Mitch

09:22 am: Summer Break Boredom
Hey everyone-

I decided to make a video blog of my summer vacation. Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/MitchElatkin and you'll find all my videos. Please watch them as they are somewhat entertaining. This is what happens when you give teachers 8 weeks off. Hope you watch them all! :) Until next time...

11:15 pm: Getting Older...
Everyday I feel achy. I don't know what the issue is. I think I need a new mattress. I'm so uncomfortable all day. Sleeping is not exciting anymore because I always wake up in pain. It really sucks. AND I think my thumbs are fucked up from texting so much. I hate this. 26 go away. I want to be 22.

03:48 pm: Another day of summer break...
Not much going on lately. I went to my parent's last night after 6 weeks of not seeing them. We got into a little spat that lasted a month. All is well again. No concerns. We went to dinner and then watched the BET awards. I about freaked out when TLC performed together again. It's been over 3 years since they last performed together. I loved it. I miss watching them on TV.

Patrick is coming over tonight. Ok he comes over almost every night. It's all good. We are doing well. We have a few spats here and there but over all it's a very functional relationship.

I added the performance with TLC from last night. Check it out. It was kind of sad seeing them without Left Eye.

Also I'm newly obsessed with www.linkedin.com. So if you're on that site, add me to your network. Until next time...

10:53 am: Revision from last post...
My roommate had a peace offering yesterday. I accepted. I hate conflict. It makes everything very awkward and uncomfortable. We are going to hang out for a little bit when she gets home from work.

This is my third week off and I'm getting kind of bored. It's totally uneventful. I need to find something to do to spice it up. I woke up super early today for no reason and I went to bed at 3 am or so.

I have no exciting news so I'll keep this short. Until next time...

05:01 pm: Since MySpace has exited my life...
Hey Everyone-

I decided to use LiveJournal again since I deleted my MySpace page. It's all dumb. I lost my job at NewHope Academy because the administration is afraid of the unknown. They called me a "risk" and because I have "boundary issues." It's all bogus. They use boundary issues as a way to protect themselves but have no real definition of it. Like I said it's bogus. PLUS, everyone knows my principal Brandy was behind everything. Talk about 2 faced. Oh well, I'm done from there now.

I finished the school year at my old high school Rolling Meadows High School. It was stressful but it was cool working with my old teachers. For the fall I accepted a job at Golder College Prep. I'm super excited and it's more more money than what I was making.

I also have a boyfriend. His name is Patrick. He's great and really good to me. We've been together about 6 weeks now and I'm very happy. We've had a few disagreements but it's all part of being in a relationship. He's really awesome.

I'm on summer vacation until August 4th. I hate having a lot of time off but then again once I start working again I'll hate that I said that.

I live in the Andersonville neighborhood now. I moved from Lakeview in May. The apartment is so nice but my one roommate refuses to clean and uses work as an excuse. UNACCEPTABLE!!! Nonetheless, I hope she gets this job in Nashville so I can live in a clean apartment.

I think that's about all for today. Until next time...

07:16 pm: Voice Post

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10:20 pm: Loosen up my buttons...
Manda and I realized that Doogie Howser was the first confirmed blogger in our modern time. He used to blog at the end of every episode. Something to contemplate...

I had a 13 1/2 hour school day today. It was so long and I'm exhausted. I had to deal with some crazy kids today. It was odd. Ok it's not odd, I'm a special ed teacher. Then I had open house tonight where I had to talk to parents that were just as off the wall as their children. I guess the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

I just opened my grad class and after 3 assignments, I have a 100%. I just got a 60/60 on my research analysis paper. Those are so hard to write so I'm happy that I got such a good grade.

Anything else....hmmmm...it got cold really fast this fall. I'm happy. My apartment was a steam bath this summer. I finally got to take the air conditioner out of the window. That's all for tonight. Until next time...

05:25 pm: Why?
Why is Beyonce so wonderful?

02:12 pm: Rebroadcasted from Myspace...
To lesson plan or not to lesson plan...
that is the question...

I just finished having my new favorite snack, graham crackers with cool whip. It's absolutely delicious. I get the low fat whip and low fat crackers to make sure I don't become a total hog.

