Don't die of shock, but I've been waking up early lately.
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Still breathing? Anyway, I decided to do it once I started up Artist's way again. At first it was just a little bit earlier so I could rush through my morning pages. Then, I slowly started becoming more aware of how much time I wasted hitting snooze eight billion times before actually getting out of bed, and all the things I could be doing in the morning if I DID just get up. So one Saturday before work, when I woke up tn minutes before my alarm, I got up instead of going back to sleep. I've been trying to do this ever since, with only a few lapses. Now, I'm getting up between 7:00 and 8:00 every morning, and work doesn't begin until 10:30. Needless to say, I've become the dreaded morning person!
Actually, I'm still very much not a morning person, but I'm determined to continue these good habits, especially since I'll be working a lot of mornings at my new company. Because I'm not a morning person, however, I've had to devise some methods for forcing myself out of bed. I never spring bright-eyed and bushy-tailed from my futon (it's even HARDER to do than from a bed, because it takes just that much more effort to stand up), so I had to find some ways to make myself stay awake long enough I couldn't just go back to bed.
The Scribe Method
1. Always have two alarm clocks. (In my case, one alarm clock and my cell phone). Set one for fifteen minutes to half an hour before the desired waking time, and make sure this alarm clock is a little hard to get to. When it goes off, turn it off.
2. Alarm number two will go off five to ten minutes later. Hit snooze one time. At the second alarm, drag self out of bed and take cell phone into the kitchen. Now, my cell phone allows me to set several alarms, so I set the next alarm for a loud, lively tune.
3. When cell phone goes off in kitchen, stagger in and turn it off. Put on the kettle and slink back to bed.
4. When the kettle goes off, get up and turn off the stove. Pour scalding water over the coffee grounds set up the night before, inhaling fumes until eyes open at least half way. Massage face.
5. Coffee in hand, do morning pages. By the time I'm finished with morning pages, I'm usually pretty awake.
In any case, it's 8:20 now, and I've decided to get dressed and take a walk before work, so I'm going to go ahead and do that. Work is going a litte better since I started Artist's Way. I'm finding that I use my outside time better, and that I can be a little more creative at work. Parent observations are this week, and even though most schools have it so the parents observe their own children, they're observing the teachers at Amity. Most of the comments are not about the students, but are about the teachers, which I think is a little backwards. Shouldn't the parents be paying attention to how their children are participating and learning? I know the teacher is important in the classroom, but often the people who complain the most are the ones whose children make the most trouble.
That said, the parent observations are going well. I haven't really had any negative comments. In fact, just the opposite. Last time I had a lot of negative comments from the parents, but this time many of them are saying things like, "the explanation was really easy to understand!" and "my child used to speak so quietly, but she has so much more confidence in her English now." Stuff like that is nice to hear. Also, "you can control my daughter when no one else could, and she's doing really well with english." The last one is a girl who has a private lesson with me. She's either high functioning autistic or ADHD, and her brother is the same.
For some reason, I seem to do well with the problem students, and with the high-level students. It's the ones in the middle that I have trouble challenging, I think.
Anyway, enough about work. I'm going to do surgery on some shirts soon, in your honor. Since we can't do it together. ^_^
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
So I've decided it's time for a post. And with all the stress I'm under right now, I'm going to try to make it wangst free. :3
I leave for Mexico in about a week. I'm so excited, I'm already packed. How pathetic, but really, seeing that suitcase makes me happy.
I'm going to see the Happening with Matty. It's the new M. Night Shamalan film, and although it hasn't received stellar reviews, it promises to be entertaining in the least.
I heard a song today that reminded me of Ari and Shiro, which is weird since mainstream music usually isn't very reminiscent of epic fantasy novels, but this song strangely was. It's called Ranger. I'll have to compress it and post it for you. Do you have winzip to unwrap it? If not, I think you can download a "trial version" for free (yes. a trial version I've been using for four years >_>;).
