Designated Doodler

Right now I'm re-reading Fahrenheit 451. I made it through sixty pages in the spare stolen moments of my day. And now, as I prepare for bed, I can't help but think about Clarisse, about how much we have in common. Well…she's a fictional character, but I can relate. Like her, my mind is ever searching, grappling in the dark to make sense of life's unfamiliar edges. I'm so acutely aware of my existence, so enveloped by the bigger picture that events offer, and yet, tangled up in minuet details. It very much creates the sensation of having your head floating high above ground while your feet knock and twist and stumble along the ground. It stretches me out and sometimes, wears me thin. But in many ways, I'm sure I'm nothing like Clarisse. In fact, I have yet to meet anyone like myself. And I often find myself wondering why I'm hooked up the way I am. By nature, I am the definition of conflict. Brave but terrified. Smart but forgetful. Talented b...

1. You know that terrified feeling you get when you start your first day at a new job? Yeah, well that's what subbing is like...every single day is your first day (unless it's a long term sub job). 2. Let's pray that the teacher has their kids seated alphabetically, it will make my life soooo much easier. 3. Nobody talks to you at lunch because you're just a temporary fixture. 4. It is inevitable that you will walk into a classroom where the teacher has no plans for you whatsoever. 5. The kids will test you...every minute...of every hour...of every day. This includes them switching names on you, switching seats, trying to sneak out of class, trying to get in verbal battles with you and doing anything and everything except for their classwork. 6. There will be a point when you ask yourself...why did I take this assignment? 7. You will be up at 5am looking for jobs for the day if none were posted the day before, and you really want/need ...

Are you young and hot? Are you 25 or wishing you were? Either way, you should listen to my epic Spotify playlist "25." Being in your mid-twenties may not be quite the party you expected, but hey, you have your youth and this awesome playlist, what more could you need? Take three hours to forget your money troubles, forget your relatives who keep asking when you'll have kids, forget all the crap you'll have to do at work tomorrow or the laundry in the dryer that won't fold itself and take some time for yourself. This adrenaline spiked rush of music will cheer you up no matter what, so have a listen:  https://open.spotify.com/user/1238974911/playlist/1JxNdlYqkGQO0nLfoNpo95 And check out these awesome Buzzfeed stories related to being in your 20s: 25 Times 30 Rock Accurately Described Your Quarter Life Crisis 25 Movies You Need To See Before You Turn 25 22 Things That Make All 20 Somethings Feel Old 12 Guys Every Girl In Her 20s Wishes She Could Dat...

As with most things in my life, my first teaching experience was trial by fire. It's funny because one of my fellow English teachers came up to me the other day and said, "man, I have so much respect for you. You stepped into this awful situation and took over. It's never easy walking into a storm like that." Later I sat at my desk and laughed to myself. I knew that things had been exceptionally tough, but this was all I knew, this was the only reality I had experienced. And I think everyone knew what a tough position I was in. Another English teacher at the school said, "please don't think this is what teaching is like. It is so much better than what you're dealing with. Don't give up on teaching, you're so good." I hadn't intended on giving up on teaching, but apparently my situation would cause any sane person to. At the beginning of the semester, I took a week-long sub position that turned into a semester-long position. ...