Master of the House... Doling Out the Charm

"Are you going to eat all of that?"


"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"


Please check the recycling before placing it at the curb.


Checking out the Mexican restaurant, Itacate, at the end of our street.  I have to say, great location.

Some kind of pork thing.  Don't remember what, but it was good.  I had a burrito that hit the spot.  A nice way to start a date before watching Les Misérables, which was pretty good even if Megan didn't care for Russell Crowe.


St. Joseph Church ruins in downtown Rochester.  The facade was preserved after a massive fire.  It's one of my favorite buildings in the region.  Something unique and saving a piece of local history.


From preserving the past to promoting the future.  The ground has broke on the new Regional Transit Service (RTS) Transit Center and will open in 2015.  A way better land use for downtown than a black tar desert surface parking lot that it replaced.  


Master of the house, keeper of the zoo
Ready to relieve 'em of a sou or two
Watering the wine, making up the weight
Pickin' up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight
Everybody loves a landlord
Everybody's bosom friendI do whatever pleases
Jesus! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!

"So, that's the song George Costanza sings in that episode of Seinfeld..."

Sleepy... So Very Sleepy...

Feeling like this guy lately.  I think I've been battling a cold that everyone's been getting, which is better than the flu.  Anyway, it seems our house is becoming the house of weird cookie jars.  And yet, we never have cookies...


Bad ass motorcycle gang member made of shells!


SANTASAURUS REX!  Saw this guy on our walk through East Rochester last week. 


It's amazing walking through work these days because doors and hallways just magically appear out of nowhere. This one leads to the new clinic


My coworkers daughter makes all sorts of creative desserts.  Here's a teddy graham fishing swedish fish.  



"I KNOW YOU!  HELP!  I DON'T BELONG IN THIS OFFICE!"  Congrats to Karen on her new job even if Chance seems really confused on top of your desk.

That's it.  Nothing much happening lately and I'll probably rest a lot on the long weekend.  Some football tomorrow.

Movers and Shakers

This is the look of a sad little girl who's husband won't let her move into her new house earlier than planned.  


Almost all of our junk fits into the living room.  And moving is the best way to fight post-Thanksgiving turkey coma


Everything has a place and every place has a thing (except the 2nd floor, which is vacant)

So, for those of you that really want to know, our new address is:

41 Woodside Dr

Rochester, NY 14526

We'll be moving soon at Lollypop Farm too!  This is the exterior of the new clinic with siding and all.


There will be lots of happy cats looking out these windows soon


Cats-eye view


Nice masonry!


For all you HVAC and other system fans out there...


Interior of the new training center.  Quite a vast expanse!


The walls about to go in the new office space.  In front is open office space for desks and other equipment.  Offices on the left side.  Kitchenette straight ahead.  Bathrooms slightly to the right.  And the far right and back will be meeting rooms.  A lot of progress and it won't be long before it's all finished!

That's about it for now.  As things stand now, the next episode will be "how to fix insulation problems in your home."  Good thing it should be a nice, warm weekend...


A huge THANK YOU to a lot of people:
Terry Clar for letting us into every home in Monroe County and being patient with two idiot first-time home buyers.  To Bob Schreiber for teaching us about houses, all the running around, and generous support in trying to find a place to call "home."  To Megan's dad for storing our crap at his house for longer that we'd like to admit and so, so, so much, much more.  To Dave and Alison for working the morning shift of the move and moving the armoire into its final resting place (+ coffee).  Rich for letting these homeless bums squat at his place, move us in-and-out-out-and-in, and countless other ways big and small.  Erin brought the sugar high of Girl Scout Cookies and pop to finish out the move.  Marianne, who is pimping out our apartment (more on that later).  Mike Renahan for a couple great home inspections.  To Rachel for moving in a dining room table and breaking in Scrabble at our new house.  I'm sure I'm forgetting lots of people and apologize if I did.  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  None of this would have been possible without you!!!

Raise the Woof!

Raise the "woof."  Get it?  Instead of roof because we're an animal shelter.  I'll be here all night folks...

The new Training Center is going up real quickly at Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester.  The roof is going up and the sides are getting covered!

