UC Celebration at Patriot Days!

On April 16, there was the UC Celebration for Patriot Days. When I saw the flyer talking about the mini food show and the caricature artist, I got ridiculously excited. Freshman year, we had an artist who would draw people’s backsides! I love the variety of events that UT Tyler brings to our campus. There was so much great energy in the UC.

#no filter #foodie

-I stood in line and got some Ciobani Greek Yogurt, along with some delicious Arizona tea. There was some really neat food, like the potato balls. Those made me so excited, but when I got up there, they were all gone. That means that they must have been absolutely delicious!

Land in a spot and get a discount? Don't mind if I do!

-One of my favorite things was the Bookstore Twister game. I saw brightly colored spots on the ground with different percentages. The point of the game was to throw the eagle and have it land on a discount spot. My aim was so great that I got a 20% discount off any item in the bookstore!

Always say yes to a free smoothie and t-shirt

-There was also a Fitness Expo, where we got a ‘passport’ with different fitness challenges like flexibility and vertical jumps. If you completed all of the fitness checks, you got a stamp in each category. I found out that when you get all the stamps from each station, you could win a free t-shirt! Also, there were free smoothies. I was completely sold. I love smoothies!

Noms for Humanity!

-Humans vs. Zombies registration is up and running! They were having a bake sale in the hallway by the One Stop Shop. With treats like cookie brownies, cheese biscuits, and brain shaped jelly cupcakes, it is clear who the favored winner is. Grab your Nerf gun and get ready to fight for humanity! 

It was so great to see so many people celebrating in one place and being excited to be patriots. Nothing brings people together like free food and loud music (: If you missed it this semester, that's okay! There will be another one next semester and it is going to be fun too!

Cosplay, Fandoms, and Getting Involved-Oh My!

Everyone has a “thing” that makes their eyes widen and their mouths go a mile a minute. For some people, it’s Dr. Who, for others it’s Supernatural, and so on and so forth. So many fandoms and so little time! How do you find where you belong? The best advice I can offer is to get involved, whether it is with a trusted friend or a full blown convention of your choice. The sky is the limit and it is all about what you are comfortable with.

I never knew how true this was until I went on my fandom vision quest!

How To Reach Others Part 1

Lets all say it all together - our world is a much smaller place thanks to technology like Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, Google Hangouts, Skype, and our cell/smart-phones. While the format might be small you can open a blogger from your phone, upload pictures of yourself, post to the internet, and let people you care about know about things that matter to you. Still, this proposal can seem like a veritable whale to eat all by yourself. How can you best reach others? How can you make the best use of your technological abilities?

Spring Break Guide to Podcasting

Hey everyone! Well, for most of the students at the University of Texas at Tyler, our Spring Break period has come to and end. What then,dear reader, does this mean I was doing the whole time? Well, one thing I have always loved has been audio podcasts. What is a podcast? Many might know them as a series of audio or video productions released over a series of time as a means to cover some particular subject.

UT Tyler Celebrates Holi!

While most everyone was celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and pinching each other for not wearing green, there was an entirely different celebration taking place Monday! This colorful Indian holiday is known as the Holi, a celebration of the end of winter, love and unity, and the triumph of good over evil. It is celebrated by tossing vibrant paint powder all over each other, dancing to special Holi music, and eating traditional food. On March 17, 2014, The University of Texas at Tyler celebrated had their first annual campus Holi festival on the patio by the Met!

From India, with Love  

Celebrating St. Patrick's day with UT Tyler!

My English Literature Professor likes to tease me about wearing a lot of green. I’m not sure why he thinks I wear an abnormally large amount of it, because I don’t think I do, but it does happen to be my favorite color. Add that to his occasional commentary about my Irish heritage, and you get a loud reminder that “my” holiday is coming up. Of course he was referring to Saint Patrick’s Day, which does happen to be one of the more exciting and fun cultural holidays to celebrate! I’ll even tell you where to find some fun public celebrations, if you’re interested. Want to learn a little bit about what March 17^th is all about? Stick around and I’ll share some facts and history with you! 

I feel like this is what my professor expects...

Most of what people know about Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17^th is that it’s all about Irish things and wearing green. You might have been one of those unfortunate souls who has forgotten to wear a green item that day and got chased around and pinched by your friends at school. No? Okay, maybe that was just my school, then… Anyway, there’s more to this day than just wearing green, talking about the Irish icons, and maybe doing age appropriate celebrations at special restaurants.

