Inspiration

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

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

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

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

What to do?

ROADTRIP!!!!!!!

Panorama

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Embracing Life...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have a great weekend

The Canarioca

Olympics Hangover

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

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

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

Acai

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

Couldn't Have Said It Better

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

Sacha Guitry

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

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

Translation:

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

It's a Jungle Out There!

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

Another Quote

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

Random Quotes

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

Brazil Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas Has Come For David Goldman

In a decision last night, the Federal Supreme Court of Brazil has ruled has that Sean Goldman is to be returned to his biological father David Goldman on Friday December 24th at 9 a.m. at the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro.
After five years of jumping through the hoops of the Brazilian justice(?) system, David Goldman will finally be able to pass Christmas with his son, and bring him back home to the United States.
This case has mobilized Brazilian public opinion(in favor of David Goldman) and has brought to light the plight of children everywhere who have been illegally abducted by one of the parents.
International pressure has mounted in the past week against the Brazilian family who has illegally held Sean in Brazil since 2004.Possible economic sanctions from the USA against Brazil were in the works.
Once the ´wheels have lifted´(a term used by Mr Goldman referring to the wheels on the airplane leaving Brazil with his son in tow), I hope that the district attorney and the local Bar association will further investigate the Brazilian family. The stepfather and maternal grandmother are accomplices in international kidnapping. The Lins e Silva family used their influence with high level judges to quash and appeal every decision made in favor of David Goldman.
I can only imagine the joy that David Goldman must be feeling right now to know that he will finally be able to have his son back. I was praying for this moment since I saw the clip on the NBC Today show last September.Those prayers have been answered.
MERRY CHRISTMAS DAVID!!!!

Update on David Goldman

In an earlier post, I wrote about an American father by the name of David Goldman and the never ending struggle to get his son back.
This week it looked like it was going to happen as a high court in Brazil ruled that David´s son Sean was to be returned to the USA within 48 hours. This was on Monday. By Thursday,David Goldman had touched down in Rio de Janeiro ready to take his son home. Once again his hopes were dashed by a motion of habeus corpus done by the maternal grandmother that once again is delaying the rightful return of Sean to his biological father in the United States.
This Brazilian family has gone above and beyond to make David Goldman look like a bad father, that he was a leech off of his ex wife and to make matters worse, told the boy Sean that his father never came to Brazil to visit him in the 5 years he has been in Brazil.ALL LIES!!! They are simply causing the justice system to be even slower than it already is until Sean will be older and the full psychological separation will be complete. Apparently he wrote a poster saying that he wants to stay in Brazil forever. Well if his Brazilian family has been lying to him about his father´s love, of course he is going to want to stay in Brazil.
Mr. Goldman, if you ever read my blog, please know that I support your efforts whole heartedly and I am ashamed of the Brazilian justice system!!!

Newsworthy???

I have been quite uninspired to write in my blog lately. I don't want to be writing about sad stories, but it seems like lately there is more bad news in the world than good news.
Which of course brings me to my beef about the 'news'. What is considered newsorthy these days? Do we feel better knowing that Tiger Woods is not the golden boy, and that he too has his own problems? Whatever is going on between the four walls of his bedroom is really none of our business. But when you are a celebrity, your private life becomes public. It used to be that only the British Royal Family had to deal with the media and the paparrazzi. Sports figures were only photographed doing their sport. Over the years, the public has become more and more interested in the private lives of the rich and famous. "This is Robin Leach......."
One trip to the grocery store checkout and you are able to get InTouch with all of your celebrity gossip. Its OK, celebs are People too,they're just like US. These days everyone wants to be a Star!and InStyle!
Brangelina, Jon and Kate, now Tiger Woods!
You ask anyone and they know who Brad PItt is. Do they know who their member of parliament is? (I do,its Rob Anders and I didnt vote for him...)Do they know what is happening in the Arctic passage? (The Polar cap is shrinking so there are descrepencies about borders between Canada and Russia..)
The line between reality and fiction is becoming more and more blurry.The hunger for fame has gone beyond !!! My kids listen to a song by Hedley that really says it best

