OT: Moved the Kid Into Freshman Dorms Yesterday

[Uscg1984]

Well, I guess my wife and I are empty-nesters (sort of) this morning. We moved my son into one of the freshman dorms at Montana State yesterday. It was pretty much an all-day affair, full of waiting in lines for 2 slow elevators with the heavy loads, running up and down 6 flights of stairs with the lighter loads, assembling kit furniture in a dorm room using less-than-adequate tools, lofting beds, finding the right combination of extension cords and power-strips to power everything from an insufficient number of outlets, and an ill-advised run to the Bozeman Walmart and Target, all while dodging thunderstorms. Fortunately, we were so exhausted after the long day that we were anxious to get in the car and leave without a significant buildup of sentimental mushiness. I'm glad we only have to do this once - much respect to those of you who have done this multiple times.

He's only an hour away, so it's not like we're sending him across the country or something. In fact, he'll be back Labor Day weekend to get all of the stuff he didn't think to pack for this past weekend.

And, I guess I'm officially taking sides now in the Cats/Griz rivalry after previously not having a dog in that fight. Here's to hoping the Bobcats can pull off an upset at Oregon in Week One (I'm not holding my breath).

 

[HI Cock1]

Damn! Another bobcat! Death to all feline mascots!

P.S. Congrats! You should have gone a couple days early to catch the Billy Strings show at the Fieldhouse.

 

[bayrooster]

Well, I guess my wife and I are empty-nesters (sort of) this morning. We moved my son into one of the freshman dorms at Montana State yesterday. It was pretty much an all-day affair, full of waiting in lines for 2 slow elevators with the heavy loads, running up and down 6 flights of stairs with the lighter loads, assembling kit furniture in a dorm room using less-than-adequate tools, lofting beds, finding the right combination of extension cords and power-strips to power everything from an insufficient number of outlets, and an ill-advised run to the Bozeman Walmart and Target, all while dodging thunderstorms. Fortunately, we were so exhausted after the long day that we were anxious to get in the car and leave without a significant buildup of sentimental mushiness. I'm glad we only have to do this once - much respect to those of you who have done this multiple times.

He's only an hour away, so it's not like we're sending him across the country or something. In fact, he'll be back Labor Day weekend to get all of the stuff he didn't think to pack for this past weekend.

And, I guess I'm officially taking sides now in the Cats/Griz rivalry after previously not having a dog in that fight. Here's to hoping the Bobcats can pull off an upset at Oregon in Week One (I'm not holding my breath).

Do they get the benefit of individual shower stalls in the floor shower room or are we talking about luxury accommodations, like dorm rooms with their own bathrooms?

 

[sclawman77]

Is that him in the avatar? He clinches an impressive fist.

 

[Uscg1984]

Do they get the benefit of individual shower stalls in the floor shower room or are we talking about luxury accommodations, like dorm rooms with their own bathrooms?

I couldn't locate anything I'd call a "luxury" in this particular dorm building, but they do at least have individual shower stalls (a curtain that pulls closed) in the communal bathrooms on each floor.

MSU does have some very nice newer dorm buildings that might be considered luxurious, but they cost considerably more and my kid has a real cheapskate for a dad. I'm always muttering something about "builds character" and such.

 

[Tidalcock]

Well, I guess my wife and I are empty-nesters (sort of) this morning. We moved my son into one of the freshman dorms at Montana State yesterday. It was pretty much an all-day affair, full of waiting in lines for 2 slow elevators with the heavy loads, running up and down 6 flights of stairs with the lighter loads, assembling kit furniture in a dorm room using less-than-adequate tools, lofting beds, finding the right combination of extension cords and power-strips to power everything from an insufficient number of outlets, and an ill-advised run to the Bozeman Walmart and Target, all while dodging thunderstorms. Fortunately, we were so exhausted after the long day that we were anxious to get in the car and leave without a significant buildup of sentimental mushiness. I'm glad we only have to do this once - much respect to those of you who have done this multiple times.

He's only an hour away, so it's not like we're sending him across the country or something. In fact, he'll be back Labor Day weekend to get all of the stuff he didn't think to pack for this past weekend.

And, I guess I'm officially taking sides now in the Cats/Griz rivalry after previously not having a dog in that fight. Here's to hoping the Bobcats can pull off an upset at Oregon in Week One (I'm not holding my breath).

Did this for the third time two weekends ago for our daughter. She and her peeps require a diffetent dorm, apartment, house each year. . Have become quite the expert in assembling new furniture every year. Wouldn’t trade it for the world though. Am so proud of her!

 

[Uscg1984]

Is that him in the avatar? He clinches an impressive fist.

Lol! No, that's just some internet meme kid. But it does accurately encapsulate my feeling yesterday when we were done and heading home.

 

[Hobcawcreekcock]

Did this for the third time two weekends ago for our daughter. She and her peeps require a diffetent dorm, apartment, house each year. . Have become quite the expert in assembling new furniture every year. Wouldn’t trade it for the world though. Am so proud of her!

