Before my time at Lourdes College, I was a teacher for two years.  I always refer to it as a lifetime ago, which I know sounds crazy for someone who will be turning 30 in April (which I will save for another blog), but it really does feel like a lifetime ago.  I taught Calculus and Social Studies, and for those of you who have met me, most of you know my true passion (besides education and baseball) will always be in History.  I read History books, I watch the History channel, I subscribe to different Historical magazines.  And don't get me started talking about it, I won't shut up.  So when I came across this on Yahoo today, I had to share it with everyone.  I think it is so cool and I'm actually already planning my trip to Washington, DC.  And I'm sure after everyone sees this, they will too!  When I was little I actually wanted to be a cartographer.  I'm surprised I didn't get beat up.  Anyway, enjoy!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/ts_nm/usa_map_dc

Tuesday, December 04, 2007 11:33:53 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

In a different life, before my position at Lourdes College, I was a teacher.  I taught Calculus and Social Studies.  Education has always been important to me, so I'm excited to see that Lourdes College is offering a new class called "INTRODUCTION TO THEATRE."  The Instructor is Keith Ramsdell (for those of you who don't know, he's one of my favorite people on campus), and it is on Thursday nights from 5:30-8:00 pm.  The class is 3 semester hours and it is part of The Department of Language and Literature, so the class is listed as ENG 299.  The course is to help students develop an appreciation for the theatre and an understanding of how the theatre works.  This class counts as an elective toward most degree programs and there are no pre-req for this class.  And like I said, this is taught by Keith Ramsdell who is an excellent teacher and theatre is one of his passions, so this is going to be an awesome class.  If you would like more information, please contact me and I will pass your name along to Keith, or you can contact him directly at 419-517-8881 or kramsdell@lourdes.edu.  This class is offered in the spring, so hurry now and register!  Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007 7:00:27 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

I haven't blogged in awhile, because I haven't had a good topic to blog on.  Not that this topic is good by any means, but I thought it was blog worthy :) 

Besides baseball and running, one of my favorite things to do in my spare time is reading.  I will read anything I can get my hands on, my two favorite things to read are historical books and mysteries.  One author I read quite frequently is James Patterson.  He is a best seller, most of his books being mysteries.  He has wrote a series that has been dubbed "The Women's Murder Club."  It is probably one of my favorite series he has written, so when I found out that ABC was making a tv series out of it, I was pretty excited. 

I don't watch a lot of tv.  I never have time.  Of course I have a couple of favorite shows, like Lost and How I Met Your Mother.  If you have never seen Lost, do yourself a favor and watch the best show ever made.  I have never been so addicted to a tv show.  Since it doesn't return until February, I'm going through a bit of a with-drawl.  Anyway, like I said, I saw the preview for The Women's Murder Club, so I made a point to catch it.  It's just getting over and I must say I'm pretty disappointed.  The books are way better.  I couldn't put down the books, but this show....eh...if I happen to catch it again, maybe I will watch it, but it doesn't make the list.  It seems like most movies or tv shows that were once books are never as good as the actual book.  I wonder why that is? 

In other news, I'm going home to Bay City on Thursday.  My dad is having surgery on Friday.  I feel like I need to be there for him.  I had a back fusion about two years ago and he was there for me.  Through the WHOLE thing.  And when I say whole thing, I mean the last 10 years.  Surgery was a last resort for me, so I have been trying to find a cure for a herniated disc for a about ten years.  He took me to every doctor appointment, every physical therapy sessions, more steroid injections then I care to remember, and a lot of "experimental stuff."  Finally the pain was too much, nothing was working, so I found the best neurologist in Michigan and had a fusion.  Pain?  Pfff....I didn't know what pain was until I woke up from surgery.  I'm nervous for him.  I know it is a very routine surgery (he has a pinched nerve in his neck), but I do know that he will be in a lot of pain when he wakes up.  He has the same doctor that I had so I know he's in good hands.  But please keep him in your prayers :)

Anyway, I know my blog was kind of lame, but that's the great things about blogs, you can write whatever you want.  This coming week I will have a really interesting blog though.  We have some really cool classes that are being offered at Lourdes, such as drama, so I will give you all the details, so stay tuned!!

Friday, October 12, 2007 10:03:44 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

I haven't blogged in a few weeks because really I have had nothing come to mind to blog on, plus Admissions has been extremely busy as we made our way to the fall semester, however, something made me upset today and I had to get it out of my system.

Everyone that knows me or has ever been to my office, knows what a baseball fan I am.  And I am not one of those baseball band wagon fans that just became a fan last year when the Tigers started doing well and went out and bought a pink Tiger hat.  No way, I'm not that girl.  I have been a fan since I can remember.  I was at Tiger Stadium for game 5 in 1984 to see Alan Trammell and the Tigers win the World Series and I was at Comerica Park when the Tigers came dangerously close to breaking the record for the most losses in a season in 2003 with 119 losses.  I haven't missed an opening day since I was six.  And every spring I watch game 5 of the 1984 World Series on DVD to get pumped up for the season.  I cried in 2005 when the Tigers fired Alan Trammell and cried again last fall when the Tigers lost the World Series.  I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried either, after all, baseball is my passion, and sometimes your passion gets you worked up right?  One thing is for sure, I'm no band wagon fan.

