Mike Kraus

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Puppy Files

Scout testing out her new dog bed

Megan testing out her new human chairs

This is from the last winter storm. It's been nice out lately. We have to prepare for tomorrow's Winter Storm Vulcan.

Snow beard

I call this "the snowplow"

My dog's pretty narcissistic being more fashionable than her owner and all...

After committing the unforgivable act of giving a bath.

Scout and Bella sharing a bowl of water after rampaging throughout the house.

"My tennis ball is under the couch. I must get my tennis ball1"

The look of a puppy that realizes she is stuck under your couch...

Rachel had a swim invitational a few weeks back. It was a lot of fun and Megan and I literally watched from the rafters.

"This is a middle school aquatic center? No wonder our taxes are outrageous."

After hearing about difficulties one woman was having, I have a new ranking of problems: 1) Third World Problems 2) First World Problems 3) All Other Problems 4) Affluent Suburban Soccer Mom Problems.

Rachel is the second splash from the top.

GO LIL' RB!

Wait. Poutine is just french fries with gravy and cheese. And it's considered gourmet? I guess I am a connoisseur of fine dining after all. But, I may have to retract that since it came from the frozen section of Trader Joe's.

For Valentine's Day, my dearest wife made me a huge batch of homemade Snicker bars. What's the quickest way to a man's heart? Through his chest.

Pretty low key lately. So...

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Sweet Lady and the Devil Dog

Sweet Lady and the Devil Dog, 2003

silkscreen and oil on canvas

Noah Hopson and Frances Close

Photos by Frances Close

All she wanted was companionship. Someone to share her apartment at the senior community. She replied to an ad that said, "Free Bichon to a good home." How could she resist? The sweet lady had to learn the hard way that "you get what you pay for."

Thursday, March 6, 2014

The IT Guy

The IT Guy, 2014

pen, ink, and graphite

During the day, he's largely ignored by the staff until someone has a computer problem. You'll usually find him in his distant office that doubles as a storage room for servers and cannibalized electronics. At night, he performs at the local theatre and becomes a character himself. Two lives which couldn't be any more different.

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Now We Belong To the Ages

Beep! Beep! Party Bot demands you have a good time! Beep! Beep!

Me and Amanda for Halloween

Adam and I in the best Diet Pepsi ad ever.

Adam and his date, Ryan...

If Nick were to release a solo album, I'll request this be used as its image...

Oh Ian, I only knew you for a few hours. But, the memories will last forever. Especially when this is what you looked like when your parents stopped by to visit in the morning... You could tell they were so proud...

I want to manage this all-girl punk band.

Adam in his Canadian Tuxedo.

Shaun expertly demonstrates "The Flying Crane."

What happens when you start fishing in the White River at night? Well, you fall in the river and get your line stuck in a tree and spend the rest of the night on a tree in your long johns...

Oh Ben...

Graceful

Earned a good night's rest.

Would you like a piano duet? May I suggest "Heart and Soul?"

Brian sure knows how to hot tub

Mike Nummerdor and I at the Mastadon House

This concludes the digitization of embarrassing old photos (for the most part). Hope you've enjoyed them.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

White Birch

White Birch, 2014

Acrylic and ink

What’s black and white and red all over? A birch tree of course. Birch trees have always been a meditative source for me. Growing up, there was one outside my window that I would look at while daydreaming. And, when I needed to get away from the world I went to a grove of Birch trees to find refuge. I’ve always found the unique and nearly useless white tree interesting.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Palmer Hall

"Palmer Hall", 2014

I paid the fee and they unlocked the doors. We transferred our equipment from the car onto the stage. Other groups arrive and friends gather in the parking lot. Standing around the back door waiting for our drinks to be delivered. This is the only place where kids are welcome. Killing time with skateboards and forgetting the long week. It’s 7pm and time to open the doors for the show.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Go West, young man...

Another edition of old photos being digitized. February is a good time to do that since I rarely go outside anymore. Enjoy...

Aunt Suzanne and I on a great adventure on the slopes of the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. (Shopping Cart Riding will be added to the 2018 XXIII Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea)

Aunt Sharon holding up a villainous sculpture at the Swetsville Zoo (http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10787) in Fort Collins, Colorado. A really great place to visit to see lots of sculptures made of car parts. Highly recommended!

See Heather, I have been to the Great Platte River Road Archway (http://www.archway.org/) over I-80 in Kearney, Nebraska. It's really a museum dedicated to the history of people passing through Nebraska in covered wagons, trains, Model T's, to today.

Uncle John and Aunt Sharon in Fort Collins.

Grandpa George enjoying a Greek Chili Dog Special at G and L (http://www.glchilidogs.com/) in 2002.

Dave Scholtens and Rodd Moon snowboarding in Roosevelt Park, Michigan.

Walking in a park, I heard a strange noise when I threw my popcorn box into the garbage. I pulled out my camera and quickly took this shot of a baby raccoon.