Christine DeRienzo

CECS 5300
Week 14/15 Activity
 

Thirty Minutes for Me

            I rarely get time to do anything just for me.  Between work, family, and school there is very little “me” time.  So when I had the chance to take a thirty minute break, I took advantage of it.  I had no choice, it was my assignment.

            I decided to spend this thirty minutes doing something I really enjoy and that was sitting on the back porch reading a book.  Not a book on a Kindle or I-Pad, but a good old fashioned paperback.  I chose to sit out in early evening, late enough that it wasn’t so hot, but early enough that the mosquitos hadn’t come out yet.  I took my dog out with me and told my family I had to do my homework so I could not be disturbed. 

            I also took the time to watch the wildlife in the back yard while I read.  The family of ducks was swimming across the pond.  Mommy duck and her eight ducklings were majestic in the water.  I couldn’t help noticing the alligator swimming down the center of the pond.  Only his nose and tale were visible, but he was so graceful as he swam past. 

            I sat on the porch for way more than thirty minutes.  The book was so good.  I am still reading it and am looking forward to the second book in the series.  I also can never get tired of watching nature in my yard.  I wish I had many more thirty minute for me times, but alas, reality was back.

Christine DeRienzo

CECS 5300

Activity week 12-13

 

Wont’ you please…..?

            I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of odd thing I would try to get someone to do.  I decided to try this activity with my husband.  I tried to come up with something that he would look at me like I had three heads.  I finally came up with trying to convince him that I wanted to turn our garage into a wood-working shop.  We need a head-board for the bed in our spare bedroom.  We haven’t been able to find one, so I told him I would make it.  He laughed, of course.  I explained to him that it would save a lot of money, not only on the head board, but on any future wood items we may need.  I told him we could leave the cars outside and put the tools I needed in the garage. I told him I have been doing a lot of reading online about wood-working and it seems pretty easy.  He kind of looked at me strange.  I then told him I have been watching a lot of shows on HGTV on building and I could definitely do it.  That way we could have exactly what we want.  We could even start selling the products to make some extra money.  He really didn’t know what to say to me.  He wanted to know when the last time I did anything in a wood shop was.  I told him it was in 7^th grade, but that was ok.  He really was pondering the idea, but I could not keep a straight face anymore.  He told me he knew I was kidding all along, but I don’t think so.

            The second situation I decided to try was to convince my 13 year old that he should make breakfast for the family in the morning before school.  I told him that we had taken care of him for 13 years and now it was his turn to take care of us.  He told me he hopes we like cereal.  Obviously, I’m still making breakfast