How Many Milestones Can You Cram Into a Week?

My start date at Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester was moved up a week. So, I've been very, very busy the last few days.  Let's start by giving everyone my new contact information:

Mike Kraus

Annual Giving Manager

Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester

585.223.1330 x244

MKraus@Lollypop.org

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus 

And now for the blog!

Rochester Americans (Amerks) vs. the Binghamton Senators.

Nice shot of the Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial



This goal judge is probably the most stoic man in all of minor league hockey...



FIGHT!



WHO WANTS A T-SHIRT OR FRISBEE!!!  WHO DOESN'T!!!






It was the Moose's birthday on the 13th.



Takes a shot...



Then took a shot...



Lemoncello in East Rochester.  Pretty good sandwiches near our apartment where we met up with Sarah and Pete for lunch



If I said this was the craziest thing I saw while looking at open houses this past week I would be lying.  There was lots of great artwork in many homes.  There was one home that had more faux rocks, paneling, and other similar things on the walls than I knew existed.  If only I could have taken pics...



Megan fulfilled a V-Day tradition of mine, which is the February 15th candy buying spree.  If I have kids, they will be very confused when we celebrate x-mas on Dec. 26th, Easter Monday, and so on...



What?  You've never seen a Valentine fish in a tux before?  What means love to you?



My first car.  A 2008 Nissan Versa.  It seems my days of riding public transportation are over.  At least it's bright white and has bike tires...


That's it for now.  Let me know if you need a pet because I know where you find one...

CONGRATS TO ME!!! (A shameless self-congratulations)

CONGRATULATIONS MIKE!!!

I am the new Annual Giving Manager of Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester (www.Lollypop.org).  It's a great organization that's been helping all kinds of creatures since 1873.  At their wonderful facility, they provide tons of programs and services for dogs, cats, horses, sheep, goats, rabbits, fish, turtles and their owners.  It's a great opportunity for me personally and I'm super excited to be a part of the team.  I have lots of people to thank.  Especially Megan, Jerry, Jennie, Mary, and so many more!


To make a donation to Lollypop Farm, please go to:
How you can help


Enough patting myself on the back.  But, I figure if Hollywood can do it several times a year, I can do it once every five years or so.  ONWARD TO THE REST OF THE BLOG!!!



While I went to volunteer training at Lollypop, Megan went to Bristol Mountain to teach Tachel how to ski.  Here she is with her dad.



She can even pose for pictures on skis.  



Dad towing Tachel down the mountain.  



Megan had a gala for work for Wilson Commencement Park (http://www.wilsoncommencementpark.org/), an inspiring organization helping Rochester families become self-sufficient, held at ArtisanWorks (http://www.artisanworks.net/).  This place is a 40,000 square foot warehouse packed with all kinds of great things.  It's like a much, much, larger version of my childhood bedroom.  



There was so much to look at that I felt like I saw nothing.  I kept finding paintings, sculptures, photos, etc. in areas I frequently walked in.



The Frank Lloyd Wright room.  Not sure if this is a replica an artist made or if this is a salvage from a house that was torn down.  I'll have to check with Katherine, an FLW preservation expert, for more information.



up the narrow staircase



A view of the dining room



Our only purchase is this GIANT eagle.  Really look at the scale of this thing.  The painting in the bottom right corner is huge.  The pedestal it is sitting on is a full bar.  It will look beautiful in our apartment livingroom...



Lots of taxidermy.  This is an alligator eating a zebra, of course!



Lots of people with lots of art!  Plus, good food.  We met a great couple at dinner.  They were pretty fun and interesting.  Hopefully we'll bump into them again at another event.



a painting of Megan with a monkey on her head



Atlas, (http://www.atlasband.com/) rocked the house!



Highlight of the night was our conversation with R. Carlos Carballada, acting mayor for the City of Rochester and neighborhood and business development commissioner (for those not in Rochester, our mayor left for state government and there's been lots of issues in replacing him and multiple mayors and all).  Really nice guy.  Congratulated Megan on her work, gave me some career advice, thanked us for moving to Rochester.  


Well, that's it for now.  But, lots of stuff on my plate these days.  I've got a play tonight, volunteering and school committee meeting tomorrow, Amerks hockey game on Friday, car shopping this weekend, Valentine's Day and probably a lot more I've left out.  

Snowpocalypse or Snow What?

I hope everyone is having a good snow day today.  It was predicted that we were going to get 14+ inches of snow and that the world was going to end.  Well, we might have two inches out there.  Good thing we don't live in Chicago anymore.  There's a chance of freezing rain later, so that may justify all the hype about the weather for the past week...  Anyway...



Jason Pominville Bobblehead Night for the Rochester Amerks (http://www.amerks.com) last Friday!  YES!!!


 
Not only were their bobbleheads, but it was Hall of Fame Night too.  Don Stevens and Doug Houda were inducted into the Amerks Hall of Fame.  For more info on that, go to: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20110129/SPORTS02/101290322/Houda-Stevens-join-Rochester-Amerks-Hall-of-Fame






Stevens and Houda in front of all the fans



Amerks pulled out a 2-1 victory over the Manitoba Moose



Intermission Pee-Wee Hockey!  Last time, the kids could barely stand up.  This time, these kids were almost in the minor leagues.



I believe Kraus is shooting.  I do not know this Kraus...



Megan's giant cookie!



I got a frisbee sponsored by Airport Transmission! 



Having flashbacks to my sister skating as a California Raisin during the Muskegon Fury game.  I wonder if that video is on YouTube?



These are the Mirror Images



These guys apparently dance at every game to Cotton Eye Joe by the Rednex.  Hmmmm....  Next game is February 11th against the Binghamton Senators (looks like Jerry and I need to place a bet).  It's also Valentine's Night with a special mystery puck.  Not only that, but there will be an Amerk wall decal givaway!  It will be the best Valentine's Day ever for my lady!!!


 
Megan and I went to the Monroe County Executive's Ball at the Riverside Convention Center. Thanks Rich!



Megan sticking to the priorities



mmmm...  desserts...



Pretty nice convention center.  But, it's like the convention center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  It's on the river, but doesn't have windows to look at this wonderful natural feature.  In GR, it's used as a fire escape.  Maybe I was just on the wrong side of the building...






"Hell Yeah Maggie!"  The lady of the hour, Maggie Brook.  She's the County Executive of Monroe County, New York and out on the dance floor.  I didn't realize she was in one of my photos until I uploaded it and she was in the corner.  Hence, the reason it is so grainy and looks like it's from a bad spy movie.  So, I can check her off my list of local politicians I've seen along with former Mayor Bob Duffy.  



The Ruby Shoes.  What is that logo, you ask?  I don't know either.  It could be a rose...  Anyone else have a guess?


 
The party is over.  Go home!



Olivia at Lollypop Farm, telling me I'm working too hard on the Raiser's Edge database.  She already has a wonderful home and comes to work almost every day.  I like that she rolls over for snacks.



Here's "Minnie."  Definitely not "Mini" since she use to weigh 24 lbs.  Now why you mostly see is sagging skin.  A very nice lazy cat though and we're just waiting to see if she has a nice home to go back to.  



Lizzie would not look at me except sideways.  I think she's mad because I didn't have food or something.  


That's about it.  Not too much going on this upcoming week.  Another interview, volunteer training at Lollypop while my lady goes skiing, the gala at Wilson Commencement Park, and probably a few other things as well...