Tourism Time II

Breakfast this morning was a yogurt and the cinnamon roll that I pocketed at the Super 8. Here's another things I like about small, family owned motels: they don't chase you out at check-out time. And most use metal keys, not the ones programmed to lock you out at that exact second. Usually by the time I eat, work on this blog, and pack the car, it's past the deadline.

Since Wall Drug was closed last night, I stroll through before hitting the road. Ted and Dorothy Hustead purchased the Wall Drug Store in 1931. Wall had a population of 231 people, most of whom were Depression-era poor. The store's prospects looked grim until Dorothy was inspired to offer free ice water to travelers driving along Route 16A. Of course, that wouldn't stop many people today. Keep in mind no one had car AC in those days, and there weren't mini-marts selling soft drinks and Slurpees every few miles. From the first day they put up signs, they were surrounded by customers. Today, they original drug store is a museum, and the property has expanded to include Western art, souvenirs (many, many souvenirs), an ice cream shop, and a chapel. I'm not religious, but I still thought that was nice. It our mercenary world, not many people would devote significant square footage to spiritual needs. The place is also a low-grade cowboy theme park, with animatronic displays, and things like this:

Next, I headed back to the Badlands, to view the areas I didn't get a close look at yesterday. I ended up spending more time there than I'd had in mind. It was so very impressive. The endless variety of shapes and colors are quite fascinating. There's another area I couldn't see, since you access it on a gravel road "passable only in dry weather". They also have several trails I didn't have time for, so I'll have to go back someday.

The next few hours were devoted to driving. It rained most of that time, often rather heavily. The scenery was pleasant, though, full of tidy farms and ranches. It was nice just to be off the Interstate for awhile.

Outside Rapid City, I made a stop at Reptile Gardens. It started as a roadside attraction in 1937, founded by a young reptile enthusiast named Earl Brockelsby. He presented as a one-man-show to travelers headed to Mount Rushmore. It capitalized on peoples' ingrained fascination with (and often fear of) snakes and other reptiles. Today, the site is a zoo that houses the most species of reptiles of any zoo in the world, and is dedicated to education and conservation.

 

This little tortoise is full-grown, but could fit in the palm of your hand. How cute is that?

Upon arrival, I was told that a "snake show" would begin in about 30 minutes. I had no idea what this was, but something that sounded so odd was not to be missed. I spent that half-hour checking out their exhibits, which also included amphibians and noisily squawking birds. The snake show turned out to be quite interesting and funny. The handler, named Terry, removed several snakes from their boxes, so we could see them being active. At one point he pretended to throw one into the audience, generating as many shrieks as laughs.

After this break, I got back on the road and headed for the Rocket Motel in Custer City. In a clever marketing effort, they present themselves as a classic vintage motor hotel. This scares off people who'd complain that they're "outdated", and attracts people like me who get a kick out of it. The property is very clean and well maintained, and the service was friendly and helpful.

After checkig in, I had just enough time before dark to see the Crazy Horse Memorial. The project is the Lakota Sioux nation's answer to Mount Rushmore. It was started by Henry Standing Bear, who stated that "My fellow chiefs and I would like the white man to know that the red man has great heroes, too." After being rebuffed by Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum (who, in all fairness, had his hands full), he turned to Korczak Ziolkowski, who'd won first prize in sculpture at the 1939 World's Fair.

Ziolkowski accepted, and dedicated the rest of his life to the project. After his death in 1982, it was run by his wife Ruth Ross, and most of their 10 children.

There is no projected completion date for the sculpture. The vagaries of weather, geology and financing (the project refuses federal grants, and is funded entirely by private donations) don't allow for such specificity. The acts of creation and building community involvement are considered worthwhile in and of themselves. In our goal-oriented society, I find this rather refreshing.

Besides, the Memorial as a whole will include much more than the sculpture. The Indian Museum of North America showcases art and cultural artifacts donated by hundreds of people from around the world. Eventually, the site will also include a University of South Dakota satellite campus and a medical center.

Back at the Rocket Motel, I settled in to eat the mini-pizza I'd bought a couple doors down. Iwasn't really in the mood for pizza, but most of trhe town had close for the evening. The only open eatery looked expensive, and was too dimly lit to read. Carry-out to the rescue!

