Joe and Jamie's Blog

Since we switched to a new HD TV, we had to get a HD set top box to replace the standard one. Jamie and I were thinking about getting TiVo awhile ago, so we figured why not get the multi-room DVR for FiOS.

The DVR records from one TV, but has an app for me to record from my BlackBerry, or choose shows online to record. The DVR plays back to all the TV’s in the house so everyone can record and watch their own shows. So far in testing we’re loving this, no more missing good shows since we get home late.

I’ve been hearing radio advertisements to take the new online defensive driving course offered only by Marshall and Sterling, a local insurance firm. I have been meaning to take the defensive driving course for some time now to get the 10% discount like everyone else in my family but I hated the fact that I needed to sit in a room for 6+ hours to complete it, so this online thing was right up my alley.

The best thing about this is there is no test at the end of it. You sit and read the pages at your own pace but there is a minimum time for each page so you just don’t flip through it without reading it and complete the course in 10 minutes. NY State mandatory minimum completion time for the course to be valid is 5 hours and 32 minutes. Mine took a little over 6 hours since I took a break here and there to get a drink.

The test has random check points where you have to answer predefined questions you answer in the beginning so that they know you are still taking the test and not someone else. There is also the choice of keyboard or phone biometrics. I choose keyboard and had to type a sentence 9 times for it to learn my keystroke patterns. At random times they would make me type it in. I had Jamie do it once for me just to test it and she failed because she didn’t use the same keystrokes as I did, pretty cool.

Eventually the test completed and now I just wait for the American Safety Council to mail me my certificate to give the insurance company. Not bad for only costing $23!

If you haven’t taken the test to get the insurance discount you should use this online course. You can get to it from Marshall and Sterling’s website.

Recently Jamie and I purchased a new 40″ Sony LCD HD TV. We just got sick of our old standard definition unit. This new TV is awesome and the picture clarity and color is amazing. BIG difference from standard def, especially when playing Xbox games in full 1080p now.

So since we’re crammed in the room we had to move the dresser somewhere else since a 40″ flat screen isn’t going to fit on top of it. Now we had the whole corner and just needed a stand. Stands were ridiculously expensive and we just couldn’t see spending $200+ for something I could build and make look just as nice.

So with that I drew up some plans and gathered my dimensions. With the help of my father we put together a very nice TV stand that perfectly fit everything. Now we just have to decide if we want to stain the nice birch or paint it to match the room color.

Tonight the NY Red Bulls faced Brazil’s Santos FC in a friendly pre-season game. This game was also the grand opening of Red Bull Arena, the new stadium for the Red Bulls.

This was a very exciting game to attend. We’re used to seeing anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 people attend a Red Bulls game but there was 25,000 people there this game, and most of them were rooting for Santos FC. Needless the say the new stadium was put to its limit and all the efforts of staff were tested to the extreme for the first day. Therefore, there were obvious issues but nothing you wouldn’t expect in a brand new place filled to capacity on day one.

The Red Bulls had a horrible season last year. They ended up dead last in the whole league with a record of 5-6-19. After this match against Santos FC it looked like the Red Bulls were back in business and ready to play this year. They came out strong and stayed that way the whole game. They held a 3-0 lead until there was 1 minute left when Santos FC scored on the backup keeper.

Here’s some photos from the match.

HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!

Yesterday Andrew, Casey, Jamie and I went to a hockey game to see the Pittsburgh Penguins play the NJ Devils. As you probably know I’m a fan of the penguins and this was a little belated birthday treat for myself.

The trip down there was a nightmare. The game was Friday night so I knew NJ traffic was going to be bad, but I didn’t think I would wind up in 30 miles of bumper to bumper traffic. Holy crap it was annoying going 20mph or less on the Garden State. Things got even worse as we hit the local road to get into the stadium. We wound up being 20 minutes late and missing more than half of the first period.

Besides being late everything else went well. We had a ton of fun and enjoyed the stadium. I haven’t been to the NJ Devils’ stadium since it was Continental Airlines Arena over near the Medowlands. This was the nice new Prudential Center in downtown and it had to be the nicest stadium every. I felt like I was in a really big and neat mall with tons of escalators until you finally reached the ice rink in the middle.

Unfortunately the game ended in a loss to the Penguins. Devils won 3-1.

Happy Birthday to me!

Yup I’m 25 now, guess I’m no longer a child anymore, might need to grow up one of these days, lol.

I wanted a really simple birthday and I got one, finally everyone listened to me. Just had a nice dinner, opened a few gifts while having some cake, it was nice.

I got a new tool bag since I’m exploding the sides on the one I already have, too much stuff in there. I also got a nice pilsner beer glass and a trip to go meet and pet some penguins in NJ which is going to be really fun. Gotta love the penguins.

Tonight was the second potluck dinner, category was finger foods. I’de say this was another hit and now we’re definitely going to keep doing these. It’s always fun when everyone gets together.

For this dinner I decided to make some chicken wings with the same sauce I made for the ribs last time since everyone liked the sauce. These were a lot quicker and easier to do, just cook them for about 30 minutes then add sauce and cook for another 15 minutes.

Now to be annoying like I always strive to do, on Marie’s Evite I demanded a cake since my birthday is Monday. Well of course Eric and Marie made me a cake, but I wasn’t expecting one as cool as this one!!

Now I just think this is awesome, I mean they had to hand carve the penguin out and then dye the crap out of the icing to get it black. The effort alone was really nice in itself. Good icing job too, I suck at icing cakes.

Needless to say the cake was delicious, even if all the food coloring stained your tongue, mouth, fingers, etc for a few days! =P