Upstate Living

TAILGATING AT RALPH WILSON!  Your choice of ribs, Philly Cheesesteak, pork tenderloin, a variety of brats and hot dogs, chicken, hamburgers, Buffalo Wings, and so much more.



Illegal Motion



When we made this walk last year for the Bills vs. Lions (a.k.a. Loser Bowl 2010 where they both tried to lose) we made this walk alone.  Amazing what a few wins can do!



I am now aware of breast cancer because I have seen so much pink.



Skydivers!  I think they jumped about 5 minutes early because he had the flag and all, but there was no national anthem.  They were talking about fan conduct or something on the PA and then he came onto the field.






The skydiver with the Bills flag missed the mark and crash landed.  Still, no national anthem...



Michael Vick about to have a really bad game.  Or as one sign read, "Awaiting a con-Vick-tion."



I'm not only a member of the Rochester Chapter of the Ruvell Martin Fan Club, but I'm also the president.  If you don't know who he is, he's the 5th wide receiver for the Bills and we went to the same high school in Muskegon, MI.  The last player I championed was Kyle Orton who later went on to QB both the Bears and Broncos until last weekend.  



It's not the first soldout Bills game I've been to, but it is the first one where people were actually in their seats watching the game and cheering.  Also, the first one I've attended that wasn't during a snow/rain mixture.



I hope it wasn't a long drive



Apple picking in Victor at The Apple Farm on 444



Where's the camera stick!



Fall in Upstate New York.  



Macoun or Cortland?  What am I, the scarecrow from Wizard of Oz?



Eve in Paradise picking apples.  Luckily for me, this Eve is really afraid of snakes.  We saw two this weekend and she almost had a heart attack.  



Apples by the bunches!



It's like living in a painting sometimes



Some kind of amazing tree.



So many apple trees.






This tree is struggling to hold all of them apples!



Bernardo's Pizza and Subs for lunch in Victor.  The pizza was really good and I'll have to get a sub the next time we're there because they looked awesome.  A great deal with huge portions.  The retro decor is amazing and I could look at all the old radios for hours.  



Still no salmon in the Irondequoit Creek.  None in Corbett's Glen either.  Last year, I missed seeing all the salmon coming up to spawn.  Now, it appears I'm too early.  If you see them jumping, let me know ASAP.  I can be at the creek in a matter of minutes!

Mike Kraus' Animal Adventures!

Here's one of the pit bull pups from a cruelty case.  When they first came in you could fit a few of couple of them in your hand.  Now look at them!  It's funny that they like to snuggle like babies until they reach about 70 lbs.



Here they are again at our meeting.  It's hard to focus on the creation of a new website for the organization when there are puppies.



I like the orange kitten's ear flopping out.



Okay...  I'm sorry...  No more taking pictures of fuzzy kitten ball...



The wildest animal of them all.  Rachel and I playing pirates where I was Capt'n Blonde Beard and she was "just a regular girl pirate."  



Oh Dock.  It's been a long road.  You were found near death on a dry dock starving and ill.  You came in my office in July with an upper respiratory infection.  You've destroyed so many office supplies and documents.  Been on more medication than I can remember.  Had a scope put up your nose to see what is going on with you and NOW YOU ARE FINALLY ABLE TO BE ADOPTED!!!



Just one of the deer in my backyard.  There were four other deer that hid behind a bush when I walked up on them.  


That's all from here.  Awaiting the results of the Tigers/Yankees series tomorrow night.  Going to the Bills/Eagles game this weekend.  Things at Lollypop Farm have been really, really good lately.  So, yeah all around!

Barktober Fest!

Barktober Fest 2011 5-mile race about to begin!  



assembling the finish line in Egypt Park, which is right next to Lollypop Farm.



Runners warming up next to the "Barking Lot," which is where runners can leave their dogs while they race.






Lollypup and Kitty O'Cat entertaining the runners before we start.



Paul from PCR Timing giving final instructions for the timing chips at the start line.



