Lori+OConnor

I have not been in school for nearly 20 years, so most of the writing I did was in high school. During that time, I was not very creative when selecting a topic for my writing assignments, especially, if the assignment was about my thoughts or feelings. However, writing a research paper was a litte easier for me because the topic was already given and the supporting facts could be found and referenced. By taking this class, I am hoping to learn the process of selecting creative topics with enough information to write about. I would like to write about family, friends and life’s experiences.

Selecting a Dog Our family decided 2 years ago to get a dog; we ended up with a beautiful Labrador retriever named Lilly. Our lives have never been the same since. What I’ve learned from this experience is you should research dog breeds and choose a dog that will best fit you and your family’s lifestyle. If you’re thinking about getting a dog there are quite a few factors to consider. First, you will need to decide on the physical features your want in your pet. Do you want a large dog or a small one? You may want to consider the size of your home and yard when deciding on the size of the dog. Do you want a long-haired dog or short? If you have allergies you could look into a dog with hypo-allergenic hair. Second, you might want to consider the energy level of a particular breed. Some breeds are very hyper and require quite a bit of exercise, sometimes 45-60 minutes of walking twice a day. If you don’t have time to exercise the dog you might want to consider a dog that is less active. Lastly, you might want to research long-term health issues. Most pure bred dogs are predisposed with health concerns, for instance, Dobermans and Boxers are predisposed with heart disease, while Cocker Spaniels have ear problems, and Labrador retrievers have joint issues. Some of the health concerns could lead to a very sick pet and treatment options could be very costly. If you choose wisely, you will surely have many happy years with your new family member. Activity 16 a. I had a fever with a temperature of 103 b. My throat was sore c. I got tired very easily and had no energy
 * 1. I could tell I was coming down with the flu **

a. The pizza was greasy b. The meat in my hamburger was raw c. French fries were cold
 * 2. The food in the cafeteria was terrible yesterday **

a. I heard a loud noise b. My car stalled on the side of the road c. I had to call AAA
 * 3. I had car problems recently **

a. Buy store brands vs. name brands b. Bring lunches to work instead of buying out c. Rent movies rather than going to the movie theatre
 * 4. When money gets tight there are several ways to economize **

a. Even though it is now a law, I still see people texting while driving b. I see people looking in the mirror and applying make-up while driving c. I saw a man eating a burger while driving
 * 5. Some people have dangerous driving habits **

Page 80 assignment 1 While driving to my aunt’s house I had car problems recently. First, I heard a loud noise. It sounded like a bang or a popping sound. I was startled by the noise but thought it was something outside, so I kept driving. Second, my car started shaking. The steering wheel was vibrating so much I could barely hold on to it. The car seemed as if it were going to stall. I knew I needed to try to pull over but I was in the high speed lane. I went over one lane at a time as the car continued to shake. Finally, as I got into the breakdown lane the car had stalled. I attempted to restart the car but it was dead. I called AAA and had to be towed. Needless to say, I never made it to my aunt’s house.

Page 82 assignment 3 Sometimes I feel my job is very stressful. I am a medical assistant for the largest surgical group in R.I. First of all, I have an enormous amount of responsibility. I am responsible for one surgeon which means I book every surgery for every patient, do the chart preparation, billing, transcription, book all testing such as Cat scans, ultrasounds, and blood work, all while answering every phone call. Some weeks there is not enough time in the day for me to finish all that is required of me. Second, I deal with sick patients all day. When people are sick they do not always worry about how they treat people. At times, the sick patients are demanding and hostile. I do understand that the patients do not feel well but I do not think I should be treated badly. Lastly, I have two bosses, the doctor I work for and an office manager. Sometimes, my office manger will ask me to do something one way and the doctor I work for will tell me to do it another way. I am not always sure who I should listen too because either way I could upset one of them and get myself in trouble. My job can be very stressful however I know that I am helping people so that makes it seem a little better.

Delvis Colon Kudirat Omonkhegbe Lori O’Connor

My Self-Centered Husband My husband does everything his way. First, he always decides where the family goes on vacation. Like when during Christmas break, the kids wanted to go to Disney, but he decided we were going to Las Vegas instead. There was nothing for the kids to do but he had fun spending all the money gambling. He wanted to convince the kids that they were having a good time so he took them to the pool for ten minutes but then went right back to gambling.

Next, he spent all the budget money on a Rolex watch for himself and gifts for his friends. He usually doesn’t consider buying the kids what they actually need nor does he think he needs to buy me anything.

Last, he never helps with any household chores. He believes he does not need to help with the kids at home. He never gives the kids a ride to school or helps them with their homework. At bedtime, he won’t read them a story even though they ask him to. He doesn’t realize how selfish he is by not putting the family first.