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.

I’ll be nice and keep his age secret, although I think he wouldn’t mind, it’s my mother that would kill me!

This past Saturday was my father’s birthday. Typically Father’s Day and his birthday fall on the same weekend, but since Father’s Day was a week early this year we had to celebrate them separately. It’s not so bad, just more cake and ice cream for everyone.

His major gift was the NASCAR tickets given to him on Father’s Day (it all stems from the days typically being together), so we had to just get him a little something to open with cake. He likes cigars and the lottery so it was one stop shopping to Smokes-4-Less over by Marist College. I like that Smokes-4-Less best because it is bigger than all the rest and has a walk in humidity controlled cigar area. I picked him up some various styles of the Romeo & Juliet cigar brand that he enjoys along with a bunch of scratch-offs.

We went out to dinner to the newly opened Red Robin on Route 9 near the new CRM building. I have had the pleasure of eating at a Red Robin before so I knew how great the burgers were. We went a little early because that place is still packed with about an hour wait if you go at the “typical” dining time, even though it has been open for a few months now.

Here’s the classic overly decorated Hannigan ice cream cake. I have no clue how it started, but regardless of who’s birthday it is we get an ice cream cake, with or without regular cake as well. It’s a good tradition, I love ice cream cake.

It was so nice out we decided to enjoy the evening outside. We had cake, ice cream and coffee while he opened his gifts. Afterward Jamie and I kicked around the soccer ball till dark.