Pondering with a Purpose

Thanks to Brenda Youngerman for hosting Pondering with a Purpose. Last week she asked us to think about punishments. This week she has asked about a 'punishment' we received as a child that turned out to teach us a valuable lesson.

My parents weren't big on punishments - but were great on life lessons.

My story happened when I was 14. I was messing around in school, so my dad got me a job working in his factory for the summer. At first, I thought this was awesome - $10 an hour in the mid 90s for a high-schooler was big bucks. My job were to basically do all of the 'joe' duties that no one else wanted to do. So I lugged boxes, counted inventory, did errands and cleaned a lot.

One of my summer duties there was to clean the bathrooms and remove the graffiti from the bathroom stall walls (whose reading was an education all its own). I remember being tired and disgusted at the end of one day and telling my dad about it. He turned and looked at me and said, "Well if you keep screwing around in school this is your future. I didn't really have a choice - but you do."

It was that summer working in brutal heat (factory was not air conditioned) with sore muscles after every shift while having to listen to the 'wisdom' of just about everyone there that made me want to work hard and get into university. I do not know if it was designed to be a 'punishment' per se but it was one heck of a life lesson.

I have always had great respect for my dad. The man worked extremely hard everyday until his retirement a few years ago. He is still paying the price for all those years of hard labor. I think back and really understand that I could and would not have made it through getting my PhD without the sacrifices he and my mom made. It is because of their hard work, that I can give my kids a good life now.

My dad may not have been educated in the traditional sense but no one is wiser in life than him.

Baltimore - A Travel Review

Baltimore is a fascinating city - it has tremendous history, some beautiful architectural features yet for every fabulous marvel; there seems to be a head shaking moment.  Here are three examples: 1. Oriole Park and Camden Yards is absolutely breath taking in its beauty.  It is one of the best examples of revitalization I have ever seen.  The Power Plant on the inner harbor is a nice example of how to ruin what could have been an excellent revitalization...a perfect example where the idea was good but the execution with its crass commercialism was poorly executed (particularly the guitar on the stack).

 2. The signage and accent pieces around the city were sometimes absolutely stunning and other times not even half a block away - a little cheesy.

3. You can find beautiful history and turn less than 90 degrees and find...Ripley's Believe or Not or turn the other way and find Dragon Paddle Boats you can rent...

There is nothing wrong with a Ripley's Believe It or Not museum but like most of the city, there seems to be little to no congruence.  It is a constant juxtaposition.  It is almost like a Salvador Dali painting.  For some the  city's quirkiness will become its charm.  People will see beauty in it constant contrast.  Others will be put off by what locals often refer to as 'Baltimore moments.'

 A few tips if you are travelling to Baltimore:

1. If you are staying downtown the link between the airport and the downtown area is excellent.  I took a cab downtown when I arrive and the fare was $36.50 ($40 with tip) and the trip on a Sunday afternoon took about 20 minutes.  For a 30 minute trip from downtown on a mid-morning Wednesday on the LRT back to the airport, the cost was $1.60.

 2. Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a must see.  It is a beautiful park and has a wonderful atmosphere.

3. Customer service seemed to be always hit or miss.  Sometimes it was wonderful and other times it was nonexistent - especially in the hotels.  You would figure with hotel conference in town - games would have been raised but no.  For example the hotel I stayed in (Days Inn Inner Harbor) had an awesome location and twice I met front desk people that were fabulous.  Two other times, the front desk staff barely acknowledged that there were customers.  Then again, the cabby I had coming in from the airport was the height of professional and two other times I watched cabbies curse each other out in front of the convention center.

4. The inner harbor area has well done attractions but crass commercialism surrounds it.  You can see and learn about America's history while sitting in a Hooters or Cheesecake Factory.

5. There is a lot of poverty visible and many of those asking for alms are quite aggressive.  This could create uncomfortable feelings among many guests of the city.

Overall, I just do not know how I feel about the city.  There are parts that I would love to go back for and others that I would just as well forget.  I can only describe it as a Ying and Yang destination - for everything wonderful there seems to be something off putting.  The city definitely has personality and if you like people who are often described as 'colorful' - you will probably like Baltimore.

Wordless Wednesday

This is the hotel of the future from the HITEC conference that I attended.

Tuesday Sort of Guest Posting

Today, I posted some camping with children tips over on Heather 's blog. Click the link to check it out http://www.actingbalanced.com/2012/06/camping-with-kids-few-survival.html

M q a m and listicles

I am in Baltimore at a conference and trying to write this on my iPad - so please forgive me for not having buttons etc on it.

First the Monday Quiz About Me hosted my my lovely bride Heather at actingbalanced.

1. What was your favorite childhood toy?

I will go with Lego on this one. You could create so much with it.

2. Where did you go this weekend?

I flew to Baltimore for the conference starting this morning. The city looks nice so far and the conference is on hotel sales and revenue management so it should be interesting.

3. When was the last time you shopped for yourself? What did you buy?

I shopped for my dads birthday present. It was a nice golf shirt.

4. Paper, Plastic or Reusable?

None of the above. I can carry myself.

Now my question for you?

In honor of the conference I am attending....

How did you book the last hotel room you bought? What made you buy from that particular source?

Now onto the Monday Listicles hosted by Stasha at northwest mommy.

My sister passed away just over a decade ago now. So in my top ten things I wish I could do with someone I chose her. How am I going to get through this list without crying?

Top 10 things I wish I could do with my sister.

1. I wish I could have went to see Robyn's grade 8 graduation with her. I know she would have been unsurprised at how smart and great her daughter turned out to be.

2. To go camping with her one more time. She loved the outdoors. Taking
Robyn camping to the same place we did as kids last week brought back a flood of memories.

3. To argue with her one more time. Come on, we were siblings, the banter always went back and forth.

4. I would have loved to hear her brag about Robyn...that would have be awesome.

Sorry, I can't finish this list, it is still a little too painful even over a decade later.

I just hope I am raising her little girl in the way that she would have liked me too.

Sundays in the City

Once again, thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting Sundays in the City.


These pictures are from Killbear Provincial Park in Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada.

Six Word Saturday/ He Said - She Said

Six Word Saturday

 Leaving on a jet plane, until Wednesday

I am headed to a conference to a conference in Baltimore over the next few days.  It will be very interesting to learn about the latest way in which hotels and resorts are pricing and selling rooms.  I will write a post on giving you the best consumer tips for getting the best hotel room deals next week.  

I know the Universities are often said to be live in an ivory tower with no connection to the real world.  While that may be true in some places, it is not true in my world.  My colleague and I will be one of the few academics in a sea of industry professionals.  The conference should provide us the tools to come back and share with the students the latest trends and skills necessary for success in industry.  These conference also let us set up guest speakers as well as hands on projects.  Further, we often leave these conferences building research partnerships with our industry partners.  In all, it is a win-win. 

The more exciting thing is that on Wednesday upon my return Heather and I are having a date night in Niagara Falls.  I am looking for votes on what you think we should do...