A Pretty Good Year if I do say so myself!
 |
| Photo by Tom Steenhuysen |
 |
| Photo by Tom Steenhuysen |
 |
| Photo by Tom Steenhuysen |
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Kids School Year 2011 in Pictures
Trying something new...
Just got my new iPad. Thought I would try it out with a blog post. Yesterday.was the kids first day of summer holidays. Liam was at home all day and is already driving Heather nuts. Heather is already looking forward to heading to Canada and Grandparent distractions. Robyn has one more day of school left and is wanting to go for each minute in order to hang out with her friends. She is at that age. For me, I am trying to get some writing done and be ready for the TTRA conference at the end of the month. I am also trying to get two more papers out this summer. Decisions, decisions.
Wayne.
Wayne.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
The Tenure Journey...My First Article
As this is my tenure year, I thought it would be fun to reflect and show my work to date. So over the next few weeks, I am going to submit to you some of my favorite pieces of work. Let's start at the very beginning, it is a very good place to start with my first journal article. It has been cited by 14 other authors and is a neat piece of research.
Canadian domestic travel behaviour: A market segmentation study of rural shoppers
- Barbara A. Carmichael and
- Wayne W. Smith
Abstract
Rural shopping is emerging as a tourism market that is under-researched and offers potential for the economic development of rural regions. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the role and importance of the domestic rural shopping market in Canada as a ‘niche’ market in rural tourism, and to provide a description of the characteristics of rural shoppers. Secondary data analysis of the domestic Canadian Travel Survey (1998-2001) reveals that there are many rural visitors who also participate in shopping, and that rural shoppers display different characteristics from average Canadian domestic travellers. Market segmentation using cluster analysis identifies five activity-based groups that differ on the basis of demographics and trip characteristics.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Good-bye or Perhaps See You Later
Today is Liam's last day going to Angel Oak Elementary. He has been going there for two years in a special PIC class. Before he went into the program, many told us that this school was no good. That there was all kinds of problems there.
The reality is, Liam's teacher for the last two years has been perfect for him and the principal is a fair individual who runs a good school. The school still has issues but it is the same ones all of the South Carolinian are facing. Run the school with a budget of magic beans.
So on this day, I congratulate Liam on graduating into his new class next year at Stono Park Elementary, thank the teachers and administration at Angel Oak for taking good care of our son and am thankful for us having such a loving and caring family. It is a good day.
 |
| Liam's First Day of School |
The reality is, Liam's teacher for the last two years has been perfect for him and the principal is a fair individual who runs a good school. The school still has issues but it is the same ones all of the South Carolinian are facing. Run the school with a budget of magic beans.
So on this day, I congratulate Liam on graduating into his new class next year at Stono Park Elementary, thank the teachers and administration at Angel Oak for taking good care of our son and am thankful for us having such a loving and caring family. It is a good day.
Monday, May 30, 2011
13 Years Lucky?
Today, Heather and I have been married 13 years. Through that time, we lived in five (5) different cities, owned four (4) cars, raised three (3) 'precious' children, finished two post graduate degrees and shared (1) mostly happy life.
So what are my rules to a mostly happy marriage?
1. Never argue about the things that don't matter. Want to go out to a movie, spouse A wants to go see X, spouse B wants to go see Y but the important thing isn't the movie, is that you get to spend time together. Where you do it doesn't matter as much as the fact that you are getting to do it.
2. Learn to accept. I have learnt to accept that my lovely wife will never be a domestic goddess. She wasn't when I met her, she wasn't when we married and she will never become that way. Just like I will never be a social butterfly. If you didn't know your partner's flaws before marriage, you didn't take the time to really get to know them first. People are who they are and if you can't accept the other for who they are, you should not have got married to begin with.
3. Remember to love as a couple and live as a individual. Yes, you need time together but you also need time as an individual. It is important that you have couples things to do as well as some individual hobbies as well. It will help you come together but not become bored with one another.
4. Balance is key. Nothing is that bad, just as nothing is that good. Keeping on a even keel allows you to keep to the middle path and allows you to see things for what they really are. This approach helps to keep perspective and helps in problem solving.
