I love the Olympics. Or should I say, I used to love the Olympics more than I do now.
Growing up in Calgary in the 70's, my family was privileged to belong to the Calgary Winter Club. They had a swim team that all of us kids competed for at one time or another. Mom or Dad would drive us every night for practice, either hang out and socialize, go curling, or go home for some rest and relaxation while the four of us swam laps and dreamed about being an Olympic swimmer.
For me, the Olympic gold medal was the be all and end all for a swimmer. It is the highest level that a swimmer can reach. When Mark Spitz won 7 golds in Munich in 1972, swimming became increasingly popular in Canada and USA. Swimming has had its ups and downs over the years, with doping scandals from the former East German team, and now the questionable swimming of the Chinese. Michael Phelps was caught with a bong after the Bejing Olympics, but managed to spin out of that one before London.
Olympics are about the hard training, sacrifice and above all, HEART!
I guess it was ever since they allowed the Dream Team of the NBA to play in the Olympics that it all went downhill for me. These guys were the best of the best at the time, but they were PROFESSIONALS.
In the 'old' days, an athlete won a gold and then the sponsors could use them to sell their products. That was how athletes were compensated for all of their hard work and sacrifice, and could 'retire' from the amateur sports world, become a commentator a motivational speaker or disappear into oblivion.
Not any more.
Now, athletes can be professionals and be Olympic athletes at the same time. They are already raking in endorsements before the Games and usually by sponsors that are also sponsoring the Games. Is this right? The jury is still out on that.
I get psyched when I see Canadian athletes do well, because I know what they put in to get where they are.
I like to see stories on Usain Bolt and his legacy that he is leaving for future runners in Jamaica. Giving back. Its heartwarming.
I guess I can do without the 'yo yo' attitude of the USA basketball team, who collectively earn over 180 million dollars a year and treat the Olympics with such a 'whatever' attitude.
For me, that is not the spirit of the Games.
Now we just have to rid ourselves of Brian Williams on CTV...
Monday, August 6
Tuesday, June 12
Enabled and Entitled
The world has been overrun by the "Enabled and Entitled". Who are these E&E's? Where did they come from? How can we rid ourselves of them?
Most of us have seen the following scene at least once. Supermarket, 3 pm, any given weekday, mom getting groceries with little ones in tow. Time to go through the checkout and one of the little ones sees a bag of Skittles that has been strategically placed at eye level by the supermarketeers.
" I want, I want!", comes the shrill cry. Mom, who is probably at the end of her rope, gives in. Toddler has just won his first battle and has been initiated into the E&E club. The men in suits at the ad agencies in NYC and Toronto know this and continue to lambast our eyes and ears with the latest and greatest thing that we all 'must have'.
The worst culprits of the E&E club are teenagers. I should know, I live with 3 of them. They think that the world revolves around them and that they should get whatever they want whenever they want and by any means necessary. Even if this includes emotional blackmail or manipulation. When parental divorce is thrown into the mix, it becomes even worse. Guilt becomes the commodity.
Getting a summer job? Heck no! Not the E&E crowd. That might involve actually WORKING!
The E&E crowd that the world has become familiar with is the Quebec protesters. For those who are unaware, there have been protests in the streets of Montreal for the past three months because the government wants to raise the university tuition in Quebec. As it stands right now, Quebecers have the lowest tuition in Canada. They pay the same amount of tuition now as Albertans paid in 1990, including inflation. But they don't want to pay the increase that has been proposed to them. So off they go to the streets and protest, break windows and cause major havoc because they have been brought up to expect to get things for nothing in return. My message to them? GROW UP!
Seriously, it gets worse.
There is a teacher in Edmonton who was suspended by the local school board for giving out zero's in his classroom. HELLO??? If a student doesn't do his work, why should he get anything? He deserves a BIG FAT ZERO. When I was in school, we got marks docked for improper grammar and spelling mistakes! Not any more. Kids are not allowed to fail in the school system. Teachers can't give them zeros! These kids, who have been coddled and told that they are special, and haven't learned that doing good in school is an expectation and not a cause for celebration, are the ones that will be looking after me when I am old. SHUDDER! One only learns from failure, not by being coddled by the world.
So my message to the E&E's out there? SUCK IT UP AND GET REAL. The world is an unfair place and is not the wonderful world of Disney or Barney or whatever shite you were influenced by when you were young. When you screw up, there are consequences for your actions. You are no better than anyone else, so stop thinking that you are 'all that'. You aren't.
The world revolves around the sun, not around you.
Wednesday, May 16
VOGUE and Underweight Models: Spring Summer 2012
Over the past week there has been a lot of chatter about Vogue banning underaged models and girls that have eating disorders. I think its a great initiative, but to be perfectly honest, it sounds like another round of lip service and will quickly be forgotten as fast as last season's trends. I hope I am proven wrong.
I worked as a model in the late 80's early 90's in New York Paris and Milan. I remember an episode of 20/20 with Barbara Walters in 1991 interviewing the feminist writer Naomi Wolf ,who had just wrote a book called 'The Beauty Myth'. Ms Wolf was going on saying that "100,000 plus women die of anorexia every year, because of images they see in magazines".
What did she use as an example of the images that cause this epidemic of anorexia?
A picture of ME!
Boy was I floored. How could she say such a thing? She had never met me and didn't know me personally??? First of all, I was and am NOT anorexic. I was beyond shocked and mad at Naomi Wolf for saying that I was 'probably anorexic and probably not menstruating', and for using my picture to illustrate what was causing anorexia in teenagers. Her remarks were hurtful and they offended me. Couldn't have been further from the truth.
Luckily, they interviewed Helen Gurley Brown, (the famed editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine back in the day when they had those amazingly sexy cover photos shot by Francesco Scavullo). She said that models eat like race horses to be able to keep up with their workload and travelling. At least the grand dame of the magazine world was defending me and my fellow models.
For those of you that remember the early 90's in fashion, the look was total Glamazon. The models were a lot curvier and healthier looking than the girls are today. The models that I see in the magazines nowadays are truly retouched within an inch of their lives. We can thank the addiction to Photoshop for that.
I think that to be true to all, the use of Photoshop should be restricted to just touching up ever so slightly, not to reconstruct and misconstrue someones natural body shape. I believe that if Vogue began to limit the use of Photoshop in its editorials, this would also be a step in the right direction. Its needs to be part of their mandate as well. It would also separate the real photographers from the chaff. But thats a whole other blog post.
Banning underage models is to be applauded. Banning models that have eating disorders is also a good initiative, but I can't see how Vogue is going to discern who is naturally slim (ie. Gisele) and who has an eating disorder.
Give us back the fantasy and the beauty of the fashion photo. Fashion is a fantasy, yet it still needs to root itself somewhat in reality.
I worked as a model in the late 80's early 90's in New York Paris and Milan. I remember an episode of 20/20 with Barbara Walters in 1991 interviewing the feminist writer Naomi Wolf ,who had just wrote a book called 'The Beauty Myth'. Ms Wolf was going on saying that "100,000 plus women die of anorexia every year, because of images they see in magazines".
What did she use as an example of the images that cause this epidemic of anorexia?
A picture of ME!
Boy was I floored. How could she say such a thing? She had never met me and didn't know me personally??? First of all, I was and am NOT anorexic. I was beyond shocked and mad at Naomi Wolf for saying that I was 'probably anorexic and probably not menstruating', and for using my picture to illustrate what was causing anorexia in teenagers. Her remarks were hurtful and they offended me. Couldn't have been further from the truth.
Luckily, they interviewed Helen Gurley Brown, (the famed editor in chief of Cosmopolitan magazine back in the day when they had those amazingly sexy cover photos shot by Francesco Scavullo). She said that models eat like race horses to be able to keep up with their workload and travelling. At least the grand dame of the magazine world was defending me and my fellow models.
For those of you that remember the early 90's in fashion, the look was total Glamazon. The models were a lot curvier and healthier looking than the girls are today. The models that I see in the magazines nowadays are truly retouched within an inch of their lives. We can thank the addiction to Photoshop for that.
I think that to be true to all, the use of Photoshop should be restricted to just touching up ever so slightly, not to reconstruct and misconstrue someones natural body shape. I believe that if Vogue began to limit the use of Photoshop in its editorials, this would also be a step in the right direction. Its needs to be part of their mandate as well. It would also separate the real photographers from the chaff. But thats a whole other blog post.
Banning underage models is to be applauded. Banning models that have eating disorders is also a good initiative, but I can't see how Vogue is going to discern who is naturally slim (ie. Gisele) and who has an eating disorder.
Give us back the fantasy and the beauty of the fashion photo. Fashion is a fantasy, yet it still needs to root itself somewhat in reality.
Thursday, May 3
Offensive? What About a Sense of Humour?
Yesterday I shared a photo on Facebook of the former president of Brazil, Lula da Silva. It showed him reading a book upside down. The title of the photo used the same idea that is used by Master Card adverts worldwide. " Reading glasses,$2000, Ricardo Almeida suit, $8000, reading a book upside down:PRICELESS."
I thought is was hilarious and shared it on my Facebook. Well boy did I ever open a can of worms. One of my friends from Brazil( who has since de-friended me) took total offense to the posting and in her rant, called me prejudiced, bitter and above all ignorant. How dare I make fun of the former President of Brazil !!!
Seriously?
