reading a book day

Today I spent my day in Special Ed at the Middle School.  It is always very hard knowing what to do as the special ed substitute.  There are very few directions or notes and most of the 7 periods were pretty much "help the kids with any assignments".  But most of the kids do not want my help, push me away, and they have a helper with them called a para who goes to all their classes and if they want help with anything, they ask her.  She seemed a bit annoyed that I was even there since they didn't need me, but it's not my fault. :) 

Anyway, one good thing happened that in 2 of the classes I was supposed to read a novel out loud to the kids while they followed along.  They just started this book so I got to read the beginning.  By the time we got to it though we only had about 10-15 minutes of reading so I only read a couple chapters to them but the book intrigued me so much I kept reading it (since I wasn't really doing anything the other periods anyway) and then I took the book home so I could finish it. :)  It was a quick read, a scifi but just very thought provoking ideas about society and our culture and I could not put it down.  So what started as a pretty boring day turned into a "finish-that-book day" and now the house is a mess.  This is exactly why I try my best to stay away from any good books.  The reason is simple: I can't put them down and forget about the kids, the house, meals, sleep or anything. :)  But since I was forced into starting this book, I had no choice but to finish it. 

Well, One more day in Middle school tomorrow and hopefully I won't start a new book.  It is a huge change from subbing in Anika's 1st grade class 3 days in a row.  Some people like the older grades because it's low-key and there's not too much to do but I have to say I prefer staying busy with the kids even though you are pretty tired by the end of the day.  By the end of the 3rd day, my voice was going hoarse and I was very thankful for the microphone. :)  Who knew that using a microphone, you can use a gentle and calm voice and the kids listen better than when you try to speak over them talking. 

Spring is here too, the snow is melting everywhere, kids are wearing shorts to school (it is barely above freezing in the morning) and we are all more than excited about the warmer weather.  It is the first Spring with our new deck too and we are just loving it in the afternoons/evenings.  On Sunday I put our big blanket out there and the kids and I just camped out there, lying in the warm sunshine.  You can never truly appreciate Spring if you haven't survived our Northern MN winter. :) It sure gives you the new appreciation for every sunshine, every warm day, every blossom.