Easter at Tom and Vanda's

Another example of the superior gene pool. Does Maureen ever take an awful picture?

Katie and Garrett's New Puppy

Note this is their second dog.

When are the kids coming?

DrMark Running the Marathon

Can y'all believe he is outpacing those fat women? Are they even running?



Congrats on finishing the race (15,000th place?). I would have gone to cheer you on but I am against almost every aspect of it: Boston, running, and charity.

Happy Easter/Passover

We took Little John to Philly this weekend. We stayed at Maureen and Tom's gorgeous new house on Wednesday.

Things we learned:

1) Colin and Brendan have a sh*tload of toys - probably why they needed a bigger house.

2) Maureen has a special relationship with their warranty guy.

3) The boys can sleep through John's screaming (I wish we could)



We met up with Katie and Garrett in Philly and had a blast.

Things we learned:

1) Katie is not pregnant.

2) They got a new puppy. (Perhaps they'll send a pic)

3) Garrett is trying to open his own car wash.

Did y'all get that email from DrMark?

I can't believe he wanted donations for his charity run in today's marathon. If he needs money I suggest he skips one of his monthly European vacations.

Lastly, did y'all see those fancy wedding invites from Joe and Kelly?

I'll bet that Joe helped pick them out. Right down to the font style and whatnot.

Jenn

Jenn recently went to a great Chinese restaurant but it is kind of hard to get to.

The Other Side of the DC Trip

Here's the promised follow-up to UJ Goes to Washington DC

According to UJ....

TimL only provided 2 beers for him to drink. And UJ had to ASK for the second one.

Tim would not let his father have second helpings of pasta at his place. Tim put the leftovers in two neat little bowls and set them aside for his lunch during the week. Instead he offered him a "small salad".

Without question Tim can be insufferable, but having to spend a weekend at his place sober AND hungry? That is rough.

So after a mere 30+ years of selfless parenting, braces, family vacations, mortgages for his education and whatnot UJ is still on a BYOB and BWOF standing at his son's place.

Dad, you might want to remove Tim as your medical power of attorney. (Just a thought).

But fear not, this weekend did see some progress.

During the last visit to Tim's place, UJ was not allowed to self-serve the parmesan cheese. Tim violently insisted on regulating the cheese. But this weekend, Tim broke down and left the cheese on the table for unbridled personal distribution.

Hopefully here is Mel

AND WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO?

Wayne and I took a long weekend to visit David and Sheila. We saw an awesome game between the Heat and Ohio Cav's, the Heat came back from a 15 point deficit and won. Wayne enjoyed the car that David is working on. Sheila has many strays thet she cares for and one that comes in the house but never, never is allowed on the bed. I mentioned breakfast with Lizzie, here is a picture of Mel grandparenting.

Send me pictures and I'll post them.

JOE & KELLY'S WEDDING on JUNE 10th

The invites will not be out for a few weeks so here is some helpful info. The wedding is at St. Margaret's Church at 1pm, in Madison, Ct. The reception at Pine Orchard Yatch and Country Club in Branford, Ct. at 4pm.

I did a quick check of the prices at the three hotels, these are approx. Holiday Inn Express, about 105.00 Stoney Creek Inn & Suites, 95.00 and Motel 6, 62.00.

The reception is for adults. This cheap adult will probably be staying at Motel 6. The above photo was taken a few weeks ago when we got together, very last minute, with Lizzie and the perfect baby, Julie, Mel, Helena & me.

UJ Goes to Washington DC

Dan,

Dad really didn't give us much blog material this weekend. Maybe it was the dress code--you know what they say about dress codes and the behavior of school children.

Sunday we drove to Mt. Vernon along the George Washington Parkway in the Jeep with the top down...there was zero backseat driving--maybe Mom & Dad were too terrified to speak.

Day 2 - Dad on espresso
I bought some small cherry turnovers for coffee...The turnovers were rather small and I think this was what Dad was talking about when he called them "demitasses" which are something espresso is served in...

