Hey Cheeseheads..Wisconsin folks......

04/04/2010 02:19:44 AM · #26

Kind of a trade off, Wisconsins Mountains are lacking. lol Although if you move to Oconomowoc, They have a big man made ski hill!!!! It is right across the road from the Hospital you may be working at so you would see that quite often.

You will find that area to be quite nice, It is far enough out of the big cities to get away from the rat races but close enough that you don't have to spend all day in your car to get to one of them Both Madison and Milwaukee are less than an hour away and Chicago is only a little over 90 minutes if there isn't alot of traffic or construction. ofcourse there is always road construction going on in that area.

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Originally posted by Bugzeye:
There are alot of good things to say about Michigan. Ironwood is one of my favorite places to visit Skiing, Fishing, Auto Racing to name a few, Not to mention they have great neighbors to the west...

I agree. In fact of all the places I have ever lived, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is what I miss the most. Sadly there are no jobs open there at this time. My earlier comments reflected my feelings on the lower SE area I grew up in. All of Michigan has something I dearly miss that you don't get here in Alaska, but I will find in WI....Oaks and Maples. The trees here are no where near as beautiful.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

04/07/2010 04:06:34 PM · #27

The phone interview went well - despite the 4.9 magnitude earthquake that happened here mid-way into it. lol
I have been invited to come to tour the facility and have a second interview next week. I'll arrive on Wednesday afternoon, interview on Thursday 9 a.m., then depart on Friday at 5pm. So, I should have some free time on Thursday afternoon / Friday morning and early afternoon. Any of you cheeseheads in the area want to try an get together even if just for a quick lunch?

Hipychik

Sony Alpha a6000

04/07/2010 04:23:35 PM · #28

Originally posted by kirbic:

Originally posted by Spork99:
What's wrong with MI?

Detroit. ;-)

Flint :)

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/07/2010 07:57:45 PM · #29

I'm going to be in Chicago for Thursday and Friday so I'd miss it, but lunch would be tough to arrange for me anyway. I'll wish you good luck in the interviews and give you a rain check for when you relocate here permanently!

Good luck!

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

04/07/2010 08:11:33 PM · #30

Hey Linda,
I can probably get free for a lunch on Friday... My location is close to downtown Milwaukee, and there are a *ton* of good places to eat.

04/07/2010 09:48:03 PM · #31

I am free but unfortunately 9500 miles away. So any gtg would have to happen when i am back in Wisconsin for a visit. Hope you get the job and make that posible. If you can go meet Fritz for lunch, he is good at picking out places to eat. however he is a breafast guy not so sure how he'll do for lunch. If you can't meet him. There are alot of places to eat in the Oconomowoc area. Where will you be staying while you are there? do you know. I can give you more specific choices of good food. one place I like in particular is in Delafield which is about 10 minutes east of Oconomowoc it is called the Water Street Brewery, They have a very nice menu. And home made potato chips that are awesome.

04/08/2010 12:29:44 AM · #32

Originally posted by kirbic:

Hey Linda,
I can probably get free for a lunch on Friday... My location is close to downtown Milwaukee, and there are a *ton* of good places to eat.

That would be super! I have known you here for so long, but never gotten to meet you in person. We could do breakfast or lunch. If you are free for the day we could even go shooting at the zoo! I don't fly out until after 5pm

04/08/2010 12:32:50 AM · #33

Originally posted by Bugzeye:

The hospital is setting up where I stay....they said something about a hotel across the street from them that they would see if they could get me into. I would appreciate any suggestions for eating places as far as dinner on Wed. and Thurs.

04/08/2010 12:59:26 AM · #34

must be at the Olympia Resort. I will get back to you on the places to eat. Want to ask my wife about a few places that I know she has eaten but I haven't and find out if they are any good. They are in Downtown Oconomowoc which is only a few minutes away from the hospital. near the hospital they have a few big chain places like Chili's, Culvers etc... Will get back to you with some more info after I talk to my wife tonight.

Here are a few places to eat in Oconomowoc (aka Coony) Amalia's, Spinnaker's, Fiesta Cancun, Fong's Garden, I have eaten at two of these places, My wife has been to all of them. You also have many standard chains to choose from. If you go to Delafield which is a short hop east on I/94 they have as I mentioned earlier Water Street Brewery, Fishbones's, Emperor's Kitchen (have never eaten there but always had intentions to because I have heard from alot of people who have that it is really good) as well as a few chain places like Noodles and Company and Qdoba Mexican Grill. If you need to do any basic shopping during your stay. There is a Kmart next to the Olympia Complex in Coony and Delafield has a Walmart, Target and a Kohls Dept Store. Also some specialty shops in both towns.

Message edited by author 2010-04-09 07:49:20.

04/11/2010 02:11:52 PM · #35

okay - found out where I am staying at. I'll be at the Staybridge Suites in Oconomowoc. For whatever reason they went with this instead of the one across the road. I arrive at the airport in Milwaukee around 2:40pm. I'll be renting a car then heading to the hotel. If any of you want to meet up for dinner let me know before Tuesday night. I'll have Thursday night and a few daytime hours on Friday open too.

04/11/2010 04:08:49 PM · #36

Linda,
What time is your flight out on Friday? Would lunch Friday be a possibility?

04/11/2010 07:06:52 PM · #37

Originally posted by kirbic:

Linda,
What time is your flight out on Friday? Would lunch Friday be a possibility?

