A New Record

It's Saturday, sitting in my warm living room, reflecting on the great outpouring of financial and emotional support for Ocean Of Love. The final tally will be around $117,000 which was way more than the goal. There are dozens of people behind the scenes and thousands of people who donated that led to that final number. It was one huge team rowing together towards the goal. It may not sound like fun living on the billboard, but our professional, dedicated crew made it as smooth as possible. Thank you all. And more importantly, remember Ocean of Love at other times during the year should you get a few extra bucks in your pocket.
Till Next Year,
Dr. Phil

I'm Not Coming Down

We just blew by the goal--up to 107,000 thanks to the generous donations we've gotten the past week. But i'm dry in my tent on an inflatable mattress, the fire dept not here yet, and the families of ocean of love arent here so I want to keep it going...lets see how far we can take it...I want to set a record

2 more hours

up to 102G....at least i'm dry it hast stopped raining. but its cramped....i cant fully sit up so i'm lying on my stomach writing this....waiting for a dry spell to get fresh air

unbelievable

moneys coming in faster than the rain is coming down....almost 100 large....i think we're gonna make it....

Rain Reigns over me

I'm here dry in the tent but it is monsooning....get the money in so i can come down

Ocean County = Rodney Dangerfield

Ocean County gets no respect. Hear me out on this: for decades various companies (and you know who you are) treated this county like a toxic waste dump. In fact, it WAS a toxic waste dump. Lord knows over the years what toxins leached into the soil and the water from those drums. Toxic soil from other parts of the state was dumped here. Did anybody care back then? Fast forward 50 years and you have cancer clusters. Abnormally high occurrences of childhood cancer happening in our backyard. Could it be they're related? Seems logical to me.
So what can you do about it? Blame the government and the companies and the crooked politicians. Clearly no one was sticking up for the children of Ocean County then. But that doesnt help a damn thing now. Who's going to stick up for the kids now? The only group of people I know of that let their actions do the talking is Ocean of Love. Stick up for the kids of Ocean County--the healthy ones, the ones who have cancer, and the ones who may get it in the future--by calling 877 HAWK 1057 and donating what you can. They're depending on us.

Clean Air

OK--only 30 minutes and the truck left. Back to the more important issues now, getting to 105,700 by 5p. It's drizzling as I type...with more rain expected to come.

Spoke Too Soon

They started the truck 10 minutes ago, very loud and the exhaust is hitting me again. We'll see how long they leave it idling.

Al Gore Would be Proud

Mr Global Warming should take a trip down to the restaurant and party supply store to my right. Afer 3 straight days of constantly idling the same truck for hours on end, they're actually loading the truck with the engine off. What a concept. They've been loading it for about 45 minutes so they saved gas, and some of the ozone layer or the icebergs or whatever.

Today's the Day

We need about 27 grand today to hit the goal. If you have heard the last week and still havent given any money, thats your prerogative. But at least come down to the billboard this afternoon at 5, meet the Ocean of Love families when they take me off the board, and YOU tell the kids why we didnt make the goal. Deal?

Let Me Stand Next To Your Fire

The firemen from Laurelton FD stopped by lights blazing and sirens wailing...these are the guys taking me down from the billboard tomrrow at 5 AND they donated $500 to boot. Awesome...

Listener Photoshop

Had a listener photoshop me in another billboard in a leisurely setting....thanks to david russell from right here in brick....feel free to make your own and I'll post them

Night Action

I dont know if you can tell but tons of people are showing up tonight, maybe realizing the sense of urgency we're feeling. We need about 37large in less than 24 hours and thats daunting. It feels like a party down there, while I'm up here watching the festivities. I feel like the parent overseeing my son's 16th birthday party in my backyard. Made of concrete. With parking spaces.

Off the Subject

I'm very disappointed in my team today.

Hold Me Closer Tony Danza

The "pay for plays" coming in fast now, where you pay us to play songs, all proceeds going to Ocean of Love. Race, Steve, Pimps, Christina and I just sang a rousing rendition of "hold me closer tony danza" to the tune of Tiny Dancer. Someone paid for it and we ruined it! So request a song, pay for it, and maybe we'll butcher that one too.

Far Out Man

Here's some pics of Matt's car, the chinese food delivery guy in ForkedRiver who donated half his tip$ to Ocean of Love. If you get food delivered by this guy, he deserves an extra tip.

Lightning + Metal = Fried DJ

We're keeping a close eye on the storms that are supposed to move thru tomorrow afternoon...Ive been told I will most likely come down at 5p to avoid getting caught in the storm. That creates even more pressure to get to 105,700...we got to get it going this afternoon....

