Moving our middle daughter in to East Quad on Thursday. Freshman, Chem major. She's a HS marching band flute player but decided not to go out for the Michigan Marching Band. Our son graduated this Spring in Computer Engineering, was a 4 year MMB Trumpet - great experience for him. He's working in Ann Arbor, looking for an affordable apartment near downtown.
Son was in East Quad as well first year (before COVID) and the move-in was smooth as silk. They are really well organized, lots of helping hands but advise you to grab a blue bin when you can :)
No empty nest here. Youngest daughter is a HS Junior. Watch for her in the MMB Drumline 2025 season.
<RANT>
Since the regents OK'd bulldozing Elbel Field to build a $500M monstrosity dorm, the MMB is now practicing at Pioneer HS field. The "New Elbel" was promised to be done, but they didn't even make a good effort. Nothing but torn up asphalt and dirt piles there. And, that area (5th St., where the Fingerle outbuildings used to be located) is very flood prone, so expect future disruptions. Also, it is literally across the railroad track from a swanky hi rise apartment, so I hope the residents like to hear the band practicing in the evenings from August to November and The Victors at 7am on game days (I would, but guessing there will be complaints). IMO, the MMB, one of THE most iconic UM institutions, really got screwed over.
</RANT>
I've zigged and zagged a few times. Started as an electrical engineer at GM Tech Center, decided after 4 years to go management route so moved to Ann Arbor and got MBA (back when UM had an Evening Program). Spent 15 more years working up the corporate ladder, then a week before our third child was born I stepped off the career treadmill (I was a marketing VP at a mid-size software co in A2) and became full time parent at 42. We were fortunate that my wife is a staff physician at UM, so we had a stable income with great benefits. I spent the next 4 years full time at home and then slowly built up a consulting business that allowed me flexibility to still spend a lot of time parenting, to the point where my oldest daughter, in 6th grade at the time, asked me "why do you spend so much time at school?". Cub Scout leader, basketball coach, Science Olympiad, Robotics team - you name it.
I will say, though, that like a lot of men my age much of my self identity had been defined by my career and there were times, I hate to admit, that I second guessed things. You can only be called "Mr. Mom" so many times. Just misdirected ego. But I look back and think how lucky I was to spend so much time focused on home and community. You don't mention your kids' ages, but they grow up so fast (cliché, but any Dad here will tell you it's true), and your kids will benefit immensely from your commitment and involvement. We are moving our third child into East Quad this week!
As for career advice, yes web development and coding will allow you to do contract work, but it's competitive. The Great Resignation has put a lot of young techy types on the market looking for gig work. I'm not saying you can't compete, but with your CPA background have you considered leveraging your professional experience by getting involved as a "virtual CFO" sort of role with early stage companies?
If you're in Ann Arbor, the start-up ecosystem is amazing (in good economy or bad) and in my experience working with many early-stage companies, I know first-hand that having someone who can help establish financial structure, meet reg requirements, manage cash, work with VCs, etc. is worth A LOT. Do some homework if you have to and learn venture financing, finance/growth metrics (there are a ton of them that software companies follow, for example), etc. Connect with local VCs, UM Tech Transfer (now called Innovation Partnerships), SPARK. Ann Arbor's entrepreneurial environment is very accessible if you're willing to actively network. If you're not in A2, your mileage may vary as to the start-up environment, but all of the advice above translates.
If you are sure you want to go the coding route, I would suggest learning to build iOS apps (Swift, Obj C, React). There are tons of resources for learning. With this skillset, you can either build your own app if you have a killer idea or do contract app development. It's more differentiated than web or general coding. The learning curve is steeper, though, so be prepared to work hard to get there.
When (if) I get to retirement, I’m planning to move to Traverse City area and make cherry wood furniture. I’ll make 3 chairs a year
Hope this is helpful. Good luck, and enjoy the adventure!
