Bristol RenFaire whores. 2013.

First outing at this year's Renaissance Faire in Bristol, WI. Same costumes as last year, I know. Check out the video of Brother Jas and I as we toss the battle axes. First me - then Jason.

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Separated at Birth? Jay-Z & Beetlejuice.

Rapper Jay-Z's on top. Beetlejuice is a dwarf who used to be a semi-regular on The Howard Stern Show (TV and radio).

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First batch.

Black raspberries at Glen Mar. Half a quart. Lots more to come. Last year I made 20, 8 ounce jars of jam. We'll see....

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Happy 76th, Dad!

 

76 years. Happy Days, Jimmy! Click on READ MORE! to enjoy a walk down memory lane. No one I know lives life more simply than my father - and for that I worship him.

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The Many Faces of Brian Wilson. Happy 71!

Much has been said and written about the The Beach Boys co-founder. What's been said has been said and I won't add to it. All I can say is that his music - their music - has been one of the most influential forces in my life. Ask me to name my favorite Beach Boys tune - or Brian tune or Dennis or Carl tune - and I can't. I won't.

 

Happy Birthday, Brian! I love you. Here's one favorite song of mine - a masterpiece. Listen and be transported to your idyllic place. Wherever that may be. Surf's Up!

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A celebration of 50 years! To Jim & Dee Dee....Huzzah!

My mother and father met while my dad's band, the Glen LeMar Trio, was playing at Jolly's Supper Club in Greendale. 50 years ago, Saturday, June 15, James Anthony Ircink & Dolores Regina Datka were wedded at Sacred Hearts Church in Franklin (now St. Martin of Tours), with the reception following at Clifford's Supper Club in Hales Corners. Or they met at Clifford's and the reception was at Jolly's. They remain wedded today and Brother Jas & I are very, very happy for them.

I made the corsage and boutonnière from flowers in my garden - a personal touch my parents loved. Here's a very quick video of my mom "pinning" my father, to "their song", "She Wears My Ring" .

We had a lovely time at Glen Mar - my place in Greendale - with music, stories and drinks - followed by dinner at Joey Gerard's Supper Club in Greendale. An evening very special for all of us.

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A Golden Anniversary for Jim & Dee Dee!

My parents - James Anthony Ircink & Dolores Regina Datka - were married 50 years ago today, Saturday, June 15. The wedding ceremony was at Sacred Hearts Church (now St. Martin of Tours) in Franklin and the receptions was at Jolly's Supper Club (now Carl's Catering) in Greendale.

Quite a feat - 50 years. I wish Jimmy & Dee Dee peace, God's blessings...and much love.

Me, Brother Jason (right) and Mom & Dad last fall at Cousin Joe Nowak's wedding.

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"The One That Got Away". The Civil Wars' new release

Finally some new material - though the entire album won't be available until August. This song is a sampler of what to expect. Listen here.

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Datka family reunion!

The Datka's - my mom's side of family - were firmly planted in the Hales Corners, WI farm fields (across from Menard's where the Hales Corners Speedway used to be) for...I don't know, many years. Grampa Myron & Grama Helen raised 9 children there and I spent many youthful days with my family and cousins doing what kids do on farms, I guess. Very happy times. Grampa passed away when I was 5 so my recollection of him is faint. Grama passed in 1976 (don't quote me on that).

 

Tough, hard-working, salt-of-the-earth. And dear people....

 

Cousin John and wife Cheryl hosted this little shindig last Saturday at their home in Dousman. Wonderful time. Uncle Ronny and Aunt Karen couldn't make it and Uncle Jerry and Uncle Ralph have passed. 

 

Left to right:  Uncle Rocky, Uncle Butch, Mom (Dolores), Uncle Bobby and Uncle Kenny.

 

Left to right, top:  Uncle Bobby, Uncle Ronny, Uncle Kenny, Uncle Jerry, Uncle Ralph. Bottom:  Mom (top), Aunt Karen, Uncle Rocky, Uncle Butch.

