dad + me — i keep a diary

My mom kept crying because my dad's cancer was continuing to progress and we all knew this would probably be the last time we'd all be together.

the may roundup

May, 2018

the december roundup

December, 2017

the november roundup

November, 2017

Mom couldn't stop crying because she kept thinking about how it was probably dad's last Christmas (it was).

the november roundup

November, 2017

On our last night we took family pics by the tree.

the november roundup

November, 2017

...my dad's best friend Roger and his wife Bonnie for dinner. Roger is British and my dad's version of Grant. It was really sweet to watch them hang out and interact. (Sadly, Roger passed away just a few months after my dad in late 2018.)

the november roundup

November, 2017

This ornament is really cute. Love looking back at old photos. (Who would've guessed that about me, right?)

the november roundup

November, 2017

Compared to this flashback pic from the late 90s!

the november roundup

November, 2017

Happy Thanksgiving from the Battjers! <3

the november roundup

November, 2017

...of me saying goodby to my dad. <3

the september roundup

September, 2017

On Saturday I packed up and got ready to drive my new truck back up to NY. My mom took these lovely pics...

the september roundup

September, 2017

My dad's brother Bruce and his two sons Chris & Steve all came to the hospital to visit my dad. All the Battjer boys in one place!

the september roundup

September, 2017

Happy 70th, dad!

dads 70th birthday

January 27, 2017

But there's a whole separate entry for this trip! Dads 70th Birthday

the january roundup

January, 2017

Later that evening, we got dressed up and headed to the wedding!

stacy and liz get married in new mexico

March 05, 2016

...fun age to watch him...

christmas in dc

December 21, 2015

My parents came into to town to visit for my birthday.

the august roundup

August, 2015

After a long day of swimming and skiing, we'd all pile into the awesome-smelling cedar hot tub!

visiting florida & old photo nostalgia

February 22, 2015

My dad teaching me how to drive the new riding mower he bought! At first I couldn't drive it because the tractor came with a kill-switch underneath the drivers seat that would stop the engine in case you fell off while mowing. But I didn't weigh enough to keep the switch down! My dad wasn't about to mow the lawn himself and so he went into the kitchen and found a really strong magnet, lifted up the seat and clamped the magnet to the kill switch! Blamo, problem solved!

This brilliant move, however, would come back to haunt him later in the afternoon when he was teaching me how to park the tractor in the shed. I went in to far and started hitting the back wall of the shed, and instead of telling me to hit the brake, my dad just started yelling "STAND UP! STAND UP!" thinking the kill switch would engage and the tractor would stop. But he forgot about the magnet he put on and I drove the tractor right through the back of the shed. Hahaha. Famous family story.

visiting florida & old photo nostalgia

February 22, 2015

Here's me tandem-skiing with my dad!

visiting florida & old photo nostalgia

February 22, 2015

Fishing with dad! Modesty has never been my strong suite.

visiting florida & old photo nostalgia

February 22, 2015

Later that evening, we hopped in my dad's golf cart...

visiting florida & old photo nostalgia

February 22, 2015

On Sunday I went out to NJ to visit my family and celebrate Father's Day. Happy Father's Day, Brian Sr!

the june roundup

June, 2014

...who needed a post-breakfast nap!

the december roundup

December, 2013

Called my dad from a beach side payphone to wish him a happy birthday!

belize part 2

January 24, 2013

the august roundup

August, 2012

garden ↗+

Headed back home!

christmas in florida

December 22, 2011

When everybody is all dressed up my parents like to take a group photo so they can include it in the Holiday email my dad sends around (which is like the newsletter version of this site for older people. Haha).

steve and rachels wedding in ohio

August 26, 2011

Pre-dinner holiday photo for my dad's holiday newsletter!

family xmas blizzard

December 24, 2010

Around 4pm we all got cleaned up for company and even humored my mom and put on the matching sweaters!

family xmas blizzard

December 24, 2010

...that my dad got one as well! Hahah.

family xmas blizzard

December 24, 2010

Blink.

the october roundup

October, 2010

Three sets of Battjers!

lindsey and john's wedding

August 27, 2010

Couch napping. Here's me doing my impression of my father "ten minutes in the future." He laughed...

the july roundup

July, 2010

mom ↗+
asleep ↗+

She brought her "new" husband (of 10+ years) Bob to lunch! He is awesome.

christmas in florida again

December 23, 2009

Which turned out to be the same book that my dad was reading because HE had picked it up last time he was at the airport!

christmas in florida again

December 23, 2009

book ↗+
twins ↗+

Family dinner.

christmas in florida again

December 23, 2009

Christmas Eve dinner back at my parent's house.

christmas in florida again

December 23, 2009

Uncle Bruce, dad, mom & Elyse!

the wedding party

October 16, 2009

My hammy-family all cramming together for another awesome group shot.

the wedding party

October 16, 2009

Me, dad and cousin Chad!

the wedding party

October 16, 2009

Love this guy.

