Hot Piece of Glass

Sarah, Pete, Megan and I went down to the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York.  
Here's Megan waiting to make her own glass!  But more on that later.



Welcome!



Don't throw stones at museums made of glass...



Sarah pondering the creation of the telescope



Old telescope with a mirror from a giant telescope



Megan not following the science of glass so well



HELP!  I'm trapped in glass used for lighthouses!  



A man blowing a glass ornament in the middle of the museum



Megan blowing a piece of glass in a giant blast furnace; in a winter coat...



Pete making in through winter



"Guess the hot stuff" 



Crabby glass



The Hot Glass Show












Tower of Corning Glass!






This was something about something



The girls in front of the history of household Pyrex glass



I assume this is a Dale Chihuly sculpture


 



Time to eat.  Now, is there a place open on Sundays.  I hope so...



The Museum of Western Art



Holmes Plate 54  http://www.holmesplate.com/ Mmmmm!  Good food and OPEN ON SUNDAYS!  Pete's burger on top came with a barn full of meat.


 
BACK AT THE MUSEUM!  Sarah is listening to the worst sounds in the world made of glass!



Sarah now blowing glass












Megan's turn to blow glass!












Megan inspecting her ornament and loves it!



We just got the ornament mailed to us today (It had to cool off overnight before we could have it or else it'd break).  We're holding it hostage so Pete and Sarah will hang out with us again!



Megan's ornament!


A CHINCHILLA!  This is apparently what happens when a hamster, rabbit and squirrel mates.  Or, as I told Tachel, "the ugliest cat in the world!"



Minnie on top of her cat tower.  She use to be 24 lbs, but is down to a slim 16-20 lbs now.  She won't climb the tower when anyone is looking, so she must be pretty embarrassed.  But, she eats food faster than any other animal I've ever seen...



If you give through United Way, please remember Lollypop Farm and use Designate #1594.  For more information, please go to www.Lollypop.org/UnitedWay or turn in this pledge form to your United Way coordinator at work: Pledge Form.  Thanks!


Keep my grandma in your thoughts and prayers.  She just had surgery and hope she's healing fine. 

Waiting For a Better Title...

"Tell Us a Story"  Just a little sketchbook drawing.  Still inspired by the Renaissance.  Although, I don't have weird nymphs in the rubble and angels of doom in the sky...

Ink on paper in the ol' sketchbook...

DESK CAT!  Dee brought in a few kittens yesterday that she was dropping off for foster care.  They're only a few weeks old and will need homes once they have gained enough weight.  

This is the kind of deliveries I find in my inbox...

This kitten would like to remind you to donate your UNITED WAY gift to #1594 - Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester this year.  Here is the gift form: http://www.lollypop.org/documentview.asp?sid=&docID=759 and for more information, please go to:


http://www.lollypop.org/orgMain.asp?ssid=&orgid=200&storyTypeID=&sid=& or call (585) 223-1330 x244 or email MKraus@Lollypop.org.  THANKS!!!

It Was a Real "Dog and Pony Show"

YEAH!  The 2011 Telethon for Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester was a great success!  We raised $228,444 with the help of lots of generous donors, volunteers, and staff.  It surely will go a long way toward helping abused and homeless animals from the Rochester area.


It's not too late to donate: Lollypop Farm Telethon 



Here's my niece getting kissed by Mercy the mini-horse.  I was really excited to see this mini horse because Megan and I saw a whole show on them a few months back on one of those pet shows on a Saturday morning.  I had no idea they existed.  Some are as small as dogs and can live in your house.  



Setting up for the big day at Eastview Mall in Victor, New York.  I have officially broke every personal record for time spent at a mall last week.



My realm.  I was in charge of training and staging phone bank volunteers.  Notice the new beautiful set from Pioneer Millworks!



More setting up...



Here's a real look behind the wizard's curtain.  Here's where all the phone bank volunteer training took place.  



Joanna training the first batch of phone volunteers 



The big show is about to begin!  Alice Calabrese, president and CEO of Lollypop Farm with Norma Holland, of ABC 13 WHAM.  



More Mercy kisses



My wife with Tachel and Rich behind her head.  I saw Dave and Allison, but they took off before I could come visit with them.  Apparently, Tachel pet every dog in the mall.  What else can Uncle Mike do to try to impress his niece?  



K9 Kissing Booth.  This is on of our volunteers with a Pet Assisted Therapy dog.  They visit all kinds of homes, hospitals, and agencies serving about 9,000 people a year by providing comfort and joy through animals.  But, I do have to say this particular dog is a "flirt" went for a mouth kiss when I offered my cheek.



Next year, I may ask for a donation of a TV...



I felt like my volunteers were the stars of the show.  They were all so nice and excited to help out.  I've been a part of quite a few telethons and I have to say this group had the best handwriting I've ever seen.  From a post-telethon, data entry standpoint, that's the highest compliment you can receive.



The show is coming to an end.  That means it's time to start packing it all away and go home late for a nice long slumber.  


Again, thanks to all the generous donors in Rochester and beyond for supporting Lollypop Farm's mission!  To all the volunteers for helping in so many ways.  To the staff, particularly Debra, for putting on such a great event!

Tails of Hope!

COME ON OUT TO THE EASTVIEW MALL in Victor today to check out Lollypop Farm, the Humane Society of Greater Rochester's 15th Annual Tails of Hope Telethon. We are looking to raise $208,500 for homeless and abused animals that need your help. Plus, you can get kisses from Mercy the mini-horse for only a dollar!!!

Can't make it out? Watch ABC 13 WHAM/Rochester's CW from 3-9pm. For more information, please go to: http://www.lollypop.org/orgmain.asp?sid=&orgID=10&storyID=742

And Now For Some Hockey

THANKS TO DICK SR. FOR THE TICKETS!  Megan and I were able to see the Buffalo Sabres play the Detroit Red Wings.  It was a really good game and awesome seats!



A view of the HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo



A view from our seats.  



Sabretooth throwing out a few t-shirts



Detroit was down 2-0 in the first period.






Nacho Grande.  If you're going to get nachos, you have to get "grande" with chicken and chili. My father-in-law may think I have a hollow leg, but there was no way I could finish these.  I have met my limit...



Pavel Datsyuk scored along with Jiri Hudler with under a minute left in the game to force an overtime and a shootout!



Datsyuk scoring on Ryan Miller in the first round of the shootout



Hudler closing the game out in the second round.  Red Wings with a 3-2 come from behind win.  



The celebration



Got about 8 inches of snow the other day.  Here's the driveway of my apartment right after work.



What would a job of mine be without a telethon?  Saturday March 5th from 3-9pm, we'll be on 13 WHAM TV in Rochester broadcasting live from the Eastview Mall.  So, tune in or come on out!  Don't get 13 WHAM outside of Rochester; their will be a link to streaming video on our website: www.Lollypop.org.  So, donate early; donate often!!!