Lattitude 37 Deg 50 min South Longitude 145 Deg E

Greetings from Melbourne and Sydney  Australia. I have been on an extended tour of the Asia Pacific region as part of the additional assignment I just received ... to handle all of the engineering for Panasonic for the Global Ford Motor Company.

I flew into Sydney Australia last Friday evening. On Saturday I enjoyed the ambiance of Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour Our Hotel was the Four Seasons which overlooked Darling Harbor They have everything here including a Hard Rock Cafe. Most importantly they have a Starbucks

On Sunday we walked over to the Famous Sydney Opera House - It is an awesome structure   After seeing the opera house we took the ferry back to Darling Harbor and our hotel



There was a lot of activity in this area including an aborigine playing his didgeridoo!!

It is the middle of winter. Saturday was 72deg F and Sunday was 75 deg F - the sky was blue and the air was clear and crisp Last week I was in Nanjing China at Ford of China. It was 45 deg C 90 % humidity and the sun was orange Tomorrow I leave 1.5 hours to Sydney 14.0 hours to LA 5 Hours to Hotlanta

Bye for now

Springtime in Japan

San gatsu hickoki de Watashi wa to Emily san Nihon ni ikimashita. Last March Emily and I flew to Japan. We landed at the Kansei airport which is a totally man made island outside of the busy city of Osaka. This is a view from our Hotel

We had two primary objectives in visiting Japan. The first was to go to the Sumo wrestling championship which is held six times a year - three in Tokyo - one in Nagoya - one in Kyushu and one in Osaka

There is much pomp and circumstance surrounding the Sumo championships. It lasts for two weeks and each day it culminates in matches with in the Top Division. These are some big boys!!

For lunch we ordered a Bento Box with Sushi Rice Tea and Beer. Very delicious!

We had ordered box seats and that is about what they are

We sat in between a box with 4 young Australian boys who were touring Asia and 3 men from Kyoto. As Emily said  " I dont know which was harder to understand " but in spite of that we had great fun with them

The next day we visited Osaka castle which is a splendid structure. One of the highlights here was dressing up in authentic Samurai fighting outfits and sword fighting with some of the locals. I had the whole floor laughing when I got my garments on and turned to them and in perfect Japanese blurted out " Ima watashi wa nihon jin des! (Now i am Japanese) They all became my friends

Next we took the train to Nara which is the original capital of Japan. Emily found many things to buy. Nara deer were everywhere. 

On the train again bound for Kyoto where we fulfilled our second objective... Sakura (Cherry blossoms)  It is really hard to imagine the entire city bathed in white pink and red cherry blossoms. It is really beautiful.

We learned a new word - Hanami. Hanami is the process of sitting under the cherry blossoms and enjoying the day. We experienced hanami at Maryayma park in Kyoto. it is the most famous park in Kyoto and it was located on 3 minutes away from the Traditional Japanese Hotel we stayed in. 

There were thousands of people in the Park including many Meiko sans - kind of junior Geishas

Staying at a Traditional Japanese hotel is an experience like no other. They prepare all of the meals in your room. At night time they discreetly come and clear your room and prepare your beds. They put little origami birds on the pillows

In Kyoto we went to the National Textile manufacturing site. At this site they make silk cloth and subsequently make it into many different items - purses (Emily had to have one) kimonos and many other garments. While we were there they had a Kimono fashion show

We saw many other sights in Kyoto but everywhere were the Sakura (Cherry blossoms)

We also visited the Golden Temple in the northern part of Kyoto

finally we said goodbye to our hosts at our Japanese Hotel

On to the Kyoto Train Station and take the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Yokohama

Mission accomplished! Both objectives met and more.

We had many more adventures but once in Yokohama i had to go to work. From Yokohama Emily flew back to the US and I went on to Malaysia.

it was an incredible vacation and if you really want to do something totally different - try visiting Japan. The sights are amazing and the people are incredibly friendly and helpful

Sayanora

Paul and Emily

Cool :)

I was able to talk with my dad over the web last night (I had a bit of insomnia from the medicine I am taking (Dad it is your favorite medicine:)).  That was fun since our time zones are off by a 1/2 of a day.  Dad was getting ready to start the day and I should have been fast asleep.  Anyhow, his click on the blog showed up from Japan!!  I think it's pretty cool!!!  (We should see it in the clustermap tomorrow.)

We Made It

Lots going on

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all of the wonderful comments on the pictures.  Aren't the girls beautiful?  I have lots more photos but I am going to only post a few each evening.  I'll be visiting Pete and Emily mid-January so I'll be able to shoot a new batch then!

I hope to write a longer post in the very near future about another something exciting!  My church has moved into its "new to us" permanent location in downtown Royal Oak.  It has been very exciting and I can't wait to fill you in on all the details - they are extraordinary in my opinion.  That will be for another post though.  Also, I will be recording one new song on our church's next cd in just a couple of weeks.  I was hoping to record two songs but I just wasn't able to finish all the details yet on a song from Ezekiel 37.   If you haven't read this passage I would encourage you to do so - it has become one of my favorites.  The song I am recording is titled Cry Out Of Romans.  I think this might be one of the best songs that I have written yet.  My friend Jonathan is playing the guitar and Carol will be adding in piano.  I'll be posting about the process as we move toward January 29th.