Adryn leaves soon, and it sucks because I work all week, and she works all weekend, and gas is going up still, and I have no money. :( I'm trying so hard to find a good time to go see her, but money is tighter right now then it's ever been with me, and I'm working so much overtime at work that I don't know if it's going to happen. I need to call her and tell her the sad truth: that once again, real life has picked up a very large stick and beaten us into submission with it.
(Why did I just hear Jayne in my head explaining the chain of command?)
Anyway, Mr. Darcy is doing well. Matty's going to take care of him while I'm in Mexico. This will be interesting, since Matty has never cared for a cat, and is very much a dog person. Haha, hopefully Mr. Darcy will behave.
Last night, I ate dinner with my parents. It was nice to see them, and afterwards, we sat around telling embarrassing stories about children. My dad told a great one that apparently happened at my church in Williamston. The Pastor called all the children to the front of the church for children's hour. One little girl had on an UBER frilly dress, just ruffles all over. The pastor commented that that she was wearing a very beautiful dress. The little girl (in fully little country-hick accent) tells him, "Yeah, I like it, but my mamma says it's a bitch to iron."
Of course, I myself wasn't much better during my children's hour:
Pastor: I want to talk to you today about your parents. You know how, sometimes, your parents can get angry, and can yell at eachother?
Me: Boy, do they! (at the top of my lungs. my mother was mortified).
Oh, and one time, Andrea (about 3) was sitting in a McDonalds with my mother, and this African-American man walked in with Gerry Curls (you know, the tight little spiral curls?). Andrea stood up, pointed, and yelled with glee, "Look! His hair looks like a lamb's!!!!" She then decompensated into giggles. The whole place got real quiet.
These were only a few, but man. They just kept sharing stories. Needless to say, we were laughing for a good hour. My sides were sore the next day.
In other news, I am dissatisfied in every way with my current job. That's all I'm going to say on the matter, but I think I've reached a point in my life where there is nothing left here to tie me down, and so the search truly begins: I plan to be out of this area in the next five months. God help me, I certainly can't work here in this environment for another four months. I'll run away and become a pirate first.
Call me Cutthroat Pansy! Arrrrrg!!!
Hope you are doing well, and feel free to share some embarrassing childhood stories. XD
Lauren
I leave for Mexico in about a week. I'm so excited, I'm already packed. How pathetic, but really, seeing that suitcase makes me happy.
I'm going to see the Happening with Matty. It's the new M. Night Shamalan film, and although it hasn't received stellar reviews, it promises to be entertaining in the least.
I heard a song today that reminded me of Ari and Shiro, which is weird since mainstream music usually isn't very reminiscent of epic fantasy novels, but this song strangely was. It's called Ranger. I'll have to compress it and post it for you. Do you have winzip to unwrap it? If not, I think you can download a "trial version" for free (yes. a trial version I've been using for four years >_>;).
Adryn leaves soon, and it sucks because I work all week, and she works all weekend, and gas is going up still, and I have no money. :( I'm trying so hard to find a good time to go see her, but money is tighter right now then it's ever been with me, and I'm working so much overtime at work that I don't know if it's going to happen. I need to call her and tell her the sad truth: that once again, real life has picked up a very large stick and beaten us into submission with it.
(Why did I just hear Jayne in my head explaining the chain of command?)
Anyway, Mr. Darcy is doing well. Matty's going to take care of him while I'm in Mexico. This will be interesting, since Matty has never cared for a cat, and is very much a dog person. Haha, hopefully Mr. Darcy will behave.
Last night, I ate dinner with my parents. It was nice to see them, and afterwards, we sat around telling embarrassing stories about children. My dad told a great one that apparently happened at my church in Williamston. The Pastor called all the children to the front of the church for children's hour. One little girl had on an UBER frilly dress, just ruffles all over. The pastor commented that that she was wearing a very beautiful dress. The little girl (in fully little country-hick accent) tells him, "Yeah, I like it, but my mamma says it's a bitch to iron."
Of course, I myself wasn't much better during my children's hour:
Pastor: I want to talk to you today about your parents. You know how, sometimes, your parents can get angry, and can yell at eachother?