Tourism Trifectca

Breakfast, as I expected, was less than impressive. Smaller motels just can't offer the same variety. Lower turnover can also mean freshness issues. The "Cheerios" tasted sort of funny, but were still crunchy. I had to wonder if they weren't some generic version. But it didn't cost extra, so why bitch?

Before hitting the interstate, I made a stop at the local tourist trap – Badlands Petrified Gardens. They have a yardful of South Dakota petrified wood specimens, and displays fossils and minerals from the area. I noticed the wording on the interpretive signs were carefully worded. This region has a large population of fundies, and I'm sure the museum staff has no desire to engage in daily debates. So they signs have phrases like "geologists believe", and two time charts are displayed: biblical and geological.

 The museum was quite interesting, and I had more than $6 worth of fun. So I consider it a bargain, even if I did forget to use my coupon.

As recommended by the nice lady at the Mitchell info booth, I got off of I-90 to take the scenic loop. It wasn't long before I found a wonderful tourist trap, where you feed peanuts to semi-tame prairie dogs. It was incredibly fun. Some would even take the peanuts right from your hand. They were so cute, it was worth a possible exposure to plague. (Seriously.)

I ended up spending quite a bit of time at the Badlands National Park, and didn't burn up a lot of miles. It's an awesome park! The landscape is truly spectacular. I actually find it more impressive than the Grand Canyon. The formations stretch for miles, and are more accessible than the canyon. The road goes right through them, and they have lots of pull-offs and viewpoints. There are quite a few places where you can walk around in them, without killing your knees. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed walking along the Grand Canyon Rim. But I knew that'd be all I could do there, without involving search & rescue dogs & probably a helicopter.

After awhile, I became anxious about the evening's accommodations. Once again, dark clouds gathered, and the radio was full of severe storm warnings. Finding someplace cheap but not disgusting can be a bit of a challenge. Even in the off-season, they can sell out. So I left the park before finishing and headed into Wall. The info booth lady had told me that Wall drug was open till 10, and an evening outing sounded like a nice change of pace.

Turns out, a lot of places were closed for the season (or forever, it's kind of hard to tell). The Best Value wanted most of $60, and I knew I could do better. I was just about to give up, and head out of town, when I spotted the comforting glow of the Welsh Motel sign. They only charge $32, which includes coffee. No fridge, but they have one of those huge old ice machines that could fill a semi.

After awhile, I drove back over to Wall Drug. It was only 8:00, but everything was closed. I guess the 10 PM closing is for the high season. So I bought some PBR from the gas station. Guessing from the other folks in line, it's the thing to do here.

Sleeping indoors turned out to be a good move. The thunder was so loud, I could feel it through the floor.

A Port in a Storm

Breakfast is included at a Super 8, so the day started with a Belgian waffle. While eating, I perused the event listings offered by the Luverne CVB (apparently, there is such a thing). Alas, I wouldn't be in town for the 4-H seminar on "Livestock Quality and Ethics". Most of the events were church suppers. I never knew they were edible.

I decided I wanted to see Blue Mounds State Park, even if I couldn't camp there. Their signature bison herd was off in the distance, but the scenery was quite pretty. I didn't have time for a full hike, but did a sort of survey course. The three major trails paralleled each other, and had connections, so I was able to sample them all. The Mounds Trail gave a view of the bison. The Upper Cliffline Trail gives you a view of the farms adjoining the park, and the Lower Cliffline Trail shows off the pretty pink cliffs. 

At one point, a big red-tailed hawk took off from the cliffs, and soared over my head. After it flew away, I could hear it screeching in the distance.

After finding my way back to I-90 (more of a challenge than expected, but I got a look at the countryside), I headed off toward South Dakota. By the time I reached Mitchell, I was ready for a break. The Corn Palace is free, and has nice clean bathrooms. Basically, it's a smalll arena for concerts etc. It features murals made from different types of corn. It's a classic South Dakota landmark, so you pretty much have to stop.

Then back on the road, the endless road. It's pretty boring through this section. There's not much to look at, and identifying roadkill gets dull after awhile. As I drive, I can't resist looking South frequently, where thunderheads are gathering. And thickening. And darkening. And pulsating with lightening. It's not looking good for camping.

Then the wind picked up alarmingly. Right about then I approached the exit for Kadota, and saw a Rodeway Inn. Then had a single for just under $50, including breakfast. Their buildings looked sturdy, too.

