Friday Fragments

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

A few notes from the week that was...

• We made it back to Charleston after some interesting travel delays most notably a tire blow out in PA.
• On a related note, why is the last hour of a car trip always the worst?
• On a related related note: Heather has commented that her superior driving when the tire blew should be acknowledged.
• Why is Heather reading over my shoulder at moment?
• On a related note: Miss Manners would disapprove.
• I have been sick all week with a sinus cold. It has not been fun.
• On a related note: I came back to a nail stuck in my car's tire. All in all, not the return I was hoping for.
• We had a huge rain storm here the other day...
• On a related note: We have gotten a little too used to this in Charleston (see news story below featuring one of my former students)...

WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

Thinking Thursday

Thanks to Brenda for hosting I can Think on Thursday.   Brenda gives us a theme to share our thoughts about.  This week's concept is "RESPECT."
When I first started teaching I wanted everyone to like me.  I went out of my way to be kind, gregarious and friendly and often it ended up causing situations that was detrimental to myself and sometimes not fair to other students in the class.  Over the years, I have realized that I am indeed human with foibles and that not everyone is going to like me.  My approach has thus changed over the years.  I do not necessarily go for being liked as much as going for being respected.  
In being respected, I treat my students like the young adults that they are.   I have high expectations for them and will work hard to help them achieve but I can not and will not do it for them.  It is not in their best interest in the long run.  I am straightforward and honest with them but always in a constructive manner - it is about helping them to get the tools necessary to be successful in life.  I want them to achieve whatever potential they have. I think that is the core of respect there.  Your intentions and actions towards others and yourself are noble and just (the knights of the round table were on to something).  Being respectful is about caring and using that feeling to create situations where positive outcomes are likely. It is about taking personal responsibility for oneself to be a good human being who makes positive contributions to the world around them.
I have found over that past few years, that while some may not like you (that is sometimes about personality) - they can respect you.  By being fair, honest and caring - you create a situation where others may disagree with you but they respect you even in doing so.  This is why I work for respect.

Wordless Wednesday

Buying jam in Niagara On The Lake, Ontario...

YouTube Tuesday - Back Home

We are now back in Charleston after four weeks in Canada.

Some thoughts...

One of the things that we do is turn off everything when we leave.  This means we come home to...

Then comes the unpacking with leaves the house to look like...

Also, everyone schedule and routine has been messed up by being away - it really feels just like...

On the road again...still

Sorry for no Monday quiz about me.

We had a bit of trouble last night. Got a flat tire just south of Grove City PA. Called AAA and they came in about 40 minutes. Being stranded on the side of the highway with three kids can hardly be classified as enjoyable however, Liam was a big fan of the tow truck.

We back tracked a little and stayed the night at a holiday inn express and I managed to get the tire fixed first thing this AM ( amazingly there was a place. Right across the street). Though I wonder if that is luck or strategic thinking.

We are now in west Virginia having lunch at McDonald's. Hope to be home late tonight.

Sundays in My City

Thanks to the Unknown Mami for hosting Sundays in the City.

This week I took Liam on a transit adventure.  One of the parts was taking the street car along the Harbour Front in Toronto.  Here are the pictures along that route.

 

Six Word Saturday

Vacation over, headed back to Charleston.

Sunday ends our four week vacation to Canada.  It has been a lot of fun.  We have:

Visited Niagara:

Enjoyed Toronto:

Loved Killbear (northern Ontario):

Then again, we are going back to Charleston...

 Not such a bad deal...