Is it now offensive to take the mickey out of politicians? Steve Colbert, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, 22 Minutes are all political satire shows on the TV here in North America and they all hone in on politicians.
Thoughts?
I thought is was hilarious and shared it on my Facebook. Well boy did I ever open a can of worms. One of my friends from Brazil( who has since de-friended me) took total offense to the posting and in her rant, called me prejudiced, bitter and above all ignorant. How dare I make fun of the former President of Brazil !!!
Seriously?
Is it now offensive to take the mickey out of politicians? Steve Colbert, Bill Maher, Jon Stewart, 22 Minutes are all political satire shows on the TV here in North America and they all hone in on politicians.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, May 1
A Father's Love -The David Goldman Story
A while back I wrote about David Goldman, the New Jersey father who literally went to the ends of the earth to bring back his son Sean. I just finished reading his book ' A Father's Love' which talks about the hell he went through to get his boy Sean back. At the end I was in tears.
David got his boy home, but did you know that there are over 3000 American children that have been abducted by one of their parents and taken to foreign countries? I was shocked! How can this happen?
I became interested in the Goldman case because I too was married to a Brazilian and the ruling in the Goldman case could have trickled down and affected my custody situation with my children. Luckily my ex husband gave me permission to come back to Canada with our children because he is savvy enough to know that Canada is a much better place to raise children. They go back and visit their dad every year, but I am always attentive to the fact that he could change his mind and not let them come back to Canada. In Brazil they say 'um pe atras' which means to have one foot behind or to be cautious. If that was to happen, I would probably find myself in David Goldman's situation.
The Hague Convention was completely ignored and treated with contempt by the Ribeiro/Lins e Silva clan in Brazil. They tried every legal manoeuvre possible to attack and basically wear David Goldman down. He never gave up. Here was this simple down to earth dad from New Jersey, just trying to bring his son home from Brazil after the mother of the boy died during childbirth. The step family (Lins e Silva) and the grandparents (Ribeiro) became the abductors and their actions were deplorable.
Not only was this a David vs Goliath scenario, it was also the beginning of the end of the cronyism that has plagued Brazil for centuries. The Lins e Silva family are a very influential family of lawyers in Brazil that specialize in family law. Their tentacles reach the inner sanctums of the courts in Brazil. The irony of it all is that the head of the 'family' was one of the authors of a report for the Hague convention showing how child abduction can cause parental alienation. SERIOUSLY!
David Goldman's fight is far from over. He is committed to bring back all of the children who have been abducted and absconded by one of their parents and taken to a foreign country. A new bill is being passed in the USA based on Sean's abduction and David's fight to bring Sean home.
I ask that Canada become more pro active in this too. There are many intercultural marriages that could result in divorce and many children could be abducted to other countries that are a lot worse than Brazil (such as Middle Eastern countries where women have no rights).We need to secure our borders so that children are protected from this. I need permission to travel with my boys when I leave Brazil, but there is no system in place at border crossings here in Canada. Why is that?
David got his boy home, but did you know that there are over 3000 American children that have been abducted by one of their parents and taken to foreign countries? I was shocked! How can this happen?
I became interested in the Goldman case because I too was married to a Brazilian and the ruling in the Goldman case could have trickled down and affected my custody situation with my children. Luckily my ex husband gave me permission to come back to Canada with our children because he is savvy enough to know that Canada is a much better place to raise children. They go back and visit their dad every year, but I am always attentive to the fact that he could change his mind and not let them come back to Canada. In Brazil they say 'um pe atras' which means to have one foot behind or to be cautious. If that was to happen, I would probably find myself in David Goldman's situation.
The Hague Convention was completely ignored and treated with contempt by the Ribeiro/Lins e Silva clan in Brazil. They tried every legal manoeuvre possible to attack and basically wear David Goldman down. He never gave up. Here was this simple down to earth dad from New Jersey, just trying to bring his son home from Brazil after the mother of the boy died during childbirth. The step family (Lins e Silva) and the grandparents (Ribeiro) became the abductors and their actions were deplorable.
Not only was this a David vs Goliath scenario, it was also the beginning of the end of the cronyism that has plagued Brazil for centuries. The Lins e Silva family are a very influential family of lawyers in Brazil that specialize in family law. Their tentacles reach the inner sanctums of the courts in Brazil. The irony of it all is that the head of the 'family' was one of the authors of a report for the Hague convention showing how child abduction can cause parental alienation. SERIOUSLY!
David Goldman's fight is far from over. He is committed to bring back all of the children who have been abducted and absconded by one of their parents and taken to a foreign country. A new bill is being passed in the USA based on Sean's abduction and David's fight to bring Sean home.
I ask that Canada become more pro active in this too. There are many intercultural marriages that could result in divorce and many children could be abducted to other countries that are a lot worse than Brazil (such as Middle Eastern countries where women have no rights).We need to secure our borders so that children are protected from this. I need permission to travel with my boys when I leave Brazil, but there is no system in place at border crossings here in Canada. Why is that?
Monday, April 23
My New Vice: The Real Housewives of Vancouver
Yes I will admit it. I watch the Real Housewives of Vancouver. Go ahead and judge me, I don't care. These 5 women are living the life and having a ball doing it. So they are over the top? Trust me, the fashion business is worse.
Catfights and drama? Its all for the cameras. Apparently they came to Calgary to interview potential 'Housewives' for a Calgary version, but the producers said that the wives in Calgary were 'too nice'. I can believe that...to a point. I have seen some real bitches with $$$ in this town who would have been perfect. They know who they are.
Each of the RHOV have very strong personalities. Here are my thoughts on each one, so far after 3 episodes.
1. Jody Claman. Lots of people think she is a bitch, but personally I like her chutzpah. She tells it like it is. She is no-nonsense. Her one liners are epic. In one scene she is sitting with Reiko at a cafe. The dialog goes something like this:
Jody: "Reiko, you have such great arms! What do you do?"
Reiko: " I do push-ups every day"
Jody: "I push my husband off me every night, hahahahahaha."
2. Christina Keisel. Yes she plays a gold digger, and freely admits it " Vancouver is a gold mine and I like digging'. Not quite sure about her though. I have a hard time believing that she is only 30. I think that under that 'persona' is a little frail girl who is deeply insecure about herself. Where is her accent from?????
3. Mary Zilba. Ah yes, sweet Mary. A bit too sweet actually. She needs a bit more of a backbone. Stay away from the ex-boyfriend who has a new girlfriend and stop sleeping with him! Yes, therapy would be beneficial here! Stand up for yourself more girl!! The scenes with the music director were cringe worthy. He was just creepy.
4. Ronnie Negus. Somehow the persona on the TV doesn't match who I think she really is. The editing makes her out to be a lush who drinks too much. We all drink! I, too have a child with a disability and I know how tough it is on some days. Ronnie, thank you for bringing awareness to children with disabilities!
5. Reiko Mackenzie. The 'Switzerland' of the group. She gets along with all of the Housewives and tries to broker peace. I think its cool that she likes fast cars. Keep the kids away from sugar though!
So there you have it! The Real Housewives of Vancouver is on SLICE tv every Wednesday night at 10 pm.
Each of the RHOV have very strong personalities. Here are my thoughts on each one, so far after 3 episodes.
1. Jody Claman. Lots of people think she is a bitch, but personally I like her chutzpah. She tells it like it is. She is no-nonsense. Her one liners are epic. In one scene she is sitting with Reiko at a cafe. The dialog goes something like this:
Jody: "Reiko, you have such great arms! What do you do?"
Reiko: " I do push-ups every day"
Jody: "I push my husband off me every night, hahahahahaha."
2. Christina Keisel. Yes she plays a gold digger, and freely admits it " Vancouver is a gold mine and I like digging'. Not quite sure about her though. I have a hard time believing that she is only 30. I think that under that 'persona' is a little frail girl who is deeply insecure about herself. Where is her accent from?????
3. Mary Zilba. Ah yes, sweet Mary. A bit too sweet actually. She needs a bit more of a backbone. Stay away from the ex-boyfriend who has a new girlfriend and stop sleeping with him! Yes, therapy would be beneficial here! Stand up for yourself more girl!! The scenes with the music director were cringe worthy. He was just creepy.
4. Ronnie Negus. Somehow the persona on the TV doesn't match who I think she really is. The editing makes her out to be a lush who drinks too much. We all drink! I, too have a child with a disability and I know how tough it is on some days. Ronnie, thank you for bringing awareness to children with disabilities!
5. Reiko Mackenzie. The 'Switzerland' of the group. She gets along with all of the Housewives and tries to broker peace. I think its cool that she likes fast cars. Keep the kids away from sugar though!
So there you have it! The Real Housewives of Vancouver is on SLICE tv every Wednesday night at 10 pm.
Wednesday, November 23
BULLYING IN TODAY'S WORLD
Bullying. Bully. Those words conjure up images of the tough kid at school shaking down the ‘nerd’ for his lunch money or stuffing him into a locker, to the delight of his ‘accomplices’.
This type of behavior still exists, but with the advent of the internet and the media, the type of bullying has become increasingly cruel and apparently more widespread.
Social media allows bullies to hide behind their computer screen and spread their vicious venom to hundreds if not thousands of people. Teasing someone because they are skinny, fat, gay, disabled, talented, smart etc. is a form of bullying that has unfortunately become more acceptable.
ITS NOT
Bullying is not just about inflicting physical abuse onto someone. There is more and more emotional and psychological bullying, and this type of bullying is what is causing young teenagers with brilliant futures, to take their lives.
