I have accepted a job as an 8th grade Engligh and Science teacher. I will be expected to arrive every morning at 7:30 am. I will be enforcing rules. I will teach in the same building as my mother. I suppose I can say that I am lucky to have a job.

I went today to observe the current teacher who I am replacing. I was 25 minutes late and showed up just as the first period bell rang. This school does not serve coffee. This school has roaches that crawl over the water dispensers. This school uses motivational phrases that are grammatically incorrect.

The administration, in an effort to recruit me, claims they will grant me leave as I need it. I suppose anything is possible.

Middle school was not a good time for me. I think there are very few people who can look back and feel fondly about the years between ages 11 and 14. The last time I worked full time in a middle school, some kid tried to poison me on the first day. I doubt that will happen again but there is bound to be some youth-induced nuttiness.

It just feels wrong.

In other exciting news, I am finally taking a formal class in identifying edible wild plants. Call me if you want to share a Poison hemlock salad. Oh wait, poison hemlock has killed people who mistook it for its relatives, wild carrots and wild parsnips.