Oklahoma - (Prospective) Class of 2010 part 01

[glp]

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IT said that someone had called just before I got there (surely one of you guys 🙂 ) asking about macs also. They said the spec sheet says they aren't supported because they can't guarantee Hippocrates stuff will run flawlessly on OS X (like the videos and stuff...) But she also said hippocrates doesn't always perform flawlessly off-campus anyhow. And I guess dent is recommending this year that DSI's buy PC's.

keep in mind "not supported" doesnt mean your mac wont work, it just means IT is either too lazy(most likely) or too busy to guarantee that every facet of the infrastructure and applications will work for macs like it does for windows. the truth is most web standards are univerisal (despite ms attempts to make standards proprietary). this means that there should be at most a few inconveniences if using a mac but certainly nothing to persuade a mac enthusiast from switching to a pc. i will still be rocking my macbook despite IT attempts to sway me otherwise. besides that dell they recommend is more than a comparable apple, since when does dell cost more than apple?

 

[want2beadoc]

I'm a PC person, but over the last few years I've seen apple do a lot of good things. glp is right on the money, as hippocrates is a website it will probably have 95-99% of the functionality on a apple as it does on a PC (could someone that actually has used hippocrates comment on this). Hell, I've got a linux distro on a separate partition of my laptop and I'll wager it will work fine on it too. If you are computer illiterate it might be a good idea to get a PC just because IT will be more supportive if you come to them with a problem such as "my video isn't working." If you think you can fend for yourself or know someone who can help you, then go for it.

It might also be possible, if the HSC offers terminal services to use a remote desktop tool on a mac to connect to a Windows 2003 box and access hippocrates via that route, though video would be way too choppy.

 

[JohnnyOU]

IT said that someone had called just before I got there (surely one of you guys 🙂 ) asking about macs also. They said the spec sheet says they aren't supported because they can't guarantee Hippocrates stuff will run flawlessly on OS X (like the videos and stuff...) But she also said hippocrates doesn't always perform flawlessly off-campus anyhow. And I guess dent is recommending this year that DSI's buy PC's.

Hiya Freeze,
That was actually me that called up there again today. 🙂 I talked for a few minutes with their IT girl (way more knowledgeable than the GUY I spoke with 2 weeks ago) and then with Ron Friedman, the guy who handles the whole Hippocrates system. The mac will be fine 99% on the time (maybe 100%), and in the odd event of a problem we can just use our mod pc or whatever. "Not supported" just means they can't help if something goes wrong with your mac and they don't test their stuff to see that it's displaying correctly on the macs.

I'm ordering a white macbook as soon as our dispursement happens.

Johnny

 

[glp]

so are people still looking for a place to live or am i the only one who knows not where he will reside come august? if you're still looking, what is your timeline for securing something? when should i start freaking out?

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

so are people still looking for a place to live or am i the only one who knows not where he will reside come august? if you're still looking, what is your timeline for securing something? when should i start freaking out?

I moved to OKC July 1, and didn't know where I'd be living until the end of June. When are you looking to move? Probably Aug 1, since most places give you a hassle about prorated rent? Where do you want to live? Apartment? House? I'm assuming you're renting, since this would be an awfully quick turnaround on buying a house.

I'm happy to help point you in the right direction. As far as your timeline, you should DEFINITELY be looking, but you're not screwed yet as long as you don't want to move by July 1 🙂

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

so are people still looking for a place to live or am i the only one who knows not where he will reside come august? if you're still looking, what is your timeline for securing something? when should i start freaking out?

WhoIs is right - as long as you're not looking to move right away, you're fine - no worries. OKC, from what I could see, does not have an especially tight rental market - there's plenty of vacancies. I leased my house for June, but the only reason I did that was because: a) I needed a house with a yard for the dog, and b) the house that I took was as close to perfect as possible for what I wanted as far as price, location, etc. I just didn't want that particular house to get away from me - otherwise I would have waited.

