Can you say INFLATiON???

I went to the supermarket with my best friend in RIo today and was curious to see the price of filet mignon. I have always said that meat in Brazil is the cheapest in the world. When I was here last Christmas, the price of filet mignon was around R$15/kilo, which converts into about CDN $8.50/kilo. Not any more! The same supermarket, one year later, is charging R$39/kilo..Can you say inflation???

Plane Travel in 2010!!

After a long flight from Canada back to Brazil, I arrived here to find that the TSA went through my bag. I hate when that happens. What kind of guarantee do I have that that they haven't taken something out of my bag? I understand that it is a security measure, but it still makes me nervous.
There was an article in the Calgary Herald that said that with all of the stuff that people are carrying on board, it is making security checks longer.
If there is one thing I hate is when people stuff their bags in the overhead bin that isn't even over their seat. If I arrive and see that the bin is full and the seats around me are empty,and nobody claims it belongs to them I simply remove the bag and call the flight attendant.
Between having your luggage pilfered through by the TSA and the extra baggage charge, it is beoming more common for people to schlep their stuff onboard.
I suggest that the airlines re-evaluate their baggage limits. It will smooth out travelling in a big way!!

Tropical Alps!!

Just a relaxing drive in the mountains outside of Rio

I Will Only Cheer for the Calgary Flames Again When They Fire the Sutter Clan

I have slowly become a Montreal Canadiens fan. It could be in part because my boyfriend is a huge Habs fan and has ignited the fan fire that I have only seen with soccer fans in Brazil.(Also the fact I hear Ole Ole Ole Ole at the Montreal Bell Arena on RDS- the French TSN, makes it even more enticing. Most of all, they PLAY GOOD HOCKEY!!!!)
Montreal is to hockey what Flamengo is to soccer in Brazil, Barcelona in Spain, Manchester United in the UK or Milan in Italy. The classic team who has won many championships over the years and has fans around the world.
Calgary had a great run at the cup but were totally robbed in the sixth game against Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup final.
Calgary needs to get rid of the Sutter clan/family/famiglia... Enough of them. They couldn't keep Camalerri and they bring on Olli Jokiinen. PLEASE!!! I love Jerome Iginla but he cannot be the whole team all the time!! Don't even get me going on the young Sutter that got into trouble in Arizona. At least his uncles had the smarts to trade him away!!!
Calgary has lsot more games this season than I care to remember. IF this was in soccer, the coach and manager would have been fired long ago!!!!
The Flames need new blood at the helm, and until that happens and until they get rid of the Sutters I will not cheer any more for my hometown team.
ALLEZ LES HABITANTES!!!!!

Winter Has Shown Her Face

It has been a week since Calgary got its first major snow dump of the year. Carskating has become a new sport! Unfortunately for the commuters, the roads were sheer ice on the Tuesday morning. A 45 minute commute on a busy day suddenly became a 2 and a half hour terror infused ride. Stopping became optional as cars were spinning their tires and I was praying to not be rear ended by some moron in a half ton.
Today the mercury dipped to -21C but it felt more like -30 with the wind chill factor. It was colder in Calgary than it was in Iqualuit, Nunavut.
Only a month until the official beginning of winter and seven months until our three days of summer returns!!!!
Keep warm everyone!!!

Fashion and Sports..the connection

I have said this many times over, there is definitely a link between professional sports and the fashion business. Yes, we all know that ubermodel Gisele Bundchen is married to the All American greatest football quarterback ever, Tom Brady, but this theory goes beyond just the model/athlete liaison.
Last night I was watching the Montreal Canadiens play the Boston Bruins. The 'Habs' won wholeheartedly 3-1. Here is a little background. Both teams are part of what is known as the 'Original Six', the original six teams that made up the NHL. The other four teams were the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers, the Detroit Red Wings,and the Chicago Blackhawks. In 1967, the orignal six became 12. By 1997, there were 30 teams in the NHL.
In the fashion business, there were only a small handful of magazines that were the 'Holy Grail' of the fashion biz. They included French Vogue, French ELLE, British Vogue and American Vogue and French Marie Claire. To get the cover of one of these magazines was akin to being a young hockey player being signed to the Montreal Canadiens or any of the 'Original Six' teams.
What has happened? By 1997, there were 30 teams in the NHL. In 1997, there were numerous national editions of Vogue, ELLE and Marie Claire. ELLE is available in 39 international editions now. Vogue now has 18 international editions.Marie Claire can be found in 24 languages.
A hockey team fields about 22 players. 6 X 22=132. There were 132 NHL hockey players up until 1967. Now with 32 teams in the NHL and a season that goes until basically July, there are at least 700 NHL hockey players on the playing roster.
More NHL teams for players, more magazine covers for models. I think that fashion has become dull and boring and it lacks the pinnache of the days of the exclusivity of the coveted magazine covers. The girls all look the same. Cookie cutter looks with little to no personality. Hockey players are the same thing. Wayne Gretsky was the last of the 'Great ones' that skated with personality.They all look like a bunch of lugs that are just there for the paycheck, not the love of the game.
In the end, too many players and too many models, and little to no excitement.