Spreading lies and rumors about someone falls under the heading of psychological bullying. Teasing someone for a particular characteristic is emotional bullying.
I honestly believe that many eating disorders among girls are sparked by some form of emotional bullying. “Oh, So and So? She’s not cool and I don’t want to hang around her because she is fat!”. “ So and So” could be 5’5” and weigh 90 pounds soaking wet!!! But the media portrays perfection as someone who is flawless and skinny. We are judged on out outer appearance. If one doesn’t fall under the umbrella of perfection that is dictated to us by the magazines and television, that person is shunned and ridiculed by his or her peers.
This generation is being brought up and raised with the ‘moral’ code of what is on the television. Pick any night on TV and there is a show that has kids disrespecting adults and authority at some level.
How are teenagers supposed to respect themselves or their peers? Where is the moral compass that teaches people to respect themselves and others around them?
There is a wonderful group called Dare to Care, that goes out in the schools to give kids the tools to deal with bullying.
I despise bullying and do not accept that type of behavior from anyone.
TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED!
This type of behavior still exists, but with the advent of the internet and the media, the type of bullying has become increasingly cruel and apparently more widespread.
Social media allows bullies to hide behind their computer screen and spread their vicious venom to hundreds if not thousands of people. Teasing someone because they are skinny, fat, gay, disabled, talented, smart etc. is a form of bullying that has unfortunately become more acceptable.
ITS NOT
Bullying is not just about inflicting physical abuse onto someone. There is more and more emotional and psychological bullying, and this type of bullying is what is causing young teenagers with brilliant futures, to take their lives.
Spreading lies and rumors about someone falls under the heading of psychological bullying. Teasing someone for a particular characteristic is emotional bullying.
I honestly believe that many eating disorders among girls are sparked by some form of emotional bullying. “Oh, So and So? She’s not cool and I don’t want to hang around her because she is fat!”. “ So and So” could be 5’5” and weigh 90 pounds soaking wet!!! But the media portrays perfection as someone who is flawless and skinny. We are judged on out outer appearance. If one doesn’t fall under the umbrella of perfection that is dictated to us by the magazines and television, that person is shunned and ridiculed by his or her peers.
This generation is being brought up and raised with the ‘moral’ code of what is on the television. Pick any night on TV and there is a show that has kids disrespecting adults and authority at some level.
How are teenagers supposed to respect themselves or their peers? Where is the moral compass that teaches people to respect themselves and others around them?
There is a wonderful group called Dare to Care, that goes out in the schools to give kids the tools to deal with bullying.
I despise bullying and do not accept that type of behavior from anyone.
TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE TREATED!
Sunday, November 6
It's Been A While...Again
I have been very busy lately and my blog has suffered. When I do have time to sit and write, I suffer from the proverbial writer's block. Obviously no the best thing to happen to someone who blogs.
What to write about? Forget about the financial crisis in Greece, or the Occupy movement. Yesterday's news. And to be honest do I really need to rehash what has been rehashed and warmed over by other journalists? What insight could i possibly give that could show another angle or side of the story. Shit shows are pretty one dimensional.
There is,however, one story I feel compelled to write about even though it has been all over the gossip sites since Halloween. In case you have been living under a rock, the 'scandale du jour' is the slap in the face of the institution of marriage. I refer to the 72 day joke called the marriage of Kim Kardashian.
Here is a woman who shot to fame because of a sex video that somehow got leaked to the press about 5 years ago. Unknown to the majority of mankind, Miss Kardashian has parlayed this 'scandal' into a TV show, handbags, a shop in Manhattan and paid appearances at many parties across the world. Together with her momzilla manager, Kris Jenner, they are planning on taking over the world.
Seriously? What has Kim Kardashian done to help the world to be a better place? Well, in her quest for fame and fortune and profitting off of absolutely everything in her path, she has 'helped' one thing.
Her joke of a marriage will hopefully wake up some congressmen and law makers to finally legalize marriage between same sex partners. Opponents of same sex marriage cry, "Same sex marriage is a travesty!". Uh, no it isn't. Doing what Kardashian did is much more of a travesty against the institution of marriage than any gay marriage could do. People who really want to get married can't, while this fame hungry two bit whore can, and then ridiculize it by filing for divorce 72 days later.
As Rex Murphy said' Occupy Kim Kardashian'....
What to write about? Forget about the financial crisis in Greece, or the Occupy movement. Yesterday's news. And to be honest do I really need to rehash what has been rehashed and warmed over by other journalists? What insight could i possibly give that could show another angle or side of the story. Shit shows are pretty one dimensional.
There is,however, one story I feel compelled to write about even though it has been all over the gossip sites since Halloween. In case you have been living under a rock, the 'scandale du jour' is the slap in the face of the institution of marriage. I refer to the 72 day joke called the marriage of Kim Kardashian.
Here is a woman who shot to fame because of a sex video that somehow got leaked to the press about 5 years ago. Unknown to the majority of mankind, Miss Kardashian has parlayed this 'scandal' into a TV show, handbags, a shop in Manhattan and paid appearances at many parties across the world. Together with her momzilla manager, Kris Jenner, they are planning on taking over the world.
Seriously? What has Kim Kardashian done to help the world to be a better place? Well, in her quest for fame and fortune and profitting off of absolutely everything in her path, she has 'helped' one thing.
Her joke of a marriage will hopefully wake up some congressmen and law makers to finally legalize marriage between same sex partners. Opponents of same sex marriage cry, "Same sex marriage is a travesty!". Uh, no it isn't. Doing what Kardashian did is much more of a travesty against the institution of marriage than any gay marriage could do. People who really want to get married can't, while this fame hungry two bit whore can, and then ridiculize it by filing for divorce 72 days later.
As Rex Murphy said' Occupy Kim Kardashian'....
Monday, June 20
Friday, June 17
Thursday, June 2
Jean Paul Gaultier in Montreal
Just in, straight from a very reliable source in Paris, Jean Paul Gaultier will be in Montreal very soon for the vernissage of his fashion restrospective. This exhibition will run from June 17th to October 2 2011 at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
So for any fashionistas and simple admirers of amasing creativity who are in Montreal, keep your eyes open for this man!!!
Wednesday, May 25
Brilliant Brazilian Designers
When fashion is discussed, the major cities that come to mind are New York, Paris, Milan and London. This is where the big designers and haute couture houses are located. Twice a year, the fashion gang descends upon these cities on a whirlwind tour to show the ready to wear collections.
Over the years though, other countries are creating their own fashion weeks. One of the best fashion weeks outside of the Fab Four cities happens in the bustling metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Home to almost 11 million people, it is the New York of South America. So it is only fitting that a city of that magnitude should have its own fashion week, Sao Paulo Fashion Week, SPFW.
SPFW showcases some of the most amazing designers and new talents in the fashion business. Fashion didn't come to mind when talking about Brazil, but that is changing. With the invasion of the Brazilian glamazons (Gisele, Ana Beatriz Barros, Adriana LIma, Alessandra Ambrosio, Cintia Decker et al)to the international catwalks mixed together with what I call *"The Brasilian Saudade Syndrome", designers in Brazil were able to get top international Brazilian models to walk their runway. This brought international press and the likes of Micheal Roberts and Robert Forrest to Brazil.
Some of the great talents coming out of Brazil are:
Alexandre Herscovitch
Amir Slama for Rosa Cha
Carlos Miele (M. Officer)
Tufi Duek for Forum
Cris Barros LOVE!!!!!
Carmen Steffens
Both Rosa Cha and Carlos Miele are available at Holt Renfrew.
* Brazilians that live overseas always find ways of going home for a visit because they suffer from saudade- yearning and missing the homeland.
Over the years though, other countries are creating their own fashion weeks. One of the best fashion weeks outside of the Fab Four cities happens in the bustling metropolis of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Home to almost 11 million people, it is the New York of South America. So it is only fitting that a city of that magnitude should have its own fashion week, Sao Paulo Fashion Week, SPFW.
SPFW showcases some of the most amazing designers and new talents in the fashion business. Fashion didn't come to mind when talking about Brazil, but that is changing. With the invasion of the Brazilian glamazons (Gisele, Ana Beatriz Barros, Adriana LIma, Alessandra Ambrosio, Cintia Decker et al)to the international catwalks mixed together with what I call *"The Brasilian Saudade Syndrome", designers in Brazil were able to get top international Brazilian models to walk their runway. This brought international press and the likes of Micheal Roberts and Robert Forrest to Brazil.
Some of the great talents coming out of Brazil are:
Alexandre Herscovitch
Amir Slama for Rosa Cha
Carlos Miele (M. Officer)
Tufi Duek for Forum
Cris Barros LOVE!!!!!
Carmen Steffens
Both Rosa Cha and Carlos Miele are available at Holt Renfrew.
* Brazilians that live overseas always find ways of going home for a visit because they suffer from saudade- yearning and missing the homeland.
Friday, May 13
Uniforms at School. Why They Are A Good Idea
I think that children in the public and Catholic school systems in Calgary should wear uniforms.
I am a mother of two boys. Luckily in the fashion department, they haven’t succumbed to the
‘Label’ madness of their peers. Apparently the cool labels these days are Hollister, H&M, American Eagle and Lacoste. The teenagers these days look eerily like we did back in the 80’s. You are either ‘preppy’, or “Goth’(which includes the sub group known as Emos). It was preps and punks at my high school. Don’t get me started on the low riding jeans and the short baby t shirts that kids wear these days.
