In stereo in the static age

[exsequar]

So all the life planning worked out and this week is going to be a little crazy but totally worth it.

One question: for anyone who's familiar with the Philly area, what's the best way to get into the city when I have a car and I'm coming from Connecticut? I don't want to park in the city because I don't want to pay an arm and a leg, but I don't want to go through the total headache of taking like four trains to get down there (Amtrak is $50 EACH WAY. No thank you.). So I was thinking that I might drive to somewhere in Jersey, park my car in a long term lot at a train station, and take a more local train in like Patco or Septa. Does anyone have any advice for a simple way I could do that? Know of a good station near-ish to Philly? Maybe even know somewhere else I could safely leave a car for two days? I'd appreciate any advice!

Every time I think about starting at Michigan I get this little frisson of excitement/terror, but mostly excitement! I mean, I'm going to be at a hardcore research university, doing things that I've only ever read about or imagined, working with this genius dude on a problem that deeply fascinates me. That's like - ridiculous. And not even just in the abstract. I know that in the first two weeks I'm there, I'm going to learn more research techniques than I did in three years of undergrad research. Or to be more precise, I'm going to be learning more techniques that are directly relevant to my interests. THAT IS SO AWESOME. And I am extremely lucky to have landed a spot with an up-and-coming professor who's working at the Life Sciences Institute, a beautiful new building and program at UM designed to foster collaboration among all the life sciences AND the arts. This is the building I'm going to be working in, built 2003:



And a photo from inside - I took a tour of his lab, and it ACTUALLY looks this shiny and modern.


EEEE! I'm so thrilled and pumped. I know that eventually it's going to be a drag, and just feel like a job, but I think at least for a while I'm going to be totally jazzed by what I get to DO, and get paid to do! I mean, what a privilege! To be honest, my main worry is that I'm not actually worthy of this privilege, that they're making some mistake making this investment, but. I hope that isn't the case and that I surprise myself!

I start three weeks from tomorrow! :D

Comments

[splits_thesky]

Well, going by the travel plans you have so far, you could always drive to Trenton, and then take the R7 Septa to Center City Philly (that's what I do, to get to school - minus the driving, I mean). The only thing is, idk how much parking at Trenton costs, exactly, and I'm not so sure just parking randomly somewhere is the best idea. But otherwise, yeah, Septa will definitely work. Maybe just poke around the site to see all the different routes, if one will work better?
Alternately, maybe you could just take a bus? Bolt Bus is good, I know, but I'm not sure it comes to Connecticut. But maybe just Greyhound? IDK.

[exsequar.livejournal.com]

Do Septa stations have parking lots like normal train stations? Cause I know some train stations have a lot where you can put your car for a few days. I just need it to be there for two nights. Thanks for the heads up on the specific train! I'll also see if there are cheap garages in Trenton, because there reeeeally aren't in Philly, haha.

[splits_thesky]

...I think it depends? Some of them do, at least.
I think Trenton's officially on the NJ Transit network, though, so you should consult that site for parking info there (and there are a bunch of lots there, I know that much. I think they're about $11 a day??).

[deirdre-c.livejournal.com]

YAY! Research! It's going to be wonderful! :)

[(Anonymous)]

YOU WILL GET THIS MESSAGE EVERY DAY UNTIL darlas_mom DEFRIENDS spiletta42. IF spiletta42 POSTS ANY FANFICTION EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON YOUR FRIENDS LIST WILL ALSO GET THIS MESSAGE. spiletta42 IS A FAT SMELLY LESBIAN WHORE WHO PLAGIARIZES FANFICTION AND SHE IS SO GROSS HER VIBRATOR RAN AWAY!!!!!

[hebrew-hernia.livejournal.com]

*DIES* THAT LAB HOMG. Whose lab are you starting in?

Also dude, you are totally worthy. That is impostor syndrome talking. Get that out of your head, and continue to be pumped. You are amazing and you are going to do amazing things and have an amazing time.

[pau494.livejournal.com]

I am so excited for you, darling! \o/ That lab looks so wonderful. And I know you're going to be amazing! ♥

[redbrickrose.livejournal.com]

I'm so excited for you! Grad school is awesome.

[(Anonymous)]

1. she has bad breath
   
2. she has b.o.
   
3. she is ugly
   
4. she is fat
   
5. she is stupid
   
6. she whines all the time about her back hurting
   
7. she is a slob
   
8. she is lazy
   
9. she is selfish
   
10. she is greedy
    
11. she is mean
    
12. she gossips and tattles
    
13. she doesn't follow instructions
    
14. her fake phone voice is stupid
    
15. she is always whining
    
16. she wastes money but won't share it
    
17. she flunked French in college
    
18. her fanfiction is stupid
    
19. she can't draw
    
20. she can't sing
    
21. she fake limps all the time
    
22. she ruins peoples lives
    
23. she hoards lightbulbs
    
24. she drives with her windshield wipers on
    
25. she is an attention whore and drama queen
    
26. she slept with her friend's husband
    
27. she stole her friend's husband's wallet to buy cocaine and Buffy dvds
    
28. she lies about furries
    
29. she steals fanfiction
    
30. she uses cocaine
    
31. she believes in evolution
    
32. she has a vibrator
    
33. she is a lesbian
    
34. she worships buddha

ALSO YOU SHOULD DEFRIEND darlas_mom because she is stupid enough to be friends with this loser bitch!!!!!

[himhilien.livejournal.com]

I live not too far from the LSI building. I'd let you come to my apartment but its always a huge mess and I'm always embarrassed to have people come over.

Too bad you probably won't be able to go to the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, but you'll be in time for the art fair. :D

[angel726.livejournal.com]

Yay Michigan! Yay Ann Arbor. I'm sure they will totally be worth all the money that they're spending on you. :D