Wanderings in Wonderland

Hurtin'... Not Horton Nor Haute

2011-11-19T19:11:00.012-02:00

I normally have the hearing of Horton. I'd like to think that i could pick out a Who call in the middle of rush hour, and that's not even my top super power. (Night Vision. Sssh!)

Unfortunately, as i recover from a horrible flu that has temporarily taken my hearing hostage, i can also attribute another disconcerting turn of events to this illness. Apparently, my husband and doctor are convinced that i have some extreme case of scoliosis, when in fact... it was just another strange mishap in Wonderland.

It appears that the radiologist that took my chest x-rays has always had the secret desire to be a fashion photographer. That, or i now know where the official "Couture Pose" comes from. It is attributed to Dorian Leigh Parker, but i now suspect that it should be credited to her radiologist whenever she must have gone in for a chest x-ray due to an upper respiratory infection.

Image found on Google

What i don't understand... is how this turned into another bizarre scenario where no one was listening to the facts, but instead ran with wild ideas such as i suddenly [and secretly] have a raging case of scoliosis.

As i stood with my back to the 100% moveable x-ray machine, i saw a metal groove for the chin atop a stationary metal slab that clearly had a straight line running down, directly below said groove. This is traditionally what radiologists use to make sure that the patient is in place, while the fully maneuverable machine behind it is aligned with the correlating projected lines. My artsy radiologist clearly had a new vision, and saw fit to ask me to leave my chin in the groove, but contort my body in an überunnatural fashion - to the left, in the infamous "Couture Pose."

Image found here.

As i was trying to form a joke in Portuguese, “Ha-Ha: This is really how the couture pose was invented,” i realized i didn't know the word for pose. Before i could think of another way to say it, i was promptly kicked out & sent on my way. Upon returning to the doctor's office with my x-ray, he was so horrified by the supposed extreme scoliosis that he wouldn't let me explain that it was the contortion-loving high couture radiologist with a vision that had caused this misrepresentation; and though i looked to my husband for help he just shook his head saying that it was all of the hours spent in front of the computer in poor form that had caused this. [He is a lifelong member of the posture police, and thought he'd finally proved his case.]

Later that night as we turned in to sleep, i tried unsuccessfully to recreate this popularized pose - as if that's something that should be done right before bedtime - to prove to my husband that it was just a weird ~~twist &~~ turn of events. Slightly impressed, but less than believing, he insisted that i go to an Osteo Doc a.s.a.p.

I could see questioning if i had some sort of habit or addiction which i could try to hide, but scoliosis of this severity would be easy to spot from a mile away. I freely admit that i have an ever so slight case of scoliosis that we've all known about for quite a while (hello! middle school) …but scoliosis of this degree would be like trying to hide my sixth digit...

...or my third ear (which would really come in handy, right about now).

Image found here.

Apparently, i'm not the only person mystified by this strange pose, as i found several sites questioning the purpose or draw of this posture in my search for appropriate pics of this phenomenon. Here are some of my faves:

Osteoporosis IS The New Black

I’ve Got A Hunch

What Is Up With The Crazy Model Poses

Go Goiano

2011-11-11T11:11:00.020-02:00

I have an announcement to make. :)

As you may have noticed, i've been MIA for the past few months, with the exception of a post here & there. I was in the middle of a pretty big transition, personally. Due to some adjustments in my life, i will not only be back here - but i'd like to invite you over to a blog that is specifically about the state of Goiás that i currently call home.

There is so much to document, and it's a shame that Goiás is not more well known by the English-speaking world. I plan to change that. I will still keep this "personal" blog to talk about everything else, but Go Goiano is going to be a steady stream of information and photos about this great state in the middle of Brazil.

I hope to see you there, and i will soon be seeing you all on your blogs, as well.

(Biggest skipping stone i've ever seen...)

I Only Have Eyes For You

2011-10-14T22:14:00.021-03:00

I guess we'll go in reverse... :)

This was taken at about the same time in the late afternoon/early evening, while the contrast from the bright moon wasn't quite at its peak. I increased the contrast of the pic to bring out the full detail. I'm liking both the black & white and the blue-hued pics. Which do you prefer?

(To enlarge pictures, right-click and open in a new window.)

How about a little mood music?

Cool vid! The bokeh is perfect for this song.

The Moon I See

2011-10-13T22:13:00.015-03:00

He it is Who spreads out the northern skies over emptiness and hangs the earth upon or over nothing.

~ Job 26:7 (Amplified)

This pic was taken along the banks of the Rio Araguaia, towards the end of our camping trip. It was about 5:30 in the evening, just before it was too bright to capture with my camera. I increased the contrast for full detail.

Here it is in black and white...

(To enlarge pictures, right-click and open in a new window.)

Which one do you like more?

Lament

2011-10-12T22:12:00.016-03:00

I only recently discovered Phaeleh, of whom i am now a fan due to his awesome music. Then i came across this video for Lament... It completely blew me away. Pure Art. My only lament is that i'm not any of the girls in that video. ...and that the horse that i attempted to ride this past weekend wasn't anything near as sweet as the stallion in this clip.

We went to The Ranch on Friday, and as i received the go ahead from my doc this past week, to start to take up physical activities that were off limits for the past decade, i jumped at the chance to ride again.

I must mention that i've been thrown by a horse before... years ago. You know, it's always the "gentle ones" that no one suspects - except me. I cannot stress how important it is to try to pick up on what the animal is feeling before even considering trying to interact with it. Horses are just like people: they might like everyone else, except for you & a few other people; or might not like anyone else, except you... I believe that is the general disposition of any animal ...but that's just me. I've been accused of being Dr. Doolittle on more than one occasion.

On Saturday, i could tell that this stallion was not. in. the. mood. for me to ride him. He was patient with the owners, only because disobedience isn't tolerated... but me, he didn't have to oblige. After several minutes of ~~clueless~~ people assuring me he was 'in the mood,' i reluctantly gave in. The only reason i didn't go with my gut instincts is that i really, really, reeeeally wanted to ride a horse. It had been too long, and it's something i've dreamed of doing for years. So... i ignored my spidey sense and hopped on.

I've never ridden a mechanical bull for fear i'd fly off, and hit the wall. Let's just say that is no longer a fear of mine. I rode a "bucking bronco" for 8-10 seconds. After he realized that i wasn't going anywhere, he stood still. Of course, by that time, everyone else ran to check on us.

Thankfully, this was going on while he was still tied on a rope with about 6 feet of slack. Otherwise, he'd have taken off running, and tossed me in the nearest barbed wire fence. Horses are so smart. You see, this horse thought that the boy untying the rope had tied the customary slipknot that the usual riders were accustomed to tying - but he hadn't. Slipknots take about a half of a second to undo.

Instead, the young man who had tied him up, had tied a regular double knot. When the horse saw him untie the first knot, that's when he tried to buck me off. Realizing he was still tied up, he bucked higher, trying to knock me off with a low branch from the tree overhead. Too bad there weren't any. When that didn't work, he tried smashing my leg against the fence.

Once i saw how determined he was to get me off, i realized he'd certainly throw me into any number of unpleasant situations, if given the chance. A good friend of mine spent the better part of a year and a half in a back brace because of a horse bucking her off, and stomping her. Since this stallion was more than a little irked, i feared the same sort of outcome.

It was then that i dug in. I grabbed a fistful of mane (in addition to the reins that i was already using to coerce him into stopping the madness), squeezed my legs, and rode it out. All of this happened in a mere 8-10 seconds. That's real rodeo competition time, folks! ;)

So now i look at this video with more than a twinge of wistfulness. When will i find a horse that i can run, walk & play with? Hopefully soon. On the other hand, i realize that had i have fallen, my hip would have most certainly been compromised. I’ve been working on getting my core strength back, and definitely need to focus on that more, before i attempt to break any more horses. ;)

In the meantime, i will continue to replay this video & dream of freely wandering the Earth, playing tag with herds of buffalo, wrestling with bears (or wolves), telling snakes to talk to the hand, cuddling flamingos, helping lizards with Acrophobia therapy sessions, chilling with big cats, kicking up sandstorms, and galloping along the beach on a gorgeous horse - all in dramatic designer dresses that have ample coverage suitable to withstand windstorms, and the aforementioned awesome horseback rides. ♥

No horses were harmed in this incident.
Certain people did have bruising of the thigh from pinching of the saddle, though.

From The Inside Looking Out

2011-09-30T21:30:00.016-03:00

I've been stuck on the outer edges of the rabbit hole for the past few months, with only memories of my stay along Araguaia in July to keep me going. I find myself staring out the window, more & more... or immersed in National Geographic's site - imagining i am elsewhere. Having grown up in a city where i could easily slip away into nature [& peace] several times a week; i've noticed that when i go for too long without an escape from the concrete jungle, i instead slip into depression. Where, oh where, is the eject button??

Our second storm of the season just rolled in, with a little drizzle. Our first storms of the season are usually much more eventful, but this muted respite from the heat perfectly matches my temperament of late...

I found this photo of our last evening along the Araguaia in July. The ducks are unknowingly headed the wrong direction. The smoke along the bottom of the left corner of the pic will soon overtake the entire sky, as a result of land clearing efforts at a nearby ranch.

(To enlarge, right-click and open in a new window.)

I feel like this picture is symbolic of a lot of aspects of my life, lately... Only God knows what tomorrow's sunrise will bring. I know i can rest easy tonight on that, alone.

What about you? What has been going on in your world?

Hoatzin Who?

2011-08-08T08:08:00.011-03:00

...or as it is known here in Brazil: the Jacu-cigano (pronounced “Zhah-coo See-gahn-oh) literally translated, the "Gypsy Guan," is the most interesting bird that i have had the pleasure to come across.

Whenever i had the opportunity to explore the more secluded areas of the lake behind the island where we camped, which consisted of narrow passageways through overgrown foliage, i repeatedly heard what sounded like a group of angry monkeys within the forest. It wasn't anything of the sort. It turned out to be groups of the very vocal Hoatzin.

As we approached wherever the Hoatzins were hiding, about 15 to 20 of them would burst out of the trees, screaming and fleeing the area. Really, we weren't even that close, and they could have just as easily remained hidden in their natural camouflage; but these birds didn't take any chances.

I suspect that all the screaming is to momentarily catch a predator off-guard so that there is no time to pursue them. The Hoatzin is said to be a distant relative of the cuckoo, which seems fitting, as they seem just a little bit crazy. They are the most bizarrely behaved birds i’ve ever seen. They are certainly the loudest, most flamboyant birds around - and from what i understand; they have a certain odor that has earned them the nickname "Stinkbird," in English. I never got close enough to smell them, so i cannot attest to their fragrance.

I can confirm their strange beauty, though. They have a blue face, maroon eyes, and a mohawk that reminded me of a certain famous Brazilian soccer star named Neymar. We affectionately nicknamed the birds as such. ;)

All photos of Neymar found on Google

Due to their rapid retreats i was unable to get any clear shots, but one, due to the setting on my camera. However, i would like to present the glimpses i caught of these interesting birds. This is yet another bird that supposedly isn't in this region, according to researchers. I guess we could call it the Incognito Cigano.

(To enlarge pictures, right-click and open in a new window.)

Alias Along Araguaia?

2011-08-06T20:06:00.012-03:00

This year we camped on the same beach that forms when the Araguaia River recedes far enough, leaving a sandy peninsula at the edge of the forest. From what i understand, this forest is a large island that is in the middle of the Araguaia River - which forms the border of the two states Goiás & Mato Grosso.

There are so many different types of birds that call this region home. You can't walk two steps without the gulls crying out for reinforcements, the cranes sounding the alarm to flee, or the ducks loudly exclaiming their displeasure at your intrusion of the ambience. Occasionally, these alarm systems worked in my favor, as i was able to catch a glimpse of a hawk, jaburu or other larger bird of prey...

One such instance was the last morning, when i was leaving my tent. I heard the gull start up, and was annoyed since i clearly had claimed this "nest" for the past week & a half. I mocked the gull loudly. Then i glanced at the tent to my left to be sure no one was witness to this poor display of waking up on the wrong side of the bed.

That is when i saw a large black (what i initially thought was an eagle) bird of prey perched directly above the neighboring tent. In shock, i wondered if i would be blessed with enough time & ninja skills to unzip and reenter my tent [quietly], grab my camera & get out again - and still have a shot at capturing this jaw-dropping bird of prey. I figured that i need not factor in time to kick myself, as i could do that all day long, if i missed it.

I blame my mocking on my state bird. It's learned behavior, or something. Okay, it was actually just lack of a good night's sleep for days on end, due to our sleeping arrangements. I only have one thing to say about that: air mattress + sleeping bags next time. I'm not a princess, but when you have a certain amount of 'battle scars' & metal mass in your body, i believe that it is unnecessary to "rough it" just because - especially when we have 3 [yes, 3!] air mattresses just sitting in our storage.

Back to the most awe-inspiring bird i've seen in person...

I thought it was a Black Eagle, but it seems it is a Great Black Hawk - not to be confused with the Common Black Hawk. It did not have any white in its tail feathers, which makes me suspect it must be an eagle. Plus, it was huge! I'm no expert, though, so i have used other physical and behavioral clues that are known about the Great Black Hawk to try to correctly identify this fantastic feathered creature. One such clue is that along Amazon rivers the Great Black Hawk has been observed raiding Hoatzin (which i had never even heard of or seen until this trip) nesting colonies looking for eggs and chicks, which in this region were plentiful.

What do you think? Is this the correct identification? Either way, i was seriously impressed with its size, beauty & fierce presence. Enamored, really...

(To enlarge pictures, right-click and open in a new window.)

It's a shame this last one is so blurry. My camera was on the wrong setting to capture an action shot, and my subject quickly decided to take flight. This shot is what reminded me so much of an eagle. I actually have another pic that would have been amazing, if the focus wasn't off... It was when it looked right at me, and decided the photo shoot was done. :] Fierce, i tell you.

Living Off The Grid - Along The Araguaia

2011-08-03T08:03:00.003-03:00

We're back ~~to a somewhat normal schedule~~ from our yearly camping trip on the Araguaia River. This year i was blessed with unprecedented opportunities for photo ops with creatures that supposedly aren't even here.

Most of the previously unseen [by me & my friends] birds are "supposed to" stay much further north along the top of South America. If you look at a map and see just how far south we are (in the middle of Brazil, on the border of the northwestern tip of the state of Goiás & a point along the eastern portion of the state of Mato Grosso) then you will understand how amazed i was to discover creature after creature, that supposedly call somewhere else home, hanging out along the Rio Araguaia.

The Araguaia River is a tributary of much larger rivers that originate in the Amazonias, so i'm not all that surprised that the birds have migrated here - it is just the natural progression of things. What i am surprised to discover is that we really don't know as much about their territory and habits, as we'd like to think we do. :)

Without further ado, i'd like to introduce a beautiful, large and unusual duck that is so big that we call it a goose in English (Orinoco Goose) ...and so unlike a typical duck in its habits e.g. flying and swimming, that it is called a "Running Duck" (Pato-corredor) in Portuguese...

These gorgeous (and big) birds were everywhere, in pairs - all except this one below. :( It tried calling out to the other ones, but they didn't pay it any attention. It made me sad that it was alone. I wished i could hug it & make it feel better, but i'm no Elmyra.

(To enlarge pictures, right-click and open in a new window.)

Old Habits

2011-06-25T18:25:00.023-03:00

...may die hard, but they can always use a new image.

A friend on a certain social networking site mentioned that he is going kayaking at 6:30am tomorrow...

One of his friends responded with... 'A.M. stands for "Ain't Makin'it"!'

After i quit laughing, i admitted that this is me, as well. I know this may disappoint a few of you, but that pretty much has been my life motto since i hit 30. You may have noticed a blatant lack of sunrise pics. Don't get me wrong: i love watching a sunrise, but that has mostly been done after a long night of stargazing - aside from the period in my younger twenties, where it was just part of the job to be there at the crack of dawn. Not coincidentally, that is also when i developed a coffee addiction.

It's good to know that i am not the only night owl out there, that doesn't get to see the sunrise due to having other commitments, like work and whatnot, that requires a little sleep somewhere in between the two realms.

(To enlarge, right-click and open in a new window.)

Sunset on Serra da Mesa

Otherwordly Orbs

2011-06-24T18:24:00.018-03:00

These interesting subjects were captured in November of 2010, near the Corumbá III Lake in a friend's eucalyptus forest/farm. Unfortunately, my road trip companions were less than obliging, so i was unable to spend the time to get a good shot. They aren't great, but will do until i return...

(To enlarge, right-click and open in a new window.)