At this point, I wanted to call John, which turned out to be a production. My cell service disappeared outside of Sioux Falls, and I'd neglected to get a calling card. I couldn't make an outgoing call without one. When I asked at the front desk where I could find a pay phone, he let me use theirs. I quickly gave John their number, and asked him to call me back in my room. I'm starting to feel lonely, so I really wanted to connect. And since he doesn't have email access on weekends, I needed to update him on where I was.

Eventually I got hungry, and walked across the road to the Club 27 Steakhouse. Even though the place was full of locals – some were part of a wedding party - and I was by myself, I was never made to feel out of place. I have feeling they'd have let me join the festivities if I'd felt like it. (I was too tired to remember my own name, much less ask anyone else theirs.)

I decided to splurge on a steak, since beef is what's for dinner. It was one of the best I've ever had - very lean and tender, cooked just right. The baked potato was a bit dry, and the "salad bar" had only 5 or 6 offerings, mostly involving mayo and/or iceberg lettuce. Of course, for a place that's kind of a bar off of a highway, that's as close to health food as I expect.

Crossing Most of Minnesota

Today's start was a bit later than planned. I'd taken so much stuff inside over two days, it took awhile to get it all back in the car.

The day ended up being mostly driving. I'd had in mind to make a side trip to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. I loved those books as a kind, and even enjoyed rereading them as an adult. But there was one delay after another thanks to roadwork. For miles, the top speed was 40 mph, and there were plenty of stretches that only allowed parade speed. So going 45 miles out of the way just wasn't feasible.

Not long after crossing the border, I noticed changes to the landscape. At first, it looked a lot like Wisconsin, but the terrain was flatter and broader. It changed imperceptibly by degrees, and after awhile looked quite different. I was officially in the prairie.

Before very long, I started seeing wind turbines everywhere. There was even one section where the stretched as far as I could see in every direction, and this went on for miles. I've heard some people consider them eyesores, but I think they're quite cool-looking.

I managed to find a couple diversions along the way, though. The Spam Museum in Austin was close to the Interstate, and was free. Turns out, those humble little cans of meat played a role in WWII. Not only was it eaten by US soldiers, but large quantities were shipped to our allies in the Lend-Lease years. Another tidbit: the employee news magazine was called "The Squeal". Of course, my favorite part of the museum was the Monty Python exhibit.

Lovely spam! Wonderful spam!

 Later, I made a gas stop in Blue Earth. This stop also gave me the chance to eat my sandwich in an interesting spot. This statue is 55 feet tall, weighs 8,000 pounds, and cost $43,000 to manufacture. The money was contributed by local businessmen, who wanted to commemorate the city's connection to the brand. Peas and corn are grown and canned for them in the area.

HO HO HO!

Alas, the Green Giant Museum was closed for the day by the time I arrived. But there's a nice little picnic area at the statue's feet. 

As I drove on, the skies became dark and threatening. Turns out, the forecast of thunderstorms was accurate. Before long, a steady rain was falling. My plan to camp at Blue Mounds State Park didn't sound good anymore. Luckily, there was a Super 8 in Luverne. This time, there was no pool or hot tub, but I was out of the rain. Funny how quickly your priorities can change!

 

A Day in the Dells

This is my second trip to the Dells, so I know exactly what I want to do. After French toast at Mitzi's American Grill – conveniently across the street – I head into town to arrange a ride on the Upper Dells boat tour. I also pop into the market for a prefab sandwich for lunch, and some local beer. Turns out, the New Glarus brewery makes a very tasty India Pale Ale. The sandwich sucks. It's mostly bread, with no condiments and hardly any meat or cheese.at least it helps atone for my recent gluttony of two consecutive restaurant meals..

The boat tour is as fun as I remembered. The trees and rock formations are way cool. Our guide tells us that Chimney Rocks reminds him of either a stack of pancakes or a stack of hambugers, depending on the time of day.

We also get two landings. One includes one of my all-time favorite tourist moments. H.H. Bennett, a local photographer, was the inventor of the instantaneous shutter.  For the first time, movement could be captured on film. He proved this by photographing his son jumping onto Stand Rock. It's one of the iconic images of photography history. Today this shot is re-enacted by dogs.

