University of Maryland Class of 2010 part 01

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LucidSplash said:
Hey LW I heard you found a great place!!! Are you psyched?
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omg, LS, I have been bouncing off the walls for the past 24 hours. We haven't heard anything yet from the seller, but I'm assuming that's because of the holiday. I saw 3 places in particular that I really liked, but this is the one that felt the most "right." It's a little less than 2 miles from campus, which means driving or taking the bus to class, but the neighborhood felt safer than the areas around the med school, and because it's 2br/2ba, I think it'll be easier to find a roommate. And, it has a deck. And a small backyard. And a garage. 🙂
So, keep your fingers crossed that they accept my offer! :luck: (If not, there's still a plan B and C, so it won't be the complete-and-utter end of the world.)

I'll stop gushing now. Your husband has been awesome! Thanks for hooking me up with the reference!
 
Congrats LW! Hopefully they'll accept your offer. 2 miles from campus isn't bad at all. Plus there are the numerous perks of owning instead of renting. I'm jealous! You'll have to throw a housewarming party or something once everything gets finalized.
 
So what neighborhood did you decide on, LW? I'm currently toying with the idea of getting an apartment in Towson/Timonium and light railing it to Baltimore every day. Any current students lurking have any opinions on that?
 
SuzieQ3417 said:
Congrats LW! Hopefully they'll accept your offer. 2 miles from campus isn't bad at all. Plus there are the numerous perks of owning instead of renting. I'm jealous! You'll have to throw a housewarming party or something once everything gets finalized.
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Thanks, SQ! I'll definitely plan on it if I get the house! I'm also thinking about getting a dog! What kind of dog do you have? Tell me what it's like being a dog owner! I love big dogs, and I think that having one might make me feel more secure. Still it's a lot of responsibility. We'll see.

Coz, the neighborhood is Morrell Park. It's actually a corner townhouse on the Northeast end of the neighborhood. Across the main street and back a couple of blocks isn't the greatest area (older townhouses that aren't in the best condition), but the block I'm on seems pretty safe and there's an apartment complex on the next block that looks well-maintained. With the way that the doors and yard are set up, it faces away from the not-so-great area across the street and down into another residential area. Most of Baltimore seems "not-so-great", to be honest, so I went with a place where I didn't get that hair-raising feeling.

Light-railing in could be cool. But I think that would entail a longer and more stressful commute. I commuted to Georgetown from Bethesda while I was in grad school, which was about 40 mins to 1 hour each way. It definitely wears you down after a while. But it saved money. I thought you were thinking about the Redwood? The apartments themselves looked nice, but the area around that place was REALLY sketchy.
 
I am thinking about it. I'm still thinking about the others in the area. But I'm also entertaining the notion of commuting in from elsewhere (just not by car), since it should only be ~30 minutes. I mean, I really don't want to live downtown if I can help it, but I also really don't want to drive in every day and deal with parking among other things.
 
Cozmosis said:
I am thinking about it. I'm still thinking about the others in the area. But I'm also entertaining the notion of commuting in from elsewhere (just not by car), since it should only be ~30 minutes. I mean, I really don't want to live downtown if I can help it, but I also really don't want to drive in every day and deal with parking among other things.
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I actually looked at the UMaryland website. The student parking rate for the campus garages is $4 a day. If you commute to the campus 30 days a week, that's $120/month to park pretty close to the school. This means not having to walk through sketchy areas on your way home, and you can park all day for this rate (until 4am, I think!) Given that parking for the University Suites or the Redwood was on the order of $150+ per month (and it was pretty far away from the Tower for the Univ Suites! You have to take a shuttle to get to your car!), I think that commuting by car is a fantastic option. At least, for me, since I'm looking at a 2-mile straight shot from my potential home. If you are commuting further, you have to figure in traffic.

Another option is to look at area garages near the campus, and see who has competitive monthly rates. There's bound to be a few that can work out a deal with you.

I forgot though, Coz, that you hate to drive. 😉
 
whatup my PSP bitches!!!
 
