Student Response

I do teacher evaluations before Christmas break. This is what one of my students wrote to the response "anything else you want to share with Mr. Burrill:"

Thank you for teaching me the ways of life. I will be sure to use them if I move. I won't let myself down or my foster mom.

Homework

I find it interesting that the students most likely to complain about me assigning too much homework or assigning homework on the weekend are the students that never do their homework. I think it takes that same amount of time to not do a short assignment as it does to not do a long one. I'm wondering if the same upbringing that teaches students to be irresponsible also teaches them to complain. I haven't collected a lot of data yet, but these are some of my early thoughts.

Spelling

Restaurant. Add that to my list of words I always spell wrong and have spell check correct it. I remember many times in my life using a synonym when I actually wanted to write "necessary." I finally learned to spell "necessary."

Work

Overall, I've adjusted well to my new schedule. I've been sleeping well, and had a decent attitude about everything. This week I did have trouble getting to work on time, and I'm going to try to start leaving even earlier. I am supposed to report at 8:13am.

Monday: 8:13
Tuesday: Worked off site
Wednesday: 8:15
Thursday: 8:14
Friday: 8:04

Work Arrival

I am re-centered myself and my attitude at work. Those of you following along know I am supposed to report to work by 8:13am.

This week my arrival time:
Monday: 8:04
Tuesday: 7:50
Wednesday: 8:13
Thursday: 8:10
Friday: 8:06

I left late on Wednesday, but fortunately traffic was good and I still made it.

Poker Outline

My friend Matt asked me for a little poker lesson before he enters into a charity event tomorrow evening. I just prepared this outline for tonight:


Hold ‘em Lesson: Level 3
Successful full-table play

• Starting Hand Selection
• Position
Preflop/ Post-flop
• Number of players involved
At the table/ In the hand
• Pot Size
• Common Odd Approximations
• Bluffing
Sparingly/Semi-bluffing
• Going All-in/Playing Short

Champions of Life

A couple years ago I started captaining an ultimate team in the spirit league. I managed to get together some great people. We now have a terrific group of friends and have a little bit of history. Each season we've changed our team name depending on the theme of the league, but we've kept our yellow shirts. I've contemplated early retirement because of my knee, but right now my knee feels okay, and I'm enjoying the team too much. After our tournament victory this Saturday Alex sent the team the following e-mail:

Hola Team Vincent/Leinenkugel/Sally Ann Thunder Ann That's a lot of Ann's,

Good job today and congrats.

While excited by the win, I just wanted to tell you how proud I was to play with each and every one of you today. Everyone ran at 110% and stayed positive throughout. We constantly encouraged each other to shake off the drops, play hard D, and do our best individually but also as a team. Winning is nice, but even if we had lost I would have walked away feeling like we hadn't.

More than ever I can't help but feel that frisbee is a metaphor for life. Those teams that leave it on the field and challenge each other to move forward using positivity end up on top. We saw the alternative twice today. Y'all are awesome. I'd play with you any time, anyplace. Not to lose perspective, this is spirit league, and while a win always feels nice, it's only a small part of our world. I hope you all know that in the game of life, you are real champions.

Proud to wear the yellow,

Alex

Sleepless Blogging

I was at Sean's house the other day. I was talking about my insomnia issues. He said, "I have a suggestion for you. Next time you can't sleep get up and write another blog post."

He was right. Once a month seems very infrequent.

Laundry

I walked across the street to the bank to get some quarters for laundry. It isn't my bank so I wasn't making a withdrawl, just a cash exchange. I handed the teller a $100 bill and asked for $60 in twenties and $40 in quarters.

Later I was thinking that I doubt they get very many people walking in to the bank with hundred dollar bills that need quarters for laundry. I would also imagine most people getting quarters for laundry don't ask for forty bucks worth.