Grappling with Tragedy

I read the news from around the world everyday. Calgary Herald, Le Monde, New York Times, O Globo are all on my favorites.
I read about the war in Afghanistan, kidnappers in Somalia, human rights issues and so on. Human triumphs and tragedies. I am distanced from these stories because they 'happen to other people'.
That all changed over the weekend. I received the horrible news that one of my son's soccer teammates was a victim of a murder on Friday night. Today is Monday and I am still coming to terms with what happened. The boy's father was charged with second degree murder.
Just last Thursday, the young boy was playing what was to be his last soccer game. Who would have imagined that the man who was standing next to me when the boys came out of the dressing room at the end of the game would be the one who put an end to his son's life only 24 hours later? Why didn't I see a sign of something wrong? Everything looked so completely normal between father and son.
The soccer team is devastated and a grief counsellor is on call for the boys and the families to help us through this grieving time.
Tragedy can and will strike close to home. You just always believe that bad things only happen to other people....It doesn't.

Dragons Den...Update

In a post I wrote about a year ago, I talked about the Dragons Den on CBC. I did a rundown on each one of the Dragons, based solely on the persona they portray on the Den. I am proud to say that I think I got them all right.
My two favorite Dragons are Arlene Dickinson and Brett Wilson. Since my first post about the Den, I had the pleasure of meeting Brett Wilson, and he really is the same guy on television as he is in real life. He invests in people, not just products and ideas. If he doesnt do a deal, and says he is out, at least he has good reasons for his decisions and he doesnt belittle the contestants or humiliate them like Kevin OLeary does. Brett is tough ,yet fair.
Arlene is also tough yet fair and I like that she does give constructive criticism to the contestants. She sees the pitches with aa marketing eye, and I think she really knows her stuff.She also sticks up for single moms!!! I have had alot of people asking me about her white streak of hair. I wish I knew what to tell them, but it is either a natural streak or she paints it...only her hairdresser knows.

News From Brazil

O Rio de Janeiro, my adopted hometown, so many great things will be happening to Rio in the next few years, my hope is that is will finally come back to the glamourous city that it once was.
Decades of military rule followed by incompetent government both on the municipal and state level has left Rio an empty shell of what it once was. Crime, intertwined with corruption, hasnt helped either.
With the World Cup in 2014 and the Summer Olympics in 2016, Rio will be at the forefront of international attention. Hopefully the news will be positive.
Here is a list of some of the news from Brazil over the past few weeks.


1. Madonna just spent a week in Rio de Janeiro and secured a 7 million USD donation from local billionaire Eike Batista for her foundation in Malawi. Madoona is the patron saint of cougars....

2. The popular sports of frescoball and soccer have been banned on the beaches in Rio between 8 am and 5 pm until March. Overcrowding and stray balls add up to injuries during the summer. Its unfortunate because they are both popular sports and are part of the beach culture. Some of my friends consider it a human rights issue!

3.Want to spend a week in Rio de Janeiro in style during Carnaval? If you can muster up the money, this penthouse on Copacabana Beach is fit for a king.

4.Petrobras (the national oil company) is showing its strength and is now the 4th largest oil company in the world. Their off shore blocks are proving to be very rich in reserves. Their stock has now rebounded to pre crisis levels.

