Twentysomething in Buffalo

Starting a New Trend

This past March I joined the BAC for Women in Depew. Since then, I have been running on the treadmill and at Losson Park pretty steadily all summer.

Still determined to improve my former partying ways, I thought a healthy hobby would be to get into running 5K events around the area. So on Sept. 11 a friend and I participated in our very first 5K run at Como Park in Lancaster to support the troops overseas, remember 9/11 and do something a little more productive than pajamas and boxed wine.

I'm not your average runner. I showed up to the race with makeup on, a brand-new outfit, and my nails painted, but when I looked around the park there were no "average runners." Ages ranged from 10 to 65. There were families running together, couples, friends, some serious long-distance runners and some people there for their usual evening stroll.

Usually when I go for a jog I am constantly stopping and starting to catch my breath. This wasn't the usual jog. At first I didn't want to stop, and I really didn't pace myself because I would get competitive when people would pass me. I got over that real quickly when we reached our first check-point. I was convinced we had to be at the 2-mile marker but given a swift reality check when I realized I was only through the first mile.

My final time was 34 minutes, which I thought was a pretty good pace for my first run. And it wasn't as rigorous as I had anticipated. Although, echoing in the back of my head throughout the entire race were the sarcastic and motivating words of wisdom from my father: "Whatever you do, don't finish last." -- ha ha dad.

Well I didn't finish last, but it didn't matter. Crossing that finish line was something that a year ago I never thought I would do. Not because I couldn't, but because I really didn't care. But, I have to admit, it was so rewarding and I felt great afterward. I'm already scanning the Web for the next one to participate in.

It was pretty clear that I was a 5K-rookie. I'm not really sure what to eat before a race, how to prepare for one, and I could really use some tips on how to improve.

Any suggestions?

--- Kelly Boquard

Campus tours

I am planning on heading to my alma mater to take in Saturday's UB-Temple football game with some friends.

Nothing terribly out of the ordinary since I try to make it to at least one football and basketball game a year. And it is not as if UB Stadium, which was almost completely empty (even during games) during my time as a student, is going to tug at my heartstrings.

But I was thinking that I have not really set foot upon the college campus I spent plenty of years on. I have not peered into the academic buildings, strolled from one side of campus to the other as I did countless times or stopped by the Commons.

I will not be able to Saturday, but I was planning on participating in the Linda Yalem run later this month. Maybe after that I can spend some time on campus, reminiscing a bit. Is it a strange sentiment?

After all, I am a Southtowns native and now live in Buffalo -- only a few miles from UB and not a flight away as I am sure is the case for many. And though I think the north campus was pleasing to the eye, I don't think it would be confused with Princeton or Duke.

A friend of mine recently went with her boyfriend on a trip to his alma mater to do a similar type of thing. So it is not all that weird then, is it?

---Geoff Nason

401(k) versus debt reduction

Next month I will be eligible to start a 401(k) after being at my job for one year. It sounds like a no-brainer, but I am honestly still mulling it over.

Now before jumping all over me, hear me out. There is something to be said for having a clear mind and not having debt hanging over your head. I still have some college loans and credit card debt to pay off, and I have half a notion to clear that before investing in my future.

Yes, I would forfeit the growth potential of my 401(k) during that time but I also would be paying less interest on my loans if I pay them off quicker.

I sat down with a financial services professional last month to discuss whole life insurance. It is another sound opportunity, but I decided to put it off for the time being and stick with just the standard life insurance I have. The lease on my car is up soon so I would like some money handy and the holidays are not that far off.

Doing some research on my financial future, I stumbled upon an adviser's answer to a similar 401(k) versus paying down debt question. The response to the effect of, "Create a tight budget and do both," sounds good. I am all about responsibility but sorry, I am not about to make tons of financial sacrifices.

If I did not drink beer I probably would be in much better physical shape, but that is not going to happen any time soon either. I have some friends who live that way (fiscally, not alcohol-free) and cannot imagine turning down all the fun experiences they have passed up because they were watching their wallets.

My concern is that if I do not at least start my 401(k), though, I may find myself putting it off in the future as well. If I force myself to do it now, even on a small scale, then at least I will have a start.

Anyone else out there have any experiences or advice to share?

---Geoff Nason

Eats and Treats on the West Coast

San Francisco
Originally uploaded by LilyGoo

Earlier this summer, I posted about wanting to go on a post-graduation trip, and finally, I've figured out the details. In less than a week, I'll be embarking on a week-long San Francisco/Seattle combo trip, and I'm pretty excited. Having visited San Fran before, I can easily say I'm a lover of the West Coast. I can't wait to see the piers, the parks and of course, the cable cars. But the thing I'm most looking forward to? The food.

