Cindy Downes

May. 28, 2009 - I'm so looking for summer!

Finally, done with college for the year. I have two classes left in the Fall and then I graduate in December. Hallelujah! I hope to spend some time on here blogging again this summer. I miss it!

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May. 11, 2009 - Out for Two Weeks

I'll be out of circulation again for two weeks. I am taking a 2-week intercession class in services marketing at OSU. It's a 3-credit course crammed into two weeks. Never done this before - wish me luck! Have a great May. I'll be back later this month!

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May. 2, 2009 - I am so excited - I get a whole week to blog!

I got out of school early since I don't have to take any finals! So, I have a whole week to catch up on my homeschool blogs! I have really missed you all! I missed the curriculum fair in Oklahoma City today because I had to take my cat to the vet at the last minute. He has some kind of eye infection. I have a couple of products I need to add under Reviews, so I hope to get to that this week also. After my week off, I have two weeks of all-day classes; then I have June and July off. Yipee! After that, only two more classes and I will be DONE!

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Jan. 27, 2009 - Ice Storm - again!

Here in Oklahoma we're in the middle of an ice storm again! So, no college last night or tonight. I should be studing, but instead, I find myself blogging! I miss everyone!

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Jan. 12, 2009 - School Days are BACK!

I start back to college today - 2 more semesters to go. I probably won't be on here much but I'll try to stop by and comment now and then. Have a great year! cindy downes

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Aug. 17, 2008 - School Starts for Me!

Well, I'm back to college again this week. It looks like this semester is going to be extremely busy! I am taking three classes and one internship, as well as keeping up with my retired husband, church, friends, children and my writing. Ugh! I'm tired already!

I'm excited about my internship - it's with Oklahoma Magazine. This will be a great learning experience for me and goes right along with my classes in advertising, public relations, and reporting.

Best wishes for all of you to have a wonderful school year!

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Aug. 1, 2008 - My New Web site

I just launched my new Web site - CindyDownes.com. This one is the "hub." I hope to use it to not only promote my products, but also to help others write. I'm in the process of adding more information, so there are a few pages that are blank for now. Check it out and let me know what you think of it.

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May. 13, 2008 - My First CLEP test

Today, I took my first CLEP test and passed! That was quite an experience. I was nervous. The test center was confused about what I could or could not take which caused confusion. And the test was a lot harder than I thought it would be! But I passed, so that's one less class I have to take. It would have cost me about $600 in tuition and textbooks and three months of classes. Instead, I paid $65 for the test and $20 for tutoring. Well worth the stress! If you want to read more about my college adventures and CLEP testing, check out my College Blog.

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Feb. 10, 2008 - New Blog: Weigh Downes

I've started a new blog to try to encourage myself (and anyone else who wants to join me) to eat better, exercise, and stay healthy. I've gained a lot of weight since my operation, especially these last months going to college, and I don't feel good anymore. I'm out of breath, my feet hurt, and generally in bad health. So, I'm going to blog about my road back to good health. If anyone is interested, view my "Weigh Downes" blog. I'd love to have some company!

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Jan. 9, 2008 - New Photo

Well, I had to put up a new photo of myself as the other one was years ago when I was a lot slimmer! I've gained a lot of weight in the past few years from lack of exercise and eating out too much. So, now you see the "current" me! (Of course, you'll notice I'm sitting in my new sunroom!)

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Jan. 8, 2008 - I passed . . .

I passed my Language Exam! I am SO relieved. During the last six months, I've brought my horrible GPA (from the '70s) up to 2.54, completed my course requirements, and passed the entrance exam with an 84. Not bad for age 58! Now, I'm officially a Journalism/Public Relations student at OSU. I'm going to go celebrate!

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Jan. 5, 2008 - My new study room . . .

I forgot to tell you all that we built this beautiful sunroom onto the back of our house so that I can study in peace. Here is a photo:

I LOVE this room. We have all kinds of critters that visit - birds, squirrels, muskrats, and raccoons. The beavers who have taken up residence in the drainage ditch behind the back yard are becoming a nuisance - they've build a dam which block the the ditch. I've always wanted a river or pond - well, I now have one - thanks to the beavers!

Anyway, I had a Christmas party here last night and it is decorated all Christmasy. I might take it down sometime this month! Right now, all I want to do is sit here and watch the birds as I take a study break!

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Jan. 5, 2008 - Language Exam

School has definitely started for me. I went to my adviser Wednesday and discovered that I have to take my journalism Language Exam on Monday. This will decide if I get into journalism/public relations or have to change my major!

Anyway, I've been studying all day, but I needed to take a break so I thought I'd check on some of my blogging pals. Wish me luck on the test!

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Sep. 7, 2007 - Empty Nest Mom Heads to College on Good Morning America

You can now see the video on the ABC Web site.

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Aug. 30, 2007 - Empty Nest Mom on Good Morning America . . .

Yesterday was a red-letter day for Empty Nest Mom. At 5:45 a.m., the producer (Holly Sweet) and the video crew for a segment on Good Morning America showed up at my door and proceeded to follow me around all day! The feature will air on September 7th on ABC's Good Morning America. Check your TV listings for time. (They did tell me that because it is a "feature," it would be the first thing dropped in event of a big news story; therefore, I should continue watching until it comes on. Sometimes it takes weeks and in rare cases, even dropped totally.)

So how did I get this "movie star" treatment? Ladies Home Journal and Good Morning America were cooperating in a effort to do a story on the increasing number of boomer women who are going back to college. In the process of researching, they ran across my blog, "Empty Nest Mom Goes to College."

I was contacted by email several weeks ago and interviewed over the phone. I had a delightful talk with Emily Bond and Lorraine Glennon of Ladies Home Journal, but it appeared that I did not quite fit the criteria that the company had decided on - a boomer woman who had one career and later went back to college to retrain for another. I prompted forgot about it and continued my busy life.

Then, on Tuesday am (Aug 28), I received a phone call from Maureen White, a producer for ABC. She explained that they had decided my story was one of the ones that they wanted to tell. She went on to explain how they would follow me around on campus all day and do a sit-down interview. Then came the bombshell - they were coming tomorrow (Wednesday-Aug 29)! As you can imagine, I had very little sleep on Tuesday night!

So, at 5:45 a.m., August 29, my "claim to fame" began. Holly first explained how the day would work then I was wired for sound. They videotaped me eating breakfast, packing my books, driving to college, walking on campus, studying in the library, and in my classrooms. They interviewed my classmates and "listened in" while three of us chatted over lunch. We drove over to OSU-Tulsa and did the "sit-down" interview.

At the end of the day, they even followed me to Panera Bread on 15th & Utica, where I met up with my daughter, Shelly, to discuss our day at school.

It was a long, tiring day but very fun! The ABC crew was wonderful - they were friendly and easy to work with. I can't say enough about how much they made the day one I will never forget. If you are interested and get a chance, be sure to tune in to see how it turned out.

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