The motel stay included a pass to one of the area's indoor waterparks, one of the major Things To Do in the area. One the park's website, it seems that most of their water rides involve sliding through enclosed tubes. This is NOT appealing to claustrophobes! Besides, the main point of the layover was to rest a bit. As much as I hate to pass up anything free, I just can't work up any enthusiasm. I decide that the motel pool will be quite sufficient entertainment for my current energy level.

Afterward, I wander around in search of dinner. Lacking inspiration, I grab a prefab sub from the gas station's deli. Later, I eat it on the motel patio, while basking in the warm sunshine and listening to birdsong. Surprisingly, the sub is delicious, and I decide to get another for tomorrow's lunch.

Not the trendiest place for dinner, but the price was right.

After another swim/soak, I head to bed early. This stopover was just what I needed.

Indiana to Wisconsin

My morning's adventures leave me with a much less positive impression of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. For starters, their Visitor's Center is located miles and miles away from any other part of the park, and there are no interpretive exhibits. Much of their space contains tourist information for Indiana in general. Most National Parks have a nice glossy brochure with background information. Not here – just a small map that didn't have much detail. Since the only staffer was talking on the phone, I took one and left.

My plan had been to visit the Western Dunes area, which is near a ramp onto the interstate. Turns out, their signage also sucks. Dutifully, I made the turn off the main road. This was the last clear instruction given, and the map didn't offer a sufficient level of detail. That road ended at what looked like a driveway to some private homes. The only sign present pointed down the intersecting road, and informed me that there were "additional" facilities in that direction. Since it headed west as I'd planned, I took that road. No other National Park facilities ever appeared. Eventually I found myself at the Gary Bathing Beach. There are no dunes, but it has a nice beach. I put on my Tevas so I could dip my toes in Lake Michigan. (It was so cold I almost peed myself.)

At this point, I was miles out of my way, and there were no signs directing me to the interstate. I knew it was close by, but without a map I wouldn't know where the ramps were. I ended up backtracking most of the way to the visitor's center. Overall, the experience was two hours of my life I'll never get back.

So I'm not in the cheeriest frame of mind when I get on the interstate. Traffic does nothing to change this. I find the road a Purgatory of poky trucks and lane closures. It may not be rush hour, but there's still LOTS of traffic this close to a major city. The one good thing I found are the pass-through toll transponders. In Illinois, EZ Pass users don't even have to slow down.

At the service plaza (called an "oasis" in Illinois), I'm tempted by a Panda Express. But the seating area is extremely noisy, so I flee. It was too hot to eat in the car, so I never did eat lunch.

Once I get past the outskirts of Milwaukee, things calm down. I find myself in farmland. After a stop for gas, I have trouble returning to the interstate. So I get a really good look at the farmland. It looks fairly similar to Maryland's, green with gently rolling hills. The recently plowed earth  is much darker, though. It takes about 20 minutes to get back on the highway. Ironically, the gas station was called "Kwik-stop".

As I approach the Wisconsin Dells, I find myself in a recurring state of amazement. I'm in the upper Midwest, and I'm in my own car. It's the farthest I've ever driven.

By the time I pull into town, I'm exhausted. I feel the tension of city driving in roughly 90% of my muscles. I have no intention of camping this time. I want a hot tub, I want an indoor pool, and I want them adamantly. Earlier, TripAdvisor had informed me that there are many reasonably priced motels in the area, especially now in the off-season. Before long, a sign commands me to turn right in one block, and go to The Blackhawk Motel. Being too tired to have any will of my own, I obey.

 This turned out to be a good move. They have my pool and hot tub, plus a fridge & microwave in every room. Also, they're in easy walking distance of town. They offer me a rate of $45.99 for a double room, and I accept. Deals don't get much better than that.

After some unloading and resting, I stroll into town. The Famous Dave's I remember from my first visit (in 2002 or 2003) is still there, so I decide to splurge. I even order an extra side of corn with my pulled pork sandwich and fries. The pork was a tad dry, but everything was quite tasty.