You could move after August 1 and be fine - I'm planning to move the last couple of weekends in July because I'd like to have a few days to relax and catch my breath before orientation starts. For financial reasons, my last day at work isn't until July 28. 🙁

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

You could move after August 1 and be fine - I'm planning to move the last couple of weekends in July because I'd like to have a few days to relax and catch my breath before orientation starts. For financial reasons, my last day at work isn't until July 28. 🙁

I really don't recommend moving after Aug 1-- you'll need a bit of time to unpack, and believe me, once orientation starts, what's in boxes will STAY in boxes. You'll have a hundred more interesting/more pressing things to do from disorientation on, so you want to be as unpacked as possible when everything does get going. Plus if your class is like ours, you'll probably want to schedule a few get-togethers in the few weeks before class, so you'll want to be in the area.

 

[want2beadoc]

I got my MPN from T.H.E. yesterday and I noticed there is a check box that asks if I would like to pay interest during school... has anyone crunched the numbers on this? How much a month would it cost to do this? How much money would it save in the long run? For some reason I thought it was required to pay interest on the unsubsidized during school.

Anyone care to shed some light on this? I would appreciate it 🙂.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

For financial reasons, my last day at work isn't until July 28. 🙁

I would love to sympathize, but since my actual last day of physically being at work is Aug. 7 👎 ...then I have "vacation" scheduled until my hours run out.

It is a far, far cry from the summer I envisioned, but between expenditures, loss of income, and insurance premiums, at least 15K cheaper.

My pain is self-chosen, I suppose...


Want2beadoc,

for some reason I thought you were going into MSII...in the entrance counseling there was a comparison. I can't find anything like it. I would just about bet MSHHeaddoc would know...

 

[glp]

I got my MPN from T.H.E. yesterday and I noticed there is a check box that asks if I would like to pay interest during school... has anyone crunched the numbers on this? How much a month would it cost to do this? How much money would it save in the long run? For some reason I thought it was required to pay interest on the unsubsidized during school.

Anyone care to shed some light on this? I would appreciate it 🙂.

it seems to me that it would be non-advantageous to pay interest in school since the interest is not capitalized. in other words, since you dont earn interest on the interest while in school, there is no reason to divert your resources toward paying interest in school.

 

[want2beadoc]

Nope I'm a 2010er, I don't think I made that clear. Guess I should make a sig. 🙂

Makes sense about the interest not being capitalized, but I think I'll do a by-the-numbers look at it. Figure in interest earned and all that. It might not be a good idea the first year just in case any unexpected costs come along. Any more advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[glp]

Nope I'm a 2010er, I don't think I made that clear. Guess I should make a sig. 🙂

Makes sense about the interest not being capitalized, but I think I'll do a by-the-numbers look at it. Figure in interest earned and all that. It might not be a good idea the first year just in case any unexpected costs come along. Any more advice is greatly appreciated.

i really dont know how it makes sense to use borrowed money to pay off interest that is not compounding. if you were to do that it seems that there are two better uses for that money
1) investing the money and earning a return and then paying off principal once the loan goes into repayment
or
2) borrowing less moneyto start off with

this is just my reasoning, but i am definitely curious if someone can explain why paying interest while in school is a good idea.

 

[want2beadoc]

You're right, it doesn't make sense... don't know what I was thinking. All it would probably do would help me keep a tighter budget. I just needed to rationalize it. Thanks.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

i really dont know how it makes sense to use borrowed money to pay off interest that is not compounding.

You're right, it doesn't make sense at all. I really hesitated to put my house in Tulsa onto an interest-only note - I hate those things! But the truth is, there is no point using borrowed money at a higher rate to pay off a mortgage. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul. I had to get it through my head: I can't pay anything off. I'm going to be living on borrowed money and savings. The only way paying loan interest during school would make sense (in my opinion) would be if you had a spouse or partner or family member who is willing to pay that interest with earnings. Then it can save you a lot in the long run.