What's this? My first guess was a lost ostrich egg (until i saw all of the other ones in the vicinity) but apparently it is a type of "Puffball" mushroom [that i've decided must have magical powers or a force field that prevents the camera from focusing on the detail]. O,o

It was about 4-5 inches in diameter, and there were several on the floor of the eucalyptus forest. Unfortunately, my two carpool mates would not let me stay to photograph more. >:[

Additional evidence of the macro-repelling force field: See how the background is in focus, but everything around the weird shroom balls is distorted? ...and this is after 5 minutes of wrangling the camera's macro settings, and being on the receiving end of "the look" from my antsy carpool buddies. :/ I'm considering implementing this look when on the boat with these two in July. We'll see if it works both ways. ;)

Red Sliver

2011-06-23T18:23:00.003-03:00

(To enlarge, right-click and open in a new window.)

This was taken on the 5th of this month. The moon rose & set early (and seemingly closer) this past cycle, which afforded a glimpse at this cool phenomenon. I left the streetlight in the pic for reference, so that you can see this was the actual color of the moon.

I only wish i had been in a place where i could have set up my tripod, so it wouldn't be as blurry; but every second was of the essence, as the moon was setting, and i was sneaking around the shadows of a gated community. I thought it better to just get the shot & go back to my friend's house. Perhaps next time, i'll just take a chance and set up shop in a random neighbor's yard. Don't you really have the desire to invite me over to your place, now? I'm a lovely dinner guest, i assure you. ;)

Wishing

2011-06-22T18:22:00.000-03:00

...every day was like this.

(To enlarge, right-click and open in a new window.)

I sing a different tune than most...

"Rain, rain, come my way! Please don't make me wait another day."

I guess it comes from growing up in a place that can only hope to see rain twice a year. Here it's available for a limited time only each season. Hence, my dream of retiring near Seattle. Know of any other locales with rain year-round, and a great (moderate) climate? I'm open to suggestions! :)

Missing...

2011-06-21T15:42:00.000-03:00

(To enlarge, right-click and open in a new window.)

Well into our 2nd month without rain, i am missing it even more after going through some pics from March.

Colorful Afternoon

2011-05-30T05:30:00.016-03:00

(To enlarge, right-click and open in a new window.)

I was able to capture a couple of shots of some small green parakeets that live behind my m-i-l's house yesterday afternoon. Here in Brazil they are called piriquitos or periquitos. Parakeets are not all that uncommon in my hometown, Austin, Texas. There are several that, although they are not native to the area, somehow ended up there and never left. That's actually the story with the majority of Austin residents, these days. ;)

Parakeets are such neat creatures: cute & curmudgeon-y. I really enjoy hearing their chatter & watching what could be playful bickering with each other. Maybe it was the nice weather, but they made quite a commotion for several hours until dusk. This one let me get pretty close, and even posed for me. Judging by his stance, i don't think they restrict their playfulness to their own species. :) Cute little thing!

Just the same, i'm going to nix the nickname from my husband, who so lovingly calls me "Periquita" when he feels i'm being talkative. Either that, or he's going to get a new one: porco espinho (porcupine).

Culture Quirks: Compliments and Such

2011-05-28T11:33:00.016-03:00

When moving to another country, something that you find yourself trying to get used to, while simultaneously never really getting used to it... is the pronounced quirks in the culture. In most cases, it is best to find the humor in the differences, while in others, you will simply have to decide if you are going to tweak who you are or just be "different.”

One of the things i've lumped in with hilarious differences, is a one-liner that is found at the beginning of any conversation, that in this region, is thought to be a compliment - but is actually quite offensive to someone from my native region & culture. What i find to be downright sidesplitting, is that this same one-liner is used whether it's been a year... 2 months... 3 weeks... 7 days... or 4 hours since you last saw the "complimentor".

"[You look like] you've lost weight."

Umm, okay.

The first few months that i was here, i was offended that people were always discussing my weight. Hello! How rude! As i have discovered, these past 4 years, it is actually just a social salutation (with a few exceptions, of course). I’ll admit that i like to have fun with people when it's been a day, since i last saw them & they are saying this again - especially if it has been less than 12 hours. :D I usually just thank them kindly, and assure them that nothing has changed.

“Water weight.”

Photos found on photobucket.

It's something akin to being force-fed food at your Aunt's house, in that although you are full she still heaps a third round on your plate. That is how the "you've-lost-weight" compliment is here. (I usually imagine this line in the AOL you’ve-got-mail voice.) Despite your denials, people will filibuster for 20 minutes on just why and where they think you've lost weight - especially if there is a crowd to chime in with additional observations.

Oh... and don’t be too shocked when a group of possibly "related" females circles you, and pulls at your clothing to fully reveal your true dimensions. Your fault: if you are not wearing a skintight outfit, they will be forced to examine you thoroughly. Nope. Not awkward, disturbing, invasive or traumatic stress inducing, at all.

Because i was a little overweight when i arrived in Brazil, i initially thought this was some sort of reverse-psychology trick / backhanded compliment to try to make me "want" to lose weight, since they all truthfully considered me to be fat. Of course, coming from my m-i-l, it was in fact just that. And while it is "costume" or the way it is, i still didn't get how they justified giving the traditional one-liner if they didn't even mean it. So strange.

Did i mention that i live in the plastic surgery capital of the world? No? To give you an idea, i am the only female on a certain side of the family that hasn't paid a visit to the family plastic surgeon (not surprisingly, nor was i invited to his wedding).

Last night, however, i did finally see the “you’ve-lost-weight” in action as a slight. It came in the form of one woman saying said line, and another woman immediately cutting her off with, "No she hasn't!" I almost spit out my drink, from the sheer absurdity in it. You see, no one ever says anything to the contrary, even if you are assuring them that your weight is unchanged.

(loud voice) "No, i have not. lost. weight. I am *the same."

[*what you all consider to be "overweight."]

If anything, that's when the dissertation normally starts on the finer points of your alleged weight loss backed with dates, times and outfits (note: they are not interested in your opinion on your own weight). Funny thing is, i actually have lost quite a bit of weight from a bout with the flu last week - to the point that i can't wear any of my rings, and even almost lost my wedding ring.

As a self-admitted tomboy who has never watched the scale, my calories, or really cared beyond whether or not i can still fit in my jeans, i find it not only annoying, but am still trying to understand the obsession in which i find myself surrounded. Sure, i had friends back home that would warn me about calorie counts and that kind of thing, but i never got "into it". Some people will say that is due to my natural disposition, but i just attribute it to laziness - like the rest of my tomboyish traits. I'm a wash & go kinda chick. Of course, if i should wake up one day & find i can't go due to not fitting into anything, i may adjust my views.

The one thing that i'll probably never adjust to, though, is the "You've lost weight!" greeting. I guess that discussing the weather doesn't really work in a place where it only changes twice a year.

Things That Sane People Don't Pack

2011-05-25T17:25:00.016-03:00

So which came first... insanity or the move that made you desperate enough to do something that you would have never dreamed of doing a mere few years ago?

Don't worry, i'm only talking about questionable issues in suitcases that, while they are nothing illegal, would probably be the exact things some drug runner would try to use to disguise his true load.

Sound risky? You bet it does - but i was more than willing to spend a short time with customs, if need be, to make sure i had these home comforts in my new abode. I know, not sounding 100% sane, at this point. Let's just remember desperate people do desperate things, which can closely resemble craziness.

canisters (6) of powdered coffee creamer .......................................Check!
entire spice rack + rack................................................................................Check!
family-size tea bags stuffed into 2-liter baggies (8)....................Check!

Not having to hear a lecture or (worse) witness the seizure and confiscation of my creamer, tea & spices at Customs: ................................................................................................................Priceless!

Being desperate enough to do this again: ..........................................Problems! :(

It's not like this is a new idea, or anything. Spices & teas were some of the first items that were well worth travail and travel over vast oceans and continents. Living in an area that is far from any seaports or major hubs of international traffic (Brasília may as well be as far away as Rio) has its costs - especially if one is accustomed to international foods and spices.

Things are starting to change, as more people are moving here from São Paulo, and know what to ask for... but it is a slow process. Hence, my continued efforts in bringing some home comforts, uh, "home" with me any chance i get.

I will let you know how well i fared on the next run, er, trip back. ;)

Shhh! Memories Carry...

2011-05-22T17:22:00.007-03:00

First, i recommend pressing play and then pause on the video below, so it can load, as that is the soundtrack for this post. :)

I've touched on music & memories a few times before, as well as my uncanny ability to remember sounds & be able to place and/or date them. There is one song - a favorite of mine - that eludes me, though.

Every time i hear "Voices Carry" by 'til tuesday, i get a vague glimpse into my past. I can more often than not remember exactly where i was when i heard something, and even visualize details about the setting, what i was wearing, what i was doing or who i was with; and if not all of the above, then at least one or two details... But this song is unusual in that i can't. I just have the indefinite sensation that i was anywhere between 10 and 13, and... it was dark. That's it.

Voices Carry might be my favorite song ever. That's saying a lot, because i have a lot of faves - a mere 1,758 last time i checked my "Top Rated" playlist on my ipod. There's just something about it, though...

It's a haunting melody, that's for sure. I don't know when i first heard the song. It came out when i was 9, but my mom didn't let me listen to mainstream music until my preteen years, when i snuck in a little easy listening music to break our mostly-classical & late 70s gospel routine.

After a few years of the easy listening station, i was an official teen and upped the ante by ~~repeatedly~~ "accidentally" tuning the dial to the top 40 pop rock stations, until it was shown to be not that bad. It wasn't, compared to today's abuse of the airwaves.

Somewhere in those 3 years i heard this song for the first time, and it made an impression on me. It seemed secretive & dangerous, but comforting. I sensed the longing & loneliness in the music, and identified with it on some level. I had no idea what it was about, but had several different theories - all based on my short life & range of experiences.

Much of the mystery lay in the fact that we didn't have MTV. On one hand, i think that was a blessing in disguise. On the other, "Oh, how i missed out!" *stamps feet* The fact that we didn't have MTV would also explain how i loved this band - and years later Aimee Mann - and only by chance learned these vocals were from the very same drifter in the snow... (I play her I'll Be Home For Christmas every November through December as i cry my eyes out.) Hmmm... It appears there are things eluding me on several levels.

Guess i'll never understand, fully, the mystery i feel in this song - and maybe that's a good thing. You'd be surprised at the benefit of repressed memories. ;) Kidding! If you haven't heard this song in awhile, then let it transport you to... well, wherever it takes you - hopefully, that's a happy place. It is for me. :)

Lunacy

2011-05-21T17:21:00.021-03:00

These past few days i’m sure i’ve come unglued…
I can no longer find that familiar face in the moon.
More disturbing still...
She’s been replaced by a toothy poodle with a strange ’do.

Is this some kind of trick?
Another surprise tonight?
I’m jarred by the sight of a freakishly creepy pig
Squealing in delight
– Gleefully usurping this vista of the night.

Don’t go thinking i’m getting
Mystical
On you.
I deal only in the mythical
And occasionally... rue.

Gone: with her hair falling gently across her face…
or
Perhaps, blown back by a celestial breeze in space…
What’s more?
I begin to question
Exactly when... it was i started to see her in the first place…

The stunning siren of this satellite,
I know her well: laughing in the night,
Her lips parted slightly - perhaps she might
Finally reveal the big secret…

Was this it – a clandestine exit?

Or is this some kind of joke?

I anxiously peer up at a new night’s sky…
Did she really sing her last goodbye?

I gasp – She’s back!

It appears i misspoke.

And i suspect that now i might even know

Her big secret…

As a general rule, i usually ask my mom to proofread stuff, since she has a grasp on the English language that is unparalleled. When she doesn't have time to receive an email, proofread & return; i just read it to her quickly, and she gives me pointers.

Have i mentioned that i have an internet phone? There's a lot of similarity to that of "dropped calls" when dealing with cell phones. I have alluded to the confusion this can cause, in earlier posts.

...so i finish reading the poem.

*Dead silence.*

Me: "Mom?"

My Mom: "uh... Yes? I'm here."

Me: "Umm... Is there something wrong? Did you think it was too ...umm, ...much?"

My Mom: (sounding distressed) "When did you, ah, start seeing these things in the mirror?"

Me: "Mirro... What? Moon, Mom. Mooooon."

My Mom: (laughs) "Oh, good! Although i was going to say that i could relate."

Me: "Well, in that case, so could i."

We laugh.

She still maintains that mirror & moon are interchangeable, though i prefer to stick to my own slightly skewed reality. I immediately thought of these old AT&T Cingular commercials.

Earl got your tongue?

Closer and Closer

2011-05-20T12:50:00.050-03:00

I am totally trippin' out, dude. Over the zoom on this camera, that is. If only i can figure out which setting will filter the light correctly...

to capture all the craters in detail

to capture the shadows of the craters (in perhaps, a little less detail) as our eyes see them

I'm SO close...

Hopefully, i will have this figured out by the next full moon.

Here are some pics that show a few craters along the top of the moon. This is why i'm trippin'. I can't get over the world of possibilities that have now opened up... The zoom, man. The zoom!

I still have to set up my tripod, find a place in which to do so, feel good enough to do so (currently mid-flu bug)... but these are some more test shots that i was able to capture by wrapping the camera strap around my wrist, and hanging out through the [15-year-old+] child safety bars on our apt windows. Very safe, i assure you. My judgment was not at all impaired by the high fever i've been running.

If you right-click on the photos & open them in a new window, you will be able to see even more detail ...like a constellation that was broken up by the moon, in the bottom frame. There are some black dots along the bottom ridge of the large crater on the left, that are seen in several shots. Wonder what those are? The top two photos were taken as clouds passed over this area. I was just playing with it, to try some natural filtering...

I know these are not professional quality, but they are a testament to possibility. I am documenting my progress, as i learn more about this thing. I simply can't contain my excitement 'cause it's just too dang cool! I just can't tell if i'm SO excited due to cabin fever, real fever or lunacy. Maybe it's "D" ...all of the above. ;)

Full Moon

2011-05-18T17:18:00.009-03:00

I've always dreamed of having a camera that could capture some of the brightest stars that we can see with our naked eye. I've always wanted a picture of the moon, so that i can demonstrate how it is exactly that i see the face of a woman in the moon. :) After i saw the amazing moon shot that Me-shak was able to capture, i hoped i could get that camera and do the same.

Now i just have to learn how to use it! :)

This was yet another test shot, as i learned some new features - but as of yet, i haven't "studied" the manual fully. I planned on doing so tomorrow & then take a field trip around the city on my day off, but as the cookie crumbles... i am confined to the apartment with a bout of the flu. Boo! :/

So here is what i have for now... I couldn't believe that 2 stars actually showed up next to the bright moon! Now i have to learn how to adjust it to see the surface shadows...

(To enlarge pic, right-click & open in a new window.)

Catnap

2011-05-17T17:17:00.007-03:00

I got to spend some time with my sweet, fuzzy 13yr and 7mo old daughter this past weekend. She's been living in a tropical paradise (m-i-l's backyard/garden) for about 2 years, now. I miss seeing her daily, and can't wait until i have a tropical garden/romp area for her, so that we can be together again. This empty nest thing is for the birds.

Since she is about 98.5 years in cat years, i know that our time is limited, and realistically... that might not ever become a reality. :(*

I've always wanted a better camera to fully detail all of her beautiful markings, and her unique eye color. Since i don't "know" my camera just yet, i took a few practice shots - without having read the manual.

This was my favorite...

(To enlarge pic, right-click & open in a new window.)

She had just finished doing a little wild kitty dance (cat owners, you know what i mean) and was prepping for her nap. This shot is where she tilted her head back to check the position of the sun. Did i mention she's exceptionally intelligent? She speaks English, Portuguese & Felinese - which was actually the last language she learned. It was only within the past few years that she got to know & not just tolerate, but enjoy the presence of others of her kind.

Oh. You didn't know i'm "one of those"? The crazy cat ladies? Yup. Guilty. I've only just begun to accept this fact myself. Don't worry, i don't dress cats up in weird costumes, or anything. That's just wrong.

The Scripts ~ Late May Verse

2011-05-15T11:20:00.002-03:00

This time, i am not only borrowing the pic (photo credit unknown) but i am going to memorize the same verse as Mrs. Moore. It really spoke to me.

I wish i knew who took this awesome photo! I love it. If anyone knows whom to credit, please let me know. I'd like to see some more of the artist's work.

Speaking of, i will use this next week to get acquainted with my new (did i mention awesome & that i am still in awe - and SO thankful - that i now have it in my possession?) camera. Cue the Dance of Joy.

“The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He delivers those who are discouraged.”

~ Psalm 34:18 (The NET Bible)

Modern Melationship

2011-05-06T17:06:00.003-03:00

I’m not a poet, and i’m well aware of this. ;)

Modern Melationship

For those friends i’ve deleted,
And never again retweeted
It’s not you – it’s me.

