Early Voting Bonus - How About a Forrest Claypool Dunk-Tank?

I usually vote on the stated Election Day, primary elections are a huge pain in the ass with all of the same names sneaking into GOP and DNC conventions.  I usually need to bone up on candidates and issues.

This primary is easy.  I am drawing Democratic ballot and will vote for two people.  The rest I will have some fun with - this primary is an insult to every voter in America; I shall return the compliment.

I usually vote on election day, but I could be induced to try early voting, if the City Election Commissioner would offer free back-to- school CPS left-overs, Wilco's Jeff Tweddy and Gang playing on a flat bed truck in the parking lot, or. better yet. a dunk tank featuring CPS/CTA/Cook County/ Chicago Parks/City Hall multi-pension jackpot career grifter, lightweight, dim-bulb and chinless wonder Forrest Claypool squeezed into a Chicago Logo speedo over big-ass barrel of chilled Lake Michigan Straight.

After chopping teachers and staff at CPS, this smarmy soulless Klepto-bureaucrat and WTTW regular could use a Polar Plunge*.

The temperature of his pasty pelt could then match that of the blood coursing through Temple Claypool.

Someone, maybe Commisioner Bill Kresse, or a Bill Kresse Imitator, wearing a huge Flava Flav style clock on a gold chain could collect each I Voted chit and shout enthusiastically as the alarm clock clangs, 'WHATBOYIE???? What????  WHAT TIME IS IT? Dunk Time!"

Each citizen emerging from a designated early voting polling place rewarded with an I VOTED sticker, or palm card could march up to the dunk tank and collect three yellow plastic coated 12" softball for a shot at the metal target/release trigger and plunk Claypool into the icy brine.

Kids and Veterans t'row free all day!

CPS teachers showing proper identification get two additional balls - a metaphor for the apparatii missing from most elected officials and every insider-career grifter.

March can be chilly.

But nothing is so cold as the endless placement and pension looting by Progressive Shakman Sanctioned creeps in government.

* Chicago's real hero James Sheahan raises millions fro special needs youngsters.

If God Were a Soft-hearted Slob . . .Oh, That's Right He Is. . .Seventh Promise of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

                                         

                                        “Tepid souls shall become fervent.” 

I go to Sacred Heart Church at 116th & Church Street in Washington Heights just east of Morgan Park in Chicago.  The Mass is traditional and unself-absorbed and sung in English.  The Saying of the Memorare after the Nicene Creed was and is a huge selling point in my attendence at Sacred Heart - that and the people who attend.

It is a kid friendly place of worship free the more pious scolds who skunk-eye and 'hush and shush' families with little kids (infants -toddlers) who interrupt the sanctity of the liturgy, while celebrating the sanctity of Life. Little guys screw around and Mass can be brutal. Among the faithful in the pews there is nothing but simple dignity and smiling tolerance for the little guys.

Sacred Heart parishioners are salt of the earth blue-collar working women and men. A State of Grace after Mass includes a dose of pride knowing that you have been numbered among these people. No hand tossing Hosanna-types of the Church of Happy Horse-#$%^.   People who know hard work, hard times and hard prayer have a dignified

Sacred Heart worship is Divine -thanks to the likes of Father Gallagher, Father Vanecko and etc. Gallagher and Vanecko are brilliant and succinct homilists.  They do not need to hear the sound of their voices.  Mass is never like attending a Wagner Festival.  Thanks be to God.  The church building is understated beauty.

The French immigrants who paid for and built Sacred Heart at the turn of 19th Century did a great job on the stained glass windows that feature St. Margaret Mary Alacoque's 12 Promises of the Sacred Heart of Christ. My favorite is Olde # 7  “Tepid souls shall become fervent.”

I am about as lukewarm/tepid/less than hot a soul ,as God ever cranked out. Mind you; nothing wrong with the parts and labor going into the making, but really poor maintenance by the owner.

If God were more of shiftless, lazy, excuse-laden slob, He'd allow me to be and act more like Joe Epstein, Skinny Sheahan, or Dan McGrath.  They are a Trinity of nice guys who toil at it.  God does too.  I do not.

I like to think that with a little more prayer and great deal more effort the Sacred Heart will deliver. Fervent beats tepid hollow.

2012 South Side Irish Parade Destroys the Narrative of 2009

The Chicago Tribune can not give credit to this community without a return to the narrative that pulled the plug on this tradition:


Here is the Headline and banner South Side Irish Parade returns to its family-friendly roots
Community's St. Patrick's Day event was called off in '09 after violence and drunkenness 350,000 people and 545 arrests?

Violence and drunkenness? There were fights and there were drunks aplenty, but to characterize an event that became a political panderer showcase and a fern-bar bus trip from all over the Midwest is ridiculous.

That said, this year's parade was sensational. There were strollers filled with babies, as opposed to coolers on wheels.

The buses were consigned to a resitricted area. People went to the parade.

I got home from mass at about 12 Noon and the parade was in full form. I parked in my drive way without problem. I surveyed the property of Casa Hickey. No problema. In years past, bus loads of mopes half stiff already would be dumped off on the CSX rail line infron of my house from 6:30 AM - 10 AM. The buses came from Scahumber, River North fern bars, and every abbreviated set of letters before some Mick Name ( D.J. McMopes, T.R. Weinie Wines, Q. T. Mc Toss-Lunch & etc) establishment with a liquor license. They would hail the neighbors with "Lighten up, Dude! Get your Chi-Rish On!"

This year none of that and more so there was a complete abscense of post-boozing detritus. One mope was busted for public pee-ing.

