Honorary Chairs Mike and Carol Anderson

Timothy Shew with Linda and Dr. Robert Helmer

Todd Matteson, Assistant Professor of Art and his wife Leah

Wednesday, April 30, 2008 10:33:15 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

It is absolutely beautiful outside and I am stuck in a basement computer room at the hospital working on my ECCO (Essentials of Critical Care Orientation).  Yes, I should be paying attention, but it's a web-based program that has a voice with a speech impediment.  Not that I am knocking anyone who has one, but to listen to a woman with a weird New England-type accent mispronounce words for roughly four hours at a time--I mean, really, come on now.

I am counting down the hours--it's been about 2 1/2 and I have another 1 1/2 to go, but there are so many better things I could be doing right now.  Like being outside.  And going for a cruise.  And getting some ice cream from some little hole in the wall roadside place.  And walking through a park.  And feeding some ducks/geese.  And I could go on and on, but alas I will not as this blog could easily become a list of the things I would do right now if I were not stuck in this room the size of a broom closet. 

And I digress...

I just finished my rotation on another unit this week and on Monday I start anew yet again.  Only now I'm on nights.  Yippee ki ay.  And yes, there is a lot of sarcastic enthusiasm there.  But I guess it's not that bad.  It's really the issue of working on the unit from 7p-3a and then sitting in front of a computer from 3a-7a to work on ECCO.  I tried it for an hour yesterday morning and I was ready to curl up in an empty hospital bed somewhere.  So I left and have to make up my hours on my day off.  Sure, I was off yesterday, but my plans to be here were thwarted by the fact that I had to drive to Findlay to pick up my brother from the hospital (nothing serious).  So that took up a few minutes of my time.  Then, he was hungry, had to return something to Best Buy, yadda yadda, and I'm like, seriously dude, you got a shot of morphine so let's get you home.  When all was said and done, I had no time left to come here. 

But here I am today.  And I'm so over it already.  Being alone in this room with nothing but a computer (cell phones don't work down here) really makes a person's thoughts wander. 

I have to make a hair appointment. 

Will the hospital track me down if they find out I'm surfing bored.com?  

Why doesn't environmental services come and clean up this room more often? 

I can't believe that I missed Top Chef this week. 

Did I set my DVR for Degrassi tonight? 

I'm hungry. 

I think I will bring in some pictures to hang on these stark white walls.  Maybe one of a kitten and one of the Care Bears. 

I wonder how old the printer in here is? 

I miss my dude.  

Oh oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh oh, the right stuff... 

Why is it that you can't get a fabulous cell phone signal in the Franklin Park Mall? 

I think I have to use the restroom.  Maybe not.

We can dance if we want to, we can leave your friends behind...

It's nonstop random thoughts.  How does one deal?  Maybe I should just go back to listening so I can get it done.  There's a thought!

Friday, April 25, 2008 3:37:09 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [2] | 

 This semester is kicking my butt! I'm a good student - solid g.p.a., minimum absences, prepared and organized... but this semester has been rough right out of the box. I am hoping that my g.p.a. won't nose-dive too badly, but man, I feel like I am on shaky ground in all but one class (thank, Jim, for not killing me in Interviewing, LOL).  I don't know why. Well, OK, the absences were because of the flu. But that doesn't explain why I wasn't prepared and organized in classes. Why I tended to doodle rather than take notes. Why I barely glanced at my text books.

 So I am facing next semester classes, and I am hoping that my current antipathy can be cured by a long summer. I'm taking Lit, which I should enjoy, since I love to read more than almost anything else. I am taking an Ethics class, which I find interesting. I am taking Nutrition, which I know I enjoy the instructor, so I'll be fine - a good instructor can hold my interest in any class, no matter how boring I find the material. And then I a taking something else, I don't remember what right off-hand. Yeah, I'm pretty apathetic!

 If I can survive and stay on task the next 2 weeks, I'll be fine (I hope). But man, 2 weeks has never looked so long before! I need a break. We are moving this summer, and renting out our current home, so I am not sure how much of a break I will actually have. Hopefully the move will go smoothly, we'll find great tenants, and everything will be perfect! Otherwise, I may come into next semester with my current level of burn-out, which doesn't bode well for those classes either.

 I have papers to write. I better get to it. Sigh.

Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:48:52 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [1] | 

Happy Earth Day from the Environmental Awareness Committee!  Earth Day provides a perfect opportunity to evaluate the impact our choices and behaviors have on the environment.  The following tips can help you take steps to protect the health of our planet (and save money on energy costs, too).

