CHILI CHALLENGE!

Victor Chili Challenge hosted by the Victor Merchants Association (http://www.victorldc.org/)  


Mmmm...  This was from Cole & Parks (http://coleandparks.com/) at Victor Coal & Lumber (http://www.victorcoalandlumber.com/).  It was a very good steak and chipotle chili that was hearty.  And, I now have a new found love of eating in hardware stores.


The Game Gamut (http://www.thegamegamut.com/) hosted Mickey Finn's (http://www.mickeyfinnsrestaurant.com/).  It was a pretty tasty chili with some kick.  Plus, everyone will be getting board games for christmas as I already found something for everyone next year.


The Burger Shack (http://www.burgershackgrill.com/) hosted Chef Chase.  What I learned walking in was they have a Best Plate Challenge where you eat their version of a "garbage plate" (http://rocwiki.org/Garbage_Plates) in 20 minutes and you get a T-shirt.  Little do they know that I have a hollow leg...


Grandpa Bob's Old Fashioned Candy Store (http://pennycandy.me/Candy_Store/Welcome.html) hosted Legacy at Fairways (http://www.legacyrochester.com/legacy.php?location=victor&section=about).  I wish I knew the name of their chef because he had the most gourmet chili I've ever had.  In fact, he won "Most Creative Chili" in the overall competition.  

 
Hopper Hills Floral and Gifts (http://www.hopperhills.com/) hosted the Thirsty Turtle (http://thirstyturtlebar.com/), which won for "Spicey Beef."


Jon Bon Jovi's Music?  No chili here; just rock and roll


First Presbyterian Church of Victor (http://www.victorpres.org/).  No chili here either; just God and a beautiful church..


Apparel Printers Plus (http://www.apparelprintersplus.com/) hosted Bernardo's Pizza & Subs (http://www.facebook.com/BernadosPizzaAndSubs?fref=ts).  Dave's chili won "Most Unique Flavor," but I think it should have won overall best.  It had a great flavor with a little kick.  And, probably the highest quality beef ever in a competition.  



Southeast corner of Maple Ave and East Main St.


Northeast corner of Moore Ave and East Main St.  They are so fortunate to have this village still intact.


The Black Diamond hosted Chef Kevin.  This bar reminded me of home...

To recap, the winners of the Victor Chili Challenge were:

Bistro 11 - Best Overall
Thirsty Turtle -Spicey Beef!
Legacy - Most Creative
Bernardo's - Most Unique Flavor
Bistro 11 - Poultry
Soup Spoon - Vegetarian
Bistro 11 - The People's Choice


Beautiful Building at Moore Ave and West Main St.  


And, since it was such a great weekend outside, we walked over to W Commercial St in East Rochester just to see what was going on.


Another mural on Andrews St between Clinton Ave and St. Paul St.  
Hope you enjoyed the nice weather while it was here!

A Little Piggy Told Me We Reached Our Goal At Telethon

Our goal was to raise $234,000 and we reached $236,654!  Thanks to all of the wonderful volunteers, staff, and friends of Lollypop Farm who made it possible!


The set


Big donation on a big check.  I wish banks offered these as an option for check books.  I'd love to pay my bills and groceries with one of these.


Never underestimate the power of puppies to put a crowd into a trance!  

Oh Tim, what a wonderful backhanded comment to your fellow retail team.  I always aim to be "not the worst ________" in all I do...


Petpalooza Dog Car!  I'll have to ask how much it cost to do this.  Something like this needs to be done to my ride. 


PIGLETS!!!


"We are so little and oinky!"


A pig pile under the heat lamp.  


Thanks Adrienne for providing me a website to look up Rochester graffiti at: http://wall-therapy.com.  This is "Bears" by ROA (http://unurth.com/filter/ROA) located at St. Paul Street and Pleasant Street.  Where...  Do...  I...  Begin...

That's it for now.  Off to see Book of Mormon (http://www.rbtl.org/). 

Lollypop Farm Telethon 2013 Today!

Join us as we celebrate our 17th year of Lollypop Farm’s Telethon, our largest fundraising event for homeless and abused animals in our community. This annual animal extravaganza will be broadcast live from Eastview Mall on 13 WHAM-TV, Rochester's CW, and 13wham.com from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m.. - See more at: http://www.lollypop.org/site/c.clKUI9OQIoJcH/b.8484615/k.352D/Telethon_2013.htm#sthash.RlryD2Lq.dpuf

The six-hour broadcast will showcase the diverse and meaningful work Lollypop Farm performs each and every day. Celebrate our far-reaching community programs, successful adoptions and hear stories of some of the special animals that have touched our lives.

