OH NO! SPRING IS HERE!

"OH NO!  SPRING IS HERE" said the surprised snowman in the garbage...


Sunday breakfast with my wife at Riki's Family Restaurant (http://www.rikisfamilyrestaurant.com/) on Main St in Fairport.  A "Riki Omelet" with Italian sausage, cream and cheddar cheese.  Don't mind if I do!


Megan's Frittata.  We've been fortunate at finding some good diners around our new home lately.


After a hearty breakfast, thought we'd walk it off checking out the Village of Fairport.


The Erie Canal


The one-lane Parker Street Bridge


First Congressional United Church of Fairport (http://www.fairportucc.org/).  Unfortunate that they couldn't put the power lines underground...


Another beautiful church with power lines on, appropriately enough, Church Street.  This is Fairport Community Baptist Church (http://www.fairportcommunity.org/)

The Green Lantern Inn (http://www.thegreenlanterninn.com/) in the Henry DeLand House (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_DeLand_House)


Old gas station at Church and Main Streets


First Baptist Church of Fairport (http://www.fairportbaptistchurch.org/)




Town Hall


The true Stairway To Heaven.  To know more than you even wanted to know about the Fairport Life Bridge go to: http://www.eriecanal.org/Fairport.html


MOUSE PAINT!


Not bad looking for an 188 year old...




I didn't know they had a charging station at the Penfield Library.  What a happy little Nissan Leaf.


Even in death, John Nichols wants to remind everyone that he's #1. 

Since it was old and close, Megan and I decided to check out the Oakwood Cemetery at Baird Road and Whalen Road next to the library in Penfield.




Being from the Midwest, it still amazes me that people were doing anything around here in 1829.  My home state of Michigan didn't join the Union until 1837.


"I'd like to introduce you to my daughter; the lovely Delight Goats..."





Irondequoit Creek in Spring Lake Park.  Why is it called Spring Lake Park when there's no lake?  Well, there use to be a dam on Irondequoit Creek near about where East Linden Avenue crosses and created a lake.  The dam broke, I believe, sometime in the 1940s and most of the area that use to be underwater is now a park.


A couple of kittens in the new clinic at Lollypop Farm


Our new holding area for cats receiving medical treatment.  And that light coming from the back of the cages is the windows so they can look at all the birds and goats outside.  Pretty swanky.


Prep area


This explains some of the phone calls I've been getting...


I believe this cat was pondering the meaning of life when I took this picture.  He seemed very deep in thought.


The construction continues, as this guy dragracing his Skyjack in parking lot shows.

Enjoy the nice weather and I'll see you next time!

Random Randomness

Gertie is back for more adventures with Megan and Mike.  Just look at those eyes.  They say "I will wake you up all night and steal your pillow!"



Snowman with a dog food rainbow.  Hmmm...



Megan came home with Stinky Gringo Margarita's to celebrate our upcoming trip to Florida.  36 proof and 18% alcohol...  That will do it...



Geez Louise looking like she had a few Stinky Gringo's herself.  



Some really funny kittens at Lollypop Farm.


And...  Done...

Humboldt Park: The Movie

They are filming a movie in my neighborhood. Here's the article:

"There's no shortage of movies shot in town, but it's rare that one has its heart rooted as squarely in the city as the forthcoming 'Humboldt Park.' Produced by local-boys-made-good Robert Teitel and George Tillman, Jr., of State Street Pictures--which has also produced such films as 'Soul Food,' 'Men of Honor' and 'Barber Shop'--'Humboldt Park' ups the local love factor by bringing in Humboldt Park native Freddy Rodriguez to star, and will be shot entirely in the neighborhood starting this month. That's enough to make us want to go see it already, but, for those who need more: Directed by Alfredo De Villa (Washington Heights), the comedy-drama tells the story of a first- and-second- generation Puerto Rican-American family as the various members return home for the holidays to Humboldt Park and, like many of us, work on sorting out their functionally dysfunctional lives. Rodriguez plays a Marine with a heart of gold returning from a tour in Iraq while John Leguizamo has signed on to play his go-get-'em Manhattan-lawyer brother. While the film promises to entertain and is filled with laughs, it's not all fun and games, as one question it poses is: What happens when the family you thought you could always fall back on begins to change? Even Chicagoans will have to wait and see.


Megan and Noah contemplating Scrabble


FRANCES! I CHALLENGE YOUR USE OF THE WORD "TRON!!!!"


Noah, Frances, and Megan understand that drinking makes Scrabble interesting


Noah changes things up with Chutes and Ladders.


One of many recent snow storms in Chicago


Katherine, our Georgia Peach, is excited about snow and we gave he instructions on how to build a proper snowman at Goldies.


Nick throws the best Halloween parties. Too bad I showed up fully dressed the day after...


She's a quick learner.


Katherine and Nick


MORE SNOW!! AND MORE COMING TONIGHT!!!

That's it and thanks to Megan for letting me use her camera and all others who offered.

Mike

My Half-Hour Story...

It's Monday and that means three things 1) laundry day 2) shaving day 3) blog posting day. It has come to my attention that some of you don't think I write enough. I'll work on that...

Mike Nummerdor and I went to funny named bar on Fullerton the other night and tested out there assortment of fine $2 beers. America beer won my vote for taste and presentation.
The best thing about this bar was that it is a jazz club. There's no cover and there's cheap drinks. Oh yeah, we were the only customers as well. It's a great place to become a regular.
Here's the experimental jazz band.
Ronan, a fine Irishman, is going back to Ireland for x-mas. So, we went to this Polish bar on Division. I would tell you the name, but it has three of them. It's either 1) Monica's Lounge 2) Theresa's Place, or 3) Something in Polish. Either way, it was another great dive bar where a bar fight broke out among "the regulars." Good times!
This is all nice and sweet, but I don't trust that gnome for a second...
Heading home from work on the Damen Blue Line stop.
Another holiday display near Amanda Talmadge's apartment. They seem to be on speed or ex or something...
The evil Santa Clause.
This is Amanda's cat Niko (or Neeko, Neco, Nico, or something). Nice cat, but watch the claws.
Frances meets up with Mr. Carpet on the way to Goldie's on Lincoln. Man, that bar is way awesome. The beer and liquor is cheap, they let you bring in or have food delivered to the bar and provide you with menus, no douchebags, video games on a big screen, and a relaxed atmosphere.
Frances and Amanda on the way to the California Clipper to meet up with the rest of the gang.
Frances in her "Virgin Mary" pose.
Frances at the California Clipper.
Some honky tonk band at the Clipper.

I't should be a really good week. Tuesday, I'm not getting anything done at work because I have a breakfast meeting as soon as I get there, a departmental holiday party soon after, and then the company party at 5pm at some architecture firm in the West Loop. Wednesday will be much the same, but recovering from the hangover and getting ready for vacation. Then, I have the next week off. I'll be heading back home at some point and look to have a good time with my friends. Hope to see you all soon!

xoxo,

Mike