Home? Where?

I'm in Rio since ... well, few days ago. Everything is strange without my father around, everything reminds me of him, I cry all the time. I miss living here now, a bit tired of being a foreigner. But I also miss my husband, I miss my own home. Everything will be diferent from now on. Not easy, very challenging, softened by The Hands of God. God brought us together, I have no doubts about that. All the humiliation I suffered living abroad, specially in Italy, will be diferent now. If not upfront and agressive, at least disguised and mellow as now I am married and have my hubby to protect me. And I miss him a lot! No matter what people say, married people are always treated with more respect, as if being single were a sign of any disease. I will be a foreigner for the rest of my life, but with my own family, together in faith.

May God bless us always and the Holy Family bring the real Christmas spirit to all homes and families.

Honey, I can't wait for New Year's day to bring us together again.

I love you!

Rita Lee 1979 - Mania de você

This one is for my hubby. ;-)

Hun, I will give you a private translation of this song... I love you!

All You Can See Super Size

Everything is gigantic in the US. I think it's because there is too much land and things tend to expand to occupy all available spaces. It goes for houses, streets, shops, people, restaurant meals...

Every time Gerald was taking me to some fast-food place they were serving the smallest fizzy drink at a size I wouldn't be able to drink in less than 24hs. I would always ask for the small cup, to what Gerald would "upgrade" to a size medium that was usually double than the petite one. My goodness! And I don't even like fizzy drinks.

While milk in the UK is sold by the pint - what for me is a problem as since I was a child I always drank more milk in a day than all my family together - , milk in the US is sold by the gallon! I have no idea how much is that in litres, but it is big, it is huge, and miraculously it lasts for a week!!!!

In a restaurant the first time I saw my order it was scary: more food than I could eat in 3 days. And we ordered not only the main meal (why on Earth do they call it "Entrée"? Can someone teach those Yankees some French, please? "Entrée" means Starter!!!!!) but we asked for some appetisers too. I was in panic, what would I do with all that food? A little bit I could leave on my plate but, a full meal? No way! To what Gerald explained me that no one is expected to finish their meal, but to take half of it home and the restaurants are all prepared and have boxes available for that purpose!!! This is a whole new world for me, that is for sure. I think the problem starts when some people don't know that this is done in purpose and try to stuff themselves with everything on the table. That sight is very scary indeed!

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I'm shocked

Well, I've certainly heard about static electricity before, but I was born in Rio de Janeiro, very humid, and that was like snow: something I would only read about and never really experienced, sounding like another "foreign myth".

Until I came to NM... In April it happened a few times, combing my hair and it going up, trying to reach the roof. It was funny then. But now, there is nothing funnier.

We were walking around Walmart, I hold hubby's arms, and there is a shock. I laughed. Then at home, another one. And there was the neighbour's cat which I tried to hold and several shocks came through. And those things start to become more and more frequent, until the time I tried to kiss my hubby and his lips gave me a shock! I know there is some buzz and electricity in love but this is ridiculous!!!

I keep asking Gerald what I can do to stop it and he only laughs... "You will need to get used to this, hun". Are you serious that I will have to go through it all my life from now on???? Help! Any alternatives, please?

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Communion and Liberation

Don't you know what it is? Go and read here. I am looking for fellow members in NM, are you one of them?

"The essence of the CL charism is the proclamation that God became Man; in the affirmation that this man -- Jesus of Nazareth, who died and rose again -- is a present event, whose visible sign is communion, that is to say, the unity of a people led by a living person, the Bishop of Rome in the awareness that it is only in God made Man, and hence within the life of the Church, that man is more true and humanity is truly more human. "

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Weather

What do you mean "don't panic"? I was panic-ing. I had to pack my bags to come to NM in November, didn't know what to put in my backpack. My body is certainly "heat proof" - while everybody is sweating profusely during summer in Rio, I am just fine - but it will never be "cold proof". You can see that in the old post about my first trip to Sandia Peak when I had layers on and Gerald was happily wearing only a shirt and jeans.

Well, Gerald had been telling me not to worry because the weather during autumn is quite warm. Err, ok, but what is warm for him is not exactly warm for me. So I've packed all cashmere I have and planned to buy heavier stuff while in here. Even when the online thermometer I usually check was telling me that ABQ was warmer than Niteroi!

We've gone to Taos last week, and what happened? 4 seasons in a day, and total panic with the amount of snow in the Ski Village as I've never seen any more than a few minutes of snow in London. So the pictures can show: few layers on, all layers out, all layers and heavier coat, gloves, hat, boots on!!!! In a matter of few hours!! I am now wondering how is that winter in the desert. Lord, what is that down the road for me???

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Newlyweds

I know my father is in heaven now blessing us:





On Wednesday I became officially Mrs. Gerald :-) The real thing - Church Wedding still have to wait for a couple of months. But the judge and my hubby's family offered us a magical evening together.

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Bridezila

I always saw brides becoming mean. People that were usually normal and calm, nice, turned into different creatures beyond recognition. I always credited that to be too spoilt. Now, without ever have asked why it happens I have all the answers in my life as if I'm being part in a horror movie.

Packing and praying

I so want to speed up the clock, London is so boring now, I don't see any fun in it anymore. The only thing I look forward to is to my next trip and be close to my love again!

