A Year From Now...

May 2013 - Honolulu Triathlon

Due to the generosity of friends from Japan and the support of my family, I was able to join a team for the Honolulu Triathlon last month.  日本人の友人の寛大さと家族の支援があるので、先月ホノルルトライアスロンのためにチームに参加することができました。

Swimming practice at Ala Moana Park was great preparation for race day. アラモアナ公園で水泳の練習は、レース当日のために偉大な準備だった。

The event began before the Waikiki sunrise – 5:45 AM start!  イベントはワイキキ日の出の前を始めた - 5:45のスタート！

Due to an excellent course and ideal conditions, I was able to enjoy a good pace and finish in 2:43.  Very nice!  優れたコースと理想的な天気のために、2時43分には良いペースと仕上がりを楽しむことができました。非常に素晴らしい！

Gaining support and advice from experienced teammates was a unique and rewarding experience.  I am very grateful to everyone for their kind support!  I am looking forward to the next event!  経験豊富なチームメイトからのサポートやアドバイスを得ることは、ユニークでやりがいのある経験だった。皆さん、心から、深く感謝いたします！次のイベントを楽しみにしています！

April 2013 - The machine that changed my life

When I was in elementary school, I helped my Dad maintain this Lawn Boy mower.  I was fascinated by the engine…so much power from such a small machine!  小学校にいたとき、私は父が芝刈り機を維持する助けました。私は、エンジンに魅了された...このような小さなマシンからそんなにパワーを！

That fascination led to my interest in engineering, and ultimately to the automotive propulsion industry. その魅力の影響、私はエンジニアになったことでした。今,自動車パワートレイン分野で働いっています。

Now, 40 years later, the fascination remains.  The machine that changed my life…and the Lawn Boy runs again! さて、40年後、魅力が残っている。私の人生を変えたマシンが...そしてLawn Boyがうなりを上げて始動しました！

 

Aloha Honolulu - December 2012

People were surprised to hear that none of the Asia Murrays had been to Hawaii.  "Really," they would say.  "you lived in Japan for more than ten years and never went to Hawaii??". 　日本に１０年以上住んでいたから、友達が”我々はハワイへ行ったいなかった”のを聞いたとき、彼らは驚いた。

Pamela and I took a chance to meet each other halfway between Shanghai and Detroit on a small island in the central Pacific: Oahu.  We overlooked Waikiki and enjoyed swimming in the sea, walking along the streets, and experiencing the positive vibe of Honolulu and surrounding areas. パメラと私は上海とデトロイトの中間に会った：オアフ島。ワイキキの通りに歩いて、ホノルルとその周辺地域のポジティブな雰囲気を体験し、海で泳いで楽しんだ。

I was so surprised to see such beautiful rainbows!  I would later learn that rainbows are a common sight around Oahu and we saw many beautiful examples, including this one. 

From our hotel, looking Northwest along Kalakaua Avenue in the evening is a beautiful sight!  Strolling the street at night and jogging it in the early morning are exciting experiences.   It is an unique blend of high fashion, tourism, and down-to-earth friendly people.

I married Pamela exactly 25 years before this picture was taken.  One of the prerequisites for marriage was enthusiasm for motorcycles.  She has never let me down!  We enjoyed cruising the Road King around Oahu, especially Likelike Highway, Kailua Beach, and Hiway 72 along the Southeast edge of the island.

Sunsets at Waikiki Beach evoke all the senses: the pleasant smell of the tropics, the busy sounds of the city, the warm rays of the sun, and the cool breezes of the evening.

This is just the beginning of a relationship with Hawaii.  Aloha and Mahalo!

Click here for more Hawaii pictures at PIXBYMARTIN: http://www.pixbymartin.com/Travel/2012-December-Honolulu/27333046_Wxr5jv#!i=2299064344&k=w7mB5dP

December 2012 Family Trip to Xi'an

Memories are formed in many ways.  Some come from the destination, some from the journey, and some from the company you keep.   From our family trip to Xi’an, powerful and poignant memories exist from all three.     思い出は多くのソースから来ています。たとえば、いくつかの旅から、行き先から、そしていくつかのあなたとしている人々からです。私たちの西安の家族旅行から、強力かつ感動的な思い出は、3つすべてから存在しています。

Our journey began at the Shanghai Railway Station.  Having enjoyed train travel in Japan and Europe, Pamela arranged an overnight train from Shanghai to Xi'an.  It was a noteworthy journey.  The facilities were well below standards based on our experience, but pretty comfortable considering China.  The family time was excellent!  Sleep?...well, that is a different story.

