Uh-huh...

“She was here on earth to make sense of its wild enchantments.”
- Boris Pasternak, Dr. Zhivago

Caption this picture. In the comment section - go ahead. It has nothing to do with Dr. Zhivago. I just liked that quote.

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#4 is 44!

Happy Birthday, Brett Favre! The NFL - at least for me and my brother - isn't the same without you. Matter of fact - we barely watch anymore.

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A fairy ring in Greendale!

See the ring of mushrooms around the tree? It's a "fairy ring" and it has origins in many parts of the world. Some say to never enter a fairy ring and some say it's good luck. Depends on which fairy you're talking to.

A traditional Scottish rhyme sums up the danger of such places:

He wha tills the fairies' green
Nae luck again shall hae.
And he wha spills the fairies' ring
Betide him want and wae. ...
For weirdless days and weary nights
Are his till his deein' day.
But he wha gaes by the fairy ring,
Nae dule nor pine shall see,
And he wha cleans the fairy ring
An easy death shall dee.

 

 

Check out this link for more information on fairy rings. By the way, these mushrooms are Green-spored Lepiota and account for more mushroom poisoning in North American than any other mushroom. Bon appetite!

 

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Happy Birthday, John!

Lennon. John.

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Bristol Ren Faire Part Deux & Trois!

 

Brother Jason & I visited the Ren Faire in Bristol on two more occasions this past summer. Click on READ MORE! for pics. Here's the link to our first visit in July.

 

Incidentally, at the end of the day, there's a pow-wow where everyone comes together and dances for a half an hour. Check it out.

 

"Merry Meet! Merry Part! And Merry Meet Again!"

 

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Lost...and found.

The prayer book my father was given while serving in the Navy was mailed back to dad by his cousin Paul in Spokane, who had it amongst his things. Dad doesn't remember this, but his signature is on the back. This particular book is dated 1960-61. Dad served on the USS Shangri-La (CV-38), an Essex-class carrier - the 2nd largest in the fleet at that time.

Saint Anthony, perfect imitator of Jesus, who received

from God the special power of restoring lost things,

grant that I may find my find which has been

lost. As least restore to me peace and tranquility

of mind, the loss of which has afflicted

me even more than my material loss. 

 

To this favor I ask another of you: that I may

always remain in possession of the true good

that is God. Let me rather lose all things than

lose God, my supreme good. Let me never

suffer the loss of my greatest treasure,

eternal life with God. Amen.

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make jam. not war.

Can you imagine if countries made jam and had competitions instead of killing each other? Not just jam though - the planting of the shrubs, tending to the bushes, harvesting, freezing. Why do I always have to think of this shit?

Well I did my part today. 32 - 8 ounce jars. That's what 9 quart bags will yield. 12 more jars than last year. Black raspberry...from the gardens here at Glen Mar.

Do you like jam? Probably cheaper in the store. This is special schtuff.

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mom's hops. rick's beer.

 

 

Rick Nowak (below), my Uncle Bob Nowak's brother, has been into craft brewing for....two years now, I think. Won a silver medal at a recent competition for his Twisted Belgium. He's brewed maybe 6 or 7 beers and they're tasty. Especially his American Honey Wheat - the honey being supplied by Brother Jason's bees.

 

Didn't realize until recently that my mother had been growing hops in the front yard on a trellis for years. Rick grows his own hops but he'll never know the difference if we slip mom's in the batch.

 



 

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

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TOP 50 for PASS THE SALT, PLEASE poster art.

 

So this short film poster website (shortfilmposters.com) took a looksee at 2,500 short film posters and selected their favorite 50.

PTSP made the cut. Congratulation to our graphic artist guru, Doug Tomich, for his creativity & efforts. You can check out the 50 posters here. PTSP is on the bottom row - fourth from left.

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#4 debuts with the Minnesota Vikings! 4 years ago today...

Brett Favre had his debut outing with the Minnesota Vikings on this day in 2009. Favre and the Vikings beat the Cleveland Browns, 34-20. Above:  Brett and Percy Harvin after the two connected for a TD. Read about it here.

The NFL - for me - has never been the same. SKOL, Favre!!!

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No. 49, No. 49, No. 49....

