Member for

10 years 8 months
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Recent Comments

Date Title Body
I enjoy your posts XM but…

I enjoy your posts XM but this one brought back some raw memories. My dad lived for decades with Parkinsons and managed the slow progression until the end which was tough to watch. Prayers for your family.

10 minutes south of Holland…

10 minutes south of Holland is Saugatuck. Great small town charm like living in Mayberry. Great option for a good, small school system. All the stores you need are in Holland and then bigger cities of Grand Rapids (45 minutes) and Chicago (2 hours) are close enough. Great for swimming, biking, running as well.

Real estate is expensive if you get near the lake or near town, but more reasonable a little inland.

 

Just got notified that I got…

Just got notified that I got my 3 tickets. Made airline and hotel reservations at the team hotel earlier today. I was able to round-trip out of Chicago for about $900 on American Airlines non-stop.

Good to hear you will be in…

Good to hear you will be in for the game Lumpers. I'll keep my eye out for you.

Getting the boat out of the…

Getting the boat out of the water

My condolences to you. We…

My condolences to you. We share the exact same experience with our fathers slipping away to Parkinsons. My dad passed just prior to the covid outbreak - thankful for that because it was hard enough dealing with his condition as it was. My dad raised a house full of boys to be M fans. He went 2 years before dropping out and eventually finishing his degree 10 years later at Wayne State. When I graduated he felt so proud. And then all my kids became Michigan alum as well and he beamed with joy. For our fathers - GO BLUE!

35th wedding anniversary…

35th wedding anniversary today. Celebrating with a nice dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants. 

I drove a 1967 Chevy II in…

I drove a 1967 Chevy II in high school in the early 80's. My buddies loved pulling up the floor mat to spit on the road instead of needing a spittoon.

Honeymoon in Key West. Will…

Honeymoon in Key West. Will be cruising Italy for our 35th anniversary. 

Make it your mission to make her happy, and her mission to make you happy. If you can each do that, then everything else falls into place.

My old boat was True Blew -…

My old boat was True Blew - perfect for a sailboat.

409 points

3 tickets at …

409 points

3 tickets at $675 each for 300/400 level corner or end zone

It was Micah Pollard #4

It was Micah Pollard #4

The purchase of Roamer…

The purchase of Roamer brought steel and aluminum hulls to Chris Craft. Mine is aluminum with twin 350's from the late 80's. I recently replaced exhaust manifolds and the Holley performance carbs. I had it out this weekend and hit 36mph without topping out.

27' 1962 Chris Craft Roamer.

27' 1962 Chris Craft Roamer.

My golfing buddies call me …

My golfing buddies call me "Enzyte Bob" and ask me to smile and wave for them.

Ryan Osborn

Ryan Osborn

Section 326 - 4 tickets

Section 326 - 4 tickets

This is what an Ohio plate…

This is what an Ohio plate should look like

Where I spent the bulk of my…

Where I spent the bulk of my time living on campus. And the sign may or may not have somehow come into my possession at some point, and may or may not still be in my possession.

No way. At that age you're…

No way. At that age you're just trying to teach them some basics and you want them to love the game so they continue. We were focused on getting everyone involved and spreading the fun around. There was definitely a huge range in athletic ability, and Steven was fast, but he didn't stand head and shoulders above everyone else.

Pretty sure he did not go into youth tackle football, but started finding his niche with track in middle school.

That's great. I coached…

That's great. I coached Steve way back in flag football in Saline. Maybe I should have gotten him the ball more often?

That's great! But that kid's…

That's great! But that kid's M looks like the golden arches.

I agree. It is a business…

I agree. It is a business venture, especially if you will rent it out. We inherited a family cottage along with two other families. I wanted to avoid conflicts down the road, so we put it in an LLC and defined how we will manage it in the operating agreement which is a legal document.  It includes how we decide who gets to use it on which days, how we chip in for maintenance, repairs and upgrades, what happens if someone wants to sell, what happens when we die and want to keep it in the family, who manages the renting activity, checkbook, property taxes, the annual K1 tax return.  Think these things out ahead of time.

Best Christmas gift ever…

Best Christmas gift ever today - found out I'm going to earn the title of Grandpa in the near future!

Best Father's Day is pretty…

Best Father's Day is pretty easy.  My wife and 3 kids surprised me by announcing that we were going to the Tiger game that day, and we were eating lunch ahead of time right near the stadium.  When we walk into the restaurant I see my dad and 3 brothers all there with their families.  What a great surprise and a great day.

This year will be a bit difficult.  All 3 of my kids are living out of state and for the first time I won't get to spend time with them on Father's Day.

Soak up the memories while they are at home XM!

I like Saugatuck so much we…

I like Saugatuck so much we've moved here.  We rent our studio guest house (and get many visitors from Chicago) and my wife runs our used bookstore in town.  Oval Beach is excellent and a bit smaller this year but not washed away.  Plenty of restaurants and amazing food - all are open with seating inside (limits on capacity) and outside. Saugatuck State Park is right on Lake Michigan and open. Saugatuck Dune Rides are talking about opening soon.  There are MANY Air BNB type places in town as well as B&B's. Retro boat rentals is fun. Downtown shopping is great. We are 15 minutes from Holland so that is an easy trip and worth an afternoon/evening.  You could also drive down to South Haven for the day.