My daughter, while at USC ( class of 2020), changed ‘cribs’ every year. Campus, to Huger Street 4 Bedroom apt, to a house in Olympia, to a home 1 block from 5 Points. Tough on a Mt Pleasant Dad, but at least I knew Columbia since I grew up there until the age of 27…

 

[Viennacock]

Well, I guess my wife and I are empty-nesters (sort of) this morning. We moved my son into one of the freshman dorms at Montana State yesterday. It was pretty much an all-day affair, full of waiting in lines for 2 slow elevators with the heavy loads, running up and down 6 flights of stairs with the lighter loads, assembling kit furniture in a dorm room using less-than-adequate tools, lofting beds, finding the right combination of extension cords and power-strips to power everything from an insufficient number of outlets, and an ill-advised run to the Bozeman Walmart and Target, all while dodging thunderstorms. Fortunately, we were so exhausted after the long day that we were anxious to get in the car and leave without a significant buildup of sentimental mushiness. I'm glad we only have to do this once - much respect to those of you who have done this multiple times.

He's only an hour away, so it's not like we're sending him across the country or something. In fact, he'll be back Labor Day weekend to get all of the stuff he didn't think to pack for this past weekend.

And, I guess I'm officially taking sides now in the Cats/Griz rivalry after previously not having a dog in that fight. Here's to hoping the Bobcats can pull off an upset at Oregon in Week One (I'm not holding my breath).

Congrats. Love Montana State!

My wife dropped mine (my oldest) off at the Citadel for matriculation day Saturday. I coach and was out of town for a tournament. I had a much harder time saying goodbye than I thought I would.

He is certainly physically ready but not sure mentally. I am nervous for him. He is Hotel company. He is playing a sport at the Citadel. It should give him some relief, assuming he makes it through the week.

 

[rockingamecock]

We fly into BZN on September 9 for our Yellowstone and Grand Tetons getaway . . . . staying in Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Jackson. Any advice and/or tips will be greatly appreciated. I've been planning this since February. Thanks in advance!

 

[Viennacock]

We fly into BZN on September 9 for our Yellowstone and Grand Tetons getaway . . . . staying in Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Jackson. Any advice and/or tips will be greatly appreciated. I've been planning this since February. Thanks in advance!

We did the same trip. Here is what we enjoyed and what we will do differently next trip.

We spent 6+ days in Yellowstone and 2 in Jackson Hole area. When we do it again, it will be 3 in Yellowstone and 5 in Jackson Hole.

We really enjoyed the whitewater rafting, grand canyon of Yellowstone and the valley seeing all the animals. After driving for days and walking on dozens of boardwalk, everything starts to look the same. Beautiful and educational but one day is plenty for the boardwalks. My family is very active and was itching to get off the beaten path. Not easy in Yellowstone. Plenty of folks feel differently but to each his own.

The drive from Yellowstone to Jackson Hole is stunning. We went backside through Victor- strongly suggest. The agriculture, the view were some of my favorite. The hikes in and around Jackson Hole area are unbelievable. We did several on the backside of the Tetons and several on the frontside. Our favorite was a relatively long hike that ended in a huge cave - it was off the road heading into Jackson from Victor. Go early and you'll see very few people. Take bear spray for sure.

Jackson and Yosemite are my two favorite places out West.

 

[Uscg1984]

We fly into BZN on September 9 for our Yellowstone and Grand Tetons getaway . . . . staying in Gardiner, West Yellowstone and Jackson. Any advice and/or tips will be greatly appreciated. I've been planning this since February. Thanks in advance!

During the time you are staying in Gardiner, MAKE SURE you drive the Beartooth Highway that runs between the Northeast Entrance of the park and Red Lodge, MT. I'm not sure if it or the Going-To-The-Sun Road in Glacier NP is the most beautiful drive in America, but one of those two certainly is. Do the drive on a clear day to take advantage of the views. Allow some time to stop and enjoy the northeast corner of the park, to include the Lamar River Valley and Soda Butte Creek area. It's a great area of the park to see wildlife.

 

[rockingamecock]

We did the same trip. Here is what we enjoyed and what we will do differently next trip.

We spent 6+ days in Yellowstone and 2 in Jackson Hole area. When we do it again, it will be 3 in Yellowstone and 5 in Jackson Hole.

We really enjoyed the whitewater rafting, grand canyon of Yellowstone and the valley seeing all the animals. After driving for days and walking on dozens of boardwalk, everything starts to look the same. Beautiful and educational but one day is plenty for the boardwalks. My family is very active and was itching to get off the beaten path. Not easy in Yellowstone. Plenty of folks feel differently but to each his own.

The drive from Yellowstone to Jackson Hole is stunning. We went backside through Victor- strongly suggest. The agriculture, the view were some of my favorite. The hikes in and around Jackson Hole area are unbelievable. We did several on the backside of the Tetons and several on the frontside. Our favorite was a relatively long hike that ended in a huge cave - it was off the road heading into Jackson from Victor. Go early and you'll see very few people. Take bear spray for sure.

Jackson and Yosemite are my two favorite places out West.

