©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Today was Jamie’s 22nd birthday. We started early with some cake and presents at Casey & Andrew’s house last night and continued it into today with dinner, cake again, and the movies.

We went out to eat to the new TGI Friday’s that opened up about a month or so ago in town with my parents and sister. I love TGI Friday’s because they use Jack Daniel’s BBQ sauce. Anyway, we all had a nice meal and with barely any time to digest we headed off to Jamie’s parents house for cake and more presents with Casey & Andrew there. After all that hoopla, we met up with Justin and Matthew to watch the movie The Wolfman.

If you are curious who decorated the cake, that was all Marie :)

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Since Jamie had to work all this weekend we didn’t get to go out to eat this year, what a bummer. I guess its ok since next week it’s her birthday and we are going out to celebrate.

I did however break the rules yet again and gave Jamie some hoop earrings. She always gets those cheap ones and they look like crap after weathering, so now she has some real ones from Tiffany (boy she’s lucky my dad works there I’ll tell ya!). Of course I threw in the necessary chocolate covered cherries she loves, I even got the right brand this year!

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Last Friday I had one installed for her and I let her have the remote to use since it was about 15 degrees outside. I did want to keep the remotes from her but just couldn’t do it since it was so cold.

I went to Solar Shades on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie. I chose them because they have been there for awhile and haven’t gone out of business like most places around here. That gave me some confidence that they must be good or they wouldn’t keep getting business to stay open. I also did a Google search for “remote car starter poughkeepsie” and boom they came up first, so it was a sign from Google that I should go with my gut and use them.

They did a great job on the install, very clean and neat. No wires showing or any paneling damaged during install. The starter works just as its supposed to with no glitches or issues. I do recommend them, I am very impressed with the quality of the job.

I had an Autopage CS-RS-603 remote starter installed. Well actually I just asked for a basic remote starter and that’s what they installed. Didn’t need any fancy remote lowering the windows or other “toys”. The system can remote start/stop the car, leave it running while you go in the store with the key, lock/unlock, and start from about 1,000 feet away.

I’ve had a remote starter in my car for a few years now, but it only worked for the first year. I think I kicked some wiring loose and it hasn’t worked for about two years now. I’m going back to Solar Shades after the holiday to get it fixed.

Solar Shades also offers window tinting (hence the name), detailing, vinyl graphics, and vehicle accessories.

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

...what an evil looking turkey...

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

I am 24 years old now, getting pretty old I guess. I asked for a simple birthday, just a nice family dinner, wanted everyone to save their money really. There isn’t any need for a big hoopla in between 21 and 30 anyway. To celebrate, I asked to go to O’sho Japanese Steakhouse on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie. We all haven’t been there in many years, so it was time for a visit.

The dinner was great. By some stroke of luck we got our own table which was nice. We all were stuffed by the end of the meal. I felt like the guy from Monty Python’s Life of Brian (hope you all know what I mean). Everything that came off that hibachi was delicious, couldn’t get enough of it.

After we took some pictures in the rain of the building for this blog, we went home to digest some food before cake. A few hours later we sat around the table and had cake while I opened my presents. Everyone hates shopping for me because I either want stuff that is really expensive, I already own everything they think of, or the gift that they want to get me is technical so I would have to ensure they purchase the right one. I am a big movie buff and own quite the collection of DVDs, up near 400 last time I checked. Like usual, I only asked for some DVDs for my birthday. Love getting a whole bunch and adding to the collection.

To my surprise, my parents got me a very awesome gift. They gave me tickets to the 20 Mile Super Speedway Program from Stock Car Racing Experience at Pocono Raceway. This program puts you behind the wheel and driving a 600 hp Stock Car on the 2.5 mile Super Speedway for 8 laps, reaching speeds of 165mph. I am in 100% complete control of the car by myself. No instructors or experienced drives in the car with me, just me and an exact model NASCAR stock car. I don’t think awesome is quite a powerful enough word. I have to go through a few hours of lessons and training first, but I just can’t believe I get to drive the thing! I also get to go on a three lap ride along in the beginning, which is fun in itself. Can’t wait to experience 160mph G-force going through a turn with a 20+ degree embankment.

Enjoy some pictures from the night.

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

After Bonefish we headed back to Casey’s in-laws house to play some card games until we were all ready to go out to the bar. Once all the food was digested, we headed out to the bar of Jamie’s choice. She chose to go to Mahoney’s Irish Pub at Dooley Square in downtown Poughkeepsie, near the train station. We all had a good time at Mahoney’s, a nice way to end the night. Here are some pictures from throughout the day.

Presents for Jamie - that cake box is awesome, isn't it?

Always read the cards first

Bonefish Grill in Poughkeepsie, NY

Jamie blowing out her candles - Pucker up!

Yummy bday cake

From left - Jamie's sister Casey, Jamie, Marie, and Matthew

Saturday night crowd at Mahoney's

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

I have been to a couple hockey games before with my father, but this was the first time Jamie had ever gone to one. She enjoyed watching the game, so I was very happy. I like the sport, actually my most favorite to watch. It is constant action, not like baseball that takes 40 minutes just to strike out or football that has 15 seconds of game time for every 20 minutes of TV timeouts.

This was my first trip to the Nassau Coliseum though, the other times I went my father got tickets to the New Jersey Devil’s arena, called the Continental Airlines Arena at the time, now the Prudential Center I believe. The stadium was very nice and well kept, crowds weren’t that bad at all considering it was a day off for most people. I just love the highway robbery at the concessions though, but that is everywhere now.

Maybe we can snag some more tickets later in the season. I want to see some other teams play, so we should be able to find some open games. It’s tough getting tickets because these local teams only play the Penguins so often at home. I’m still loyal to my Penguins, even though many years ago they traded my favorite player…now get this, to the team I hate the most (New York Rangers)! Just swell!

The Islanders wound up winning the game in a shootout. For those of you not up to what happens in a tie in hockey, they play a 5 minute period with only four guys on each time (normally five). If it is a tie after that, three players from each team go to a one-on-one shootout with the goalie, whoever scores more wins, if it still ties then it is a tie. Final score after shootout, Islanders 3, Penguins 2. Enjoy some pics from inside the arena.

Scoreboard

Rink before the game, nice and smooth

Shot of stands at Nassau Coliseum

Penguins trying to score

Go Penguings Go!

Waiting for ice girls to finish shoveling the ice

Full rink shot during game

Faceoff down near Pittsburgh's end

FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! Yes there is always one in hockey!

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.

Happy 21st Birthday Jamie!!

PPPPAAAAARRRRRRTTTTYYYYY!!!!!!

Now we can finally order a drink together when we eat out! :)

©2010 Joe and Jamie's Blog. All Rights Reserved.