A Musical Monday New Year

Thanks to Dolly and the crew for hosting...

Happy New Year Everyone!

My new years party is going to go back in time...way back to the turn of the millennium (hard to believe that was 13 years ago now).

Monday Quiz

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me - hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered! Grab the badge for your post if you like:

<a href="http://www.actingbalanced.com/search/label/meet%20me%20on%20monday"target="_blank"><img alt="Acting Balanced" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt5tsgMumBxevIDBpi8XTEykaZ4qxz6LlPMwnMiWRfvCLvnLsUhIT6SksqA-aZzfFri6mBo-Qwtqnej28m6L2g2eSivsz5vYI3yS2v2I-Mv-7qdLQ8gr_SszIjmfYimA5hGAyabGFBMI/s1600/MondayQuiz.jpg"/></a>

Our Questions:

1. What New Years resolution could you make that you know would break in less than a week.
2. How many of the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne do you actually know?
3. How much should a babysitter be paid for working New Years Eve?
4. What are you most looking forward to in 2013?

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

My Answers:
1. What New Years resolution could you make that you know would break in less than a week.

 

To not drink any soda pop or caffeine ... I try this every one in a while because I know it's good for me, but I fail miserably.

2. How many of the lyrics of Auld Lang Syne do you actually know?

Five...

3. How much should a babysitter be paid for working New Years Eve?

 

$50

4. What are you most looking forward to in 2013?

 

I honestly haven't even thought about the new year yet... 2012 was such a big year for me.

My 5th question this week is ... 

 Do you watch any of the College Bowl games? 

Now, please link up and tell your friends to join us!

Sundays In My City

Thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting Sundays In My City.

We went to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC yesterday.  I call these my Bear-y - good pictures - plus a double take photo...

Sorry...

Sorry, I am not posting/visiting as much this week. We are in Canada visiting family and has been hectic. We are set to start the return drive to South Carolina tomorrow am. I will be back to regular blogging by Monday.

Wayne.

Christmas Day pictures

Sorry for no Linky but Christmas was very nice...

Merry Christmas

Just a note wishing everyone a happy holiday.

Wayne.

Monday Quiz

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me - hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered! Grab the badge for your post if you like:

<a href="http://www.actingbalanced.com/search/label/meet%20me%20on%20monday"target="_blank"><img alt="Acting Balanced" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt5tsgMumBxevIDBpi8XTEykaZ4qxz6LlPMwnMiWRfvCLvnLsUhIT6SksqA-aZzfFri6mBo-Qwtqnej28m6L2g2eSivsz5vYI3yS2v2I-Mv-7qdLQ8gr_SszIjmfYimA5hGAyabGFBMI/s1600/MondayQuiz.jpg"/></a>

1. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

2. How does Santa manage to circle the world in one night?

3. How does Santa deliver into your home?

4. How do reindeer fly?

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

My Answers:

1. What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

I guess it is finding a toy in a stocking. There is something pure about this.

2. How does Santa manage to circle the world in one night?

A combination of espresso and chilli mixed with a 5 hour energy. Oh sorry, that is how I make it from Charleston to Toronto. Santa makes it around with the world on some magic combined with one heck of a sugar rush on the cookies and such left out for him.

3. How does Santa deliver into your home?

Santa only comes into the house to do quality control after his helpers do all the work. His helpers enter via magic dust bunnies.

4. How do reindeer fly?

Their carrots are spiked with love, trust and a little pixie dust via tinker bell (she is subcontracted).

My 5th question this week is ... 

Who is more Christmasy Scrooge or the Grinch?  

Now, please link up and tell your friends to join us!

Sundays in my city...

Thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting. We are in Canada for Christmas...here is what we woke up to Saturday morning.

Six Word Saturday

Arrived In Canada earlier this week
Am currently freezing my cahones off
It is nice to see family
And visit with some good friends
Wishing Everyone a Very Merry Christmas
And A Most Joyous New Year!

Four Fill In Friday

  1. When I am in a good_ mood I am highly productive.
2. When I sing_ I _clear the room._
3. If I could donate a ton of money to a charity it would be the College of Charleston_ because it has been good to me and does great things for the students and community_.
4. I like to visit several__blog(s) because they have great content and feature excellent writing.__

Friday fragments

Thanks to Mrs. 4444s for hosting Friday fragments. Please forgive the less than perfect grammar etc I am writing blog posts using an iPad for blogging over the holiday.

We arrived in Canada yesterday after a marathon 15 hour drive - a record Btw.