Edgar Allen Poe would be proud

There seems to be only one living thing higher than me right now (high as in feet above the ground, not the other way): a crow that has been honking or crowing or whatever they do for about 45 minutes, perched on the power line on Rt 88.

He/She seems to be talking to another crow, across Rt 88, on top of another pole. What are they talking about? Getting other crow friends together to donate to the billboard radiothon? Where they can find worms for lunch? Planning a divebomb attack on our inflatable hawk?

Blazing Saddles

I am getting burnt up here, a nice problem to have. The sun is blazing even making the laptop keyboard hot. Hard to believe this is the middle of october. Must be the global warming caused by the truck that idles for 2 hours right next to me every morning....

Food and Money

Gotta love it when businesses donate food and money....2 of my favorite things. Driftwood Deli and Sub Shop in Toms River brings by sandwiches AND $100 bucks. We could feed a small army with all the food we get here. I have plenty of nutter butters to keep my happy....surprised we're not getting more bids on the springsteen tickets...2 pit passes are a once in a lifetime experience....call 877 HAWK 1057 to top the bid of 1000 right now

power to the people restored

Just got power back....the billboard company sent a very nice tech to reset the breaker. As soon as he did that, the inflatable hawk came to life. Gina Crash was trying to move one of the tethers which was blocking the inflation of the hawk, and I could see this coming 10 seconds before she did: she was on top of the inflating bird as it was filling with air on the side she was about to take a step into. The bird swallowed Gina and she landed right on her ass...the funniest thing Ive seen in a long time. Wish I had a movie camera....thats why we call her Crash!

power to the people

Power went out up here on the billboard so this could be my last post for awhile. Laptops running on empty. Inflatable Hawk lying flat on the concrete. A sad sight--it looks like he got run over by a huge steamroller....Waiting for billboard company to send guy out to check circuit breaker. Looks like a hot hazy day judging by the way the sun is coming up. Good weather for dropping off money, no excuses. THe Springsteen pit pass auction is going to be huge today....already up to 1000 at 830. seeing bruce from that close is something you'll never forget, and we could use the cash for ocean of love. call 877 HAWK 1057 to bid.

You cant see it in the pic, but you can with the naked eye. There's a star at about 2 oclock if youre facing east....is it a planet? We've been discussing that here for some time. Venus? Mars? or as Zane would say, "is the moon a planet or is the moon the moon?" ANybody know what the heck it could be? Leave a comment and help us astronomy challenged out.

too early for me

I have a new respect for those of you who get up at 4 and 5 in the morning to go to work. This is way too early for me. goodthing my earlplugs worked again. couldnt hear a thing overnight with allthe honking. Here's Rt 88.

In case you missed today's article in the press (local section) about the radiothon:

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007710170408

Great article, as printed in the paper, but no pic of my pretty mug on the internet

hot chocolate and hot coffee

As you can tell from the pic, the lights we have are powerful. So powerful that when I'm on the laptop, I can see only a shadowy figure moving toward the billboard. Twice tonight, I was brought hot beverages by people who appeared out of nowhere: Micheala brought me hot chocolate and Elise brought me hot coffee. Getting chilly so I appreciate holding the hot cups...thanks guys...getting close to hitting the sack....that inflatable mattress looks real good right now...

mmmmmm peanut butter

I forgot to mention the nice listener who brought me my favorite food--the wonderful protein invented by George Washington Carver, peanut butter. That person brought me Reeses Cups, Reeses Cereal, Reeses Ice Cream, Ritz Crackers and a jar of Jif, and perhaps the best cookie of all time, Nutter Butter. Nutter Butters are so good that I used to give blood just to get the Nutter Butter. For a while, the Red Cross dropped the Nutter Butters and boy was I ticked. They brought them back but now I dont need to give blood I just reach down and scarf a couple. Even though its getting late, people still coming by and dropping the cash. We're heading into tomorrow in the mid 50 thousands so we gotta keep the pedal to the metal.

promises kept part 2

Got an email last week from Mark who works for UPS. He wrote that he would collect money from his co-workers and challenge on the air, Fedex, DHL, PostOffice guys to raise as much money as he did. Little did I know he would go above and beyond, yet another listener who kept his promise to Ocean of Love, he brought over 2G's to the billboard tonight--thanks Mark!
BTW another beautiful night in Brick here at the billboard after a delicious steak dinner from Crystal Point....see I told you food is the least of my worries!

800p weds

Andy Chase made the long walk up the ladder of love to the billboard to let me know he was ready to take over hosting the festivities.