Playing with Fire- Theoren Fleury

I just finished reading the memoirs of Theoren Fleury. For those of you who have never heard of him, he was probably one of the greatest hockey players to play in the NHL.
The book is written in a very raw and in your face kind of way. He is no James Joyce, but the way it is written draws you in regardless. It's almost like he is sitting down with you over a cup of coffee and telling you his story.
Believe me, what a story!
Originally from Russell, Manitoba, Fleury worked his way through the ranks of minor hockey to be part of the 1989 Flames team that won the Stanley Cup. His experiences as a young player were tarnished by the sick pedophilic advances of his coach when he was 14 years old. The damage left behind on Fleury's psyche from the sexual abuse continually haunted him and caused him to spiral down and literally blow away millions of dollars on drugs, gambling and strippers. He recounts how he would party all night, come back at 6 a.m, and score a hat trick that night on the ice.
I remember when the fashion shows were happening in Milan, the professional soccer players were always backstage hanging around. They wanted to see and be seen with the gorgeous women wearing the fabulous clothes. I met a few, both in Italy and in Brazil and there was always one vein that was common to them all. They were just normal guys with the same insecurities that people have, thrown into the spotlight and having to perform for huge crowds weekly. They were passionate about the game, its all they really knew. Unfortunately, there were always the 'dark' elements waiting for them to bring them down, the hangers-on, the 'entourage', the money hungry gold diggers. I saw this so many times I have lost count.
There is a parralel between pro athletes and fashion models and the fact that they end up going out with each other is because they 'get it'. They both have to deal with the same 'dark' elements. How many young girls in Paris starting out as models were abused by their agents? More than anyone will ever know. I know of a few and I had to fend off my agent when I was 17. Reading Fleury's book brought that memory back to me. The same fear factor that Fleury's coach used on him was used on me and other girls in Paris. Luckily I was able to get out the situation before it became severely damaging to my psyche and moved on with my life. I didn't go down the same path as Fleury, but I know a lot of girls that did.
Young, far from family and familiarity. A recipe for disaster and perfect for the soul stealers and vampires to pounce.
Fleury has beem clean and sober for four years. He tried a comeback with the Flames, but was cut from the team. He retired a Flame.
He wrote that the reason he wrote this memoir was to bring to light the abuse that happens on a daily basis in the sports world. He is to be commended for comng forward and exposing parts of his life to total strangers.
I always loved how he was a tough cookie on the ice and was fearless against the 'goon squads' of the NHL. His tenacity is his greatest strength.
Thank you Mr. Fleury for sharing you life story. If your book stops even one child from being abused in the future, you have scored the best goal of your life.

Rio's new Olympic rings are expensive - Winnipeg Free Press

I am happy that Rio de Janeiro has been given the chance to host the 2016 Olympics. They really have ther work cut out for them though. Huge infrastructure projects and better transportation will need to be implemented immediately.
I hope that this will give Rio a chance to get out of its current state of affairs and put it back on the map as a destination for travellers.

EVERY GIRL AND WOMAN SHOULD WATCH THIS!!!!!!

Having been a fashion model in my former life(before kids), I feel it is my obligation to young girls everywhere to show what really happens these days with retouching and Photoshop.

Determination.....

Irving Penn...the Last Great Photographer

Being a fashion model in the late 80's and 90's, I had the opportunity to work with some of the best photographers out there. There are not many people who can say that they have worked with Richard Avedon, Helmut Newton, Albert Watson, Patrick Demarchelier, Steven Meisel and Mario Testino. But there was one photographer who I considered the best over and above all the others. Irving Penn. Unfortunately I never had the opportunity to work with him. He passed away yesterday at the age of 92.
He was known for being a perfectionist and it shows in his photos. The lighting, the aesthetic, the poses, were all just so amazing. I remember seeing his still lifes in Vogue and was always in awe at the simplicity of the image, but with the knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes to get the shot(remember, this was before Photoshop and onsite editing). Everyone has seen at least one of his adverts for Clinique.
There will never be another Irving Penn. The New York Times did a wonderful story on his life and his work.
He will continue to set the standard for photographers and art directors for years to come.But there will never be another Penn.

Seasons

Rio de Janeiro Olympic Host City 2016

FINALLY!!!
After two unsuccessful bids to host the Summer Olympics, Rio de Janeiro came out on top of Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid to win.

Chicago and Tokyo were eliminated in earlier voting and even after a last ditch effort by Juan Samaranch to woo the votes for Madrid, Rio was declared the winner with a 3-1 margin in the total tally of votes.

This is a very exciting venture for the people of Rio de Janeiro and for the rest of Brazil.
It is the first time that the Olympic Games will be held in South America. They picked a great city.

Needless to say they have their work cut out for them. There will have to be major overhaul throughout the whole city to be able to accomodate the traffic and the sheer amount of spectators expected to attend.
Brazil has the money to fund the Olympics, just from the oil royalties off of the coast of Rio. They have the skilled labour to build the stadiums, the roads and the venues. My only suggestion would be to increase the amount of machinery to build the roads faster. They tend to do everything manually, which is alot more time consuming.

This is the chance for Rio to clean up its act and hopefully there will not be insane amounts of palm greasing. The only things that could destroy the Olympic dream for Rio are corruption and greed from politicians.

