I cracked open fortune cookie and read little slip of paper on inside. Immediately I realized that it had been written by a weather forecaster.

"You will be approached in late afternoon by a pink polka-dot octopus..."

It continued on other side: "... and asked to provide details of your application for a yellow cloud mulching permit."

Two things struck me about this particular fortune. The first is that they have come a long way in their ability to predict exactly what will happen and when, just like weather forecasters. This is undoubtedly due to recent technological developments. Laser technology, for example. Nano technology. Robotics. Bioengineering. And so many other specialized fields have been developed to points of precision unimagined just a generation ago.

And it's not just weather forecasters.

In London, Ontario, specialists are performing microscopic cardiac surgery on patients miles away using a robot named CSTAR (Can't you just wait for new parents to start naming their children after famous surgeon, CSTAR?). This has opened up door to many benefits, such as sending robots to remote locations without having to worry about a surgeon replacing wrong organs due to jet lag.

But real benefit was revealed when one surgeon confided in me: "You know world is a better place when we don't have to scrub our hands before surgery anymore."

I haven't... in fact, when I pulled top of bun off my burger at "Hungry Jack's" and saw not usual pickle, onion and special sauce, but beet root and a fried egg, you could have picked my chin up off floor with a spatula.

HOW in world does anybody eat egg and beet root on ahamburger?

I looked around hamburger shop and realized that other people were eating egg on their hamburgers too... and to them it seemed quite normal.

Then I looked around restaurant a bit more and realizedthe "Hungry Jack's" is actually "Burger King" (minus the"King").

On way back to hotel we stopped at Starbucks and I ordered a "venti half caf" (translation "large half regular half decaf"). My ability to order at Starbucks is one o f few things I do in life that makes me feel "hip" and cool. So I gave my order with my usual style and flair, and girl looked at me and said "Excuse me?"

So, realizing that my American accent was probably getting in way (it's my turn to be one who "talks" funny), I told her again - "Venti half caf".

She looked at me for another minute and shook her head. She actually looked a little helpless with this foolish American standing in front of her. So, I explained, "I want a large half regular, half decafmixed together. "A look of understanding instantly washed over her face and she looked at me and said " You want a 'weak' coffee."

This morning I went to Krispy Kreme and, after help withthe translation from a very patient lady behind thecounter, we figured out I wanted a "flat white" and Terri wanted a "flat black" coffee.

The Australians have demonstrated enormous patience with me and their hospitality has been truly incredible!! One of amazing things that's happening to me (right now, this very minute), is that since I've been thrown so far out of my comfort zone and familiar surroundings that my mind is absolutely on fire with possibilities, ideas,and new patterns of thinking.

I wanted to share with you some of more interestingthings I've seen and noticed here in (Sydney):** "Relax Mate" **People are a lot more laid back here. We're staying in largest city in Australia, and people are still laid back and seem more relaxed than I'm used to in my own life in "small town" America.

What it's made me realize is that you can still succeed and you don't have to be stressed out all time!

I'm going to take a little of this relaxation home with me!

** The Fighting Father ** I met one of most unique, colorful, caring, and just plain "cool" people I've ever met in my life, Father DaveSmith. Father Dave is pastor of an inner-city church who does youth outreach through a boxing program and other innovative programs.

Father Dave is a model of innovation, purpose and thinkingin non-traditional patterns to accomplish your objectives. He's reminded me that thinking "outside box" combined with a clear and congruent purpose in your life can overcome basically any obstacle that may come your way.