 

[Jalopycat]

I feel bad for you guys that the interest rates are going up so much right at the beginning of your med school career. It makes me not feel so bad that I consolidated my $185,000 loan at 3.4%. I know a resident who consolidated his loans at 1.9% 2 years ago. It's amazing they got that low. It's also too bad that congress is changing the laws regarding when you can consolidate. Seems like the US has has bigger fish to fry right now than messing with people who want to further their education.... 😡

So everyone probably knows I'm a mac snob always trying to convert PC people (it's easier than converting democrats). The new intel Macs can have windows loaded onto them. That may solve the whole hippocrates/mac problem. The only thing with that is that once you have a computer with windows, you will get all those viruses. I can check email and get on the discussion board with my mac, but I haven't tried to run any videos or look at power points. Power point for mac is much more expensive than the windows version. I think it's worth the extra money, but that's just me.

 

[TUHopeful]

Can anyone shed some light on orientation...what all is envolved and what we will be doing for three days?

Another point about the mac vs. pc. Most compatibility issues with hippocrates will probably arise from browser issues, not the operating system. You can download, for free, explorer and firefox for mac and you shouldn't have any problems.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Don't forget to check the IT department of your friendly UG institution while you maybe still can, for software downloads/purchases...

O-State has Office Pro 2004 for Mac, gratis...

Go Pokes! 😀

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Can anyone shed some light on orientation...what all is envolved and what we will be doing for three days?

I could tell you, but...


*eyebrow wiggle*


...then I'd have to kill you!

Seriously, it's just normal orientation stuff. I'm a little rusty, but it was a lot of general introduction lectures, HIPAA, sexual harassment, the variety of services available, IT, Hippocrates, etc. etc. I think they feed you at least most days, you get a chance to hang out with each other and with us, it's just all the sort of stuff you'd expect to do over orientation. They try to treat you like adults, so it's not too much stupid let's get to know each other crap. (No offense to anyone who likes that sort of stuff, I just don't.) It is mandatory though, so don't get any crazy ideas about skipping out on it 😉

 

[glp]

They try to treat you like adults, so it's not too much stupid let's get to know each other crap. (No offense to anyone who likes that sort of stuff, I just don't.) It is mandatory though, so don't get any crazy ideas about skipping out on it 😉

good, i was going to be really pissed if i had to stand on a desk and fall backwards into my fellow classamates arms during a trust excerise.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

good, i was going to be really pissed if i had to stand on a desk and fall backwards into my fellow classamates arms during a trust excerise.

I agree -- I hate that cr@p.

So when do you meet your mod? The first day?

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

I agree -- I hate that cr@p.

So when do you meet your mod? The first day?

I don't remember exactly, but I imagine so. Believe me, there's no rush-- you'll know more than you want to know about most of your modmates in short order 😉 (Like, who foregoes showering during test block, who snores on the couch, that sort of thing).

 

[JohnnyOU]

I don't remember exactly, but I imagine so. Believe me, there's no rush-- you'll know more than you want to know about most of your modmates in short order 😉 (Like, who foregoes showering during test block, who snores on the couch, that sort of thing).

Note to self:
Breathmints are your friend!

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Note to self:
Breathmints are your friend!

I'm serious about the showering thing... even though it was parodied to our class in disorientation (so we were pre-warned), people STILL didn't get the memo. Your classmates are all taking the same tests as you, we're all just as anxious as you are about doing well, yet we are all courteous enough to take the 10 minutes to shower. If you don't, you WILL be that smelly guy that nobody wants to sit by, and people will talk about it behind your back. So don't be gross-- take a shower. Laminate your review sheets if you have to so you don't miss out on those crucial 10 minutes of study time-- just don't smell bad.

That was a public service announcement from the class of 2009.

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

I'm serious about the showering thing... even though it was parodied to our class in disorientation (so we were pre-warned), people STILL didn't get the memo. Your classmates are all taking the same tests as you, we're all just as anxious as you are about doing well, yet we are all courteous enough to take the 10 minutes to shower. If you don't, you WILL be that smelly guy that nobody wants to sit by, and people will talk about it behind your back. So don't be gross-- take a shower. Laminate your review sheets if you have to so you don't miss out on those crucial 10 minutes of study time-- just don't smell bad.

