It’s been a while since I’ve written, and I’ll tell you what--I’ve got no excuses! Since you saw me last, I’ve turned down a teaching job and am pursuing photography full-time. Well, pursuing is not quite the right word. I’m succeeding at doing photography! Taking pictures, coupled with tutoring and substituting is earning me more than I did last year teaching 50+ hours a week. But it’s not about the money, baby! For me, it’s really about not getting burned out and doing what I love. Substituting keeps me connected to the youth, another thing that I love.

Speaking of which, I’m in a classroom right now! Subbing for a math class that is showing the movie Stand and Deliver for the next two days. Easy? Yes. The best thing about today was that I’ve seen SO many of my past students in the classes here. This is my first day subbing at Santa Barbara High School, which is the school that receives nearly all the students that come from the Junior High where I worked that past three years. And one JUST walked in and said this: “MR. VAN NOSTRAND! Oh my gosh. This is the best teacher in the world!” Great way to start my day.

And here is what I got to work on while I was ‘working:’