LadyWolverine said:
Thanks, SQ! I'll definitely plan on it if I get the house! I'm also thinking about getting a dog! What kind of dog do you have? Tell me what it's like being a dog owner! I love big dogs, and I think that having one might make me feel more secure. Still it's a lot of responsibility. We'll see.
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We have a Brittany (aka brittany spaniel, though they're really a pointing breed and not a spaniel, but I digress). She is about 40 lbs, a lot of energy outside, but a couch potato/cuddler indoors. Sadly, I don't think we are going to be bringing her with us to Baltimore. If she gets an hour walk/run everyday she is pretty mellow, but without that she can get lonely and destructive. We just decided it didn't seem fair since neither my husband or myself are sure of how much free time we will have next year. Luckily we know some people that train and hunt this dog breed who just had one of their older ones put down. They are excited about getting her, and she would get to run around outside in a HUGE yard all day instead of being cooped up in her crate.

Since you have a yard it might be easier to still have a dog in med school (if we were living someplace with a yard we might have considered keeping ours). You will probably be able to let them run around during the day while you are gone, and won't have to worry about having someone stop by to let them out to use the bathroom. Still, dogs need companionship, so if I were you and are deadset on getting a dog, I would consider getting one that isn't as socially dependent on humans or consider getting two dogs so they can hang out during the day together. I think we're going to get two cats for our apartment. I love animals and can't imagine living without them, and cats are easier to take care of since they use a litter box...plus with two of them they should be able to keep themselves entertained while we are gone. It won't be the same as a dog, though. 🙁
 
I was under the impression that with the University commuter garage permit you are not guaranteed a spot...ie on a first come, first served basis each day. Anyone care to comment on whether or not this is actually the case? And if this is the way its done, do most people still end up getting a space every day?
 
LadyWolverine said:
I actually looked at the UMaryland website. The student parking rate for the campus garages is $4 a day. If you commute to the campus 30 days a week, that's $120/month to park pretty close to the school. This means not having to walk through sketchy areas on your way home, and you can park all day for this rate (until 4am, I think!) Given that parking for the University Suites or the Redwood was on the order of $150+ per month (and it was pretty far away from the Tower for the Univ Suites! You have to take a shuttle to get to your car!), I think that commuting by car is a fantastic option. At least, for me, since I'm looking at a 2-mile straight shot from my potential home. If you are commuting further, you have to figure in traffic.

Another option is to look at area garages near the campus, and see who has competitive monthly rates. There's bound to be a few that can work out a deal with you.

I forgot though, Coz, that you hate to drive. 😉
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Redwood has an alternate parking plan based on how much you take out your car. Straight car commuting is pretty much not an option right now. Its pretty much either
A) Live where I would prefer to live, but take light rail
B) Live where I would prefer not to, but 30 second walk to school
 
Cozmosis said:
Redwood has an alternate parking plan based on how much you take out your car. Straight car commuting is pretty much not an option right now. Its pretty much either
A) Live where I would prefer to live, but take light rail
B) Live where I would prefer not to, but 30 second walk to school
Click to expand...

someone might have already asked this - but does fayette square have parking?
 
LadyWolverine said:
Thanks, SQ! I'll definitely plan on it if I get the house! I'm also thinking about getting a dog! What kind of dog do you have? Tell me what it's like being a dog owner! I love big dogs, and I think that having one might make me feel more secure. Still it's a lot of responsibility. We'll see.
Click to expand...


Hey,

I'm having a really difficult decision with this as well, I've grown up with dogs all my life and really want to get one, but many have advised against it. I'm planning on buying a place too, (still have to set that up since I just found out I was in last friday), some say having a dog is manageable the first two years, but the 3rd/4th year rotations can be really difficult. Also realize, getting a dog, depending on age/size/breed is more or less a 10 year commitment, something to think about when you are interning sick hours at the hospital. I also happen to like big dogs, they need a lot of exercise, so a yard or at least some place to run is a must. If I had roommates it would probably be easier, but I'm not sure if I want to do that. There is a dog thread going on in the allo forum you should check out, I also started one on another non-med forum I belong too, most people thought it wouldn't be fair to the dog. I'm still thinking about it, rationalizing it, trying to find a way that it would work, but lately I've been thinking it just isn't fair.
 