On your mark, get set, GO!



Lollypup and Kitty O'Cat practicing for the winner



Karen Blodgett is the overall winner with a time of 30:18.9!!!



After the 200+ person race, time to go to the festival portion of Barktober Fest and the award ceremony



You can't have any event without a bounce house in Rochester.  I have to say that these are some pretty impressive bounce houses.



MERCY THE MINI HORSE!!!  (For those who watch Parks & Recreation, our love affair of Mercy is very similar to Lil' Sebastian)



Dog agility demonstration!



The band rockin' out.


It was a great day for the animals as we were able to raise $122,600.  A big, awesome "thumbs up" to Karen for pulling this off.  THANK YOU to all the volunteers who poured countless hours into creating Barktober Fest.  GREAT JOB to all our vendors and sponsors that made the race possible by providing materials.  THANK YOU to all my co-workers for assisting with volunteers, getting volunteers to the right places, accounting, troubleshooting, and so very much more.  And THANK YOU to my friends and family for your generosity and support.  THANK YOU!!!   THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!!  THANK YOU!!!  

The Adventures of Petey and _____

Megan on the "buttflower" at Cobbles Elementary School.  We went over to there with Tachel last weekend and all of us agreed that many kids must get injured on this playground.  And the thing Megan is riding is a physics experiment gone mad!



Judy as Vanna White showing off the copy machine.  Rumors of this copier ran rampant throughout the organization.  Unfortunately, this is just a loaner at this point.  We still get to keep the old Toshiba with over a million copies.  What will the future hold?



Dock and Neville.  Neville has a clean bill of health and a family.  YEAH!  Dock has neither.  BOO!



If only this wasn't blurry.  Maybe I'll have to do something like this to the ol' Nissan Versa. 


 
The newest member of the Lollypop family is Petey!  He's been adopted by Dee (and apparently the rest of the staff) and he could be any breed you could imagine.  Maybe even part Panda...






This is not a real dog.  It's just a stuffed animal...


FINAL WEEK! I'm helping organize the run/walk at Barktober Fest, which is this SATURDAY!  Lots of food, activities, and stuff if you want to come out to Egypt Park (next to Lollypop Farm).  And, if you like to donate to help homeless and abused animals, please visit: http://lollypop.kintera.org/barktoberfest/mike

Wedding Libre

Who I was meant to be!



This about sums it up.  The Bell family wedding that is...



St. Mary's church in downtown Rochester.  A lot like the St. Mary's church in downtown Muskegon.  Too bad they whitewashed the whole inside because it looks like it has an incredible paint job underneath.  



Geva Theatre.  No photos allowed inside of On Golden Pond.  May I say "THE LOONS!  THE LOONS!!!"  I've never seen the movie before so I can't compare.  The theater was a lot nicer than I expected and it was well performed.  I'm no expert on these things, but luckily my wife is and you can ask her opinion about it.



PLEASE SUPPORT THESE PUPPIES and other animals of Lollypop Farm by donating to my page for Barktober Fest 2011 at:  http://lollypop.kintera.org/ba
rktoberfest/mike I'm helping organize the run/walk and will be running around with a bullhorn, air horn, and a starter pistol.  So, fun for the whole family!

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend with Tachel!



The best way to babysit is to put the child in a burrito.  She had her first day of school without sparkle pants today



Burritos are only fun until the babysitter ends up in one



LET ME OUT!!!



Here's the other kid we had to babysit this weekend...



Jordan, James, Kraus...


 
The Aquahoop was tested out and next summer it will be amazing!



Oh yeah!  Puppy time!



So much calmer when they get spayed...






I don't know what happened to Dock.  He just seemed to pass out in the cat condo.



I'll leave you to ponder the wolf hat.


As always, I'm asking for your support at Barktober Fest 2011.  I'll be organizing the runners and walkers this year.  I may shoot the pistol to start the race.  So, help me help homeless and abused animals at:  http://lollypop.kintera.org/barktoberfest/mike