One interesting subject is the person the day is named after: Saint Patrick himself! Here are a few fun facts about him:

Saint Patrick

• He is the patron Saint of Ireland, who is credited with bringing Christianity (esp. Catholicism) to the island country and is considered a national apostle.
• He actually was not the first person to bring Christianity to Ireland but he spread it around the most
• It is said that he is attributed with driving all snakes off the island when he came, though snakes have never lived on the island.
• The above fact might actually be related to him converting pagans to Christianity, with snakes being symbolic for the pagan religions.
• He has chapels dedicated to him all over the western world, including ones in New York City, Dublin, Glastonbury (England), and Toowoomba (Australia).
• One theory about the  reason for the date this holiday is celebrated is that people believe it to be the day St. Patrick died.

As I said before, most people celebrate the day by maybe wearing some green, attending age-appropriate parties, and wishing your friend good luck. That’s not all people do to celebrate, though, especially if you’re near a large Irish population! Here is a list of traditional things that people might enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day at a festival:

This kitten is ready to party

• Dancing! The Irish love to dance and you can often find places in larger cities that hold events where you can learn and partake in some of the fun folk dances. ( I’ve done it before and it was a blast!)
• Listening and playing some traditional and modern Irish tunes
• Offering prayers for missionaries and loved ones and taking some time for introspection
• Parades. Doesn’t everyone love a lively parade?!
• Enjoying traditional Irish drinks and dishes. I promise, this culture’s hearty food is exceptionally tasty!
• Attending a Mass before celebration, especially in Ireland where it is an important national holiday.
• Buying things associated with green, gold, leprechauns, luck, and especially the shamrock. The shamrock is so iconic for this day because St. Patrick chose it as a symbol. This was mainly because of the traditional three leaves, symbolizing the holy trinity.

If you’re interested in getting your celebration on for St. Patrick's Day (the weekend just before as it falls on a Monday), here are some places that offer celebrations.

In Texas: Dallas is offering a few fun things: Ludacris headlining the St. Patrick’s Day concert and Dallas Mavericks St. Patrick’s day Parade and Festival (I think I went to the Mavericks event two years ago and it was so much fun!). Houston also hosts a parade and festival. Apparently, there is a huge memorial and celebration for Saint Patrick’s Day held in the Alamo in San Antonio as well.

New Orleans, Louisiana (AKA Party Central) also has a huge number of events and celebrations going on around town, including several different parades, block parties, market festivals, and other things.

If you can’t get out of Tyler or off campus but still want to celebrate with your friends, you can always look up some delicious traditional Irish recipies and go to class in your most festive green outfits you can find. I know if I don’t, my English Literature professor will be very disappointed. 

A special on campus celebration note: We will be having a Holi Celebration (Indian Spring Festival) that day. For more info, you can check out the CAB Events page here!

Random Holiday Calendar: Start Your Year With Cheer!

Let me be one of the first to congratulate you on making it through a week of hardcore celebration between Christmas and New Year’s! Good job! Don’t relax yet, though, because a brand new year of celebrations has just begun. That’s right, it’s time to ring in the new year with a list of crazy holidays to celebrate. As always, for your celebration convenience, I have listed celebration options for each day. So, if you’re not partied out yet or you’ve resolved to make this year a year of fun and celebration, let’s ring in the New Year with some extra fun!

If you’re more into the month-long events, check these out:

• Soup Month
• Tea Month (A personal favorite)
• Be Kind to Food Servers Month (though you should do this ALL the time)

January 1st: Happy New Year! First Foot Day and Emancipation Proclamation Day are also today

January 2^nd: Cream Puff Day or Science Fiction Day

January 3^rd: For the sleep-deprived there is Festival of Sleep day; for you more active types, celebrate today with Fruitcake Toss Day

January 4^th:  National Trivia Day or World Braille Day

January 5^th: National Bird Day

January 6^th:  Cuddle Up Day

January 7^th: 225^th Anniversary of the First Presidential Election

January 8^th: Bubble Bath Day

January 9^th: Static Electricity Day

January  10: Houseplant Appreciation Day

January  11^th:  Step in a Puddle and Splash Your Friend's Day

January 12^th: Feast of Fabulous Wild Men Day (…Not even sure guys.)