For those update feeds i’ve hidden
And random followers unbidden
It’s not you – it’s me.

Self-promotion is now recommended
Narcissism is no longer a symptom
It’s not you – it’s me.

I like this and i like that
No matter what site i’m at
It’s not about you – it’s about me.

Worldwide pedestal from which to vent
Arbitrary, incessant observations sent
It’s not about you – it’s about me.

Following you, so you’ll follow me…
We’ll be legendary – you will see
Though at the end of the day,
I guess you know what i’ll say:
It’s not about you - it’s all about me.

My restroom break, snack, lunch and workout rocked!
Exes, bullies and who are you?? I blocked.
It will never be about *you...
(Unless, of course, i can craft it into
a witty update about ME!)

Me, me, me memes.
Gotta love the theme.

It’s so… ME!

Another Reason Why

2011-05-04T09:11:00.006-03:00

...i am heading in a new direction.

See the original here.

Dilbert always has a way of summing things up nicely.

The Scripts ~ Early May Verse

2011-05-01T11:15:00.009-03:00

I had a great time attending a church in Houston, Texas this morning - from my place in central Brazil. I love the marvels of modern technology!! To say it hit the spot, is an understatement. It was good to see a glimpse of many brothers & sisters in Christ gathered together - and to hear that familiar Texas accent! ;) It's funny how the details can warm our hearts - or if already warmed: kick it up a notch.

I still haven't found a church in my city to root into, yet. If anyone knows of a good church here in Goiânia, hook a sista up! Please!!!

Today is the 9th verse of the 2011 Siesta Scripture Memory endeavor... I actually found the verses that i want to memorize through this morning's sermon that is 1st in the series, Shepherd and Sheep, by Gregg Matte.

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today,' so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. As has just been said: 'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'”

~ Hebrews 3:12-13, 15 (NIV)

I don't have a pic for this round, as i just didn't like my options; but speaking of taking pics: my camera finally arrived, so i will be getting acquainted with the amazing new technology - and world of possibility that has now opened up.

During the first four years here, i wouldn't have been caught dead with a camera around town - so they wouldn't think i was a tourist, or wouldn't know that i'm a foreigner. ...but by now, everyone knows "aquela Americana" (that American chick) that lives in the neighborhood, and i'm friends with several of the locals that i may be able to convince to let me capture, in a brief glimpse of the daily life here. So expect to see another side of Wonderland soon. :)

The Scripts ~ Late April Verse

2011-04-15T16:15:00.015-03:00

Several recent and wholly unrelated events have reminded me that i need to guard my tongue, as well as my mind. For this reason, i will use the following two verses as a sort of of inoculation. This is the 8th of 24 sets of verses that i am memorizing this year. Cool.

I instantly thought of the perfect pic for the backdrop for these verses. It was an unidentified prickly plant that i came across, in a search for some grass to feed a horse, when visiting The Ranch last month. At first, i didn't even see the thorns on the leaves (!) as i was concentrating on the more typical thorns on the stems... I have never seen a plant that has thorns on both the top and underside of the leaves, before - and these are much larger than the thorns along the stems. It was dangerous, intriguing & beautiful, at the same time. I later found out that one prick of this plant will leave you sore for at least a week. Apparently, the venom in the thorns is quite strong.

My verses for the 8th Memory Verse for this year are II Corinthians 12:20 and III John 1:11, taken from the NIV:

For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

~ II Corinthians 12:20

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

~ III John 1:11

(To enlarge pic, right-click & open in a new window.)

Fringe Shapeshifters and Facebook Sheep

2011-04-09T16:09:00.029-03:00

In case you missed it, here is Part I - Facebook: Friends or Fringe.

PART II

***Warning: contains spoilers.***

For those of you unfamiliar with the shapeshifters of Fringe, they are modified humans from the parallel universe that are designed to take the form of any person, through the use of a device that is plugged into the palete of the strategically chosen and soon-to-be-replaced person; in a process that transfers the replacee's traits, while simultaneously killing the original person, or target. These shapeshifters are then able to infiltrate our universe, as sleeper or active agents that are soldiers in the "war" between our universes.

Shapeshifters possess superhuman strength, have a high threshold for pain and/or damage, as well as a high amount of mercury in their blood - which enables them to travel between universes, although it's usually a one-way thing. All of their activities, information learned in our universe, and presumably intel from the other side, are stored in a data disc that is located at the base of the spine. They are considered to be something not quite human, though several have displayed emotions and attachment to the families they have infiltrated.

I think i might understand to some degree how the team of Fringe division felt upon the discovery that a Senator (among others in our government) had been replaced long ago with a shape-shifter, in Season 3 - Episode 4: “Do Shapeshifters Dream of Electric Sheep?”

Just how much does the other side know?

I noticed a similarity in the shapeshifters... and certain old relationships that have the opportunity to be reactivated (sometimes after a decade and a half) via a not-so-little social networking site. Much like the families that discovered only after some time that there were nuances that should have warranted a little more attention as to why someone seemed different; i snapped to recently, regarding some renewed connections that somehow just didn't ring true...

Sure. They may look, talk and joke like someone we know - someone we may have even known well... but something is off. We might also be tempted to explain it away as time & distance making things seem a little unnatural or out of step; but what if we really probe the motives behind the pursued connection, and find out it is only an exercise in gathering intel on the current details of your life - the details of which will be reported back to a shadowy entity that lies far beyond the borders of your current day-to-day reality?

I know. Once again, i’m pointing out the bizarre similarities of Facebook with Fringe. Think i’m being overly dramatic or just plain paranoid? Take, for example, something that happened to me recently. Again i blame my naiveté. The younger, street-smarter me would have been suspicious, but the matured believe-the-best-of-people me was not.

I got a friend request from a girl with whom i attended middle & high school… and also played alongside on the volleyball, basketball and track & field teams. Frankly, i was surprised that she ‘finally came around.’ After all, she had never really been nice to me in person – that i could recall. I told myself that she finally grew up, accepted her friend request, said hi, and asked what was going on in her world.

Almost 3 weeks later, i still hadn’t heard back from her. I figured she was too busy to write a long note detailing her folly in being such a meanie all those years, but there was something nagging at the back of my mind ...and her profile picture had jogged some dormant [or repressed!] memories to surface.

Wait-a-minute!!!

She had nothing but hatred for me in all those years. I checked her account, and she had been on facebook regularly, yet not bothered to even send a shout out. Hmmm… I just chalked it up to her being nosy. No biggie. ...and then lo and behold: i discovered that was to be the weekend of the 15-year reunion for 1 of the 2 main high schools where all of my friends & frenemies attended.

Mmm-hmm. My mind turned to the slew of requests and messages that i had received from old classmates, back-to-back for the past week, or so. Why was i suddenly so popular? Friends lists and group photos confirmed that these were indeed a group of girls comprised of old antagonists, and a few former pals that now hang out ...and apparently want the 4-1-1 on the object of their defections.

I figured out that one of the new activities at a 15-year (what happened to the increments of 10, anyway?) reunion is to take turns looking up people who aren’t attending – on facebook. It’s a brilliant idea for a party activity, really. Objects of scorn and/or ridicule are able to fill their role, and don’t even need to be in attendance. Congrats, nosey-parker-weirdo-stalkers: glad you had some fun! I actually had fun, myself, figuring it out before Saturday night - Saturday afternoon, to be precise. I do hope it wasn’t an early event, and that in the 3 weeks prior you were too busy to print out pics for the slide show.

For those of you who cannot decipher my sarcasm + wry humor from sociopathic rantings & railing-against-the-cliques… Believe me when i say it is totally innocuous. I was never a mean girl, but truth be told, i did the retaliation-thing well… Don't worry: i'm better now. Over the past decade, or so, i’ve found that it really is easier to laugh things off, and just take detours around messy areas whenever possible. No one likes confrontations – except when it’s 5 against 1, but those people are fraidy-cats stunted in their emotional growth!!!

Umm… Sorry you had to see that. O_O

Seriously, though, as kids in school we were told that once we got out into the world as well-adjusted, productive adults the teasing, meanness, ridiculous cliques, etc. would all be a thing of the past. Of course, we know this not to be true if we have ever worked in a competitive professional atmosphere or been to a country club, but at least we had hope. ;)

Who knew facebook would alter the face of our future? I'm sure we've all heard of the butterfly effect... There is actually a Fringe episode based on a firefly effect, which demonstrates how even the smallest decision [or in Walter's case: huge] can affect the future of so many. Mark Zuckerberg, Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, and Chris R. Hughes: i blame you. I also thank you for a great way to keep in touch with family. Now, if you can only develop some frenemy filters. ;)

I need a release. Cue the music.

Ever Wondered?

2011-04-05T16:11:00.054-03:00

Apparently, i'm not the only blogger who is examining what exactly the aim is, of the small space that i take up in the blogosphere. Originally, i started this blog as a way to document the changes in my life: the new, the different, the lamentable... for my family back home. However, they hardly ever ventured here. They preferred an audio summary whenever i had the opportunity to call home.

Soon after, it became an outlet for me to "converse" (if only with myself) since i was living with my in-laws; and i didn't yet speak Portuguese, nor did they speak English. My man was working on getting his business up & going, and was gone all day, every day. The only other creature that i could bounce ideas off of, was my sweet kitty... but she agrees with just about anything, except vet visits. I realized that i needed a forum in which i could try to remain connected to my culture (as well as my vocabulary - which was slipping).

It may not seem like long, but this communication black hole lasted about 9 months. It wasn't until we got our own place, that our relationship regained the dynamic that had been in suspended animation during that time. This was an encouraging change back toward "normal", but i still felt the loss of 'conversation' with others. It's not just the language and culture hurdles that we have overcome in our relationship, but it's the acceptance of the fact that we are two very different people with completely different interests... and that's okay.

The phrase "extreme opposites attract" pretty much sums us up. Of course, there are some random middle ground patches where we mutually appreciate the same interests; but overall it's our shared good sense of humor that allows for laughing at the unreal differences that we ~~overlook~~ maneuver around, daily - for almost 9 years, now! Many things that i think about, ponder on, find interesting... are things that will put my man into a coma (or at least, to sleep, if it is near bedtime) should i try to share with him.

We are alike in this aspect. I don't find the particulars of finance, electronics or boat specifications to be especially stimulating, either. While we may not want to hear the details on our individual pursuits of happiness, we have found happiness in sharing enough laughter, pranks and wrestling moves to keep it fun & interesting. :) Still, i have a need to bounce my ideas off of something, someone... Why not my keyboard, and the worldwide web? ;)

There's also the fact that in leaving my life back home behind... i left some very special little ones, as well. As the years go by... they are not so little, anymore; and although it kills me that i am no longer a part of their daily lives, i never want to become a stranger. I want my nieces and nephews to be able to know me, as well as if i was there on a daily or weekly basis. Call this a virtual time capsule, if you will.

You see, i grew up with a vague notion that i had family somewhere out there... but i always wondered what they were like: what they did on a daily basis, what their interests were, where they went, who and what they saw... To this day, the previous generation is - for the most part - a mystery to me. How fortunate that we live in a day & age that the next generation can actually get to know each other via a 'little' social networking site.

We've discovered that certain traits run deeper than we realized, and that at the same time - we might never have picked each other out of a lineup, if not for the connection made online. I don't want there to ever be any questions surrounding the who, what, when, where or why of Aunt Amaris. [At least, not any more than you, the reader, have anyway.] ;) I have made every effort to stay in touch with my little loves via telephone, Skype and varied glimpses here on this blog. I guess that is truly what this is about. Oh, and my inherent need to talk, i suppose - i've always been a chatter box.

My new aim is to learn how to write. This is something that has definitely suffered in the past few years... I blame it on not being able to converse regularly with native English speakers, and on the fact that the majority of the work i do for my job only requires a basic level of understanding of the English language. Simply put: i'm out of practice. My goal is to relearn how to write well in English, again.

Thank you for you continued patience & occasional interest in wherever these bunny trails lead... Through this venue i have enjoyed meeting and getting to know some great new friends scattered throughout the globe. You are always welcome to this tea party. Unbirthday song, anyone? :)

The Scripts ~ Early April Verse

2011-04-01T16:01:00.031-03:00

This time around, i'm going to bite off more, and... chew, chew, chew.

I came across these verses on Day 1 in Week 4 of the Living Free study by Beth Moore. These verses just stood out to me, and i've been wanting to memorize them - so here goes...

The first is Acts 17:27... "God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us." (NIV)

The second is Psalm 145:17-18... "The LORD is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all He does. The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth." (NIV)

(To enlarge pic, right-click & open in a new window.)

This pic was taken at The Ranch, over the holiday weekend, last month.

Pinches, Pelicans and Pepinos

2011-03-29T15:29:00.113-03:00

Apparently these are the things we need to work on for our next Pictionary Play Off with our friends A-Z. This past Saturday was our first PPO in over 4 years!

A-Z is a couple that we have been friends with since we started dating back in Austin. They just joined us here in Goiânia, about 6 months ago, so we are back to our regularly scheduled hijinx. I must mention that the Z half of A-Z is an artist (the kind that actually sells his art on a regular basis) so it was no surprise that my man & i were at a disadvantage. The A half of Team A-Z didn't see the moral dilemma in letting a professional artist be the designated team sketcher, until after they won two games - but that's okay: i am prepared to sabotage any potential future repetitions of this uneven match.

Since our teams each have 1 person whose native language is Portuguese, and we play the American English version of Pictionary, guesses are allowed to be in Portuguese - as long as it is the correct equivalent in English. For example, the Portuguese word for "slug" (lesma) is not a valid guess for "snail" (caramujo) as this is a distinction made in both languages. Of course, there are a few exceptions to the rule; especially in cases where one language does not differentiate, but incorporates what may be 2 words in another language, in a single term that covers both cases. Likewise, we understand that there are simply some words that, regardless of how long you have spoken the language, may never have cropped up in conversation. ...and sometimes it's just naturally easier [faster] to yell the answer in one's native language. Hence, the pepino - or cucumber.

The Pinch

One point of contention was my man's rendition of a "pinch". I honestly thought he was drawing a scene from the National Geographic special that we watched about huge bees in Nepal - to which he asked me if i could do better. See the results below.

However, my version of a "pinch" inadvertently offended A, but anyone who knows me, knows that the obscene or lewd is not my thing; and i explained that many Americans automatically think of this part of the body in regards to a pinch - not necessarily in a perverted way - but it is what it is. Plus, time was of the essence. To assure her that i had not intended to add any pervy element to the game, i hastily drew another with the pinch targeting another area of the body.

My drawings were, of course, mocked by my man - and he threatened to post them online. I offered to post them here, along with a poll, so that you can tell us which is better.

At least one good thing came out of it: thanks to the strange formation of the hand, we now we have yet another hand gesture (in addition to the Vulcan salute) to accentuate our conversations, on a daily basis. [That said, it does have an uncanny resemblance to the Lizard gesture in the rock-paper-scissors-lizard-Spock game. hmm...] The fact that we even have inside hand gestures only reinforces the fact that he is my soul mate. (Although i still can't get him to play or even listen to the rules for r-p-s-l-S.) You see, after reading the Hardy Boys books as a kid, i desperately wanted someone to share secret hand gestures with me. Score!

The Pelican

I have never been able to draw well, by any stretch of the imagination. That is the one thing that i'd love more than anything, and as soon as i have a few spare hours in my week, i intend to take an art course to learn how. That being said, i feel that due to my extreme lack of talent in this area, my pelican should by default be considered good. Regardless, i think it is quite obvious that it is not a dog!! To see my man's better version, right-click and open in a new window.

The Pepino (Cucumber)

...was in fact, a very good Nike swoosh. My husband was unconvinced that this was my aim, after he repeatedly yelled "Pepino!" - although my version of the swoosh was surprisingly close to the same level as that of Z-the-artist's. After much discussion and frayed nerves, i asked my man to allow me to stab him with a pepino of this shape, if we ever do find one ...in our lifetime. >:[

I'm not sure when the next PPO will take place, but you can bet that we will have new guidelines such as 'no professional artist may draw the entire game'. ;)

This message has been approved by The Man. :D

Karate Trance

2011-03-27T15:27:00.040-03:00

I saw the original Karate Kid movie when i was 9 or 10 years old. This was back when skating rinks were the place to be, and having a boyfriend meant i had someone to clean out my desk or sharpen my pencils for me, at school. I remember 3rd-5th grade as a magical period in my life, with 4th grade being the high point.