akestler said:
There is a dog thread going on in the allo forum you should check out, I also started one on another non-med forum I belong too, most people thought it wouldn't be fair to the dog. I'm still thinking about it, rationalizing it, trying to find a way that it would work, but lately I've been thinking it just isn't fair.
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I would tend to agree. I love animals, and wouldn't want to end up traumatizing the dog. I also have to think about my home, and the fact that I don't necessarily want a dog tearing up my house and making it smell like, well, dog. 🙂

There are definite pros - aside from the fact that I've always wanted one, a dog is the number 1 deterrent to neighborhood crime (break-ins, robberies), even if it's not a very big dog. And since I am planning on living in Baltimore, this is something that I've been thinking about.

I realize that this is not necessarily a sufficient reason to purchase a pet. And this is NOT my main motivation for getting a dog, just a bonus. So please, no lectures 🙂

There's also a big park (Carroll Park) close to where I will live...great for Cujo. Of course, I plan on having a roommate, so I would have to find someone who wasn't adverse to the idea of having a dog living downstairs.
 
what neighborhoods should i look for if i want to live within walking distance of the school? or is university owned apartments the only way to go in that case?

by neighborhoods, i mean like on craigslist. anyone?

thanks!
 
For my $0.02, I think having a dog would really be difficult, especially if I was single. I guess if you are close to campus, you can always run home in the middle of the day, but if you live farther out it might be a pain.

I definitely recommend cats. We have 2, and they keep each other company (well, sort of. Sometimes they just beat each other up). Also, we have one of those littermaid self-cleaning litterboxes and a timed feeder, so they can actually go by themselves for up to 3 days if necessary. It makes it easy to go away for the weekend without having to figure out what to do with the kitties. But they're not for everyone. Lately our kitten has taken to waking me up at around 4-5am every day. I need to buy a new squirt gun.
 
SpeedRacer said:
what neighborhoods should i look for if i want to live within walking distance of the school? or is university owned apartments the only way to go in that case?

by neighborhoods, i mean like on craigslist. anyone?

thanks!
Click to expand...

Hey Speedracer, this map is interactive.

http://www.ci.baltimore.md.us/neighborhoods/

UM at Baltimore is at the southwest tip of the "central" section.

And Coz will tell you which neighborhoods you might want to avoid.
 
Holy ****.

They did it. They accepted my offer.

I'm buying a house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

😱 🙂
 
LadyWolverine said:
Holy ****.

They did it. They accepted my offer.

I'm buying a house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

😱 🙂
Click to expand...
Woot woot! Now when's the party gonna be? Haha. 😉
 
Congrats LW, I'm glad for you 😉 Hope u really really enjoy the place!!!

-Gentle-
 
LadyWolverine said:
Holy ****.

They did it. They accepted my offer.

I'm buying a house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

😱 🙂
Click to expand...

Yay, congrats! When's the party/open house?
 
solacecomes said:
Yay, congrats! When's the party/open house?
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Thanks, you guys! I'm so excited!

To answer your question, SC, I'll have a bbq or something once I:

1) Actually close/settle
2) Get appliances & furniture

😀
 
LadyWolverine said:
Thanks, you guys! I'm so excited!

To answer your question, SC, I'll have a bbq or something once I:

1) Actually close/settle
2) Get appliances & furniture

😀
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I've got a microwave that you can have. :laugh: Can't really BBQ, but you can do ramen.
 
SuzieQ3417 said:
I've got a microwave that you can have. :laugh: Can't really BBQ, but you can do ramen.
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Mmmm... BBQ.

We're getting free bbq at work today because our division exceeded its revenue expectations for Q1. Yay for Red, Hot, & Blue! 😀

Sorry, back to the regularly scheduled non-food focused programming. 🙄
 
LucidSplash said:
Mmmm... BBQ.