So the other day when I was going through my mail I noticed I had a letter from the Detroit Tigers.  I was so excited like a little kid at Christmas.  I knew it was my letter for playoff tickets.  Since I'm a season ticket holder, I get the chance to purchase tickets for all three rounds of playoffs.  I tear open my letter to see where my seats are.  Since I'm not a full season ticket holder, I don't get to sit where I normally sit.  My season tickets are right on third baseline, 17 rows up.  They are a little more money, but worth it.  Now like I said, I don't have a full package, so I know I won't be sitting in my usual seats, I will probably be over a section, just like I was for opening day.  I open the letter and I can't believe what I'm seeing, I'm positive it's a misprint.  Section 325...what in the world?  This can't be right.  My section is 139.  I can't sit in 325.  I have never sit in upper deck in my entire life.  I am positive this is a misprint, it must be 125 or something.  So I call the Detroit Tigers sales office to find out what is going on.  The guy on the phone tells me that this isn't a misprint, and my seats are in 325.  How can this be?  And here is what I did not know and I'm sure what a lot of fans didn't know.  Major League Baseball (MLB) comes in and takes HALF the tickets in Comerica Park which holds roughly 43,000.  So they take over 20,000 tickets and give them away to important people, like if a celeberity wants to go to the game, they get a ticket, or a big wig at GM wants to go, they get a ticket.  I am so mad, I can't even speak.  I paid $1400 in season tickets and now another $750 in playoff tickets to sit in the upper deck, while some who doesn't even care about the Tigers is sitting in my nice close seat??  Why can't MLB take the tickets in the upper deck for crying out loud?  Why can't they sit their important people up there.  That's just not how it's done I was told.  So here is how I see it.  The fans, who support their team by buying the tickets are getting the shaft.  Basically they are telling me that they don't care about their fans.  We are not important enough to sit in the good seats.  I sure do give the guy an earfull on the phone.  I know he doesn't care, but it makes me feel a little better.

I have to admit, I do get worked up rather easy about things I care about, like this.  I'm a lot like my dad.  I call him "angry old man."  He's turning into one of those old men who get worked up about everything.  Then he starts banning places.  We can't shop at Target, eat at Red Lobster, subscribe to the Bay City Times newspaper, buy a vehicle made by Chevy, stay at a Holiday Inn...you get the idea.  At one time or another, somebody did something from one of these places that made my dad mad, and he called and complained.  So maybe I'm a lot like him.  But I honestly think I have a valid point here.  What do you think?  I am turning into Dick Bishop Jr. or would you be mad too?

Tuesday, September 18, 2007 9:54:33 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [3] | 

You know what the best thing about having your own blog is?  You can blog about anything you want.  I can write about anything that comes to mind.  I have to admit, not all my Lourdes blogs will be about Lourdes and Admissions.  From time to time I will throw in a blog about something I feel that is important.  Today is one of those days. 

For those of you who have spent any amount of time with me, you know I am a huge baseball fan and my favorite team is the Detroit Tigers.  Lets be honest, my office looks like a Detroit Tigers gift shop.  I simply can't describe the feeling I get when I walk into a baseball stadium.  It's like a rush.  I know it probably sounds crazy to you, but that is just how passionate I am about baseball.  It is one of my life goals to hit every ballpark before I die.  I have been a fan since the early 80's when my dad would take us to games at Tigers Stadium.  I was actually at a play off game in 84'.  But that was back when baseball was about the game and the love for the game, not the shady game it has become today.

Today baseball plagued by outrageous player salaries, dirty umpires, giant player egos, the whole Yankee organization in general, the ridiculous prices for tickets AND concessions at stadiums, etc.  I could go on forever, but the big problem in baseball is...you guessed, steroids. 

Steroids in my mind is basically another word for cheating and it's why I'm so fired up tonight.  Barry Bonds tied Hank Aaron's home run record of 755 home runs tonight.   Which sounds pretty hard to do right?  Well it shouldn't be when you are a cheater.  Of course Bonds denies steroid use, which I think is absurd.  Have you ever seen pictures of him before he got good?  He was just your average size baseball player.  Now you look at him and his head looks like a giant pumpkin up there.  And his neck is the size of my waist.  You just don't get that big working out.  It's impossible.  He said that he never "knowingly" took steroids.  Question...who doesn't know what they are putting into their body?  Is that kind of like when Lindsay Lohan was caught with cocaine in her pocket and she they weren't her pants and she didn't know who's pants they were?  I know I often don't know who's pants I'm wearing.  Seriously do people realize how absolutely stupid they sound?  What makes me SO mad about this whole thing is that Bonds is celebrating like he is a hero.  He is acting like he didn't cheat.  What kind of message is he sending to kids?  So my  question is when Bonds is listed in the record books, will there be a little asterisk next to his name and at the bottom of the page it will say **yeah he broke the home run record, but he did it by cheating.  And what makes me even more upset is that baseball is just letting him continue to play like nothing has happened.  I don't understand why no one is putting a stop to this.  How can you knowingly let a player cheat?  How can we take Hank Aaron's record away from him by some big cheater? 