I'm convinced that in another life, I'd be the 800-pound woman they had to pull from her house because of her love of food. Luckily, I got a different metabolism, and I'm eternally grateful. As I get ready for my trip, I've included the top three restaurants/cafes that I intend to stop at, and I'd appreciate any suggestions on places I've missed and must see. Because a lot of my investigative restaurant work has been done via the Internet and not by actual tastings, I'd also appreciate input on any places you think are completely overrated and that I should skip entirely.

San Fran:

Boudin Bakery - A bit cliche, I know, but the city is known for its sourdough and I couldn't stop by without grabbing a baguette to walk around with while I explore the pier.

Dottie's True Blue Cafe - A legend among both tourists and city dwellers, Dottie's is one of the best breakfast places on the bay. The line is long, but the wait is worth it - the cinnamon pancakes draw people from all points in Union Square.

Sears Fine Food - The food is great, but the ambiance is part of the experience. It's a family owned San Fran staple, and it attracts all types of people, making for a fun people-watching experience, too.

Seattle:

Salumi - I'm really looking forward to trying this place, partially because it has a royal culinary bloodline behind it; chef Mario Batali's father owns and runs the place.

5 Spot - This could be a disaster or a great time, because I found this place purely from searching online. The element that intrigues me? The menu features samples from several regions around the U.S. : Southwestern, New England, Pacific Northwest, South of the Mason Dixon etc. This appeals to my varied tastes, but I'm always a little wary of places that don't specialize in one particular cuisine.

Ray's Boathouse (or some place similar) - Because of the obvious location, I'd love to visit a fine dining restaurant that serves fresh catches of the day. I'm not a huge seafood person, but I'm willing to be a little adventurous, and Grilled Southeast Alaskan Halibut definitely sounds outside of my comfort zone.

--- Molly Hirschbeck

A Costly Welcome

The News' NeXt section recently ran a college guide offering advice to freshmen on everything from roommate issues to participating in clubs and activities to finding safe food choices. Having recently finished my four years, all of these "tips" on first-year survival made me smile, yet there was one piece of info that caught my eye: orientation costs.

When I was welcomed onto the St. Bonaventure's campus awhile back, there were no fees for the orientation packets we received, for the tours we were given or for the meals we were served. We were all tucked into the standard "freshman dorm," Shay-Loughlen, for our introductory first night, but none of us paid a price for the beds we used or the rooms we shared. I thought all of this was normal orientation procedure, but according to the article in NeXt, not all colleges share the same "free spirit" that Bonaventure does.

In order to prep its incoming students, Buffalo State charges $140 per student for its orientation, which is said to cover room, board, meals and materials. UB has a similar price tag - $190 - but it includes a few sessions on academic planning and advisement. (I can't believe students are paying for academic advice before they even enter a classroom; I now feel grateful my advisers didn't charge a fee for every time I took advantage of their open-door policy).  What's more, parents and family members can now attend an orientation to prepare themselves for the big break as well ... but should expect to pay at least $130 for the first family member and $70 for each additional one.

Looking back, I know so many people who recall orientation fondly, or at least have a funny story about the strange roommate they were paired with or the weird guy that tried to meet the most girls but was never seen again. These stories made this strange beginning more fun than scary for so many. But if you ask those same people if they were excited about orientation, they would be quick to admit that they almost didn't attend because a) they were already homesick, or b) they were a total bundle of nerves. If St. Bonaventure had put a price tag on freshman orientation, I guarantee  at least a quarter of our class would have found an excuse to bow out, and in doing so, missed some of the best memories of their college days.

Was your freshman orientation completely overrated? Or, if you had to pay, was it worth the extra cash? And lastly, should schools even charge students (and parents) for what should otherwise be a friendly welcome?

--- Molly Hirschbeck

Thunderstorm scare

Lily scared
Originally uploaded by LilyGoo

As some of you might remember, my family adopted a one-and-a-half year old "puppy" from the SPCA a few months back. Back then, she was a hyper but surprisingly sweet angel - no barking, no biting, no aggressive behavior - it was like a miracle. Today, she's a bit more - ahem- comfortable in her surroundings, and we've found that she really does have a voice (but fortunately only uses it when she's trying to protect us). For all of the 45-pounds boxer/lab that she is, Lily seems to think she's a 120-pound St. Bernhard, and when she's tackling the dogs next door or wrestling with my 6-foot brother, her false sense of reality can be pretty entertaining. She's rough, she's tough and she can run for hours.

But she can't handle thunder. Or water. And unfortunately for her, we've pretty much had Noah's Ark these past few days. We don't know what it is, but as crazy and as strong as she is, she absolutely freaks when she hears even the slightest thunder rumble or even when we bring the hose out for bath time. If a storm starts brewing, Lily automatically starts shaking like a leaf right on cue, and burrows her body as close to you as she can. I laugh at this picture (which was totally not staged - she's a natural paw-crosser) because she looks like she's praying to get through the storm. All kidding aside though, it's one of the hard parts about having a rescued dog - wondering what happened to them to make them so scared in such a situation.

