February 26 - Customer Service

Episode watched: None

I think for any store, customer service and support are the key to getting and keeping customers.  The nerds couldn't run the school store anymore at Bayside because, as I would assume, they were nerds and couldn't pull in any customer base.  So Belding let Zack take it over and we all know (or maybe just some of us) that he got his business by making a calendar of the swim team + Mr. Belding. Not that I think this is okay, but he wanted to get customers. I recently found a new store in the area that is a lacrosse equipment dealer. Now, for anyone that knows the lacrosse world, most lacrosse players are arrogant and what we call "Lax Bros." That's pretty much what I get when I deal with a lot of equipment vendors...until now. This new store does all the right things, has pulled me in as a customer and has me telling other people...and they didn't need to entice me with an issue of SI's swimsuit edition.

Lesson learned: Not all people are sold on bikini's and skin...well, not always.

February 25 - A Little Peppy

Episode watched: Kelly kisses Professor Lasky

It was spirit week at school...rah, rah! We had shortened classes and a big pep assembly at The Max...wait, no sorry, I wished it was at The Max but I don't think our student body could fit in there. It was amazing that we have a student body of approximately 2200 students and maybe, if I had to guess, 1300 show up at the assembly. Where are the other 900?

Now the real question is how big was Bayside and why were there only like 30 people at their pep assemblies? Did they have a truancy issue?

Lesson learned: The producers and cameramen should have done a better job making me think that Bayside was a real high school.

February 24 - Getting off track

Episode watched: Zack and the pop star

Today was a little bit tougher, I had to really stretch my creativity and thinking for this one. Granted, dozens of my others are large stretches as well, but who really cares? As we're about to start the lacrosse team we've all of a sudden had a flood of wrestlers come out to practice. This is a very good thing, as they have discipline, work ethic and they're strong.  It made me wonder if Bayside would have had a lacrosse team, would Slater have tried out? I know he played football and ran track, but I'm thinking he would have appreciated the lacrosse field rather than just turning left during track practice. (Get it? Track runners always run counter-clockwise, why don't they ever change directions?)

Lesson learned: If track runners switched directions occasionally, they wouldn't have to buy new shoes as often...confused? Think getting your tires rotated.

February 23 - I'm Hurt

Episode watched: Zack and Nikki's project

There's the episode when Zack hurts his knee during basketball because of some freak accident in the locker room with Mr. Belding. If you watch the episode Zack pretty much crumbles like cotton candy under anything. He barely touches Mr. Belding and all of a sudden he's got a major knee injury that results in surgery. They didn't even attempt to make it look real, painful or scary, yet the next thing we know he's in a knee brace waiting to be cut open.  I had one of those moments during practice today. I've been coaching lacrosse for 6 years now and somehow haven't gotten injured during a practice or playing with the team...until today. In a non-contact drill where I was literally standing as a decoy I knocked knees with a kid and crumbled to the ground like Zack. He somehow found the perfect spot on my knee to force me to put zero pressure when I walked and hobble around like an old man...I think I can now empathize with Zack's cotton candy insides. 

Lesson learned: Lacrosse sticks can double as a walking cane...awesome. 

February 22 - Those Teachers

Episode watched: Ms. Bliss's Money

There are those teacher (Ms. Bliss, Mr. Belding) that students connect with while they're in school and far beyond school as well. I always think of those two television teacher and Mr. Feeny from Boy Meets World of the teachers who have been able to relate to their students in a unique and wonderful way. One of the main reasons for teaching for me was those same kind of teachers I encountered and connected with. There were very few, but luckily I still see or talk to them today.  We had a nice surprise during our in-service today that one of those teachers came and led our professional develop. It was great, as usual, to see her and catch up and remember why parts of high school were good and why I wanted to teach.  Hopefully everyone has a Bliss, Belding or Fenny.

Lesson learned: Some cliche saying about people affecting our lives and leaving an impression. Just type in inspirational quotes + teachers in google.

February 21 - Resolution #2

Episode watched: None - thank you presidents of the USA

I hereby resolve, until the month of April, to not use Jessie on caffeine pills as one of my references. As of tonight I did it for the third time this year when we were out to dinner with a friend and he mentioned his girlfriend going to bed later and later. Of course my mind went immediately to the caffeine pills. But as of now, this moment in time I promise to not use this episode as a crutch for at least the next 5 weeks.  I'm sorry that's the single greatest moment of any SBtB episode. I'm sorry it applies to life in so many ways. I sorry to my millions and millions (okay like 10-12) of readers for the repetition and possible laziness. But you better sure as hell expect a reference the first week of April, I can only give up my addiction for so long.

Lesson learned: Repeating the same thing over and over loses your audience...maybe that's why I hate the morning news when I see the weather 3 times throughout a 20 minute block.

February 20 - Dress Like a King

Episode watched: None

We were at King Sooper's doing a bit of grocery shopping today and out of the corner of my eye I caught somebody dressed a bit strange. I wouldn't have thought much of it if we were in Aurora, Commerce City or any Denver grocery store, but we were in the ever-so judgmental Greenwood Village. And this guy was dressed in all white with sequins and yes, and Elvis wig. At first I thought maybe he was on his way home from a Bachelorette party gig, but realized that it was Sunday afternoon.  Not only was he comfortably walking around the store, but he worked there too! I'm not the biggest Elvis fan, but I remembered that Screech's parents were and even left him alone at the house while they went and paid homage at Graceland. I'm very impressed with this young kid for wearing this work, I'm wondering if he lost a bet or if it was dress up day in suburbia.

Lesson learned: Don't wear white after Labor Dar...especially with sequins.