We're getting free bbq at work today because our division exceeded its revenue expectations for Q1. Yay for Red, Hot, & Blue!
Click to expand...

I used to love that place. Haven't been in a long time, though.

SQ, I might just hit you up for that microwave!
🙂

LS, your husband was telling me the other day that you were training for a 10K. How's that coming? How long/often have you been training? I'm running one on Sunday, so I've had to step it up this past 2 weeks. I hurt. 🙁

What is your goal? A specific time? Just to finish? To run the whole time?
 
LadyWolverine said:
LS, your husband was telling me the other day that you were training for a 10K. How's that coming? How long/often have you been training? I'm running one on Sunday, so I've had to step it up this past 2 weeks. I hurt. 🙁

What is your goal? A specific time? Just to finish? To run the whole time?
Click to expand...

I've been training, sort of, for a couple of months. But I've been really really inconsistent. 🙄 Its actually a 15k - The Boilermaker in Utica, NY in July. Greg and I went to school right near Utica and there are always a bunch of people from the college that run it. One of my good friends still lives there and she ran it last year. Neither of us are big runners and when she told me I thought "if she can, I can." Also, its a good excuse to get to go up and visit her. 🙂

So my goal at this point is to run the whole time and finish. I'd also like to NOT be dead last. 🙂 I ran this morning before work, and I did about 3.5 miles in 45 minutes, but I'm still doing intervals and just trying to lengthen the intervals and keep my average speed below 13 minute/mile; I'm really slow 🙂. I hurt my ankle pretty bad last year and didn't do any cardio at all from like May-November, so I'm REALLY out of shape (not that my cardio fitness was ever terrific to begin with) and my ankle is still tight. But I'm pretty happy with the way things are going considering I've never really been much of a runner.

http://www.boilermaker.com/ Anyone want to do it? If you need incentive, the race ends at the Matt Brewery in Utica, which is where they make Saranac; there's free beer for all participants.
 
LucidSplash said:
http://www.boilermaker.com/ Anyone want to do it? If you need incentive, the race ends at the Matt Brewery in Utica, which is where they make Saranac; there's free beer for all participants.
Click to expand...
I'll tell my husband...that might be something he's interested in (he did a half marathon this past fall). I come from several generations of marathon runners...not that much of it got passed in my direction. I did track and cross country in highschool and was ok, but I haven't done any competitive running since then. Its just hard for me right now, because our neighborhood has no sidewalks or paths so you always have to worry about cars, and we live far enough from campus that I can't justify wasting gas just to go to the student rec center. So mostly I go for walks, and occassionally get motivated to run. 🙂 I started researching triathalons last summer, thinking that might be something I'd be interested in, but I haven't really taken any steps to prepare for one. Perhaps that should be my goal before I hit 30...to compete in a triathalon.
 
LucidSplash said:
I've been training, sort of, for a couple of months. But I've been really really inconsistent. 🙄 Its actually a 15k - The Boilermaker in Utica, NY in July. Greg and I went to school right near Utica and there are always a bunch of people from the college that run it. One of my good friends still lives there and she ran it last year. Neither of us are big runners and when she told me I thought "if she can, I can." Also, its a good excuse to get to go up and visit her. 🙂

So my goal at this point is to run the whole time and finish. I'd also like to NOT be dead last. 🙂 I ran this morning before work, and I did about 3.5 miles in 45 minutes, but I'm still doing intervals and just trying to lengthen the intervals and keep my average speed below 13 minute/mile; I'm really slow 🙂. I hurt my ankle pretty bad last year and didn't do any cardio at all from like May-November, so I'm REALLY out of shape (not that my cardio fitness was ever terrific to begin with) and my ankle is still tight. But I'm pretty happy with the way things are going considering I've never really been much of a runner.

http://www.boilermaker.com/ Anyone want to do it? If you need incentive, the race ends at the Matt Brewery in Utica, which is where they make Saranac; there's free beer for all participants.
Click to expand...