It's Time for Canadians to Visit Brazil

Every year around this time, the ads for going to Mexico start to appear with more frequency. For less than $1000 one can go to Mexico for a week including airfare. Sounds like a great deal doesn't it? The big question is, "Will you survive?".

Just this past week, a Canadian businessman's burned body was found in the trunk of the car he rented in Acapulco. His family is appealing to the Canadian government to embargo travel to Mexico. I agree. It's extremely dangerous in Mexico right now. The drug wars have killed over 25000 people in the past few years along the USA-Mexican border.

Rio de Janeiro, with all of its problems, is still safer than Mexico. I urge all of my readers to go to Brazil and enjoy one of the most beautiful countries in the world (even though I am not a big fan of the new president, hopefully she will continue to move Brazil forward and not into a Chavezian state).

The best way to get to Brazil from Canada(at least from the West) is on Continental. One can get fares to Rio from Calgary for around $1100 plus tax. It's actually cheaper than going to Europe.

There is a great site for out of the way hotels and bed and breakfasts called Hidden Pousadas. Tell them that the Canarioca sent you.

If you want to see Rio in style, go to Soland Eco Tours.

Travel tips, insider information, I am the go to girl. Leave me a comment!

Beijos da Canarioca

The Day of the Witch

I am prepared to receive some hate mail for what i am about to write, so here I go.

Today is Halloween, also known as 'Dia das Bruxas' in Brazil. Well they have elected a witch in Brazil and her name is Dilma Roussef.

There, I said it.

My Challenge

I have less than three months before I return to Brazil. As you know, Brazilians have amazing bodies and it is a big beach culture there. No muffin tops on those beaches!!
Between work, studying at university and running around as a taxi service for my boys, my exercise regime has gone by the way of the dodo bird. It was only when I got a glimpse of my backside in the mirror the other day that I realized "Oh crap! What have I done to myself??" Time for Operaçao Verao (Operation Summer).
I have started a food journal and I have started to do an exercise regime that I came across on YouTube. It's short and very intense. I did a 12 minute workout yesterday and was sweating like a pig. The girl that hosts the workout is in AMAZING shape and if I feel like I am going to fall off the wagon, I just think of how great shape she is in.
I took a photo of my backside and I have it pasted on my fridge to remind me of how I look if I am not careful of what I eat.
On December 14th, I will post my before and after pictures of my journey.
Here is the link to Zuzana's blog

My Secret Wish...

As you may know by now, I lived in Brazil for close to 15 years. I hope one day to return there to live again.
I was reading an article about how the luxurious life of the ex pat is going the way of the dodo bird. I have a girlfriend who's boyfriend works for a multinational oil company in Rio. Besides whatever salary he is paid there, the company pays for the rent on his beachside apartment (Ipanema). Makes me want to buy real estate in Brazil when I hear that the flat he lives in is about 950 square feet, and the rent is close to 10K USD per month!!!!
In the past, companies would send their people overseas to over see operations in foreign countries. To compensate for the hardships of moving house and home (and sometimes wife and kids), huge compensation packages were offered to these ex pats. This was to cover moving expenses, buying of household goods in the new country, trips home, private schools for the children, maids,cooks and drivers.
Sweet life!
Well, according to human resources at many companies, that will be a thing of the past soon.
I always secretly wished that I could have had the life of an ex-pat wife in Rio de Janeiro. I guess it's because I met so many there that were so unhappy..UNHAPPY???? I would be at the beach with my girlfriends, the gym, shopping, volunteering,studying online...There is NO reason that these women should be unhappy!!!
Now that the perks are being eliminated, they will wish for the old life of an ex pat wife.....
Oh well, I never had any of those perks and I was VERY happy in Rio with my simple life in the mountains of the Alto da Boa Vista. That is something that will never be taken away...

Exciting Times, Random Thoughts

Things are looking up! Soon I will be off to Brazil to fill my trove of goodies! If you are not aware, I import a line of beautiful lingerie from Brazil and am preparing myself to bring in a bathing suit line as well as a fitness line. All made in Brazil!

I wish I could bring in a shoe line from Brazil, because there are so many beautiful, well made shoes there. One can find Carmen Stefans here in Calgary and oddly enough, the prices are lower than in Brazil. I love my shoes made in Brazil, the quality is that of shoes made in Italy or France(a rarity these days). I actually had a pair of loafers that I bought at a store in Rio, (Natura) and it was an exact copy of a pair of Prada's. I found out later that Prada does a lot of manufacturing in Brazil, but does enough of the finishing back in Italy to be considered "Made in Italy".