That being said, the maturity level in my humor hovers right around the equivalent of that of a 13-year old male. I've always been a tomboy, so that makes a little sense. I'm trying to ease you into this bunny trail, so those are the parameters for this trip. ;)

When i got the opportunity to capture some shots of the Burrowing Owls at The Ranch a few weeks ago, i thought it was so neat to see their stance when they would fold up one of their legs. It reminded me of Mr. Miyagi's "Crane Stance" from the Karate Kid. I jokingly told my friends who were with me ...but it didn't compute: one was far too young - the other, too old to remember this iconic movie reference. That's okay: i'm good with giggling to myself. The fact that the bird was perched on a wooden post was a bonus. :)

(To enlarge pics, right-click & open in a new window.)

All joking aside, the Crane stance is in actuality nothing like the representation in Karate Kid. The history for the White Crane style of Kung Fu is quite interesting, and would make an interesting film, in and of itself. Also, there seems to be a common misperception regarding the purpose of stances. Stances are not fighting poses, but are brief seconds in time - when transitioning between offensive and defensive moves.

On a similar note, i was quite pleased upon the discovery, last night, that i still possess a fair amount of ninja-like reflexes. During this past week that i had the flu, my man had an unfortunate accident, and his back went out. We've both been sidelined at home, so we were excited to get to visit with some friends, and have a little fun. It was a small gathering of about 10 people, and as it had been some time since all of us had been together; there was a lot of lively conversation, joking and laughing - it was an overall good time.

While we were at the table, my man started to bug me: poking me, and initiating that thing we do, where we mess with each other like teenagers. After a particularly hard jab in the leg, i returned the favor – to which he yelled out loud, “Oh, my back!” Being that the crowd consisted of several of his family members (who usually only believe his side of any story) i decided that i needed to nip this in the bud, before it escalated.

Although everyone at the table was looking our direction (at the lady to my immediate right) i was able to execute a mock chop to the throat – without anyone even noticing – such is my apparent lightening-speed in ninja moves. Gloating in my triumph, i told my man that it was awesome to know that i can take him out any time, in a room full of people …and not have to worry about a single witness.

He was as impressed with me, as i was. ;)

Don’t worry: no husbands were harmed in the making of legend.

Under The Weather

2011-03-24T15:24:00.007-03:00

Not too unlike my bovine buddies here, i've been a bit under the weather, for the past week.

Nothing like the Summertime flu... Hopefully, i'll be seeing you soon.

Happy Birthday, W!

2011-03-17T15:17:00.014-03:00

I don't know if you ever venture here, although i've told you a thousand times - you should have a blog of your own. The world according to... Winchell.

Like our sis, i am referring to you by one of a long list of code names that once only we knew... but now anyone doing a google search will know. ;) Let's hope that's not your password.

Happy Birthday, Winchell!

I miss you very much, and wish that we lived closer... After all, you are still under contract until 2016. ;) Just teasing. What are big sisters for?

I am still waiting for the day that you come to visit, although i may have to set the phasers to stun to keep the women off! You will love fishing here, and show these guys that Texas men can fish like nobody's business! (I say that because there are a lot of guys here that don't seem to think so.) Don't worry, i'll have my camera ready.

I love you!!

The Scripts ~ Late March Verse

2011-03-15T15:15:00.034-03:00

I've just finished listening to the Part 11 of the 24-part series, "Genesis: From Garden to Glory" by Dr. John Barnett of Discover the Book Ministries.

This series is phenomenal. If you have ever wondered how or why Christians reconcile the version of history in the Bible, with the latest scientific discoveries or current assertion of modern science regarding whatever... this is a great series to check out. He also has a shorter introductory series (only 13 as opposed to 24 sessions) called Brave New World. It is in a word: Awesome. The Genesis series goes through the entire book, step-by-step, whereas the Brave New World series is like an overview of the main points of what we believe to be true concerning evolution, creation, dinosaurs, cavemen, etc.

So back to the series that i am listening to... Dr. Barnett discusses the parallels and marked differences in the temptation of Eve & the fall of "the first Adam" and the temptation of Jesus, "the last Adam"... The key point to victory is found in Jesus' first statement, in response to the first attack: the temptation to satisfy a legitimate desire by illegitimate means.

Jesus had fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, and was hungry - as any person would be. Satan asked Jesus to prove that He was the Son of God, by changing the stones into food to eat. (Since He spoke an entire universe into being, that was not a challenge - by any stretch of the imagination.) However, Jesus chose to reply with a memorized verse from Deuteronomy 8:3, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."

Dr. Barnett pointed out that for each temptation, Jesus had a verse memorized to demolish the proposed pretension that was set against God's will. Interestingly, Satan had some verses memorized, too, which he used out of context. Dr. Barnett asked us to consider if we are supposed to live by "every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"... what are we actively doing to try to go about fulfilling this? Have i, as a Christian, read the entire Bible - at least once?

When faced with "temptation" (we try not to use that word in this day & age, unless it has to do with desserts or fashion must-haves) or erroneous, costly and/or compromising choices, are we immediately able to call to mind Truth - what God has to say about it; and stave off potential wrong turns ...or yet another dead end in our lives? Am i? Well, that is the whole point of Scripture memorization. I am memorizing the key verses that i need at a particular point in my life, and am trying to add to my memory bank of stored verses...

Have i read the Bible in its entirety, yet? Not quite. I still have 99% of the book of Revelation, and quite a bit of Numbers and other "not-as-captivating" books to go... I know that Revelation is supposed to be the most interesting book in the Bible; but as a child of the 80's it seemed like every church that studied it got stuck in the eschatology vortex, and never came back to the present... I figured that i'd study it eventually, but didn't want to get fanatical about it. That's just me. I realize that it's high time that i do read it. "Me" needs to get on the ball. I plan to do so with Dr. Barnett's Revelation: From Now to Forever study. He is the most balanced pastor i have ever heard, so i know that i'm in good hands in this pursuit. Did i mention that he rocks?

So... that brings us to my memory verse for the last half of March... It is so much easier to memorize Scripture on a schedule, and the accountability factor really helps, too; which is why i am participating in the Siesta Scripture Memory 2011 at Living Proof Ministries. Feel free to join in any time... See the details at LPM's blog. Here is mine for this round:

(To enlarge pics, right-click & open in a new window.)

Or do you think Scripture says without reason that He jealously longs for the spirit He has caused to dwell in us? But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

~ James 4:5-6 (NIV)

Happy Birthday, M!

2011-03-14T15:14:00.012-03:00

Since you may not see this for awhile, i just want to let you know that you are always in my heart & on my mind. Not knowing when you will see this, i'll call you by one of our many code names from when we were kids.

Happy Birthday, Mitch!

I thank God for you. I know it is not always the case that siblings become best friends - or stay that way ...but we are. On top of that, i am blessed to be buds with your mini-me's: the next generation of cool, who have inherited the fashion-forward, super IQ and hilarious humor genes that you carry.

I love you.

- Chris

Redhead at The Ranch

2011-03-12T12:03:00.027-03:00

I came by an unexpected opportunity for a couple of quick shots of a Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus) on our third day at The Ranch. Unfortunately, it was too fast for me, and i only managed to get one "close" shot: about 12 feet away from it, as it perched on a fence post.

It then chose the biggest species of palm trees in the vicinity, that are between 22-26feet [7-8meters ] high, to make its escape.

I actually lost sight of it, near the top - and i don't know if it flew off quickly when i gave my strained neck a break, or if it has a nest in this tree.

There were several holes in this palm, but there are a variety of birds that i have seen using such holes as nests. Perhaps the woodpecker is one that likes to "flip" nests. It remodels the tree, makes the home desirable & eventually some other bird ends up with a nice nest - while the woodpecker moves on to the next fixer-upper? ;)

(To enlarge pics, right-click & open in a new window.)

Exhaling...

2011-03-11T23:33:00.004-03:00

(Inhaling Wasn't Bad, Either)

Our time at The Ranch yielded some unexpected delights & never before seen vistas that really hit the spot... (The spot that i am always harping on from my 8th floor apt, about never getting to see anything but concrete, etc.)

I spent two of the four days at The Ranch walking around places like this. The other two were spent closer to the main ranch house, as torrential rains make the dirt roads that connect the various fields impassable, muddy streams - unless one is in a 4X4.

This is a recently harvested field of soja, or soybeans - newly replanted with something else, as crop rotation is important for the soil. I got to eat some soybeans fresh off the stalk & i wondered why we don't eat them like so more often! It was a one-time thing, because i knew that if this was a healthy practice, i'm sure i would have eaten them as a young ~~hippie~~ Austinite. I later found out that raw soybeans contain a neutralizing agent to vitamin B12 and vitamin D. It's too bad, because they have a delicious sesame seed taste, but are about the size of a pea - which is yumminess in larger [irresistible] quantities!

The only sign of "civilization" was the transmission tower in the far distance. If you look behind the tree, you'll see rows of soy that were not harvested due to recurring rainstorms. The combine cannot separate beans from moist shells. Unfortunately, as the crop would dry out, another storm would pass through. This is a common theme throughout all of my Carnaval pics, these past 4 years. Although i selfishly love the divine displays in the skies that i'm able to capture around this time of the year, i felt bad for our friend who only had a small window to try to reap his soy crop. Beyond a certain amount of time, the soy will no longer be viable for harvesting.

A glimpse of clear skies... only made for false hope. This has been a very rainy season. I believe that the last time it rained this much was 2007.

In another field close by, more soy - not quite ready for collection - is growing. Hopefully, by the time this field is ripe, the rains will have tapered off...

(To enlarge pics, right-click & open in a new window.)

Well Owl Be

2011-03-10T15:10:00.010-03:00

I'd like to apologize for my continued & unabashed love for word play, but i can't. It's really out of my control... My hometown has an annual Pun Off, for crying out loud; and my family has taken it to the next level... So here we are.

For Carnaval "weekend" (it's more like a week, and then some) we went to The Ranch, and i finally got a couple of shots of some fowl that i have been trying to capture since i first moved here.

I managed to secure several shots of a family of 3 Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia), and a couple of a Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus)... These seem to be the most common [that one can find even in the city] large birds in this region - excluding vultures and hawks. The countryside has a seemingly infinite amount of large birds, though; and the numbers grow, the closer you go towards the large rivers like Araguaia.

These two particular birds are not uncommon in the city where i live. Needless to say, the city dwellers are quite skittish - so you can imagine my surprise when this small group of owls posed for over 10 minutes. I was on a dirt road between ranches, and from inside the truck, the camera was only 6 feet from these small beauties.

I remember when i first moved to Brazil, (here in Goiânia) i was shocked to see "baby" owls on the ground, everywhere. Initially, i thought that they were immature owls that had tried to fly from a nest, that couldn't get back up... I later learned that's as big as they get, and that they spend most of their time down there. :D

Prepare yourself for adorable:

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

At first, i didn't even see the two on the ground!

This one was very hospitable, and did not seem to mind my presence at all. One of the other two did the head bobbing & weaving, which i later found out was not a sort of jamming out & accepting me to the party kind of thing - but more of a telling me off kind of thing. Whoops! :/

This hole is their nest. See all of the feathers scattered around the foreground?

I will post pics of the woodpecker soon. :)

The Scripts ~ Early March Verse

2011-03-01T15:01:00.020-03:00

This is the final section of I Corinthians 2:9-16 that i am committing to memory. I am excited that i have been able to memorize so much. Now, i wonder if my nontraditional approach will help me to cement the individual portions a little better, since i jumped around within this section. (I was really just picking them out, as i needed them...)

A shot from my recent flight serves as an excellent backdrop for the verse for the first half of March, but would be a great visual for Isaiah 55:8-11, as well. I took this pic as we neared Maceió. I wish that my camera could have fully captured the different levels of clouds... It was amazing in person.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

"This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned."

~ I Corinthians 2:13-14 (NIV '84)

Fixing Broken Post Title Links On Old Blog Posts

2011-02-27T14:27:00.054-03:00

Yay! I figured out how to replace the broken links on some old posts! :)

Basically, i just put in the same html code that is used to make a link to anything else. I just didn't know that we could do it in the title field. Yay! Problem solved - although, now i have 2 identical posts from last year. (I had reposted it, due to the importance of the subject matter.)

I know it was hard for me to find any answers, so if you arrived here in search of an answer for the same question, here's what i did...

But first, here's how i got into that sticky predicament: i went in & edited an old post. Oops.

The first time it happened, the post was only a few months old. The second time it happened, it was about a year & a half old - but i had good reason. I saw that a particular post generated a lot of traffic, and wanted to offer additional resources (helpful info) of which i am now aware - but as some of us know all too well, no good deed ever goes unpunished.

Voilà: New pertinent info = broken post title!!

But why??

Are we not supposed to be able to correct our old mistakes, or insert new info in retrospect? Is it to hold us to a higher standard before hitting the publish button? Probably not.

Regardless, this caused a few sleepless nights - and several fruitless days of searches for a solution... eventually even lead to a repost of identical info... but:

*cue the choir*

I can now rejoice, as can you - if this is why you are here...

All i did was copy the very same formula that is created when you highlight a word, click on the link button & insert the web address (url) of whatever you are linking.

Oh... How do you find out the original web address of an old post that has a broken link?

I did a search on my own blog for the title, and it was listed - with a working (clickable) link. I right-clicked, and selected "Copy Shortcut"...

I went to that post, opened to edit & in the title area i added the copied shortcut in front of the post title - separated by one set of quotations marks: " and the greater-than sign (no spaces)

I then pressed the "Home" key to get in front of the long url i just added. I added the beginning tag: less-than sign + the letter a + one space + the letters h-r-e-f + the equals sign + one set of quotation marks.

*Only add the one space that was indicated, but leave the rest sandwiched together. Also, please note that i did not advise you to add any dashes or plus signs - if you needed them, i'd provide a helpful link for clarification. ;)

Lastly, i pressed the "end" key to get to the end of the post title, and added the closing tag: it's the Greater-than sign + forward slash + the letter a + the Less-than sign, all sandwiched together - no spaces. See example below.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

To see if it is working, just click on preview, and you should see your newly revamped post title in blue. If you hover over it, you'll see the restored link is working by it appearing on your bottom taskbar, along the left. NOW you can hit publish post, with no fear. It works again.

Yay! I'm doing officially the Dance of Joy - how about you?

Dai-Dai-Dai-Dai
Dai-Dai
Dai-Dai-Dai-Dai
Hey-Hey-Hey-Hey
Hey-Hey
Hey!

.

More on Maceió

2011-02-25T14:25:00.041-03:00

One thing that we soon learned, after a couple of days in & around Maceió, is that we had to keep a sharp eye on the tab. That is, anywhere except for a wonderful restaurant to which we we kept returning... Ok, can i just brag on it for a moment?

Our favorite restaurant {{{by far}}} was Restaurante Parmegianno. They had the best food, service and price! The servings were not only delicious, but big - and in the case of the seafood pasta dish that i ordered: HUGE. I was in seafood pasta heaven! Those are two of my favorite food groups. ;)

Our first meal in Maceió set the bar high. :) It's not the best pic, but we were exhausted (and in my case disheveled) after our almost 10-hr trip.

Parmegianno's had the best Italian/Seafood cuisine that i've come across, yet, here in Brazil. There are actually two locations in Maceió: an oceanfront spot, which has more of a bar feel - and is a little pricier simply due to the setting; and another, bigger establishment that is a more tranquil locale, about a block behind the main shoreline drive. The flavors were culinary perfection - even the sheer size of the shrimp was impressive. It must be noted that Parmegianno's was the only restaurant we visited, that offered us scrumptious shrimp dishes sans shells, for a decent price. Of course, there were some dishes that were served tail-on, but we are lazy shrimp lovers. Interestingly, 99% of the restaurants we visited charged almost twice as much to serve the shrimp peeled, as opposed to preparing with the shell. This, of course, was not the case with the apparent hometown hero: Parmegianno's.

Another thing that set Parmegianno's above rest, is that this was the one place we could trust that there wouldn't be 5 phantom beverages added to our tab. Seriously: every. other. place. we went charged a minimum of 3 extra drinks. We laughed about one place that actually had the gall to charge us 5 cokes & 2 beers, over and above our real tab - after we had only (in reality) ordered 2 coconut waters, 1 beer & 2 cokes ...in the entire span of an hour. Really?? I suppose this might work for someone who has had at least 5 beers, or been there for the better part of the day, but c'mon! When we wised up to the extra drink (and sometimes dish!) charging ways of the locals, the next challenge was to navigate through the restaurants that were trying to charge a cover - per head - for bands that were only setting up as we asked for the bill. :D Hilarious!