We're over 50 grand now but still need a lot before I'm totally convinced we'll collect the 105,700. Once people hear the story of what Ocean of Love does, I know they'll open the checkbook.

We're getting tons of pay for play requests today....a charitable form of payola where listeners pay us to play their songs. Means less work for us picking out the songs....Mark from Manchester just donated $150 for 3 allman brothers songs, and he picked each of them out for a reason. We'll play it on todays southern fix at 6. I'll play anything you want...just show me the money!

promises kept

John the Mailman dropped by, another Hawk listener who promised me at Wingstock that he would make a donation here at the billboard. I dont care how big or small it is, didnt even ask him. I just care that he did it. There are a lot of listeners who promised a donation and most of them have made good on it...but there are a few who have not and you know who you are....Dont make me have to come out there!

157pm weds

Good to get company....Bernice and Tammy stopped by just as the wind is picking up. It's disconcerting to feel the structure shake but after the noreaster 2 years ago this is nothing. 2 big donations just came in 2G and 10G's! or TEN LARGE as we like to say. Must be my lucky hat (see below) Regardless of your donation amount, just bring it. we need all the cash we can get

1108 weds

Once again, a big topic of conversation is "what do I do when I have to go to the bathroom". The kids asked me this morning and I've gotten it twice today....I have to laugh because even though I'd like to think I'm survivorman out here being tough, they have given me the luxury of a bathroom in an RV. I climb down the ladder and at least have my little slice of heaven for a few minutes. Also its amazing what a good night sleep will do for you. Yesterady at this time I hit the wall after being up for 10 hours; today I'm good to go. Last night I used ear plugs (duh) to drown out the honking. Kevey Sheets who guards the command post overnight, told me he couldnt believe how loud the honking was last night. People leaning on the horns for the length of 88 from the parking lot down to the light. I didnt hear a thing....but I bet the people who live around here are sick of it. Here's a pic of my good luck hat from "The Office"....we need 75,000 to get here in 2 days.....lets get it going....

So we throw down the gauntlet to the builders /contractors / lawn services on LBI and the mainland and a bunch of guys accept the challenge and throw down the cash....keep it going....we need 105700 by friday. sun disappeared now, and I can feel the bite in the wind. amazing i've never spent this much time worrying about the sun....but 2 days on a billboard will do that....

The good people at the Silverton Diner collected over 200 bucks in just 2 days for Ocean of Love....thanks to Sissy and Michelle for bringing it over and baking delicious desserts for us. When you eat there, just drop the change into the jar. Keep the money coming. Someone mentioned to me I'm getting a sunburn, I havent noticed that. I'll have to take a pic of myself and look at it....hmmmm....cant tell. but the sun is powerful up here. ALso thanks to loyal listener Louie Large for bringing by a delicious pork roll sandwich from slaters in leonardo.

kids helping kids

The 4th and 5th grade kids from Pine Beach Elementary came by just like last year. Miss Damico and Miss Dabrese held a movie night fundraiser that raised over 300 bucks. Cant get much better than kids helping kids. We need to get a lot of money today....halfway done with the hours spent here but not halfway to money goal of 105,700. C'mon people!

Gasoline Smells and the Red Sox

For the last half hour, 2 trucks have been spewing exhaust right next to the billboard. The wind is taking it right up where I'm sitting. The heater to my left is blowing it back in my face. Now I love the smell of napalm in the morning just as much as the next guy but this is ridiculous. Also on behalf of yankee fans everywhere, here's a pic of Pedrioa of the Sox slapping the ball out of the Indians glove from last nights game. So I guess they can stop complaining about A-Rod's similar move a few years ago. Hope the Sox go down in flames 12-0. Then I'll root for the Rockies in the Series. They got the Karma.

The Old Piney

Larry the Old Piney is here, if you listen to my afternoon show, you know Larry is somewhat intelligible, always entertaining, and loves life. He came down to challenge the builders on LBI to donate to Ocean of Love. He took a vacation day to visit me and help out. Seems like he's camped out at the command center so stop by and say hi. Drop a dollar in the bucket everytime he says "On to you!" or says something you dont understand, and we'll raise a million bucks today!

sunrise in brick

An ocean of love supporter just dropped by two tickets to the Rutgers game tomorrow vs USF....unbelievably ranked #2 in the country. Nobody knew when the schedule was released USF would be playing for a bowl berth....stay tuned today for details on how you can get these suddenly hot tickets. We're still trying to figure it out. Maybe the first big donation....if you're a Rutgers fan stay tuned. BTW here's the sunrise in Brick

Bugs invade Brick

Here are 2 pics of the biggest moth I've seen since Mothra. While on the way to the RV for a bathroom break, I saw this on the parking lot. It's dead but intact. Tough to gauge how big this bug was but it looks like a jet fighter. Notice the red dots on its body. Also the perfectly formed wings. Had to be 3-4 inches long. Will it survive the day in one piece -- or will it disappear into a truck tire? Film at 11!

weds morning

A beautiful sunrise. My view every morning from the billboard.