The Brazilian real (the currency) has gone up considerably over the past 4 years. I remember when it was close to $3 reais to the USD, now it is hovering at around 1.70 to the USD. This causes a problem for companies that export overseas, making their products more expensive for foreign buyers. With the national elections looming and the big stock sale of Petrobras, the currency will probably stay strong for awhile. Apparently, Lula's successor will be Dilma Roussef. Not sure if that is a good thing or not... To be honest, Brazilian politics is so confusing and shady, that I am actually glad that I don't have to vote (voting is mandatory in Brazil...maybe they should do the same here in Canada).

When I go to Brazil, I plan on checking out some of the accommodations mentioned on the site

Tonight I have a networking event with people from the oil industry who want to do business in Brazil. My cultural knowledge and languages will come in very handy for them and my goal is to work on a consultant basis for Canadian energy companies working in Brazil...and then I sell my beautiful lingerie,bathing suits and fitness wear to the oil-ty wives.

How Are We Going to Compete?

Yesterday I went to show the luxury lingerie line that I bring in from Brazil to a potential client south of Calgary. She has a store that sells lingerie to the women in the small towns south of Calgary.
I showed her what I have to offer, and was bluntly told that my price point was too high. This is a store that sells bras for $125 and up. My bras are wholesaling for around $35 delivered to her shop. So in essence, she could easily sell these bras for $70 plus, and still make a decent profit.
The lingerie line I bring in is hand made and uses high quality fabrics and material. I have visited the atelier in Brazil where it is made and I can truly say that the working conditions are amazing. Natural light, windows overlooking the hillside and around 15 women working, laughing and truly enjoying themselves talking about the latest plot of the primetime novela as they stitch away at their craft. I am very aware of worker's rights in Brazil and I know these women are receiving fair pay for their work and all of their benefits(vacation pay, 13th salary, pension etc). Is their salary lower than their counterparts in Canada? I am sure it is, but it is far higher of those from the sweat shops of Asia.
The shop owner showed me what she considered the equivalent of what I showed her in terms of quality. I was offended. Not for me, but for the hard working women in Brazil that I have seen putting their hearts into their work. They are trained seamstresses who are unfortunately a dying breed in Europe and soon to be in Brazil.
Looking at the shoddy quality of what the shop owner was showing me, it was evident that it was made overseas. My hunch was right. Made in China. Wholesaling for $2-$6(shop owner admitted what she pays wholesale for her stuff)...Sold in the shop for $35 -$85.
What's wrong with this picture???

Eat, Pay, Leave

The new movie 'Eat Pray Love' starring Julia Roberts is making its way through the cinemas. I read the book by Elizabeth Gilbert about two years ago. It was cute, but I really found her to be self indulgent and suffering from intense naval gazing.
Out of a bad divorce, she picks up and goes on a quest to 'find' herself. Welcome to the real world darling. I, too, had a sad divorce, but you didn't see me pick up and take off to Italy, India and Indonesia. I had two toddlers that needed to be cared for and a battle with their father for him to step up, man up and be responsible financially in the raising of said toddlers. Running away was and is not an option for a lot of divorced women.

The best part of the book was when she was in Italy. If any woman is suffering from self doubt and low self esteem, Italy is the cure all place to go. Just walking down the streets in Rome will boost your ego instantly. Cries of "Que bella donna' and 'Bellissima' will put a swagger in your step faster than a new pair of Jimmy Choo's and will not cost you a dime. I love Italians. They have such a great attitude towards life. Eating is a pleasure and is not be rushed. (Have you ever seen an obese Italian?) Italians are the pros when it comes to slowing down and enjoying the moment. And they have cute soccer players to boot....

I have never been to India, but from what I have heard, it is beyond anything one could imagine. Going off to a yoga retreat in India not only sounds exotic and wonderful, I can't help but imagine the poverty that surrounds these nirvanic compounds made to cater to the EPL pilgrims. Dysentery also is an issue. I will take a retreat with Bryan Kest in Maui, thank you very much!

She ends the book in Bali. She meets up with a guru/shaman little man and also gets involved with a real estate transaction and a Brazilian man. There is a certain element that happens to 35 plus women where they feel they have to find the answers to the meaning of life and more importantly their existence. One can do therapy, one can travel, one can meditate, one can get involved with other people and help out the world in small philanthropic ways. She tried to help out a local woman but in my opinion got shammed by this woman. Unfortunately, Americans are seen in the third world as endless money sources. Maybe ten years ago, but the way their economy is going down the tubes these days, that generalization will become misconception.
She meets a Brazilian man in Bali. (That in itself is fodder for a whole other blog post...)There are hundreds of Brazilians in Bali. They go for the surf and to export Balinese wares back to Brazil to sell at exorbitant prices. I know a few Brazilians that have moved permanently to Bali. They tell me that the cute little restaurants mentioned in the book have become tourist traps for these legions of self discovering thirty something divorcees. The charm has gone and one place has actually made up Tshirts saying "Eat Pay Leave".....

