18

 And another week has passed. It's been a good semester so far. Last spring was the most miserable semester of my entire decades-long teaching career, and as I entered this one I had this bad feeling that it might repeat itself - which would be a pretty dreadful way to finish out my career. Maybe the random makeup of my classes has been favorable this semester, or maybe the coming ending is close enough that it's giving me energy and some perspective, and maybe the students actually understand that it's the end and either they have some appreciation for all these years or are just afraid that I could flunk them all and by the time I'd have to answer for my crimes I'd already be overseas (that's not my serious theory). Anyway, it's been a good start to the semester. Of course, I'm teaching a couple classes on Journey to the West, which is a prefect fit for their interests, and two classes on Fascism, which is obviously a perfect if grim fit for this particular moment in time, so that may also play in my favor.

Thanks to Dejon Brissett for loaning me the number of eighteen for today. Brissett, a native of Mississauga, Ontario, graduated from Virginia, before returning north to play for the Toronto Argonauts (essentially, his hometown team). He's a wide receiver, and won two Grey Cups with the Argos (2022 and 2024). Last year was his best year, and he's newly signed with the Calgary Stampeders.