5. Never listen to these advice columns because every couple is different. We all have different dynamics going on and what works for one couple may not work for another. These ideas are what works for us. I am not even sure Heather agrees with all of them. So take these ideas for what they are worth.
Wayne.
So what are my rules to a mostly happy marriage?
1. Never argue about the things that don't matter. Want to go out to a movie, spouse A wants to go see X, spouse B wants to go see Y but the important thing isn't the movie, is that you get to spend time together. Where you do it doesn't matter as much as the fact that you are getting to do it.
2. Learn to accept. I have learnt to accept that my lovely wife will never be a domestic goddess. She wasn't when I met her, she wasn't when we married and she will never become that way. Just like I will never be a social butterfly. If you didn't know your partner's flaws before marriage, you didn't take the time to really get to know them first. People are who they are and if you can't accept the other for who they are, you should not have got married to begin with.
3. Remember to love as a couple and live as a individual. Yes, you need time together but you also need time as an individual. It is important that you have couples things to do as well as some individual hobbies as well. It will help you come together but not become bored with one another.
4. Balance is key. Nothing is that bad, just as nothing is that good. Keeping on a even keel allows you to keep to the middle path and allows you to see things for what they really are. This approach helps to keep perspective and helps in problem solving.
5. Never listen to these advice columns because every couple is different. We all have different dynamics going on and what works for one couple may not work for another. These ideas are what works for us. I am not even sure Heather agrees with all of them. So take these ideas for what they are worth.
Wayne.
Memorial Day...
I spend a lot of time studying war. While I am generally as pacifistic as one comes, I am fascinated by the human condition in relation to war. I am drawn in by the psychological and sociological pathologies that can lead to such a wave of destruction. What could take an individual under normal circumstances would never consider harming another and lead to him/her to become a war hero? It is a moral quandary to which I hope I never have to find out if I am capable of.
On this day I remember war and hope for peace. I wish no soldier ever has to die for his/her country ever again that that we will learn to settle disputes using words not swords. Is this wish likely to happen? If the history of human existence is any indicator, perhaps I have a bad case of wishful thinking. So on this day, I remember those who have fallen, send positive thoughts to the ones in harms way today and dream of a day when this part of humanity has become a bad nightmare. Perhaps John McCrae said it best:
On this day I remember war and hope for peace. I wish no soldier ever has to die for his/her country ever again that that we will learn to settle disputes using words not swords. Is this wish likely to happen? If the history of human existence is any indicator, perhaps I have a bad case of wishful thinking. So on this day, I remember those who have fallen, send positive thoughts to the ones in harms way today and dream of a day when this part of humanity has become a bad nightmare. Perhaps John McCrae said it best:
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Little girl's all grown up...
Last night Robyn competed in a beauty pageant. I can admit, I am not a big fan of the concept and had been wondering why my smart, tom-boyish daughter would be interested. I think this is the first time, I had ever heard her ask to go dress shopping. This was the child that less than six months didn't want to wear a dress being part of a bridal party. So to say I was perplexed at this particular choice to be entered into a beauty pageant would be an understatement.
So upon arriving home last night, I asked her why? She looked at me and said, 'to say I did it once.'
The whole theme of Touristic is about trying new things and finding ones path. Her answer to me made total sense in that respect. In the last six months she has taken her first solo international trip, played soccer on a team and entered a beauty pageant among other things. She is consistently showing an ability to grow and a willingness to go out of her comfort zone in the search for new experiences. In that, I could not be more proud as a parent. She is indeed my princess - one that will grow up to be queen of her own domain.
Wayne.
So upon arriving home last night, I asked her why? She looked at me and said, 'to say I did it once.'
The whole theme of Touristic is about trying new things and finding ones path. Her answer to me made total sense in that respect. In the last six months she has taken her first solo international trip, played soccer on a team and entered a beauty pageant among other things. She is consistently showing an ability to grow and a willingness to go out of her comfort zone in the search for new experiences. In that, I could not be more proud as a parent. She is indeed my princess - one that will grow up to be queen of her own domain.
Wayne.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)