Milwaukee’s Lead Legacy: A New Wisconsinite’s Observations of His Adopted State

The square for Lead (Pb) on the periodic table.When you move to a new place there are things you think about because you know they will change (mailing address, insurance coverage and cost, and, if you are me, local elected officials).  There are other things you don’t think about because they are part of a cultural background and as a stranger in a strange land you don’t know they change (Every one eats at a Friday fish fry, Neighborhoods set days/times for Trick-or-Treating, and, if you are not me, local elected officials).  One thing I never considered when moving to Milwaukee was that my tap water might not be safe to drink.

It’s not.  My tap water has lead in it.
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Picture of small red, yellow and orange peppers in a round metal bowl.

Burning Eyeball: A New Wisconsinite’s Observations of His Adopted State

There came a point in the five minutes with my eyeball under a steady stream of water attempting to flush out the oil that was making me familiar with what a minor level of hell feels like where my body accepted this as my new normal.  I would forever be stuck with my head in a sink, my sight restricted to a big light blur, speaking to the disembodied voice of my friend behind me.

Since I am not dictating this post from a sink, let’s back up. […]

Picture of a sign reading Gee Willickers Saloon Est. 1985

Searching Through Smoke: A New Wisconsinite’s Observations of His Adopted State

Moving to a new state means experiencing a new local culture.  I expected, as a new Wisconsinite, I would have fewer culture shocks than being a new resident of, say, Alabama or Hawaii as I moved from another, similar, Midwestern state.  Similar is not the same, however, and, despite Wisconsin’s statewide smoking ban, I ended up searching through smoke for a bar to watch sports.  Smoking is still a problem in Wisconsin.

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Minnesota license plate with the call letters “GBP” at the end.

Evaluating the DMV: A New Wisconsinite’s Observations of His Adopted State

DMV.  Pop culture equates D-M-V as a four-letter word, though my past and recent experiences would argue unfairly.  What did I discover on my interaction with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Department of Motor Vehicles?

  1. I over prepared.
  2. A Stage 2 Culture (Character Study!)
  3. Unexpected Emissions Tests

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A New Wisconsinite’s Observations of His Adopted State

I’m documenting the new things I’m seeing and doing as a conscious-life long Minnesotan who is a new resident of Wisconsin and, specifically, Milwaukee. I’ll be sharing those thoughts periodically as long as people seem to favorably respond to them.

A new Wisconsinite’s observations of his adopted state.

I’ll start with three main points.

  1. Wisconsin Roads suck
  2. Wisconsinites love to tailgate, to their own peril
  3. Milwaukee is full of characters – like everywhere else

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