Joe and Jamie's Blog

Happy Birthday to me! Sad that I have to blog about my own birthday, (grrr Jamie) but that’s another issue.

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.

As you read from the previous post, February 21st was Jamie’s 21st birthday. To celebrate, Jamie’s sister, Casey, and I threw a small gathering of family at Bonefish Grill in Poughkeepsie, where Jamie likes to eat. Everything went really well, great service and food, everyone was happy. Jamie got nice presents from everyone and enjoyed the dinner.

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

I was finally able to redeem my Christmas present on President’s Day. Jamie had bought me tickets to go see my favorite hockey team play, the Pittsburgh Penguins. They were playing the New York Islanders at the Islanders arena, the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island.

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!

Happy 21st Birthday Jamie!!

PPPPAAAAARRRRRRTTTTYYYYY!!!!!!

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

While the tree was being decorated Sunday, my father and I hung the icicle lights on the house. It wasn’t too cold out, compared to Saturday. Lights went on the gutter nice and easy since they gutters are brand new seamless gutters.

After Jamie was done with the tree she came out and helped me put the colored lights on the railings. It went fairly smooth, just had to use zip ties because we weren’t allowed to staple into the freshly painted house (painted just this summer). Jamie left to go bring my sister to work and I put up the last strand of white lights that went around the wreaths and over the door. The pictures aren’t as great as seeing it up close, but that’s what I get for dropping my camera right before taking the pictures. Come drive by and enjoy!

Christmas lights on the house

Christmas lights on the house

Today we went out and bought our Christmas tree. Since it had rained for two days straight and was below freezing we decided to just get one off a lot somewhere, rather than go cut it down. We had to the same last year and the tree was great. Our family likes the short and full trees. Ceilings aren’t too high in my house, plus its a pain decorating a 7 foot tree when you are 5.5 feet tall.

My father and I put the lights on it after cutting the base and getting to to stay in the tree stand. The next day, my mother, sister, and Jamie put all the decorations on the tree.

After the tree was set, Jamie and I wrapped up our gifts to get a jump start on things. More or less we had nothing better to do, but its fun wrapping gifts.

Check out the tree!

The chosen one.

Jamie holds the chosen one while I step back to take a look.

Christmas tree with lights on it.

Larger wreath on the front of our house.

Wreath on the front of our house.

Christmas tree all decorated.

More of the decorated Christmas tree.

Closeup of the little dog ornament!

Jamie adding candy canes to the tree.

All done decorating!

Jamie wrapping Christmas gifts.

All the presents are wrapped!

Who put those there already??