It was an amazing drive - kids were near perfectly behaved, 1000 mile trip and did not have one accident or traffic slow up until we got to Toronto, we got to the border and there was only one other car that was just leaving. Yes, I know it was 5:30 am but there is always traffic there right? We also beat really bad weather by mere hours. If we were four hours later we would have been caught in frozen rain and snow for the last six hours of the drive. Perhaps Santa per-delivered our gift - a smooth drive.

When we left Charleston yesterday - we were in t-shirts. Upon arriving in Toronto - near freezing temperatures and now frozen rain. I am so cocooning this visit.

I am sorry but my blogging going is be slower over the next week. I apologize for not commenting and visiting as I normally would. I will be back to normal after New Years.

Well after not sleeping last night, I am flailing a bit here. While it is brutal on Heather and I - it is so much easier on the kids. It also saves a hotel night and probably two meals. So each way it probably saves over $200.00. I can live with that.

We arrived in Canada

We arrived in Canada this morning after a marathon 15 hrs drive.

I will be posting intermittently over the holiday as a result of the trip. My apologies for being late commenting and visiting.

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Thanks to Joyce for hosting the Hodgepodge...

1. How will you spend 'the night before Christmas'? 

We will be in Canada (hopefully) and hanging out with Heather's family.

2.  What is one thing you are not?

I am not heartless...

3.  Fudge-are you a fan?  Your favorite flavor?

I am not really a fudge fan but chocolate anything is usually pretty high on my list.

4. Did you attend any craft/vendor fairs in the month of December?  Do you prefer homemade goodies or the more professional stalls? Are you giving any homemade gifts this year? 

They would take away my guy license if I did...

5. What's your favorite type of holiday gathering? 

My wife and I cuddling somewhere warm...

6.  We're approaching a new year...what's going to be different in 2013? 

Why would I want anything to be different?  I have an awesome life now.  Alas, though time does indeed change things.  I kind of like the surprise that comes with it...

7. Share a favorite scripture, quote, saying, or song lyric relating to peace.

All we are saying...is give peace a chance.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

Heather, the kids and I are headed to Canada.  I am looking for the thoroughly enjoyable 18 hour drive from the sunny warmth of South Carolina to the frigid north of Toronto.  In Heather's defense of this trip it is  the first time in seven years we are going back to Canada for Christmas.  We usually go in the summer, you know when it is steaming hot here and when it feels nice up there.  But anyhoo, Heather wants to be with family this Christmas and as regular readers know, I live by the motto, "Happy wife, happy life."

Wordless Wednesday - NYC Part II

This is part II of my friend Henry's pictures of New York City.  Please remember to link up below and share some commenting love.

Please link up your WW pics here:

Two Shoes Tuesday - Wishes

I am trying a new meme today hosted by Josie at Tuesday Two Shoes.  Every week she gives participants a prompt to write on... This weeks prompt is:

Wishes

This is the season of wishes.  What is my wish for all of you?  

I wish that we all would live with the desire to make the world a better place and guide our actions to this cause.

I wish that beautiful sunsets, incredible rainbows and breath taking nature is part of your existence.

I wish you all good health.

I wish everyone knows that they are loved.
I wish people feel comfortable with their appearance and not worry about the judgmental ways of others.
I wish everyone has a nice meal with friends and family.
I wish all of you a sound sleep where dreams come to provide inspiration.
I wish everyone a chance to dance with someone who makes their heart flutter.
I wish you learn something new and interesting each day.
I wish that we all get to grow wise.
In total, I wish us all a world of happiness.

Welcome to Monday Quiz About Me - hosted by Acting Balanced and Touristic

Here are FOUR QUESTIONS that everyone can answer and then you have the option to add a fifth question of your own for those who are visiting your blog to answer in the comment section, along with commenting on the four standard questions you answered! Grab the badge for your post if you like:

<a href="http://www.actingbalanced.com/search/label/meet%20me%20on%20monday"target="_blank"><img alt="Acting Balanced" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLt5tsgMumBxevIDBpi8XTEykaZ4qxz6LlPMwnMiWRfvCLvnLsUhIT6SksqA-aZzfFri6mBo-Qwtqnej28m6L2g2eSivsz5vYI3yS2v2I-Mv-7qdLQ8gr_SszIjmfYimA5hGAyabGFBMI/s1600/MondayQuiz.jpg"/></a>

1. What are your favorite h'orderves at a party?
2. What Christmas song have heard too much already?
3. Do you have New Year's Eve plans?

4. What was the best blog post you read this week?

And don't forget to add a 5th Question on your own blog so we can answer as we hop around!