I digress. The point of this post is to promote the idea of school uniforms. This would offset the costs of school fees. My kids went to private school when we lived in Brazil and the cost of their uniforms for the whole year cost me less than $250…for the two of them! Granted, things are a bit cheaper in Brazil, but their uniforms consisted of a shirt, shorts, hoodie and trousers. Made my life so much easier! No fashion dramas in the morning, laundry was MUCH less and in the end of the day, their clothing budget was slashed by almost 60%. One set was being worn, one set washed, one set ready to go! How about that for a green initiative? And the clothes can be passed on to a younger sibling!
When I bring up this topic to other parents, their first reaction is, “It will be so expensive!!”. Actually it’s a lot cheaper than buying clothes that kids want (labels and designers). I also get the reaction of “ It will quash their individuality and creativity.”. If anyone has seen how private school uniforms are somehow transformed by the kids wearing them, creativity is NOT being quashed. Do we not have a dress code at work? Are there not some jobs that require uniforms? Well then, we are just preparing our kids for the future.
Wearing a uniform evens the playing field. The kids whose parents can’t afford designer clothes will be able to afford the uniforms and the ostracizing on the playground because Madison’s parents can’t afford to buy Lululemon will cease!
It’s a win win situation for everyone. Anyone else on board with this idea?
I am a mother of two boys. Luckily in the fashion department, they haven’t succumbed to the
‘Label’ madness of their peers. Apparently the cool labels these days are Hollister, H&M, American Eagle and Lacoste. The teenagers these days look eerily like we did back in the 80’s. You are either ‘preppy’, or “Goth’(which includes the sub group known as Emos). It was preps and punks at my high school. Don’t get me started on the low riding jeans and the short baby t shirts that kids wear these days.
I digress. The point of this post is to promote the idea of school uniforms. This would offset the costs of school fees. My kids went to private school when we lived in Brazil and the cost of their uniforms for the whole year cost me less than $250…for the two of them! Granted, things are a bit cheaper in Brazil, but their uniforms consisted of a shirt, shorts, hoodie and trousers. Made my life so much easier! No fashion dramas in the morning, laundry was MUCH less and in the end of the day, their clothing budget was slashed by almost 60%. One set was being worn, one set washed, one set ready to go! How about that for a green initiative? And the clothes can be passed on to a younger sibling!
When I bring up this topic to other parents, their first reaction is, “It will be so expensive!!”. Actually it’s a lot cheaper than buying clothes that kids want (labels and designers). I also get the reaction of “ It will quash their individuality and creativity.”. If anyone has seen how private school uniforms are somehow transformed by the kids wearing them, creativity is NOT being quashed. Do we not have a dress code at work? Are there not some jobs that require uniforms? Well then, we are just preparing our kids for the future.
Wearing a uniform evens the playing field. The kids whose parents can’t afford designer clothes will be able to afford the uniforms and the ostracizing on the playground because Madison’s parents can’t afford to buy Lululemon will cease!
It’s a win win situation for everyone. Anyone else on board with this idea?
Friday, May 6
Calgary Needs Wayne Scot Lukas
Over the past few weeks, I have been working in the downtown core of Calgary. It has been a lot of fun and I have been able to get my dose of people watching. Lunchtime is the best and now that the weather is getting better, it is even more interesting to see what people are dragging out of their closets.
These are my top picks and peeve's for the fashionable set in Calgary.
1. Flip flops. Great when on a holiday, at the beach or at the gym while taking a shower. Not great when you are working at an office downtown. I don't care how awesome your $40 pedicure looks, flip flops at work are a major flop.
2. Men's pants that are too short. The chances of a flood happening in Calgary are quite slim, so gentlemen, please get your pants properly hemmed! Mens pants should be hemmed so that the front of the pant 'breaks' on the instep of the foot. The back of the trouser should not fall below the line of the shoe where the sole begins.
3. Bad hair. Calgary is a dry city, so trying to get your hair curly without resorting to a perm is next to impossible. Embrace the elements and blow out your hair. No bumps a la Snooki, though. A smidge of back combing at the roots to give a slight lift is ok, but please, no bumps!
4. Super white French manicures. Women here love to get their nails done, but they tend to look really fake because A. they go to cheap nails salons that use cheap products and therefore the nails look cheap. B. They use ultra white on the tips of their nails and they cover half of the nail bed. Tack tacky tacky.
5. Poorly fitted clothing. Blame the vanity sizing. If you were an 8 in the 80's, if you are the same weight now (highly unlikely if you have had kids)you would be a 2 or a 4 now. I hate this vanity sizing. bring back the old school sizing. Wear clothes that fit and don't look like tents. If you are hiding your figure, you are not doing yourself any favours.We all come in different shapes and sizes. The guru of styling for everyone is Wayne Scot Lukas. Check out what he does here.
These are my top picks and peeve's for the fashionable set in Calgary.
1. Flip flops. Great when on a holiday, at the beach or at the gym while taking a shower. Not great when you are working at an office downtown. I don't care how awesome your $40 pedicure looks, flip flops at work are a major flop.
2. Men's pants that are too short. The chances of a flood happening in Calgary are quite slim, so gentlemen, please get your pants properly hemmed! Mens pants should be hemmed so that the front of the pant 'breaks' on the instep of the foot. The back of the trouser should not fall below the line of the shoe where the sole begins.
3. Bad hair. Calgary is a dry city, so trying to get your hair curly without resorting to a perm is next to impossible. Embrace the elements and blow out your hair. No bumps a la Snooki, though. A smidge of back combing at the roots to give a slight lift is ok, but please, no bumps!
4. Super white French manicures. Women here love to get their nails done, but they tend to look really fake because A. they go to cheap nails salons that use cheap products and therefore the nails look cheap. B. They use ultra white on the tips of their nails and they cover half of the nail bed. Tack tacky tacky.
5. Poorly fitted clothing. Blame the vanity sizing. If you were an 8 in the 80's, if you are the same weight now (highly unlikely if you have had kids)you would be a 2 or a 4 now. I hate this vanity sizing. bring back the old school sizing. Wear clothes that fit and don't look like tents. If you are hiding your figure, you are not doing yourself any favours.We all come in different shapes and sizes. The guru of styling for everyone is Wayne Scot Lukas. Check out what he does here.
Wednesday, April 27
Why I Don't Put my Handbag on the Floor
You will never see a Brazilian woman put her handbag on the floor. They say its bad luck and your money will disappear. I never put my handbag on the floor for that reason and more so for the following reasons:
Have you ever noticed girls who set their handbags on public toilet floors, then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table?
Happens a lot! It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress. Sometimes 'what you don't know will hurt you'!
Read on.............
I always get upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags down on the counter where I am cooking or setting up food. I have always said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been.
It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our handbags, do you have any idea what's on the outside? Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their handbags, but did you ever stop to think about where your handbag goes during the day.
'I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a lot,' says one woman. 'On the floor of my car, and in toilets.'
'I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts and on the floor of the toilet,' says another woman 'and of course in my home which should be clean.'
Most women have told me that they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.
Most of the ladies I talked to told me they wouldn't be surprised if their handbags were at least a little bit dirty..
It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even a microbiologist who has tested them was shocked.
Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the handbags tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the handbags could make people very sick.
In one sampling, four out of five handbags tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. 'There is faecal contamination on the handbags' says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than cloth handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception.
The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. 'Some type of faeces, or possibly vomit' says Amy.
So the moral of this story is that your handbag won't kill you, but it does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop.
Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair of shoes. 'If you think about putting a pair of shoes on your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your handbag on the countertops.'
Your handbag has gone where individuals before you have walked, sat, sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc! Do you really want to bring that home with you?
The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather handbags.
Or do what I do, use a purse hook.
Have you ever noticed girls who set their handbags on public toilet floors, then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table?
Happens a lot! It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress. Sometimes 'what you don't know will hurt you'!
Read on.............
I always get upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags down on the counter where I am cooking or setting up food. I have always said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been.
It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our handbags, do you have any idea what's on the outside? Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their handbags, but did you ever stop to think about where your handbag goes during the day.
'I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a lot,' says one woman. 'On the floor of my car, and in toilets.'
'I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts and on the floor of the toilet,' says another woman 'and of course in my home which should be clean.'
Most women have told me that they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.
Most of the ladies I talked to told me they wouldn't be surprised if their handbags were at least a little bit dirty..
It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even a microbiologist who has tested them was shocked.
Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the handbags tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the handbags could make people very sick.
In one sampling, four out of five handbags tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. 'There is faecal contamination on the handbags' says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than cloth handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception.
The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. 'Some type of faeces, or possibly vomit' says Amy.
So the moral of this story is that your handbag won't kill you, but it does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen countertop.
Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair of shoes. 'If you think about putting a pair of shoes on your countertops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your handbag on the countertops.'
Your handbag has gone where individuals before you have walked, sat, sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc! Do you really want to bring that home with you?
The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather handbags.
Or do what I do, use a purse hook.
Food and Aggression..Is there a link?
I saw a video on Youtube the other day of two girls beating up a transgender male at a McDonald’s in Baltimore. I was shocked by what I saw. Young girls are becoming increasingly violent and aggressive. What shocked me the most is how nobody got involved to break up the attack. It was only after they beat the pulp out of this poor person that an elderly lady stepped in to stop it. remember, this was being filmed and the cinematographer was more interested in getting the best shot rather than helping the person who was in distress.
