On The Road Again
by Jeff Jordan
For the fifth time in five years, I'm wrapping fragile things in bubble wrap, packing boxes and renting a truck. This time it just me so the load will be smaller.
I've had my application for an apartment accepted.
The Lakeside Apartment
#214
1114 N. Marshall St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
My move in date is on August 17. However, I am moving to Milwaukee this week. I will be staying with friends in Milwaukee, then I will then return to The Valley on August 15 - 17 for packing the truck and moving to the apartment.
All of this is painful in more ways than one. However, after three years of adjusting to moving back to The Fox Valley, I have put down some roots. Yes, some of it was reviving old relationships, but some of my new activities and involved new people.
I enjoyed meeting the people involved in regional theater while I was writing my column for Appleton Monthy Magazine (AMM). This group of hiding-in-plain-sight people does a high-class job of bringing live theater entertainment to The Valley. As artists, they have to do what they do, be it acting, producing, directing, or any of the other off roles that are necessary to put on the performance. Trust me, none of them are getting rich. They do it for a lot of reasons, but I assure you few of them involve selfishness or fame.
I've also done the occasional restaurant article for AMM. I'm not a foodie. But having worked in a commercial kitchen in my youth and eaten out much of my life. Let's just say, I'm not unfamiliar with the business. People who run restaurants have to be dedicated to their customers. If they aren't, they will lose them. The Valley has a significant number of good restaurants. People don't have to settle for poor quality, service, or ambiance.
Then there is the Expansion Band. This group of musicians who meet almost every week to sit and play their music together, have welcomed me without judgment or complaint. I will admit there is probably room for both. They have gently guided me in the fine points of group play. Mostly they have reached out in friendship.
I will always be a Toad. That defined as I am a member of The Royal Order of Toads (ROT). My title is Illegal Council. This rebel group of underground rebels exists to find room in its membership for people no other organization will have. The exception being Dave Lee, who serves as some kind of regional authority in a nationally known organization, which I will not name, but I hear they collect used prescription glasses for some reason. Being a Toad is to be in competition for the honor of winning "The Croak Award." This is awarded to Toads who die. I believe I'm the oldest member, which obviously gives me a statistical advantage
I will miss all of this. I give away all of this with a lump in my throat and a reluctance toward erasing the pain with bright thoughts of the future. It is too early for that road. I will miss these things and this place terribly. Till we met again sounds corny, but it does fit.
by Jeff Jordan
For the fifth time in five years, I'm wrapping fragile things in bubble wrap, packing boxes and renting a truck. This time it just me so the load will be smaller.
I've had my application for an apartment accepted.
The Lakeside Apartment
#214
1114 N. Marshall St.
Milwaukee, WI 53202
My move in date is on August 17. However, I am moving to Milwaukee this week. I will be staying with friends in Milwaukee, then I will then return to The Valley on August 15 - 17 for packing the truck and moving to the apartment.
All of this is painful in more ways than one. However, after three years of adjusting to moving back to The Fox Valley, I have put down some roots. Yes, some of it was reviving old relationships, but some of my new activities and involved new people.
I enjoyed meeting the people involved in regional theater while I was writing my column for Appleton Monthy Magazine (AMM). This group of hiding-in-plain-sight people does a high-class job of bringing live theater entertainment to The Valley. As artists, they have to do what they do, be it acting, producing, directing, or any of the other off roles that are necessary to put on the performance. Trust me, none of them are getting rich. They do it for a lot of reasons, but I assure you few of them involve selfishness or fame.
I've also done the occasional restaurant article for AMM. I'm not a foodie. But having worked in a commercial kitchen in my youth and eaten out much of my life. Let's just say, I'm not unfamiliar with the business. People who run restaurants have to be dedicated to their customers. If they aren't, they will lose them. The Valley has a significant number of good restaurants. People don't have to settle for poor quality, service, or ambiance.
Then there is the Expansion Band. This group of musicians who meet almost every week to sit and play their music together, have welcomed me without judgment or complaint. I will admit there is probably room for both. They have gently guided me in the fine points of group play. Mostly they have reached out in friendship.
I will always be a Toad. That defined as I am a member of The Royal Order of Toads (ROT). My title is Illegal Council. This rebel group of underground rebels exists to find room in its membership for people no other organization will have. The exception being Dave Lee, who serves as some kind of regional authority in a nationally known organization, which I will not name, but I hear they collect used prescription glasses for some reason. Being a Toad is to be in competition for the honor of winning "The Croak Award." This is awarded to Toads who die. I believe I'm the oldest member, which obviously gives me a statistical advantage
I will miss all of this. I give away all of this with a lump in my throat and a reluctance toward erasing the pain with bright thoughts of the future. It is too early for that road. I will miss these things and this place terribly. Till we met again sounds corny, but it does fit.
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