January 13^th: Rubber Ducky Day (or Skeptics Day for those of you who are not sure about this)

January 14^th: Dress Up Your Pet Day or Organize Your Home Day

January 15^th: National Hat Day

January 16^th: National Nothing Day

January 17^th: Ditch New Year’s Resolutions Day

January 18^th: Winnie the Pooh Day (I firmly support this)

January 19^th: National Popcorn Day

January 20^th: Martin Luther King Day and International Acceptance Day

January 21^st:  Hugging Day! also, Squirrel Appreciation Day

January 22^nd: Answer Your Cat’s Questions Day (or maybe you’d like Celebrate Life Day if you’re not a cat person)

January 23^rd: Pi Day! And Handwriting Day

January 24^th: Talk Like A Grizzled Prospector Day

January 25^th: (Not) Opposite Day

January 26^th: Spouses Day (or Peanut Brittle Day for us single folk)

January 27^th: Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day (appreciate your chocolate cake today too while you’re at it)

January 28^th: Fun at Work Day

January 29^th: Freethinkers Day. Or Corn Chip Day, whichever you prefer. Maybe you can freely ponder your corn chips.

January 30^th: National Inane Answering Message Day

January 31^st: Backward Day

Because... I have no idea.

Celebrate, y’all! And remember, if you actually do celebrate any of these, you should comment here and tell us about your experience.

The Desolation of Smaug Review

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – Fun or Dysfunctional?

               The Hobbit as a fun, silly novel that is filled with adventure and light-hearted tomfoolery. While the novel does not easily connect well with The Lord of the Rings, it is hard now to talk about The Hobbit and the LotR Trilogy without connection to the other.

Frozen film review

   Disney and their animated films have been a staple for countless children growing up over decades. The quality of some films has waxed and waned every few years, but as a whole the House of Mouse has released what has to be considered the penultimate American animation features going back generations. While their entry into the field of CGI has been fraught with hits and misses, Frozen is a film that guarantees to please those who wants something new to watch with the family as well as those looking for Disney to continue their efforts into CGI.

Random Holidays, December Edition

Okay, so I messed up. I didn't bring you the holiday joy in November, and I am very sorry for that. It was a busy month. Plus I figured that with all of the preparation for usual holidays and college finals, you guys might not have as much time to celebrate. My excuses are terrible.

I know, I know. ;__;

But I'm here when it counts! For those of you who think Christmas (25th), Hanukkah (Nov 27-Dec 5th), and Kwanzaa (Dec 26th- Jan 1st) are too mainstream and that New Years celebrations are for the lily-livered (or you wait to celebrate with another calender), I'm here to offer you good news. There is a solution. For you holiday hipsters and chronic revelers alike, here's a brand new list of December Holidays to consider celebrating, (and please remember to eat your sweets in moderation):

Hipster Santa

Fizzing out on treats!

                As young adults we sometimes forget how it was to be a kid; to let loose, have fun, and enjoy every moment. But there is one place where your memories as a kid can come back and you become full of joy and cheer once you’re inside. This place is Rocket Fizz!!!

Ender's Game --- Hit or Miss?

 
  I was lucky enough to have gotten to see the film Ender's Game this past weekend. How was it? Considering I grew up with the novel by Orson Scott Card which was released in the mid-80's I'd have to say it was rather good. For starters the whole premise of the book is amusing - kids use videogames to train for fighting off genuine aliens who will soon attack Earth.

The Magic of Music

   Nothing perhaps encapsulates so much about the American college system like Patriot Idol. For those who do not know, Patriot Idol is one event that makes up the tapestry of Homecoming celebrations. Homecoming, much like how an Emperor would return to Rome in glory, sees current students and faculty engage in events to commemorate/celebrate alumni, current students, and the University of Texas at Tyler itself.

October Noms: Random Holiday Calender at UT Tyler

This is me and October!

Hey guys! It’s that time again! I’m back with my month segment, Random Holiday Calender. This month, we’re in for the quintessential pumpkin days, with all of the delicious sweets and spooks that come with Halloween! Who doesn’t love the cooling air, the harvest moons, and the new fashion statements that come with the first full month of autumn? Okay, okay. Not everyone shares the enthusiasm, I understand.

This could be you...?

Maybe you don’t like spooks and sweets for some reason. Maybe the coming cold weather makes you feel  like a hibernating bear. You know what? That’s okay! There’s 30 more holidays to celebrate this October to keep you joyful!

September Tomfoolery: Random Holiday Calender

Hey everybody, it’s nice to talk to you guys again! It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in touch because I’ve been doing the behind-the-scenes work on this blog here at The University of Texas at Tyler and avoiding writing like the plague since the massive writing explosion I had back in May. That involved working three blogs and having two or three essays each week for a little over a month… Yeah. It’s a tiring business.