 

 

First cousins. There were 15 in attendance. Now - double that and add 9 and you have the total number of Datka first cousins. Impressive. Let's see if I can do this:  Top row - Me, Brother Jason, Sarah, Julie, Matt, Susie, Kenny, Glen. Middle row - Myron, Diana, John. Bottom row - Theresa, Billy, Elizabeth, Ralph. ;)

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Siberian Iris in bloom @ Glen Mar.

It's June! Where did May go to?

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DRINK FILMS. WATCH BEERS.

 

The 2nd Annual Really Funny Horny Goat International Short Film Festival hits the BFT (that's "Big Fuckin' Tent") @ The Horny Goat Hideaway in Milwaukee this Saturday, May 4 @ 7:30 pm.

Everything you need to know about this shindig is here. Come out & play with us.

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TGIF! presents...."Mayhemesque" video #14, Nine Inch Nails' "I Wanna..."!

 

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"Soon Shall the Winter's Foil Be Here".

It's true when they say that the simplest things in life sometimes bring us the most joy.

"Soon Shall the Winter's Foil Be Here"
By Walt Whitman

Soon shall the winter's foil be here;
Soon shall these icy ligatures unbind and melt—A little while,
And air, soil, wave, suffused shall be in softness, bloom and growth—a thousand forms shall rise
From these dead clods and chills as from low burial graves.
Thine eyes, ears—all thy best attributes—all that takes
cognizance of natural beauty,
Shall wake and fill. Thou shalt perceive the simple shows, the delicate miracles of earth,
Dandelions, clover, the emerald grass, the early
scents and flowers,
The arbutus under foot, the willow's yellow-green,
the blossom- ing plum and cherry;
With these the robin, lark and thrush, singing their
songs—the flitting bluebird;
For such the scenes the annual play brings on.

(Video shot at Good Hope Cemetery in Greenfield, Wisconsin)

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HASHTAG MAYHEM! "Well-paced, well-crafted, well-executed".

(Left to right:  Bryan Damske & Jeffrey James Ircink in CHOKING THE CHOAD IN BEL AIR.)


I've been away from my blog for a bit. Busy producing/acting/directing a series of short, dark plays I wrote under the collective title, HASHTAG MAYHEM! Reviews have been great and I'm extremely proud of the production. This is the first time I've produced my own work - fully-staged - and it was quite the task. The overwhelming satisfaction, for me, is not just the people who attended or the reviews, but it is the reality that what I had envisioned in my head while writing these 6 plays is what I'm seeing on stage. For that, I thank the directors, actors and Aaron Kopec of The Alchemist Theatre. Without their efforts and hard work, my words remain on the paper.

Our 3-week run closes this Thursday-Saturday, April 4-6 at The Alchemist Theatre in Bay View, Wisconsin. You can check out the review which appeared in the paper edition of The Shepherd Express here - as well as an in-depth review by the same author is his theater column. Curtains.

For production photos and detailed information you check out two sources - our production blog, and our Indiegogo fundraising campaign page. And you can still contribute and share the Indiegogo page. 7 days left.

If you're in the Milwaukee area, you can purchase tickets at the door but I advise you to get them online here. I have about 40 people attending on Friday and Saturday (total) and the show may be packed.

Everyone has a dark side. What's yours? Come play with us - or I'll find you. You can bet on it.

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Irish "seisiún".

The pub Tig Coili in Galway - from my trip to Ireland in 2009. Also, here's famous musician, Alec Finn, performing for us at his home, Oranmore Castle in Galway.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Slainte!

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a half-minute of snow.

Go away, bad dream...

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Support HASHTAG MAYHEM!

HASHTAG MAYHEM! - 6 short, dark plays by Milwaukee playwright Jeffrey James Ircink, runs March 21-23, 28-30, April 4-6 @ The Alchemist Theatre in Bay View, Wisconsin.

Support us TWO ways: 1) by getting a ticket here, AND/OR by contributing to our Indiegogo fundraising campaign here - including details on the production.

Everyone has a dark side. What's yours?

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Contribute to HASHTAG MAYHEM!

Everyone has a dark side. What's yours? Click here and find out how you can help. SPREAD THE WORD!