On a totally separate note, we had our first decent snow here in Detroit and I was thrilled to use my yooper scooper.  I was able to clear the entire drive without breaking a sweat in about 10 minutes.  I love my scooper.  Even better, a neighbor down the street hooked up a plow to the front of his ATV and plowed the sidewalks up and down our entire block - it was such a gift to come home to after a long day at work!  Oh and my Dad was telling me today that there might be snow in Atlanta tomorrow.  Since there "might" be snow accumulation up to 1 inch they have cancelled school - of course, he said, there are all of about 10 snow plows in the entire state of Georgia.  He he he - Ha ha ha!  My students are dying for a snow day but I have assured them - we will have school tomorrow!

Crazy Cookin' Fool

Today I woke up late - yuck - I feel so unproductive when I do that.

I did get to visit with Dad for a few minutes before he headed back to Atlanta. I love to see him if even for just a few minutes. I went running afterward and then took a really long grocery trip in which I went up and down every single aisle and looked at everything they had. And well. . . they have everything, except for the canned whole cranberries that I needed for one of my recipes. I hurried home - emptied the dishwasher and loaded up the stranded dishes from the sink. Then the cookin' began.
Here's what I made: Kay's Chip Dip, Roasted Sweet Potatoes on the Grill, Cranberry Chicken (my best variation yet), and Cranberry and White Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Kay's Chip Dip is a brand new recipe to me. Pete and Emily's friend Kay made it this past weekend for Alaina's party and I couldn't get enough. You can substitute out the full fat items for the lowfat!

8 ounces cream cheese
16 ounces sour cream
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 dashes red cayenne pepper -- to taste
8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 large red bell pepper -- diced

Mix together cream cheese, sour cream, garlic salt, cumin. Make sure that the cream cheese is thoroughly incorporated.

Mix in 4 ounces of the shredded cheese.

Mix in diced red bell pepper.

Pour mixture into a serving dish. Top with remaining 4 ounces of cheese

Serve with Multigrain chips.

Roasted Sweet Potatoes is a standard favorite in my heart. Peel the sweet potato. Sharpen your knife and then cube the sweet potato into 1-2 inch pieces. Mix in a bowl with a small amount of olive oil. Place 1 layer thick on a sheet pan (or foil if you are going to grill)


Cranberry Chicken is a recipe that I have been trying to perfect for a LONG time. Tonight – I may have gotten it! I made it on the grill this evening. One of the key factors is that my ground ginger is especially good from Penzey’s Spices. There is a shop not too far from my house – but you can mail order too!

1 pound chicken
1 can cranberries -- whole
2 tablespoons onion flakes
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons brown sugar -- heaping
2 tablespoons flour -- heaping
1/2 cup Italian salad dressing


Mix cranberries, onion flakes, cinnamon, ground ginger, brown sugar, flour, and Italian salad dressing.

Prepare chicken for baking. I prefer to pound the chicken flat.

Place the chicken in a baking dish (or in a foil bowl if you are going to use the grill) and cover with the cranberry sauce.

Cook at 350 degrees (or low on the grill) until the chicken is cooked through.

Cranberry & White Chocolate Chip Cookies. I have been trying to make this recipe for several weeks now but it’s been simply too hot to turn on the oven. This is my neighbor Lois’ favorite cookie recipe. I lost the recipe and had to go to her house to ask for it even though I had given her the recipe in the first place. The recipe was on the back of a bag of dried cranberries. It is now the recipe that I make to say thank you to my neighbors. The lucky recipient will be: Lois & Chuck for always being great neighbors, for Bob for letting me borrow his wheelbarrow and the cutting knives for the sod, and Gene & Vicki for turning of the main valve to my water when it was spurting ALL OVER my basement when the washer hose busted! Thanks neighbors. I feel like I should make a batch next week too for the garbage men; especially the guys who loaded up my 90+ leaf bags after the sodding extravaganza.

2/3 cup unsalted butter
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together butter, brown sugar, and honey. Add egg and vanilla, mix well.

In a large bowl stir together flour, oats, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; add to butter mixture and mix until well combined.

Stir in cranberries and white chocolate chips.

Place dough 2" apart on an ungreased baking sheet until edges are slightly browned and centers are still soft (around 12 - 15 minutes) Do not over bake.

Cool completely and Enjoy!

And one last thing I did in the "cookin'" world was to make Southern Sweet Tea for the girls doing the Esther Study with me this summer. I brewed 3 quarts of tea, added true lemon, and a cup of simple syrup that I made on the stove. Needless to say - It was a big hit!

Now get out there family - and get cookin'. Let us know how it all works out!

Love, Tracy

Fathers: Grand and Wonderful

Grandpa Nadeau and Alaina looking over the balcony.

Pete and Alaina waiting outside for Father's Day Breakfast.

Grandpa Nadeau, Pete, Alaina, and Grandpa Donnelson

Alaina and Grandpa Donnelson making fun faces.

Grandpa Nadeau and Alaina - smiles all around.

March 1st Snow in Atlanta!

It’s snowing it’s snowing the old man is snoring!!!!!
It is March 1st and it is snowing in Peachtree City. Yesterday was 68* and now it’s 34* and snowing. Paul’s flight has been canceled to Michigan and we are having fun in the snow! It is really wet and heavy. It is not really staying on the roads but it is on the grass and things. Paul decided to make a snow man! The poor daffodils are all sad and snow covered. I hope they make it!