I read Hamilton and now…

I read Hamilton and now reading Grant. It is excellent.

Was into the US Naval…

Was into the US Naval Academy until I flunked the vision test - red/green color blind.

(No subject)

Training for a half ironman…

Training for a half ironman in June assuming it doesn't get cancelled. Up to 8 mile runs and 1+ hour bike rides indoors on trainer. Keeping an eye on the weather looking forward to some long outdoor bike rides. Not sure when pools will be open - need to start swimming.

I have been in your…

I have been in your situation and I have been in the C-Suite.  I have also participated in recruiting and hiring to fill our C-Suite.  Their request is not common.  I would expect you to say no if I was the company hiring.  Since you are a highly talented and skilled employee, your current employer has plans for you and is not going to be happy that you don't see a future with them - not good for your future if you don't get the job.

Or, they are going to get a jump on retaining you, which might work out for you short term, but not for the company you are interviewing with.  Think about it.  What future employer would want to tip off a current employer that they are about to poach one of their best talents?  That just gives the current employer a jump on trying to retain you.  This future employer is not thinking it through, or is testing you.

Confirming Isle Royale is…

Confirming Isle Royale is fantastic.

Detroit is good to do once

Detroit is good to do once

Bayshore Marathon in TC around memorial day weekend is fantastic. Great scenery, smaller venue. I ran it 3 times and got my BQ there.

Others I've done that are incredible: Boston and Marine Corps in DC. At MCM you will see lots of wounded vets running and a marine puts the medal around your neck at the end. Downside is it's really crowded running and crazy trying to get out after the race.

 

3 employed kids with 5 umich…

3 employed kids with 5 umich degrees between them.  Daughter gets married in a few weeks and her fiance grads from med school this weekend.  Wife has dream job. And boat went in the water yesterday. Looking forward to a great summer on Lake Michigan.

I see a lot of comments from…

I see a lot of comments from people living in Ohio that don't want to risk advertising their fandom.  I live smack dab in Buckeye country and choose to take the opposite approach.  Personalized Ohio Go Blue plates with a Michigan Wolverine license plate that covers up the Ohio portion of the plate.

 

Your employer is paying for…

Your employer is paying for it and encouraging it, and you will fill some skill gap(s).  Sounds like a no-brainer.  You should go to the best school that you can get into, and fits with your life circumstances.  I had engineering undergrad and applied stats grad, so technically sound when I started Ross at 15 years mid-level management.  I was definitely one of the older students in the program. I wanted general management curriculum to put myself in position for a P&L role.  I ended up getting a director level role after graduation, and stayed with my company for 13 years, eventually getting a shot at P&L.  I've since moved on to other companies/positions, now COO for a manufacturing company.  Life is good - Go Blue!

I did the Ross evening…

I did the Ross evening program, with tuition reimbursed by my Fortune 500 employer.  It was a great experience and has paid off with upward career mobility over the last 18 years.  But it was a grind for the family:  4+ years with 2 kids at home, and a third born while I was in the program.  I took a couple of the day classes with the full time students, and I have to say the evening classes were much better. You will learn just as much from the vast experience of other students in the evening program as you will from any of the professors.

We've done this often.  From…

We've done this often.  From I94, go north on Ann Arbor-Saline Rd, then a left at Scio Church Rd.  Less than 1 mile the neighborhood on the left has an entrance at the 7th street light.  Make a left and park in that neighborhood for free, but get there pretty early if you want a shorter walk as it fills up.

I'm a native of Michigan,…

I'm a native of Michigan, with 20+ years living in the Ann Arbor area.  I moved to the Dayton area 2 years ago for a great job.  You would be surprised by the number of locals who either a) hate OSU, b) are Michigan fans, c) are ND fans.

Fingerle Lumber is my spot. …

Fingerle Lumber is my spot.  Pull in Friday afternoon and head home Sunday morning. 30 amp hookup. Not quite a stones throw to the stadium but pretty close.  Can't duplicate the grass of the golf course though.

Student Profile Facts

Straight from the 2017 Incoming Class Student Profile that is posted on-line.  Average GPA was 3.87 and 50% range of ACT was 31-34.  LSA will be lower while Engineering will be higher.  Engineering median GPA was 3.9 and median ACT was 33.

Still Happening

My kids graduated Saline in '11, '13, and '15.  All went on to Michigan.  Saline is still a feeder school sending 40+ kids every year.  My last two went in with over 40 credits due to AP and language placement and graduated (will graduate) with engineering degrees in 3 years, and then a master's degree in year 4.  Saline prepared them well.  And they all received their decisions the Friday before Christmas.

Redemption

My third child had the nerve to enter this world on game day in 1997 when the Baylor Bears came to town.  But he redeemed himself - he graduates in May after three years with his BS in Computer Engineering, and will go a 4th year to get his Masters degree.

Pay

mlive has a salary search tool on their front page right now.  He makes $110k now.