$685 / 1br - 800ft² - Quiet One Bedroom Apartment (Penfield, NY/Panorama Plaza)

Quiet and spacious first floor one bedroom apartment available near Panorama Plaza. Great location--near schools, expressway, shopping and parks. Ample parking available, plus one garage space. December rent FREE.  $685 + utilities.


Livingroom looking out on porch




porch overlooking park-like setting


Large bedroom.


Good sized kitchen with lots of storage space (fridge and lots more cabinets on right out of photo range.  Sorry)


If interested, contact me at: MikeKKraus@gmail.com

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!!!

This Long National Nightmare Is Finally Over...

After two very, very long years of looking.  Many, many declined offers.  Failed inspections.  And about a billion other issues, we finally have a home:


Here I am with my very, super excited little wife in front of our little home on 41 Woodside in Penfield


A fireplace in the living room.  


The kitchen.  


First floor bathroom.  Under the vanity has a lot of lost little kid items


Master bedroom


Family room entrance and hutch



rest of the family room


Another bedroom on the second floor



Another bedroom upstairs


The world's most beautiful yellow bathroom.  This picture really doesn't do justice to it...


I'll be adopting a lot of goats to mow this lawn.


Home sweet home!

There are about a million people we have to thank for making it possible for us to even have a home.  It's crazy how long it took and quickly it all ended.  YEAH!

An Ode To Babysitting

"Where does he get those wonderful toys?"  From Aunt Meg and Uncle Mike's of course!  And what better way to go for a walk around the neighborhood than in a Batman mask.  This girl owns my heart.


I am required to write: "WHAT A STRANGE BOY!"


Drawing mermaids and Ren & Stimpy-esque portraits of each other



Dedicated to her art or mesmerized by the Eagles losing to the Cowboys?  Your call...


So much cupcake covering her hands.  She's almost as bad as me...

That's all from Rochester.  I just realized Thanksgiving is next week.  So, got to figure that all out.  Anyway

I'm Mike Kraus and I Approve This Message

YEAH!  The bricks are in at Lollypop thanks to all the good people at Zaretsky and Associates Landscaping http://www.zaretskyassociates.com/!!!  Between injuries and hurricanes, it took a lot to put these in the ground.  I can't wait to tell our excited donors they are in!






And a quick update on the construction.  It's going up fast.  I saw some masonry on the clinic in the back and the roofing being installed.  It won't be long before these will be occupied!
Not much else to report.  I've been super, super busy lately.  So, I'm boring...

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.

Welcome To Pittsburgh: Buckle Up Next Million Miles

Megan and I on a half-work trip to Pittsburgh!


The most scenic rest stop in Erie


View from our hotel


The August Wilson Center http://www.augustwilsoncenter.org/ in the rays of Jesus' light




Superman's Fortress of Solitude (aka PPG Place) at Market Square






Had a great lunch at Nola's http://www.nolaonthesquare.com/.  A little bit of gumbo and a chicken po boy


Megan had the Muffaletta and French Onion Soup.  Great people watching too!


Hanging out in Market Square.  A gathering place desperately missing from downtown Rochester.  Take notes...  There will be more later as well




Jesus guy




So wonderful it doesn't look real


United Steelworkers building.  


A nice plaza that tricked us into thinking it lead to Point State Park


Here we are.  Point State Park http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_State_Park, which is at the intersection of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers



The Fort Pitt Blockhouse.  This was also the site of Fort Duquesne


"The House That Ketchup Built: Heinz Field" http://www.steelers.com/ 


The Carnegie Science Center http://www.carnegiesciencecenter.org/



Fort Duquesne Bridge.  I have to say that in a world gone beige, I really appreciate the use of yellow on the bridges.  



Autumn is her season...



Crossing the Fort Pitt Bridge


Point Park from the bridge.


The Duquesne Incline funicular http://www.duquesneincline.org/


Can you tell she's getting tire of me taking pictures of her? 




Reminds me of the trams in Portugal




They don't build them like this anymore!


Yikes!  I'm not a big fan of heights and all I thought the whole way up was "I hope the cable doesn't snap."


Inside the station at the top


The workings of the cable car or a good album cover (do they still have those?)



 
If you look real closely under the cable car, you will see a guy with a Tide bottle full of grease lubricating the cable/rail.  


SEE HIM!!!


On top of Mount Washington


Not a bad view...


Heinz Field again...


Everywhere we go on trips, Bill Clinton has been there before us...