 

It's my birthday today - soooooo...eat your heart out, bitches! Fine - here's a nice sentiment. Watch this video - it truly sums up what Jeffrey James Francis Ircink is all about.

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My letter to Miley.

Everyone knows who Miley Cyrus is. And everyone is exploding after her performance on the MTV Video Music Awards the other night. Google it - I'm not gonna post it here. Watch it and you'll understand why the Universe is in an uproar.

I wanted to weigh in with my 2 cents in the form of a letter to Miley. Here it is:

Dear Miley,

I'm an actor/playwright/producer - small-time here in Milwaukee. 48 years old. I spent 12 years in Los Angeles so I'm familiar with "the industry". I'm savvy. And I'm not a prude. The world has seen Elvis, Madonna, Lady Gaga and dozens of other musicians who "shocked" the world in their own way. So your performance on the MTV VMA's is really nothing new - just someone else doing it. I've heard a few of your songs, seen a few clips of your television show, "Hannah Montana", know who your father is, but otherwise I'm not in your target market. However, I was your age once so I "get it". I get marketing and provocation and sex sells and all that shit.

I watched your performance from the VMA's online and I honestly had no issue with what you did  - you know, what everyone's talking about. I've watched the video for "We Can't Stop" so your performance on the VMA's came as no surprise.  Here's what I don't get - how many times do you have to stick your tongue out and simulate sex however many different ways? I'm looking at this now from a producer/director's mindset - theater, you know? When I saw your VMA performance, it was sexy - the song is catchy. But I thought - "overkill" and it drew my attention away from your song, music and your singing. I got bored. I'd seen it all - and I was no longer listening to the words and music.

Again - I'm not in your target market so my opinion holds little weight. I get it - I get "the show". It's a live performance. I know. Cut out half of the tongue wagging and simulated sexual moves and you've lost nothing.

Keep rockin'...

Jeffrey James Ircink

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SEPARATED AT BIRTH? John C. Reilly & ex-MLB'er Bill Moose Skowron.

If you disagree, you're blind.

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Ircink Clan Canoe Outing - August 2013.

The Ircink cousins and Uncle Bob Nowak jumped in canoes the first weekend in August and made the trek from Lone Rock to Boscobel, WI. 29 miles down the Wisconsin River, the hardest working river in the world (most number of dams). We camped on the sand dunes and enjoyed God's gift to us. It was a good time.

 

Left to right:  Me, Brother Jason, Cousins Paul Nowak, Rob Nowark, Tom Waite and Joe Nowak. Foreground - Uncle Bob Nowak (Aunt Ev Ircink's husband).

 

Click on READ MORE! to follow our trip.

 

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Anisoptera.

What? 5000+ species and you want me to name it? I'm just grateful that he/she sat nicely on my Russian Sage so I could snap this pic. Brother Jas spotted it after we hit Greendale's Village Days' rummage sale.

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Haiku #813

Back to your tree, ye!
Impetuous! Homeric!
‘Tis midsummer, see?

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Happy Days, Mom!

Mom's birthday today. How old, you ask? None of your damn business, says my mother! Happy Days, mom - we love you! Jeff & Jason & Dad.

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Off...the...grid!

Inaugural Ircink cousin canoe trip! Cousin Tom Waite, Jeff & Jason Ircink, Rob & Paul & Joe Nowak and Uncle Bob Nowak (Cousins Greg Govin, James Ircink & Mike Nowak were unable to attend) are headed into the bush! 3 days. Lone Rock, WI to Boscobel, WI. 29 miles on the Wisconsin River. Tent camping on the dunes! And no girl cousins allowed (but we STILL love you)!

Wondering if Jas & I SHOULD bring our bows. Just in case, mind you.....WHOO!

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American Apparel. Part Nuef.

Not that I mind, you understand. But curious, ladies...just how comfortable is this? Really.

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Early Girl!

July 29. First tomato of the season. Got my plants in the ground late this year. That's cool. Raspberries are done (9 quart bags) so I've got 14 tomato plants to tend to (2 Better Boy, 3 Early Girl and 9 Cherry).

I let her finish ripening in the window. It's where I put all my Girls...

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Gardenia.

Finally...a bloom. No - two blooms. And many more on the way. Can you smell them? I can.

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