Fritz, lunch would be great! My departure flight isn't until 5:15pm.

04/11/2010 08:58:47 PM · #38

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Originally posted by kirbic:
Linda,
What time is your flight out on Friday? Would lunch Friday be a possibility?

Fritz, lunch would be great! My departure flight isn't until 5:15pm.

Sounds like a plan. You are on my calendar!
We can do lunch near downtown, and I can show you around a bit.

04/12/2010 01:43:58 AM · #39

hmmm Staybridge must be a fairly new place or one of the old ones has changed names. I have never heard of it. That part of Oconomowoc is growing at a rapid pace so they could have alot of new stuff there since the last time I was there which has been just about a year now. Wish I could meet up with you guys for lunch or a shoot. Will definately attempt that when I am back later in the year. Anyway, Have a good trip and enjoy Wisconsin.

Fritz. You should take her to see the Bronze Fonz.

PuppyDogMom

Canon EOS R6

04/13/2010 09:17:15 PM · #40

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

I, too, lived in the UP...moved there from SW Michigan. Beautiful...even with the 300 inches of snow that I experienced my first winter in the Houghton/Hancock area.

04/14/2010 02:27:23 AM · #41

10:25 pm here in Alaska...I fly out of here at 1:45am and I can hardly wait to get on the plane. I am exhausted and should fall right to sleep!

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

04/14/2010 07:51:29 PM · #42

6:48 pm - sitting in my hotel room in Oconomow Wisconsin...79 degrees!!! Was only 40 something back in Alaska.
I'm still exhausted, a baby on the plane took away any hopes of my getting to sleep. Mom and her baby sat in the seat directly in front of me and the baby cried every 15 minutes like clock work. Ugh
Going to get some much needed dinner and then sleep. Let ya all know tomorrow how the 2nd interview went.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

04/15/2010 08:31:51 AM · #43

Welcome to Wisconsin, I arranged the beautiful weather just for you. Enjoy your stay and good luck on the interview.

PS: watch out for Kirbic. He'll eat a double order of eggs benedict and stick you with the tab!

04/15/2010 09:19:00 AM · #44

Originally posted by strangeghost:

lol - that sneaky Kirbic. I called home last night to check on the dogs. Seems it started snowing 30 minutes after I left, and snowed all night and yesterday. Big Lake, AK got 10 inches of snow. lol I sure planned this trip at the perfect time....going to enjoy the sun and warm temps today.

04/15/2010 05:11:51 PM · #45

Interview went well, but they still have two more candidates to speak with. I had really hoped that I was about to be offered the job as I didn't think they would really ask me to come all the way from Alaska unless they were pretty sure they wanted to hire me. Oh well, guess now I wait and see if they pick me or not. The HR director said all candidates will be contacted with their decision by the end of next week. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
I took a drive after the interview - checked out the Lake Mills area, and Johnson Creek, as well as Oconomowoc. Not sure about Oconomowoc as it is a bit busy for my likings, but I really liked Lake Mills and Johnson Creek. Had fun shopping at the Outlet Mall in Johnson Creek, then came back to the room for a bit.
Tomorrow I'll meet up with Fritz (kirbic) for lunch and hang out in Milwaukee with him a bit. Then it's back to Alaska....hopefully the ten inches of snow that fell Wednesday will have melted.

04/15/2010 07:16:01 PM · #46

Hope you're enjoying our rather unseasonable weather! Back to more realistic temperatures tomorrow.

04/16/2010 05:04:12 AM · #47

Oconomowoc is not really that busy. Just the two main roads which are Hwy 67 where you were for the interview and Hwy 16 which is also Main Street in the downtown area are busy the rest of the town is quite calm most days.

Lake Mills is a nice little town. Not alot to do there though but the they do have Rock Lake which is a nice little lake and a few nice parks etc.. Johnson Creek is growing but apart from the shopping centers it is very boring. If the quiet life is what you are after check out the Concord area. Very quiet there. However apart from one Tavern and a Gas Station the town has nothing else to offer. But the people are friendly. Something you may not find as much of in Oconomowoc Lake Mills or Johnson Creek. If I had known you were going to wander over that way I could have given you some more places to eat. A couple of good ones out that way too...

As for the job. I wouldn't sweat it too much. Those Hospitals always say they have a few other prospective hires to interview to give themselves a safe card to play.. My wife was a Medical Staff Manager at one of the local hospitals back there and they would tell people that all the time even if they were the only one to apply for the job... The reason usually was they do not want to spend the time and money on the background checks etc until they are certain that you fit the role. They then use that safe card to buy themselves the time to do all the checks. I know that doesn't guarantee you the job by any means but it certainly keeps you in the running. Good Luck... And be sure to let us know if you are going to be a Cheesehead Convert...

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

PuppyDogMom

Canon EOS R6

04/16/2010 06:35:50 AM · #48

Originally posted by ShutterPug:

Good luck...hope you get the job and join the Cheeseheads. And, don't get carried away at the Outlet Mall...it's easy to do.

04/16/2010 10:30:37 AM · #49

Originally posted by Bugzeye:

Thanks Bugz - that makes me feel a little better about not having come all this way for nothing. Talking to Fritz last night he also made a valid point - if they asked me all this way from Alaska I must at least be one of the very top picks. I do have 20 years experience to bring with me, something other candidates may not have.
Thanks also for the input on the different areas. I do like the quiet out of the way places. Where I live right now is smaller than Lake Mills...and we like it that way. :D