1006p

hitting the wall again. getting cold up here. foot warmers in, ski cap on, and 4 layers. strange, because its not really that cold on the ground. but you really feel it 30 feet up. The night gang is gathering here, "under the big top", including good old Race Thomas who used to do the midday show on the Hawk before Gina Crash. He left to get into the record business, but he's still a gavone.

to pass the time....

The crew on the ground, and I each have our own little ways of passing the time. Chris down at the command center has taken to desecrating the "DJ photos" we pass out to listeners. Check out the photo to the left: me as Samuel L Jackson. The disrespect is evident and applauded. When you visit the billboard, check out the Desecration Hall of Fame, with about 30 similarly butchered photos of Gina and me.

I pass the time in a way more respectful manner: throwing stuff off the billboard. Trash, water bottles, paper, just to see how far they fly. Then Chris on the ground has to pick it up....BWAAAHAHAHA!

Great auction items coming up: Wednesday, a signed Martin Brodeur stick. bidding starts at 6a, at $100. Thursday: 2 PIT PASSES to a future, as-yet-to-be-determined Springsteen show in 2008 in the NY/NJ/Philly area. These PIT PASSES get you RIGHT UP FRONT against the stage. For a rock fan, there is no greater experience. Plus you'll be invited to a pre-show party hosted by Little Steven himself. These tickets are courtesy of Steven and his show the Underground Garage Sunday nights at 9 on 105-7 The Hawk. Bidding begins on both items at 6a on their respective days; you must call 877 HAWK 1057 or visit the billboard to make your bid. You'll hear these announced on the air all the time...get your checkbooks ready!

BTW here are some pictures I wasnt supposed to take from the Pit at Springsteen 10/9 at the Meadowlands. (The pic with the lights on was during Born to Run)

tues 538p

Just put some warmers in my shoes...they really come in handy. Generous listeners are bringing by money AND hand / foot warmers....a great invention. This is the view from the hawks nest now:

401pm

money's picking up .was just interviewed by chelsea of the asbury park park press. i'll get the link as soon as i see it. the money turns this frown upside down:

tues 356pm

In addition to the human visitors up here on the billboard, there's this one pesky fly that knows I dont have a fly swatter:

Love to see the listeners come thru. Matt called me last week and promised half his tips this week delivering chinese food in forked river. He just stopped by and made good on his promise dropping 25 bucks in the bucket. And I finally got the photos to work, here's one of Gina on the ladder I took.

tuesday 145

I had to take a nap. I hit the wall at 10a after being up since 130am. I woke up and i spied a 6 foot sub from Conca Doro in Lanoka Harbor at the command center on the ground. disguising my visit as a bathroom break I scarfed 2 pieces. Then snuck into the line for a massage from lisa from the jackson's women's massage center. I needed that. We're up to 12 grand now but it seems like donations are slowing down. And the problem is the cancer doesnt.

tuesday 1040a

oh man does this sun feel nice. Tons of clouds this morning, but they burned off and I'm getting a nice tan today. A shower feels great too. Thanks to Phil at Surf RV, he helped us avoid a disaster by schooling us on how to fill up the water tank in the RV. So another FAQ answered: do I get to shower during the week. Yes! And everyone I hug during the week is better for it.

Tuesday Blogs

Blog Tuesday 545
Did not get a good nights sleep last night. Theres a light from the billboard next door that shines right into the tent. And so many people want to show their support they’re honking at all hours. Not to mention rt 88 is busy at 3 in the morning, tons of trucks go by. I guess trying to get some rest by a state highway not a good idea.
Great to have listeners come by first thing in the morning…beth dropped off some cash after hearing us say “if you beep don’t be cheap”…..plenty of people honking but not enough stopping to give.

630

Seeing the sun come up is always cool. But too many clouds, they better clear out or it’ll be colder than it should be. There’s this refrigerator truck parked in front of the restaurant supply place and its compressor is very loud.

738
The truck compressor finally stopped after one straight hour of being on. Seagulls are swarming around me..looking for my leftovers. now they've camped out on the light poles around the parking lot. Is that a good luck sign or something?