I ask, what has Elisabeth Gilbert given back? She is now a gazillionaire author, telling her story on Oprah and having Julia Roberts play her in a movie. She may have discovered how to make a lot of money by writing, but her stories are involving others. How have they fared? Or does she continue to be self serving? Here is a link to a blog post that sums it up quite well . Thank you to Jezebel for the photo.

Why You Should Travel to Brazil

I was just looking at the CNN Latin America website to see what news was happening below the Rio Grande and I was taken aback by all of the violence in Mexico.

I have been to Mexico a few times in my travels and there are a lot of parallels to Brazil. Colonization(in Mexico's case was the Spaniards), the gap between the have and the have nots, weather, tourism, beaches, the carefree attitude of the people.

When I mention Brazil to my friends here, the first thing that they ask me is if Brazil is as violent as it is depicted in the news. Brazil has its social problems, and the consequences of these problems is an increase in corruption, theft and violence. Lately, Brazil is experiencing a huge economic boom. The economic plan drafted in 1994 is coming to fruition and the standard of living has increased(along with the prices of things....) Employment is up, wages have increased. Brazil is hosting the next World Cup and Rio de Janeiro will have the Olympics in 2016. Petroleum reserves off the coast of Brazil are immense. It's Brazil's moment..NOW!

Between spending a week at an all-inclusive in Mexico and a trip to the beaches of Brazil, I take Brazil any day!! I think that it is a lot safer!!!!!!!

Loving You Is Easy....

The newest song by Sarah Maclachlan. I was privileged to hear the rough cut live last year at Brett Wilson's Garden Party. I knew then that it was going to be a hit!!!

They Should Have Worn Yellow......

When I discovered that Brazil would be playing Holland in the World Cup quarter finals, I was imagining a game of yellow and orange shirts chasing a white ball on a green pitch. Colorful...Citric! Bright!

I tuned into the game just as the two captains were exchanging pre game handshakes and much to my dismay, the 'Selecao' were in blue.....bleu....azzurri... Don't get me wrong, I love the colour blue: just not on the backs of the "Canarios".

The Brazil soccer team jersey is yellow. Not blue, not green. Yellow.

The Dutch soccer team jersey is orange. Not white, not black. Orange.

Would yellow and orange be too confusing for the eyes?

I think the game would have been more beautiful to watch with Brazil wearing their yellow jerseys.

It is sad to see your team be defeated. I cheer for Brazil, and have for many years. Long before I lived in Brazil..

They just should have worn yellow.....

The Rant of a Modern Woman....

I read this chronicle in Portuguese a few years back and decided to translate it into English. Let me know your thoughts...



"It's 6am ...

The alarm clock shocks me out of my slumber, and I have no strength to throw it against the wall ...
I'm so tired ... I do not want to work today ...
I want to stay at home, cooking, listening to music, singing ...
If I had children, spend the morning playing with them, if I had a dog, walking him around the neighborhood ...
Aquarium? Watch the fish swim ...
If I had time ... I would like to stretch ...
Make sweets...

Anything but get out of bed and having to engage first gear and put my brain to function.
I wonder who was the fool, the unhappy mother of feminists who had the stupid idea of claiming rights of women ... I wonder
WHY she did this to us who were born after her ...
Everything was so good at the time of our grandparents ... they did embroidery, exchanged recipes with friends, taught each other secrets of sauces and seasonings, home remedies, read good books from the libraries
of their husbands, decorated the house, pruned trees, planted flowers, picked vegetables from the gardens, raised children, attended soirees, FINALLY, life was a great course of crafts, alternative medicine and cooking.

Then came the army of Erica's and Susan's who did not like their bra nor corset, and infected a number of other inconsequential rebels with fancy ideas about " conquering our space"!
What space, my dear lady??
You had the whole house, the neighborhood, and the world at your feet.
Had complete dominion over men, they depended on you to eat, to get dressed, for everything! What kind of rights did you claim?
As a consequence of their bra burning activities and such, all men are confused, they do not know what roles to play in society, avoiding us like the devil flees from the cross ...
This game of yours has just increased the number of our daily errands and duties, that is. And has thrown us into the dungeon of acute singleness. Previously, marriages lasted forever...

WHY WHY ???.. The female sex had it all and better, they just needed to be fragile and delicate, to be ladies. What possessed them to compete with the male sex ? Look at the size of their biceps, and look at the size of ours. On that observation alone, it was obvious that it would not work!

