Let the Voting Begin!

Okay, the rules of the game. Read the following descriptions of apartments. Choose the one you think I should live in. Vote by going here, typing in your name, and checking a box (You don't have to register or anything): http://www.doodle.ch/wcgez4bp5f4ivu93. Voting ends Monday morning at 8am eastern time.

All these apartments are on the east side of town in quieter neighborhoods. All of them will require me to use the bus more than I am currently.

Your choices are as follows:

Knightridge
http://www.cfcapartments.com/apt_apartment_full.php?community_cd=6&company_cd=1
$550 for 2 bedroom (1 bedroom $475 but only 1 is left and it may be rented)

Advantages:
1. On a bus route that goes to the campus (every 20 minutes)
2. laundry facilities
3. pets allowed - $200 deposit
4. water furnished (no kidding, they actually put this in their brochure)
5. swimming pool & clubhouse
6. decent number of closets

Disadvantages:
1. electric heat
2. the "model" apartment had peeling linoleum from leakage, stained countertops, cracked handles on appliances
3. Dogs are allowed in any of the apartments (and there was one yapping away in an apartment next to the one I looked at)
4. entrances are inside, not outside
5. to take the bus to shopping, etc, I would have to go to the campus, and the catch a bus to the shopping area, then take it back to campus to get the bus to the apartment
6. Required to professionally clean carpets
7. Can sublease only (not sign over lease)
8. Is on a quieter highway (but still a highway with traffic)

Fountain Park
http://www.apartmentsbloomington.com/apartments/building_details.asp?property_cd=fountainpark
1 Bedroom $559, 2 bedroom $610

Advantages
1. sublease or assign the lease
2. On several bus routes, including one that goes to campus (every 20 minutes), and one that goes to the mall and shopping areas
3. ample counter and cupboard space
4. a bit closer to campus than the other two
5. Cats allowed ($175 deposit)
6. graduate student discount
7. swimming pool
8. laundry facilities
9. clubhouse
10. on-site management

Disadvantages
1. Electric forced air central heating and a/c.
2. Very big complex (they have apartments on both sides of 10th street).
3. Located on a very well traveled street with lots of traffic (although some apartments are very far off the street)
5. it can take 10 minutes to walk to the bus stop (if you're located far away from the street, which is where the bus goes).

Meadow Park
http://www.apartmentsbloomington.com/apartments/building_details.asp?property_cd=meadowpark
1 bedroom $539, 2 bedroom $569

Advantages
1. sublease or assign the lease
2. a built-in bookcase in the living room.
3. you can paint your apartment
4. On several bus routes, including one to campus (every 20 minutes), and one to the mall and shopping (so, you can go from your apartment to shopping without transfering buses all over).
5. counter space, lots of cupboards and closets
6. not required to clean your carpet professionally
7. cats allowed ($175 deposit)
8. Graduate student discount
9. swimming pool
10. laundry facilities
11. clubhouse
12 fitness center
13. on-site management
14. picnic areas
15. bus stop has a covered seating area

Disadvantages
1. Electric forced air central heating and a/c
2. Large complex of 300 apartments (but not as large as Fountain Park), but in a residential area of town

Apartment Voting This Weekend

Okay, I have an appointment set up with contestant three. I have ruled out other options that didn't make it to the contestant stage (too expensive, loud neighborhoods, no pets, etc, etc), so number 3 will be the third and final contestant. I will post details on Friday (late afternoon or evening). Actually, I'll recap all the choices then, so you have the info handy.

You will be able to vote by going here: http://www.doodle.ch/wcgez4bp5f4ivu93. All you have to do is type in your name and check a box. You don't have to register for anything. You don't have to use your email. It's very, very simple.

I'll look at the poll on Monday morning at 8:00am Eastern time, and then I'll be calling someone to sign a lease before I leave for spring break. This is how simple it is. Hopefully, this method will change my apartment karma.

I've finished 2 of the 3 bigger projects (each for different classes). I'll be done with the last one on Thursday morning. Woo hoo. I'll still h work left for the semester, but it actually gets decidedly easier from that point out. It's kind of nice, because I usually end up with everything due at the end and a mad scramble to finish up

Still Alive

My nonposting indicates the number of projects that have been and will be due. I finished my 30 minute teaching project, and now have evaluation and management left. Both of those are due the same week, one on the 25th and the other on the 28th. This is why you will find me celebrating on the 29th, and fairly quiet here until those things are finished.

I'm going to be going to Omaha/Council Bluffs March 6-13th for spring break. Woo hoo. I know how to live it up for spring break. Beaches, palm trees.... oh, wait, that's Mexico, not Omaha! Oh man, and I bought an unrefundable ticket!

I really wanted to go back to Missoula, but the $600+ airfare kind of killed that idea. Flying to Spokane was cheaper, but still would have cost $350-400, as opposed to Omaha's less than $200. Money does influence our decisions, maybe more than we'd care to admit.

Other than being buried in a ton of work, life is good. I hope to have several more contestants soon for the apartment contest, and some clarification on the first few. I really, really hate the rental market here. One of the options might be living in a van, down by the river. Oh wait, there's not really a river here. Hmmm, in a van by a tree?