad:

I'm very sad to announce Chief's Dad passed away early this morning after a long and (I can only imagine) difficult battle with lung cancer. I'm sure I can speak for everyone who frequents this site when I say our hearts go out to Chief and his young family.

Take care of yourself and everyone around you Chief we're all here if you need us.

---All Members of Jake

For Those Who Are Interested:

Dancer and I may be the only ones who are but...

The Last Hurrah Card Game:

Sunday night Dancer will be hosting the "Last Hurrah Card Game" at his parents recently sold house.

It will be just like the olden days when his parents went away to Canada and half the nare-do-wells and hooligans of our hometown descended on the abode like "Caddy-day at Bushwood".

It won't be quite the same as those days at Scum House but it should be a load of fun.

Mr. Roarke - Out the House

He's gone to a better place my brothers. A place where fine rich Corinthian leather flows like water...

Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at age 88.

Happy New Year '08/'09

Happy New Year to all Jake member and their families.

Here are my top 3 posts of 2008:

#3

#2

#1

Here's to a great 2009! Jake 18 comin' up quick.

Merry Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Jakers and their families.

Here's to 2009 - peace & prosperity to all!

Tim Russert - Out the House:

Speaking for myself – I am saddened at the passing of Tim Russert who was of course the Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of Meet The Press. While I didn’t see him often enough on Sunday mornings I did enjoy listening to his expert analysis and commentary any time I watched coverage of the recent political primaries. I would usually watch MSNBC or NBC (even though they are for the most part a bunch of liberal panzy-asses) mostly because I knew he'd be on it saying something smart and insightful. He had great enthusiasm for our political process and he worked hard to get the truth from the people he interviewed. For that, every American, who cares about that, should be thankful to him.

I don’t generally comment on politics much here but I thought it at least worthy of mention given Father’s Day is tomorrow and because he was such a quality cat in my opinion. If you don’t have a copy of Big Russ and Me you should get one and read it.

Happy Father’s day to all Jake Members and their Dad’s!

Jake Week is upon us!!

Let us rejoice and be glad.

The Blues:

Tomorrow I’ll be fuckin’ 40.
I guess I’ll just pick up and continue to live my life…

Even though there’s no frickin’ point…

Oh yeah “it’s the new 30” – c’mon, please, be reasonable, it’s not the new 30 at all. It’s friggin’ 40 – it’s not the new anything.
It’s just 40 and it is what it is.

The thing that kills me is we’ll look back on these days and say oh my Gawd we were so young back then. Live it up boys – have one on me – Happy St. Patrick’s Day.

Client No.9

This is the name of the movie that will take place in roughly 7-10 years from now about New York Governor and sleaze-bag Eliot Spitzer. Jennifer Aniston will play his wife (yes by the way) and maybe Quinton Tarrentino will play him (even more sleazy).

To quote Woody Allen, approximately, in one of his movies - talking to his wife after she caught him cheating on her:

“You think getting a BJ from a beautiful 26 year old blonde with big t*ts… you think that’s fun for me? – Can’t you see this is a cry for help?”

Mr. Whipple - Out The House

Mr. Whipple has squeezed his last package of Charmin. He's been flushed to a better place my brothers...