I can not stand being forced to make daily ritual of brushing my hair, makeup, moisturizers , choosing what clothes to wear, what shoes match, what accessories to use ...
So tired of having to hide my mood, to leave my sanctuary of my home,
always running, to be put at risk of being robbed, run over to die, spend the day siting in front of the computer with the phone to my ear, solving problems that are not mine!

And as if that were not enough, be monitored and criticized (even by myself) to be always in shape without stretch marks or cellulite, shaved,waxed(ouch) smiling, smelling nice, with nails done, not to mention the impeccable resume, filled with masters degrees, doctorates, and specialties (ufffffffffffffffffff !!!!!!!). ..

We have become these superwomen robots that still continue to earn less than men ...
Wasn't it much better just knitting in a rocking chair?

ENOUGH ALREADY !!!... I want someone to pay my bills, open the door,
pull the chair for me to sit down, send me flowers, cards
full of poetry, serenade me at my window ... oh, my God, it's already 6:30, I have to get up !...,
There's more, I want someone who comes home from a hard day of work, sits on the couch, put his feet up and says
"Baby, bring me some coffee please?"
I discovered that I was born to serve.
You think I'm joking about this? I'm serious! I am resigning from my position of "modern woman" ....I'm DONE!

I will switch with Suzy Homemaker. Anyone else interested?

Love..

Quick question...Is there such a thing called love at first sight?

Pass the Ball

This is a great video that CNN asked the public to send in their footie skills....

Car Tunes...

I love this song!!! If you see some crazy person in a car singing this with their windows open, it's probably me...

Makes me want to go to Safeway....






I'm not surprised, not everything lasts
I've broken my heart so many times, I stopped keeping track
Talk myself in, I talk myself out
I get all worked up, then I let myself down

I tried so very hard not to lose it
I came up with a million excuses
I thought, I thought of every possibility

And I know someday that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, that I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

I might have to wait, I'll never give up
I guess it's half timing, and the other half's luck
Wherever you are, whenever it's right
You'll come out of nowhere and into my life

And I know that we can be so amazing
And, baby, your love is gonna change me
And now I can see every possibility

And somehow I know that it'll all turn out
You'll make me work, so we can work to work it out
And I promise you, kid, I give so much more than I get
I just haven't met you yet

They say all's fair
In love and war
But I won't need to fight it
We'll get it right and we'll be united

And I know that we can be so amazing
And being in your life is gonna change me
And now I can see every single possibility

And someday I know it'll all turn out
And I'll work to work it out
Promise you, kid, I'll give more than I get
Than I get, than I get, than I get

Oh, you know it'll all turn out
And you'll make me work so we can work to work it out
And I promise you kid to give so much more than I get
Yeah, I just haven't met you yet

I just haven't met you yet
Oh, promise you, kid
To give so much more than I get

I said love, love, love, love
Love, love, love, love
(I just haven't met you yet)
Love, love, love, love
Love, love
I just haven't met you yet

COUNTDOWN TO THE CUP!!!!

Apparently the video I posted is no longer available. Two weeks until my month long obsession of soccer begins!!! I have already sussed out the local bars that will open at 5 am and that accept kids. Breakfast, footie and then school. How perfect is that???
Hopefully one day, Canada will be in the World Cup. They got thrashed by Argentina 5-0 this weekend...Not good!

Brazil and Canada....Opportunities Abound!

This past Wednesday, I went to a seminar on doing business in Brazil. It was hosted by the Global Centre, an initiative of Calgary Economic Development. The speakers included the Brazilian consul of International Trade from the consulate in Toronto, David Mears of Blackwatch Energy, Fabricio Lima of the Alberta Government and Joey St. Pierre of Export Development of Canada.

Bottom line: BRAZIL NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE!!!!!! If your company has something unique that is needed in the energy sector, the opportunity is there!

Rio de Janeiro Antigo

Spring Has Finally Arrived

In Canada, the change of seasons are quite distinct. After living for over a decade in South America, where there are two seasons, hot and hotter, it is refreshing to be able to feel the change of the seasons here in Canada. For starters, the sunlight changes. Days get longer, the sun gets higher in the sky and there is a warmth in the air. The first signs of my tulips are starting to appear.

This past weekend was all about getting my yard ready for summer. Dethatching the front lawn, trimming down the dried plants form last year. I am done! I don't have a high maintenance yard. I am not high maintenance, so why should my yard be? I will never understand the Calgary gardener who spends hundreds of dollars every year at Sunnyside Garden Centre buying anuuals that are not even grown for our climate, and then spend the whole summer worried about their garden. Not a very good return on investment in my opinion.... I have potintella(spell check please), raspberries and low juniper bushes. Lawn maintenance is once every two weeks and I have underground sprinklers..

I want to spend my summer enjoying my yard, not toiling over it obsessively!

Have a great day!!