We're doing 2 nights in Gardiner, 2 in West Yellowstone and 3 in Jackson but not doing any hikes. We're also doing a 10-mile Snake River float from Moose, WY.

 

[Viennacock]

We're doing 2 nights in Gardiner, 2 in West Yellowstone and 3 in Jackson but not doing any hikes. We're also doing a 10-mile Snake River float from Moose, WY.

Hikes aren't for everyone. I'm sure in a few years, i'll be less motivated (without my kids). My wife is not a big hiker. I would strongly suggest doing a little hike at Jenny lake.

 

[sclawman77]

Lol! No, that's just some internet meme kid. But it does accurately encapsulate my feeling yesterday when we were done and heading home.

Just having a little fun with you. I like your avatar. Congrats on getting your son situated at college.

 

[Uscg1984]

We're doing 2 nights in Gardiner, 2 in West Yellowstone and 3 in Jackson but not doing any hikes. We're also doing a 10-mile Snake River float from Moose, WY.

If you or somebody in your party has mobility issues, that is certainly a deal-breaker on hikes, but do bear in mind that "hikes" come in all shapes and sizes. There are a couple of "hikes" in the park that are really more like "walks" with significant payoffs. The best way to see the Grand Prismatic Spring, for example, is from an overlook accessed from the Fairy Falls trailhead. It's less than a mile on a pea-gravel pathway. Similarly, I think the best way to see Old Faithful is from an overlook on the Observation Point Trail on the hillside "behind" the geyser. It's also less than a mile, is well traveled, but gets you away from the tourist-filled boardwalks.

One of our favorite little activities is to get ice cream from the shop in the Old Faithful Inn and go up to the benches on the 2nd floor to eat them while people-watching in the lobby. The architecture in the main lobby of the Inn looks like something from Lord of the Rings. They don't build structures like that any more.

As Vienna mentioned above, if the boats are operating on Jenny Lake in Grand Teton, taking the boat across the lake to the trail for Inspiration Point and Hidden Falls is really a must-do if you don't have mobility issues. If you do have mobility issues that prevent the hike, the boat ride itself is still worth the price of the ticket. I'm not sure if they run after Labor Day, however.

 

[JohnnySolo]

I remember the day I was dropped off at Columbia Hall. I couldn't get my parents out of there fast enough. I also remember the day I helped move my sister into Patterson several years before.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Well, I guess my wife and I are empty-nesters (sort of) this morning. We moved my son into one of the freshman dorms at Montana State yesterday. It was pretty much an all-day affair, full of waiting in lines for 2 slow elevators with the heavy loads, running up and down 6 flights of stairs with the lighter loads, assembling kit furniture in a dorm room using less-than-adequate tools, lofting beds, finding the right combination of extension cords and power-strips to power everything from an insufficient number of outlets, and an ill-advised run to the Bozeman Walmart and Target, all while dodging thunderstorms. Fortunately, we were so exhausted after the long day that we were anxious to get in the car and leave without a significant buildup of sentimental mushiness. I'm glad we only have to do this once - much respect to those of you who have done this multiple times.

He's only an hour away, so it's not like we're sending him across the country or something. In fact, he'll be back Labor Day weekend to get all of the stuff he didn't think to pack for this past weekend.

And, I guess I'm officially taking sides now in the Cats/Griz rivalry after previously not having a dog in that fight. Here's to hoping the Bobcats can pull off an upset at Oregon in Week One (I'm not holding my breath).

Be thankful you didn't move him into Preston at Carolina.
By Labor Day he would be a changed young man.

 

[bayrooster]

We did the same trip. Here is what we enjoyed and what we will do differently next trip.

We spent 6+ days in Yellowstone and 2 in Jackson Hole area. When we do it again, it will be 3 in Yellowstone and 5 in Jackson Hole.

We really enjoyed the whitewater rafting, grand canyon of Yellowstone and the valley seeing all the animals. After driving for days and walking on dozens of boardwalk, everything starts to look the same. Beautiful and educational but one day is plenty for the boardwalks. My family is very active and was itching to get off the beaten path. Not easy in Yellowstone. Plenty of folks feel differently but to each his own.

The drive from Yellowstone to Jackson Hole is stunning. We went backside through Victor- strongly suggest. The agriculture, the view were some of my favorite. The hikes in and around Jackson Hole area are unbelievable. We did several on the backside of the Tetons and several on the frontside. Our favorite was a relatively long hike that ended in a huge cave - it was off the road heading into Jackson from Victor. Go early and you'll see very few people. Take bear spray for sure.

Jackson and Yosemite are my two favorite places out West.

This is one of the things that can happen when you go off the beaten path at Yellowstone: https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/us/yellowstone-man-dissolved-trnd

 

[Uscg1984]

This is one of the things that can happen when you go off the beaten path at Yellowstone: https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/us/yellowstone-man-dissolved-trnd

More specifically, when you ignore the rules that are posted everywhere in the park.

 

[will110]

This is one of the things that can happen when you go off the beaten path at Yellowstone: https://www.cnn.com/2016/11/17/us/yellowstone-man-dissolved-trnd

People are stupid.