That was a public service announcement from the class of 2009.

LOL I just realized that since SDN quoted Johnny, it looked like that was aimed at you. It wasn't, just your class in general 😀

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

That was a public service announcement from the class of 2009.

Yeah, but I can still wear a ball cap on bad-hair test days, right? Otherwise, I'm just gonna shave it all off. I'm not doing any fall-backward trust exercises with anybody until I get this blasted 20 or so pounds off that I picked up in night school and MCAT study (something had to go, and it was the gym - junk out of the candy machines at 7pm when we still had two hours of class to go didn't help). I just realized that I've been putting it off so long, I've only got six weeks left. Better quit eating now.

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Yeah, but I can still wear a ball cap on bad-hair test days, right? Otherwise, I'm just gonna shave it all off.

Ballcaps are definitely A-OK; we don't care how you look, just how you smell! 🙂

 

[Antigunner]

Ballcaps are definitely A-OK; we don't care how you look, just how you smell! 🙂

Actually, the official exam guidelines say that you aren't allowed to wear a hat during the exams. That being said, I think the only courses that enforced that particular rule were Dr. Blair's (Phys and Neuro), both second semester. I think the only other incident I remember was a professor asking a student to turn his hat backwards during the test, I suppose just in case somebody actually tried to write notes on the underside of the brim... since that's really likely to happen 😉

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Actually, the official exam guidelines say that you aren't allowed to wear a hat during the exams. That being said, I think the only courses that enforced that particular rule were Dr. Blair's (Phys and Neuro), both second semester. I think the only other incident I remember was a professor asking a student to turn his hat backwards during the test, I suppose just in case somebody actually tried to write notes on the underside of the brim... since that's really likely to happen 😉

That's right I'd totally forgotten about that... like antigunner said, it wasn't enforced at all first semester. Dr. Blair's classes were the only ones where they were crazy about the nitpicky exam rules.

 

[RachelD]

Questions for you MS2's: 🙂
What type of equipment will we have to buy? Microscope? Do we need to get scrubs for anatomy lab? Do people usually wear them over their clothes or is there a place to change? How do the womens whitecoats fit?
Thanks "all knowing" MS2's!!

 

[Jalopycat]

That's right I'd totally forgotten about that... like antigunner said, it wasn't enforced at all first semester. Dr. Blair's classes were the only ones where they were crazy about the nitpicky exam rules.

You can thank my class for making him nitpicky.

I'll just leave it at that. 😉

 

[oudoc08]

Questions for you MS2's: 🙂
What type of equipment will we have to buy? Microscope? Do we need to get scrubs for anatomy lab? Do people usually wear them over their clothes or is there a place to change? How do the womens whitecoats fit?
Thanks "all knowing" MS2's!!

You'll need a stethoscope and opthalmoscope/otoscope diagnostic kit eventually, but you'd be best to hold off purchasing both until after school gets underway. Reason? Last year, very nice Littman scopes (Cardiology III's if I remember right) were purchased for each student and given to them at the mentor/mentee picnic (I think that's when it was?).
Will it happen this year? Who knows.
The diagnostic kits come in several "flavors" and you'd be better off to wait until second year to buy them, IMO.

We don't use microscopes in the basic sciences curriculum at OU. Histology and Micro are all on computer.

You will want scrubs, a long lab coat, a dissection kit and NITRILE gloves for anatomy lab. I bought latex and double gloved and my lands still stunk for a few hours every night. Your scrubs (and you) will stink after you get out of lab, so you'll want to go straight home, jump in the shower and throw your scrubs in the laundry. You leave your lab coat at the school in a locker (bring a padlock). You can wear your scrubs that day before lab, but I always thought they smelled bad even after laundring, so I kept them in a bag and changed into them before lab.