Bullying is rampant at schools and at the workplace. There is no distinction between being assertive and being aggressive. Bullying behavior is learned. My two sons have been bullied in the past and my one son even had a boy pick a fight with him and tried to turn it around to make it look like my son was the bully. This kid was simply jealous of my son’s popularity at school and tried to make himself out to be the victim. Total set up on his part.
Where is the moral compass in all of this? What gives people the right to attack others? Is their self esteem so low that they have to resort to being bullies themselves? Why did these two girls attack the person in the McDonalds? Why are people going ballistic in fast food restaurants? I think that maybe, just maybe, it is what is in our food. Preservatives and hormones in our food could be one of the causes of this aggression that has become so rampant lately. It is definitely causing obesity. Could that be the link?
Bullying is rampant at schools and at the workplace. There is no distinction between being assertive and being aggressive. Bullying behavior is learned. My two sons have been bullied in the past and my one son even had a boy pick a fight with him and tried to turn it around to make it look like my son was the bully. This kid was simply jealous of my son’s popularity at school and tried to make himself out to be the victim. Total set up on his part.
Where is the moral compass in all of this? What gives people the right to attack others? Is their self esteem so low that they have to resort to being bullies themselves? Why did these two girls attack the person in the McDonalds? Why are people going ballistic in fast food restaurants? I think that maybe, just maybe, it is what is in our food. Preservatives and hormones in our food could be one of the causes of this aggression that has become so rampant lately. It is definitely causing obesity. Could that be the link?
Monday, April 18
Does The Shoe Fit?
Like any red blooded woman who has a pulse, I am a shoe fanatic. I love my shoes and am always on the look out for neat shoes. I am not a Carrie Bradshaw as I would never be able to afford the Choo's, Laboutin's or Manolo's that lined her closet.
I love shoes from Brazil. I really believe that Brazil is the final frontier of handcrafted shoes. Italy and France are two other countries that are known for their great shoes but even that is being slowly phased out as the 'artisans' are retiring and there is no younger generation being groomed to fill their shoes.(I know, bad pun)
Then of course, there is the biggest threat to the shoe industry, the counterfeit shoes coming out of China.$800 shoes being sold for $100 on Canal Street in NYC.
Instead of chasing down the bad guys, Laboutin is attacking YSL and Carmen Steffans, because they happened to put red on the sole of the shoe! PLEASE!! Here is an article that shows how ridiculous this is. Are they going to patent tan leather too?
I love shoes from Brazil. I really believe that Brazil is the final frontier of handcrafted shoes. Italy and France are two other countries that are known for their great shoes but even that is being slowly phased out as the 'artisans' are retiring and there is no younger generation being groomed to fill their shoes.(I know, bad pun)
Then of course, there is the biggest threat to the shoe industry, the counterfeit shoes coming out of China.$800 shoes being sold for $100 on Canal Street in NYC.
Instead of chasing down the bad guys, Laboutin is attacking YSL and Carmen Steffans, because they happened to put red on the sole of the shoe! PLEASE!! Here is an article that shows how ridiculous this is. Are they going to patent tan leather too?
Sunday, March 20
Fashionata...You've Come A Long Way Baby...
Boy has Calgary come along way! I went to the Fashionata Fashion Show at Holt Renfrew the other evening. It was a charity fashion show benefitting the Safe Haven Foundation.
What a beautiful event! Instead of a runway, they used the escalators that are in the center atrium of the new Holt Renfrew in the CORE. The clothes were beautiful and being the fashionista that I am, I want the Blumarine dress that opened the show.The production was comparable to any show of the international Fashion Weeks.Years ago, this would never have happened.....
When I left Calgary to be a model back in the 80's, I was literally on my own and escaping a fashion wasteland also known as Calgary in the early 80's after the National Energy program destroyed the economy and mortgage rates were 18% +!! There was no modelling agency behind me to help me navigate the crazy world of foreign models while I was fending off my sleazy French agent. I can truly say that I made my own career and that yes, I am Calgary's Original Supermodel and the first Calgarian to ever grace the cover of Vogue. Too bad I have never received the recognition here in my hometown. I was scoffed at by kids at school when I was discovered at the age of 15 by no other that John Casablancas, owner of Elite. I was never part of the 'pretty and popular' girls. I played sports and was a swimmer and diver. I never did the Miss Calgary or pageant scene.
Now Calgary has become a model scout mecca for finding the next 'It' girl. With all of our cultural diversity, Canada is rich in potential models. In my day it was Linda and Shalom, now its Daria Werbowy and Coco Rocha...
Calgary has also become a very strong fashion centre. The oil patch has recovered and money abounds here. This was very evident at Fashionata with women dressed in head to toe designer outfits. Some looked amazing, others need the help of my stylist friend Wayne Scot Lukas.
I have semi retired from the model world, but will be back with a vengeance very soon. I am bringing together all of my experiences together to make Calgary even bigger and better in the fashion world. We are starting to see more and more designers setting up shop here. The Brazilian shoe designer Carmen Steffens has a great shop downtown that sells beautiful shoe designs that are just as amazing as any Laboutin or Blahnik.
Women here are in need of celebrating their beauty. That is my goal this year. To bring beauty and glamour back to women in Calgary. Stay tuned!
What a beautiful event! Instead of a runway, they used the escalators that are in the center atrium of the new Holt Renfrew in the CORE. The clothes were beautiful and being the fashionista that I am, I want the Blumarine dress that opened the show.The production was comparable to any show of the international Fashion Weeks.Years ago, this would never have happened.....
When I left Calgary to be a model back in the 80's, I was literally on my own and escaping a fashion wasteland also known as Calgary in the early 80's after the National Energy program destroyed the economy and mortgage rates were 18% +!! There was no modelling agency behind me to help me navigate the crazy world of foreign models while I was fending off my sleazy French agent. I can truly say that I made my own career and that yes, I am Calgary's Original Supermodel and the first Calgarian to ever grace the cover of Vogue. Too bad I have never received the recognition here in my hometown. I was scoffed at by kids at school when I was discovered at the age of 15 by no other that John Casablancas, owner of Elite. I was never part of the 'pretty and popular' girls. I played sports and was a swimmer and diver. I never did the Miss Calgary or pageant scene.
Now Calgary has become a model scout mecca for finding the next 'It' girl. With all of our cultural diversity, Canada is rich in potential models. In my day it was Linda and Shalom, now its Daria Werbowy and Coco Rocha...
Calgary has also become a very strong fashion centre. The oil patch has recovered and money abounds here. This was very evident at Fashionata with women dressed in head to toe designer outfits. Some looked amazing, others need the help of my stylist friend Wayne Scot Lukas.
I have semi retired from the model world, but will be back with a vengeance very soon. I am bringing together all of my experiences together to make Calgary even bigger and better in the fashion world. We are starting to see more and more designers setting up shop here. The Brazilian shoe designer Carmen Steffens has a great shop downtown that sells beautiful shoe designs that are just as amazing as any Laboutin or Blahnik.
Women here are in need of celebrating their beauty. That is my goal this year. To bring beauty and glamour back to women in Calgary. Stay tuned!
Sunday, March 13
Another Fashion/Sports Parallel
In my last post, I spoke about the escalating violence in the NHL, and how it is only getting worse, not better. The Pacciorety incident was the straw that broke the camel's back (and by a miracle, didn't break Pacciorety's back). It has outraged many sports fans and has brought the issue of safety for the players to the forefront. Lets hope that this unfortunate incident will bring changes that will ensure a safer game for the players.
In the world of fashion, the debate about the health and weight of models has been raging ever since the early 90's. That was when the grunge look took over the magazines and models such as Kate Moss were replacing the Glamazons of the era: Elle McPherson, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. It is no longer in fashion to be curvy and healthy looking. The more you look like a 14 year old boy, the more success you will have as a model.
Over the past two decades, the look of models has become increasingly skinnier and skinnier. This type of look has been enabled by the fashion elite (they know who they are) Once in a while there will be a huge outcry and the fashion establishment will promise that they will only hire girls with BMI of over 18 for the fashion shows. The promise lasts as long as a shoe at a 90% off sale at Jimmy Choos. How far will models go to fit into the image of perfection foisted upon them by a small group of 'fashionistas' and model agents? A few years ago, two models actually died from complications arising from suffering from anorexia nervosa. The straw that broke the camel's back in the fashion world was quickly hush hushed and the debate was yet again put into hibernation. This season during London Fashion Week, one of the models looked like she escaped from a concentration camp. See for yourself!
My point? The NHL and the fashion business are both sending the wrong messages to young kids.
" If you hit someone hard enough to cause major damage, don't worry, you will get away with it and not get suspended!!! It's part of being tough hockey player!!"
" If you get really skinny, you too will be the next Kate Moss and you will be loved and admired by thousands! that's what being a model is all about!!"
So wrong on so many levels..It's just wrong.
In the world of fashion, the debate about the health and weight of models has been raging ever since the early 90's. That was when the grunge look took over the magazines and models such as Kate Moss were replacing the Glamazons of the era: Elle McPherson, Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer. It is no longer in fashion to be curvy and healthy looking. The more you look like a 14 year old boy, the more success you will have as a model.