It's up to the people of Rio and Brazil to not let this happen.

PARABENS RIO DE JANEIRO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Day of Atonement

Today is Yom Kippur. It is considered the holiest day within the Jewish faith. It falls ten days after Rosh Hashanah (aka Jewish New Year). I am not Jewish, but as I have many friends that are, I became aware of this day while I lived in New York City.
A day of reflection and forgiveness. It is a solemn day where Jews become closer to God through prayer and fasting. It is also a day of reconciliation. In the ten days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews are encouraged to seek out those who have been offended over the past year and genuinely ask for forgiveness. Only on Yom Kippur can one seek forgiveness from God. That is why it is important to 'make it right' in the ten days prior to Yom Kippur.
This holiday always falls in September, which is also the month of the harvest. In my interfaith mixture of beliefs, it makes sense that Yom Kippur falls at this time. Not only are we reaping the benefits of the harvest, it should be a time that we reflect on the past year that has brought us to this day. The saying "You reap what you sow" is very fitting right now.
I may be wrong, but I see it also as a time of renewal to start the New Year with a clean slate. Time to think about what transgressions we have put upon others and to honestly look within ourselves to become better human beings.
Forgiveness is a very important element to be able to move forward.It is also fundamental to achieve peace in this world that is so strife with conflict.

My Rio de Janeiro

Ah que saudades, minha cidade maravilhosa!!!
Oh how I miss you, my marvelous city!!!

One Day...

the toilet paper roll will run out.....

Where Are We Now, 40 Years After the Bras Were Burned

I believe that the TV series " Sex and the City" actually has caused more harm than good for relationships. I admit that I am a fan and have probably seen every episode including the movie. I did relate to some of the story lines and did find myself in the same predicaments as the characters portrayed.
What I find in retrospect is that the characters basically found men to be disposable. They would meet them and basically sleep with them on the first date. Samantha was the worst for this, but she was never shy or hypocritical of what she wanted from men. They were her prey and she was the predator. Miranda would get involved with men but her underlying bitterness and cynicism would get in the way, which in turn caused her to be even more bitter and cynical. Carrie was portrayed as a free spirit but I found that she was shallow and selfish and just used men to get her to where she wanted. Charlotte was dillusional (for this day and age), because she believed in the myth of Prince Charming coming to rescue her. Of the four, I found myself most like Charlotte because of her high standards she held for the men she wanted to be involved with. She had her heart broken more often than the other three. She wanted to fall in love and live happily ever after.
So if the characters of SATC were role models for young single women, where does this leave the men of this world? Unfortunately it has left them even more confused of the female psyche. Men have always played the field because society expects this of them. They are the 'hunters'. Now that women have become 'hunters' in both the workplace and in relationships, it has caused men to become more vain (metrosexuals, increase in cosmetic surgery procedures, grooming product lines expanding etc.). The worst result, I believe, is that men have lost their respect for women. Men do not want 'hunters', they want women to be their supporters and allies in this cruel world.
When the battle of the sexes has finally fnished, could someone let me know?

Beautiful....

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are messengers of overwhelming grief...and unspeakable love." --- Washington Irving

Quote of the Day

Love doesn't make the world go 'round; love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

Saturday's Quote

If truth is beauty, how come no one has their hair done in the library?
Lily Tomlin

Signs

This award winning short film is so heartwarming. I am a hopeless romantic at heart.Enjoy...................

Quote of the Day

"Even broken candy tastes sweet"

Communication Breakdown

A hilarious story of what can happen when people in a relationship have a disconnect...

Infidelity

After my last relationship with a control freak boyfriend, I decided that I needed a break from men and needed to be by myself to figure out and re discover myself. My essence had been quashed by his constant psychosis; he even imagined that I had been having an affair with my son's soccer coach.

I never cheated on my ex husband nor on my boyfriends. Never did, never will. I have seen too many people around me involved in that vicious circle of cheating and all I can say is that its just a bad gig all around.It hurts, and can scar people for life. I have, however been the one cheated on. I honestly believe in karma.

If you are in a relationship and are considering cheating or you are in a situation that could lead to cheating, do ALL of the world a favor: break up with your significant other first. Can't do it? DON"T CHEAT!!! Infidelity is the WORST thing one can do to their partner,regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

People do things to their significant other that they would never do to their friends.Would you 'cheat' on your friends? Would you disrespect your friends?