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Questions for you MS2's: 🙂
What type of equipment will we have to buy? Microscope? Do we need to get scrubs for anatomy lab? Do people usually wear them over their clothes or is there a place to change? How do the womens whitecoats fit?
Thanks "all knowing" MS2's!!

Oudoc took care of the equipment. There is a place to change, but be forewarned that this usually entails cramming into a small bathroom to change with about 10 other girls. We always did anyway, of course, because as oudoc said, your scrubs will be smelly. Unfortunately, until they actually remodel the BSEB, there are way too few bathrooms especially considering that the guy:girl ratios have changed so much over the years!!

As far as the women's whitecoats, I really lucked out; my whitecoat didn't fit, and instead of ordering a women's coat in a different size, they just happened to have a few men's coats in the size I needed on hand, and I was able to trade for one of those. The women's coats are thinner, less durable, and more easily wrinkled. I also think they make all women look like they have huge butts. But I bet you'll still be excited about wearing it 🙂

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Oudoc took care of the equipment. There is a place to change, but be forewarned that this usually entails cramming into a small bathroom to change with about 10 other girls. We always did anyway, of course, because as oudoc said, your scrubs will be smelly. Unfortunately, until they actually remodel the BSEB, there are way too few bathrooms especially considering that the guy:girl ratios have changed so much over the years!!

As far as the women's whitecoats, I really lucked out; my whitecoat didn't fit, and instead of ordering a women's coat in a different size, they just happened to have a few men's coats in the size I needed on hand, and I was able to trade for one of those. The women's coats are thinner, less durable, and more easily wrinkled. I also think they make all women look like they have huge butts. But I bet you'll still be excited about wearing it 🙂

Oh, and I second what oudoc said about nitrile... I almost never had to double glove with the nitrile, (only when we were doing something particularly disgusting) and my hands were the only part of me that didn't smell 🙂

 

[oudoc08]

Oh, and I second what oudoc said about nitrile... I almost never had to double glove with the nitrile, (only when we were doing something particularly disgusting) and my hands were the only part of me that didn't smell 🙂

There's nothing worse than being hungry after anatomy lab and having to eat with hands that smell like lab, even after multiple Lava bar scrubs, tomato juice, lemon juice, or whatever. (Believe it or not, one of the most effective things I tried was "Warm Vanilla Sugar" hand soap from Bath & Body Works that a girl in our mod had brought.) Thanks Whitney! The strange thing was, lab always made me hungry. The fumes maybe, or whatever gross comment you want to insert here. 🙂

 

[oudoc08]

Oudoc took care of the equipment. There is a place to change, but be forewarned that this usually entails cramming into a small bathroom to change with about 10 other girls. We always did anyway, of course, because as oudoc said, your scrubs will be smelly. Unfortunately, until they actually remodel the BSEB, there are way too few bathrooms especially considering that the guy:girl ratios have changed so much over the years!!

As far as the women's whitecoats, I really lucked out; my whitecoat didn't fit, and instead of ordering a women's coat in a different size, they just happened to have a few men's coats in the size I needed on hand, and I was able to trade for one of those. The women's coats are thinner, less durable, and more easily wrinkled. I also think they make all women look like they have huge butts. But I bet you'll still be excited about wearing it 🙂

Yeah, if I had to pick one thing about OUCOM that I didn't like, it'd be the bathrooms. I've heard rumors about mod and bathroom renovations, but I don't know the timeline. (Second would be the parking situation).
My idea is that they should put a large multi-level parking garage for the students where the lot is behind the union, and then turn the big back 40 lot into campus building space. Even thouh there's a tunnel system that allows you to get nearly anywhere on campus from the union, you still have to get from your car to the union, and you can get pretty darn soaked in that time.
Hey, that sounds like a good project for the Class of 2010. In case you hadn't heard, many years have undertaken large projects, examples being the 3rd floor addition of the union, University Village apts., the coffee bar in the union, etc.
Future projects I'd like to see include the parking garage, and a 24hr pay-per-hour daycare for students and OUHSC employees.