Has anyone else had a pet with a problem like this? If so, what can we do to help ease her fear?

--- Molly Hirschbeck

Lessons Learned

We exist in a society that fosters extended adolescence. The first time I heard about this was from a teacher in high school. He said that twentysomethings, as we now call them, are taking longer to get married, more time to finish school and moving out of their parents' houses later.

How true this may be without statistics is questionable; but I've been relying on that information to be true.

I don't want to feel like I have to know exactly where I'm going right now. I have a lot of options open to me, and even more that I would like to pursue: going graduate school, traveling through Europe and getting a job I love top the list.

I know that I can't possibly do everything all at once, though that's what I want, and I also realize that I might grow out of the idealism characterizing a lot of my life choices up to this point.

Still, having this "extended adolescence" as a sort of excuse to keep a 9-to-5 job or mortgage payment at bay has been working so far.

Because this is my last day at The News, this will be my last blog entry. From this experience I have learned a lot about having a job, which requires me be responsible and sometimes sit out fun times with my friends. I probably needed to learn all that.

I've also learned alot about criticism. Good or bad, when you put your thoughts out there it's going to come back to you. Growing a thick skin must be part of the twentysomething growth cycle, as well.

So thanks for your comments, constructive and otherwise. I can only hope I don't outgrow my need to respond to them. Cheers, all!

-- Kristen Rajczak

IMportant People with Jim Heaney, takin' on the law

Today I had the opportunity to sit down for a live blog with Jim Heaney about his latest big story, the Buffalo Police withholding information from their police reports.

He covered some really excellent points on why the BPD might do this, and also the ramifications for both the local media and the public.

It's a really great read, and you should check it out over at Buffalo.com's Let's Talk.

That being said, my long hiatus is over - expect to see more of me in the coming weeks.

-Evan Parker Pierce

Loaning and Groaning

There are times when I love adulthood, and times when I'm terrified that I've entered the gates.

This weekend, as I sifted through loan statements, I had one of the scarier moments. Even though I attended my loan exit interviews and planned my "temporary budget" and payback plan, I'm still learning how everything works. After spending time on the phone, online and with knowledgeable friends, I felt like I had gone through a financial aid boot camp just to learn about deferment, forbearance, which lending partners operate which loans, how long I can go without being penalized ... the list goes on forever.

If I can sum up what I've learned so far in three suggestions, they would be:

Always open your mail. There was a good chunk of years - end of high school, most of college - when everyone solicited you - the credit card companies, modeling agencies, volunteer and community organizations- and it seemed like the majority ended up unopened and in the trash. Now, a letter opener can come in handy because every envelope needs to be opened, even if the return address is a P.O. Box in Georgia and you have no ties to the South.

Always call if you have questions. As a disclaimer, I always start every phone call off with ... I'm really sorry, I'm completely new at this so I have a ton of questions ... but I still feel like the person on the other end must think I'm a nut job by the end of the call. I feel bad, but I know I'll feel way worse if I get a statement with a late charge or extra "accrued interest" because I didn't call to clarify something I didn't understand.

Always be organized. I know some people who are severe neat freaks, and although I admire their diligence to cleanliness and organization, I know deep down I'll never care about details that much. But when it comes to loan paperwork and forms, the best way to keep on top of things is to keep things together. I have a folder with all of my information, and in it I have a chart with all my lenders, my loan amounts and my monthly payments. It's organization to the extreme, and for the first time in forever, I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm only at the beginning of the journey that is debt repayment. Anyone else have any helpful tips or suggestions?

--- Molly Hirschbeck

A family that eats sushi together ....

Recently, my older brother discovered a love for sushi. The tasty Japanese rolls (we have yet to graduate to more adventurous choices) caught his attention when a friend brought Philadelphia rolls to a bonfire in our back yard. The cream cheese sounded less scary than the raw salmon, I guess.

Fast forward a few weeks when I took my dad to Wasabi for his first taste of sushi. Granted, he did get one with meat in it (Wasabi has both a beef and a chicken hand roll), but he also tried the gateway Philadelphia roll.

Last night, my brother chose Wasabi as our destination for his birthday dinner and it was mom's turn to try sushi for the first time. Though she made a few faces at first and refused to put an entire roll in her mouth at one time (it is considered rude in Japan to take bites, I've read, and also you miss all the flavors!), but she ate both her shrimp tempura roll and, you guess it, Philadelphia roll. She liked it, too.

Me? I branched out and tried the Wasabi Lobster roll. Though it proved to be far more food than I thought, it was delicious and has enticed me to move on to more exotic choices.

Reflecting on my family's new fascination with the stuff, I realize how trendy sushi has become with Japanese restaurants popping up all over and not just in Buffalo.

Are you up for raw fish? If so, what am I missing and just have to order?

-- Kristen Rajczak