WE'RE OUTSIDE THE LINES!!! HAHAHA!

Who needs Flutie Flakes when you can have MariO's?  Seriously, one of the huge advantages to signing with the Buffalo Bills is the possibility of having your own cereal.  

Winding down to the last fire of the year...

Zweigle's red and white hot over an open flame.  

More home improvement.  This is the before picture.

This is the after.  Not too much.  Just painted the wall above the tile white to soften it up a little bit.  The matching yellow wall kind of burned out your retinas.  

And, a "before" of our front door.

I'm not going to call this an "after" picture because this is getting redone.  The red paint isn't sticking.  So, I'll probably have to strip it, prime it, and sand it all over again because the base is non-absorbent (as you can tell by the missing chunks on the left).  But, someday, this is what it will look like.

"Before" front door

Not an "after" front door...

Last, but not least.  Watched Gertie for a night.  I think she was looking for Dick and Marianne  the whole time.  

That's it for me until the Detroit Tiger's faceoff against Oakland A's in the playoffs starting Friday.  Might splurge and make myself some "Famous Prince Fielder Nachos."

Clowns + Katie + Rachel = Hashtag Awesome

Many of you have seen this already, but...  Megan balancing on a clown's face while he was lying in broken glass.  True story about the kickoff to the Rochester Fringe Festival at the Spiegeltent.  

Clown: "Now, stand on his ear."

Megan: "Do I have to?"

Clown: "Yes, right between here and here on his head...  Both feet"

Megan: "BOTH FEET!?!?!"

Clown: "Yep.  There you go."

Megan: "Ewww.  No!  I don't like it..."

Outside of the Spiegeltent

Megan and Rachel at Irondequoit Creek hiking around looking for seeds from plants we like. Such a pretty smile.

"Excuse me waiter, but I ordered the large beer."  I didn't expect a Super Mugs like the ones at the Mutiny in Chicago.  Anyway, Katie came to visit us on a very rainy weekend.  We are enjoying our beverages at the Monte Alban (http://www.montealbangrill.com/) just in case you want a really large beer. 

I missed out on breakfast at Steve's...  At least there were some left over Snicker pancakes with a drawing when I got home.  

Not much else to report on... 

Robarge Family Graves

St. Mary's Cemetery is located at 1915 Park Street (just of Laketon Avenue near US-31 (Seaway Drive)) in Muskegon, Michigan.  I thought this might be useful for others trying to find members of the Robarge/Roberge family. The roots of this family can be traced back to Jacques Roberge (abt 1610 - aft 1651 of Rouen, Normandy, France) and Claudine Buret (abt 1610 - aft 1651 St. Germainele, Vasson, Normandy, France)   There are a few other names connected to my family as well.  If you need more information, I have quite a bit.  I'd love it if you have info too: MikeKKraus@gmail.com 

For more on St. Mary's Cemetery, please visit: The Muskegon County Genealogical Society (http://www.genealogymuskegon.com/Databases/Cemeteries/St.%20Marys/stmarys.htm)

Marian Lucille (nee Sangster) (1928-1975) and George Archie Robarge (1922-2005).  They are my grandparents.  Marian converted to Catholicism from Nazerene so that she could be married at St. Jean's Church in Muskegon, Michigan.  George always wondered why she couldn't go out on Thursday nights and followed her to find out she was going to Bible study at the rectory.  George was a Machinist and UAW Local 480 member at Muskegon Piston Ring.  

Peter Henry (1885-1942) and Marie Boucher Robarge (1890-1966).  Peter was born in Muskegon County, Michigan and later moved to Jacksonville and Chicago, Illinois.  His first marriage was to Jessie G. Whitney and later married Marie in Muskegon, Michigan.  He worked as a painter/decorator/contractor.  Marie was born in Canada and immigrated in 1909 to the US.

Celia (Cicilia) Robarge (April 29, 1924-April 19, 2005) is my grand-aunt.  She was a nurse who served in Korea as a 1st Lt in the Army.

Sharon Margaret Duff (January 20, 1945-April 29, 1947) is my grand aunt.

