Test message: we are on our way . . .

Dateline: Courtyard Marriott Airport, Indianapolis IN, 8 Aug 2004

Vonne and I flew with Em, Kev and Jerry on Southwest to Indianapolis this afternoon.

Kevin went from the airport to Payne OH with Vonne's brother Steve and his family. He'll spend 3 weeks on the farm.

Emily and Jerry went to Terre Haute, Indiana with Nona Vonne and Grandad Carl.  There they will try out the pool at the new house they just bought. This should keep them as busy as the new puppy on the farm should occupy Kevin.

Tonight Vonne and I stay at a hotel next to the airport in Indy. We fly to the Twin Cities tomorrow morning and then on to Beijing via Tokyo. We will arrive in Beijing late on the evening of the 10th, Tuesday. We are arriving two days earlier than the rest of our group. We will do some sightseeing, some shopping, and I will deliver two presentations to research centers at Beijing University, which has just signed to publish my book in China. BU is arranging transport and a personal guide for us these two days, then we'll join the rest of the group on Friday as our very scheduled journey through China will begin in earnest.

I will be sending emails of this sort as frequently as possible. I will be blogging our travels as well on my site at www.thomaspmbarnett.com/weblog.

Wish us well. We are very excited to finally be on our way.

Tom