A Little Bit of France ...in Calgary

I had the wonderful opportunity of having dinner at a great little French bistro here in Calgary called 'Fleur de Sel'. It is located in the old Tivoli cinema building on 4th Street SW. Quaint, yet bustling with the nervous energy that only the French can pull off with pure grace, this little place is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. Low light and candles on every table, I felt like I was transported back to the days when I lived in Paris. The maitre d'hote was French and I was able to practice my rusty French. A velvety smooth bottle of Saint Emilion accompanied my Steak au Poivre avec des Frites. C'etait magnifique!!!

Backwards Baseball Caps Cause Baldness

I have come up with a theory that I think will make all baseball cap wearing men to STOP wearing them. Baseball caps should only be worn one way (with the brim in the front) and in the following situation:

1. While playing baseball

I will never understand the purpose of wearing a baseball cap backwards (unless you are a catcher on a baseball team). It looks stupid.

My theory It causes the blood flow to stop going to the head and subsequently causes baldness....

Inspiration

I am not sure what is going on with me, but lately I have been very uninspired to write anything in my blog. I don't feel like rehashing current events. I don't particularly feel like sharing anything regarding my personal life for fear of it coming back and biting me in the behind( and also to protect the innocent...)

Luckily, my children(correction: my teenagers) work and school are filling up my time, but I feel like something is askew. I am lucky in many ways but there is that inkling that something is missing. I know that I am in trouble when i start to gravitate towards the self help section at the library. That is not a good sign. Books screaming from the shelves,enticing me with titles such as, "Bitches, and the Men That Love Them', " Rich Dad, Poor Dad'(how about No Dad), The Girlfriends Guide To Dating in Your 40's"...for the love of Pete, who writes this crap??

Oprah has made millions on the psychosis of inadequacy. Self help books contradict each other. Whether it be for raising good kids, investing money wisely or finding the man of your dreams,there is always an expert.

I don;t need a self help book. I know what is wrong. I am in a rut. Simple as that.

What to do?

ROADTRIP!!!!!!!

Panorama

 

This is a panoramic photo taken from half way up the Pedra Aguda in RIo de Janeiro State, Brazil. Granite rock. Name of the route..Quati.

Why Gay Marriage is Good for the US Economy...

I have alot of gay friends. Male and female. Some of them are bisexual too.

I love them all to death. At one point or another, each and every one of them has either made me laugh, let me cry on their shoulders over a man(they are guys too, remember?) or have given me killer fashion/decorating ideas.They too have their 'Martha moments'.
In the USA, there has been alot of hoopla over same sex marriage. I really don't know what the big deal is? If two people love each other and decide to get married, why should it matter if they are hetero or homosexual?
Hell, my chances of getting married again are probably the same as getting killed in a terrorist attack. Trust me, the day I get married, it will be announced on CNN and Reuters! or maybe even Ripleys Believe It or Not.....

I love a good wedding. We need more weddings. They stimulate the economy. Photographers, event venues, dressmakers,hairdressers, makeup artists, caterers, hotels and resorts, jewelers etc all depend on people getting married....

Conclusion: LEGALIZE once and for all same sex marriages. The economy will thank you.

PS. I want to stimulate the economy and not be a statistic..

Embracing Life...

John Lennon said it best,: Life happens when you are making plans...

Two and a half months into 2010, our resolutions that we drunkenly make on December 31 have all gone to hell in a handbasket. Why wait until New Year's to make a resolution? Why set yourself up for failure? The majority of New Years resolutions never make it to fruition anyways...

I think its better to start when you want to, not when the Gregorian calendar says so. Less pressure, better chance for success.

In the end I truly believe that we should all just embrace life. Whatever your life is, or where you are in your life, just stop for five minutes and sit back and think of all of the positive things there are in your life. ..... Ok I can hear the detractors....Think...Everyone has something positive in their life!

For starters, you are reading this blog( and I thank you). That means that you can read! Do you know how many people are functionally illiterate in both Brazil and Canada? It would blow your mind! Could you imagine not being able to read street signs? a recipe? a book? Imagine being thrown into downtown Beijing with everything written in Chinese. Can you read Chinese symbols? Thats how some people live everyday.

This blog is on a computer, so that means that you have access to the internet. How many people in this world don't?

You can write a commentary and voice you opinions and or objections. How many people have been tortured in the past because they voiced their opinions against totalitarian regimes? Freedom of speech is taken for granted and is in danger of being picked away by our governments in the name of 'national security'. Don't let this happen...

We all want something that sometimes is unattainable. That's ok. Just be happy for the simple things in life that have no monetary value, yet are worth more that anything that money can't even buy it.

A baby's smile
A rainbow after a thunderstorm
a heartfelt thank you
doing something for someone else.