the wedding party

October 16, 2009

best ↗+

We walked my parents from the MOMA over to their hotel a few blocks away.

the wedding party

October 16, 2009

mom ↗+
hotel ↗+

Huzzah!

our wedding in tahoe

September 01, 2009

With the other Mr. & Mrs Battjer!

our wedding in tahoe

September 01, 2009

The wedding party!

our wedding in tahoe

September 01, 2009

On the morning of the big day, everyone let me sleep in while they went out for breakfast. Meredith took this photo of my parents coming in to wake me up! Haha.

our wedding in tahoe

September 01, 2009

Family portrait!

the august roundup: part one

August, 2009

A little before midnight, the beach party-crew...

brett and amy's wedding

January 22, 2009

ALL the Battjer boys! Me, Brett, Brian Sr, Bruce, Chris and Steve.

brett and amy's wedding

January 22, 2009

I rolled out of bed a little past noon and headed out to play "Christmas Golf" with my parents. Haha.

christmas in florida

December 23, 2008

Family photo.

the november roundup

November, 2008

Also found a bunch of fantastic old photo albums. I snapped a couple of pics of my favorite pics. Here me with my parents and brother. I think this was from my 5th birthday - which would make it August 1981.

the november roundup

November, 2008

Chuck took this great photo of the rest of us. Future in-laws!!!

the june roundup: part one

June, 2008

Now with husbands, son (and a dog!) added!

the september roundup

September, 2007

On Thursday night my parents came in to town and I took them out to dinner. I look like my mother almost as much as my dad looks like Peter Griffin (The Family Guy). Hahah.

the november roundup

November, 2005

mom ↗+
family ↗+

This pic pretty much sums up how I spent the next two days. Passed out on the beach with a book on my lap.

the september roundup: part one

September, 2005

Here's the Xmas Dinner pic. Jordan, Jeanine, Pappi, My mom, Dave and Pat Litte and Mer and me.

christmas with the battjers

December 23, 2004

After we were done opening presents, we had a contest to see who could turn the Christmas tree on from the greatest distance (the tree's hooked up to a clapper, remember?). Here's me celebrating my win all the way from across the room. My dad said my ability to clap the loudest probalby had something to do with my "callused palms." Whatever that means. hahaha.

christmas with the battjers

December 23, 2004

On Friday morning, my dad and I hit the town to do some last minute Christmas shopping.

christmas with the battjers

December 23, 2004

On Thursday, Meredith and I took the train out to NJ to my parents. Then we hopped in their car and headed down to south Jersey to visit the Birds (they're my Great Uncle and Aunt). Here's me with my dad.

christmas with the battjers

December 23, 2004

Here are the fruits of his labor though. Well worth the wait!

thanksgiving

November 25, 2004

Big Bri and Steph.

last month in nyc: the august roundup part two

August, 2004

mom ↗+

After the ties were fixed, it was time for family photos out on the back deck. Here's Brett, Pappi, mom and me.

chris and jen get married

July 03, 2004

Check out my blinging imitation Oakley Blades. You're wet, aren't you? (PS - Sarah pointed out that my dad looks like the dad from the Family Guy and I haven't been able to look at him without smiling since).

skiing in vt and seth's surprise party

March 11, 2004

"Now throw your hands in the air and scream!"

christmas with the fam

December 23, 2003

For Christmas day, my grandparents and one of my mom's sister's family (The Carricks) came to our house. Christmas dinner in the house y'all. When I say "Hey," you say "Ho!" Now when I say "Je" you say "sus!"

christmas with the fam

December 23, 2003

Turkey Time! Going Clockwise from the front left: G-ma, G-pa, Aunt Sue, me, Pappi, Mami, Chad, Uncle Wayne, Aunt Elaine and Lindsay.

thanksgiving vacation

November 26, 2003

At dinner, Grant manned the camera and managed to snap a pic of me opening my birthday card...

my 27th birthday party

August 08, 2003

On the day before my birthday, my mom and dad came into New York City (from Jersey) and took Grant, Tara and myself out for a birthday dinner at Epicurie in the LES.

my 27th birthday party

August 08, 2003

mom ↗+

...who shit the bed on the next toss by throwing short to my dad (the balloon exploded on his foot). Check me out laughing at him while he gives my brother the ol' stink eye.

move the god-damned shed

June 21, 2003

water balloon ↗+

Me and dad prepping for the big 'tater race. (The object is to cross the finish line first. If your pototo falls off your spoon, you're immediately disqualified.)

move the god-damned shed

June 21, 2003

spoon ↗+

DSC01350.jpg

original not copied to this machine yet

Brett was the big winner. Me and my dad both caught NOTHING! NADA! ZIP! ZILCH! (Actually, my dad at least caught two fucked-up fish that just didn't count in the contest so he threw them back. I was the only one that didn't catch a god-damned thing. Bah.) Arrrrgh, matey! Better luck next time!

fishing with pappi part 2

June 9, 2003