If we had a buzillion dollars and a second home in Pittsburgh, we'd settle for this place.


St. Mary of the Mount Church.  


Panorama of downtown




First Mining of Pittsburgh Coal and many other facts from these signs ahead!


From an era when American's knew how to design cities...


Nice skeleton family hanging out on the porch


St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Southside Church.  


The Southside Market House


Getting a drink at the Beehive Coffee House http://www.beehivebuzz.com/index1.html

The Southside Neighborhood reminded us a lot of Wicker Park in Chicago before it was taken over by The Real World/Starbucks/American Apparel etc.  


Destined to be Ronan's new favorite bar





The "Bridge of Sighs" at the Allegheny County Courthouse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny_County_Courthouse










Homemade Kaya Chips and Mango-Tomatillo Salsa at Kaya Restaurant http://www.bigburrito.com/kaya/


Megan's Torta was really good!


But, I went with the Kaya Burger.  I learned a long time ago to go with whatever has the restaurants name in the title of the food.  It was right and beautiful!


Megan and I watching Monday Night Football (Bears vs. Lions) at Lefty's after a couple "Strong Island Ice Teas."  



River walk at the David Lawrence Convention Center


Roberto Clemente/Sixth Street Bridge http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Clemente_Bridge



Most masculine bridge ever


Beyond teh Cheat?  Should I be upset about this?

Byham Theater Building


This is the dome inside the Hotel at the Byham Theater Building (or whatever it is called. Sorry)


PNC Park: Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=pit&sv=1


Seems like a pretty nice stadium.  A bit too much surface parking lots around for my taste, but otherwise, nice


Honus Wagner http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honus_Wagner


Willie Stargell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Stargell


Roberto Clemente http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roberto_Clemente


Live long and prosper.  It's the Vulcan Way...


If it wasn't a beautiful 75-80 degree day in October, I'd probably thought of going inside the Andy Warhol Museum.  Next time...  Same with the National Aviary...


You wouldn't think this river walk path was in the heart of an urban metropolis, would you?


16th Street Bridge.  I learned a hard lesson about Pittsburgh on this day.  If you plan to cross the river, please check to make sure a bridge exists beyond the one you are currently walking by.




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/16th_Street_Bridge_(Pittsburgh)

 
The Unkillable Human


Old Heinz Factory turned office/loft complex




The view from Herr's Island.  Notice the 16th Street Bridge.  The next bridge I saw was the 31st Street Bridge and it was missing part of its span.  I saw no bridge after that...  A long walk back...


The almost famous Primanti Bros. http://primantibros.com/home.html


Union Station.  If you don't think this is impressive, you should see what Detroit let happen to theirs.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Station_(Pittsburgh)
compare:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Central_Station


Consol Energy Center: Home of the Pittsburgh Penguins. http://penguins.nhl.com/  Too bad the NHL is in a lockout.  Also, because of Google Maps I thought the Igloo (Civic Arena) still existed and was really excited to see it.  I knew it was next door, but after a couple of laps realized it was turned into a parking lot...


Mario Lemieux statue


DON'T JUMP!!!  St. Benedict the Moor Church


Back on the Northside with some timely World Series Baseball history


Can you guess who this is?


It's Mr. Rogers.  A very lumpy day in the neighborhood


Just to give you perspective on how large this statue really is


And how close it came to killing me...

 
The USS Requin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Requin_(SS-481)


Gateway Clipper passing the Clemente Bridge http://www.gatewayclipper.com/



Allegheny Cotton Mill Strikes sounds like they happened just yesterday


Rochester could have a river walk like this that would be twice as nice with little effort.





Ultimate BBQ Potato Chips at Diamond Market Bar.  http://diamondmarketgrill.com/


Walkway under the Lawrence Convention Center


Crazy waterfall during the day at the Lawrence Convention Center


A sign to the Cell Phone Disco: My Own Personal Hell http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/computing/2010/fall/cell-phone-disco.shtml


Strip District Meats would be a very different place in Chicago (or most other places really)


Flashing Steady: My new band and album cover (seriously, do they have covers on MP3s?)


French Toast and a Western Omelet at Deluca's Diner.  


Is the ketchup bottle half full or half empty at the Heinz History Center?  http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/


Lewis and Clark in Pittsburgh?  I didn't know that.  


Goodbye Pittsburgh!  I was completely surprised by how great of a city it is.  Will have to go back and check out all the things I missed!