Exploring Ecuador & The Galapagos Islands

This past spring break I had the exciting opportunity to travel with 5 students and two other chaperons to Ecuador and The Galapagos Islands on an educational adventure trip.  The nine days went by quickly as we took in so many great sites - volcanoes, sea lions, giant tortoises, the local market, stunning cathedrals and churches, and so much more.  I learned how to snorkel while I was there and can't wait to do that again.  The sea lions would swim right up and around us.  They reminded me so much of my sweet Emma dog!!  For a few moments, as I watched some giant sea turtles swim by, I thought I had entered the world of Nemo.  I hope you enjoy a few shots from my adventure.

Who's Your Tiger?

Had a great time at the game today!
Wish they had won. 

 

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

Portrait of God

It was a fun day.  I had the opportunity again to lead worship at church again this morning (about once to twice a month).  Here are the songs we led with:  Amazing Grace (grand piano, cello, vocals), Hold Me Now by Jennifer Knapp, Everything by Lifehouse, How He Loves by John McMillan, and 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman.  Our church, (Tim, Sarah, and I all attend the same church) has been making its way through a series called A Portrait of God, which examined some of the main pictures the Bible paints of God.  We studied God who Calls, God who Forgives, God who provides, God who dwells among, God who creates, and God who teaches.  It was a great series and we capped it off with a trip to the DIA today to see the opening day exhibition of the Face of Jesus by Rembrandt.  It was fascinating and I would recommend it to anyone who is in town.   

(Alan, Amanda, & Asher, Tracy, Alicia & David in front of the Diego Rivera Murals)

Pass It On: Vocabulary

My Dad passed down to me his love for vocabulary.  When he was in town last month he made sure to tell me about 2 new words he was trying to readily incorporate into his every day vocabulary.  I was excited to hear about them.

On dictionary.com they showed the 5 most obscure words thus far for 2011!

tergiversation verb (used without object), -sat·ed, -sat·ing.

1.     

to change repeatedly one's attitude or opinions with respectto a cause, subject, etc.; equivocate.

2.

to turn renegade.

internecine adjective

1.

of or pertaining to conflict or struggle within a group: aninternecine feud among proxy holders.

2.

mutually destructive.

3.

characterized by great slaughter; deadly.

zugzwang noun Chess.

a situation in which a player is limited to moves that cost piecesor have a damaging positional effect.

Origin: 1900–05; < German, equivalent to Zug move + Zwangconstraint, obligation

quietus noun, plural -tus·es.

1.

a finishing stroke; anything that effectually ends or settles:Having given a quietus to the argument, she left.

2.

discharge or release from life.

3.

a period of retirement or inactivity.

Origin: 1530–40; < Medieval Latin quiētus quit (in quiētus est (he)is quit, a formula of acquittance), Latin: (he) is quiet, at rest (seequiet¹); compare quit¹ (adj.)

oppugnancy adjective

opposing; antagonistic; contrary.

Tomato Season

Princess Cake

Alaina had a special request for her birthday.
A pinkalicious princess cake!


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2011 Oak Apple Run

It was another great time at the Oak Apple Run 10K!

My trainer, Jenna, joined me this year along with her friend Faith.

Carrie was so sweet to get up at the crack of dawn to cheer us on and take some pictures.

Let's get this race started!

 

 Mile 2 - Still Smiling

 Mile 6.2 - Crossing the Finish Line

 Jenna, Tracy, Caren

Carrie, Tracy, Jenna

Afterward we walked to the farmer's market and picked up some local delights!  It was a great start to the day.

10K = 1:08:15 PB (11 minutes miles)

The 1,974,394,589th Reason

I love my Dad :)  Came home to this on my counter.  He sacrificed a Starbucks cup - a beloved object.  He is environmental - reduce REUSE recycle.  He stopped by on his short trip to the Mitten. He closed my garage door on a day that I don't get home until after 11pm.  He even drew me a picture.  So tickled.

Snow Day

  Compared to Chicago we didn't get much but it was enough to have a little whiteout here and there!

 I used my yooper scooper 3 times over the past 12 hours and I see one more time in the future.  I did start to run out of places to put the snow so I shoveled the previously shoveled snow off of the deck and into the backyard.  That was fun.

 Emily sent this picture.  They had real snow!  This is from their front door - I think?  I hope they get a picture of the girls standing next to it for perspective.

My Favorite Online Resources

To make and share lists:  Ta da Lists
To schedule meetings or make a choice with several people:  Doodle
To manage, edit, and store pictures:  Picasa and Picnik
To help make a translation:  Bing Translator
To listen to music:  Pandora
To keep kids entertained:  PBS Kids Between the Lions
To get a new font look:  Fontspace
To read the Bible: Biblegateway and Blue Letter Bible
To pass time: Free Rice

What are yours?

Social Media & Christmas!

Christmas Eve

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Playing with Blocks
Dinner at Picanos
A Visit with Steve
Haute Chocolate Pots
Church at Genesis
Visiting with Family

Close Your Eyes, Mom, I Found the Beef.

An early view from Sunday's crockpot - the beginning of beef stew. Why? Well, despite growing up in a household with Mom, who is fiercely and fearsomely allergic to beef, (sorry mom) I still love it from time to time. Enough that I 'went in' with eight other families to buy a grass fed cow and after much anticipation the freezer is full of beef. Steaks, roasts, stew, and ground meats adorn all three shelves. It's lean and has beautiful color. So on Sunday friends came over for a double feature. A Charlie Brown Christmas (LOVE LOVE LOVE) captured the hearts of kids and adults followed by Love, Actually (not for the kids). Friends brought roasted potatoes, garlic bread, and cupcakes. I made a gingerbread trifle as well. We were stuffed and quite content.

The beef was quite a deal - under $2 a pound.