Future Student council members, take note! 🙂

 

[glp]

Oh, and I second what oudoc said about nitrile... I almost never had to double glove with the nitrile, (only when we were doing something particularly disgusting) and my hands were the only part of me that didn't smell 🙂

just wait until i show up for anatomy lab dressed in a skintight full body nitirile unitard complete with hoodie. anyone have color suggestions? i was thinking aquamarine, but any of the pastels should look great.

 

[Jwax]

just wait until i show up for anatomy lab dressed in a skintight full body nitirile unitard complete with hoodie. anyone have color suggestions? i was thinking aquamarine, but any of the pastels should look great.

I suggest purple or hot pink.

 

[Antigunner]

just wait until i show up for anatomy lab dressed in a skintight full body nitirile unitard complete with hoodie. anyone have color suggestions? i was thinking aquamarine, but any of the pastels should look great.

Makes me think of speed skaters...

 

[RachelD]

just wait until i show up for anatomy lab dressed in a skintight full body nitirile unitard complete with hoodie. anyone have color suggestions? i was thinking aquamarine, but any of the pastels should look great.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I suggest purple or hot pink.

Ditto. Lime green might be a good choice, too. 🙂

So my next semi-obsessive question -- what is the best thing to do about the varicella requirement on the immunization sheet? I had chicken pox when I was kid, so I'm pretty sure I'm immune. Did you guys get a titer?

 

[want2beadoc]

Perhaps a mirror or chrome finish 😉

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Ditto. Lime green might be a good choice, too. 🙂

I'd ask glp to get me one, too, but it's that 20 pounds issue again. Skintight would just not work for me, not even in black. I think a Level C biocontainment suit from my days on the terrorism response team here at the hospital would keep those pesky odors away, though.

So my next semi-obsessive question -- what is the best thing to do about the varicella requirement on the immunization sheet? I had chicken pox when I was kid, so I'm pretty sure I'm immune. Did you guys get a titer?

I'm going to - I've got to get started on my titers - I've had chicken pox and German measles. I had an outbreak of contact dermatitis (pre-school nerves, no doubt) and have been on tapering Prednisone for a week, so I'll have to wait a few days for any vaccinations. I won't be finished with Hep B when school starts, but I think "in process" has got to be okay since you do have the right to refuse Hep B immunization altogether. I had the first shot years ago and didn't go back - they've told me I can't keep doing that.

I did pass BLS here at the hospital yesterday. Yay!

 

[oudoc08]

Ditto. Lime green might be a good choice, too. 🙂

So my next semi-obsessive question -- what is the best thing to do about the varicella requirement on the immunization sheet? I had chicken pox when I was kid, so I'm pretty sure I'm immune. Did you guys get a titer?

Yes, you have to get a titer, it sucks, but it's another hoop you have to jump through. Having the disease isn't proof enough. I had mine drawn at a private physicians office, but I think you can have it done at the FMC downtown.

 

[WhoisJohnGalt]

Ditto. Lime green might be a good choice, too. 🙂

So my next semi-obsessive question -- what is the best thing to do about the varicella requirement on the immunization sheet? I had chicken pox when I was kid, so I'm pretty sure I'm immune. Did you guys get a titer?

Yes, you do have to get the titer. I wouldn't worry though-- I had a pretty mild case, and I was several times over the minimum limit.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I did pass BLS here at the hospital yesterday. Yay!

Congrats! Was it remotely hard? I'm taking it next Saturday at 8 in the morning on the day after my last day of work, so um, I'll be lucky if I'm not a little hung over.

Thanks for the titer info, everyone. I'm going to the doctor on Monday, so I guess I'll just ask for one. It'd probably be cheaper in Oklahoma -- my brother freaked when I told him how much it costs to see the doctor here -- but it's easier to just get it done. I guess I could throw in a TB test, too. That'll be so much fun. 🙂 Now the only one I'll need to track down is tetanus, which might be hard one.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Hey folks.