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TGIF! presents...Support HASHTAG MAYHEM!

#sordid#wicked@immoral#graphic#nasty#disturbing#filthy#dark.

We need help. If you'd like to align yourself with a creative endeavor (theater), check out this link for all the details. And remember:  EVERYONE HAS A DARK SIDE. WHAT'S YOURS?

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Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey.

Ever since Showtime aired THE TUDORS, I've been fascinated with Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, descended from English kings on both sides of his family and condemned to death by Henry VIII on trumped up charges of treason (by the way, I think Henry VIII was a fat fucking asshole).

Anyway, David O'Hara portrayed Henry Howard in THE TUTORS and he was magnificent. After doing some research, I come to find that Howard, along with Sir Thomas Wyatt, are considered the "Fathers of the English Sonnet".

Indeed! Here's one of Howard's sonnets:

"The Means to attain Happy Life"
by Henry Howard (1516 – 1547)

 

Martial, the things that do attain

The happy life be these, I find:—

The richesse left, not got with pain;

The fruitful ground, the quiet mind;

The equal friend; no grudge, no strife;

No charge of rule, nor governance;

Without disease, the healthful life;

The household of continuance;

The mean diet, no delicate fare;

True wisdom join'd with simpleness;

The night dischargèd of all care,

Where wine the wit may not oppress.

The faithful wife, without debate;

Such sleeps as may beguile the night:

Contented with thine own estate

Ne wish for death, ne fear his might.

 

 

Check out my favorite scene with O'Hara as Henry Howard in THE TUDORS. Henry tried to escape from the Tower of London where he was being held on suspician of treason. Begin viewing at the 4:07 mark through the end. These two scenes....they are passionate and if I could be any tragic historical figure it would be Henry Howard.

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TGIF! presents....our HASHTAG MAYHEM Indiegogo campaign!

Cool, huh? For more information and to contribute, click here. And share/tweet/email! BECOME A BACKER! We can't do it alone!

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HASHTAG MAYHEM! Indiegogo campaign.

6 short, dark plays by Milwaukee playwright Jeffrey James Ircink. Become a backer. Or share this link. Or both! And watch the promo video - it's cool!

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Indiegogo crowdsourcing campaign for HASHTAG MAYHEM! is LIVE!

I'm producing an evening of my original short plays. Dark, sordid stuff. HASHAG MAYHEM! Our Indiegogo fundraising campaign began this evening. If you're not a particulary creative person but are interested in aliging yourself with a creative endeavor, this is your opportunity. Or maybe you are creative...and you understand what if means to a playwright like myself to get his work produced.

Contribute. Or share this link with other people. Maybe they'd be keen to supporting our production and the only way they'll find out about it is if you tell them.

Click here for all the details and our promotional video. It's a hoot. Everyone has a dark side. What's yours?

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SI Swimsuit 2013 cover. Kate Upton.

Sneak peak. I have nothing else to say.

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TGIF! presents....Favre on the NFL Network: Super Bowl Sunday!

The best of Brett Favre pre-Super Bowl XLVII.

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sneachta. oighear.

Snow. Ice. Wisconsin/Gaelic-style.

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Carl Wilson.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the passing of The Beach Boy's co-founder, Carl Wilson. You'll know Carl by his lead vocals on "God Only Knows", but to us BB fans, he was so much more. Certainly the glue that held the band together for much of its history.

In 1998, Carl recorded an album with Gerry Beckley (America) and Robert Lamm (Chicago) called, Like A Brother, which was released in 2000, two years after Carl's death. You can check the album out here - Beckley Lamm Wilson – Like A Brother. "I Wish for You" is my favorite.

One other Carl solo you might not have heard is "Heaven". Simply gorgeous.

We miss you - and love you, Carl.

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TGIF! presents...Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way"!

Fleetwood Mac is reissuing Rumors (1977), their 11th studio album, and some of their best stuff. This is the band playing, "Go Your Own Way", in 1997 - my favorite Mac song. Here they are in 1977 playing live.

Fleetwood Mac – Rumours

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