When you are in a relationship with a person, shouldn't you be friends above all?

I wouldn't date my worst enemy.
Would you?

The Lazy Days of Summer

Summer has shown itself briefly up here in the great white North. Its hot and sunny outside while I am here plugging away at my computer. Who knew that it could actually be hotter here than in Rio de Janeiro?? Even if it is only by one or two degrees.
After living in Rio de Janeiro for the past decade and a bit, I really took the warm weather for granted. There are two seasons on Rio, hot and hotter. In Calgary there are also two seasons, winter and road constrution. Ther are four distinct seasons here in Calgary and that is something that is amiss in Brazil.

The 'Peace' Bridge in Calgary

The new footbridge over the Bow River was unvieled last week amidst controversy and 'scandal'. It looks like a cross between a Twizzler and a bungie cord.Over 20 million dollars of taxpayers money will be used to build this eyesore.

Does Calgary really need another bridge over the Bow River? Definitely not a pedestrian bridge. People here drive cars(and big ones at that!!!!)

In the time of recession, the Mayor and the City has to show constraint on fiscal spending. It was bad enough when taxpayers found out that they were footing their dry cleaning bills and golf lessons...Did I just wake up in Rio? That sort of thing is typical of the politicians in Brazil..

Twenty million dollars could build alot of housing, a new wing in a hospital or care facility. This frivolous spending is irresponsible..

Winds of Change

OR....................






Alberta has long been known for its oil and ranching. Natural resources are what keeps Alberta's engine running. Unfortunately, the oil and gas business depends on non renewable resources, and bitumen extraction in the Athabasca tarsands has the reputation of being one of the major polluters in northern Alberta.With the price of oil hovering around $50-$60 a barrel, it is becoming less and less profitable to extract oil from the oilsands of Northern Alberta.

An even more serious culprit in regards to polluting the air is the burning of coal to fuel our electric plants. According to the Clean Air Alliance in Ontario, coal-fired power plants are the single largest industrial contributors to this crisis. Coal-fired power plants are major producers of:

-Nitrogen oxides, which combine with other pollutants to form ground-level ozone, one of the most noxious parts of the smog brew.
-Sulphur dioxide, which contributes to the yellow haze that hangs over Southern Ontario and is a major factor in causing acid-rain damage to our lakes, rivers and forests.
-Mercury, which can in even tiny amounts have a devastating impact on the human nervous system, especially for children and the unborn. Exposure to mercury can cause brain and kidney damage and even death. Mercury exposure has also been linked to impairment of children's reasoning skills.
-Lead, which is also particularly harmful to children and can cause brain damage, impair growth, damage kidneys and cause learning and behavioral problems.
-Heavy metals, including cadmium and chromium, which are known cancer-causing toxins.
The Nanticoke coal-fired electricity generating station on Lake Erie is Canada's single largest source of air pollution. This gigantic coal-fired power plant -- the largest in North America -- produces a toxic brew of pollutants, including sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, lead, cancerous heavy metals and arsenic. (Nanticoke is owned by Ontario Power Generation -- formerly Ontario Hydro -- which, in turn, is 100% owned by the Government of Ontario.)

The pollution coming out of Nanticoke's giant smokestacks is the equivalent of the pollution produced by 3.3 million cars. Its emissions contribute not only to the choking smog that lies over Southern Ontario every summer, but also to the potentially devastating impacts of global climate change and to the well-known problems caused by acid rain.

Coal Energy is Dirty Energy.


Its time to seek out greener and renewable energy resources. The most obvious is Wind Power.

Southern Alberta is home to the Chinook wind. The warm Pacific air is drawn up from the coast and travels at high altitudes until it blows down the Eastern slopes of the Rockies. The temperature can change from sub zero to double digit positive numbers in an hour. The First Nations call the Chinook the 'snow eater' as snow literally disappears from the ground.

The Chinook wind blows at about 60 km/hour and in some places in southern Alberta it can reach gusts of 100 km /hour.These prime conditions make Alberta a player in wind energy. In my opinion, it is a no-brainer. Wind blows constantly in some places and the trees are actually dwarfed due to the high speed and consistency of the wind.