Lisa and I had a new creation in lunches yesterday. It's called a pizza bowl. It was impressingly delicious. I need to get another one very soon. I could get addicted to them. Yum yum... LOL normally it would be aggravating if I read someone's blog and they wrote "yum yum" so I had to check if I could annoy myself. I certainly did. :)

My current dilemma is as follows: Why am I so moody? I can't seem to find the cause. Veronica says it's because I'm a woman and/or closeted transgender but I think the transgender part is pushing it. Maybe I do have a period I just haven't figured out exactly when it occurs. Any answers, please share.

I'm going to lesson plan, or at least that's what I plan to do. Until next time...

08:46 pm: Take the poll though I know the results...
Poll #821074 MySpace Vs. LiveJournal
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 4

Where should I post my journal?

02:34 pm: Retiring...
Hey everyone-
I think after 569 entries and almost 5 years, it's time to retire my livejournal. I just find it easier to blog on myspace because then I can multi-task. Please add me as a friend there if you haven't already: http://www.myspace.com/mitchelatkin You can read my blogs there. If there is a HUGE objection to me leaving livejournal then please tell me and I can reconsider my thoughts. Thank you all for your comments and fun times these past 5 years...hope you continue on with me on myspace. As usual, until next time...

07:20 pm: Summer Vacation...
I don't know why I don't have my livejournal addiction like I used to. Maybe it's because I'm getting older.

Let's see what's happened since we last were together. I graduated my first set of students last Monday. On Tuesday morning my grandma died so I dealt with that all week. All day Tuesday I had to say goodbye at both of my schools which was also pretty sad. On Friday was the funeral and I had to get through that. Saturday I went to Rockford and hung out with Veronica and Lisa. That's about it.

I've gotten myself in an emotional whirlwind about Christian. I still don't know what to do. He has it in his head that we are still together but I don't feel like we are. He wants things back to normal yet he's not willing to make any changes. I need to figure this out soon so I can get back into the dating pool.

Alright back to doing nothing during summer vacation. Only one week till summer school begins!

Oh yeah...who has a 4.0 in grad school! That's right, ME!!!

04:09 pm: My big step...
So I broke up with Christian yesterday. It was a big step for me. I wasn't happy. I needed to be free. He wasn't willing to work on getting his life better. It's sad but it needed to be done. I guess I can be cliche when I say that if it was meant to be then it will one day. I thought about the things I missed about him and it wasn't enough to carry me through. I want to start my new job in 2 weeks on a fresh start. New apartment, new job, new life. I need to concentrate on my happiness. I told him that I can't be with him until I was able to make sacrifices for him again. I should of said that I can't be with him until he made sacrifices for me, which he desperately needed to do. I'm sad but happy if that makes any sense. I'm listening to music to calm me and making sure I spend time with friends.

I've gotten slightly hooked on myspace. I don't know how I feel about it but it's fun for the time being. Ok I'm going to hang out online until Jessica calls me. Until next time...

03:50 pm: My hips don't lie...
I should probably make this post pretty significant. I only have two more days till summer vacation. Earlier in the school year I got laid off because they let go of all the 1st year teachers. It's was super depressing and kind of scary. I didn't know what to do. I started interviewing everywhere across the earth. I managed to get an offer at New Hope Academy in Niles. It's a gifted school for kids with emotional needs. An extra $13,000 a year. That excites me. I'm excited, it's a year round school and I start June 19th. It's only half days over the summer and all of August off. Very manageable. Plus, what would I do with myself over the summer.

Christian and I are not doing so hot. He's been blowing me off for really stupid plans. People keep ask me if he's cheating on me but I'm not entirely sure. At this point I really don't care. He doesn't really have much direction in life right now and I'm sick of his irresponsibility. We'll see if he gets his act together then we might have a chance, if not then I'm fine dating other people. He's got some serious growing up to do. Word to the wise: Teachers do NOT make good sugar daddies! :)

I'm hoping to start running again once school gets out for summer. I really want to lose my stomach. I want to be fit and toned. It's a long shot.

Other than all of that I'm in my new apartment in the city. I moved from the 4th floor to the 2nd floor. I'm saving myself $110 a month in rent. I'm so proud of myself. My studio is super cute and not as small as you might think.

That's all kids. Until next time...

09:01 pm: I have internet again...
I have internet in my apartment now. Makes me excited. I'm back in business...

02:58 pm: It's been a long time...
So a lot has gone on in my life since the last time I wrote. First off, I got myself out of debt finally. Making teacher salary has really helped that out. I still have a lot to pay off but it's finally manageable.