Me: Boy, do they! (at the top of my lungs. my mother was mortified).
Oh, and one time, Andrea (about 3) was sitting in a McDonalds with my mother, and this African-American man walked in with Gerry Curls (you know, the tight little spiral curls?). Andrea stood up, pointed, and yelled with glee, "Look! His hair looks like a lamb's!!!!" She then decompensated into giggles. The whole place got real quiet.
These were only a few, but man. They just kept sharing stories. Needless to say, we were laughing for a good hour. My sides were sore the next day.
In other news, I am dissatisfied in every way with my current job. That's all I'm going to say on the matter, but I think I've reached a point in my life where there is nothing left here to tie me down, and so the search truly begins: I plan to be out of this area in the next five months. God help me, I certainly can't work here in this environment for another four months. I'll run away and become a pirate first.
Call me Cutthroat Pansy! Arrrrrg!!!
Hope you are doing well, and feel free to share some embarrassing childhood stories. XD
Lauren
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Okay, so that didn't work...
Wow. We went from "Let's be serious; once a week" to, like, never. Well, I suppose life hit us both with the force of a tree in the hands of Grawp, knocking us head over tail out of the safety zone and into the terrifying world of adulthood. I don't know about you, but I barely feel like I'm out of my teens, let alone anything that can be considered an adult. I suppose I'm getting over the fear of being one, but it's still a little terrifying to know that some people trust me with their children's education.
Anyway, I have to head back to work, but I wanted to at least breach the long-standing absence of posts in this journal and hopefully spark a few more.
Love and plandy,
Lauren1.0
Anyway, I have to head back to work, but I wanted to at least breach the long-standing absence of posts in this journal and hopefully spark a few more.
Love and plandy,
Lauren1.0
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Response
Lauren.0
L.0 Home
Really far away
October 14, 2007
Dear Lauren.0,
With due consideration, we here at Lauren.5 Literary Agency have decided to accept your novel for represention through our company. We have read through the manuscript and feel that it is a breath of fresh literary air.
Our lawyers here at L5LA inc. have informed me that I am required to share with you our company's current financial standing (we filed for bankruptsy last month). Despite our financial difficulties, we are still excited to undertake your project.
We had planned to type a long and wordy response to your original letter, but have found the hour far too late to continue past three measley paragraphs. Please feel free to contact us with any further inquiries.
Respectfully,
Lauren.5
L.0 Home
Really far away
October 14, 2007
Dear Lauren.0,
With due consideration, we here at Lauren.5 Literary Agency have decided to accept your novel for represention through our company. We have read through the manuscript and feel that it is a breath of fresh literary air.
Our lawyers here at L5LA inc. have informed me that I am required to share with you our company's current financial standing (we filed for bankruptsy last month). Despite our financial difficulties, we are still excited to undertake your project.
We had planned to type a long and wordy response to your original letter, but have found the hour far too late to continue past three measley paragraphs. Please feel free to contact us with any further inquiries.
Respectfully,
Lauren.5
Query
Lauren.5
L.5 Literary Angency
Somewhere
October, 13 2007
Dear Lauren.5:
I have always enjoyed the fantasy novels that make me forget they're fantasy—worlds where magic is both commonplace and essential to the landscape, where characters are not always powerful and beautiful, and where the heroes have a potential for depravity that doesn't always go untapped. This led me to begin THE MARKMASTERS TRILOGY, a character-driven story about two people who overcome the fetters of class and expectation to save their world.
When Princess Arianna learns that her trusted companion intends to hand her over to a hostile country, her journey of self-discovery becomes the catalyst for war. Unwilling to be a pawn, she accepts the help of a Mage and an enslaved stableboy and embarks on a furious chase home. After returning to the castle, however, she finds herself changed, worldly, and determined to create her own future. Then the princess's friends return from their own quests, each with dire news. One bears reports of the enemy country's impending siege and the other brings a more chilling tale: the Mark of the Sun has returned. Now, they must defeat the limitations both society and they have created in order to gain the courage they need to preserve their world.
