Friday Fragments

Once again thanks to Mrs. 4444's for hosting Friday Fragments.

• Congrats to my daughter Robyn on graduating from grade eight yesterday.  We are very proud of her.
• On a related note: I am much too young to be the parent of a high-schooler?  Can I send her back for a year so I can at least be 40 when the time comes?
• We are starting to try to get Liam to sleep in his own bed.  The experiment worked okay the first night.  We are now attempting night two.  
• On a related note:   We leave for vacation soon, so we are making these strides forward just in time to go on vacation and screw it all up anyways.
• Are you pro or against bow ties?

 

• On a related note:  Robyn's graduation required them to have a pastel colored dress.  While she looked pretty - her dress had a strong resemblance to that of a 50s and/or 70s bridesmaid gown.

• Looking forward to starting an actual vacation like experience next week.  I may teach hospitality and tourism but I don't practice what I preach in this respect very often.  I am so much more comfortable being the host and not necessarily the guest.
• On a related note: I will not pack work, I will not pack work, I will not pack work...(packing a couple of texts I have been meaning to read soon).
• This is my favorite picture of the week...

• On a related note I also liked this one - this is the view I get walking to work everyday...

Happy graduation Robyn!

We are very proud of you.

Wordless Wednesday

This is our faculty club...how lucky am I?

The Outside of the Thompson-Muller House (yes, this is our faculty club)

The dining room inside the club...(our lunch room)

Another angle - anyone want to join me for lunch?

The lounge - perfect for relaxing or for hosting small meetings.

Or sit on the porch and discuss well - anything...

The buildings' facade

What a great history it has!

YouTube Tuesday - Anniversary Edition

Tomorrow is Heather's and I anniversary - therefore a YouTube Tribute is needed...

This was our wedding song...



 That is only because Heather forgot the CDs at home - it was supposed to be...



After 14 years, it probably should have been...

Monday Quiz About Me

1. Finish this sentence - The thing I dislike most about shopping is....

going to begin with. I guess it is a necessary evil.

2. What is your favorite flavor of jello?

Jello is for wimps - everyone knows real men like pudding...

3. If you could trade places with anyone in the world for one day who would you be and why?

The most fun thing to do would be to leave it to chance - a 1 in 7,016,244,234 of becoming anyone for the day.  I have no idea if the person would be rich or poor.  I do not know where the person lives or if they have family.  I don't know if the individual lives in a war zone or if they are a good person? That would be the fun of it.  Just pure randomness to live the life of someone else just for a day.

4. Who changes the lightbulbs at your house?

I do..I am afraid that if Heather climbs on anything a meter or two off the ground she will near kill herself.

Now my question for you -

5. Give me an example of American cuisine...


Does McDonalds count?

Sundays in My City

One again thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting Sundays in My City.





Here is the 2D view of the Middle of the College of Charleston Campus

Moving into a 3D World...(this is really cool on an iPad)

He Said/She Said

It is amazing how perceptions of time changes over the years.  When you are a toddler every sleep feels like it is forever; when you get into your teens - a week seem like a long time.  In college/university you start measuring your life in terms.  Now, as I have gotten older, I seem to be measuring time in five year increments. My parents who are in retirement age think of time in terms of decades. So what is the point of this babble? This week is our 14 year anniversary.  While that seems like a long time to some, in my mind it still feels rather new.

One of the keys to keeping a marriage successful is to grow and develop together.  I really think that is why marriages fail.  One partner grows while the other is stagnant and they end up in different mind spaces.  This is not a problem in our household as both of us are constantly challenging and supporting each others' personal growth. For instance, the entire reason I started blogging was to support Heather's interest in it.  As we are getting older, we are both still willing to grow and develop.  This means that our marriage constantly feels fresh as there is always something new going on.   The stagnation many unhappy couples report happens rarely in this household.

So given my time-space perceptions I would like to offer Heather a happy 4.7 time scaled anniversary!

To read Heather's version click here

Friday Fragmants

Welcome to another view inside this fragged up mind of mine.  You can blame Mrs. 4444's for exposing you to such things but thank her for hosting as well.