Wow, that sounds like a blast! And it's the weekend after the PSP ends! Totally do-able. How far away is Utica? I'll keep it in mind...could be a lot of fun. 🙂

A 15K is tough, even if your goal is just to finish. I hear you on the injury front. I got into a really bad skiing accident last winter, and was out of commission for almost 6 months. It's hard to get back into the groove after a leg injury. But I think its great that you are trying so hard. It's also a big help that you have someone to run it with...you guys can pace each other. I find that it's always easier to keep going if I have someone to "compete" with, even if it's friendly competition 🙂

Do you have trouble finding that fine line between, "I'm just getting tired and whiny and I need to push myself a bit" versus "Wow, this is really starting to hurt"? I know that you shouldn't overdo it coming off of an injury, but I have trouble sometimes determining when I should stop versus when I should just suck it up and keep plodding. I don't wanna hurt myself, but I don't wanna slack, either, you know? I'm the queen of psyching myself out. 🙁
 
LadyWolverine said:
Wow, that sounds like a blast! And it's the weekend after the PSP ends! Totally do-able. How far away is Utica? I'll keep it in mind...could be a lot of fun. 🙂
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Utica is in Central NY. When I go I will probably fly, because flights between BWI and Albany (about 1.5 hours from Utica) are cheap on Southwest. Syracuse is a closer airport but not usually as cheap to get too.

LadyWolverine said:
A 15K is tough, even if your goal is just to finish. I hear you on the injury front. I got into a really bad skiing accident last winter, and was out of commission for almost 6 months. It's hard to get back into the groove after a leg injury. But I think its great that you are trying so hard. It's also a big help that you have someone to run it with...you guys can pace each other. I find that it's always easier to keep going if I have someone to "compete" with, even if it's friendly competition 🙂
Click to expand...

Yeah definitely. This was a stupid injury too. I tore my Achilles (a very very small tear) and had an avulsion fracture of my calcaneous. I was putting away groceries. It'd be better if I could say I was doing something cool like skiing, but I was putting away yogurt. 🙁 And you're right on the pacing each other/competition thing. I don't know if I could do it without someone.


LadyWolverine said:
Do you have trouble finding that fine line between, "I'm just getting tired and whiny and I need to push myself a bit" versus "Wow, this is really starting to hurt"? I know that you shouldn't overdo it coming off of an injury, but I have trouble sometimes determining when I should stop versus when I should just suck it up and keep plodding. I don't wanna hurt myself, but I don't wanna slack, either, you know? I'm the queen of psyching myself out. 🙁
Click to expand...

Yes, I do have that problem. My problem is that I am naturally lazy. Usually getting to the gym is the hardest part. Once I'm there, and after I've run for like 5 minutes, I feel great.

For me, part of my trouble is that I have flat feet. Its also one of the reasons I was never very good at running - my feet would hurt so bad they would give out before my wind did. One summer during college, I got up to running about 5 miles at a time. And I could probably have done more from a cardio standpoint, but my feet would hurt so much afterwards. Running that much, they would be numb after 2 miles or so but kill later. Now, I finally have orthotics. Its amazing. My feet don't hurt at all. My mind still likes to think I'm tired (or in pain) after 10 minutes and that I should walk for 2 minutes. So I say "well I'm going to run for 12 minutes before I walk for 2 minutes." I could probably run for 45 minutes without stopping right now, and I'm shooting for that next week - but I need to get my mind in shape.

I'm rambling.
 
Mmmm... so much good food.

If any of you play the stock market, you should buy some of my company's stock before the Q1 earnings call on Friday. They only buy us food when something went REALLY well. It'll probably pop a bit after the earnings call and you can short it. 🙂
 
LucidSplash said:
Mmmm... so much good food.

If any of you play the stock market, you should buy some of my company's stock before the Q1 earnings call on Friday. They only buy us food when something went REALLY well. It'll probably pop a bit after the earnings call and you can short it. 🙂
Click to expand...

