MINI Parade & Toy Drive

The MINI club of WNY organized a parade of MINIs led by a fire truck from Station 12 to bring toys to the Pirate Toy Fund office on Main Street:


Channel 10 News met us at the Pirate Toy Fund office on Main Street to videotape our arrival. I was in the MINI on the right with the checkered roof!

And to get footage of us unloading toys:


The full album is here. The news story and video is here:

A Day in the Life of A Downtown Employee: Financial Crisis & Expense Control Edition

Yesterday was a cold cold day in the office. It turns out that the maintenance crew had received instructions to turn off the heat in the entire building because it was going to be a nice day.

A nice day during the month of December in Upstate, New York?!

I hope my company saved a lot of money yesterday because I'm shivering again today...

This is Why I Love Volunteering...

In April 2008, the Make-A-Wish foundation sent Barry and I (wish-granters) to Seneca Falls to find out what Richard wanted more than anything.

The conversation went like this:

Barry & Melisa: If you could have or do anything in the whole wide world, what would it be?

Richard: A clubhouse!

Barry & Melisa: If you could have a second wish, what would it be?

Richard: A playhouse!

Richard loves firetrucks and was so excited to show us the certificate he received when he was named an honorary firefighter with the local fire department. We knew that his very own station would be the perfect place to display his firefighting gear and memorabilia:


Over 100 friends, family, and community members came to Richards house today to watch the ribbon cutting ceremony for his new clubhouse, include four fire trucks and over 10 firemen.:

From left to right: Barry, Robin, Richard Sr, Melisa, Richard Jr.

Today has been an amazing day. I'll post more photos as soon as I can.

Playing Soon at a Table Near You: The Vegetable Orchestra

The Vegetable Orchestra

My Social Life is Almost Here!