Joe and Jamie’s Blog

This past Saturday was very nice. It wasn’t scortching hot or raining. Everyone pitched in and did some stuff outside. It always looks so nice when it is done so I figured I would share it with everyone.

Here’s some bears we got a few years back in Lake George. My father made the stand they are on.

Here’s a wooden turtle.

There is a story to the next two photos. Jamie found this really cute turtle figure with a straw hat and one paw in the air waving at you at Rite-Aid. I accidentally broke it when playing soccer, so we buried his head in the flower bed. The big guy is the replacement turtle, he’s just a cute with his flower.

And here is me if I was a frog in the backyard.

The neighbors are extending the second story on the back of their house. Going pretty well, just need better weather to finish it up.

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.

Once again another busy week, sorry for the late posts.

Happy Father’s Day to all the father’s out there, hope you had a good weekend two weekends ago. I’m just going to quickly post some pictures from father’s day. Jamie and I got my father tickets to see the Nascar race at Pocono Raceway in August. He just recently became a Nascar fan and has never been to a race so we figured it was a great gift. Pocono is in Pennsylvania, about 2.5 hours away from home, so not a bad ride at all for such a major event.

Aren’t the gifts pretty??

Before I start, this is the second post thats about a week late. I know, I know, I was busy what can I say.

My Uncle Jimmy turned 60 this past Sunday. My cousins threw him a surprise party at the Oyster Point Hotel in Red Bank, New Jersey. It was a very fancy hotel with great service and food. Uncle Jimmy received a very nice surprise gift, but you have to scroll through the pictures to see what it is!

Red Bank is a nice little city, nothing like the crappy parts of Jersey, which is almost the entire state. The catering room we were in overlooked the Navesink River. I wish I was the guy out on the jet ski, it was even hotter out than Saturday.

Again, forgot the camera. These were with the Treo again.

Here’s the Birthday Boy along with my Aunt Susan and sister, Katelyn, in the background. My aunt is going to kill me if she sees this!

Here’s almost everyone cramming for photos before we left. Now here comes the surprise gift.

My cousins got my uncle a 1968 Oldsmobile 442. He almost had a heart attack when it rolled up. He honestly didn’t know he was getting it nor it was his since we were in the valet area. Its a very nice classic. He used to have one, same year and tires, just he had the hard top.

It was a great party and good weekend full of awesome food, free beer, good views, great weather, and fun times with the whole family.

This past Saturday we went to my cousin’s baptism, well actually two of my cousin’s baptism at the same time and place. My cousin Suzanne and her husband Howie baptized their son (King) George and my cousin Keri and her husband Chris baptized their son Matthew. Matthew is 5 1/2 months old and George is 2 1/2 months old. It was good to see the whole family together for something happy after the long series of sad events. Both babies were baptized in St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church at 856 Pacific St, Brooklyn, NY.

From there we went a few blocks to a very nice catering place, Giando On The Water at 400 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, NY. This was the same place Keri had her wedding reception, if I am correct I believe they are relatives of Chris. It is a beautiful place right on the bank of the East River with a wonderful view of Manhattan. The Williamsburg Bridge is practically right over the building (its the cool one with the train that goes in between the cars across it). You can see all the major skyscrapers from the outdoor patio. The food was great. It was 97 degrees out that day, but it wasn’t too bad in the shade.

Like usual I didn’t grab the camera, I need to keep a second one in my car I think. Excuse these photos as they were taken by my Treo, which has no flash or focus.

This clown actually stole our seats!

Very good chocolate cake with real strawberry and banana filling.

Suzanne and George(left). Carmine and Matthew(right).

Keri and Matthew.

Look at George tasting the cake!

Keri and Matthew(left). Suzanne and George(right).

Here’s Jamie and I just hanging out. I’m pretty good at taking reverse pictures like this. That’s right, I took this!

Today is day four of no smoking. Jamie and I haven’t touched one since after diner on Sunday. Like they say, the first three days after you quit are tough, then it’s just breaking the habit after that. I would have to agree with this. The first day was horrible. My body wanted one so bad, but my mind was strong enough to remember I was trying to quit. The first night was even worse. I couldn’t sleep or get comfortable at all. Everything irritated the crap out of me. Jamie and I have been fighting a lot over absolutely nothing at all, lovely side affects. Good thing we have been dating for almost four years and can get past this.

I believe this is all a mind game. If you can just push aside your habits and think before you act you won’t pick one back up. You don’t need any of those smoking cessation drugs/patches/gum. Jamie tried to use those last time, but I feel the issue is that you are satisfying the craving by either chewing some gum or the patch. To me, you want to get rid of those urges, not satisfy them, that is what makes it harder and takes longer to quit because you aren’t getting the nicotine out of your system. Granted yes if you have no self control then by all means a patch or gum is much better than the actual smoke. I told Jamie to not get them this time and see if she can do it. So far she has, and I think it’s because she didn’t use that stuff that she is doing so well this time.

Anywho, figured I’de just fill everyone in on how we are doing. I have been in Vermont for work for the past two days so nothing exciting going on at all. Later.