Earth Day Tips:

• Reduce your carbon footprint: take the bus, carpool, walk, or bike whenever possible to avoid using your car. Take this Carbon Footprint Quiz to learn more.
• Recycle!  Recyclable materials include milk jugs, plastic soda bottles, laundry detergent bottles, aluminum and steel cans, and all colors of glass bottles and jars, newspapers, magazines, phone books, and junk mail.  Use these links to learn more about recycling programs in Toledo and Sylvania.
• At the office, remember to recycle paper instead of throwing it out (paper recycling bins for faculty and staff are located in the mail room area).
• Only use the printer when necessary, and when printing use both sides of the page.
• Don't throw out your old computer -- recycle it!  Goodwill's Reconnect program now accepts donations of old computers and computer parts. The service is free, and keeps harmful chemicals from entering local streams and soil.
• Switch to energy-saving light bulbs, which use up to 75% less energy than standard light bulbs...or better yet, rely on natural light during the day.
• Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth and limit shower time.
• Buy local! Buying local not only benefits the local economy, but it also reduces the use of transportation (and gas) used in shipping out of town materials. Find out where to buy local at www.toledochooselocal.com.
• Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.
• Hang laundry out to dry instead of using the dryer.
• Rather than writing checks and stuffing envelopes each month, switch to online billing and reduce the paperwork associated with your bank and credit card accounts.
• Rent books and magazines from the library instead of purchasing them.
• In winter, turn your heater down a few degrees and bundle up; in the summer, only use the air conditioning when necessary.
• Instead of packing your lunch in plastic bags, opt for reusable containers.
• Bring your own bags to the grocery or retail store.
• Reduce your consumption of meat and dairy -- not only will you lower your cholesterol, but you will help reduce water pollution and land devastation.
• Buy organic! Help reduce pollution from chemicals.

In the spirit of St. Francis, the Environmental Awareness Committee believes in the importance of reverencing all creation and working for the sustainability of planet Earth. 

The purpose of this campus-wide committee is to:

• Coordinate campus-wide recycling efforts;
• Educate the entire campus on:

1. Recycling
2. The use of ‘green’ products
3. Energy conservation

• Promote environmentally friendly behavioral changes.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 9:20:18 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

The first week of photo shoots begins today. A total of 20 esteemed faculty will have their photos taken today. Feel free to stop by and watch your faculty pose for the camera. We are in SJH 110 from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. today.

Tomorrow, we will begin taking photos of those students who volunteered. Remember, if you volunteer, you get a gift certificate to the book store.

Share your stories about your favorite instructors.

Catch you later.

Monday, April 21, 2008 8:28:29 AM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [0] | 

Things are going well.  I am ahead on the rest of my schoolwork that is due this semester.  All I have to worry about is one exam in each class.  I became aware of my purpose in life last week.  I am also starting a new job this week.

I will be serving at Olive Garden.  I think this will actually turn out to be a better place than Ground Round.  They've got medical, dental, and vision insurance.  They will match me up to 6% on a 401K.  I get 25% off at any Olive Garden, Lonestar, Red Lobster, Bahama Mama (they have one in Cincy - I've eaten there a couple of times) in the US for groups up to 8 people.  There are hundreds of other little perks too.  They also have a discrimination policy that covers sexual orientation. 

So, once I get settled, everyone come to Olive Garden and give me all your money :)

The new SGA officers will be announced tomorrow.  I'm a little nervous, but it's all good.  There were some great people running this year.  The SGA Inaugural Ball is this Friday.

The Day of Silence activities also kick off this week.  I've got to head over to Tim's to help him put these pictures together. 

I have to go to the Student and Alumni Connection meeting on May 1st.  I guess someone nominated me for Alumni of the Year.  Yes, technically, I'm an alumna, but I don't really consider myself one.

Then I have the Sigma Alpha Pi Induction Ceremony on May 12th.  On May 14th is the Annual Awards Ceremony - I guess I'm nominated for something there too.  Then, the 17th is Commencement.  Oh yeah - the SGA and Prism meetings are in there too.  Almost forgot that I also have classes as well.....

Wow.

Is it bad that I'm more worried about how to make it to all of these events than concentrating on my finals?

Sunday, April 20, 2008 12:56:59 PM (Atlantic Standard Time, UTC-04:00)    Comments [8] |