826a
Just was interviewed by Lou and Liz on 94.3 the Point. Lou is jealous of my height, stature and testosterone levels so he always tries to mention his radio station on 1057TheHawk when he advertises his charity fundraising. And of course I need to top that when I'm on the Point. So the next time he's on with me from the billboard, count how many times he slips in "the point". Liz is trying to get me to fill in for Lou on the Point when he goes on vacation because she would rather spend time with me than him. And I just noticed the point is mentioned 5 times in this paragraph....damn that Lou!

monday blogs

Monday 830

Now the reality is setting in as the suns been down, and it gets chillier. Got some hand warmers, and a heater next to me on the billboard. Theres a wind up here, even though they tell me there isn’t one on the ground. Everything up here is magnified. Sinetunes I feel the billboard structure shake due to the wind. Good thing I’ve felt it much worse. Good thing its not raining. We set a goal of 12 grand for tonight which would be a great start. Andy mentions the temperature keeps dropping. Fabulous

Monday 923p

Love the cars going by beeping and honking but please just pull in and throw a buck at us or something. Down at the command post, chris is desecrating my DJ picture cards. Drawing funny outfits on me with a sharpie. I am Samuel L Jackson, Batman, a bumble bee, and other off the wall characters. Bring us 10 bucks and you can own one of these mini masterpieces.

Monday 942
Tough to see from up here, not because its dark but the lights are shining in my eyes. I see outlines and shadows pointing to me and I wave. Don’t take it personal if I don’t recognize you. Either the lights / sun are in my eyes or Alzheimer’s is setting in.

733 monday night

I went to last Tuesdays Springsteen concert at the meadowlands with some lucky hawk winners. A topic of conversation was me living on the billboard for ocean of love. (the Springsteen concert was great BTW…here’s a review: http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/entertainment-1/1192079215309770.xml&coll=1)
I get a lot of questions about it…why do I do it, how do I live up there, so here are a few FAQ’s about the Billboard Radiothon:

Why I do it
To help kids with cancer and their families in Ocean County. Ocean of Love provides financial and emotional support for those families. When you talk to them, you realize just what kind of a lifesaver Ocean of Love is.
How do I get up there?
Today at 510p they lifted me up with a crane operated by “official crane operator Pasquale” who did not bang me into the side of the billboard. I had to climb into this huge metal bucket that could withstand a hurricane.
How exactly do I “get around up there”
There is a scaffold/grate about 4 feet wide up there. Most billboards have this, so the guys who change the billboard signs have room to walk up there There’s a chair, cooler and tent zip-tied to the grating. During the nor’easter that came thru 3 years ago nothing moved. Those zip-ties are important!
How do I “take care of nature’s calls”
Down below there’s an RV that the crew uses to chill out. I climb down the ladder and there it is
What do I do up while I’m up there?
I can still work on Hawk matters as I do every day at the office. I plan on clearing out my email mailbox, and being on the air from here. Also I plan on reading a few good books, watching some good DVD's and blogging....keep checking for updates
What about food?
Food is the least of my worries....plenty of generous restaurants and listeners keep me plenty full. Tonight the Gile family dropped off some chicken soup for me in a thermos. Thanks to Allan, Cheri, Donny and Jarod for thinking of me.
HOw do I keep warm?
Layers! and those hand / foot warmer things

It's Not Fair

It’s not fair. Over the past year I’ve talked to way too many parents who have lost a child to cancer here in Ocean County. I don’t think its fair that innocent children have to get cancer, while Osama Bin Laden and his type are still walking this earth. I just don’t get it. And if you’ve heard the stories on the air during last year’s Billboard Radiothon on the Hawk, where you hear parents longing to hold their child just one more time, then I know you don’t get it either.

That’s why, starting Monday, I’ll be camping out on the 105-7 The Hawk billboard in Brick, just east of where Van Zile hits Route 88, in the parking lot of J's Garden Spot. Ocean of Love needs money to help kids with cancer in Ocean County and their families. They help devastated families make sense of it all. They give them financial help when they have no strength to deal with household bills. Click here to give what you can. Or, do this:

· Stop by the billboard
· Call Ocean Of Love at (732)270-3500
· Stop by Ocean Of Love's office at 1709 Hwy 37E in Toms River
or Call the Hawk Nest @ 1(877) HAWK-1057

I need $105,700 to get down by next Friday. Giving your money won’t cure cancer in Ocean County….but it’ll make life a little more fair for the children who have it. As the Hawk Flight Crew at the Billboard says, "If you beep don't be cheap...if you blow drop some dough...if you scream add some green."