Backside of the training wing

The new clinic has its roof too.  Lots of windows for lots of animals to look out of while they are recovering from spay, neuter, and other surgeries.  

Look at these guys.  They laugh at Mother Nature!  Hurricane Sandy won't stop them from helping the animals in our community.  

Thanks again for all of your support.  None of this would be possible with the support of the community.  And, I promise, more updates to come.

Mike Kraus' Animal Kingdom

Hello Daisy!


Sorry, already adopted...  But, a very sweet and funny Dachshund.


You can tell how tiny she is by comparing her to the chair legs.


And now for the kittens.  Not adopted, but not quite ready yet.  They are in the foster program and need to put on some weight first.  




Fawn.  Not at work, but hanging out at our apartment.


CONSTRUCTION UPDATE!  The walls of the new clinic are rapidly rising!


The walls of the new training center and offices!

"This means something.  This is important."  

If you don't get it, please put this on your Netflix queue: Movie suggestion

All the great things we do for the animals is because of you!  So, please show your support and our race and festival below:

BARKTOBERFEST

September 22, 2012, Lollypop Farm from 8:30am to 3pm

http://www.lollypop.org/bfest/mikekraus

You Get the Idea...

One must always be aware of fuzzy kittens at the office...


And a farm full of cupcakes


Chance apparently likes to dress like a fireman because he doesn't like the rain


I've seen how he puts out fires.


Here's the new $855 million children's hospital I worked on for a couple of years when in Chicago.  With the move, Children's Memorial Hospital has become the Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.  This place will probably be the most fun hospital ever built and a tourist destination.  Check it out at: http://luriechildrens.org/

PS-Congrats to the Children's Memorial staff, volunteers, donors, and the countless people that made it possible for such an awesome place to exist.  I'm very proud to say I played a very minor role in something that will help generations of children attain a healthy adulthood.

Build a Better Lollypop Farm!

LOLLYPOP FARM ANNOUNCES $4.5 MILLION CAPITAL CAMPAIGNStart: May 17, 2012 08:00 AM

Fairport, NY — Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, publicly announced its $4.5 million Unleash the Dream Capital Campaign today.

The $4.5 million Unleash the Dream Capital Campaign will provide the resources needed for a renovation and expansion effort that reflects the vision for the future of Lollypop Farm. Animal adoptions, admissions, staff, and volunteers continue to increase dramatically, and Lollypop Farm is impeded by its current facilities and the lack of space needed to meet the current demand for outreach programs. Donations to the Capital Campaign will help to Build a Better Lollypop and will enable a future for animals and people where Lollypop Farm can Educate, Help, Enhance, Create, and Empower—and foster a more humane community.

"We need the help of the community to make these critical improvements to our facilities that will directly and immediately improve our ability to care for animals in Greater Rochester and educate the public," explains Alice Calabrese, CAWA, president and CEO at Lollypop Farm. “As an independent non-profit that receives no government funding, Lollypop Farm, relies entirely on support from the community to help pets in need.”

Lollypop Farm is requesting donations or pledges of support for the Capital Campaign. All gifts, great and small, will make a significant difference in our ability to complete our renovations. Funds raised enable the shelter to continue to give a second chance to thousands of animals in Rochester and surrounding areas. For more information, or to donate today, please visit www.buildabetterlollypop.org or call (585) 223-1330 x245.

Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester, is committed to building lifelong bonds between people and animals through education, community outreach, and the prevention of cruelty. Learn more at (585) 223-1330 orwww.lollypop.org.

A this means fun construction equipment outside my office!!!


Everyone gathering for the groundbreaking ceremony


Speeches


Olivia Newton Puppy and Lizzie Borden enjoying the festivities


A goat!


Somewhere behind all the cameras is Cathie Wright, Director of Development






Handing out the golden shovels and hardhats




IT HAS BEGUN!!!


Now, Alice Calabrese, President & CEO of Lollypop Farm starts to tear down the "Achy Breaky Barn."








Alice seemed to have a lot of fun!

THANK YOU to the Greater Rochester community and beyond for making it possible to improve the lives of thousands of animals!  We could not do this without your support.  For more information, please visit: www.BuildABetterLollypop.org!  And, I promise there will be a lot of updates over the next year!!!