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Yet another funny aspect of the trip was that some of the locals in the artisan fairs & tourist venues charged according to accent. This region of Brazil has more of a Spanish accent, when compared to the Goiano accent that my traveling buddies have. For me, it was easier to use this accent - as opposed to the one that i am constantly trying to perfect here in Goiânia. The difference is mainly heard in the D's & T's. The Goiano accent is much stronger: sounds more like "dge" & "tch"; whereas the northeastern Brazilian accent is lighter - which to me, sounds very close to a Spanish accent.

A lady that was traveling with us, was a little indignant over the fact that she heard someone charge R$12 for an item, but when she asked about the very same item (with her thick Goiano accent) they told her it would be R$16. :D I laughed, and told her she was getting a taste of my "Daily Specials" as a foreigner living in Goiânia. ;)

I really had a blast on this trip - all injuries aside. I suspect that i may even have firmer abs, just from all of the laughter. :))

Portion of the sign for "Titio's Bar & Grill"

What's In A Name - Jatiúca Beach

2011-02-24T14:24:00.025-03:00

Here's another shot of Praia de Jatiúca (pronounced: "Zha-chee-you-kuh"), which is located about 3 miles north of Maceió, Alagoas. It is a very pretty beach, with several cute restaurants and inns nestled along this stretch of the coast. This was the first beach we hit after the weekend.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

The names Jatiúca and Maceió (pronounced "Mah-say-yo[h]") are not Portuguese. They are of Amerindian origin, from the Tupi tribe that inhabited the region during the 17th century. It occurred to me after we returned from visiting a few places that were similar sounding, that just like me: my man & our friends probably didn't know the significance of the beaches' names ...so i did a little investigating. I'm always curious as to the history of the name of a place (or holiday) - whether it holds some sort of significance, or is simply a proper name in honor of someone.

Turns out, there was one beach that had i known the true meaning of the name, i might have requested another beach. Ha-ha! Jatiúca in the native Tupi language means... "tick," or "carrapato" in Portuguese! So we were at "Tick Beach" (Praia do Carrapato) or "The Beach of the Ticks" (Praia dos Carrapatos). :D Fortunately, they were nowhere to be seen. ;)

I'm hoping that the moniker of this beach is rooted in reverse psychology - similarly employed by Erik The Red in the naming of Greenland. Perhaps this was considered the best beach around, during the period in which it was named; and someone gave it an undesirable name to keep all the good waves to themselves?? Then again, perhaps the absence of ticks was due to modern pest control practices. O,o I'm hoping for the former...

The Sprawl of It All

2011-02-23T14:23:00.117-03:00

I don't know why music is so overlooked in the study of memory. Music is every bit as compelling as odor, which has been studied extensively as it relates to memory, and is just as intertwined with our emotions...

Case in point: a new song that conjures up decades-old memories, as well as present concerns. I have a new fave song that audibly (& retrospectively) takes me back to the 80's ...and at the same time, verbalizes what i've been thinking & feeling for a while, now - especially after living in a sprawling metropolis for [what to me seems] soooo long.

I grew up in what is one of the greenest cities in the U.S. - and definitely the greenest city in Texas. Back home, i was never more than 20 minutes from a state park, or less than half an hour from a lake... If i was pressed for time, i could simply go to the big & beautiful park located midtown, along the southern banks of the Colorado River that cuts through the city. (I know, i know: totally spoiled.)

Photo credit: AeroPhoto.com

And still... i had days that i wished i didn't have to see concrete buildings, and nights that i wished someone would "cut the lights" - it's like this band is in my head... You wouldn't catch me (voluntarily) in a shopping mall, after my teen years - not when i could be hiking somewhere. Rather than sit & dine on my lunch break, i preferred take-out so i could go to a local park and watch deer, birds & other creatures... I knew that i couldn't possibly bear living in "the big city" and was glad that i wouldn't ever need to.

Then i moved here.

This is a metropolis that stays pumping, thumping, buzzing, beeping, blasting, faster & faster - every day & all night. Think Bop It - 24/7. Now i long for my relatively sleepy capital city. Don't be mad, fellow Austinites: i call that comfortable. Sure, there's plenty of fun to be had at any hour in ATX, if you know where to look... but i'd rather be looking at the stars from Lake Travis or Enchanted Rock. [...and yes, i know that some familiar with the REALLY big Brazilian cities don't even consider Goiânia to be more than a relatively sleepy capital city, either.] Relativity is everything.

Needless to say, my restlessness has reached fever pitch - especially since these past two years i've been prevented from joining my man on most of his fishing trips due to my surgeries & recovery time. This meant more time in my urban high-rise, and less time interacting or even seeing nature (aside from 8 floors above). I will note that there is a nicely groomed median on the next street.

I'm to the point where a patch of grass growing through a crack in the pavement excites me. I'm gonna go out on a limb here (oh, how i wish!) and say this just can't be healthy.

Then i heard this song on a commercial. I googled it, and found that they wrote a song ~~just for me~~ that is a great wake up call. I ♥ this song & band! Even though i only just discovered them this week, i am head over bare feet in love. :)

The song is "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" by the band Arcade Fire - and yes, it's been on repeat for a few days now.

The sound of this song is reminiscent of the sheer happiness that could be heard in many 80's songs. When i listen to this song, i remember watching The Goonies... playing with my friends... trying to find adventures... singing out loud -wherever- and screaming in delight... all because i could. As kids, we have a License to Be Thrilled with life - any time the mood strikes us. This song gives me a refreshing sense of just that, all these years later. Thank you, Arcade Fire!

They heard me singing and they told me to stop,
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock.
These days, my life, I feel it has no purpose,
But late at night the feelings swim to the surface.
Cause on the surface the city lights shine,
They're calling at me, "come and find your kind."

Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small,
That we can never get away from the sprawl.
Living in the sprawl,
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains,
And there's no end in sight...
I need the darkness someone please cut the lights.

We rode our bikes to the nearest park,
Sat under the swings, we kissed in the dark.
We shield our eyes from the police lights,
We run away, but we don't know why,
And like a mirror these city lights shine,
They're screaming at us, "we don't need your kind."

Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small,
That we can never get away from the sprawl.
Living in the sprawl,
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains,
And there's no end in sight,
I need the darkness someone please cut the lights.

They heard me singing and they told me to stop,
Quit these pretentious things and just punch the clock.

Sometimes I wonder if the world's so small,
Can we ever get away from the sprawl?
Living in the sprawl,
Dead shopping malls rise like mountains beyond mountains,
And there's no end in sight,
I need the darkness someone please cut the lights.

Can you imagine if the world [still] had more views like this:

Taken last week at Gunga Beach in Alagoas, Brasil.
(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

...and a bit fewer of these:

View from our apartment building, with the smallest cluster of buildings. :D

Beach Trip Debriefing

2011-02-22T06:02:00.040-03:00

Before i relay a list of ridiculously crazy happenings that have had me... everywhere else but here... I must say that we had a great trip. I had a lot of fun with my man, as we got spend time together 24/7... We drove each other crazy - but in a good way. I've never laughed so much, for so many consecutive hours. (This was between mishaps, of course.)

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Cool cross made from car chassis and a moto, along the
AL-101 Litoral Sul coastal highway.
The sign says "Peace in Traffic".

The following is my official report:

Three days before we left for our trip, i tried a different salon in a "Natural Tanning" session. The first salon that i had tried a week earlier hadn't quite done the trick, and i wanted to prevent getting burned in all the potential beach activities. Notice i said potential...

Unfortunately, whatever legitimate cream the lady was using ran out after i had tanned the front; and when it was time to flip, she resorted to what is by all accounts: a strange pink cream that is normally used for {{{{ wait for it }}}} cows... for what i do not know... However, what i did discover, is that it is used in a dangerous practice for women with stretch marks that normally wouldn't tan. Apparently, this cream has some deep burning properties that can make even the toughest stretch marks change colors. Sounds like something crazy & possibly life-threatening? I know, doesn't it?

Hence, the low-grade 2nd degree burns on the back of my body, emergency dermatologist visit & resulting reprimands by my man, dermatologist and friends (like it was my plan for things to go awry), costly creams & medication, and no possible way to sit down... But wait, we had a 2-layover trip coming up in 72 hours. How was this going to work??

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Carving atop a restaurant entrance along the
AL-101 Litoral Norte coastal highway, and a
great visual for how i felt during the first few days.

After finding a friend with an aloe vera plant the next day, i actually had hope of being on the mend by the time our flight took off. Dreeeeeeeamer. I know. I was 50% better, though, and the burn on my back & legs had at least disappeared. Unfortunately, the area that had never seen the light of day - that i had erroneously given the opportunity to tan in the privacy of the salon - was in the same state a troglobite would be in the Sahara at noon. Toasty doesn't even come close...

As i may have mentioned before, pain meds are hard to come by - and compared to American meds (which i took for years due to repeat injuries) are really just like Tylenol, so that is exactly what i took in a small effort to keep the pain & resulting fever at bay throughout the trip: Tylenol.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

God was merciful in making the first few days cloudy, or detaining us from the beach during peak ray hours; i did also get to play in the surf at sunset several days during our trip. Other than that, i was restricted to the shady spot under the beach umbrellas... After the 3rd day there, the pain was 95% gone - there anyway! Then came the peeling of about 3 layers of skin that returned me back to raw status. :( More creams...

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

The 3rd day of the trip, i had an unfortunate mishap at a local beach. I wear visors whenever i am in the sun, because my hair gets natural highlights, but i need to protect my face from sunspots that occur due to certain meds that i take here in BR. Anyway, i was looking for a decent restroom along a stretch of a beach that is very similar to a carnival/fairground. There are many booths and hardly any public facilities.

I heard there was a public rr on the other side of the peninsula, so i thought it was def worth a look. They were actually in mid-construction (which means steel & concrete) but i convinced the people to let me use it. As i entered the doorway, which i hadn't bothered to inspect - nor could i see due to my visor - i found out the "Hard" way that it had been constructed for someone about 2/3 my height... I still have no idea how there was no blood, i retained consciousness, or why the egg that appeared on the top of my dome still hasn't left - but strangely enough, these are somewhat regular questions that seem to pop up every 10 years, or so...

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Image credit: Google Maps

On the 5th day of the trip, we decided to make a day trip to a town up the coast called Maragogi, famed for its natural coral pools. Maragogi is about 150km (about 90+ miles) away from Maceió. Unfortunately, although we left at 7:30am we didn't make it before high tide - and the trip was somewhat of a bust (for those that had their hearts set on snorkeling there). I generally love road trips, and had never seen this part of Brazil, so i was enjoying it.

We stopped in a small town for refreshments & rr breaks, and i was stepping out of the car, my man started to say in a monotone voice, "A horse..." "A horse..." "A horse..." I looked at him to note in which direction he was looking, to try to determine where i might find this horse, but he was looking intently at the radio in the car. I thought to myself that i was sure that there was a horse in this town, because we had seen several cows on the other side of the highway, and it was a rural kind of place. I figured i'd see the horse when i got back.

As i opened the car door (which was parked so that i was stepping out into opposing traffic - of which there wasn't any) i narrowly [oh-so-narrowly] escaped being run down by a man on horseback going down the street at a full gallop. I admit it: i screamed, i cowered, i tried to dive back into the now-closed car door... and the small town spectators [i'm sure] mumbled, "Tourists." I then swiftly opened the car door to ask my man why there hadn't been a hint of urgency (or say, direction) when he had simply said, "A horse..."

There was no real answer.

There still isn't.

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That evening, the other party that we were traveling with decided that we should get "natural" sandwiches (aka "not hamburgers") and let our last big meal on the following night be a lobster treat. Where i live, seafood is oh-so hard to come by... I had eaten nothing but seafood, this entire week. It. was. heavenly. :) So, being a fan of sandwiches (those also being hard to come by here) i agreed. I miss Delaware Subs, Schlotzsky's & Thundercloud so much!

We found a sandwich shop that had all kinds of healthy smoothies & juices. I went for the juiced collard greens, carrots, parsley & orange juice mix - and a chicken, carrot & yogurt sandwich. As i was eating the sandwich, i noticed the lettuce was rotten and/or unwashed... and wondered what state the other mixed greens had been in, that i had just gulped down.

We were so tired after our day trip that we went straight back to the hotel & slept hard - like a pair of rocks - for 8 hours until the alarm went off & i went directly to the rr with food poisoning: food poisoning that was so bad that i had a fever & chills for the next 2 days, cramps & a ring of fire in my belly for the next 4 (including our flight back) ...effectively terminating my vacation right then & there. No more waves, seafood - any food - for the last 2 days of our trip. I am only eating "normally" again, as of yesterday.

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I have affectionately dubbed this trip: The Wringer...

My man always tells me that if it will happen to someone, it will be me. I cite this trip as proof of this fact. Amidst the pain, there was beauty: i got to capture several shots of various beaches in the area, that i will display soon.

Happy to be home safe, though i cannot promise you i am still sound, i can't wait to get back to my regularly scheduled life. ;)

The Scripts - Late February Verse

2011-02-21T14:21:00.011-03:00

Now that i am back to civilization & good health; i need to start on my late February memory verse, as i already lost 6 days & it's a short month to begin with!

I am still working on this passage. I think i only have two more sections & it's complete. :D

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In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.
~ I Corinthians 2:11b-12 (NIV '84)

This pic was taken in downtown Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. We have been there for the past week. It was a great trip intermixed with pain. Details to follow... :)

The Scripts ~ Early February Verse

2011-02-01T14:01:00.003-02:00

February already!

I was able to visit the garden at the club again today, and am using a shot of one of the plants as the backdrop to my 3rd memory verse of the year. If you are interested in Scripture Memorization, a great online community of other women doing the same is found at Living Proof Ministries...

I am continuing to work on the passage in I Corinthians 2:9-16, but i am not going in order. I skipped down to the end, and will only have to fill in the rest. I'll have to let you know in a month how this technique works out. :D

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The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:

“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

~ I Corinthians 2:15-16(NIV'84)

Peek Into The Garden

2011-01-29T01:29:00.015-02:00

Sometimes i do feel very much like Alice... My Wonderland theme is very much inescapable. Just take a look at the landscape.

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And you thought i was being a drama queen.... :D I always feel like i'm in the garden scene from Alice in Wonderland, when i visit this jardim. The title of the photo is a play on "painting the roses red" (see vid below) and of course, The Emperor's New Clothes.

This is the garden at the clube, or country club, where we spend time now & then. I have quite a soft spot for this garden, which is located a short distance from the main part of the club - the pools.

There is actually a wading pool located in the garden, from which i prefer to see bees & hummingbirds buzzing around from flower to flower... see lizards do a little dance, as they make their way past... watch baby ducks waddle around, following their mama... observe green parrots noisily make their way from tree to tree, all vying for the best position at each stop...

...hear the wind rustling through the trees, and start to drift myself, as the branches sway in rhythm to a single beat...

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

...and generally just reconnect with nature (the real world) - as opposed to my eyes making a connection with a view of nothing but concrete & bodies baking in the sun. I can actually see that from my 8th floor apartment, as there are 3 neighboring buildings that have pools.

This is a mini-retreat from the day-to-day disconnect from nature that is a result of living in one of the areas of this metropolis that has building after building sandwiched together. I don't get to see the green stuff very often - aside from the view from my living room window, in which i can see the median of a nearby street. ;)

Unfortunately, the club is a fair distance from our place, so visits are not a regular thing - especially during the rainy months. It is always a pleasure to visit, though. I hope to tour the entire grounds in the next few months (as things dry out). I'd like to get some photos of the different species of trees & flowers that are found there.

Goiânia - A Good-Lookin' Capital City

2011-01-21T13:21:00.010-02:00

I thought i'd tell you a little about the capital city of Goiânia, Goiás. It shares many similarities with the capital city that i hail from: Austin, Texas.

Capitol in Austin, Texas at Night by Eric Hunt

Both are considered "small" for a capital city, although Goiânia is 13th-largest city in the country; and Austin is the fifteenth most populous city in the United States.

Both have a great live music scene.

Both are very safe cities in which to live. Goiânia is considered a safer city compared to most other state capitals within Brazil. The average yearly murder rate within the metro area stands at just under 450 persons per year according to the Goiás State Police. Austin is consistently ranked among the three safest cities per capita of any size in many categories. Its annual murder rate is fewer than five people per 100,000 residents.

Both are mistakenly thought of as Cowboy Capitals, where everyone owns a horse, wears boots and a ten-gallon hat.

Both are beautifully manicured, with more parks than other capital cities. Goiânia has the largest green area per inhabitant in Brazil, and is adding additional green areas under the newly-elected city & state government parties. Austin has 18,994.45 acres of land containing 251 parks, 15 preserves (sanctuaries for native plants, native animals and unique natural features), and 40 greenways (parkland on creeks and canyons).

Both are cities that have fluctuating residency, whether it be seasonal and/or temporary.