Over the past two decades, the look of models has become increasingly skinnier and skinnier. This type of look has been enabled by the fashion elite (they know who they are) Once in a while there will be a huge outcry and the fashion establishment will promise that they will only hire girls with BMI of over 18 for the fashion shows. The promise lasts as long as a shoe at a 90% off sale at Jimmy Choos. How far will models go to fit into the image of perfection foisted upon them by a small group of 'fashionistas' and model agents? A few years ago, two models actually died from complications arising from suffering from anorexia nervosa. The straw that broke the camel's back in the fashion world was quickly hush hushed and the debate was yet again put into hibernation. This season during London Fashion Week, one of the models looked like she escaped from a concentration camp. See for yourself!
My point? The NHL and the fashion business are both sending the wrong messages to young kids.
" If you hit someone hard enough to cause major damage, don't worry, you will get away with it and not get suspended!!! It's part of being tough hockey player!!"
" If you get really skinny, you too will be the next Kate Moss and you will be loved and admired by thousands! that's what being a model is all about!!"
So wrong on so many levels..It's just wrong.
Thursday, March 10
An Open Letter to the NHL
Gentlemen,
I use that salutation hesitantly. The game of hockey is no longer a gentlemen's game. It was a game played on frozen ponds in sub freezing temperatures by young boys dreaming of being the next Rocket Richard, Bobby Orr or Wayne Gretzky. The love and passion for the game has been replaced by a band of thugs and criminals validated enabled and enticed by the likes of Gary Bettman and Don Cherry.
The violence of the game has gotten out of control. What should be a show of speed and skill, hockey has become the modern version of Roman Gladiators. The players have become bigger and stronger and the dirty hits are now causing severe concussions and possible paralysis. The c NHL should be held responsible for allowing this sort of behaviour to happen, and not ensuring a safe work environment for the employees of the NHL (the players).
The cheap hit that was given to Max Pacciorety literally made me sick to my stomach. I was watching the game with my boyfriend, who is a lifelong Habs fan. It was against the Boston Bruins. Before the game, the Bruins players were already trash talking in the press about how they were going to destroy the players from the Canadiens. The last time the Bruins played the Habs, the Bruins were on the warpath to maim PK Subban. Their actions were premeditated.
Max Pacciorety is in a Montreal hospital with a severe concussion, a fractured C4 vertebrae and there are people out there continuing to trash talk him and the Canadiens. The player who clocked him onto the pole didn't even get a game suspension or a fine. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Luckily, the Montreal police is opening up an inquiry into the incident and charges may be laid.
Just because they are playing in a rink, this doesn't exonerate them from personal responsibility.
The NHL needs to stop the madness. This is Canada's game and as a Canadian I am disgusted by what hockey has become. It has morphed into a blood bath to appease American audiences.
I am not a lawyer but any intelligent person will agree with me on the following:
1. The NHL should be fined for breaking labour laws by not ensuring a safe workplace.
2. Players involved in cheap shots and hits should serve the time equivalent to the time the injured player is out of action. In the case of Pacciorety, the hitter, Chara, should be suspended until Pacciorety is able to play again.
3. Commentators must stop enticing and promoting violence in the NHL.
Clean up the game once and for all!!!! Bring back the game of speed and skill that is hockey!
I use that salutation hesitantly. The game of hockey is no longer a gentlemen's game. It was a game played on frozen ponds in sub freezing temperatures by young boys dreaming of being the next Rocket Richard, Bobby Orr or Wayne Gretzky. The love and passion for the game has been replaced by a band of thugs and criminals validated enabled and enticed by the likes of Gary Bettman and Don Cherry.
The violence of the game has gotten out of control. What should be a show of speed and skill, hockey has become the modern version of Roman Gladiators. The players have become bigger and stronger and the dirty hits are now causing severe concussions and possible paralysis. The c NHL should be held responsible for allowing this sort of behaviour to happen, and not ensuring a safe work environment for the employees of the NHL (the players).
The cheap hit that was given to Max Pacciorety literally made me sick to my stomach. I was watching the game with my boyfriend, who is a lifelong Habs fan. It was against the Boston Bruins. Before the game, the Bruins players were already trash talking in the press about how they were going to destroy the players from the Canadiens. The last time the Bruins played the Habs, the Bruins were on the warpath to maim PK Subban. Their actions were premeditated.
Max Pacciorety is in a Montreal hospital with a severe concussion, a fractured C4 vertebrae and there are people out there continuing to trash talk him and the Canadiens. The player who clocked him onto the pole didn't even get a game suspension or a fine. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Luckily, the Montreal police is opening up an inquiry into the incident and charges may be laid.
Just because they are playing in a rink, this doesn't exonerate them from personal responsibility.
The NHL needs to stop the madness. This is Canada's game and as a Canadian I am disgusted by what hockey has become. It has morphed into a blood bath to appease American audiences.
I am not a lawyer but any intelligent person will agree with me on the following:
1. The NHL should be fined for breaking labour laws by not ensuring a safe workplace.
2. Players involved in cheap shots and hits should serve the time equivalent to the time the injured player is out of action. In the case of Pacciorety, the hitter, Chara, should be suspended until Pacciorety is able to play again.
3. Commentators must stop enticing and promoting violence in the NHL.
Clean up the game once and for all!!!! Bring back the game of speed and skill that is hockey!
Wednesday, March 9
It's Been A While...
Blogging is a funny thing. We become so inundated with information from the news outlets that to sift through everything becomes a task into itself. I envy bloggers that seem to write with such ease and grace I love to write, but do we really need another story on the Charlie Sheen public meltdown?
My boyfriend joked that we are now in Megalomaniac March. By looking at the newspapers and the television over the past week, i have to agree.
Besides the aforementioned Charlie Sheen meltdown, the month of March has seen Gadafi in Libya telling reporters that his people love him and that these riots are all being caused by Al Quaeda, then promptly bombs the $%^&* out of the country, killing the people that he professes that love him. This is a man who was proven to be behind the Lockerbie bombing, yet has been forgiven by the West. The country that he has dictated over for the past 41 years is a big oil producer. Canadian companies have drilling interests there. Since the riots began, the price of crude oil has risen to over $105 a barrel. But the West still continues to put up with him, because he has oil. Canada has much more oil, but because its in the oilsands, it is costlier and does pollute more than drilling in the Middle East. Murderous dictator vs. Global warming....
My solution? tell Gadafi to stuff it, and start exploring more of the oilsands in Canada,and clean up the tailing ponds. Oh wait! The Chinese have been buying up many interests in the Canadian oilsands! And we allow it!? Have we all gone mad? It is a natural resource from Canada. The Chinese have also been questioning Canada's sovereignity in the Arctic. Uhhh NO!
Then there is the drama behind the demise of John Galliano. Brilliant designer who unfortunately was coddled and allowed to run wild for years. One evening he tore into a woman and her companion at a bar in Paris ranting anti Semetic remarks. First off, the fashion business is full of Jewish people so Galliano was shooting himself in the foot. In this day and age, those types of comments don't fly. As any public person should know, whatever you do, you are at risk of being shown on Facebook or YouTube. You are no longer a private person and your life is there for all to see, good or bad. Apparently Riccardo Tisci from Givenchy will be taking over from Galliano at Christan Dior.
My take on this? They are all kakaputzy and should have gone to therapy long ago. Or even better, a good swift kick in the butt. Until someone puts their foot down and says 'STOP', these megalomaniacal characters will continue to flourish. We have seen it for years with Naomi Campbell and her temper, Kate Moss and her drug habit, countless other 'artistes' that just have no clue to what real life is...
My boyfriend joked that we are now in Megalomaniac March. By looking at the newspapers and the television over the past week, i have to agree.
Besides the aforementioned Charlie Sheen meltdown, the month of March has seen Gadafi in Libya telling reporters that his people love him and that these riots are all being caused by Al Quaeda, then promptly bombs the $%^&* out of the country, killing the people that he professes that love him. This is a man who was proven to be behind the Lockerbie bombing, yet has been forgiven by the West. The country that he has dictated over for the past 41 years is a big oil producer. Canadian companies have drilling interests there. Since the riots began, the price of crude oil has risen to over $105 a barrel. But the West still continues to put up with him, because he has oil. Canada has much more oil, but because its in the oilsands, it is costlier and does pollute more than drilling in the Middle East. Murderous dictator vs. Global warming....
My solution? tell Gadafi to stuff it, and start exploring more of the oilsands in Canada,and clean up the tailing ponds. Oh wait! The Chinese have been buying up many interests in the Canadian oilsands! And we allow it!? Have we all gone mad? It is a natural resource from Canada. The Chinese have also been questioning Canada's sovereignity in the Arctic. Uhhh NO!
Then there is the drama behind the demise of John Galliano. Brilliant designer who unfortunately was coddled and allowed to run wild for years. One evening he tore into a woman and her companion at a bar in Paris ranting anti Semetic remarks. First off, the fashion business is full of Jewish people so Galliano was shooting himself in the foot. In this day and age, those types of comments don't fly. As any public person should know, whatever you do, you are at risk of being shown on Facebook or YouTube. You are no longer a private person and your life is there for all to see, good or bad. Apparently Riccardo Tisci from Givenchy will be taking over from Galliano at Christan Dior.
My take on this? They are all kakaputzy and should have gone to therapy long ago. Or even better, a good swift kick in the butt. Until someone puts their foot down and says 'STOP', these megalomaniacal characters will continue to flourish. We have seen it for years with Naomi Campbell and her temper, Kate Moss and her drug habit, countless other 'artistes' that just have no clue to what real life is...