• I have been in training all week (though probably not the training a desperately need it was tough putting on the jeans this morning) about using technology in the class room.  Overall, it has been an enjoyable experience.  The most interesting things I have learnt this week include - AirSketch, PicStitch, SyncPad, Splice & DocsToGo.  I will be conducting a review of these over the next couple of week - so keep visiting to read about this interesting Apps.  Thanks to the instructors for making this such an interesting week!
• On a related note: I now have a Twitter account using the handle - ProfWayneWSmith.  I'd like some people to follow while I get used to it.  So leave me your handle and I will be happy  (well, at least mildly contented) to follow you.
• My absolute favorite App that I learnt this week was one called TourWrist.  This App allows for you to create a 360 degree panoramic view.  I posted my first attempt at this on Wednesday.  It is especially cool if you are checking this out on an iPad.
• On a related note:  I have since gotten much better with this App and I will post some new results participating in the Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City hop this weekend.
• I would like to welcome my in laws who arrived to visit.  I am sorry, I didn't get to see you much yesterday as I collapsed sometime before 7:00 last night.  I promise I will be a little more awake tonight.
• On a related note: I am sorry sorry for the state of the house when you arrived.  I have not been home to clean with me trying to combine this training week with my regular schedule.  Not the best example of planning I have ever done.
• On a related related note: Thanks to my wonderful bride Heather for holding down the fort this week.  She has even blogged less than normal this week because of my schedule.  So go onto www.actingbalanced.com and give her an extra hit for me. Please...
• Though he doesn't read my blog - congratulations to my son Liam.  Yesterday as we were playing with his numbers my five year old successfully added 1+1, 2+2, 3+3, 4+4, 5+5 and subtracted 5-4, 5-3, 5-2 & 3-1.  He is also starting to spell a little too.  Nice breakthroughs for him.
• On a related note: In my training course we had to develop a cartoon that outlined to students when it was appropriate to use technology.  Here is the one I am working on with my partner.  What do you think?  Think I will get a breakthrough here?

• Hope my daughter Robyn enjoyed her three day adventure on the C of C campus!
• On a related note: note she was on campus for three days and except for five minutes you didn't see the rest of the time - so you see you can come to C of C when you are done high school...

Wordless Wednesday

I am taking a training course on tourism and technology.  One of the Apps I have been lucky to learn a little about is one called TourWrist.  See my first attempt playing with the App below (please be kind).

YouTube Tuesday

This week I am taking a training course about using technology in the classroom.   So what better way to enjoy the course than by looking at technology based clips...

According to my training the Millennial's are different from other generations...Video may have killed the radio star but YouTube Killed the MTV Star...

A few years ago, it was all about the Pentiums now it is about the G's...

Perhaps Aerosmith's version of a technological world will come true...

Although Alicia Silverstone is still a classic...

TLT - A Teaching Philosophy

I am taking a training course and our first assignment is to reexamine our teaching philosophy...

Here goes...

Primary Mission: 

ENGAGE the Students

How to Achieve Mission Success:

1. Blend Theory with Practice

2. Demonstrate a Passion and Love for the Subject

3. Maintain High Expectations

4. Care About the Students

5. Evolve With the Times...

& 

Most Importantly

6. Laugh, Live & Love - Teach Lessons for Beyond the Classroom

Monday Quiz About Me

1. Finish this sentence - The last book I read and enjoyed was....

Toys by James Patterson.

From the website:

James Bond and Jason Bourne have just been topped! A battle for the world is set into unstoppable motion and Hays Baker is the only one who can save it.

Hays Baker and his wife Lizbeth possess super-human strength, extraordinary intelligence, stunning looks, a sex life to die for, and two beautiful children. Of course they do—they're Elites, endowed at birth with the very best that the world can offer. The only problem in their perfect world: humans and their toys!

The one with the most toys—dies

The top operative for the Agency of Change, Hays has just won the fiercest battle of his career. He has been praised by the President, and is a national hero. But before he can savor his triumph, he receives an unbelievable shock that overturns everything he thought was true. Suddenly Hays is on the other side of the gun, forced to leave his perfect family and fight for his life.

Now a hunted fugitive, Hays is thrown into a life he never dreamed possible—fighting to save humans everywhere from extinction. He enlists all of his training to uncover the truth that will save millions of lives—maybe even his own. James Patterson's Toys is a thriller on a hyper plane—with a hero who rivals both James Bond and Jason Bourne.

2. Do you have special Victoria Day (Canadian) or Memorial Day (US) traditions? If you don't live in Canada or the US, what is the next holiday that you are celebrating where you are?

Not especially - though this is usually the signal that our annual pilgrimage to Canada is just around the corner.

3. If you could invent something to make your life simpler, what would it be?

 Each journal I write for has a slightly different format so  I would invent a program that automatically formats you manuscripts for whatever journal you are writing for. 