Austin is a "College Town," (voted America's #1 College Town by the Travel Channel in 2006) which is quite evident during the summer months free of traffic and general congestion.

Austin, Texas Skyline along The Colorado River

Goiânia is very much the same, not only in the summer, but every 3-4 day holiday weekend. The city just empties: there is zero traffic - almost nobody on the streets, parking is available anywhere, and some stores simply do not open.

In Goiânia, almost everybody is from somewhere else - another similarity with Austin. It was as rare to meet a native Austinite, as it is to meet a native Goiano. Most of the of seasonal residents which make up the workforce are from the "interior" (country) small towns in Goiás, and go to see their families & hometowns, every opportunity they get. It is a little surreal to stay here in Goiânia during the holidays. It feels like a ghost town.

This is such a noisy city Monday through Saturday, 24 hours a day; so when everyone makes the big exodus it's weird - refreshing & calm, but weird. We go from this:

~a*h!u*g@y*#b*l$d*?%o*y^e*i&p*x(m!t)*h+r*s-

to

......................*......................*.......................

- Just like that.

People are always surprised that we don't viajar, or travel every holiday. This is another aspect to the paradise city of Goiânia. What i've been told, is that the upper class majority here in Goiânia are people that choose to live in a city where their money will go further; rather than live in Brasília, Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, where the cost of living is much higher.

For the 2010-2011 State of the World's Cities report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Goiânia remained as the most economically unequal city of Latin America, with a Gini index above 60; while Brazil as a whole, has reached an all time low inequality index in the past five years. Apparently, Goiânia isn't following the national trend.

Viaduto Latif Serra photo credit: Prefeitura de Goiânia

Goiânia is centrally located in the middle of the country, so flights are not expensive. Brasília is only 2 hours away, if you decide to make the scenic drive on the very well-maintained highway linking the two cities. Goiânia has one of the highest number of cars per capita in the country.

Viaduto João Alves de Queiroz (right by our place!) - top photo credit: Prefeitura de Goiânia; bottom photo credit: Myosotismail

The fact that there are many people from the interior, or "country," has caused other Brazilians who are from larger, more international cities like Brasília, Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, to remark that although Goiânia is a modern metropolis it still has the "small town mentality" that i have alluded to in previous posts. I believe this is something that will change with time.

Overall, i have enjoyed living here. The days when i can pass under the radar, as just another resident, are a plus. :) This aspect of daily life becoming a mere memory, too, will take time - but that's okay... that's all i've got. ;)

Budding Beauty

2011-01-19T10:19:00.007-02:00

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This pic was taken last October in the garden, at the Xaim Farm. I had never seen the flowering buds of a green onion before. Once, i picked wild onions in Texas, but never saw anything other than the green stalks. I had no idea that even green onions are a such work of art.

Hmmm... I looked it up, and it appears that i picked scallions in Texas, whereas these are Welsh onions? Let me know if you have any insight as to the difference of the two plants.

As soon as i get my new camera, i plan to get some photos of cross sections of various fruits and vegetables - starting with carrots. Ever looked at one in the light? Magnificent.

Longhorns and Chifres

2011-01-17T13:17:00.052-02:00

...or The Act of Maneuvering Around Two Loud & Proud Cultures

Like i said, it is an ever-present issue when i wear my UT Longhorn apparel here in Brazil.

image found here.

Por que? Because Chifres or Horns are a big, shameful deal in this culture. I know there is a Longhorn fan reading this, that is in shock right now. I know.

Some of my UT shirts & hats have the word Texas or Longhorns written across it in English, so people know it's probably nothing to do with Brazilian stigmas, but they still get a snicker out of it because they think the estrangeira, or foreign woman doesn't know what it signifies here. ;) I just pretend i don't.

Other things like flip-flops, earrings, some hats and shirts just have the Longhorn. ...with {{gasp}} the HORNS! This is where i get the stares. Nowadays, i try to combine an item that only has the Longhorn, with something else that has the same Longhorn logo and the word Texas, etc.

See this link for more UT attire.

What's the big deal about Horns?

chifrudo
De chifre + udo.
[of horns] + augmentative (pejorative)

Adjetivo masculino

[Masculine Adjective]

que tem chifres [that which has horns]
Ex: bode chifrudo [a horned goat]
(Popular) diz se daquele que é traído pela esposa ou namorada

Substantivo masculino
[Masculine Noun]

o que tem chifres [that which has horns]
(Popular) homem que é traído pela esposa ou namorada
[slang term for a man who is cheated on by their wife or girlfriend]

Ex: O marido dela é um chifrudo.
[Her husband is a cuckold.]

(hat found at Hats For All Occasions)

Here in Brazil, if someone calls you "Chifrudo" or "Big Horns," it means you are someone whose spouse has cheated on you. This term is used almost interchangeably for males & females - just change the "o" to "a". I have asked around, to try to determine the origin of this idiom - and most believe that it is based on bovine behavior in regards to mating. This, however, is not true. In actuality, it is of legal origin.

After some research, I discovered that it went back to the Spanish King Philip II. It is of legal origin. In 1578, the King of Portugal died and left no successor. Seizing this opportunity to claim the throne in Lisbon for himself, the Spanish King Philip II united Spain and Portugal, which remained under his rule from 1580 to 1640.

In 1603, the Ordenações Filipinas, or Filipine Code, was published at the request of King Filipe II. The Filipine Code stated explicitly that the "offended" husband who caught his wife in adultery (so long as the offender was not a "Noble") should kill his enemy.

If it was indeed your prerogative to kill, as the wronged man of the house, you must wear a hat-like thing decorated with two horns for the public to recognize you as a man whose marriage [manhood] was not "honored" (so that they would not try to prevent you from taking just measure). Perhaps Filipe II had a fascination with the Nordic Bronze Age?

It is interesting to reiterate that when the offending party was a Noble, the cuckolded husband could do nothing. It's unbelievable what all the "Noble" people could get away with, back in the day. At least our modern definition of "noble" is actually for someone deserving of this moniker.

So... that is the meaning and origin of "Horns" in this culture, and why i have to be selective in how i display my UT Longhorn spirit. I'm actually a fan of both UT and A&M, of which only a handful of people are... but the Longhorn reminds me more of Texas, simply because we have so many. Last time my family asked if i had any requests for a care package, i asked that they include some other Texas universities' paraphernalia so that i can wear a wide range of Texas pride, without sending out an erroneous message or generating the wrong kind of interest.

Culture. It varies from country to country, region to region, state to state, city to city, neighborhood to neighborhood... and sometimes block to block. While it's fun sharing cultures, there's about a million mixed messages to try to avoid.

This is definitely something that will come up with Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves' children, eventually, as they will share both cultures. :) I'm glad that she can see what Horns are to us. She really had no way around it, by falling in love with one of UT's biggest fans. :)

New Year's Gifts!

2011-01-16T13:16:00.000-02:00

Just last week i finally took down my 2010 calendar that i had bought when we visited last year. I like having a calendar that gives me daily peek at home. I realized that this year i would need to just go buy one from here. I know it's silly, but it made me miss home just a bit more, for a minute.

I made a mental note to go visit the nearest Papelaria, or Stationery Store, next time i was out. The following day, the interfone (telephone system that links all of the apartments in our building, with the security station below) rang - which usually only rings to let us know when someone arrives downstairs for a visit. I thought this was strange, as it was the middle of the day... and then learned that i had a package waiting for me downstairs.

Lo and behold, it was a surprise gift from my mom: a 2011 Texas calendar and a cute pair of UT Longhorn earrings! It made my day... and year!! I was reminded of Psalm 37:4. :)

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."

I am so grateful for this unexpected gift! Thanks, Mom!!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
~ James 1:17

On the Longhorn note, i will soon discuss how wearing my UT apparel around Brazil has warranted some strange stares. It's cultural. It always will be. :D

The Scripts ~ Late January Verse

2011-01-15T13:15:00.019-02:00

I'm really happy to be partnering with other Sisters aka "Siestas" for Scripture Memory, again this year. Why "Siestas"? One time Beth Moore typed out the word "sistas," referring to the LPM blog readers, and her spell checker wanted her to change it to "siestas." ...and so it is. :D

Every 1st & 15th of the month, we learn a new one. At the end of the year, those with all of their verses memorized will meet up with Beth in Houston for a celebration of our Scripture memorizing community's accomplishments - and to meet in person, all of the other bloggers that have made connections of heart, in the past year.

Although i won't join them in the celebration, simply due to my location, i really enjoy the encouragement & community throughout the year. I've tried memorizing on my own - and only managed to keep that pace for a few months. I really believe that the accountability factor in this community is what makes it happen. (I only missed 2 last time!)

My verse for the last half of January is part of a section that i want to have memorized soon.

"The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him?"

~ I Corinthians 2:10a-11b (NIV '84)

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This pic was taken in the garden at the Xaim Farm last October.

Floods - Affecting Our Friends Near and Far

2011-01-14T13:14:00.006-02:00

There are four countries affected by flooding right now: Brazil, Sri Lanka, Australia and the Philippines...

All are in the tropical/hotter areas that appear to have had unexpected cool fronts that triggered unusually heavy/torrential rainfall above & beyond the normal monsoon rains.

In Brazil, we are watching from an area that, although it has only stopped raining three days so far this year, we are not in danger of flooding. The rain is twice that of the year before, and we can only watch in horror as the victims cry and plead for help on the news. So far, the death toll is nearly 600 people in the region north of Rio de Janeiro. It is so sad.

I haven't seen anything regarding Sri Lanka, Australia or the Philippines on the local news, but i have seen it on the internet. All appear to have received record rainfall starting in November or December, which hasn't let up.

Sri Lanka is looking at yet another flood, following several in 2010. The World Health Organization stated that more than 1 million people have been affected by this round of floods. As many as 390,000 people have been driven from their homes, and more than half of the victims are from the Batticaloa district. This is on the heels of a 20-year-old civil war, which ended in 2009. To find out how you can help, click here.

In Australia, they say it's the worst flooding since 1974. At least 70 towns and over 200,000 people have been affected. Three-quarters of the state, an area the size of Germany and France combined, were affected by the flood of Queensland and has been declared a disaster zone. The 2010 La Niña weather pattern, which brings wetter conditions to eastern Australia, was the strongest since 1973.

The flooding in the Philippines started in late December, and has continued. The floods have displaced 452,999 people in 19 provinces, and has caused 40 deaths. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration attributed the stronger-than-normal rainfall to La Niña, combined with the unusual arrival of a cold front at this time of the year.

There are so many people affected right now. I know people from, near or in every area affected. If you cannot help financially, please help by praying for the victims & their families - and for the government, that they will appropriate the donations in the best way possible.

all images found on photobucket

Facebook - Friends or Fringe

2011-01-13T13:13:00.020-02:00

(For the details, right-click & open in a new window.)

PART I

Ever seen the show called Fringe?

***Spoiler alert***

If you don’t want to know a few specific details about Seasons 1, 2 & 3... skip down to the next *** near the fabulous photo of Fauxlivia. ...wait, or is it Olivia??

It is a television drama about Olivia, an FBI agent who begins to work with a scientist [who has a history of performing experiments on the fringe of known science - oh, and was institutionalized for 17 years] Walter and his son, Peter, in the “Fringe Division” of the FBI. They investigate bizarre, peculiar, fantastic, strange and disturbing… crimes in order to try to make sense of an ever-growing string of unexplained phenomena, which leads to the disclosure (not discovery, because Walter already knew this) of the fact that there is a parallel universe, where things are slightly different… The parallel universe is highly developed, more technologically advanced and appears to be “competing” – even at war – with our side. Walter has been familiar with the parallel universe for quite some time. There is a counterpart for all main characters – with the notable exception of Peter. Hmmm…

In the episode titled Amber 31422, the alternate universe Fringe Division, led by Olivia (because she got trapped in the parallel universe, and Walternate transferred "Fauxlivia"s memories, while Fauxlivia took her place on our side) investigates an unprecedented breach of security where looters apparently freed someone from a quarantined Amber area.

It is learned that Amber was used for the first time in 1989, in response to the instability and rapid degradation of the molecular structure in certain areas, which caused massive sinkholes. This is one of many examples of “singularities” occurring at weakened points in their world. In this instance, it is thought that this molecular degradation was caused by some sort of device that enabled a burglar to “walk through walls,” right into bank vaults – inadvertently wreaking havoc on the molecular structure in the surrounding area.

Since the inception of the sealant protocol, over one hundred innocent civilians have been trapped in Amber. “Walternate,” the alternate universe’s scientist reveals that the quarantine victims are in suspended animation, and could be removed and resuscitated. However, removing them would irreparably weaken the structural integrity of the Amber. The public would be outraged if this were discovered. Up to this point, it has been believed that the people trapped in amber are dead - embalmed & preserved, or mummified.

***End Spoilers***

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

So this got me thinking… about chapters in our life that we may have closed, and how through the latest technological social adaptation – could very well be alive & kicking... and waiting to pick up where you left off. It reminded me a lot of facebook.

There are no longer “skeletons in the closet”… They are persons from the past who, for all intents and purposes, are simply in suspended animation (wherever that may be) – waiting to be reanimated in our present. Oh, yes.

Another similarity: there are entire social circles that, much like the parallel world in Fringe, have morphed. You just may not recognize the new setup. Some things may be completely opposite or turned on their ear, in regards to where you left them. This goes for some circles of “friends” as well.

A lot of it can have to do with space itself. You left, others stayed – and share the same orbit. You are now considered the alien. …and that’s okay. Weird & lamentable, but okay. You might find more disturbing apparitions that appear to be some modified [and possibly sinister] version of someone you may have considered a friend – right up until you checked your inbox.

To think that we can have several decades' worth of naiveté shattered in only a matter of minutes seems ....pretty normal these days. It’s a reflection of the times.

I recall a study that definitively proved people who were able to adapt more quickly to change would live longer, simply due to less stress…

Still, it gives me pause.

One Word Wednesday X - Caption This Capture

2011-01-12T16:02:00.027-02:00

I'm thinking that One Word Wednesday needs to be revamped. Perhaps it would be better if the title for the pic wasn't limited to one word. How about "Caption This Capture" Thursdays or any day, for that matter? Let me know if you like this twist.

Here's another one of the personal portraits that i had the pleasure of shooting for my, as of yet, unidentified & unnamed blue buddy in November at the Lago de Corumbá III, or Corumbá III Lake.

The Corumbá Lakes (I, II & III) are ranch land areas that lie between Brasília, D.F. & Goiânia, Goiás that were claimed by the Brazilian government under eminent domain, or expropriation (the owners received payment of "just compensation" or "fair market value") for the purpose of building (one, two and then three) hydroelectric dams for the cause of public utility, beginning in September 1996.

Of course, as is the case in the U.S., this approach is controversial because it "omits from consideration a variety of incidental economic losses that a taking of land inflicts on its owners". In this case, it was the ranchers and farmers who took the hit. This region is farm after farm... after ranch... after ranch... so the people who owned land in the middle of what is now Lago de Corumbá I, II or III lost out. Others, like our friend, gained waterfront property - and only lost a small portion of his land.

For those who now have lakefront property, it is an oasis. It is a pretty, peaceful and private lake abounding with fish, birds and bees (i will have to research on just how many types of bees, hornets and wasps are found in this area). The deepest part of the lake (Corumbá III) is said to be about 70 meters, or 229 feet, deep.

The Corumbá Lake system is fed by 5 rivers: Rio Corumbá, Rio Pirapitanga, Rio Peixe, Rio Piracanjuba and Rio São Bartolomeu; and Corumbá III is fed by an additional 3 rivers: Rio Canoa, Rio Cachoeira and Rio Samambaia. To walk around the lake, it is estimated you would have to walk more than 100km, or over 62 miles. I couldn't find any documentation on the Corumbá lakes II & III, and what little is on the net was provided on a private site for tourist info in the waterpark/hot springs resort town of Caldas Novas.

I've featured several pictures from Corumbá III over the past year, or so - and thought a complete back story was long overdue. Now back to the business at hand: let's examine this candid pic of a beautiful blue dragonfly (seemingly with personality to boot).

I can't help but think that i caught this one mid-sneeze...

Objective:

I display a pic (or pics) with a one word caption ...or full length title.
You tell me what you think it should be.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

The Sneeze

What's your take on it?

Cute Grin & Too Fly

2011-01-06T13:06:00.006-02:00

I'm not sure why i pretty much quit taking any pictures after i learned that i would be getting a better camera, but i did. These were the last pics that i took in November, when we spent the weekend at the Corumbá Ranch.

While the boys were fishing, i tried to get shots of the area, making do with the bizarre lighting of the day. Overcast here is not the same thing as overcast back in Texas. It's more GLARE than soft, filtered light.

