Rob Saker's Blog

I am a man without a permanent home.  For the next few months, or until Miller and Coors decide where they’re going to host the joint venture, I’m living in temporary housing.  For the next two months at least, that means I’m living in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee is a town of approximately 1.5 million people.  From what I had seen in my interviews, the people are great, there’s a strong city feel to the town, but the wild is just 30 minutes away.  I love the thought of being able to head out to the woods, lake or mountains on a whim.  No mountain’s here, but it’s not like New York or Chicago where you have to drive out of the city, then out of the suburbs.

You’d think it would be relatively easy to find an apartment in a town of 1.5 million people.  I guess the short notice, the short length of my lease (2-3 months), my having a pet, and the increased tenancy in apartments due to the mortage crisis is limiting capacity.  I found only one apartment that had availability, and all the reviews were terrible.  People breaking in, getting shot in the parking lot.  I’ve already done my time in a complex like that, as my friend Chad will attest.

I ended up reserving a room with Marriot Extended Stay suites.  It’s a bit more per day, but if you consider I have my high-speed Internet, cable, phone, utilities, furniture as part of it… it’s a draw in expenses. I’m in a small room, basically an efficiency.  It’s got everything I need; bed, kitchenette, sofa, bathroom, internet, worlds smallest tv, and a big window.< There’s a workout room in my building, laundry on the first floor.  It’s not quite as big as my apartment during grad school, but definitely nicer.  Not having people shooting at each other while I’m trying to talk on the phone is definitely a plus.

The best feature is it’s no more than 40 steps from a Starbucks (and Einstein Bros. is next door).  I didn’t plan that.  Just karma’s way of rewarding me for something.

I took off yesterday with the two boys in tow.  I stacked plastic tubs two high in the back, with the middle being open on the back (so I could see out the back).  Gus thought this was a little fort, and decided to hang out in the back of the vehicle looking at the cars behind us.  I wish I could’ve taken a picture.

I made it okay, but it quickly became apparent that I’d need something to occupy the boys.  I’m worried about them during the day, barking and howling at people.  Petsmart is two blocks away, so I bought a ton of dog stuff to keep them from scratching the doors, running out when the maids freshen up the room, and generally happy so I can successfully onboard.

I picked up a nice little dog bed a few weeks ago for Gus, and Max seemed to like that so I bought another one of those.  I’ve placed both beds near my feet, so whenever I work I’ve got Schnauzer foot warmers.  Bought another brass wire fence to keep them separated from the front door.  Bought some more Kongs and peanut butter stuff to keep them occupied when I leave.  Bought a toy that dispenses treats when they play.  Gus started playing with that, and Max promptly attacked him for having fun.

Figuring Max would always be, well, Max, and Gus would need to blow off a lot of steam, I needed to find a release for their energies.  I did some research and found a dog park nearby.  I’m really not that far from rural Wisconsin, which reminds me of Eastern Ohio.  If you go Northwest from my place about 1.5 miles, there’s a beautiful park in the middle of the rural Wisconsin.  There is a great dog park that borders a marshy area.

I took the boys there to get some exercise (so they’re tired during the day).  Some girl was playing, threw a tennis ball into this marsh lake, and Gus did this stellar impression of a mallard attempting to take off from water. For a moment he thought he was able to walk, or run, on water, but then gravity hit and he’s fully in this marshy, muddy mix. He grabs the ball and comes tramping out. Happy as a clam.

Did I mention it was like 45 degrees out? Yeah. Happy as a really cold clam.

I let them run around about 1/2 hour more (so he would dry off), then had to take this wet-lake smelling dog back to the room and give him a bath.

I think it’ll still be worth taking them every night, and the likely frequent dog baths, to have the tired and happy dogs. I fortunately have those beds for them to sleep on.  No amount of soap and conditioner can get marsh smell of a Schnauzer.

Tomorrow is the first day at the beer factory.

Bookmark & Share