1. What are your favorite hor'derves at a party?

Wayne' Rules for Hor'derves 

a. Must be eatable without a utensil;

b. Contain nothing that can cause a 'stain' on nice clothing if dropped;

c. Can not be 'double-dipped;' 

d. Can not be a 'filler' - typically a large meal is coming...

e. Must be eatable in two bites (people are having conversations); 

f. Be visually appealing; and

g. Be high in taste...

My favorite happens to be:

Crab or lobster stuffed mushrooms - they follow all of the rules about without giving in quality...

2. What Christmas song have heard too much already?

Ummmm, all of them.

3. Do you have New Year's Eve plans?

Don't we have to make it past December 21st first?  Let's see if the Mayans (or those interpreting the Mayans) had their predictions right first.  See I can procrastinate with the best of them.

4. What was the best blog post you read this week?

Stasha at Northwest Mommy had a great one the other day about when he son came home having learned the word idiot.  Click here to read it.

My 5th question this week is ... 

What would be the modern equivalent to getting coal in one's stocking? 

Now, please link up and tell your friends to join us!

Music Monday Christmas Listicle

Thanks to XmasDolly Conductor of this musical trip along with co-conductors Callie of JAmerican Spice, Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy of Cathy Kennedy's Blog for being great hostesses!

This weeks theme is -  Shock of all shocks...Christmas.  This also coincides with this weeks Listicle theme (thanks Stasha) of top ten Christmas songs... So I though I would combine them...

Top Christmas Ditty's That I Can Actually Stand to Listen To...

• Who doesn't want a hula-hoop?

• Who can forget this playing at the beginning of the best Christmas movie of all time - Die Hard?

• A King celebrating a King...has to be there right?

• Ummmmm....my wife reads this blog - so I enjoy her ability to harmonize and bring a festive ummmm feeling.

• The lyrics to this song are so ridiculous...just listen to the actual lyrics.  They are pitiful.

• Now, she understands the true meaning of a corporate Christmas...

• If only this special had a happy ending... Heart grows three times bigger...ick!  

• Some more Bah-humbug....can't go wrong with that feeling.

• The Canadian government insisted I had some Canadian content.  Choices included Anne Murray, Celine Dion and Justin Bieber.  Let's just say that this is the least painful of the choices.

• Okay, this is just a cool tune.

Sundays In My City

Thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting SIMC...

 

Six Word Saturday

Thanks to Cate for hosting Six Word Saturday...

Today is graduation, lots to celebrate!

Hard work, dedication and personal growth.

Friends, family - all have helped you -

To mature into a young adult

You have achieved quite a bit

I am proud of my students

Congratulations to them on this day

May their lives, be happy ones

Four Fill In Friday

Thanks to Hilary for hosting Four Fill In.

This week’s statements:

1. I usually bob but never weave.

2. I was named Wayne because growing up as Will Smith in the late 80s early 90s would have been interesting otherwise.

3. I would never change apparently grabb-able butt about my body, but I would change my double chin.  It drives me nuts.

4. The last time I said “I Love You” was to Heather of course.

Fragments & Friendship Friday

Thanks to Mrs. 4444's for hosting...

• Saw this bumper sticker "Happy Wife, Happy Life - The Alternative is Too Expensive."
• On a related note: I just want my loving, darling and incredible wife to be happy for happiness sake.
• This week has been very quiet.  
• On a related note: Rabbit season must be upcoming. P.S. I just used this an an excuse to post this clip.  I miss classic Looney Tunes.

• People always ask what I write about in my academic life (Okay no one really does but I will answer the question because I need filler this week).  Here are summaries of my two latest articles:

Litvin, S.W., Smith, W.W. and Pitts, R. (2012). Travel and Leisure Activity Participation. Annals of Tourism Research. 39(2012) 2203-2219.


While tourism and leisure have traditionally been studied in their respective silos (Carr 2002), recent literature has begun to link the two. At the intersection of this cross-disciplinary research has been the question: Does travel predominantly present an opportunity for individuals to experience new activities, or is the norm for travelers to engage in the same activities as when at home? The findings of this study strongly suggest that recreation providers in vacation destinations are correct in targeting those who are regular at-home participants in their activity – for those who enjoy an activity while at-home are those most likely to participate in the activity when on vacation. Moderating this suggestion, however, in synch with the recreational motivational theories of Iso-Ahola (1983), is the advice that activity providers ensure their promotional message is destination focused, for travelers, as even heavy recreationalists are primarily destination (versus activity) driven when deciding where to vacation. And while travelers often partake in their preferred at-home activities when away, they rarely select their destination based upon the activity.