We started going there when it was just a shoebox, before they expanded. Mama Rosa ruled! I proposed to my wife there, gave Chris the Waiter the ring to bring out with the cannoli and got a huge round of applause from the restaurant when she said yes :) Our picture from that night was on the wall for years, and as our kids came along we tucked little pictures of them into the frame. Really miss that place! The only consolation is that I have reverse engineered a pretty good knockoff of their eggplant spaghetti sauce
My son will be in the pep band tonight. They are going to play MSU alma mater. I talked with him about the emotions and the memories that will come from being part of this. I think all these kids get it.
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LB Jay Higgins and Donkey Teeth, Boise State University
OL Cannon Leonard and TB12
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Ol Rusty Feth and Oliver Anthony
QB Tommy Poholsky and Badger
Kicker Drew Stevens and Dewey
Punter Tory Taylor and Zippy the Pinhead
DB Cooper DeJean and Marvin Nash
OL Julian Goines-Jackson and Stacy Abrams
OL Grant Toutant and the pedo kid in Ricky Gervais' Afterlife
(note: if you click the movie link, use your browser "back" button to get back to MGoBlog)
WR Coach Gunter Brewer and Steve "Romney will win" Forbes
Josh Gattis
K Jack Howes and creepy ventriloquist dummy
OL Mike Purcell and Gandolfini (Get Shorty era)
TE Dylan Wade and Rapa Nui moai statue
WR Octavian Smith, Jr. and a young John Lee Hooker
DB Corey Coley, Jr and Bob Marley
LS Jake Foggia and George "Machine Gun" Kelly
LB Winston Yates and Phineas
QB Jaxon Smolik and Martin Short
LB Ta'Mere Robinson and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot
OL Coach Phil Trautwein and Lou Filerman (he's new here)
QB Jack Lambert and Alice the Maid
Hayden Parise - WR and Reese Witherspoon
Marquis Wilson - DB and Vampire Eddie Murphy
Kyle Adams - QB and Sammy the limo driver
Vince Carpenter - OL and Carrot Top
I'm an '85 Clemson grad, back in the Danny Ford era. I will withhold comment on Clemson women, but I might know her mom. Or grandma.
And before the "username doesn't check out" comments flare, I'm a '92 UM grad :)
I started watching it, bailed out about the time Urban says to the interviewer "This is going to be fucking awesome!"
Moving our middle daughter in to East Quad on Thursday. Freshman, Chem major. She's a HS marching band flute player but decided not to go out for the Michigan Marching Band. Our son graduated this Spring in Computer Engineering, was a 4 year MMB Trumpet - great experience for him. He's working in Ann Arbor, looking for an affordable apartment near downtown.
Son was in East Quad as well first year (before COVID) and the move-in was smooth as silk. They are really well organized, lots of helping hands but advise you to grab a blue bin when you can :)
No empty nest here. Youngest daughter is a HS Junior. Watch for her in the MMB Drumline 2025 season.
<RANT>
Since the regents OK'd bulldozing Elbel Field to build a $500M monstrosity dorm, the MMB is now practicing at Pioneer HS field. The "New Elbel" was promised to be done, but they didn't even make a good effort. Nothing but torn up asphalt and dirt piles there. And, that area (5th St., where the Fingerle outbuildings used to be located) is very flood prone, so expect future disruptions. Also, it is literally across the railroad track from a swanky hi rise apartment, so I hope the residents like to hear the band practicing in the evenings from August to November and The Victors at 7am on game days (I would, but guessing there will be complaints). IMO, the MMB, one of THE most iconic UM institutions, really got screwed over.
</RANT>
D Coord Blake Harrell and crazy Sam Brinton
HC Mike Houston and DickRod
I've zigged and zagged a few times. Started as an electrical engineer at GM Tech Center, decided after 4 years to go management route so moved to Ann Arbor and got MBA (back when UM had an Evening Program). Spent 15 more years working up the corporate ladder, then a week before our third child was born I stepped off the career treadmill (I was a marketing VP at a mid-size software co in A2) and became full time parent at 42. We were fortunate that my wife is a staff physician at UM, so we had a stable income with great benefits. I spent the next 4 years full time at home and then slowly built up a consulting business that allowed me flexibility to still spend a lot of time parenting, to the point where my oldest daughter, in 6th grade at the time, asked me "why do you spend so much time at school?". Cub Scout leader, basketball coach, Science Olympiad, Robotics team - you name it.