Joseph Jr. (1891-1945) and Libbie Idell Boucher (1888-1945). Joseph is my first cousin 3X removed.  

Detail of Joseph Boucher Jr. (1891-1945)

Detail of Libbie I. Boucher (1888-1945)

Edward J. Boucher (1894-1945) is my first cousin 3X removed

Robarge Monument for William M., M. Ada Hopp, Mary, and Henry.  Not sure how they are related to us.  But, I have to believe we are somehow connected since it's somewhat of a rare last name in the same community.  

William M. Robarge (1886-1916)

M. Ada Hopp (1872-1934)

Mary Robarge (1846-1923)

Henry Robarge (1844-1910)

Elizabeth (1872-1964) and Peter A. Robarge (1870-1929).  

Lynn Marie Robarge (1943-1955)

Elsie A. (1898-1972) and Thomas F. Robarge (1893-1942)

Thomas F. Robarge (1893-November 25, 1942) (SAME PERSON AS ABOVE)

Joyce A. Robarge (1924-1985)

William H. Robarge (1899-1900) and Mary E. Kent (1898-1962)

Mary A. (1871-1904) and Frank (Francis) H. Robarge (1865-1945)

Dolor A. Boucher (1916-1958) is my second cousin 2X removed

Jessie E. (19?-1986) and Fred E. Hamel (1906-1977).  Not sure if they are related to us at all.  But, my second great-grandmother was Melvina Hamel (1858 Quebec Canada, 1936 Chicago, Illinois).  There are countless variations on the spelling of her name.  Thought I'd investigate since I came across it. 

Evelyn I. (1913-1992) and Leslie Robarge (1903-1976)

Julia Trach (nee Robarge) (October 2, 1920-November 27, 2011) is my great aunt.

Michael Trach (September 17, 1917-February 10, 1999) is Julia's husband (above).  A Private in the Army during World War II.  Him and his wife were married in the rectory of St. Jean's Church in Muskegon, Michigan because he was not Catholic and could not do so in the church.  But, he did convert to Catholicism at a later date.

Peter Edward Robarge (May 24,1919-January 25, 1983) was a Private First Class during World War II.  According to family legend, Pete stormed the beaches of Normandy.  When his landing craft dropped the gate, he was immediately hit severely in the stomach.  While lying on the beach, medics looked at him and said something like "he's a goner" and walked away.  As they were leaving, he began screaming and cussing at the medics until they came back saying, "I guess he's go enough life in him yet."  

Ellen Josephine (1879-1968) and Bernard Joseph Duff (1876-1944).  These are my second great grandparents.  Bernard was an electrician from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Ellen (aka Ella) was a member of the Michigan Democratic State Central Committee in 1937.

Anna M. (Wife of F. H. Robarge Jr.) (1872-1925)

Stupid Bills. Lost Again. Wait... They Won? How Could That Happen?

 It's football season again and that means Conklin's Bar & Grill's Illegal Motion tailgating is back!

What's on the menu?  Why, is that fried bologna sandwiches and other assorted meats your making? 

MARISA!  What are you doing in Buffalo?  Really, if you are going to visit us, this is the best way to do it. 

When in Buffalo, you need Buffalo Wings.  And, in Buffalo, they are just "wings."  The Buffalo part would be redundant... 

"I bought candy from you already.  Don't you remember?"
"NO!"
Smart little cheerleaders raising money at everyone's tailgate parties. 

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!  Buffalo Bills vs. Carolina Panthers at Ralph Wilson Stadium.  

 Best way to avoid traffic to and get to the game.

Rainbow parachute!  What does it mean? 

 Ka-BOOM!  And here come the Buffalo Bills!

The mob rejoices 

It was a pretty rough game.  At least it was competitive.   

And, we got a CJ Spiller bobblehead just for attending the game.  As always, we had a great time!

Now for some other business...

A large book sale at the local Penfield Library.  A grocery store bag of books for $3!  Sounds like trouble.

Not sure if they were working on the utilities or having the best fried turkey cookout ever...