Gasp! Wheeze!

This past week, we started back up at school. Not "teachers reporting" back to school. The kids came back. Yes, the sickly smell of bad perfume and sweet and sour "chicken" filled the hallways. The sound of F-bombs filled the air....and that was just my classroom (rimshot!). And the overall teen angst permeated every crevice in the school.

So what I'm trying to say is school started again.

For the past 8 years, I'd like to think that I am fairly prepared for the first few days of school. Students over-analyze their schedules to see when/where they can hang out with their friends. Lost freshman panic that they won't make it to class especially when that pesky broadcast teacher keeps badgering them and yelling "FRESHMAN!" Typical stuff.

What I'm not prepared for, however, is being in teaching shape. There aren't enough intervals, tempo runs, or long runs to get you ready for this. I don't know what it is. I'm in fairly good shape. I mean, I put in my miles, try to eat right, get some sleep, blah blah blah. But, 8+ hours of these kids and I'm beat.

Maybe it's the fact that I'm on my feet more. Putting more miles in between classroom and office. Or, maybe it's the fact that I have to deal with conversations like this:

STUDENT: So, I was like, "Dad, that's so unfair" and he hung up on me! This is, like the worst day of my life! I swear!"

FRIEND OF STUDENT: Did you, like, call him back?

STUDENT: No.

That was it. End of conversation. See how that scintillating dialogue can be tiring? Not to mention the fact that it's like Thunderdome during passing periods. And they're just getting warmed up.

I love my job. I really do. And in about 2 weeks I'll be acclimated to it all. Right now, I'd invest in Starbucks and/or meth if I were you.