Monday, April 30, 2012

Monday Quiz About Me

Acting Balanced


1. Finish this sentence - The last movie I saw in the theater was...

if you ask me next week it will be The Avengers.  The last movie I saw was Mission Impossible IV: Ghost Protocol.

Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol Poster 

2. Do you have any idiosyncrasies?

I am a walking idiosyncrasy.  

My biggest one however is that I dislike being touched by non-immediate family.  I do not like shaking hands nor do I enjoying hugging or worst of all kissing on the cheeks.  I am actually quite affectionate with my kids and sometimes Heather but anyone else - I am like 'this is your personal space, this is mine'

My more fun one is that I need to perfectly line all items on the conveyor belt at the grocery store by food item and linkage between food items.  I also know the price of everything in the cart within about 10 cents.  I get angry at myself if I am more than that off.  I could have played Super Market Sweep well.


3. What is your favorite clothing store to shop at?

I have one?  I guess for the purposes of this meme - I do the majority of my clothing shopping at Men's Warehouse.

4. What fun things do you have planned for the week ahead?

I have exams coming in on Tuesday - so does grading a ton count?  There is very little that is going to be fun happening this week.  I can live with that though since the week after starts my sabbatical.

Now my questions for you - 

How many days a week do you blog?   Do you ever look at your visitation stats?  If so, which ones do you pay most attention to?

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Sundays in My City

Thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting this wonderful weekly tour of the globe...

Walking to my office the other morning I decided to take some time to admire the flowers - these are all on the C of C campus.










Now continue your tour by clicking on the button below...


Unknown Mami

He Said/ She Said


Each Saturday Heather and I post a question that we both answer (with mine being the correct one of course) on both of our blogs - we'll also open up a linky so that you can add your own posts! If you and your spouse both blog you can put up your answers on each blog, or if you are the only prolific writer in your family you can ask your SO their opinion and write their answer down for them (word for word of course). You are also welcome to hook up a He Said/He Said or a She Said/She Said - whatever works for you!

The question posed this week was:

How does your partner signal to you that they are in the mood for some lovin'?

Romance is such an important part of any relationship.  Heather and I have been together for almost 14 years and one of the things things that keep us close is that we work on being romantic with each other.    


I will have to say though that with three kids in the house - the easy answer to this question is that either: they are all asleep and we are awake; or we have grand parents visiting and they are taking the kids out - both  rare occurrences.   You need to take those opportunities when you get them.


The more fun answer is that we all know Heather is internet addicted.  The way I know Heather and I need alone time is by how much time she spends playing Facebook games and blogging (not really in the mood) versus being on her Kindle reading romance novels (the range goes from light romance to downright smut - her maximum ummmm excitement time).  I sometimes even peak to see what level of novel she is reading so that I know what I am in for.  

Read Heather's response here

Next week's question:

At what moment did you (or do you think you'd) know that your partner was the 'one' for you?

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Friday Fragments

Once again thanks to Mrs. 4444's for hosting Friday Fragments (and a belated happy birthday to her as well).

Mommy's Idea

  • My lovely daughter Robyn is hosting her birthday party today.  Even though it is a couple of days early, I wish her a most happy 14th birthday.

    • On a related note, I hope you don't grow up too fast.  
  • I can't believe that people actually watch pro sports drafts.  I mean, I like sports but the only interesting part about watching the draft is the fashion of the players.
    • On a related note, I also will not watch paint dry or grass grow.
  • Liam has fought getting on the school bus for the last three mornings.  He cries and says, 'not okay.'  It is heart breaking to see his sad face as I put him on the bus.  The teacher doesn't know why he is not wanting to go to school.  This is where Autism makes all the difference in the world.  We are both trying to puzzle together how he is feeling and thinking.  It is frustrating to both of us as well.
    • On a related note, we are coming to the end of Autism Awareness month.  Please take a couple of minutes to learn something about its affects on individuals' and their families.  
  • I thought my sabbatical was supposed to be about taking a break.  Today, I find out that I am going to a conference in June and that my chair wants me to lead up a new initiative.  I was also approve to take some technology training in May.  I could say no but both situations will lead to great benefits for my students.  Can't say no to that.
    • On a related note, I have got to learn to say no one day.  

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Wordless Wednesday

A matter of perspective...
Cleaned out the garage on Saturday AM...yes that time on the picture is right - we started at 5:45 AM!