Saturday, February 5
Is Rio de Janeiro Safe?
The number one question I receive about Brazil is " How safe is Rio de Janeiro?". My answer is simple." It depends on who you want to believe."
According to statistic reports, the murder rate is the lowest rate it has been in 20 years. Only 4500 people were murdered in Rio de Janeiro last year. I am not sure if this number is for the city of Rio de Janeiro or the state of Rio de Janeiro. Either way, 4500 people is a lot of people!!! The murder rate in Canada is 1.9 per 100,000 people. in 2006 the murder rate in Rio de Janeiro city was 38.7 per 100,000.
These numbers need to be investigated further. In the Zona Sul of Rio de Janeiro, the standard of living rivals those of European countries. Drive 20 minutes from the Zona Sul and you can find areas poorer than parts of Africa.
Violent crimes are more prevalent in the shantytowns due to the drug wars between rival gangs. This has diminished lately due to the pacification process implemented by the state government.
The chances of being murdered in Ipanema are low.
That said, there are events known as 'arrastaos' which are when a large group of thieves go to a crowded beach and literally sweep the beach of anything and everything. They were 'in fashion' a few years back, but lately haven't happened.
Crime comes in waves in Rio. Sometimes it seems like a civil war is happening, other times its peaceful.
How to protect yourself?
1. Be discreet. Try to look like a local, start by buying a pair of Havaianas. Avoid speaking English loudly in crowded places as that will attract 'curiousity'.
2. Look like you know where you are going. If you are lost, pop into a store, restaurant or a bank to ask directions. Avoid approaching strangers.
3. Leave your valuables at home. If going to the beach, take some money and a sarong to sit on, that's all you need.
4. Take taxis at night.
5. Don't be curious to know what the shantytowns look like. I know there are 'favela' tours that are considered safe, but I don't agree with the 'zoological' aspect of these tours. Would you like people snooping around your neighbourhood in the name of tourism? I think it's exploitive.
6. Let people know where you are going and when you are expected back.
i have friends that are ex pats and some of the security measures they take are a bit paranoid in my opinion. But its the companies that set the rules...
According to statistic reports, the murder rate is the lowest rate it has been in 20 years. Only 4500 people were murdered in Rio de Janeiro last year. I am not sure if this number is for the city of Rio de Janeiro or the state of Rio de Janeiro. Either way, 4500 people is a lot of people!!! The murder rate in Canada is 1.9 per 100,000 people. in 2006 the murder rate in Rio de Janeiro city was 38.7 per 100,000.
These numbers need to be investigated further. In the Zona Sul of Rio de Janeiro, the standard of living rivals those of European countries. Drive 20 minutes from the Zona Sul and you can find areas poorer than parts of Africa.
Violent crimes are more prevalent in the shantytowns due to the drug wars between rival gangs. This has diminished lately due to the pacification process implemented by the state government.
The chances of being murdered in Ipanema are low.
That said, there are events known as 'arrastaos' which are when a large group of thieves go to a crowded beach and literally sweep the beach of anything and everything. They were 'in fashion' a few years back, but lately haven't happened.
Crime comes in waves in Rio. Sometimes it seems like a civil war is happening, other times its peaceful.
How to protect yourself?
1. Be discreet. Try to look like a local, start by buying a pair of Havaianas. Avoid speaking English loudly in crowded places as that will attract 'curiousity'.
2. Look like you know where you are going. If you are lost, pop into a store, restaurant or a bank to ask directions. Avoid approaching strangers.
3. Leave your valuables at home. If going to the beach, take some money and a sarong to sit on, that's all you need.
4. Take taxis at night.
5. Don't be curious to know what the shantytowns look like. I know there are 'favela' tours that are considered safe, but I don't agree with the 'zoological' aspect of these tours. Would you like people snooping around your neighbourhood in the name of tourism? I think it's exploitive.
6. Let people know where you are going and when you are expected back.
i have friends that are ex pats and some of the security measures they take are a bit paranoid in my opinion. But its the companies that set the rules...
Thursday, January 27
Back Home
I have been back to Canada for a week now and I have just now gotten over my trip. The Rio-Calgary flight in itself is quite a good flight and the layover in Houston is painless. I did have to go through one of those TSA machines that everyone was up in arms about. I have nothing to hide so bring it on!
As per usual, the press has moved on and stories of the terrible floods in Brazil are no longer front page worthy, here in Canada or in Brazil. The devastation will take years o clean up and cost millions of dollars. Donations can still me made through the Red Cross. One of the areas affected manufactures machinery for car parts for Brazil and is also a big centre for textiles. Even more reason to buy things from Brazil. Lives were lost, lets not let the livelihood of the people be lost....
The weather here has been warm as we are in the midst of a major Chinook (my poor boyfriend suffers from migraines when the Chinook roars through here) and of course the weather in Rio has gotten hotter and sunnier since we came home. 40+C is not fun and nobody can enjoy that heat, so they are i side their air conditioned homes. Here people are stuck inside when it is -30C, so really what is the difference?
I am glad to be back in Canada. Dont get me wrong, I love Brasil, but to live day to day and work, Canada is much better. Brazil is a great place to visit, but to live and work there, it is an exercise in patience and bureaucracy.
I would love to work for a company that is based in Calgary, yet has offices in Rio that I would need to go to once in a while to work. I am job hunting right now!
As per usual, the press has moved on and stories of the terrible floods in Brazil are no longer front page worthy, here in Canada or in Brazil. The devastation will take years o clean up and cost millions of dollars. Donations can still me made through the Red Cross. One of the areas affected manufactures machinery for car parts for Brazil and is also a big centre for textiles. Even more reason to buy things from Brazil. Lives were lost, lets not let the livelihood of the people be lost....
The weather here has been warm as we are in the midst of a major Chinook (my poor boyfriend suffers from migraines when the Chinook roars through here) and of course the weather in Rio has gotten hotter and sunnier since we came home. 40+C is not fun and nobody can enjoy that heat, so they are i side their air conditioned homes. Here people are stuck inside when it is -30C, so really what is the difference?
I am glad to be back in Canada. Dont get me wrong, I love Brasil, but to live day to day and work, Canada is much better. Brazil is a great place to visit, but to live and work there, it is an exercise in patience and bureaucracy.
I would love to work for a company that is based in Calgary, yet has offices in Rio that I would need to go to once in a while to work. I am job hunting right now!
Saturday, January 15
Floods in Brazil....
With a heavy heart I write this post. Heavy rains have caused major destruction in the mountains outside of Rio de Janeiro. I was just in this area a few weeks ago(see Tropical Alps post)and that same highway has been washed away.
The rain caused the headwaters of the rivers to swell to capacity and mixed with the urban sprawl, caused whole mountainsides to come crashing down. The worst towns affected are Nova Friburgo and Teresopolis.
For those of you in Brazil, the Pao de Acucar supermarket is accepting donations of clothes and bed linens. Also there is an urgent call for blood donations.
For my foreign readers, I ask that you contact your local Red Cross to find out how you can help with donations.
Here is a report from CNN
The rain caused the headwaters of the rivers to swell to capacity and mixed with the urban sprawl, caused whole mountainsides to come crashing down. The worst towns affected are Nova Friburgo and Teresopolis.
For those of you in Brazil, the Pao de Acucar supermarket is accepting donations of clothes and bed linens. Also there is an urgent call for blood donations.
For my foreign readers, I ask that you contact your local Red Cross to find out how you can help with donations.
Here is a report from CNN
Wednesday, January 12
Sunday, January 9
My Love/Hate Relationship with Brazil
Before I begin, I want to be clear that I am not anti-Brazil, I just want to share the good and the bad in an honest way.
What I love about Brazil:
The weather. Its warm and warmer(at least in Rio de Janeiro)
The fresh fruit and juice. There is nothing more glorious than a truly ripe mango or papaya. The juice bars scattered around the city serving up such delicious juices such as acai, fruta de conde, pineapple juice with mint leaves...the list goes on!!
The warmth of the people. Brazilians are known to be very friendly and hospitable. I will even go as far as to say extremely generous, especially the people who are not rolling in dough. They are also very baby friendly as I witnessed on my outing with Mrs DRL and the Canadoca the other day
The nature. Rio is home to more than 400 climbing routes and Jeep tours drive tourists through the Tijuca National Forest, the largest urban national park in the world. Hangliding from the mountains in San Conrado is a must and should be part of any itinerary in Rio. The beaches are wonderful(if you avoid the weekend crowds). You can sit on your beach chair and have beer and caipirinhas brought right to you, can't do that in Canada!!
The music. I just found out that the best music store in Rio, Modern Sound, has closed its doors, but there are great musicians from Brazil such as Seu Jorge, Rita Ribeiro and Zeca Baleiro who play all over the country.
What I hate about Brazil.
Corruption. I know corruption exists everywhere, but in Brazil it is so in your face. It starts with the police officer trying to shake you down for a 'çase of beer', to the rich kids that literally get away with murder because daddy is buddies with a judge. I hate to see the crooked politicians talking about what they are going to do to change the lifestyle for the people and in the end they have their hands in the pockets of the developers and do nothing for the people. Also the fact that people with a criminal record can run for office!!!. With the World Cup and the Olympics coming soon, I believe that there will be a lot of pocket lining. But when I talk to my Brazilian friends, they are so complacent about this reality. "What can we do?", they say. Uhhh!! Hello!!??? This is a democracy and your taxes are paying their exorbitant salaries, so its your right to see the books!! Seriously!
