I want to be the sub every time this teacher is out. I subbed for him a couple of times last year, and he always has meticulous plans that involve me doing very little. On more than one occasion, it has meant the guidance counselor coming to talk to several of the classes for the entire period.

Nothing is worse than subbing when there are no (or poor) plans. It is chaos.

While I’m on the subject, the thing that probably bugs me the most about substitute teaching is how utterly solitary it is. People are usually nice, yes, but you’re constantly the new kid in school. Especially at lunch. And even in a school where you sub frequently.

See, you get your lunch when the teacher has his lunch. Since you’re always a different teacher, it’s always a different lunch. Every day in the lunchroom, new people. And as in any workplace, lunchroom groups bond and form. Teachers talk about people you don’t know and things you’re not a part of. And as nice as they are to you, you’re never part of the group. And you do this day after day after day. Sometimes I read a book, but I don’t want to appear aloof…after all, you want these people to know and like you. You want to be on their minds when they need a sub. You want them to tell administrators how much they like you, should a full-time job become available. It’s exhausting.

Blah.

I’m nearing completion of The Unbearable Lightness of Being…I would venture to guess that I will be finished with it today. I am enjoying it, although I’m enjoying the social/political stuff more than the sex stuff. (Yes, yes…the sex stuff is a *metaphor* for the political stuff. I get it. But it’s depressing.)

I was stuffed so full of food yesterday that I thought I was going to explode. Lunch at Rand’s parents’ house (yummy chicken marinaded in this mojito sauce from the Dinosaur. I miss that place…plus like a million side dishes), and dinner at Rand’s friend Chris’s. Chris made a Santa-Fe style chicken stew, and the chicken was simply heavenly. Served over perfectly prepared Basmati rice. My favorite part of the meal, quite possibly, was the little slices of bread with a garlic/parsley/walnut pesto spread. I would have eaten the whole tray, had there been room in my stomach. 😉 Chris has promised me the recipe, and I understand it’s waiting in my (uncheckable) email as I type.

Chris and his wife have a new baby girl, who was utterly adorable. Even more adorable was the sight of Rand holding her and softly singing “Don’t Worry Baby” to her. (somewhere, far off in the distance, erin-go-blog hears the faint ticking of a clock…heehee…) I got to hold her for a bit myself and she fell asleep on my shoulder, gnawing contentedly on my t-shirt.

Awww…