Off to Brunoland, again...

In an effort to go someplace new and exiting, we went to Rensselaer County with Molly and Paul. After wandering around Troy, picking up broken shoe-shining kit, and the perfect present ever for Melissa's dad, we headed east, to the Peace Pagoda.

Summer Rules!

To open up the summer season...

Joe built the fire.

We made smores.

Then went to the new Palais Royale.

Green thumbs.

Saturday, while our friends moved in downstairs, we headed out to Home Depot to make a garden.

We got some plants.

Joe broke up the soil.

Melissa organized them into place.











And in two months, we hope to have eggplant, peppers, tomatos, onions, rosemary and basil!

Ah, Rosie...

Our friends Shanna, Erin and Liz are moving, and looking for a 4th to live with. So they posted these fliers all over town:



Who wouldn't want to live with them!

From Aunt Kathy

Joe's Aunt Kathy sent us this picture today. It was taken Easter weekend, when we went to Sagamore Hill with her, Liz, Gareth and the Smiths.

Meg Rules!

Our friend Meg graduated from U Albany this weekend with a Master's Degree in public health. We are SO proud of her!!!

Melissa and Meg overlooking the pit, soon to be 'Legends.'

Melissa, Meg and Molly having way too much fun at DeJohns

Everybody!

And then we went dancing at Lark Tavern with Ms. Bean, whose mayoral campaign is off to a great start!

Three down...

For those of you keeping track, Melissa wants to meet all presidential candidates for 2008. One of them has to win.

So far she has Gov. Pataki, and Hillary. This weekend, we went to the Brunswick Elks club to meet U.S. Sen. John McCain.


He was there to show support for Congressman John Sweeney.

And ValleyCat mascot South Paw was there as well, rocking out to the weird wedding band.

Chester A. Arthur

Our former Maid of Honor, Tess, came up to visit last Tuesday, very, very early, so Melissa could have breakfast with her before work. So they went to Miss Albany, looked at Nipper, and still had some time on their hands. So they went to the Albany Rural Cemetary, home of the late President Chester A. Arthur.

At first it was hard to find his grave among the thousands, but finally we spied a small sign saying "President Arthur" with an arrow.

It's not quite FDR's, or Kennedy's, but it was pretty.

Then they went for a wander in the cemetary, and found the grave of a man who was Albany crier for 40 years...

and another who died at Gettysburg.

More Tulips, More Rock

Day 2 of Tulip Fest:
Started out cold, gray and not too hopeful. But then...

Just in time for the confetti cannon (during They Might Be Giants) the sun came out!

They promised us that the confetti was biodegradable...

In typical Albany fashion, a few jerks got too drunk and ruined it for everyone else, prompting the horse cops to clear the park.

So Joe and Dave pulled out the bench,

and the girls sat on the stoop.

Tulips and Rock

Friday, May 12. The scrubbing of the streets...

Was moved indoors due to rain. Lame.

Then that night we went to rock out to Pearl Jam.

Joe loved their performance of Jeremy.

Melissa loved the mirror ball.

The Big Night

In a quick series of photos...
Melissa and Carol, from the DOT
Hillary and Melissa
Hillary and Joseph
The show went well. Hillary was hilarious. Joseph was loving enough to sit through it twice, and Melissa actually spoke into the microphone so you could hear her!

LCA Dress Rehearsal

For the past 106 years, the Capitol reporters have performed political satire every spring. And this year, Melissa was in it. And because our friends are so amazing, they came to the dress rehearsal! Yes, some came for the open bar, but the rest of you are so great! Thanks for the support!!

Sorry, Mr. Mayor. You're wrong!

So, our friend Laura was running for Tulip Queen, and it didn't work out. So instead a bunch of us have launched the Bean for Mayor campaign.

Down with the Tan Man, up with the Bean Queen!
Her blog can be found here.