Food prices. Bananas are more expensive in Rio than they are in Calgary. Explain that one to me please!! Yogurt, cheese, milk..All more expensive than in Canada. Last time I checked, they raise dairy cows here! Restaurants have become insanely expensive!!!
Litter on the streets. This makes me crazy when I am driving and people throw trash out the windows of the bus and their Mercedes Benz! Every summer when it rains, the gutters get clogged with plastic bottles, which cause the streets to flood. There are garbage cans on every corner! The beaches look like a war zone on Sunday evenings after everyone has left and left their garbage on the beach! Oh yes one more thing. If you have a dog, pick up after it and don't take it to the beach. But Carioca's still take their pit bulls and Labradors to the busy beaches, knowing that it is illegal..
The music. Love samba! Hate the funk coming out of the favelas. The lyrics(if you want to call it that) are absolutely degrading to women, calling them dogs etc. and the music is not music, its cause for Motrin Extra strength!! It glorifies violence and gangs and is just an ear sore!!And yes I call a slum a favela, even though it is considered politically incorrect nowadays. It is supposed to be called a ' çommunity in need'.
I hate that my electric bill is through the roof to 'subsidize'the electricity that the 'çommunities in need' use to power their air conditioners 24/7. Also known as 'gatos', electricity is stolen from the electric company.
I hate that there is such a disparity between the haves and the have nots.
Brazilian Soap operas. They helped me learn the language in the beginning when I first moved here, but the messages they send to the general population are wrong. Maids and thieves always seem to be portrayed by black or mullatto actors. They don't show healthy relationships between people. Way too much drama.
Tom Jobim said it best, "New York is great, but it is shitty. Rio de Janeiro is shitty, but its great."
What I love about Brazil:
The weather. Its warm and warmer(at least in Rio de Janeiro)
The fresh fruit and juice. There is nothing more glorious than a truly ripe mango or papaya. The juice bars scattered around the city serving up such delicious juices such as acai, fruta de conde, pineapple juice with mint leaves...the list goes on!!
The warmth of the people. Brazilians are known to be very friendly and hospitable. I will even go as far as to say extremely generous, especially the people who are not rolling in dough. They are also very baby friendly as I witnessed on my outing with Mrs DRL and the Canadoca the other day
The nature. Rio is home to more than 400 climbing routes and Jeep tours drive tourists through the Tijuca National Forest, the largest urban national park in the world. Hangliding from the mountains in San Conrado is a must and should be part of any itinerary in Rio. The beaches are wonderful(if you avoid the weekend crowds). You can sit on your beach chair and have beer and caipirinhas brought right to you, can't do that in Canada!!
The music. I just found out that the best music store in Rio, Modern Sound, has closed its doors, but there are great musicians from Brazil such as Seu Jorge, Rita Ribeiro and Zeca Baleiro who play all over the country.
What I hate about Brazil.
Corruption. I know corruption exists everywhere, but in Brazil it is so in your face. It starts with the police officer trying to shake you down for a 'çase of beer', to the rich kids that literally get away with murder because daddy is buddies with a judge. I hate to see the crooked politicians talking about what they are going to do to change the lifestyle for the people and in the end they have their hands in the pockets of the developers and do nothing for the people. Also the fact that people with a criminal record can run for office!!!. With the World Cup and the Olympics coming soon, I believe that there will be a lot of pocket lining. But when I talk to my Brazilian friends, they are so complacent about this reality. "What can we do?", they say. Uhhh!! Hello!!??? This is a democracy and your taxes are paying their exorbitant salaries, so its your right to see the books!! Seriously!
Food prices. Bananas are more expensive in Rio than they are in Calgary. Explain that one to me please!! Yogurt, cheese, milk..All more expensive than in Canada. Last time I checked, they raise dairy cows here! Restaurants have become insanely expensive!!!
Litter on the streets. This makes me crazy when I am driving and people throw trash out the windows of the bus and their Mercedes Benz! Every summer when it rains, the gutters get clogged with plastic bottles, which cause the streets to flood. There are garbage cans on every corner! The beaches look like a war zone on Sunday evenings after everyone has left and left their garbage on the beach! Oh yes one more thing. If you have a dog, pick up after it and don't take it to the beach. But Carioca's still take their pit bulls and Labradors to the busy beaches, knowing that it is illegal..
The music. Love samba! Hate the funk coming out of the favelas. The lyrics(if you want to call it that) are absolutely degrading to women, calling them dogs etc. and the music is not music, its cause for Motrin Extra strength!! It glorifies violence and gangs and is just an ear sore!!And yes I call a slum a favela, even though it is considered politically incorrect nowadays. It is supposed to be called a ' çommunity in need'.
I hate that my electric bill is through the roof to 'subsidize'the electricity that the 'çommunities in need' use to power their air conditioners 24/7. Also known as 'gatos', electricity is stolen from the electric company.
I hate that there is such a disparity between the haves and the have nots.
Brazilian Soap operas. They helped me learn the language in the beginning when I first moved here, but the messages they send to the general population are wrong. Maids and thieves always seem to be portrayed by black or mullatto actors. They don't show healthy relationships between people. Way too much drama.
Tom Jobim said it best, "New York is great, but it is shitty. Rio de Janeiro is shitty, but its great."
Sunday, January 2
Happy New Year!!
It's been a while since I last posted. Being without an internet connection does make things a bit difficult. Blogging on an iPhone is no fun either..
Well its Day 2 of 2011! Have you made any resolutions for the New Year?
New Year's Eve was wonderful and Saint Peter kept the rain away. It always seems to threaten to rain on New Year's Eve in Rio, but miraculously it didn't.
I went to the beach in Barra and saw the beautiful fireworks that were being shot from the roof of the Windsor Hotel. The show outlasted all of the other fireworks spectacles on that beach. It also helped that we had a space set out for us on the beach with food and champagne. People were in white, which is a tradition in Brazil for New Year's as it symbolizes peace and purity. Lately, people have added silver, gold(to represent money), red(passion) and so on and so on. My maxi dress had all of the above colours so hopefully I will receive lots of money and passion this year.
I would love to have posted some photos but I don't have the USB cable that is specific for my camera...(Grrrrr!!!!)
I was to spend New Year's in Buzios but the weather wasn't cooperating and the town was getting insanely crowded by mid week. If I was staying at Casas Brancas, then yes, the weather would not have been an issue.
Note to all of my followers, AVOID Buzios during Brazilian holidays and long weekends. Two hour traffic jams to get to the centre from Geriba beach, beaches so crowded that you can barely move. Sorry, but this princess is out!!
Rio de Janeiro is actually pleasant for New Year's as everyone has left town. Traffic jams are inexistent. Maybe next year I will do NYE on Copacabana Beach, but this princess needs her infrastructure!!
HAPPY 2011 FOR ALL!!
Well its Day 2 of 2011! Have you made any resolutions for the New Year?
New Year's Eve was wonderful and Saint Peter kept the rain away. It always seems to threaten to rain on New Year's Eve in Rio, but miraculously it didn't.
I went to the beach in Barra and saw the beautiful fireworks that were being shot from the roof of the Windsor Hotel. The show outlasted all of the other fireworks spectacles on that beach. It also helped that we had a space set out for us on the beach with food and champagne. People were in white, which is a tradition in Brazil for New Year's as it symbolizes peace and purity. Lately, people have added silver, gold(to represent money), red(passion) and so on and so on. My maxi dress had all of the above colours so hopefully I will receive lots of money and passion this year.
I would love to have posted some photos but I don't have the USB cable that is specific for my camera...(Grrrrr!!!!)
I was to spend New Year's in Buzios but the weather wasn't cooperating and the town was getting insanely crowded by mid week. If I was staying at Casas Brancas, then yes, the weather would not have been an issue.
Note to all of my followers, AVOID Buzios during Brazilian holidays and long weekends. Two hour traffic jams to get to the centre from Geriba beach, beaches so crowded that you can barely move. Sorry, but this princess is out!!
Rio de Janeiro is actually pleasant for New Year's as everyone has left town. Traffic jams are inexistent. Maybe next year I will do NYE on Copacabana Beach, but this princess needs her infrastructure!!
HAPPY 2011 FOR ALL!!
Monday, December 20
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???
Saturday, December 18
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!!
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!!
Friday, December 17
Sunday, November 28
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!!!!!
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!!!!!
Monday, November 22
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!!!
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!!!
Friday, November 12
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 2
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
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
Sunday, October 31
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.
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.
Friday, October 1
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
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
Wednesday, September 29
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...
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...
Tuesday, September 28
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.
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.
Friday, September 17
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???
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???
Tuesday, August 31
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.
Wednesday, August 4
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!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!
Tuesday, July 13
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!!!
Friday, July 2
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.....
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.....
Wednesday, June 16
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?
"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?
Tuesday, June 15
Saturday, June 12
Saturday, June 5
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
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
Friday, May 21
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!
Hopefully one day, Canada will be in the World Cup. They got thrashed by Argentina 5-0 this weekend...Not good!
Friday, May 7
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!
Bottom line: BRAZIL NEEDS INFRASTRUCTURE!!!!!! If your company has something unique that is needed in the energy sector, the opportunity is there!
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