Your support is critical! All funds raised help Lollypop Farm care for homeless and abused pets and continue to bring valuable services—including humane education, cruelty investigations, and much more—to the Rochester community.

Make a difference in the lives of homeless animals with your Telethon donation. Remember—every dollar raised stays in the Rochester community and helps change a pet's life for the better. See how your donation is put to work:

$25 = Spay/Neuter one animal
$50 = Purchases surgical instrument trays
$100 = Purchases animal capture gloves
$200 = Purchases a veterinary heating pad
$500 = Allows for surgical and rehabilitation of one animal cruelty victim

- See more at: http://www.lollypop.org/site/c.clKUI9OQIoJcH/b.8484615/k.352D/Telethon_2013.htm#sthash.RlryD2Lq.dpuf

Growing Our Family

For a couple of years, Megan and I have struggled with infertility.  After lots of consideration, we have decided to start the process of adopting a child.  At this time, we are taking classes, filing out tons of paperwork, having home inspections before we seek the right child for our family.  

There are lots of questions you may have about adoption and here are some links that may help:

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/ - The award-winning national adoption magazine is the leading adoption information source for families before, during, and after adoption. 

http://www.creatingafamily.org/ - A blog that provides education and resources for infertility and adoption

http://www.representmag.org/ - The Voice of Youth in Foster Care 

http://www.adoptionlearningpartners.org/ - Adoption Learning Partners offers an array of interactive, e-learning courses that will increase each participant's understanding of the joys and challenges of adoption.

http://www.adopt.org/ - Their inspiration comes from the belief that "there are no unwanted children, just unfound families" 

Once we have finished our classes and inspections, we will re-evaluate our situation.  If we decide to proceed, the waiting period can range from a couple of months to a few years for us to be matched.  In the meantime, your support will mean a lot to us.  We're excited about starting our family and hope you'll welcome our child when he or she finally arrives!

If you have any questions for us, please feel free to contact me at: MikeKKraus@gmail.com

Sincerely,

Mike and Megan

A Horse Is a Horse Unless of Course

I think he thought I had food for him.  The disappointment he must have experienced when he realized it was only a camera...


Heeey Wilbur...


Deer were celebrating President's Day in my back yard.  Nothing like making a pot of coffee and having nature come to you.


My neighbor is my inspiration.  He builds all of these snow forts and other creations.  It's only a matter of time before our yard looks like it's from Calvin & Hobbes.


Mural on the backside of the Catholic Family Center building in downtown Rochester.  I couldn't find anything on it.  Not sure if it was commissioned or anything.  Anyone who knows about it can put it in the comments.


That's all I can really report at this time.  So it goes...

It's Snow Problem

SNOWSTORM NEMO!  This was on my very, very slow commute home.  I think I counted 4 separate car accidents (including a semi vs ambulance).


Lots of pretty trees...






Ugh...  Shoveling...




First shovel break:  Let me take a second to snap a pic of the house


Second shovel break: Another shot.  Man, how much snow is there.  I am literally only cleaning out a one foot clearing around my subcompact...


In the pine, in the pines...


Megan and I didn't realize this when we bought the house, but we are in the township of Narnia.

Speaking of which, I just finished the epic Harry Potter collection.  I have to say that it was better than I expected.  But, I didn't realize how much I didn't really understand from the movies.  I guess you have to leave some stuff out when you write 1,000 page tomes.  

Thanks to Pete and Simon for fulfilling my need of hanging out playing video games and eating junk food.  It is truly the only way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Master of the House... Doling Out the Charm

"Are you going to eat all of that?"


"NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"


Please check the recycling before placing it at the curb.


Checking out the Mexican restaurant, Itacate, at the end of our street.  I have to say, great location.

Some kind of pork thing.  Don't remember what, but it was good.  I had a burrito that hit the spot.  A nice way to start a date before watching Les Misérables, which was pretty good even if Megan didn't care for Russell Crowe.


St. Joseph Church ruins in downtown Rochester.  The facade was preserved after a massive fire.  It's one of my favorite buildings in the region.  Something unique and saving a piece of local history.


From preserving the past to promoting the future.  The ground has broke on the new Regional Transit Service (RTS) Transit Center and will open in 2015.  A way better land use for downtown than a black tar desert surface parking lot that it replaced.  


Master of the house, keeper of the zoo
Ready to relieve 'em of a sou or two
Watering the wine, making up the weight
Pickin' up their knick-knacks when they can't see straight
Everybody loves a landlord
Everybody's bosom friendI do whatever pleases
Jesus! Won't I bleed 'em in the end!

"So, that's the song George Costanza sings in that episode of Seinfeld..."