Thru Robin's Eyes

I think I have finally settled in after the start of the new semester.  This semester will truly prove to be a busy one! Keep in touch with me as I frantically try to manage 17 (what was I thinking) credit hours! LOL!! So there was one book I had to buy yet this last week and new classrooms to find. I also needed to stop in this semester at Rocket Solution Central to take care of a few things. As ususal, I was well taken care of and I would like to thank my favorite RSC representative, Dawn Bellner, who patiently added my class and took great care of my financial aid woes. She’s always willing to help me whenever I need a hand.

We are experiencing one of the snowiest Januarys on record here in Ohio. Parking at UT is always my biggest challenge since I commute in every day, and finding parking at the beginning of a new semester is always tricky. With the parking lots covered in snow these last two weeks, it made it next to impossible to see where the parking spots were lined. That made the usual parking nightmares a complete disaster. No one could tell where to park so in an effort to be safe, everyone took up more than their fare share of the parking space. Luckily, while the snow and cold temperatues are still around, the parking lots are mostly cleared, making the parking somewhat manageable again. There is no snow forecasted for the near future, but the cold temps are still present!

Anyone else as ready for spring as I am?  I see palm trees and tropical beaches. How many weeks until spring break?

This is about the time when I realize that there’s only one week left of break before classes begin again and utter chaos ensues. I have long since purchased all of my textbooks and began reading them. This has allowed me to already recognize that I am way in over my head for the upcoming semester. I usually realize this about the time that the first weekend of the semester hits and I have more reading to do than what can possibly be done in one weekend. By getting started early, I’ve managed to start to panic before the semester has begun, which leads me to believe that apparently the panic is inevitable, it’s just the timing that differs.

I have started my New Year’s resolutions. Okay, let’s be honest – I was on the treadmill once and yes, I did go to Gibsonburg for donuts when I got off work this morning. In my own defense, once you’ve managed to stay awake until 7AM, don’t you deserve to be rewarded with a donut or three?

So far I have spent the break working, cleaning my car out, trimming all my bushes and trees (things that should have been done earlier this fall had there actually been time), and “spring” cleaning around the house. I have managed to fill the upcoming week entirely full trying to continue catching up with more friends and family, and with visits to the dentist and eye doctor.  The only thing left to do now is finding time to relax.

I hope that everyone else is having a restful and enjoyable break from classes and that you too have managed to catch up with friends and family. See you next week!

Exam week is finally over and everyone is enjoying an axiously awaited Holiday Break by now. Myself, I have already purchased my textbooks for next semester and plan to jump start my reading soon. This has gotten me to begin pondering my New Year’s resolutions. I am truly a very busy person and now that there is a break betwen classes, it’s time to get started on those resolutions while I still have time. Classes begin again on Januray 12th and by that time I’ll have already begun and broke most of my New Year’s resolutions while the rest of you are still at Wal-Mart buying discount exercise equipment. For an overachiever like myself, it’s important to get the resolutions started as soon as possible in order to be the first one to break them.

Everyone has their own resolutions to strive for: stop smoking, floss daily, exercise more, and I am no exception. Every year I strive to take care of myself better and that begins with exercising and losing a few pounds. I know the importance of regular exercise and keeping fit for life, and saying that you are exercising and eating right for your health sounds less vain than saying your jeans have become impossible to zip because you’ve gained ten pounds from the imbibing on copious plates of Christmas cookies.  So starting tomorrow I vow to get thirty minutes of exercise at least four days a week and to watch my consumption  of sugary snacks. By starting my New Year’s resolutions immediately following exam week, you can understand how I can break them prior to the new year even starting. But you’re probably still wondering, Robin, what are these three simple ways? And can I do it too?

My answer to you is, “Of course you can”!! Allow me to explain. Sugar is the only “all-natural” sweetener, and anything all-natural must be good for you. Sugar produces energy. You need energy for exercising.  So my three simple ways to break New Year’s resolutions are (in no particular order):

1) Dunkin Donuts

2) Krispy Kreme

and my all time personal favorite…

3) Ideal Bakery in Gibsonburg, OH

And now, as an overachiever, let me be the first to wish Happy Holidays and a prosperous New Year’s to you and all of your friends and families. I’m off now to let visions of sugar plums dance in my head. (And also the candy canes and gingerbread men and fudge and buckeyes…)

I would like to personally invite everyone to the combined concert of The University of Toledo’s Mens and Women’s Choruses this weekend.

• Sunday, December 14th
• 3:00 PM
• Performing Arts Center
• Recital Hall, Room #1025
• It is free and open to the public

The Men’s Chorus is led by Dr. Stephen Hodge and the Women’s Chorus is led by Dr. William Schwepe. I myself can attest to the fact that I have had a very enjoyable time this semester being led by Dr. Schwepe. The choruses are open to anyone who is interested in joining, no audition required. Practices are held twice a week.

