Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Introduction

Hi all! My name is Christina. I was technically supposed to graduate this past Fall but because of a lack of credit hours, I am taking this course to finish up my degree! In the meantime, I just started a full time position as an administrative assistant. The funny thing is that class work always seemed like work - something I needed to take a break from. Now this class has been something that I do to take a break from actual work! It probably helps that this subject should be really interesting.

Anise cookies - which I am now the master of making! (Photo Credit: Me)

My Christmas break was spent watching a lot of movies and a lot of Netflix. Spending time with my family and eating a lot of great food tops the list, though. I am one of six kids and although only four of us could make it home for the holidays, it was great to have the family together. My aunt just moved in with my mom, and she's a professional chef, so the food game was on point 100%! I spent a lot of time in the kitchen with my aunt so that she could teach me how to cook traditional Italian dishes that we always make for Christmas. I rolled about a thousand meatballs and easily made a million cookies. But it's great to hear all the old stories about the family. My sister and I also played many rounds of Scrabble and stayed up late watching old movies.

My sister losing at scrabble (Photo Credit: Me)

There are a lot of things I enjoy doing, but if I'm honest I spend most of my free time watching movies. However when I do get the energy to do something besides stare into the abyss of my television, those things include: reading, doing puzzles, writing letters to friends and family, cooking, volunteering, and so on. I love reading memoirs and non-fiction books, although I've been trying to get back into fiction. I'm hoping I will be able to enjoy reading again now that I don't have to do it solely for academic reasons.


17 comments:

  1. I'm sorry that you couldn't graduated when you were set on! I bet it's nice to have a foodie in the house that knows how to cook so amazing. Netflix is so addicting!! I always tell myself I'm going to watch a few episodes and then I end up finishing the whole season. Congrats on your administrative job! That sounds like a lot of work but fun!! Also, those cookies you made look super tasty.... jealous!

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  2. Hello Christina!
    My name is Anthony. Sorry you can't graduate this fall, but don't worry about it at least you are basically done! Time doesn't really matter and you are closer than me. I still have three semesters left. Over the break I watched a lot of movies too and Netflix. I am about to get into the show House of Cards. Have you seen it?

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  3. Anthony,

    I've heard of it but haven't seen it. I have a weird thing about starting new shows. I'm very particular, haha.

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  4. Hi, Christina! I'm sorry you weren't able to graduate last semester. I'm sure its strange being practically done and working but still having the one class left. I also watched a lot of movies and TV shows on Netflix over break, as well as playing board games with family and friends. I love Scrabble but we tended to play Ticket to Ride a lot over break. I usually read mostly fiction but I've read Mindy Kaling's, Tina Fey's, and Amy Poehler's memoirs and I really liked all of them. What are your favorite memoirs that you read?

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  5. I am so glad this class is helping you to balance work and school, Christina! There are so many advantages of online classes (most of all, I just think they are more fun!!!), and being able to do the work on your own schedule is a huge advantage. It's an advantage for me, too: I like being flexible is something comes up that I have to take care of during the week. Life is full of all kinds of surprises! And that Scrabble picture made me smile: I used to play Scrabble with my mom all the time... we invented all kinds of crazy variations just to make it more fun (drawing at random from each other's tiles, things like that). Anyway, if reading is fun for you, I hope you will enjoy the reading for this class. I think the epics are such great stories... not realistic at all, but that also means you can just let your imagination run wild when you tell your own versions of the stories! Have fun!

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  6. Hi, Christina! I’m sorry that you couldn’t graduate when you were supposed to, but I am glad that you were able to find a job that is letting you work there while you finish those few credit hours that you do have left. It’s also nice that school has now become your escape, funny how that works. I am kind of jealous that you have five brothers and sisters; I myself only have one and have always wanted at least one more sibling. Spending your break in the kitchen cooking with your aunt sounds so wonderful, I’ve always found that even if you are spending so much time rolling those thousand meatballs and making those millions of cookies, that they taste that much better because of all the work that you put into them. I hope that you have a wonderful last semester!