Day 2 - Dad speaking his own language
Dad, "Tim give your Mom some 'Vateur'..." "Dad, what the heck does that word mean," I asked. "I don't know Tim, I just made it up," Dad replied.

Day 3 - Dad emerges from the shower
Dad parades around the apartment in his briefs..."Dad, get in the bedroom put on something less revealing, preferably a burkha." I said.



(notice the different, hypocritical standards of dress.)



Tim, at least UJ took a shower!!!

Hundreds of people have already asked how Tim reconciles an open top car with his $65 dollar haircut and fastidious daily primping.

DrMark's New Woman

Her name is Amy. She is very old (45) and eats a ton of salad.

As Simon Cowell would say, having said that, she is 5 notches better than that miserable broad Brenda.

If this lasts, look to see her initiated into the family by dancing with UJ at the wedding.

Speaking of UJ, why would anyone (like TimL) think he needs his wardrobe regulated?

Below are some pics of him at Maggie and Ryan's.





UJ was getting a facial,chemical peel, or some sort of metrosexual indulgence.

Why was UJ getting this? Well, one of his favorite expressions is When in Rome...

Remember that Ryan is a candidate for chief family metrosexual. He did go with the women to get his nails done for Kevin's wedding.

Anne's Addendum

Anne wanted this pic added and wrote,

"This is my baby and below is his babe."

I am not sure what that means.

Anyway, of all the heroic manly things that Steve does, Anne wanted to capture him in this emasculating state of dishwashing enthrallment.



Update on the stiff TimL.

Supposedly TimL bought a new car, allegedly a Jeep. Though he won't send a pic to verify it, perhaps it is a lavender Subaru.

Incidentally, DrTom drives a Subaru as well to show his support for lesbian rights.

Tim's parents are going to visit him this weekend. Tim actually has imposed wardrobe regulation on UJ for the trip. Seriously, he has given Helena instructions on what his father can wear down there (e.g ."no shorts").

Anyway, there is likely to be some blog material produced by this visit and I will be sure to get "both sides" of the antics.

Speaking of the UJ and the Mean Sister, they recently got rid of call waiting on their home phone. They are absolutely going backwards, soon they be moving into a cave.

Can you imagine how they can't use the phone when they are expecting an important phone call?

That is so 1980, like Vanda's trash can.

MY PERFECT GRANDCHILDREN

Now that all the "Aunties", as Tim calls us, are "Grammies" my three sisters are getting to be a little out of line with how beautiful their babies are. I did it first and here is the evidence I did it best. I don't have a current picture of Trish but here are the crew from Pennsylvania. They are now 13, 11 and 9. They have two "puppies". I took these pictures during a visit a few weeks back, we were helping to make a chlorine atom out of playdough and the dogs went to obedience class.











DanL adds,

Let's hope that obedience class doesn't result in the dogs getting run over like Vanda's graduate dogs.

Mark Jr Update

LizL writes:

Well these days junior tips the scale at 20lbs and as you can see from the pictures he is really starting to thin out, ha. Mark is a happy little guy. He smiles and laughs a lot and he squeals when he is excited. He has zero interest in rolling over or crawling, but he sits and stands very well, I guess he is trying to skip a few steps, we'll see. With all the toys he has he is most interested in paper towel rolls and plastic bowls, go figure! :)

Side notes.

DrMark begged for posting priveleges on the Family Blog, they were duly bestowed on him but he is yet to so much as post a picture. C'mon DrMark, at least send a pic of you skiing down Brokeback Mountain or something.

Also CathyF, computer illiterate that she is, has mentioned to the webmaster that she would like to reserve some names. She insists that she is without child but this is a tell-tale sign that she may be next.

Out of the pool of FFWs (Fertile Family Women) everyone should place their bets as to who will be next after InezL.

FFW Pool

CathyF
MaggieS
LizL
Maureen
KatieW
Louise
Sarah
Vanda

I bet on Vanda.

Anyway, CathyF and DanF's reserved names are.

