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Dad's Retirement Party # 3

Hal writes:

This weekend we drove up to the cabin to celebrate my father's third (perhaps final?) retirement party. I spent over eight hours driving on both Friday and Sunday, so my knees are not too happy with me right now. It was fun to see people and enjoy weather that I am used to (sub 90 degrees) during the day.

Besides my sister and I taking the pictures, the retirement party celebrants are 50 years old and above. (Well, except Uncle J, but he's not that far.) The connection with these people is that my grandfather and then father owned a tavern called "The Long Branch" and the people pictured all had been a part of that group one time or another.

The photo above is my representation of being back at UWP this week. My hall has the honor of hosting the famed Music Camp. I have over 100 7th-11th graders in my building. Now, I understand that kids this age are excited to be on a college campus, live in a residence hall, and discover their new crushes from other schools, but something is amiss. I don't understand the young girls always screaming. It is their reaction to everything. Something startle you? Scream. Something excite you? Scream. Is something funny? Scream. I don't remember girls doing that when I was in high school, but that was over 10 years ago so maybe that has changed. Can anyone help explain this need to scream? Other than the screaming, I also inadvertently broke up one make-out session while walking down to my laundry room. The eagle in the photo above is my mom's attempt to keep my uncle from cutting down any of her trees in an effort to make his satellite reception better at his cabin next door.

Tonight it was Mike's birthday, so a few of us went to Red's Supper Club. I have been sassy about supper clubs since moving to southern Wisconsin. I feel that they were the hot spot back in the day, but now are the type of place where people who eat dinner at 4:30pm go to eat. Well, I must say that I was impressed. When we got there, the table had huge vegetable tray with dip, rolls, cinnamon rolls, and crackers and cheese. All the dinners, including my "Nordic Salmon" came with potato and choice of soup or salad. I was able to get all of this and a couple of drinks for under $20. Not too bad. Since my fellow RDs and I are boycotting the Itallian restaurant in town because of how we are treated there, it is nice to have a new option to go to. After we were done at Red's we went back to campus and played the "Boxers or Breifs" game which, if you like "Apples to Apples", you'll like this game.

Other fun things of note since I last blogged: got to see my sister who lives in Boston and met my brother's girlfriend; Nolan left me Guitar Hero while he is on vacation; Anna met up with Holly, Carrie, and Sarah in Shell Lake this past weekend; Anna and I learned the hard way that our cell phone service area is not what we thought it was (over $200 bill for last month); Dr. Kelly "Boom boom" Bangstad is getting married next month; Officer Molly (UWP) had a baby girl; Jill (former Anna co-worker) had a baby this weekend; we had an RD decide not to work at UWP so I have to help fill a RD position in the next month (let me know if you want a job); working by myself in an office all day is no fun; as long as I have milk and cereal for the next morning, I am not motivated to go grocery shopping; I might get to move some stuff into our new apartment next week; and if you want to rent an RV for a spring break road trip, you have to pay by the mile in addition to gas and the rental fee.

I whine with my wine

Hal writes:

Myself and two resident directors were reposnbile for the hiring process to bring two new RDs to campus this next fall. One position was open because a colleague left and another was created with the addition of a new residence hall. Sometime in January we joked about having a party at our supervisor's house when we finished the hiring process. More specifically, we joked about sitting in her hot tub and drinking wine from a box.

Well, tonight that is what we did. We celebrated months of planning, interviewing, bringing people to campus and hiring two RDs. You noticed that I didn't include photos of me in the hot tub next to a box of wine, but there are some out there for your viewing pleasure if you know who holds the negatives.

Here's the kicker. As we were gearing up for our evening social, we found out this afternoon that one of the new hires e-mailed us to say that they are not going to come to campus this fall. Not only did this dampen the spirits for our wine and hot tub social, but it left us in a bind for next fall. (And don't even get me started on E-MAILING a resignation. Not appropriate. You pick up the phone and call.)

So, if you or any of your friends are looking for an opportunity to work with me at UWP, now is the time. Just send me an e-mail or give me a call and I will fill you in on details. Bachelor's degree and positive attitude required. I'm serious, if you know someone, get them in touch with me.

Anna and I are going to my dad's second retirement party (the non-official Long Brach gang at the cabin) this weekend, so no more posts until Monday night. I know, you will miss, but you can always call my cell and talk to me.