(Uncle Buck claims to be a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes
in employee relations counseling.)
Dear Uncle Buck: I am excited about attending this year’s VJJA Institute in Roanoke, but I am unfamiliar with the Wyndham Roanoke Airport Hotel. I like to stay in shape when I travel and am wondering what types of health facilities are available at the Wyndham? – Runner from Richmond.
Dear Runner: The Wyndham has a full-service fitness center, heated swimming pool, sauna, whirlpool, and lighted tennis court. There is also ample room for jogging around the hotel. Should you decide to take a morning jog, would you mind picking Uncle Buck up a dozen Krispy Kremes? - Uncle Buck.
Dear Uncle Buck: Recently the Commonwealth of Virginia pulled a tourism ad campaign using the logo of a heart made with the thumbs and index fingers with the caption proudly proclaiming, “Live Passionately – Virginia is for Lovers.” What’s up with that? – Puzzled in Petersburg.
Dear Puzzled: Unfortunately, the very same hand sign developed by the Virginia Tourism Corporation to promote tourism in the Commonwealth has been in use by violent street gangs like the Disciples and Crips for many years. It means “spreading gangster love.” Despite warnings from the Virginia Gang Investigators Association and others, the VTC began rolling out the new campaign with posters, T-shirts, and bumper stickers to the tune of $400,000. The plug was then pulled on the campaign due to the gang affiliation. Uncle Buck understands that the second choice for the ad campaign was an extended middle finger with the caption, “Virginia is Number One.” – Uncle Buck.
Dear Uncle Buck: I work in a juvenile detention center and was pretty put out by the ‘Dangers of Detention’ piece that ran in the last issue of the Advocate. What bonehead is responsible for publishing such drivel? – Disgruntled in Detention.
Dear Disgruntled: That bonehead would be Advocate Editor Gary Conway. In the bonehead’s defense, however, Uncle Buck would note that Mr. Conway neither conducted the ‘Dangers of Detention’ study, nor did he issue its findings. That would be the Justice Policy Institute of Washington, D.C. So for you Intake Officers out there, please accept this word of advice: When faced with a wayward youth whose behavior requires secure detention for the protection of public safety, please continue to call your friendly neighborhood detention facility. Under such circumstances, the Justice Policy Institute will be no help to you at all. – Uncle Buck.
Dear Uncle Buck: Once a month at my work site, our staff has a pot luck lunch. We are located in a rural part of Virginia and this time of year many of my coworkers bring wild game dishes. This month we had squirrel pot pie, fried rabbit, and raccoon gumbo, all at one meal. As a vegan, I do not eat animals or any animal by-products. I am also an animal rights activist. How do I decline attending these monthly luncheons without offending my coworkers? – Virginia Vegan.
Dear Virginia: You don’t. You should move to Fairfax County. - Uncle Buck.
Dear Uncle Buck: Our office space was recently renovated. My boss chose the color scheme and because she is an avid Virginia Tech fan, she selected their team colors of maroon and orange for the paint and carpeting. She even had a giant Tech helmet painted on the waiting area wall, and the hallways are plastered with decals of those little turkey birds. The staff feels that the office does not reflect the appropriate look for a juvenile justice agency, and two staff members who are UVa graduates are threatening to resign. How do we get our boss to reconsider her choice of office décor? – Haggard in Hokie Land.
Dear Haggard: Uncle Buck can relate to your situation because his first wife was a devout Hokie. For our wedding ceremony, the church was festooned in maroon and orange, the groomsmen wore Tech jerseys and the bridesmaids were dressed as Tech cheerleaders. The minister was outfitted in a referee’s uniform complete with cap, whistle, and yellow flag; and my bride came down the aisle to the strands of the Hokie fight song played on the organ. From personal experience, Uncle Buck would say that your boss is not likely to change her mind, and to protest would only make her angry. - Uncle Buck.
(If you have questions you would like to have answered by Uncle Buck and his Advocate panel of experts, please write to: Ask Uncle Buck, P.O. Box 966, Churchville, VA. 24421.)