Near the town of Halkirk, Alberta, the wind doesn't stop. I had the opportunity to visit the area with Dan Tocher, VP of Stakeholder Relations at Greengate Power Corporation. Greengate is a wind energy developer from Calgary, currently developing over 1550 MW of wind power on approxiamately 200,000 acres of land in Alberta. These projects are close to existing transmission lines. This allows Greengate to exploit some of Alberta's wind rich areas with little or no upgrades needed to the existing transmission lines.

Wind power is clean energy and is beneficial in many ways. It is non-polluting, it doesn't endanger the natural habitat where the turbines are located,and it will create jobs for the area around the projects.

In the end, windpower could compensate for the bad image of the oilsands and give us more green credibility in the eyes of the world.It will also neutralize the deep carbon footprint left by coal-fired power plants that are scattered across Canada.

There is a proverb from Africa that states:

"The earth is not ours; it is a treasure we hold in trust for future generations."

DONE!!!!

7 Ultramarathons
7 Continents
7 Months

Norma Bastidas has done it. She is the first woman to run 7 ultramarathons in 7 continents in 7 months. Her last race was in Jura, Switzerland which she finished over the weekend.
You would think that a super athlete like Norma (yes Norma, you are a super athlete, super mom and a super friend)would be the epitome of some Amazonian beheamoth to be able to do what she did. But in reality, Norma is very petit and if the wind was strong enough, it would blow her away.
I am blown away. How many single moms do you know would take up a task to do what Norma did?
She has literally gone to the ends of the Earth to raise funds and awareness for preventable blindness.
I can't wait to meet up with Norma on her return for a long awaited coffee talk!!
In the meantime, go to www.normabastidas.com to donate for this worthy cause.

One More Race...

On Wednesday night, I went to the annual Garden Party thrown by Brett Wilson here in Calgary. It was a wonderful warm Alberta summer evening and the philanthropic crowd of Calgary was out in full force. This years charity was my friend Norma's 777 Run for Sight. As I have mentioned in earlier posts, Norma is running 7 ultra marathons in 7 months on 7 continents to raise awareness and funds for people with visual disabilities. She has completed 6 of them and has one more to go in Switzerland.
I am not sure, but I believe that the Garden Party raised over 100k in donations for the charity. In this recession, its good to see that the pockets of the philanthropists in Calgary still runs deep.
One more race Norma, you are almost there!!!!!

Father's Day

This Sunday will be the first time I will not wish my dad a Happy Father's Day. He passed away the day after Saint Patrick's this year. I am Dad-less. It is a very odd feeling to say that, but it's true.
Which brings me to another thought. How many people out there who have Dad's that are alive, but dad may as well be dead when it comes to being there for their children.
Thirty years ago or more, being a single mother was a rarity. Maybe one or two kids I went to school with were raised by a single mother. Nowadays with a divorce rate of around 50%, there are definitely alot more children raised in single mother households. Single dads fall into a list of categories. I have listed them below. This list is not definite, nor is it the absolute rule...just more of my observations.

1. The Dead beat Dad. Unfortunately they do exist. Fleeing from financial and emotional responsibility of their kids. Won't pay child support, and if ordered to do so, will claim poverty and work under the table so as not to be on the fiscal revenue radar that is used in the Canadian court system to calculate what he should be paying to his KIDS. Makes zero effort to see his kids, even though there may be a signed custody agreement.Major loser.

2. The Outsider Dad. Sees his kids once every two weeks for the weekend. That's it. Pays child support, but has a tendency to contradict the running of the household where his kids live citing that he has a say in the daily running of the household because he pays, yet does not reap the stress that comes with his autonomous decision making.. Example: Mom says no, dad says yes, mom is the villain, dad is the hero because he said yes. Outsider dad is often seen at shopping malls buying presents and more presents for his kids.

3. The Overindulger Dad. Similiar to the Outsider dad, but doesn't get involved in the day to day stuff. usually is a workaholic and travels alot, so time spent with children is minimal, so he overindulges his kids when he sees them with expensive toys, designer clothes and video games. Does pay child support willingly.