A little insider trading going on with the food? lol...I'm telling all the trade law attorneys I work for 😀

Thanks, Martha. 😉
 
LadyWolverine said:
A little insider trading going on with the food? lol...I'm telling all the trade law attorneys I work for 😀

Thanks, Martha. 😉
Click to expand...

Nope, I'm not officially an "insider." I could be totally wrong as I'm just speculating what might happen on Friday - I have no true insider knowledge.






But I'm not wrong. 😀
 
LucidSplash said:
Nope, I'm not officially an "insider." I could be totally wrong as I'm just speculating what might happen on Friday - I have no true insider knowledge.






But I'm not wrong. 😀
Click to expand...


Not that I wanna buy any of your company's stock or anything...but what's the symbol? 😉
 
So my husband and I were talking about marathons and what-not, and he found the website for the Baltimore marathon (www.thebaltimoremarathon.com). Anyway, just thought you guys might be interested. It is October 14, and consists of a marathon, half marathon, 5K, or team relay. They even have prize categories for the top finishers out of UMD students. I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull out a half marathon, but that is what Todd's trying to convince me to do. I might just chicken out and do the 5K. We'll see how much running I can get in this summer.
 
SuzieQ3417 said:
So my husband and I were talking about marathons and what-not, and he found the website for the Baltimore marathon (www.thebaltimoremarathon.com). Anyway, just thought you guys might be interested. It is October 14, and consists of a marathon, half marathon, 5K, or team relay. They even have prize categories for the top finishers out of UMD students. I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull out a half marathon, but that is what Todd's trying to convince me to do. I might just chicken out and do the 5K. We'll see how much running I can get in this summer.
Click to expand...

Hmm - what about the relay competition. I couldn't pull off a whole marathon either and I think the half might even be overshooting for me. Do you think we can get together 4 people that would do this? Legs are from 5.9 to 7.1 miles and follow the same course as the marathoners.....
 
SuzieQ3417 said:
So my husband and I were talking about marathons and what-not, and he found the website for the Baltimore marathon (www.thebaltimoremarathon.com). Anyway, just thought you guys might be interested. It is October 14, and consists of a marathon, half marathon, 5K, or team relay. They even have prize categories for the top finishers out of UMD students. I'm not sure if I'll be able to pull out a half marathon, but that is what Todd's trying to convince me to do. I might just chicken out and do the 5K. We'll see how much running I can get in this summer.
Click to expand...

SQ, I've actually been interested in this for a while. I see the ads for it on the metro every day.

I was thinking of doing the full marathon. It's always been something that I've wanted to do. But I'll probably pass out by the half-way point. 🙂 If that happens, can you guys drag me home?

I definitely won't be winning a prize. But I'd just like to say that I finished one. 🙂
 
Speaking of alcohol, do we know what day (Fri or Sat) we are going to meet up the weekend SQ and her husband are here? I'd prefer Sat, only because we have another engagement in DC on Fri. Actually we have one on Sat too but it is an early dinner that we can leave early and head to Balmer to meet up with everyone.

Just my $0.02.
 
LucidSplash said:
Speaking of alcohol, do we know what day (Fri or Sat) we are going to meet up the weekend SQ and her husband are here? I'd prefer Sat, only because we have another engagement in DC on Fri.
Click to expand...

Saturday works for me as well. I have to work late on Friday, and wouldn't make it up to B'More until late. I have to get up at 7 on Sunday, though, so I probably won't be staying too late. Perhaps I can schedule my home inspection to fall on Saturday! Then I would kill 2 birds with 1 stone!! 🙂

What time were we thinkin'? 7? 8? Later?
 
Cozmosis said:
I am officially quitting my job as of June 16. Hooray!
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Congrats! My job keeps asking me when I plan on quitting...I told them it would probably be in June, but it all depends on when we end up getting an apartment lease.

As for the marathon and free beer....what a strange combo, eh? It seems to me that the last thing you need after running a marathon is beer. What would be funny is if they did a drunken 100-meter dash or something. Get everyone nice and liquored up, and see who can make it to the finish line without falling all over themselves. Drunk people are funny...well, until the projectile vomiting. :barf:
 
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