Saudade

My love, I've been missing you so much! It is now only 27 days until we'll be together again. I am counting every second that is still to come.

I love you!

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My hero!!!!

Start calling and make your protest!!!

Hello, Customer Service? What? India? Noooooooo

I know I am not alone:

And the most frustrating of all: They need dubbing in their own institutional video!!!!!! If they can't understand theirselves, how they expect US to understand them?

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I Just Want to Give You a Kiss Now

Missing you already, my love. On a countdown now. And I am not watching Star Trek until January, I promise!!!!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!!!!!

No, I haven't forgotten, it was yesterday. But we had a very busy day cycling around London, having diner, and trying to dominate the fire in the kitchen!!!!! :-D

London Bikes

Do you think I am kidding? Have a look at Gerald's favorite past time while walking around London... So bad it can make a calendar:

January -

February -

March -

April -

May - June -

July -
August - September -
October -

November -

December -

Well, I guess it is Happy New Year now...

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Raining day

It's been raining without stop since last Friday. For me, to stay inside the house with a cup of tea and my duvet is just perfect, but Gerald is dying to go out and run... So this morning we had maybe half an hour of sunshine and I told him to go to the park, to what he replied "Are you not coming with me for a walk?"

Well, this is London survival lesson number 1:

Can you see any sunshine? Are you ready to go out? Run to the park and don't waste your time combing your hair or inviting other people to come with you. It can last 5 minutes. If you are lucky, this can happen again for another 5 minutes sometime in the next few months. If not, only next year now, if the SUN turn up for summer.

Welcome to Autumn London.

PS. - This is my fav book. Without reading it you might think Ils sont fous ces anglais!

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Brazilian Anthem - Hino Nacional Brasileiro

Today is Independence Day. On the 7 of September 1822 we became independent from Portugal. Our first Emperor was the son of the King of Portugal. In my opinion, real independence only on the day we became a Republic.

Brasil, I am far now but I love you with all my heart and I am very proud of being Brazilian.

Car Porn for Women

Many times, while trying to walk, I had to stop for some pictures I wasn't really interested in... Honestly, for me a car is something with four wheels that takes me from A to B, differing from a bicycle just on the number of wheels.

So, London is a fertile ground for whoever enjoys "automobile watching":

This one is small and red -

This one is black -
AAAAAARGH! This one is ORANGE! Who on Earth would buy this?

This one is Smart - This one is a Bentley, parked in prohibited space, about to get a ticket -

What is THAT??????

And a nice little shop - On Chelsea Bridge, once a month there is an old car collectors gathering. Yes, it is ON the Bridge, not around it. And we got off the bus to have a closer look at it -

Don't I look amused? I only know it is a Cadillac because I read at its back:

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Walking and walking and walking.

Gerald loves running, I don't, so we compromise walking, and London is perfect for that. He starts to look bored and doesn't say what he wants to do, so I grab him for a walk... I should tone all my leg and butt muscles in a flash if we keep like that, last time we walked for 6 hours! My belly, I give up, that will never go.

He also has some Japanese genes for sure, his photo camera is a natural attachment to his hands. Our computer is now loaded with pics from every London postcard (and their bikes), so we have our walks documented for posterity...

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Bicycles and stuff

A bicycle for me was always a thing with two wheels that, depending on the friendliness of the town you live in, could be used as a way of transport and not only for an occasional ride through the park.

Well, so recently I found out that there is a whole nerds bike's world out there that I'd never knew existed if it were not by Gerald. Before he got to London I bought us a pair of bikes and all I cared was if they would take us from point A to point B and now I came to know that every metal bit of those are more important than the ride itself... At least he is not mad about football.

In Brazil we have a saying that translates roughly into "if you get out in the rain is because you want to get wet" and that is what I am trying to do. On 21 Sep some important streets of London will be closed to the traffic to allow bikers to run freely through world famous postcards, the London Freewheel.

It is Gerald's birthday and he signed up, and so did I...

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Sunday Salami

Gerald was so fascinated by the street market that it was impossible to get him out of there. On his last stop searching for bike brake's bits I left him behind and kept walking to a French stall selling cheese, salumi and confitures.

There was a special offer, any 3 for £10 - bargain! - and I was obviously very interested. The guy was explaining me about the salamis - I'm mad about them - and after he told me the base for all were pork meat he started to show me the combinations. Gerald arrived when the French guy was showing me the horse meat and donkey meat salami... To convince Gerald to taste the black pepper salami after that was quite a task, and he is the type that can eat only pepper itself.

Something is telling me that I will have to eat all special offer salami by myself...

PS. - By the way, I bought plain pork, pork with walnuts and pepper coated salami.

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07 Sep 2008 update - Brazilian Independence Day - only last night Gerald had the courage to taste the salami. I opened the walnut one and was eating with cheese bread. I insisted, he didn't want it then I ate that myself. Only after that he sniffed a piece and then ate :-)

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Simon's Cat 'Let Me In!'

I LOVE CATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey You, The Wall Live in Berlin

If you were at that concert you can be sure that I envy you with all my heart and I am not ashamed of declaring that. My only consolation is that it wasn't David Gilmour singing. :-P for you

My love is here

How can I spend my time writting for this blog then?