Have a great weekend

The Canarioca

Olympics Hangover

The Olympics in Vancouver are over and the flame is out. It was a fun ride. Unless you have been living under a rock, Canada had its best showing at the games ever and won more gold medals than any other country in Winter Olympic history.
After 17 days of pure Canadian patriot love, Canada has gone back to talking about the weather and kvetching about politics. There were highlights and lowlights of these games. When Alexandre Bilodeau won his gold medal, I cried and cheered. His brother (who suffers from cerebral palsy) was his inspiration and he said that the medal was just as much his. There had seemed to be a drought of medals from the Canadian team and the British press started to question the organizing committee and the Games in general. By the end of week two, Canada shut them up. Most of the events where Canada was expected to win gold were in the last week anyway. They came through with flying colours! Ice dancing! The first time in my lifetime that the Russians didn't win. Short track skating. It was like roller derby! Snowboard cross, ski cross! The X Games became the Olympics!
The gold medal hockey game. I felt like I was watching a World Cup final. Canada vs. the USA. When the USA scored to tie the game with 30 seconds left, there was a lull that went from Victoria to Saint John's. It had to go into overtime. Golden goal. Who scored first would win the gold! Overtime started. Puck passed back and forth. Gladiators hitting the glass with a thud that could raise the dead. Then, at 7 minutes, the puck went to Crosby, who passed it to Iginla, who passed it back to Crosby as he was brought down by the USA defense. One flick of the wrist and boom...GGGOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!! The Kid got the winning goal. The whole country went NUTS!!! Flashes of the reactions of Canadians were on tv sets around the world. WE WON HOCKEY GOLD!!!! Sidney Crosby, 22 years old, became a national hero. He has been touted as the next Gretsky. For me, he is the original Crosby. Reebok is offering a reward to the idiot who stole Crosby's gloves post game. They are definitely worth a fortune.
Lowlights of the games?
The unfortunate death of the Georgian luger on the first day.
Having to suffer through 17 days of Brian Williams on CTV with his annoying commentary. In Brazil there is Galvao Bueno, Briam Williams is Canada's version....
The closing ceremony. Shame on you Will Ferguson, you are a better writer than that!!! Mounties and moose and beavers??? Then it became a showcase of second rate Canadian talent. It got so bad that the athletes were leaving before it was over. The last showpiece was just plain lame.
The Olympics are over, spring is coming. How do we know spring is coming in Canada? Because Canada's national coffeehouse, Tim Hortons, has started its annual 'Roll Up the Rim to Win' promotion....
Have a good day eh?

Arlene Dickinson's Hair, Brett Wilson's Girlfriend and What to Wear in Rio

These are the three biggest searches that arrive on my blog. With the success of Dragon's Den, people want to know more about the Dragons themselves. I wish I could be of more help to these queries.
I think Arlene looks better now that she has lost weight and straightened her hair. I must admit,looking back on older seasons of the Den, she did look a smidge frumpy. The white streak in her hair could be natural, or she could be all white and dyes the rest red and just leaves the front white. I think it looks cool.
As for Brett, I am no expert on his love life. He used to date my friend Norma, but they broke up last summer. He was apparently dating Sarah Maclachlan(the singer), but who knows what is going on there. Brett's hair was a mess this past season. They tried to tone down the grey a bit and ended up giving him the Grecian formula look. I think he looks much better with shorter hair and the salt and pepper look. You can see the difference between this season and last years Den. I'm just sayin'.....
As for the What to Wear in Rio? department, I looked back at the original blog and it still holds true. This summer was abnormally hot and now the rains of March have arrived in Rio.

Acai

The new super food that everyone raves about is actually a berry from the acai palm in the Amazon. This is the way it should be consumed. It has the consistency of melting sorbet and is eaten with a spoon. It is super high in antioxidants and it became popular in Rio de Janeiro in the early 90's with the surfing and jiu jitsu crowd. Now you can buy acai at Costco, but it is mixed with other juices. Not the same thing...at all. IF you want to find acai in its purest form, go to the store Brasil with S just off of Macleod Trail and 57th avenue in Calgary.

Couldn't Have Said It Better

Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevers.
Love never fails.

Sacha Guitry

This is one of my favorite quotes by a French writer, Sacha Guitry:

LES FEMMES SE PLEIGNENT QUE LES HOMMES SONT TOUS PAREILLES, C'EST PARCE QU'ELLES SE COMPORTENT DE LA MEME FACON AVEC TOUT LES HOMMES

Translation:

WOMEN THAT COMPLAIN THAT ALL MEN ARE THE SAME IT IS BECAUSE THEY BEHAVE THE SAME WAY WITH ALL MEN.

It's a Jungle Out There!