My name is Lauren.0. I am a 23-year-old English Language teacher living in Saitama, Japan. My writing experience includes a poem published in "Remark." magazine and one year's employment at my University's Writing Center. I am a member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms and enjoy researching and replicating medieval life, both in flesh and fiction. I am also a great lover of horses and spent my most recent summer working at a ranch where I taught riding and cared for horses.
THE MARK OF FLIGHT is a first novel of 91,500 words and encompasses Arianna's journey home. The sequel, THE MARK OF THE SUN, is near completion and there is a working outline for book three, THE MARK OF DESTINY. These two books cover the conflict over the Mark of the Sun. Though I'm querying on behalf of THE MARK OF FLIGHT, I am looking for an agent who will represent the entire MARKMASTERS trilogy. I've included a two page synopsis and the full manuscript of THE MARK OF FLIGHT and a self-addressed stamped envelope. I look forward to hearing from you and working together on my novels. Thank you for taking the time to read my query.
Best wishes,
Lauren.0
L.5 Literary Angency
Somewhere
October, 13 2007
Dear Lauren.5:
I have always enjoyed the fantasy novels that make me forget they're fantasy—worlds where magic is both commonplace and essential to the landscape, where characters are not always powerful and beautiful, and where the heroes have a potential for depravity that doesn't always go untapped. This led me to begin THE MARKMASTERS TRILOGY, a character-driven story about two people who overcome the fetters of class and expectation to save their world.
When Princess Arianna learns that her trusted companion intends to hand her over to a hostile country, her journey of self-discovery becomes the catalyst for war. Unwilling to be a pawn, she accepts the help of a Mage and an enslaved stableboy and embarks on a furious chase home. After returning to the castle, however, she finds herself changed, worldly, and determined to create her own future. Then the princess's friends return from their own quests, each with dire news. One bears reports of the enemy country's impending siege and the other brings a more chilling tale: the Mark of the Sun has returned. Now, they must defeat the limitations both society and they have created in order to gain the courage they need to preserve their world.
My name is Lauren.0. I am a 23-year-old English Language teacher living in Saitama, Japan. My writing experience includes a poem published in "Remark." magazine and one year's employment at my University's Writing Center. I am a member of the Society for Creative Anachronisms and enjoy researching and replicating medieval life, both in flesh and fiction. I am also a great lover of horses and spent my most recent summer working at a ranch where I taught riding and cared for horses.
THE MARK OF FLIGHT is a first novel of 91,500 words and encompasses Arianna's journey home. The sequel, THE MARK OF THE SUN, is near completion and there is a working outline for book three, THE MARK OF DESTINY. These two books cover the conflict over the Mark of the Sun. Though I'm querying on behalf of THE MARK OF FLIGHT, I am looking for an agent who will represent the entire MARKMASTERS trilogy. I've included a two page synopsis and the full manuscript of THE MARK OF FLIGHT and a self-addressed stamped envelope. I look forward to hearing from you and working together on my novels. Thank you for taking the time to read my query.
Best wishes,
Lauren.0
Friday, September 28, 2007
LaurenXLauren Episode 3.0
This video was filmed before the posting of episode 2.5, so sorry Scribbie! You'll get the answer to your question in the next video!
Monday, September 24, 2007
LaurenXLauren 2.5
Hopefully this will work this time...God, I miss seeing you :( But there are lots of things going on here. This video is very old though (I think I wish you a happy labor day). I hope to post a new one soon :)
Edit: Well. Just an little red x, huh? I mean, when I click "preview" it shows the video. WTF? Well, you may have to watch it that way, Scribe. Just go to "Post edit" and then click "preview". I hope I get this figured out soon.
Edit: Well. Just an little red x, huh? I mean, when I click "preview" it shows the video. WTF? Well, you may have to watch it that way, Scribe. Just go to "Post edit" and then click "preview". I hope I get this figured out soon.
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