Visiting the Great Mosque in Xi'an opened our eyes to the consequences of ancient trade on the Silk Road and religious tolerance and endurance in China.  Muslim traders from the Middle East established bases in Xi'an more than 1000 years ago when China was a dynamic and prosperous great power.  Intermarriage mixed the populations, yet a distinct and harmonious Muslim culture thrives in Xi'an today, nearly one million strong.

The faces tell the story: a blend of Persian, Chinese, and Arab heritage spice the food and the environment at the downtown Night Market.

Exploring new places together brings out the best in our family.

A 14 kilometer bike ride on the largest city wall in world provides a fascinating view of Xi'an.  Low buildings on the inside and skyscrapers on the outside reflect good city planning.  Unfortunately, an insatiable demand for energy and an abundant supply of very dirty coal create an unbelievably thick and dense pollution cloud over the city.  Look carefully in the picture and you will see the sun "shining" through the thick gray clouds.  Hard to believe people live here...8 million of them!

 

We liked the Terracotta Warriors.  But, I must admit, I am skeptical about some of the "history" of the place.  The ratio of infrastructure to archeology is somewhat suspicious...and the role of the tip-collecting "hero" who "discovered" the treasure in 1974 is, well, interesting....    Anyway, we enjoyed climbing around on the ancient artifacts.  Just kidding!  I wonder if they will ever renew my China VISA again...

    

See all my posted Xian pictures at: http://www.pixbymartin.com/Travel/2012-December-Xian-China/27318085_w5kNsP#!i=2296129868&k=NG5KhPQ

Christmas Day 2012 - Shanghai

On Christmas Day, we celebrated at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Puxi, Shanghai. Very fun! クリスマスの日に、私たちは上海で聖ペテロカトリック教会で祝いました。楽しかった！

Memories and Old Stuff November 2012

Household goods from Tennessee were delivered yesterday.  They had been stored in a Nashville warehouse for 12 years.  In some cases, it was like seeing old friends.  In other cases, it was just old stuff.  Thank you Monica for helping!  テネシー州から家財は昨日配信されていました。 それは１２年間ナッシュビル倉庫に格納されていました。時々それは旧友に会うかのよかったです。他のは、それだけで古いものだな。モニカ、助けてくれてありがとう！

garage - before  ガラージ　先

garage - after 　　ガラージ　後

basement - before  地下　先

basement - after  地下　後

The Cougar Returns October 2012

When I was 16 years old, I bought my first car: a 1969 Mercury Cougar with a 5.7L V8 engine.  While living in Asia for 12 years, the car was stored in a garage in Tennessee.  Thanks to the amazing help of my best friend Neil, the engine came back to life!  What a blast!  The Cougar lives again!

16歳だったとき、私の最初の車を買った：1969 Mercury Cougar. アジアに住んでいる12年の間に、車はテネシー州のガレージに格納されていました。友人ニールのおかげで、車のエンジンが復活した。すごく楽しかった！このcougar が戻りました！

 

Colorado October 2012

An amazing trip to Colorado for work, and a lucky opportunity to visit my parents.  コロラド州の出張は素晴らしかった。また、幸運にも両親を訪問しました。

A beautiful view from my parent's porch. 両親のテラスから美しい景色。

Our Great Happiness!  我々の偉大な幸福。

 

Colorful Michigan October 2012

The colorful trees in Michigan are breathtaking!  As if preparing for Winter, Mother Nature puts on a spectacular show.   ミシガン州の紅葉の美しさは感動的でした。冬の準備のように母なる自然に”お見事！よくやった”を話します。

Ann Arbor Fall Colors October 7, 2012

The trees in Ann Arbor are beginning to burn brightly with Fall colors.  It has been a long time since I saw such wonderful tree colors!  アン　アーバーの葉の色が濃くなっています。久しぶりにそのようなきれいな葉を見ました。