4. 'Mr Mom' Dad. Splits custody at least 50/50 with the mom. If he had his druthers, he would have the kids all of the time. Does the role of the mother and the father (drives kids to activities, involved in the PTA, cooks and cleans) I love Mr Mom's.They may have divorced their wives, but they didn't divorce their kids.

5. My ex husband. Useless.

Misconceptions and Facts About Brazil

I am presently in Canada and when I tell people that I have been living in Brazil for the past 10 + years the flurry of questions and misconceptions arise. Let me clarify a few things that most people may not know about Brazil.

1. Brazilians speak Portuguese, not Spanish. French was taught as a second language up until the 70's at Brazilian schools. Now the number one second language taught is English, followed by Spanish.

2. Carnaval is once a year for 5 days. No, people do not dance and party in the street the other 360 days of the year.

3. Brazil is the only country who has won the World Cup five times.

4. Brazil was a military dictatorship from the late 60's until the mid 80's.

5. Brazil has HUGE amounts of natural resources ranging from oil, fresh water and bauxite to gold and precious colored stones. It has a strong agricultural infrastructure. Coffee, orange juice,cotton and soyabeans are among some of the commodities from there. It also has the largest number of cattle in the world. The northern state of Ceara has the perfect location and conditions for wind power.

6. The Amazon forest is in the north, not near Rio de Janeiro.

7. The Brazilian Ministry of Health was instumental in breaking the patents on AIDS drugs. This reduced the price of the 'cocktails' from over $10 000/year per patient to less than $1000. This is covered by the national health system and the idea has been 'exported' to countries such as South Africa.

8. Brazilian doctors are amongst the best in the world. Not just the plastic surgeons, but orthopedic and oncologists too.

9. Brazil is very diverse. Originally discovered by the Portuguese, it has influences and immigrants from Holland, France, Germany, Italy, Africa, Japan, Poland and Syria and Lebanon. The aboriginal people of Brazil have been there for centuries, some tribes in the Amazon are yet to be discovered.

10. Not everyone lives in a 'favela' or slum. Unfortunately, favelas have grown fast and furious over the past few decades. What started out as small communities of migrant workers from the poorer Northeast part of Brazil, they have become 'no man's land' in some cases because of rampant crime caused by the drug trade and the 'milicia'. Not all people who live in the 'favela' are criminals. Most are hard working ,honest people who would give their shirt off of their back. Unfortunately, a few ruin it for all.

Coffee/Men..Whats your Brew?

"Lets meet for coffee." It used to be "Lets meet for drinks", but with the stigma attached to alcohol lately,now when one meets someone for the first time , the venue of choice is the coffee shop.

I believe the type of coffee a man drinks is a good indication of the type of guy he is. There are hundreds of types of men, and hundreds of types of coffee, but I will narrow it down to the coffee drinking establishments found in Calgary.

1. Tim Horton Man (Homo Timmus Hortonus). Loves his hockey and usually drives a pickup truck. Will use the drive through. Also tends to be a good man to have around to fix things and help with heavy lifting.Exclusively Canadian.

2. Starbucks Man (Homo starbuckius). Usually has a Blackberry genetically attached to ear and has overdeveloped thumbs from texting. Barks out his order to the clueless barista for a skinny mochaccino between phone calls. Useful for organizing your finances or computer hard drive. Found on almost every corner all over the world.

3. Caffe Artigiano Man( Homo Artigianus). Originally from Vancouver but now has spread to Calgary. Perfectionist. Eye for detail. Demands and expects the best. Dresses in Italian suits and loafers, and has a tendency to engage in body hair removal(and expects you to do the same)Elusive yet romantic.

4. Caffe Beano Man (Homo Caffe Beanus) Artistic, creative. Uses Beano as his office and social apex, usually after his workout. Also known to write poetry and short stories while watching others around him. Found only in Calgary.

5. Second Cup Man (Homo Secondus Cuppus)Direct competition to the Homo Starbuckius. More down to earth yet still enjoys diversity in coffee without the haughty attitude. Found only in Canada.