Boy - Percy, Buck, Ned, Seven.

Girl - Hilda, Mildred, Shamiqua, Soda.

UJ Golf Lesson by Counterexample

This video should work. if the play button doesn't start it, then drag the marker to the right.

The cameraman was trying to offer some chipping pointers to UJ, but the hacker was very resistant, claiming that he "knew how to chip."

Cameraman's response: YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHIP.....YOU SHOOT 105.

Now play this video to see a real golfer.

test

this video should work. if the play button doesn't start it, then drag the marker to the right.

Has Anyone Seen DrMark?

Can y'all believe that DrMark wouldn't go down and help his sister move into the new house?

Isn't there some unwritten rule on compulsory family move help (except in the case of back problems)?

Go ahead DrMark. Keep wandering aimlessly around Brokeback Mountain.

Final Standings

Vanda 3.5 wins
TimL 3 wins
DrMark 2 wins
DanL 2 wins
Kevin 2 wins
Helena 1.5 wins
Mo 1 win
DrTom 1 wins
Anne .5 wins
UJ .5 wins

Money (remember everyone started -$85)

Vanda +$90
TimL +$65
DrMark +$15
Kevin +$15
DanL +$15
Helena -$10
Mo -$35
DrTom -$35
Anne -$60
UJ - $60

TimL told me he would donate his winnings towards Anne's debt to help defray the cost of the unbelievable calendar she got us all.

The rest of these debts should be settled creatively. Maybe we all should chip in and get Vanda a new kitchen garbage can. She has had this one since the 80s.



We could get her some condiments?



And also a few boxes of Riunite.



Although I don't no where she would put them.

DrTom Avoids Total Embarrassment

Week 17 Results

DrTom 9-6-1
Anne 7-8-1
KevinM 7-8-1
TimL 6-9-1
UJ 6-9-1
Helena 6-9-1
Vanda 5-10-1
DanL 5-10-1
MoMerk 4-11-1
DrMark 0-16

Week 17

Saturday
Denver(+8.5)-----vs-----SAN DIEGO
OAKLAND(+8)-----vs-----NY Giants

Sunday
Arizona(+6.5)-----vs-----INDIANAPOLIS
CLEVELAND(+3)-----vs-----Baltimore
NY JETS(+1)-----vs-----Buffalo
ATLANTA(+4)-----vs-----Carolina
Chicago(+3)-----vs-----MINNESOTA
Cincinnati(+7)-----vs-----KANSAS CITY
Detroit(+16.5)-----vs-----PITTSBURGH
Miami(+6)-----vs-----NEW ENGLAND
New Orleans(+14)-----vs-----TAMPA BAY
SAN FRANCISCO(+2)-----vs-----Houston
Tennessee(+3.5)-----vs-----JACKSONVILLE
Seattle(+3)-----vs-----GREEN BAY
PHILADELPHIA(+7)-----vs-----Washington
Saint Louis(+12.5)-----vs-----DALLAS

Vanda won again taking the other side of her husband!!!!!

Vanda 10-5-1
Anne 9-6-1
UJ 9-6-1
TimL 9-6-1
MoMerk 9-6-1
DanL 8-7-1
KevinM 8-7-1
Helena 7-8-1
DrTom 5-10-1

DrMark submitted his picks on Monday so is disqualified and may be subject to diciplinary action.

Everyone should double-check my math since it was so close.

Week 16

The Stiff won again (TimL).