There was not one empty bottle, can or shattered plastic picture. No discarded Solo Cups and no pathetically inebriated hipsters trying to hail a cab in a neighborhood where people take the bus.

James "Skinny" Sheahan affetcted this change and shattered the snotty narrative crafted by a media that had a huge role in making the South Side Irish Parade a feast of all slobs.

Well done South Side Irish Parade Committee and well done neighbors.

Jim "Skinny" Sheahan Leads on Parade

James "Skinny" Sheahan is a leader. Skinny took the lead to offer Paul Vallas to voters of Illinois over the 'smart' choice of Democrat deal wizards who backed the toxic Rod Blagojevich. The wizards got their way after a very close primary battle and Illinois is still paying for that wizardry.

The South Side St. Patrick's Day Parade was cancelled over concerns for the safety and properieties damaged by train-loads, car-loads and bus-loads of revellers from all over Illinois who viewed the neighborhood celebration as Mardi Gra Lite. The very same Chicago media that invited one and all to get their CHIRISH ( Miller Brewing) on by showing up hours before the parade kick-off fully Kreuzaned ( Old Style) and Bud-lit-up, only to toss their celebrations onto the pavement while weeping to neighborhood residents, " War Cuh. . .Eye gud a Cab . . . Toxey, Duuuude?"

Well, old son, I never have much problem hailing one at Clark & Division, Take the CTA # 49.

"Whar?"

The stop right behind you. God speed, Wayfarer!

The same media that swelled interest in the parade as a political platform (Clinton, Gore, Jerry Brown, Pat Buchanan, Barack Obama, and our home grown beauties jigged mightily down Western to Kennedy Park)and day -long guzzle for mopes, ridiculed the parade and most of all the very good people the event was meant to celebrate.

Perhaps the old committee pulled the trigger too quickly; maybe there were things that could have been done. The Face Book attempt to get the CHIRISH ON was as successful as an Italian cruise and travelled about as far.

Two years agon Skinny spoke with Chicago Sun Times reporter Mark Konkol and predicted this -

More from Skinny Sheahan via the great Mark Konkol


"I'm sure the parade will be back because we need a parade. Beverly's still Irish, but [without the parade] it's very boring," Sheahan said. "Listen, I was in charge of every parade in Chicago for 10 years. I've seen more parades than anybody in the world except for Mayor Daley, OK. This was a great, great parade. Two percent of people at the parade were goofballs, that's a fact. But the parade will be back. They'll have a heart attack when they read that, but I don't care."

For the husky side of two years, Skinny Sheahan and number of neighbors have worked bring this event back to its purpose and common sense.

Organizers Want South Side Irish Parade To Return To Its Roots: MyFoxCHICAGO.com

Skinny Sheahan leads. Democratic wizards give people Blago. Skinny leads.

Fun Before the Run - Give to Special Olympics

People give. They give of their time, talents and treasure. My talents are about as limited as my treasure, but I have all the time in the world.

That is why when Skinny Sheahan sent out a call for help at the Fun Before the Run fund-raiser on October 6th at 115 Bourbon Street ( 6PM), I gave the running giver a call and offered my time.

Goo-goos, Chicagoese for professional do-gooders, the people who try to legislate life by bullying City Hall, the County and Springfield for tax money, never seem to have time, or treasure for good works. Their talents go flat-out making policy statements and pi$$ing in the ears of the news media.

Helping people is active participation in your parish, your schools, your neighborhood and with your kids. Calling Carol Marin with an idea about child-rearing policy will not keep your Young Che away from a twelve pack of Tall Boys and a bag of weed before school. You must actually, in some way, be a part of their lives.

My poor kids. I and my family and neighbors wear them like old tighty whities on a fat man.

James "Skinny' Sheahan stays svelte, because he is always giving to good works. Get Skinny. Get busy.

Here's what Skinny says,

Dear Chicagoans,

Since my retirement last year I have been volunteering my time with Special Olympics Chicago. This organization raises funds for the nearly 5,000 athletes that participate in programs throughout the city. On October 9 I will be running my 40th and last marathon to raise funds for this incredible organization.


Special Olympics was founded in our great city with the first games taking place at Soldier Field in July, 1968. 1,000 athletes participated at the first games and today more than 3,000,000 athletes participate in competitions around the globe. Special Olympics is truly one of Chicago's proudest achievements.



On Thursday, October 6, I will be hosting a Fun Before the Run Event at 115 Bourbon St Thursday from 6:30-9:30pm. 115 Bourbon St is located at 3359 W 115th St in Merrionette Park, IL. I would love it if you could join us. All the proceeds go to Special Olympics Chicago. Your $30.00 tax deductible donation includes food and beverage.

If you cannot make the event, I would really appreciate it if you would make a donation in my name towards Special Olympics Chicago. You can do that by clicking here ( on Hickey's post title). Donating through this website is simple, fast and secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.



I would like to thank you in advance for anything you can contribute. If you know of anyone that might be interested in participating, I appreciate you forwarding them this email.


Hope to see you there, !

Sincerely,



Jim "Skinny" Sheahan

Thirty One members of the Leo High School Class of 1954 joined Bill Hession for lunch at Ken's restaurant on Western Ave. to brainstorm about helping the young men at Leo High School.

Six girls from Mother McAuley heard about the Special Olympics party hosted by Skinny one week from tonight ( October 6th at 6PM) and want to help.

You have been told about good work. Get Skinny and get over to

115 Bourbon Street
3359 West 115th Street
Merrionette Park, IL

OR CLICK MY POST TITLE AND COUGH UP SOME TREASURE!