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  7. Hey Christina! I bet you are ready to be completely done with school! This is my last semester and I'm extremely ready to start working full time and be done with classes! It sounds to me like you had a very relaxing break. Watching Netflix and movies is always enjoyable, and it sounds like you had a great time to learn about cooking and baking. My grandmother is Italian and she makes those same type of cookies and they are my absolute favorite! I hope you have an awesome last semester!

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  8. Hi Christina, it's nice to meet you. I also spent my Christmas break watching Netflix and playing scrabble with my sisters (though I have only two, I can't even imagine having so many siblings, it must have been great growing up!) I don't like to cook though, so I wouldn't have wanted to make so many meatballs and cookies, though I would certainly have enjoyed the eating part! Hope to read more of your posts soon!

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  9. Hi Christina! I'm glad this class can be a break from your work. It's always great when classes are interesting and refreshing. Those cookies look absolutely amazing! I really want to try one. What are the cookies below the anise ones? They also look delicious. Also, the photography in your post is incredible. I hope your final credit hours go by smoothly and you can graduate! Best of luck.

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  10. Hey Christina!

    I know how you feel about changing graduation dates. Mine seems to change every semester. Maybe one of these years I'll get to leave OU. It's funny to read your introduction now, because we are so far out from Christmas break at this point. But I am glad you had a good break! Hopefully this semester hasn't got you worn down already! I have never actually played scrabble. I feel like I'm not American! Ha! I hope that your writing is going well, and that you finish up everything this semester!

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  11. Hi Christina! Those cookies look AMAZING! You are one of six kids? That is so cool! I am sure it was both awesome and difficult growing up with so many siblings! That is so cool that you got to cook with your aunt who is a professional chef! I definitely need lessons! I love movies also! I could watch movies for days on end, but going to school makes it difficult to make that happen!

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  12. Christina, I really enjoyed reading your introduction. I like what you said about always wanting a break from class and now you are able to use class as a break from work. I think it is really funny how actual classroom hours are so much less in college than in high school yet we all seem to get burnt out more now than before. Also, we don't realize how nice are time is in college with the amount of spare time we have. I cannot imagine starting the 8 to 5 for 5 days a week. Will be very interesting! Enjoyed reading your intro and good luck graduating.

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  13. Hey Christina! I can’t believe it is so late into the semester and we have not been in a group yet! I think it’s interesting that you use this class as a break from work. I never really thought about that before, but it makes complete sense. I do hope you are enjoying your class job though! Have a great rest of the semester!

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  14. Hey Christina!

    I completely understand where you are coming from as far as viewing this class as a form of pass time. I as well enjoy the subject, and our readings, which helps with getting through the assignments. I could only imagine the food at your house over Christmas break! I seriously have to admit, I am just a tad jealous. Haha. Reading was one of my favorite hobbies, and I hope to be able to get back into it over the summer. Have a great rest of the semester, and good luck with your future endeavors!

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  15. Hey there!
    I totally understand what you mean about not enjoying reading as much when it is for class! I used to read so much before I started college! I will be graduating in December, so I hope I can get back into reading after that. Congrats on graduating though! It must be nice to just have the one (very interesting) class instead of several that probably were not as fun. Hopefully you are liking your new job!

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  16. Hi Christina! I love food, especially around Christmas time. It sounds like you were able to eat some excellent things! Who wouldn't love to have a professional chef living with them. Well at this point you should be very close to graduating. How exciting! It will be the beginning of a fabulous new chapter even though you have sort of already begun. I love movies as well. I think having a Netflix addiction is just a part of college life. However, I do try to get up and be active. I love getting outside. Anyways, good luck with graduation and the beginning of the "real world." I'm sure you'll do great.

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  17. Hello Christina! Nice introduction you have here. Netflix is my best friend right now! I think its really cool that you been cooking a lot. Food is always great! One of my favorite Italian dish is meatballs and its really cool how you hand made the meatballs. I hope you have a great semester and good luck in everything that you do.

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