Saturday
Buffalo(+14)-----vs-----CINCINNATI
CLEVELAND(+7.5)-----vs-----Pittsburgh
KANSAS CITY(+1)-----vs-----San Diego
Tennessee(+5.5)-----vs-----MIAMI
HOUSTON(+6.5)-----vs-----Jacksonville
Detroit(+3)-----vs-----NEW ORLEANS
Dallas(+5)-----vs-----CAROLINA
NY Giants(+3)-----vs-----WASHINGTON
Atlanta(+3)-----vs-----TAMPA BAY
San Francisco(+9)-----vs-----ST LOUIS
Philadelphia(+1)-----vs-----ARIZONA
Indianapolis(+7.5)-----vs-----SEATTLE
Oakland(+13)-----vs-----DENVER

Sunday
GREEN BAY(+7.5)-----vs-----Chicago
Minnesota(+2.5)-----vs-----BALTIMORE

Monday
NY JETS(+5)-----vs-----New England

Through 15 weeks:

TimL 3 wins
Vanda 2.5 wins
DrMark 2 wins
DanL 2 wins
Kevin 2 wins
Helena 1.5 wins
Mo 1 win
Anne .5 wins
UJ .5 wins
DrTom 0 wins

Please every use this comment thread to publicize your Christmas/Kwanza plans.

A NEW JOB FOR JOE

Another exciting change for Joe Hurley in a year full of good things. A beautiful fiancee, a adorable nephew and what can we say about Mel, a bachelor for life who could not resist the charms of Joe's lovely mother?
Joe has a new job and it's a mouthful... a contract programmer analyst for PICIS and it has something to do with software for the ICU, ER & OR.
Congratulations Joe, we wish you well.

Week 15

Vanda won by picking the opposite of still winless DrTom but with New England as well.

Vanda 8-6-2
DrTom 7-7-2
TimL 7-7-2
UJ 7-7-2
Anne 6-8-2
MoMerk 6-8-2
Helena 6-8-2
Kevin 6-8-2
DanL 5-9-2
DrMark 0-16



Saturday Games
Tampa Bay(+4.5)-----vs-----NEW ENGLAND
Kansas City(+3)-----vs-----NY GIANTS
BUFFALO(+8.5)-----vs-----Denver

MINNESOTA(+3)-----vs-----Pittsburgh
San Diego(+7.5)-----vs-----INDIANAPOLIS
San Francisco(+14)-----vs-----JACKSONVILLE
TENNESSEE(+7.5)-----vs-----Seattle
HOUSTON(+1)-----vs-----Arizona
NY Jets(+7.5)-----vs-----MIAMI
NEW ORLEANS(+7.5)-----vs-----Carolina
Dallas(+3)-----vs-----WASHINGTON
DETROIT(+7)-----vs-----Cincinnati
Cleveland(+3)-----vs-----OAKLAND
Philadelphia(+3)-----vs-----ST LOUIS
Atlanta(+3)-----vs-----CHICAGO
BALTIMORE(+3)-----vs-----Green Bay

Week 14

Looks like the boys don't want to root for green-and-white losers like their dad.

DanL has come through again. Going 9-1 in the 1pm games to end up 12-3 so far.

Anne 11-4
TimL 10-5
MoMerk 10-5
Kev 9-6
Vanda 8-7
DrMark 8-7
Helena 7-8
DrTom 7-8
UJ 7-8

Anne and DanL both have Seattle tonight so the game doesn't really matter.

Tampa Bay (+5.5)-----vs-----CAROLINA
Buffalo(+3.5)-----vs-----NEW ENGLAND
St Louis(+7)-----vs-----MINNESOTA
Chicago(+6)-----vs-----PITTSBURGH
NY JETS(+3)-----vs-----Oakland
JACKSONVILLE(+8)-----vs-----Indianpolis
Houston(+6.5)-----vs-----TENNESSEE
Cleveland(+12)-----vs-----CINCINNATI
ARIZONA(+3)-----vs-----Washington
PHILADELPHIA(+5.5)-----vs-----NY GIANTS
San Francisco(+15.5)-----vs-----SEATTLE
Miami(+13.5)-----vs-----SAN DIEGO
Baltimore(+14)-----vs-----DENVER
Kansas City(+3)-----vs-----DALLAS
Detroit(+6)-----vs-----GREEN BAY
New Orleans(+10.5)-----vs-----ATLANTA

Little Mark Update

Wow. It is hard to believe that Little Joe is now an Uncle Joe.