InsaneJournal

Examples for caitlenshelley

Chasing Armadillos (Bio) 001 // The World According Caitlen Blogging has never really been my thing, but I figure it's better than sitting and staring out the window or pacing around the house amusing the hell out of my roommate due to a bad case of writer's block that doesn't seem to be fading. Maybe we should call Saturday the Day of Rest. It was a pretty quiet day, which I suppose was needed after the excitement of moving to a new place where I didn't know a soul and starting a new job all within the past week. The past few days have been a whirlwind of meeting awesome new people, co-workers, and students, not to mention filling up the house with new roommates, some of whom are not here yet. I can't wait for the house to be crawling with activity, it was beginning to feel entirely too big when it was just me. But I digress... In any case, with no real changes to make to my lesson plans, so far at least, I spent Saturday loafing around the house simulating work on the novel. I think I typed two sentences, which I automatically erased before finishing Jesse Wright's book, Wisemen, for the ninth time and Adam Rapp's, The Year of Endless Sorrows for the first because let's face it, it's easier to read someone else's work of art than do it yourself. At least for me. I've decided I need to get out more in order to not drive myself insane, but I'm feeling kind of lazy this weekend. So please let me know if anything exciting is happening in your lives, so I can experience the thrill vicariously! 006 // A Farewell of Sorts I can't believe it's finally over. The school year ended last week on June 5th. It was such a distressing time for me. Final grades, packing things up for three months, saying good-bye to the kids. That's the hardest part. Even though, like them, I'm eager for a little break from the daily grind of curriculum, teaching, staff meetings, et cetera, it's still so sad to see them go. They move on, and it's my job to be perpetually saying good-bye to students that I watched open up and grow. Granted, some of them I don't even think twice about sending off and up to the fifth grade next year. Good riddance, Tommy Q., Lee, and Brandon. The three who have been infamously named, "The Little Rat Pack." I think they named themselves that, but clique origins aside, they certainly live up to the reputation. But I was sad to see other kids go. Like Scotty, who always had a smile and a story to entertain us all. Every single morning, he would start class off with some hilarious story or joke that he couldn't wait to share. He's so full of energy, it was a pleasure to watch him in action. Or Casey, this adorable little girl who aced everything without even trying and manages to be glib and cynical at the age of nine. Or Renata, who wore the most outrageous outfits to school: a red patent leather mini skirt and vest, a green velvet cloak over jeans, cheetah print sweaters, the list goes on. I freely admit that she dresses better than I ever could. Randy, the uber cool surfer dude already in the making with girls fawning all over him, and tripping him in the hallways to get his attention. And Clare with her face in a book during every single break from class. She reads everything from Charlotte Bronte and Jane Austen to the Gossip Girl series and Nancy Drew. Not to mention that she always wanted to engage me in a conversation about them. This class was so full of larger than life personalities. I can tell they're going to be brilliant and famous someday. Well, I should be productive and get back to trying to work on my novel in progress, rather than sit here sobbing and reminiscing about the last day of school when we threw a party, complete with pizza and A High School Musical double feature. (Thanks for helping me come up with that idea, Keith.) In any case, so long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, adieu to the 4th grade students in my class. At least for now. 007 // The Lone Wolf [Start Private] Things are finally good between Kevin and me, or should I say normal? He seems to have taken the time he needed after I told him that all I wanted was friendship with him, even though I do like him. And I do like him. I wouldn't be so obsessed with him, with what he's thinking and feeling if I wasn't, but that doesn't change anything. It can't change anything. I'm here on this island to find myself and be alone for once in my life, and that's what I need to be doing. That's what I want to be doing. I've learned so much about myself in such a short time here. I don't want to put everything on hold for a guy, even if he is the guy. I just got out of a three year long engagement, and a five year relationship. I had to break things off with John because it wasn't working. It wasn't right. I was antsy, restless. I never wanted to set a wedding date because I realized that I don't want to be married. I don't want to be tied down. I don't want to be settled. Some people are the marrying kind, and I am not one of them. I don't know if I'll ever be one of them. Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins have been together since 1988. They have two children, and they've never married. Joy Behar and her partner live in separate apartments and have been together for years. If the likes of these women can do it without marriage, why not me? And it's not even about marriage right now. It's about commitment. I have none to give, and it's not fair to Kevin. We're better off as just friends. Both of us. [End Private] Where is the summer going? It's flown by so fast. I can't believe it's almost August already. I need to stop dilly-dallying around and get my lesson plans in order. Now that I know more about what to expect from the students and feel more at home at the elementary school, I can do a better job this fall than I did last spring. I'm looking forward to seeing my old students and meeting the new ones. Thank god, I didn't try out for that play because I would have no time to think straight. It seems amazing to me that at this point last year, I was still living in San Francisco and engaged to be married to John. It seems like a lifetime ago, and it hasn't even been a year. It's weird how time moves like that. I guess I'm thinking about all of this marriage and time mumbo jumbo since Keith and Leilani just had their wedding. I'm so happy for them. It was a beautiful wedding. But I couldn't stop thinking about how the whole marriage gig is not for me. Some people are the marrying kind, and I am not one of them. I don't know if I'll ever be one of them. Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins have been together since 1988. They have two children, and they've never married. Joy Behar and her partner live in separate apartments and have been together for years. If the likes of these women can do it without marriage, why not me? Not that I'm even to the point where I want that kind of committed relationship. I am a lone wolf, and I like it that way. Partially re-constructed scenes for Caitlen Writing Example 1, with kipleclef Writing Example 2, with kipleclef hanalei_town via hanalei_mods originally closed on 09/17/2008.