I just got back from my first class of this semester

[sniffa]

and damn I'm going to be busy for the next few months.

I already have 3 assignments due a week from today.

And the class is actually 3 full hours long (tonight was about 5 minutes over).

The class is Legal Aspects of the Surveying Profession 1 (yes, 2 comes next along with MA regulations which is just one class) and I'm excited for the class despite the overwhelming rush I think most of the people in the class felt today. I was actually the only person able to answer the instructor's questions so I feel pretty good about how I'll do in the class assuming I can keep up with the work load. My work experience is apparently very valuable as I knew the answer to every question he threw out on the first day pertaining to the baby steps of Survey Law. I didn't know the "why" to one question I answered but he quickly filled us in on "why" such a process is required (and it made perfect sense to me).

It was just a complete data-overload today and he intimated that this is going to be the pace of the course. Should be exciting.

I'm going to be the most bad-ass PLS in Massachusetts (and maybe some bordering states).

[SallyMander]

1. Wowza... that just made my head explode a little bit

not gonna lie... survey law, that sounds hardcore!

But that's awesome that you rocked the first day - instructors notice that! You will now be in the "good student" category even if you just goof off the rest of the semester.

[sniffa]

3. I actually clammed up as the class went on

It was a cross between feeling like I was being teacher's pet and that I was possibly preventing him from teaching the rest of the class. I need to get over that as I never prevented him from teaching us; he always expounded after an answer including the "why" as I mentioned above.

[SallyMander]

5. Does he lecture with a lot of questions?

When I'm teaching, i ask a lot of questions to keep people engaged - and i want people to answer them! Sometimes no one does, and then i just say "i'm going to stand up here until you all feel awkward."

Anyway, if that's his style, then you should definitely keep piping up. It totally SUCKS to feel like you're lecturing to a room full of cardboard cutouts!

[sniffa]

8. I just felt weird after the first 4 questions

I was the only one participating but based on the shaking heads I may have been the only one who knew the answer.

I think he was trying to get a feel for where the class was in terms of experience with survey law. He explained that when he taught the class in 2008 the class was twice the size and it ranged from people ready to take the PLS exam to people who had never even held the rod and had no idea about basic surveying language. As such, he had to alter his class to teach up and down to pull the whole class along.

This year brought a lot more scrutiny to be approved to the program and to each class of the program. I had to jump through hoops to get in. I'm feeling a lot more confident about this now.

[AlCzervik]

2. Sounds like a lot of work but it'll be worth it when you're done.

[sniffa]

7. Welcome to DU person I've never seen before

Yeah, I'm actually excited for the lack of life I'll now have. I only hope I do better than my coworker who took the class years ago and forgot it all. The class is not only to prepare you for the exam/interview but to provide you with your own home-made manual that you'll carry with you for your exam and for the rest of your life in the profession.

[flvegan]

4. You'll do great.

Good luck with your classes.

One of your answers should someday be, "because the title underwriters won't be happy if we fuck up"

[sniffa]

9. I was just telling Bi-Baby

about whenever we get a ALTA/ASCM request it usually has almost every item checked off on the check list.. and how the client usually falls through the floor when they get a bid approaching 6 figures. We used to just bid proposals based on whatever they requested but ever since one of my coworkers joined the company we take the forward thinking approach of crossing off the items most unnecessary and the most expensive and then inform the client of the cost differences and the pros and cons. We've almost never had someone go for the higher priced option.

I kinda think it's a mistake to not go for the high number first but only to a degree; getting an initial ALTA client guarantees the client (usually - I have a story of one we lost) for life. That's a continuous client for every time they need to re-work it, which is twice a year for some of our clients.

Oh, and I'm boring her to f'n tears tonight. I'm in total survey geek mode.

[flvegan]

12. Yep, that's the insurance monkeys for you.

Talk about boring to tears. You just can't have too many conversations where "oh, yeah, if that easement goes North 48 degrees 36 minutes 18 seconds West with THAT return call, I'll eat my fucking hat" without invoking sleep.

[sniffa]

15. Don't get me started on her being subjected to discontinuance plans

and the difference between public and private ways and whether the discontinuance is at street level or higher (I've never seen a sub-level but I'm sure they exist).

Oops, I just told her all about this and I think she's going to off herself or me any hour now.

[flvegan]

16. Well, for what it's worth

I think that the work you guys do is amazing, and such a huge percentage of what I do depends on what you do properly.

One of my most common, daily phrases is "do you have a/the survey?"

Just saying. You'll do great, and your line of work is one of the BIGGIES for security right now.

Snoogins.

[madinmaryland]

6. What the "L" dude?? You are going into surveying???

You need to learn AutoCad!

Just don't take that little notch away from CT south of Springfield!!

[bigwillq]

10. Right!

It belongs to CT! Our state is small enough!

[sniffa]

13. I actually know of a 17 square foot parcel

near the Chelsea/East Boston border that is owned by no one. If I stake my claim there (and mow it) for 7 (I think it's 7 in my state) years it's mine!

I found this about 3 years ago (actually, the person who did the property line before me found it, but no one noticed) and I should probably get going on claiming it.

[sasquatch]

11. Where're you doing this at?

[sniffa]

14. Wentworth

It's sucking away any possible extra money with tuition, parking pass and text books.