Sorry I've been AWOL. I've had a heck of a lot of things going on. I've been trying to work on my Instrument Pilot rating down in Durant, OK (my uncle is the director of maintenance at their aviation department, and I know all the folks down there. Plus, they rent Cessnas for about 75% the price of anything here in the city, even considering the gas money to get to Durant. Too much information...)

On top of that, my mother had to get rushed to the hospital in Denver (she lives in southern Colorado) for an arterial thrombosis in her left radial artery. Her left index finger was turning purple and part of her arm was getting mottled. They thought she was going to lose her finger (not good! Especially considering she's a pharmacist!) She got out of the hospital yesterday, but half of her index finger, distal to the distal interphalangeal joint is still kind of purple (We got curious and measured the pulse ox on it, and it registered 79% 😛). She has some weird stuff going on. The vascular specialist said it was most likely a combination of several things going on: Cryofibrinogenemia, heterozygous for Factor V Leiden, as well as being a lifetime smoker, and she takes premarin since she had a hysterectomy about 7 years ago. Crazy stuff! Now I have to go get a lab test to see if I'm a carrier for Factor V Leiden. On a related note, mom said to remember that morphine apparently does very little for ischemic pain. She was having a really rough time with it until they figured out something that worked for her.

Anyway... I'll try to keep up a little better, but I'm headed back to Durant tomorrow and then my wife and I are going to Kansas City next week for her cousin's wedding. I think I've put more miles on my pick-up this month than I have all last year!


Also, I found out that Macori will be the insurance carrier for the OUHSC again this year. I haven't had a chance to see if any of the benefits will change, but I'd be willing to bet we do see a moderate premium increase. 🙁 Sorry guys.

Talk to you more later!

 

[Amxcvbcv]

I noticed some conversations on Bend, Oregon a few pages back... I'd like to go there someday, perhaps to pick up an airplane. 😉 Actually, nah... I'm a Cessna guy.

This was from AOPA's web page.

Hailstorm causes minor damage to Columbia Aircraft fleet

A monster of a thunderstorm caught officials at Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corp. off guard on June 12, when it rained golf-ball-size hail over Bend, Oregon, where the corporate headquarters and manufacturing facility is located. The 40-minute storm, which had cloud tops of at least 20,000 feet, caused minor damage to more than 60 of the aircraft manufacturer's composite-construction Columbia 350 and 400 models, which were sitting outside on the ramp being readied for delivery. Columbia Aircraft President and CEO Bing Lantis on Thursday sent a letter to the Columbia community, saying that the damage assessment is "in a period of discovery," but it appears that all of the aircraft sustained cosmetic damage. "Detailed engineering criteria have been established and teams of inspectors and engineers have laboriously reviewed each airplane and documented any indications of impact," he wrote. Later he added, "There does not appear to be structural damage." An engineering team from Columbia met with the FAA's Seattle Aircraft Certification Office on Thursday to present engineering data that reinforced the company's "cosmetic damage" stance as part of the discovery process. According to Tom Bowen, vice president of engineering at Columbia, the damage to the fleet was slight enough to be termed cosmetic. "There was more damage to employees' cars in the parking lot," Bowen said.

 

[oudoc08]

I noticed some conversations on Bend, Oregon a few pages back... I'd like to go there someday, perhaps to pick up an airplane. 😉 Actually, nah... I'm a Cessna guy.

This was from AOPA's web page.

Yeah, but have you seen the new Columbia planes? The exterior reminds me of a cross between a Commander and a Cirrus. and the 400SLX is HOT!
235 kts and a 25k feet ceiling. It's a Cirrus on steroids. Has the G1000 w/ the data pad, and just makes me feel kinda funny (in a good way) all around.

Now if I could only come up with the 600 grand...

Actually, I'm hopinig to get in a 1/4 fractional ownership deal once I get out of residency.
Cirrus has a program called CirrusShare, where you can get in on a SR22 for something like 20 grand down. Then you pay a $1000/mo maintenance fee, and then $90 an hr. That gets you a 1/4 ownership. I assume, you're also making the monthly payments on your share (apx. $100k).