 Smith, W. W. Pitts, R. & Litvin S.W. (2012) Sedentary Behavior of the Nontravel Segment: A Research Note. Journal of Travel Research. 52(1) 131-136.

Nontravel behavior has been studied in some depth, with the intent generally to find ways to motivate the segment to travel.  This research examined an aspect of nontravel behavior previously unexplored: their “at-home” behavior. The results are very informative and reflect a highly sedentary lifestyle. The nontravelerers were found to be far less active in their daily lives, both recreationally and culturally, than were those who traveled. This sedentary lifestyle, not before identified, is an important characteristic adding to the difficulty of motivating the nontravel segment to travel.

• In the new year I will be bringing back Tourism News Thursdays where I either review a new travel product or discuss news related to the travel industry.  I will be giving lots of hints and advice about how to save money and get better value for your travel dollar.
• On a related note: I love tourism research and understanding the industry but I am terrible at taking vacations.  I just can't turn off the intellectual curiosity when I am on the road.

Now onto Create with Joy's Friendship Friday... Here question of the week is:

Question Of The Week  

What are your favorite Christmas carols?

This has been a popular question this week...I always liked this song (although I think the Earth Kitt version is better but I used it on the blog earlier this week).

Are there any songs that embody the spirit of Christmas for you?

Not really a Christmas song but it is what Christmas should be about...

 

Do you participate in any special musical events during the holiday season?  

If you ever heard me sing, you know it is better that I do not.  I would however, if I could sing like this guy...

 
Share the music that makes you merry this Friendship Friday!

Pondering Memories?

Thanks to Brenda for hosting Pondering.  This week's question is:

Do you have any memories that would be fascinating for someone else to read about in one hundred years? or even ten?

Wow, as a professor and researcher this is a question that comes across in my mind on a regular basis.  Is the knowledge that I am providing the world worth the paper I am writing it on or the breath I am teaching it with.  I can and have spent years collecting data on certain topics to gain a new perspective on a problem.  Will that perspective however, mean anything to anyone but me?  I would like to think that it does. 

In my case, I can track a little bit about how my knowledge is being transferred over time and space.  The first article I ever was written in 2003 (published in 2004).  It was entitled, The Role of Rural Shopping in Canadian Domestic Travel Behaviour.  Since its publication, it has according to Google Scholar been cited 26 times most recently in a book entitled, Tourism Business Frontiers (published is 2012).  In total, since 2004, my work has been cited 140 times (see chart below for a year by year analysis).    

Does that mean that my work could be considered fascinating? Well you would have to ask the people citing the work that question.  Am I memorable?  Well I am close to 10 years in, so if someone cites my shopping article in 2014, it means I made it 10 years right?  The question then arises, can any of the ideas in these papers make it to 100 years?  In an article I am working on at the moment, I have cited a paper form 1952 (the oldest I have ever cited). That means that knowledge has lasted 60 years.  Do I have any ideas that will stand the test of time?  Hopefully I will be around to know the answer to this question. 

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Wednesday HodgePodge

Thanks to Joyce for hosting the HodgePodge...

1. So, when did you last take a walk in the woods? A stroll along the beach? A drive going nowhere in particular in the car?

We went on a walk onto the Cooper River Bridge last week...

2. Are you sending Christmas cards this year? About how many do you send? Photo card or something more traditional? How do you display the cards you receive?

I am not really into Christmas - so I attempt to ignore it as much as possible...so no cards for me.

3. What's a word you've heard too much of in the past week?

We're broke...

4. December 13th is National Cocoa Day-are you a fan? Plain or flavored? Marshmallows or no marshmallows?

I do like hot Cocoa though my diet at the moment makes that a big no-no.  I like it made properly with real chocolate and marshmallows are an affront to a well crafted drink.  I do really like hot chocolate made with mint though...

5. What is something you do to help alleviate the hectic pace of the Christmas season?

It is not really that hectic for me as I pretty much ignore it.  Yes, I am a bah-humbug and quite happy about it.

6. Besides jewelry, what's a favorite sparkly-glittery item in your home or closet?

Sorry, I have never had anything like that come out of my closet.

7. Share a favorite line or two from any Christmas carol.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Congratulations to legendary cosmologist Stephen Hawking and to the group of CERN scientists who spearheaded this year's discovery of a Higgs-like particle at the world's largest atom smasher, the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), in Geneva for winning the The Fundamental Physics Prize.  Each winner will receive $3 million from physicist-turned-entrepreneur Yuri Milner who founded this award last year.  This has been a tremendous year for physics research around the globe.