Handy Hal

Hal writes:

I remember taking the ASVAB test while in high school. The military came in and we were given the opportunity to show our knowledge in science, math, arithmetic, word knowledge and paragraph comprehension. Not too difficult, right? Oh wait. There was also testing in electronics, auto and shop information, and mechanical comprehension. Suddenly a handful of my classmates that did not do well in core subjects had the opportunity to best me in an area of knowledge. I think I scored a 15 (out of 100) on the auto and shop information. Needless to say I did not inherit my grandfather's propensity for working with my hands to create things.

But today I rose to the challenge of using basic knowledge of construction to assist in a situation. My colleague was doing a cross country trip to Kentucky and Alabama to visit family so he and his wife could introduce their son. Prior to leaving, I assisted with moving furniture away from the windows because all of his hall was getting new windows while they were gone. They returned today to find that, although the windows were changed, the A/C units were not installed. Not the best situation after driving for 10 hours with a crying baby. After accessing the situation, I was able to pop the screens off and install the new A/Cs. The problem was that there are boards that fit in the window sill (above the A/C unit) to keep bugs and rain out that didn't fit the new window. Without any materials or tools to do much with, I was able to rig the existing wood in place with the Handyman's Handyman: Duct Tape. The fix is only temporary until maintenance gets called early Monday morning, but I was pretty darned pleased that I was able to figure things out without having to call for assistance.

Anna and I were given keys to Southwest Hall on Friday. We are able to move stuff in to only one of the rooms of the apartment (because the furniture and appliances have not arrived yet) and we cannot stay there until the Fire Marshall declares the building habitable. Today we moved our bookshelves and a books over to the new apartment. Over the next week, we will continue to go room to room packing and shipping our possessions. In the process, we will get ride of as much as we can (clothes we haven't worn in the past year, other things we don't use).

As I was making one of my trips between the car and the new apartment, a mini-van pulled up next to our car. I thought it might be some people from town checking out the building. The woman in the passenger seat waved me over. I thought I might be able to answer some questions for her, but I was slightly self-conscious since I hadn't showered yet, the clothes I was wearing I had pulled out of the dirty clothes, and I was dripping with sweat from moving. As I get to the car, I see who is driving. The Chancellor for UWP. Now, one of the things I miss about working at small private colleges is that everyone knows everyone. So, not only was it a little awkward to see the Chancellor, but I have been working at UWP for a full year and this was our first official meeting. Oh well, we didn't talk very long and I'll be sure to make a better impression during the official hall opening. (I'll promise to shower and wear a pretty shirt and tie.)

Anna says that we should have more pictures to post. Perhaps we will get some of the next apartment next week after the furniture arrives.

Anna is now done with her internship (clinical?) and has returned to Platteville. Other than arranging our new apartment, she will have some free time to relax before staring school again in the fall. Next Saturday she will be able to reunite with some of her classmates when her classmate Kim gets married in Dubuque.