So, you're looking at owning and operating a brand new Cirrus for about $3000/mo for about 100hrs a year, instead of 3 times that to have it all to yourself. I'm thinking you'd have to fly one at least 300-400 hrs a year to make it worthwhile to not be in a partnership.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Yeah, but have you seen the new Columbia planes? The exterior reminds me of a cross between a Commander and a Cirrus. and the 400SLX is HOT!
235 kts and a 25k feet ceiling. It's a Cirrus on steroids. Has the G1000 w/ the data pad, and just makes me feel kinda funny (in a good way) all around.

Now if I could only come up with the 600 grand...

Actually, I'm hopinig to get in a 1/4 fractional ownership deal once I get out of residency.
Cirrus has a program called CirrusShare, where you can get in on a SR22 for something like 20 grand down. Then you pay a $1000/mo maintenance fee, and then $90 an hr. That gets you a 1/4 ownership. I assume, you're also making the monthly payments on your share (apx. $100k).

So, you're looking at owning and operating a brand new Cirrus for about $3000/mo for about 100hrs a year, instead of 3 times that to have it all to yourself. I'm thinking you'd have to fly one at least 300-400 hrs a year to make it worthwhile to not be in a partnership.

I'm thinking that maybe by the end of residency or maybe during, I ought to be able to snag something off the used market. Don't get me wrong, the new planes are sleek and sexy, but they're just crazy overpriced. Plus if you factor in the inevitable ADs and Service Bulletins on new designs, I can't justify it. My story might change if Cessna starts making RGs again, but right now I check Trade-a-Plane and Controller.com every once and a while and just dream about some of the C-177s and C-182s on there. I'd rather get a used C-182 with "older" avionics in the 75-90k range and upgrade the avionics than plunk down close to 400k for a new one. 😛

 

[oudoc08]

I'm thinking that maybe by the end of residency or maybe during, I ought to be able to snag something off the used market. Don't get me wrong, the new planes are sleek and sexy, but they're just crazy overpriced. Plus if you factor in the inevitable ADs and Service Bulletins on new designs, I can't justify it. My story might change if Cessna starts making RGs again, but right now I check Trade-a-Plane and Controller.com every once and a while and just dream about some of the C-177s and C-182s on there. I'd rather get a used C-182 with "older" avionics in the 75-90k range and upgrade the avionics than plunk down close to 400k for a new one. 😛

Darn you and your common sense, trashin my pipe dreams Though by the time you and I get out of residency, the 2002 Cirrus, which I believe was the first model year w/ the Avidyne package, or any of the C182's, etc. w/ the G1000, will be at least 10 years old, and alot more affordable than people who want them now, with no other option than to buy a relatively new aircraft, or chunk out a ton of money on avionics.

You're right though, about them being outrageously priced. I still can't understand how a little 4 seat aircraft that can't even hold full fuel and 4 adult passengers can cost as much as a 5000 sf house here in OK. Amazing.
If you could afford the maintenance and operating cost, you could buy a used Learjet for the same price, or even less.

I used to think I'd like to get into the light twin market, something like a Cessna 340 or anything in the 400 series, but I can't justify the operating cost, massive insurance premiums, and 70 grand in engine rebuilds, all for the relative "security" of having an extra engine in case of failure. Though it's well documented that in the hands of anybody besides a professional pilot, a twin is statistically more dangerous. In all honesty, if I had alot of money to spend on a plane, I'd probably opt for something like a Piper Meridian. Big, fast, pressurized turbo single. Oh yeah. We can all dream. Though at about 2.5 million brand new, I doubt one would ever get old enough for me to afford, even w/ fractional ownership.

I can't wait, but for now, I'll take the rental 172. Much cheaper than owning, and gets me and my family up in the sky and around the region a whole lot quicker than sitting in construction.
👍