THE MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT

Folks, I'm really sorry I haven't been posting as regularly as I should on here.

Lately I have been feeling a bit self-conscious about my professional standards due to a few slip ups in the classroom. I forgot to give out a makeup test to one class last week; I am unsure of a certain math problem and possibly give out wrong information; I let students from another classroom come into the one I am teaching and disrupt things (granted, there was nothing to disrupt--everyone had finished their work already).

But worst of all was this, two weeks ago:

I am in a lower level English class, trying to teach through two chapters of Homer's "The Iliad." I draw on the board, read through the scenes, check for comprehension, all the good stuff. We finish early and there is no more instruction for the students so I do the nice thing and let them chat quietly, listen to their iPods, and so on. I, in turn, go to my desk and work on the Rubik's Cube. Because I am addicted.

Apparently I am very focused when I solve the Rubik's Cube over and over again, because at some point the PRINCIPAL OF THE SCHOOL steps into the open doorway to check in on things and I did not notice him for probably three solid minutes.

I finally notice that someone is in the classroom and half-turn my chair with my Rubik's Cube in hand and let out a surprised "Hi" to the principal who is just standing there, arms crossed, staring poison into my skull.

Do you know what he does? He says a colorless "Hi" right back at me and leaves.