I started my master's degree. It's a master's of teaching and learning with an emphasis in secondary literacy. It's pretty simple, I got a 4.0 in my first quarter. I'm only taking 1 class this quarter mainly because I want more time to myself.

I got laid off after this current school year. There were not enough students to fill my position for next year. I have 3 interviews this week and one of them is my 3rd interview. My current prinicpal said that they should be hiring me soon. The pay at that school is negotiable so I'm going to ask for $38,000+. It's high school for emotional needs. I love the high school level so I'm excited about it.

Christian and I are going to live apart after our lease is up in May. We are still going to stay together but the separation may be good. I don't know how it's going to play out until it happens. I'm pretty depressed about it. When we do move, he's moving with his friend Ashley and I'm moving two floors below. It's a studio but I'll save $110 a month.

My Mustang needs new brakes and I need to find a way to afford them. I will this summer but I don't think brakes on a car is something you should wait on. Especially considering I drive and back and forth in rush hour traffic everyday of the school year.

That's about it. I need to get some grad work done so that's where I'm headed. Until next time...

06:30 pm: Winter Break as a Teacher...
I try not to update this as much because then people will have to call me. :)

I'm on winter break...it's kind of nice being on break and getting paid for it.

I went to my stupid graduation ceremony on Saturday and it was pretty dumb considering I'd already been teaching for 2 months and I got my certificate a month earlier. I guess it was just closure from the hellish ISU program. I ended up graduating on the Dean's list and getting a pretty phenomenal overall GPA.

Christian's at work now so I'm pretty bored. He should be home soon I think.

I'm starting my Master's program January 4th. I know it's soon after my bachelor's but I want to get it moving so I can get up in the pay scales. I'm making good money now but master's credits will make it even better.

I'm debating on leaving my district after this school year. It's one of the best elementary districts in the state but I think high school may be more for me. Either way it's a job and I'm grateful for it.

Next month Christian and I will be together for a year, I don't know where the time has gone. We've been through a lot together and it's awesome we made it through those hard times.

I think that's about it. I'm going to go home and work on some IAA stuff so I don't have to do it when I get back to school next month. Until next time...

08:45 pm: I did it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey...Guess what?!?!?!! I got a TEACHING JOB!!!!! I will be part time self-contained LD at Frost Jr High in Schaumburg in the morning and a 4th inclusion teacher at Nerge Elementary School in the afternoon. Both schools are in Schaumburg district 54!!! I'm so grateful I was able to get a job literally two days after student teaching. I finally graduate college in only 4 weeks!!!!! I start teaching October 24th. Things are finally looking up! Until next time...

07:16 pm: Wondering Where I've Been?
I don't have internet access in my apartment so I have to go to the internet cafe a few blocks away to check my e-mail. I gathered some change from my change bucket just so I could come and update. I'm still at the Jewel at the corner of Montrose and Sheridan. Hell store on earth though I don't think it's as bad as the Rolling Meadows store. I think my favorite store will have to be my Bloomington store down at school. That was just fun. One of my old co-workers from that store is moving to Chicago so her and I should have some good fun here in the Chi.

Christian and I just celebrated 6 months at the end of July and are edging towards 7 months now. We got through our rough spell and things are starting to look up again. Financially it sucked for both of us. I just need to get through my last 2 months of school and then things are really going to be good.

I got my first teaching job rejection. THANK GOD I didn't like the school. It was this run down building in Naperville. The principal was one of those aggravating special education people that have warped perceptions of their school and how it is supposed to run. Of course I would probably be ecstatic if I got the job but I think it was for the best. I'm probably going to be subbing in District 207 until I can take Mike's job when he retires in June of 2006. Mike was my cooperating teacher at Maine West.

Let's see what else. Tomorrow starts my last week of summer vacation before school starts. Of course I only have 1 day off but it will give me some money for when I start school. Finally the end of my college career. This has taken too long. At least I'll be done and I may start working on my masters degree in January. Type 75 administration degree here I come.

Other than all of that my life is about the same. Everyone in my life is pretty much done with college now and they have full time jobs so I don't get to see my friends as much as I would like. All part of growing up. I think that's about it. Until next time...

Maybe I've crazy but I did I tell everyone that I moved to CHICAGO??!?!?! Yeah I moved a few blocks from Boyztown. Maybe I did I'm drawing a blank. Christian and I live on Wellington near Broadway. :)