While tied off close to a bank, i noticed a blue dragonfly & damselfly. Until i looked it up, i thought one was the the female of the species, and that they were a couple; as they were a similar hue of blue. The damselfly was shimmery, though. Apparently, they are just buds - though i have no idea which sex either was.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Being that they were not not a mating pair, this would explain why the damselfly left, and never came back - while the dragonfly let me take about 30 pics. It only was startled when one of the fishing guys would thrash around in the boat, but it would always come back. The last pic i took couldn't look more like a big grin, from ear to ear. Hmmm... Do dragonflies have ears?

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Is it not the cutest thing?!?

Non PC People Say the Darndest Things - Episode 4

2011-01-05T11:05:00.031-02:00

I feel i must clarify a few things, in case someone ran across the most recent blog & thinks that i am just a maladjusted American in a foreign country.

As i mentioned in my last post, the lack of Christmas spirit [as i know it] is something that apparently several expats have sensed to some degree. I regularly peep a couple of blogs of fellow expats in Brazil, and this was a common theme this past month, or so. Of course, each individual comes from a different background, and Christmas traditions vary in the U.S. but that's just the thing: there are an abundance of Christmas traditions - songs, drinks (eggnog!), décor [beyond just the tree & lights], cards, options for group events... it's a season that has meaning, tradition & familiarity that is hard to find here.

And no, i don't expect it to be the same, but i do sense the loss & find the lack of celebrations hollow & empty. Also, without family here... what it is for me, is a night of hitting party after party, starting at midnight on December 25th. (My man is a rolling stone. He likes to make a tour of homes on Christmas Eve - like Santa sans the bag.)

There seems to be no Christmas season - the general feeling is that it is only a period of days leading up to a big party ...much like New Year's. I have yet to even hear a Christmas song here. :( I'm sorry, but celebrating Christmas as a one night event - the same way we celebrate New Year's - makes me sad. But that's just me dealing with & processing a loss of something very dear to me (Christmastime), because of my particular background and lack of family during this season.

I realize that i now have to find a way to really celebrate Christmas, even if it is with strangers with a common goal. I have to find others who want to celebrate the season - not just a date on the calendar. This will mean that i will be late to "commitments" & already scheduled events, but i'm at a point where that's okay. My husband will have to deal with that, as i dealt with him choosing not to celebrate certain events or attend select functions when we were in the U.S. ...Now to find those who might share common ground: that is the challenge. At least i have a year to do so. ;)

I know that my situation is different than that of other expats living abroad, and other Americans in other regions of Brazil, even. The region in which i live is not the most receptive to "outsiders" - including Brazilians from other regions of the country, much less a foreigner or {{shudder}} a dreadful American. Of course, i am speaking of the majority of the population's mentality, in this region - not all. ...most. :( It's strange since only a few hours away, in the capital of the country, embassies and foreigners abound & thrive in the metropolis of Brasília.

However, it is what it is - and it is not always easy. Daily, someone asks me if i'm "acostumado, já?" (accustomed, or used to living here, yet?) to which i try to invent a response that isn't a lie, but isn't quite the unpleasant truth.

The truth is i don't think that i will never become 100% accustomed to people insulting me (love those backhanded compliments) or trying to attract attention & approval of others, at my expense. I'm hovering at right about 70%. ;)

I know i will never be accustomed to the lack of desire to understand & reach a common ground with people who are "different".
I will never be accustomed to seeing people feel the need to pull at the sides of their eyelids, if they are discussing an "Asian" subject - nor will it cease to infuriate me.
I doubt i'll ever be accustomed to hearing "how white" i am, as a factor in regards to any subject under the sun. [Well, except me, obviously - i can't have been anywhere near the sun.] :P
I hope that one day the weekly, if not daily, comments about my "not losing" my accent won't get on my nerves.

I don't know why i seem to be less able to shrug off comments regarding the generalized views of Americans, lately. I think i have my response down that rebuffs the most popular polemic [propaganda] all-in-one-breath:

"Please stop believing what the media shows -- that all Americans are blond-haired, blue-eyed, racist, obese, "cold" (unfeeling) people who hate/avoid their families and can't cook, so we only eat at McDonald's."

That is either met with surprise or laughter, or both. :D It is really silly, if you stop to think about it - or verbalize it all in the same breath. ;)

image found on Photobucket

Just last week, i was on the hunt for a matching pair of earrings for a necklace that i intended to wear on New Year's. The necklace is gorgeous: it is a choker of cubic zirconia stars linked together, accented in silver. As you know, i love starry nights - especially the clear, cool nights where jet streams of freezing air, with tiny ice crystals, cause the stars to appear like sparkling diamonds against a black velvet backdrop. So yeah, this necklace was just thing for me. It was actually a Christmas present to myself. Unfortunately, someone accidentally sold the matching earrings, and i knew that i'd have to search high & low for anything remotely close.

My search finally led me to an overpriced loja de semi jóias, or jewelry store. Several, actually. I was tempted to buy one pair, until one of the attending employees felt the need to make fun of my accent, and go grab her coworkers so that they could join in the fun. After about 10 minutes of this, i walked out. I couldn't even get them to listen to what i was interested in purchasing, because i was interrupting their discussion about how funny i was talking. jajaja

That's the thing. I know that i don't have a full grasp on the language, yet, but more than a few people have mistakenly thought that i'm simply from a different part of the country, or Portugal or Argentina... so it can't be that bad. People who speak with me and know other foreigners tell me that i speak better than some who have been here 10 years; and still... there are people that are so focused on their looping thought of, "she's different - she's not from here," that they cannot hear me over their own thought process.

...and i know that people like this are found in every country on the planet. I know. It's just trying that there is such an overabundance in this particular region.

On to the next store. After finding the closest option for an outrageous price, i did the math... There was only a few hours left before all shops closed, and New Year's was the next day. I didn't foresee any shop having a better "match," and there was only one pair left. It was way overpriced, but that also comes with the territory.

I simply can't convince some people here that i'm not a rich American wife of a rich, well-to-do Brazilian business man. They just think i'm being modest - or trying to conceal the truth. *Sigh...*

As i'm semi-regretfully waiting for the salesclerk to package up my purchase, she starts.

BackHandedComplimentor: "You're not from here, are you?"
Me: "No, but i live here."
BHC: "Buuuuut... you're not Brazilian?!"
Me: "No, i'm Tejana - from Texas."
BHC: (in a loud voice) "Wow! I thought that you must be Brazilian because you are so pretty. Everyone knows that foreign women are ugly."

(everyone in the small store now observing us)

Me: "That's just what the media shows you. Where i'm from, there's an abundance of beautiful women. It really depends on the state, region, area... you never know until you see for yourself."
BHC: (still, with the loud voice) "Oh, we have seen foreign women come in here before. They were hideous. I reeeeeeeeally thought you are Brazilian. You're too pretty to be a foreigner."

(obviously amused people still watching, while smirking)

Me: (concentrating on giving an understanding look, with glazed eyes that wouldn't seem to cooperate) "Ok, thank you. Have a happy New Year."

Twenty minutes later, i went to a Burger King that just recently opened in my city, since my man called to inform me he would be dining with his mom. This meant that i didn't need to make lunch, so i decided that it had been long enough since i've had fast food, and i could use something vaguely reminiscent of home. At the ordering window, i was told that it is "amazing" that i haven't learned how to "talk right" in the time that i've been here.

Communiqué: Everything is going to be A-OK

2011-01-04T17:11:00.022-02:00

Do you remember, or have you ever seen the "dropped calls" commercials?

Here's one of my faves:

Allow me to introduce you to the Dropped Call's lesser known cousin that exists only in the world of IPs (internet phones): the interminable Sound Delay that may or may not plague your every call, if only for a random 5 minute interval. This can entail, but is not limited to the beginning, middle or end of the call ...and depending on what's going on in your neck of the woods weatherwise, contructionwise or anything otherwise affecting connectivity... possibly set you up for being known as a sociopathic conversationalist.

In trying to avoid and or anticipate the delay that can be anywhere from 1.5 to 3 seconds, it can result in chronic i'm-now-talking-over-you-even-though-i'm-only-completing-the-sentence-that-i-started-and-you-thought-i-finished-due-to-the-fluctuation-in-the-delay & oops-i'm-talking-over-you-again-because-i-thought-you-were-done-with-your-sentence situations. It's just awkward. ...and this is with people that have known you your whole life - imagine a conversation like this with a stranger!

I ran across this Dilbert cartoon that summed up how i suspect that my family must now view me. My only excuse: horrible connectivity the past few months. Oh, and it's multiplied to the Nth degree, when trying to call another number that uses IP service. IP to IP is not a conversation you want in on.

My only qualm in sending them this comic is that they may take it literally, which will be as good as a signed confession. Oh well... maybe i am, to some degree, a sociopath by this point. That, or i'm morphing into a pressure cooker.

This turn of events would be a direct response to the months of limited conversation and major emotional stressors that coincided with

the extreme longing of wanting to be with my family for my birthday...

the void of Thanksgiving & family celebrations that i miss...

missing my nephews' birthdays...

the 4th anniversary of our official arrival in Brazil & analyzing what all has changed - for better or worse - and the acceptance of what apparently never will, unless God in His mercy decides to intervene...

the mind-numbing lack of Christmas spirit in this [culture???] town (i'm talking about the general attitude of the residents, not the city government - they do a good job of putting up decorations around this beautiful city) & current network of acquaintances in the area...

the time change that throws us from a 2 hour difference {{to 3}} {{to 4}} ...in only a matter of weeks

the arrival of the torrential rain/monsoon season that knocks out the communication: electricity or internet, or both - every other day, or so, for the duration of the season.

This makes communicating with friends & family back home sketchy, at best. Although this is the 4th year that i have tried to mentally prepare for trudging through the abyss of stifling silence and depressing darkness, while trying to dodge emotions bouncing back from downed communications... the whole time, feeling hope evaporate into the mirage of annual cultural & familial events of which i know i will never be fully integrated (read: accepted) ...i truly handled the first leg of this exile in poor form: this was the worst year, yet.

If i had to summarize this past season: it was Shock & Awe... I was shocked at how awed i was that things are like this around this time of year - because it's always like this, this time of the year. I am still mystified that i felt so ...lost?? "Misplaced" would probably be the correct term. I cannot go into exact detail as to why this is the more appropriate term as opposed to displaced or out of place, but they are all interrelated.

This was an additional factor to my recent MIA, off the grid activities, where the blog is concerned: i didn't have anything good to say (when i had the time to actually write something) so i decided not to say anything at all. Thumper's parents would be proud. ;)

Fortunately, this is all said in retrospect, as i have seen the light at the end of the tunnel. In fact, a ray of light reached out and touched me. Thank you. God threw me a rope, and i was pulled to safety and peace.

What has changed? My perspective.

I am only "coming clean" here, now, so that i can have a quick reference for next year. ;) There is something to be said about mile markers. I want to remember God's faithfulness, and never forget how He has provided for me in each of the darkest hours of my life...

Deuteronomy 4:9 says that we are to "be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."

It encourages me & helps my faith to grow, as i remember the various occasions that Jesus has stepped into a situation and done what only He could do to turn it around.

It is a new year in which there is much promise. I'm on the hunt for some maturity, growth... and patience. Here's hoping i haven't tried yours with the lengthy post. :/

The Scripts ~ Early January Verse

2011-01-02T15:29:00.027-02:00

Happy New Year, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope that 2010 was delightfully brought to an exciting, but peaceful end - ideally with family & friends at your side. I look forward to this new year with expectation and hope, and dare i say confidence - confidence in Him that is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20) - unlike any year thus far, in my life.

I really believe that God is going to do something big this year - and i'm hoping this entails a growth spurt. Of course, i'm speaking spiritually, as i'm just under 6' (1.83m) - without shoes, and 6'+ in any boot or heel.

My first verse of 2011 is something that i have been trying to recall, lately - and need to cement into my memory banks. I plan to memorize Beth Moore's first verse of the year, soon, as well. For the past month, or so, i've been going back through the James: Authentic Christian Living Bible study by Dr. John Barnett, and that particular verse was discussed in depth, in the 22nd & 23rd sessions of the series. It's very cool, trust me.

I want this verse to stand out in my mind - like a ray of light, piercing through the [seemingly impending] darkness - so that's why i chose this background.

This pic was taken at the Corumbá Ranch, at sunset, this past November. It was an overcast day - the entire day - right up to the twilight glow of the setting sun. The hazy, filtered rays as the sun went down, seemed to make everything have a silver shimmer, contrasting sharply against the growing shadows of the evening.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

"Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us."

Live and Help Live - Be A Voice for The Voiceless

2010-12-08T07:08:00.008-02:00

I am reposting something that means the world to me... but the URL to the original post appears to be broken. After several requests, i have decided to just repost, so that this can be passed along successfully. Sorry for the delay.

Something that has been on my heart for some time, is animals and our role in their role, in our ~~society~~ world.

First and foremost, there should be few animals that even have a role in our society. Most animals were born in the wild, and should be left alone ... protected... there - in peace.

Other animals that tend to thrive in a healthy domesticated environment such as cats, dogs, [a select few] small animals and [certain] fish have rights that depend on our responsibility, in choosing to add them to our family.

These rights are the same that we would offer to our other family members: healthy food, essential health care, good hygiene, a balanced workout & rest routine, ample living space and quality time spent together.

If we cannot or will not provide these fundamental rights, then we should not pursue owning a pet. Get something electronic, instead: it won't miss you, and rarely needs any additional attention.

Something that i want to point out today, is the issue of zoos, "parks" and circus institutions that keep animals [usually in less than ideal hygienic conditions] confined in small living areas - that are usually smaller than, less than .0030303030% of their natural territory.

This number is based on a 10X10 foot cage versus a meager 25X25 mile radius, in the wild. If their natural roaming range is, say, 200 miles then they are being forced to live in an area that is only .0000473484% of their natural home area.

What if we did this to a human? What if we found out that a family was forcing their child to stay in a drawer in the dresser - or let's day for the sake of "exercise"... a closet ...of an 80 room hotel? That would not only be child abuse - it would be insane, would it not?

How about ~~Sea World~~ Kiddie Pool Puddle? Putting a whale, dolphin or sea lion in a pool that is about 60 feet deep and 40 feet across - effectively imprisoning a creature that was made to roam entire oceans [i.e. Orcas, or the "Killer Whales" that are so popular in theme parks, which may travel 125-200 km per day, while foraging in the wild] should be a crime. It is essentially kidnapping, and/or raising a creature in captivity.

It is not natural.

It is not healthy.

Whales that are free, live around 40 or so years. In captivity, their life expectancy at most, is around 20 years. Is there anything, in regards to those figures, that ~~seems fishy~~ jumps out at you? (I tried to avoid a pun, honestly.)

What should be seen as an atrocity, is seen as an attraction. Instead of being outraged, we flock to these theme parks in droves - all for show and tell.

The jail-like living arrangements, while sickening, is nothing compared to the abuse that "~~trained~~" tortured animals are subjected to...

Please watch this slideshow: http://www.ringlingbeatsanimals.com/bound-babies.asp

Those are for entertainment, yes? So what is wrong with zoos? Aren't they trying to preserve populations, and educate people on their plight?

One would hope in [her] heart of hearts, that zoos would be a last chance option, and perhaps build up a dwindling population of an endangered species.

Who governs these zoos?

How many are privately owned?

Who is checking up on them, and keeping them regulated?

Is it truly in the animals' best interest?

Remember only a few months ago? The zoo in China that starved 11 Siberian Tigers to death on a chicken bone diet, because they couldn't afford to feed them? Do you think it was overnight, or a slow and painful starvation? I am fighting the lump in my throat, as i type this.

Even the zoo here (in the city where i live) was losing most of its population - little by little - until they finally shut it down. Many different species got sick & died, and they still do not know why - nor want the publicity.

In how many zoos across the world is this occurring?

Why does it usually only make local or back page news?

What can we do?

We can start by telling their story. Educate our friends. Educate our family - our kids, our nieces, our nephews... Educate our readers. :)

Please join me!

Let's be aware, not naïve.

Once aware, let's be the voice for the voiceless... the fuzzy, the blubbery, the furry... the blessing that we have one shot at protecting for the future.

How many have we already lost?

all photos found on photobucket

Psalm 143

2010-11-07T10:27:00.007-02:00

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

I read this Psalm the other night before bed. It speaks to an ongoing situation that i find myself in... My hope is that i will adhere to what is right, and not give in to the temptation to go on the offensive. I want God to handle it, as He ultimately knows what is best. I love the sentence that asks Him not to judge me, as no living person can claim to be in "right standing" 100% - although this is the ultimate goal to be pursued on a daily, moment-by-moment basis...