I will say, though, that like a lot of men my age much of my self identity had been defined by my career and there were times, I hate to admit, that I second guessed things. You can only be called "Mr. Mom" so many times. Just misdirected ego. But I look back and think how lucky I was to spend so much time focused on home and community. You don't mention your kids' ages, but they grow up so fast (cliché, but any Dad here will tell you it's true), and your kids will benefit immensely from your commitment and involvement. We are moving our third child into East Quad this week!
As for career advice, yes web development and coding will allow you to do contract work, but it's competitive. The Great Resignation has put a lot of young techy types on the market looking for gig work. I'm not saying you can't compete, but with your CPA background have you considered leveraging your professional experience by getting involved as a "virtual CFO" sort of role with early stage companies?
If you're in Ann Arbor, the start-up ecosystem is amazing (in good economy or bad) and in my experience working with many early-stage companies, I know first-hand that having someone who can help establish financial structure, meet reg requirements, manage cash, work with VCs, etc. is worth A LOT. Do some homework if you have to and learn venture financing, finance/growth metrics (there are a ton of them that software companies follow, for example), etc. Connect with local VCs, UM Tech Transfer (now called Innovation Partnerships), SPARK. Ann Arbor's entrepreneurial environment is very accessible if you're willing to actively network. If you're not in A2, your mileage may vary as to the start-up environment, but all of the advice above translates.
If you are sure you want to go the coding route, I would suggest learning to build iOS apps (Swift, Obj C, React). There are tons of resources for learning. With this skillset, you can either build your own app if you have a killer idea or do contract app development. It's more differentiated than web or general coding. The learning curve is steeper, though, so be prepared to work hard to get there.
When (if) I get to retirement, I’m planning to move to Traverse City area and make cherry wood furniture. I’ll make 3 chairs a year
Hope this is helpful. Good luck, and enjoy the adventure!
QB Patrick Bryan and Jason Voorhees in this scene
WR Brock Spalding and Joe Montegna
If Joe did roids for a few years
RB Joseph McKay and some dude with an octopus on his head
DB Adam Cole and Josh Baskin
What's fun about playing with a robot that turns into a building?
DL Kyler Pucket and Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
Dad, where'd you park the yacht?
OL Hampton Ergle and Michael Keaton.
Squinty eyed, smirky bastard. And Michael Keaton.
DL J.D. Lampley and Donny Kerabatsos
Shut the fuck up, Donny
OL Isaiah Foote and Leonel Salamanca
1/10th as badass, though
We…
Yes to Argiero's!
We started going there when it was just a shoebox, before they expanded. Mama Rosa ruled! I proposed to my wife there, gave Chris the Waiter the ring to bring out with the cannoli and got a huge round of applause from the restaurant when she said yes :) Our picture from that night was on the wall for years, and as our kids came along we tucked little pictures of them into the frame. Really miss that place! The only consolation is that I have reverse engineered a pretty good knockoff of their eggplant spaghetti sauce
Same here - logged in to cast a vote for Drake's. I remember the booths and counters were all covered in this 50's Formica:
My son will be in the pep band tonight. They are going to play MSU alma mater. I talked with him about the emotions and the memories that will come from being part of this. I think all these kids get it.
Damn. I'm not that old but feel like college football is passing me by.
I have game programs going back many years. They're gone. I have my tickets going back to '93. Now they're gone. And they're bulldozing Elbel Field.
Let's just bring back Dave Brandon and turn the game day experience into a circus show </sarc>
For the record, the OSU ticket in '93 was $25 ($51.35 in 2023 dollars)