I had a very interesting evening a few Fridays ago. At 8 pm, I was at Market Mall with my kids and by 9 pm I was at the 'Met' in downtown Calgary, giving moral support to my girlfriend 'J', who had just had the dating experience from hell.
She had been set up on a blind date through a dating service that charges an arm and a leg for people to meet. Her dating 'coach' (now everyone seems to be a coach,life coach, sports coach,intimacy coach now dating coach...but I digress) told her that the 'prospect' was a successful person in his field and apparently a 'hottie'.
So imagining that she was going to meet the local George Clooney, she called me for fashion advice and got her hair and makeup done in anticipation for her date. Needless to say, the guy was a total waste of makeup (yes, that great stuff by Bobbie Brown at Sephora ain't cheap) BALD and FAT..Not even attractive..I know, but I will explain why I know this later on in this post.
We were sitting at the bar with two other girlfriends having a few drinks and looking around at the scenery. It was quite fun to look at people and see how they interact with each other. There was the cliched 'cougar' on the prowl and the never ending parade of the 'bump', that horrific Amy Winehouse inspired mass of hair on the crown of your head. In the corner, at the end of the bar was the typical group of guys with no woman around, making crude comments as each woman passed them by (and they wonder why they aren't 'gettin' any). As I passed by to go to the washroom, I had to endure a crude and inappropriate comment by one of them. I glared at him and told him to go 'fly a kite' in Portuguese.
Where do guys get off speaking to women in such a way? Did I miss something? Have chivalry and basic respect gone the way of the dodo bird? I have two boys and they would get one big asswhooping from me if I ever got wind that they spoke to a girl that way. And they can be 30 years old and I would still do it.
After a while we decided to change venues and went to Vintage. Definitely an older crowd and a live jazz band was playing. The Met had just gotten too, how can I say this....gangster. We didn't stay long and as we were leaving, the un George Clooney walked up to 'J' and said " How are the kids?" Unfortunately she had used the " I have to get home to the kids" excuse to get out of her date and she was subsequently busted by Un George himself. Put a bummer on her already bummer evening. We couldnt get out of there fast enough. Was he stalking her? Who knows, but he was SOOOO not hot.
We ended up having a late dinner at Joe's on 17th and I went home at 2 am.
The next day I watched the show on Slice called 'Millionaire Matchmaker'. I couldn't believe what I saw. There was a guy who was an agist. He was 39, never married and refused to date girls over the age of 25. The matchmaker tried to set him up with a beautiful young hearted 35 year old that fit into his profile, but after one date, they never saw each other again.
As a pre-cougar,single in Calgary, the possibilities in this town are limited. I have high standards and it is hard to compete against the 'bump' crowd of 25 year olds ready to 'give it up' at a drop of a hat. That's not me.
One thing for sure, its a jungle out there.

Another Quote

People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. but people will never for get how you made them feel

Random Quotes

Be polite to all, but intimate with few. -Thomas Jefferson

Brazil Update

I have been very behind on my blog updates over the past few weeks as I was in Brazil itself and needed material to blog about...
Since my last visit, there have been many chnages in Brazil. Here is a small list of what is happening:

1. Justice has been served. David Goldman has finally taken his son home where he belongs. Exciting as it is, the Brazilian family is planning on appealing the court decision. What could have been a peaceful 'handover' of Sean to his father David at the American embassy on December 24th, it became a media circus as the Brazilian family refused to heed to the Embassy's offer of allowing Sean to arrive through the garage, and chose to parade him down the street in front of the melee of journalists and onlookers. Really a caring attitude to protect the young boy.....NOT!

2.The prices of restaurants! I was in shock to see how much a 'queijo quente'(grilled cheese sandwich) has gone up. It used to cost around $4,50, and I have seen 'lanchonetes' serving them for $9!!! What happenend? If anything, the prices should go down. the dollar is down against the real, so blaming the dollar doesnt gel anymore. $10-$15 reais for a caipirinha!!! $4,50 for draft beer!!!

3. Obesity. Go to the local food court and it makes you want to cry. So much wonderful fruit at the market and I see people wolfing down fast food like there is no tomorrow. I just came back form Rio, ate fruit and fresh food until I was blue in the face and I LOST 4kg!!! This has been a trend worldwide and has hit the shores of Brazil since some time, but this last trip I noticed that it has gotten worse..

4. Obeying rules. I went to McD to get a 'cafe americano'(basically black watered down coffee) and I asked the girl for some milk. Nope. Couldn't do it. If I wanted milk I had to order a cafe com leite(coffee with milk). Asked why, her answer was because she was being filmed and couldn't give me any milk. So much for 'jeitinho'. More like '1984' by George Orwell.

5.Traffic. The traffic before Christmas was INSANE. Hours to get around. Reason? It is easier now more than ever to get car financing, so every Tom Dick and Harry( or rather Joao, Marcello e Carlos) is buying one. Result? Traffic jams that were never there before.

Brazil's economy has been stable for awhile now and the recession that hit everywhere else barely touched Brazil. For now...