4. What is your favorite recent blog post?

I wrote this piece of advice for graduates that I thought was interesting.  http://www.waynewsmith.com/2012/04/words-of-advice-for-graduates.html

Now my question for you...

5. What makes your heart go a flutter?

For me it is memories of my sister.  She passed away over a decade ago now and every now and then something will remind me of her and bring back a strong memory.  It is usually a bittersweet moment.

He Said/ She Said

One of the toughest things about being a couple is when you both get busy.  The communication challenge is particularly taxing.  This week I think Heather and I had maybe an hour worth of conversation combined.  That conversation consisted of who was picking up what kid when.  This creates a frustrating situation for both partners and creates the potential for a lot of conflict within the marriage.  Add to that an absolute level of exhaustion from the schedule combined with the stress and one is sitting on a powder keg.

I wish I knew the secret to getting around the inevitable fight that arises out of this situation.  This is where I actually learned something working in the political arena.  You know you are going to take a bloody nose at times but one needs to engage in damage control.  The frustration comes out but you try not to take it personally.   You know the situation is begging for a release of tension and when it happens - you need to have a thick skin and realize there are moments when life will not be a bed of roses (or maybe someone just forgot to de-thorn a few of them).  The key is to not let it get bigger than it needs to be.  Know that every partnership has bumps and sometimes you just have to ride them out to a better week next one.

Friday Fragments

Once again thanks to Mrs.4444's for hosting this fragged up hop...

• It is hard to believe that this is Liam's last day of school today.  The kids in his program start school two weeks late and finish two week early.
• On a related note: Did you know that kids with special needs are treated equally in the school system?
• Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I love my job and I think the world of my students.  Asking students to do teaching evaluations however, is just silly.  Then placing a large importance on them is even sillier.  I will save my entire rant while I feel this is so for another day...
• On a related note: My teaching evaluations for last term was the best I ever had.  Heck, in one class I scored a perfect 5.0 for my overall teaching (providing proof once again the student evaluations are silly).
• Heather has been busy running a book fair this week.  This of course has been terrible timing combined with my work schedule.  One of us has to be available to parent since Children's Aid may have a problem with leaving a 19 month old alone home.  It has been an interesting week of playing pass the children.
• On a related note: Heather has put up a load of contests on her blog this week.  Check out www.actingbalanced.com to see her frags and while you there try to win something.
• I busted my chops to get one paper deadline completed only to get a vacation response from the person I had to submit it to.  
• On a related note: 24 hrs later, I also had another instance where I rushed to meet a deadline only to have it pushed off because the person who set the deadline was too busy to look at it.  Oy vey!
• I had an enjoyable time yesterday hosting a group from Ap State.  They were a great group and was happy to show them around Charleston and discuss tourism issues with them.
• On a related note: I love when students from other schools walk around our campus.  You can see jealousy in their faces.  Though Ap State is located in Boone NC which is a beautiful location in itself.
• Erik is going through his 'only momma will do phase.'  Heather is so pleased with this (sort of).
• On a related note: Of course this was the week she is leaving him alone with me.  Then again, I want momma may be related to be stuck with daddy.  Momma is more fun.  Daddy does silly things like cleaning when he is home.

Wordless Wednesday

 Architecture around Charleston, SC.

YouTube Tuesday

I have to do some serious parenting today...I guess I have to have some clips to get me prepped!

Monday Quiz About Me

1. Finish this sentence - The best thing about this past weekend was...

I got to participate in our students graduation (I am in the purple robes blow).  

C of C has one of the best graduations in the country and our students are so deserving of a special day.

2. When company drops by unexpectedly what do you serve?

Wow, Heather came up with a good question here.  I guess I serve tea and biscuits/ cookies (whichever is available in the pantry).

3. How old were you when you got your first cell phone?

I got my first cell phone when I was 21.  It was yellow and I remember it cost $1.00 per minute.  Calls were quicker back then.

4. Where do you blog?

Mostly in my blue chair at home.  It is usually done about 4:30 - 5:30 AM when I wake up and have a couple of minutes of quiet.

Now my question for you...

5. Who is/was your mentor?  What made them so instrument in your life?

Sundays in My City - Graduation Edition

Thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting Sundays in My City.  Yesterday was graduation day at C of C.  It is bittersweet for me personally.  I get to know most of these students over four years and I will miss them as a result.  I do however, wish them the best where ever life's path decides to take them and hope they keep in touch.

This is me on stage congratulating our awesome graduates!