Always enjoy seeing the world from Liam's perspective.
Puddles are always fun!



Weighty Wednesdays - After gaining a little weight the week before, it is going in the right direction again.

Beginning weight
Last Week
This Week -1.1 lbs
Overall -4.4 lbs
Avg = -1.1 lbs a week

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

YouTube Tuesday - 80s Cartoon

Netflix just added the original GI Joe and Transformers...what other 80s cartoon classics should one consider as part of the pantheon

Who could forget GI Joe's knowing is half the battle end of show PSAs?



Or the sound Transformers made when doing their name sake? See how they have evolved over the years?


What about the Smurfs?


Or on the other how about the equality of the 80s for every He-Man there had to be a She-Ra...




Sunday, April 22, 2012

Monday Quiz About Me

Acting Balanced

1. Finish this sentence - I am glad it's Monday because...

I am alive another day.  I am thankful most days for that.

2. Where did you spend your last vacation?

spent a romantic overnight with my wife at Wild Dunes Resort (a fact that she has seemed to have forgotten).  Perhaps I was not so romantic.

3. Who is your favorite author?

My favorite author is Steve Litvin...we have coauthored several papers and I love reading his writing.  No one turns some of my wackier ideas into readable pieces of work than he does.  

As for more popular culture type work, I do like Robert Asprin of the Myth Series fame.  I absolutely love those books.


4. What other Memes do you participate in during the week?

I do all of Heather's memes.  MQAM, Stumble Tumble Tuesday, Wordless Wednesdays and Thirsty for Thursdays.  Further, I participate in Mrs. 4444's Friday Fragments and Unknown Mami's Sundays in My City.

Now my question for all of you - 

What one sentence piece of advice would you give to a university graduate about transitioning into the 'real world.'

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Sunday in the City

Thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting Sundays in My City


Unknown Mami


A chronicle of my trip home from work on Friday...

Started with attending the Trippintones Spring Concert

This a fabulous group of students...




I then took the bus to Citadel Mall...





I then had to wait for Heather to come and pick me up.  Saw some fabulous Spanish Moss waiting for my ride...






My ride home...




Friday, April 20, 2012

He Said/ She Said

Each Saturday Heather and I post a question that we both answer (with mine being the correct one of course) on both of our blogs - we'll also open up a linky so that you can add your own posts! If you and your spouse both blog you can put up your answers on each blog, or if you are the only prolific writer in your family you can ask your SO their opinion and write their answer down for them (word for word of course). You are also welcome to hook up a He Said/He Said or a She Said/She Said - whatever works for you!

The questions to discuss this week are:

Do you and your spouse agree politically? Do you talk politics at home?

Heather and I political views are quite different.  She is socially and fiscally liberal (translate that to NDP in Canada) while I am more in line with the Canadian Conservatives.  Heather views is predicated on a social justice perspective while I am much more of a moderate in that respect.  My personal view is based on the idea that government should provide: health care; education; infrastructure (roads, bridges etc.); and security while leaving the free market to take care of the rest.   What is funny is that neither one of us has a US party we would be comfortable voting for.

While I like to discuss politics, Heather is not so keen.  Usually our political discussions revolve around me ranting and Heather trying not to roll her eyes on me.

Read Heather's response click here

Next week's question:

How does your partner signal to you that they are in the mood for some lovin'?  

Friday Fragments

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

Mommy's Idea
  • While I appreciate the dexterity of the lady this morning who decided to remove her polish and repaint her nails on the bus, the smell as brutal. A nasty headache was not the way I particularly wanted to start my day.
    • On a related note, can we all agree that any conversation about yeast that doesn't include the baking of bread is not appropriate for the bus.
  • Yesterday was a special day.  Each term we have a lunch party for our graduating students.  It is bittersweet as many of them I have come to really like and will miss seeing on a regular basis.  On the other hand it is so nice to see how mature and ready they are to start their new lives.
    • On a related note, one of the traditions at the party is each professor is to stand up and give a piece of advice to the students about the future.  You can read my advice here.  May they all have happy lives.
  • Here is a picture I took this morning...sorry it was not on a better camera (iPad) but is was just gorgeous).
    • On a related note, this is how I want to start my day.
  • Just a reminder that Autism Awareness month is continuing - please take a few moments to learn about Autism and its effects.
    • On a related note - I have been chronicling my life as a parent with a child who has Autism on a annual basis.  If you would like to read about my personal journey over the past four years click here.