The Underwear Affair

On June 6th, there will be a 5km walk and 10k fun run in Calgary to raise awareness and funds for cancers below the waist.These include prostate cancer,colon cancer,ovarian cancer,and bladder cancer.
Its called the Underwear Affair. Participants are encouraged to drop their trousers and run or walk in their underwear/lingerie. After the run,there is a big party with DJ's and drinks. It sounds like a blast!
Considering that they don't have Carnaval here in Calgary, this could be the opportunity to get semi naked and dance down the street!!!!
Now the big question...
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO WEAR???????????

Oh Canada!!!

I just received an Email today that blew me away. Apparently, the Canadian National Anthem will be sung in Hindi at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. I know I have been away in Brazil for the past decade, but since when has Hindi become an official language in Canada? Did I miss something?
Hindi is not the third official language of Canada and the National Anthem should not be sung in this language at an international event. Only in English or French, period.
Living in Brazil, I have never expected Brazilians to speak English. I could never imagine the Brazilian national anthem to be sung in English. It's a no brainer. How about the 'Marseillaise' sung in Farsi? The Italian national anthem sung in Mandarin?
Canada relies on immigrants and it is the labor of immigrants over the past century that make Canada into the great country that it is today. I respect traditions from other countries, but I draw the line when these traditions of other cultures trumps the 'Canadian' way.
I have lived in three foreign countries, and have always respected the language and culture of each and have gone as far as learning the National anthem of each country and standing up and singing it in their respective languages.
Oh, and one last note, when the National anthem is being sung, stand up and REMOVE your hat. I was at a hockey game last week and I was appalled at the number of people wearing their baseball caps whilst the anthem was being sung, even after the announcer requested that people remove their hats for the singing of the National anthem. If anything, it should be out of respect for the men and women who fought for Canada in the past and in the present.

Raising Boys

Last week I had to go out to a meeting for my son's soccer team. I have been a hard core supporter of soccer(or as I prefer to call it, football)ever since I saw the World Cup in 1982. The semi final that year between France and Germany is still vivid in my head...but I digress.
Before I left the house, I told my boys that I wanted the kitchen tidied up before I got back. Half expecting to arrive with the dishes still in the sink, I was blown away by what I saw. They had not only cleaned the kitchen, but they vacuumed the front hallway, organized the shoes and boots and had a glass of red wine and candles out and the fireplace on.
I was flabbergasted. They went above and beyond the call of duty. I was so proud of them that I boasted incessantly to anyone who would listen. It made me realize that I have two wonderful boys and they are on their way to becoming wonderful husbands in the future.
But of course, as with anything I do or say, there has to be a snarky remark from my older sister. She quickly commented on my Facebook page that my kids were probably up to no good and that I should check their phone calls, Emails and measure the wine bottles, and that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
It's true, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree and that is why my kids are so wonderful and have free spirits that haven't been quashed by some pseudo-conservative household regime. My mom even says that I act more like a big sister rather than a mother. I am the 'cool' mom to my kids friends. We listen to rap and AC/DC and love to dance together in the living room. The way I look at it is if you are close to your kids, they are more likely to open up to you about what is going on around them. If you are the super authoritative figure who is unapproachable, they will internalize their inner angst and do something stupid(drugs, fighting etc)
When you become a mom, there is no right or wrong way to raise a child. There is no Owners Manual to follow. Being a single mom is even more complicated.
In the end, I wouldn't trade my kids for anything in this world. I am just raising them to be good husbands in the future.

Obesity Has Hit Everywhere

 

The epidemic of obesity has hit the shores of Brazil. Gone are the days of perfect bodies. They still do exist but are farthur and fewer between. It is very sad. The typical Brazilian diet of rice ,beans, meat and vegetables has given away to fast food and processed food. My mom figures that ever since McDonalds opened up in Brazil, the number of obese people has increased.

TV Globo..Also Known as the Contraceptive Network

Six nights a week, all over Brazil, people from all walks of life tune into the 'novela das 8'. The most popular are shown on the TV Globo network. Contrary to American soap operas which are shown during the day, Brazilian soap operas are shown during prime time and have story lines that run for 6-9 months (as opposed to 30 plus years in the USA).
I always joke to my Brazilian friends that they live their life like a 'novela'. Full of drama,full time.Apparently my observation has merit. A study has shown that in small villages that receive the Globo signal, the birth rate has decreased and the divorce rate has increased.
More proof that we are influenced by that black screen in our living room.......