Since I'd be eating by myself, I wanted something to read. However, my experience with e-books has so far been a disappointment. Before departing, I'd used a gift card to supply myself with a Nook, and I got a library card. I assumed, naively as it turns out, that I could find any book I wanted in electronic format. I'd had in mind either Bill Bryson's Lost Continent or the Little House Books. Both would be thematically appropriate for this journey, after all. Alas, both are available only on paper. In fact, I have trouble finding anything appealing. Both Barnes & Noble and the Howard County Library mostly promote the committee-written mass market bestsellers that I loathe. Fortunately, there's a bookstore in town. It's been well over a year since I bought a new, full-price book, so I'm due. I find "City of Scoundrels", a chronicle of Chicago at the onset of Prohibition. It turns out to be a fascinating story.

Dinner complete, I head for the pool area. It was everything I'd hoped for. The pool water was even the perfect temperature for my taste – cool enough to be refreshing, but not so cold that it's shocking. There's even a slide with a depiction of Chief Blackhawk.

After my swim/soak, I head back for a shower and bed. The Blackhawk Motel is the best of both worlds. The exterior has a wonderful vintage-roadtrip look, somehow reminiscent of every family vacation since 1948. Inside, however, the fixtures and beds are quite up-to-date. I sleep very soundly on my plush mattress.

Great Lakes

My home for the night was a pleasant little campsite in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Before using the clever little self-service registration machine, I took a drive around the campsite loop. Fortunately, there were other people setting up. I chose a site within earshot of two. For safety reasons, I wouldn't have stayed in a deserted campground. I've seen enough episodes of Scooby Doo to know how that turns out.

One thing the campground lacks is quiet, though it's not their fault. It lies near I-94, so there's a constant hum of traffic. You get a break from listening to it occasionally, though. Once in awhile, trains pass by and blow their horns. I was tired enough that I managed to sleep well, though.

Despite the noise, the campground is still a very nice natural setting. It has nice trees, and I saw a pair of bluebirds next to my campsite.

Thanks to the time difference, I had enough daylight to check out the dunes, and get a nice walk along Lake Michigan. I was glad to get some exercise after sitting in the car all day.

The drive itself wasn't bad. I left at 10, to let rush hour die down. Compared to the DC area, the streets of Pittsburgh seemed deserted. The scenery along the way was pleasant, along both the Ohio and Indiana Turnpikes. There were redbuds in bloom, and lots of lilacs. Again, I saw lots of farm animals, including goats and a big draft horse this time. The highlight was seeing an Amish farmer plowing with a team of four draft horses.

I must say, the Ohio Turnpike has especially nice service plazas. I never had to wait for a bathroom, and they were all very clean and well-supplied. The Indiana Turnpike lost a few point for having no seat covers at one of theirs. I also liked that the layout was the same at each one, so you only have to figure out where to park once.

My state count for the day reaches four before I reach the park. I miss a turn, and find myself in Michigan. (Michigan City looks like a pleasant little town.)

I was tempted by a Popeye's in Ohio, but held out. Lunch consisted of a granola bar and cashews. Dinner was a can of beans heated over sterno. That sounds kind of hobo, but I was too tired by then to care what I ate. It was also quite satisfying to not pay for food all day. Besides, I'd decided to spend as little money as possible in Indiana. This state and their governor have been pursuing an anti-choice agenda, and I have no desire to indirectly fund that.

I woke at about 6:30 Eastern time this morning, so got a good jump on the day. I tried to organize the car a bit better, but never did find my box of graham crackers. They were was supposed to supplement my breakfast yogurt and sterno-heated coffee. Now I have an excuse to eat cookies for breakfast.

It was a bit chilly when I first woke up, so I tried to start a fire. I'm out of practice, though, and failed miserably. The weather warmed up quickly, and the increasing wind hinted that the warming was only just starting.

A Visit in the Burgh

Early in the day, we made a Mother's Day visit to Cavalry Cemetery. If you're a Catholic living in the East End, you're pretty much destined to end up there. It's very old, and has many impressive monuments. Quite likely, there are also members of the Hoeftman side of the family around. But the office is closed, surprisingly. I'll catch my other realtives next time around. It's not as if they're going anywhere.

Patricia's grandmother Anna (Anastasia) and my grandmother Agnes were sisters.

It still seems odd to see big-box retailers in the neighborhoods. They clog traffic a bit, but overall I think it's a good thing. Convenient shopping will help attract people to live in town, and not encourage sprawl.

After lunch, we went over to the Frick Museum, to see their exhibit on ancient Persian ceramics. Later, I did the tour of the house museum, Clayton.