I know to many of you this probably seems so silly to get worked up about, but that's just me.  I get worked up about the injustices of in the world.  Do not even get me started on health care.  We could be here all day.  And I know this seems like a small injustice, but it's baseball....America's favorite pastime, and it's turning into a circus. 

As much as I love baseball, I will not step foot in the Baseball Hall of Fame.  The Baseball Hall of Fame banned Pete Rose from ever being voted in.  Why?  For cheating?  No.  Not even close.  They will not let him in because he bet on baseball games.  That's it.  He did not cheat, he did not fix games, he simply placed bets.  And now he's banned for life.  Until Pete Rose is voted in, I will not ever see the hall of fame.  And I'm sure now that Bonds has tied and will likely break the record, he will be voted in.  Is this right?  I sure don't think so.  Thoughts?  Comments?  Am I being to hard on Bonds?  Should he be banned from the hall of fame and baseball entirely?  What do you think?  I would love to hear. 

Kelly

Sunday, August 05, 2007 12:08:36 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

Now that I have introduced myself in my profile and forewarned you about my blogs, this is my first real blog.  I know you are excited.

Are you currently a student at Owens and you would like to transfer to Lourdes but you are confused about the process?  Don't worry, you are in luck and there is still time before fall semester starts!  There are a couple of ways you could transfer from Owens, of course you could apply online or we could send you an application in the mail, but if you are looking for that personal one on one attention that Lourdes is well known for, you need to go see Robin Riley-Casey (or RC as we call her).  RC is actually housed right at Owens, yes right at Owens.  Could we make it any easier  for you?  RC works for Lourdes College, but her office is at Owens.  That way Owens students can stop by in between classes and get the information they need.  Not only will you be able to apply when you meet with RC, but she can also tell you what you really want to know......WHAT TRANSFERS TO LOURDES.  Oh yes it's true.  She will be able to go over your Owens transcripts with you and tell you what transfers and what you have left to take at Lourdes and then set you up an appointment to register.  It's like a one stop shop!  Not only can RC do all that, but if you are not sure of what you want to major in, she can also discuss different options with you and lead you down a career path that is right for you. 

Not only can RC do all this for you, but she is also one of the most amazing people you will ever meet.  She is extremely passionate about education and helping students.  You could not ask for a better advisor (well of course except for me :)  She will do everything in her power to help you succeed.  I would attach a picture of her if I had one so you would know what she looks like, but she probably wouldn't like that, and she could totally take me if she wanted too   Now how can you see RC?  You can either stop by and see her, or you can call and make an appointment.  Of course she takes walk-ins, but she tends to get busy, especially this time of year so making an appointment is a good idea!  Her office is CH 130  at Owens.  You could email her at rcasey@lourdes.edu or call at (567) 661-2566.  So what are you waiting for, transferring from Owens couldn't be easier!   

Now if Lourdes is actually closer to you than Owens, of course you could stop by and see me.  Or if you would like to apply online, you could do that as well at http://www.lourdes.edu/future_students/?s=9.  If you like paper applications instead of online applications, please do not hesitate to call me at 419-824-3917, and I can send you one right away.  We will need your transcripts from Owens or any colleges you have attended, and we can certainly request those for you.  However if you are looking to start in fall, you might want to get those as soon as you can to speed up the admissions process. 

Don't forget, classes start August 27th, so either stop by and see RC, or give me a call so we can make you part of the Lourdes family today

Kelly

Friday, August 03, 2007 11:13:18 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

I have often used the phrase in the Office of Admissions, "I am not good with the words."  I have to admit, I am a terrible writer.  Every time someone asks me to write an article, newsletter, important email, etc., I pretend that I didn't hear them, that way I don't have to do it.  I have a hard time putting my thought down on paper (or blogs).  So when I was asked to blog, I was quite surprised, but excited.  I think blogging is going to be fun and I think being a recent college grad, I can relate to a lot of Lourdes students and what they are going through.  Trust me, I went through it too in college.  So if you can put up with my rants, my terrible misspellings, grammar, and a lot of digressing, you will enjoy my blog.  If there is anything you would like me to blog on, please leave a comment or email me at kreichert@lourdes.edu. 

Stay tuned and enjoy!

Wednesday, August 01, 2007 9:56:17 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Inside Admissions is a new Faculty and Staff Blogger!

Monday, July 23, 2007 10:04:28 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] |