BUT HEY! I’m here to start back up with the Random Holiday Calendar (Yes, I’m naming it now) which started back in February, for the month of September. So if Labor Day, Yom Kippur, or Sukkot celebrations just aren’t cutting it, don’t panic. September has lots of random tomfoolery to celebrate!

Getting Your Geek On – The Changing Shape of Nerdiness on Campus

Getting Your Geek On PT. 1 – The Changing Shape of Nerdiness on Campus

   While I write this I am seated closely to one UT Student/Employee who likes the TV series called The Legend of Korra. I am also seated close to some fellow co-writers who play video games, some who go and watch the bigger Super Hero films when they are released, and I have even worked with cosplay-lovers.

   We are a fairly awesome staff, but more importantly? We are UT Tyler students and we are a rather mixed group of ages, backgrounds, interests, and even ethnic origins. Can we be viewed as a microcosm for the University of Texas at Tyler Campus as a while? Well, not exactly – our numbers are balanced out to support our capacity as a diverse writing/blogging/call team, where-as University of Texas at Tyler has a more skewed range of students per college. Still, we all represent a great ‘slice’ of what University of Texas at Tyler is.

   One of the thing I can say about the group of people I work with now is that they are very unlike the kinds of people I remember hanging out with as a kid, particularly around when I was in the 10-13 range. These people are popular ( one has a band, some go to debate tourneys, some have represented University of Texas at Tyler  etc… ) and yet they also each have hobbies and passions that ( once upon a time ) were not as popular.

   Using myself as an example, I remember when the trend of simply playing video games was not nearly as widely acceptable as it is now. While the popularity of gaming has not caused their prices to lower ( an argument for another time ), everybody plays some kind of game now, somewhere – Facebook, mobile phones, consoles, PCs, etc…  Things which were once exclusively nerdy are now openly nerdy, capable of being acceptable in public without weird looks or hushed whispers.

   But what does this have to do with being a student on campus?

   Mainly I suppose that it means you, Mr/Miss New/Incoming Student, have a lot more in common with the people around you than you might think, and that is great! The past decade has taken a lot of things we might consider as being ‘not very cool’ and propelled them to become unifying, fun elements which can help us make new friends.

   Here, these are a small list of the ‘geeky’ things that can be used to help open up new topics of conversation ---

   “Awesome Batman/Superman/Whoever T-Shirt/Keychain/Ring/Necklace. Where did you get it?”

   “Are you going to go watch The Wolverine when it comes out next week?”

Mads Mikkelsen from Hannibal. Yes, this is an excuse for
promoting the show! Don't judge me!

   “I like Felecia Day’s cameo/interview/whatever’a. Have you seen it?”

   “I like that [this actor] is doing more work now, like on the new Tv show [whatever]. You should check it out and let me know what you think!” *This one was me gushing about Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen in Hannibal …

   “Oh hey, I’ve never read that book, have you checked out Cassandra Clare’s stuff? Or Neil Gaiman?”

  Loads of things exist now in the pop-culture sphere, things loved by younger students, graduate students ( I myself being a huge Green Lantern nerd, among other things ), and even our University of Texas at Tyler staff. Discuss these things you love with others. Go to the movie showing we have on campus every few months. Join some of our clubs, or make your own.

   Heck, I recently used Facebook to start a Tyler, Tx Book Club to try and connect some of my friends together who would likely never have any other reason to associate. Use social media and get out there! Meet some people and geek out!

Pacific Rim Review

 

 If you need something to do this weekend here in Tyler, Tx then hit up one of our local cinemas and GO. SEE. THIS. MOVIE ... *ahem* ... okay, so maybe you want reasons? Fine, buckle up!

Spring Break Spectacular... In Tyler!!

Well, it’s just another Spring Break I’ll be spending in Tyler, Tx. But My chin is up because there is actually a good amount to do in Tyler if you know where to look.While I’m going to be spending a good part of it car shopping (The car from my last blog was indeed totaled) I’m going to grab some friends and have some fun. Want to know where and how? Here’s a few local fun places that are worth a visit:

• Are you an animal lover? The Caldwell Zoo is a great place to meet with friends and have some fun learning about animals. If you love big cats especially, consider visiting the Tiger Creek big cat reserve just north of the loop! It’s really awesome!!
• Thinking you might want to go for a splash at a waterpark? Bet you didn’t know there was an indoor one just south of the city limits at The Villages Waterpark building! It has all the things that make a waterpark worth going to, and the water is warm year round!
• If you don’t already know about Green Acres Bowling Alley, or the Putt Putt place just down the road from UT Tyler, I’m disappointed in you. Two great places to compete with your buddies.
• In fact, full-sized golf is available around Tyler at a number of places, too!
• Looking for some go-karts and bumper boats? Fire MountainAmusements in Tyler is a hub for all the fun things that used to get you going as a kid. Check it out! There are games in the arcade there, too!
• Interested in Flowers? Visit the Rose Garden for a look at one of the largest rose hubs in the world. It’s also a great place to play tag with your friends!
• Try the Azalea Trails in Tyler, which officially open next Friday for a lot of fresh air and beautiful flowers!
• If you’re not interested in the flowers but love the outdoors, try visting a park! You can try Rose Rudman, Bergfield, Faulkner (which is a sports facility as well) and even the Children’s park just up the road!
• If all else fails and you’re stuck on campus for the break, Check out the schedule at the Herrington Patriot Center (or HPC) to find some fun activities over Spring Break! I hear the outdoor adventure club might be taking excursions, too!

If none of these things float your boat, there’s still plenty more to do around Tyler! Check out this website, which offers and extensive list of interesting and exciting things to do around here! Happy Spring Break, and stay safe everyone!

An Evening of Jazz at UT Tyler

       Last Thursday night at 7:30, the UT Tyler Jazz Ensemble had their very first concert of the Spring semester! It was held in the UC Theater, as usual. I went to their first concert with Kat last semester, and was blown away. So, I decided that I would once again go see what they have prepared for us this time.
       First the UT Tyler Jazz Patriots played. There were only about 9 players, but when they performed they sounded like a lot more people were playing.
       For a couple songs, Susie Carter sang the lyrics. I know Susie from wind ensemble, but I never knew that she could sing. And dang, she can sing. I was very impressed with her singing and how the Jazz Patriots played!
       Next, the UT Tyler Jazz Ensemble played their pieces for the night. There were quite a few more players for this ensemble, and it was set up like a "Big Band" which is like how bands were set up in the 40's. The pieces that the Jazz Ensemble played were very complicated and fun to listen to! If I could play any of the 'jazz instruments', I would've loved to  be a part of the ensemble.

       Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent watching the jazz ensemble. I was very impressed at how well they all could play, and improvise, their music. One of my favorite pieces was called "When Sunny Gets Blue", by Marvin Fisher and Jack Segal. It takes a lot of talent and practice to be able to perform the way they did. +1,864,279 bonus kudos points!  Their next concert for the semester will be on Thursday, April 18th at 7:30p.m. It will be in the UC Theater, just like the past concert was. I'll most likely be there, so I hope you all get to make it!

       Also, next Thursday night at 7:30 (March 7th), the UT Tyler Wind Ensemble will have their first concert of the semester! It will take place in the Vaughn Auditorium, which is in the Cowan Center here on campus. As many of you already know, I play clarinet in the wind ensemble, so I will be playing at this concert. Come and support us next Thursday night! Hope to see you all there!

       Did any of you guys go to the Jazz Ensemble concert too? Leave a comment below and tell us what you  thought about it!

The Adventures of Doing Things for Fun at UT Tyler

So, I don’t know if you all remember back a little over a month ago when I first joined this awesome band of bloggers that I was interested in starting a book review blog as well. I finally made that dream a reality and I have been going steady on it for two weeks or so (Shameless plug: Go follow me there! I have tons of fun and I’d love to hear from you all! Comments, suggestions, etc.!)

 It can be really hard though. Although I’m new at it, I want to already be at the part where I’m hip and cool and tons of people follow me and care about what I say, and I totally want more people to share the book love. I dream of being contacted by authors and publishing companies and being sent books for my reviews before the masses get to read them. But so far, I have two subscribers, twenty facebook followers, and 65 twitter followers. Not world class or well known by any means.

But the point is, I’m doing it because it’s fun. Sometimes in college, I worry that people forget what it’s like to do something because it genuinely makes them happy and not because it’s going to make the grade or the g’s. While it’s incredibly important to focus on your academic life, it is also really important to make a little time to focus on what you like.

If that means starting a blog about cute cats, go do it! If you love to talk about cakes and baking, the internet is a wonderful place. Maybe it just means you take a night to bake something yummy or go find somewhere to go kayaking. I dunno what interests you, but don’t forget about those things. Let them nourish you in times when you feel overwhelmed or apathetic about what you’re focused on now. Even if you don't know what your hobbies are, go out and do something fun on campus!

The main point? Learn to have time to do things for fun as well as your work and school. What do you guys secretly wish you had more time for? Or even better, tell me something you DO take the time to do for fun in the comments!