This pic was taken in my friends' garden, when we visited their farm. The dry fountain seemed an apt background for this Psalm.

How Many "I's" Are in This Narcissistic English Practice?

2010-11-04T13:44:00.007-02:00

...and which is truly the most important?

I’m sure you’ve noted the lack of capitalization of the pronoun “I” in my sentences, aside from when it occurs as the first word in a sentence. Don’t be alarmed. I use correct grammar and punctuation in my classes. It’s on my personal time that i lead my ~~one~~ two-person (at last count) revolution.

I just don’t understand why we capitalize "I," other than as a definitive affirmation of the nature of our narcissistic society. Do i value myself more than her, him, or you? Am i to show respect for myself above all others, except God? Do i value myself on the same level as God? I personally do not.

Photo found on Photobucket

I hope that over time this strange protocol in the written English language will change. Even as a child, i thought it odd that we draw such attention to our individual selves, even in written conversation.

Perhaps, if you were valued more highly than my self-adoring concept of who i am, there might be a little more mutual respect and care for our fellow man in today’s society. We all know that the written word is mightier than the sword – and over time certain things become ingrained into our very being. I’m not saying that we should start capitalizing "you" - that's reserved for God - but what if we just take the spotlight off of me, myself & i?

What difference could a slight alteration or refocusing (off of ourselves as first & foremost in any thought pattern) of our written communication bring? Try it. You’ll like it – as a therapy to break free from the self-absorbed mentality that has a grip on our society. Seriously, it is liberating.

Unfortunately, i don’t feel that i am able to do this idea justice, as i’m not a great writer. However, i hope the general concept for my stance makes sense on some level. I will point out that most other languages forgo this practice, as well. Of course, these languages don’t capitalize certain other things, either… but i’m hoping that the English language powers that be will come around, and implement a change in pace or revoke the power of the almighty “I” ...for all our sakes.

Here's a few of the over 4,000 quotes available in the "All About Me" section of a popular graphic site...

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

The one about quoting myself to add spice my conversations cracked me up. :D

One Word Wednesday - IX

2010-11-03T10:14:00.007-02:00

Welcome back, friends!! It seems that we were collectively sucked into a black hole, and our community as a whole, was on hiatus - though not by any choice of our own. :) It's good to see you guys are back. I can't wait to hear what you all have been up to!

I have to mention that the small community that i have the pleasure to be a part of, is truly a highlight in my day and life. I consider you to be my friends, although we've never met in person - our "happy places" are shared and mutually admired ...and this is a thing of the heart. I just want to say that it is a joy getting to know each of you, and i always look forward to seeing your names, posts & viewpoints, and adore our interaction. :))

Let's get this party started! ;)

Objective:

I display a pic (or pics) with a one word caption...
You tell me what you think it should be.

I took this pic during the trip to the farm, the weekend before last. I don't know what type of mushroom this is, but had to snap a pic. Wonderland? Giant mushroom? Of course.

This is one of the largest mushrooms i've ever seen in the wild. The cap was about 6 inches (or 15.24 cm) in diameter. It was a solitary species growing in the middle of a field of tall grass.

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Wild

(While it fits as the Wild (noun) 2: " a wild, free, or natural state or existence"... I mean Wild as defined by Merriam Webster's Wild (adjective) 6a entry: "Whoa, that's crazy!!")

Whad'ya think?

The Scripts ~ Early November Verse

2010-11-01T19:34:00.009-02:00

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

This photo was taken last weekend at my friends' farm. No one knew the name of this flowering tree. My guess was a Mimosa? ...but you never know. :)

I thought the unfocused background vs. the detailed flower made a great visual for this verse.

Meanwhile, Back From The Ranch

2010-10-28T10:28:00.007-02:00

We recently went to "The Ranch" and this time i was able to get some photos of the lovely horses that are usually elsewhere.

May i introduce you to Alemão & Tesouro (German & Treasure)...

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

These are 2 of the 5 horses on this ranch. We were fast friends, after we fed them sugarcane stalks. I was able to get several candid shots, as well as a couple of videos - with the help of my junior partner in ~~crime~~ pranks. He is the 15yr old son of our friends (who we'll call "Jr.") who is always more than willing to help me play a joke on my husband or Jr.'s father - or both. :D

We had a great time this weekend, after a whirlwind of an October! I shot about 200 photos and 10 videos, so there will be more to come... :))

There were 3 different storms that blew through the area, so the lighting variation was extreme, as you may be able to tell by these pics. Sometimes it was so overcast - but bright - that my point & shoot simply could not filter it effectively. We'll see how many of the 200 survive the cutting room session. ;)

One Word Wednesday- VIII

2010-10-20T10:10:00.048-02:00

It looks like this season is a busy one for all of us!

Hello? *echo*... *echo*...

I'm hoping that the craziness of the past few weeks is long gone, not to be repeated. We just had a time change on Sunday, so i'm attributing this lull (so far, this week) to people adjusting to the new hours - but i'm hoping we do not fall ~~forward~~ back into our crazy pace.

What do you want to do today?
What do we try to do every Wednesday??
Try to come up with a title!

Due to today's subject, i believe i've got The Brain on the brain.

Objective:

I display a pic (or pics) with a one word caption...
You tell me what you think it should be.

This is a Sea Slug (Aplysia brasiliana) that danced around in the shallow pools of water left at low tide, along the stretch of coast in Arraial d'Ajuda, Bahia. It looks vastly different in both positions. The first shot i'm tempted to call "The Brain" - but then i'd have to title the next one "Pinky". By now, you can see my line of thinking, so you will not be surprised by my official title. ;)

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Animated

Are you thinking what i'm thinking?

The Scripts ~ Late October Verse

2010-10-15T10:51:00.008-03:00

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

This photo was taken in the Cathedral of Brasília, in 2007. I edited out the cables that suspend the angels from the ceiling of the cathedral, creating a perfect background for this verse. :)

One Word Wednesday - VII

2010-10-13T13:13:00.002-03:00

My student just called to cancel today's class. This brought about an opportunity to rearrange my schedule, and pop in - just in time - for One Word Wednesday.

This pic is of the ranch in the middle of nowhere aka the Rio Kuluene in Mato Grosso, where we stayed in Sept. of '08. This small ranch house was surrounded by miles & miles of empty land, save for the goats that routinely made their way back & forth from the river - and the occasional cougar that tracked them.

I've never seen such a desolate place. It was an unusually thick overcast and muggy weather pattern that week. This, combined with the almost eerie call of a bird that could be heard frequently, was a surreal experience. This type of bird has a call that sounds like a drill alarm - the kind that used to sound out during the world wars. I was told that this is a type of crane that only calls out when storms are on the way. It did actually rain pretty hard during the night, a few of the days we were there, but i think the dense clouds & mugginess were throwing off the forecasting accuracy of this bird.

This was a rare spot of sunshine that appeared at sunset one evening, as the sun passed under the blanket of clouds that covered us for most of the week. It was like the momentary waking from a dream.

Objective:

I display a pic with a one word caption...
You tell me what you think it should be. Your comments can be as long as you'd like - just be sure to include your one word title. In fact, you don't even need to add a title, if you don't want to. Consider it "One Word [or Whatever Suits You] Wednesdays"... ;)

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Rousing

You're up! :)

One Word Wednesday - VI

2010-10-06T13:16:00.001-03:00

Wow! It's Wednesday - let's do this! :)

I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off, for almost 2 weeks, now. Every time i tried to carve out 30 minutes to catch up on others' blogs - and dream of attending to mine - life interrupted. ;)

Yay! It's a semi-Day Off, today. Even better: It happens to be my new favorite day. I am quite fond of One Word Wednesdays. I love seeing the interesting angles that everyone reads into the subject matter. Thought i'd throw you all for a loop, with this random image. I believe my title will be along those lines. :D

Objective:

I display a pic with a one word caption...
You tell me what you think it should be. Your comments can be as long as you'd like - just be sure to include your one word title. In fact, you don't even need to add a title, if you don't want to. I might just change it to "One Word [or Whatever Suits You] Wednesdays"... ;)

(To enlarge, right-click & open in a new window.)

Loopy

Your turn! :)

1981 Happy Place, down Memory Lane

2010-10-03T10:03:00.010-03:00

This was happy me at age 5. I was overjoyed that my grandparents had come to visit. :)

Today i'm missing family & home... and days long since passed, just a little more than usual.

Hopefully, this next year will bring insight into the past - specifically our roots, reunions, a reinforcing of ties... and a deeper understanding of what it is to love. My goal is to not only pursue Agápe, but Philia as well.

The Scripts ~ Early October Verse

2010-10-01T13:10:00.004-03:00

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This photo was taken during our camping trip at Lago da Serra da Mesa, or Tablesaw Lake, in March of 2008.

One Word Wednesday - V

2010-09-22T18:55:00.004-03:00

Are you ready, kids?

I can't hear you!!

Yes, i stole that from the intro to SpongeBob Squarepants... Guess i'm not fully over Talk Like A Pirate Day, just yet.

It's Wednesday, and you know what that means. :)

Objective:

I display a pic with a one word caption...
You tell me what you think it should be. Your comments can be as long as you'd like - just be sure to include your one word title. Shoot! You don't even need to add a title, if you don't want. I'm a pretty easy goin' chick. :)

Today i'm tweaking the rules a bit: i'm throwing in an additional close up of our subject. It is such an exquisite bird... the top feathers give it a "rocker" look. ;) I thoroughly enjoyed the time i spent with this bird. I fed it once, and it followed me around for the few days i stayed at a house on the "Lake of Breezes," or Lago das Brisas. :) See additional facts and photos of the beautiful Seriema here.

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Tendrilous

Is It Just Me?

2010-09-21T18:21:00.002-03:00

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Mini Movie Monday - VII

2010-09-20T17:20:00.013-03:00

As you know by now, Monday is the day that i feature yet another video for my friends & family back home. People always wonder what my life is like, so i try to at least give them a glimpse, every now and then. Most of us haven't the vaguest idea what life is like in another country, other than our own - if we haven't been able to see it for ourselves.

It's funny, that people here always ask me what i thought Brazil would be like, and are always surprised when i tell them that i really didn't have some preconceived idea. I just knew that it would be different. :)

Their next question is usually asking if i like it here, and base that question on physical, monetary & aesthetic comforts. Again, i am met with surprise when i answer that those things don't really mean all that much to me. Of course, i am thankful to have a place to live & healthy food to eat - but paved roads, somewhat paved roads, sidewalks, smooth rides, etc. have no bearing on my happiness.

What is the most important thing to me is love: family & close friends make my world go round. In the absence of these individual pieces of my heart, i must say that life doesn't feel as "full" as it once did. I went through periods of sadness & depression - which is 100% normal, when someone is very close to their loved ones, and loses them. During this time i retreated inward, instead of looking to God. When i finally asked Him for help, He showed me some ways to have more meaningful interactions, though they be few - and my loved ones are still far away...

I love that i can have discussions with my 8-year-old nephew ranging from sci-fi, comics, cartoons, environmental issues & historical figures. I call him The Great Brain. I enjoy quizzing my 7-year-old niece on her times tables, and what exactly a "peanut gallery" is. :D It made my heart happy that my youngest niece, who is only 2 years old, wanted to call her Aunt to let her know that she 'started [pre]school, and has new shoes.' :) She is super shy, and it looks like school has loosed her tongue. - I used to have to pretend that i was Dora the Explorer, to get her to talk on the phone. ;) I love that my sister & i are so close, and are not just siblings, but best friends.

I am so thankful to be able to talk with them on the phone regularly, and still be involved in their lives. Of course, in a my perfect world, we'd all live in the same house, and i could go to every swim meet, track & field day, concert, play and hang out on weekends flying kites, camping and taking day trips together. I thank the Lord for the blessings that they are in my life, and to my heart. And do these little blessings ever have questions! :) It is for this reason that i document the interesting & the mundane in my daily life. This is a record for the dearly loved pieces of my heart, attached by heartstrings finer than - and pulled further than - any fiber optic cable, across 2 continents...

Here's a peek into one of the amazing places that i have had the opportunity to visit, while on fishing expeditions with my husband. Sadly, this area may not stay this way. This is the Kuluene River, a tributary of the Xingu River that is being threatened by the construction of what will be the third largest dam in the world.

If you would like to join me in Mini Movie Mondays, just add your name to the list below, and don't forget to grab the link in the sidebar. I will continue to do this as long as i have videos to post. ;)

I will leave the linky open for the rest of this week. To ensure we can find your video, please make sure that your link is not just to your main blog address, but to the Mini Movie Monday post, itself - especially if you are participating on a different day. :)

I added my link, as an example.

International Talk Like A Pirate Day

2010-09-19T11:21:00.020-03:00

Apparently, it isn'a quite near th' international level as we be hopin' for.

Take fer example, th' fair land o' Brazil. Me heartys eyeball me like i'm crazy, when i try t' explain this fine tide. They be believin' that i made it up.

Well, that's another story, but i give credit t' th' guys who 'ave made it ‘appen.

Ye see, make believin' i'm a pirate – an’ forcin' others t' do th' same, be a tradition that goes as far aft as me childhood.

It be a holiday steeped in misdirected anger an’ make believe. As a child, i didn't know me daddy very well, an’ took it pretty hard that he port us high & dry. Therefore, i couldn't really relate t' that yearly holiday celebratin' dads.

At th' young age o' 12, i tried t' implement Pirate Day, in place o' Father's Day, so that me an’ me young sisters an’ brothers wouldn't ‘ave t' be thinkin' on ‘eavy weighin' thoughts - but could focus on th' light an’ silly. ;)

O' course, i must emphasize again, that as th' oldest lassie, i possessed th' might t' make it ‘appen in our abode. Me unwillin’ crew o' me sisters an’ brothers could choose t' participate, or be sent t' th' galley.

Perhaps me younger siblin's were averse an’ or reluctant partakers in this tradition, but i canna tell you how much this day celebrated on September 19 o' every voyage, since 1995 (a mere six voyages after i led th' mutiny on th' other holiday) has truly vindicated th' lost pirate lass o' yore.

Now, don't ye be worryin'. Now i be a happy, well-adjusted lady with no real fear nor regret regardin' th' afore mentioned holiday; that be free now to pursue me harmless (nary violent nor real) buccanneer daydreams - just like every other ~~crackpot~~ sane wannabe sea dog out thar.

It's like they found me treasure that twas buried in me past... cleaned it up (well, dependin' on what crew you be ‘angin' with) an’ ‘ave given me a new go at th' pirate life. :)

This post be dedicated t' th' other ~~loons~~ Cap’ns out thar, and their respective shipmates. I salute ye.

In honor o' innocuous [lily-livered in life, but undaunted in their minds] wannabe buccanneers everywhere, i present this theme song.

'ave ye caught it? Tha slow-burnin' fever t' set sail in th' madness, alongside crews th' world over? For rookies, i recommend ye start with a cliffnotes-type o' lesson by Cap'ns John Baur an' Mark Summers or the ever-handy translation site by th' transcribin' Cap'n Sydd.

If ye be aboard facebook, there be an "English (Pirate)" language option, as well. :) Thus far, there 'ave been German, Dutch an’ French pirate-speak sites, as well as Mandarin sound clip links to help th' potential sprags. Lookin' fer a quick rundown on th' essential Mandarin exclamations or one-liners? Be seein' th' old episodes o' Firefly. Scripts be written in English, with a smatterin' o' Mandarin phrases interwo'en throughout th' dialogue.

I can only hope that some Gentleman an' Ladies o' Fortune who be well versed in Portuguese will come out o' th' works soon. `Tis hard bein' a lone seafarin' lass - i feel a bit like Jack Sparrow, with nary a crew t' call me own.

Until next voyage... I wish ye peaceful tides an' e'er welcomed gentle waves, a good wind at yer aft - an' a beautiful outlook on yer horizons!

A Bug's Abode

2010-09-18T15:10:00.015-03:00

This was before i discovered macro options on my camera. :(

However, the patterns of the leaves and the interesting design of the petals were so striking, that i had to show the folks back home. The leaves look almost like a starburst in the middle.

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These cute bugs with the pretty markings seemed to prefer this plant over the others in the garden.

The Scripts ~ Late September

2010-09-16T09:16:00.002-03:00

Yesterday was the 15th, which up until a few months ago meant a new Memory Verse. I fell off the wagon, but am back - kinda like Mark Morrison, but i'm no mack. ;)

This is not my typical kind of shot. I accidentally got this exposure when using a different camera, speeding along the highway at dusk. No, i was not driving. ;)

I really liked the result, and have been looking for the right way to display it. I thought that it was a super-perfect visual for this new verse that means A LOT to me, right now...

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