Here are a couple pictures from our last concert taken while we were waiting to go on. So come take a little time out from exams and begin your holidays with us!

I had a busy day Friday after Thanksgiving. After giving an admissions presentation to a group of prospective football players, I watched the rival between the UT Rockets and the BG Falcons from the Marketing & Communication Department’s skybox.

Unfortunately, one would have hoped for more fight from the team being that this was Coach Tom Amstutz’s last game with the Rockets. Sadly, the Rockets were defeated 38-10. Despite this year’s lackluster season, during his career with the Rockets, Amstutz led Toledo to two Mid-American Conference titles in eight seasons and four bowl games in his first five years.

And I suppose you’re wondering about that blood. OK, so it wasn’t one of the players and there was no horrible rioting in the crowd. One of the Falcon’s band members was injured when the wind caught a base drum, causing it to hit him in the head, knocking him nearly unconscious. After some blood, some stitches, and an ambulance ride, he will be okay and is resting at home comfortably this weekend. During the game, I ventured over to the other side to get a pic with the Falcon band members, which includes my daughter Kayla. That’s her on the bottom right.

Yes, everything looks all friendly in the picture, but just remember Falcons, in the event of unfriendly warfare, we do have that rocket pointed directly at your campus… jk

Here’s hoping the newly renovated Savage Hall brings good luck for the basketball season! http://toledo.scout.com/2/780793.html As always, GO ROCKETS!!

With temps in the teens this past weekend, it seems that winter has definitely moved in for the duration, whether I like it or not. It’s seems really mean of Mother Nature to mess with me like this. Just a couple of weeks ago we had unseasonably balmy weather that hit a high of 74 degrees and two days later it was in the 30’s, but I guess that’s Ohio weather for you. Centennial Mall is a great place to hang out regardless of the weather, but on that 74 degree day, I managed to get a few shots of students taking full advantage of the Mall. Check it out:

I just happended to run into Zak out on the Mall and he was happy to pose for me! I love that I can always find someone I know while walking from class to class.

I guess for now I’ll just wrap up a little tighter and frequent the Starbucks in the Union for a cup of hot tea while I wait for those seventy degree days to return to Toledo. Unfortunately, I may be in for a looooong wait!

It’s a beautiful day in my neighborhood! =) Won’t you be my neighbor?

Hello and welcome to my blog! I am excited about being nominated to be one of UT’s student bloggers, because I have so many interesting experiences to share with you about my life here at The University of Toledo.

As well as being a full-time student here at UT, I also spend time hanging out in the admissions office. (Technically I am a recruiter for UT, but the job is so fun, it seems like just hanging out with friends.) The greatest part about the job is being able to do whatever it takes to help other students get accepted into The University of Toledo. On the weekends I also work part-time as a toll collector for the Ohio Turnpike. The best part of that job is that I’m allowed to work on homework in between customers. Gotta love getting paid to do homework!

I earned my first degree in the 1980’s and college life has changed drastically since then. Or maybe I’ve changed drastically. I’ll have to get back to you on that one. I am 44 years old, a full-time student, have 2 part-time jobs, a husband and three kids (two of whom are also attending college), am active in my community as well as here at UT, and still managed to make the National Honor Society. I am what we in the college circuit refer to as an overachieving non-traditional student. The non-traditional part is how UT describes me — the overchieving part would be how all my friends describe me. (Ok, actually most of them say crazy, but there’s a fine line between overachieving and being crazy.) 

As a non-traditional student from a VERY small town, I was a little hesitant about attending a fairly large four year university. The student population at UT is 21 TIMES the size of the entire town I grew up in and I assumed everyone here would be twenty some years younger than me, but finishing my bachelor’s degree was something I really wanted to do, so I dove in head first.

Gladly, I’d like to report that my experience here at UT has been beyond what I expected. There are actually other students here who are my age and even the younger students are happy to include me. The faculty has been unbelieveably supportive when I have felt overwhelmed, and trust me, with the schedule I keep, overwhelming is the one word I most often use to describe my life. But as my grandma always says to me, “What would your life be without a little drama?” She thinks drama follows me around.

So I guess I would say that, no matter who you are, where you come from, or what your age, UT is ready and willing to accept you and help you put your best foot forward. I have been not only accepted into, but highly encouraged to get involved in the on-campus opportunites that UT has available  (such as this blogging project), and I would have to say without a doubt, that the warmth and encouragement of everyone here has made all the difference in the world in my experience and my feeling of belonging. And believe it or not, the campus really is easy to get around!

During my blogging, I hope to tell you all that The University of Toledo has to offer (good and bad) to me and to every student who attends here. So please, venture back to my blog from time to time. I hope you find it informative as well as entertaining! And that’s no song and dance…