It was the home of Henry Clay Frick and his family. It has all the accoutrements you'd expect in the home of a Victorian captain of industry, and a few extras. Their Orchestrion is one of only four of its size still in existence. My favorite touch was in Helen Clay Frick's room, which was decorated to show her childhood. They unearthed one of her early copybooks, which involved the adventures of a piglet. "Run, little pig!" Presumably H.J. Heinz was coming to visit, and might have made him into sausages.

Departure

After weeks of preparation, The Moment arrives. John & I share a farewell hug, and it's time to start the car and head up the road.

As I pull out, the Grateful Dead song "Touch of Gray" is playing on the radio. This seems quite appropriate.

Unsurprisingly, I catch up to the rain showers as I approach the mountains. There are also rather thick patches of fog from time to time. It's not the most relaxing drive imaginable, and I miss some of the nicer views.

Still, as interstates go, you can do a lot worse than that section of I-70. I can still see farms, several with cool old barns. I also spot herds of horses, sheep, cows, one of which had a nursing calf. There's something about animals grazing in a field that always does my heart good.

Lunch was at the Somerset rest area of the PA Turnpike. I'm pleased to find a Roy Rogers as part of their lineup. This used to be a large chain. Most were bought out by McDonalds in the 1990s, and either closed or converted to McDs. So this is likely my last chance for one of their yummy burgers.

Despite the rain, I made good time. I crossed the Pittsburgh city line a little after 1 PM. Of course, I could have driven farther, but the Burgh is my hometown. So I'm going to visit some cousins and check out the old neighborhood. 

Getting to my cousin's house is a bit more of a challenge. Characteristically, I get lost. Later I realize that a missing street sign is the culprit. Thankfully, I brought a map, and get back on track with minimal drama.

After hellos and a bit of settling in, my cousins take me on a drive through the old neighborhood. Some things are very much the same, like the street names, parks, and familiar houses. Other things, like big box retail tucked close to houses, seem strange. The contrast between familiarity and radical change is somewhat disconcerting. But I'm glad to see the old Nabisco Bakery is still standing. It was converted into shopping and condos.  Here's a view of it from my grandparents' house on Marchand Street, circa 1940s:

After a delivery dinner of Indian Food, I head to bed early.

How it all started...

Thanks to Mike Leavenworth!

Less than 24 hours from now, I will drive away from my home. On May 23, I will report for a seasonal job in Yellowstone National Park. In between, I plan to visit cousins in my hometown, revisit a vacation spot, and make some new discoveries.

Few people do things like this at my particular age. Most either have their adventure before starting their career, or wait until they retire. Fate and the economy had other plans for me, however. I'd been working as a meeting planner for a government contractor until last October. Cutbacks to government meetings started with the GSA Scandal in the spring of 2012, and my company had no meetings for me to plan. I was laid off, along with a handful of other employees.

My company wasn't the only one affected, so there were few openings in my field. Associations have also been cutting back on events. Government employees have had difficulties getting approval for travel, so attendance is down everywhere. Things only got worse when sequestration in 2013.

When the expiration of my unemployment  benefits loomed, I figured, "It'll be summer – I can get a seasonal job". Then I started thinking about our trip to Yellowstone in October 2011. The 2 1/2 days we spent there were awesome. We would've stayed longer, but a snowstorm hit. From that point on, you could only access the park with snow tires or chains. But with a rental car, that just wasn't feasible. So we drove on, to checking out a number of other National Parks & Monuments. It was quite a successful trip, all in all. But still, Yellowstone felt unfinished.

Back in March, I looked up the Xanterra website. As the concessionaire for many of the western National Parks, they run the hotels and lodges and restaurants and many of the tours and activities. That means there lots of jobs to choose from. I applied for three, the maximum number allowed: Residence Coordinator, Activities Sales, and something to do with reservations.

My preferences were in that order. Since Residence Coordinator involves management of housing, it ties in with a facet of event planning. It's one of the few jobs that comes with a single room, and sounded enjoyable. I think I would've been good at selling Activities, since it's the sort of thing I enjoy doing myself. My enthusiasm for Reservations would've been more limited. A person with a history of camping and staying in youth hotels probably would upsell hotel rooms convincingly.

Gratifyingly, I was contacted for all three positions. After a phone interview, I agreed to be the Residence Coordinator for the Lake area. Since then, I've been engaged in increasingly urgent preparations.