Bella Rose

Coffee Time

Little Antique Shop- Thistle

Skates

Lily Pads

"What your message in your bottle?...If its roots are cut off, how it's goin' to feed its flower. It might look pretty tempory, but see within an hour, disconected from its source with no footsteps to follow..."

Matisyahu Live (Rio de Janeiro)--A sick 2 hour set.

Sunshine

The Shining Heart

Be Italian Chairs

Creeping Clouds

Party Legs

Train

First KONI of 2011

Where's My Boss???

O Meu Amigo...

Belly Dance Fusion

@Moon Belly Dance Studios

Missouri Flag Pole

Hey Green Eyes

Daily Photo Submission

Today I watched Bill Cunningham New York and got inspired. This has been done by many people, but still seemed to be fun and an interesting creative outlet, as my job is very by the book and structured. My goal is to take one photo a day, doesn't have to be of anything substantial, but I want to capture life, as a photo tells more than me scribbling here.

Photo #1
When Life Bucks You Off, Get Back Up On The Bull

Self Identity: I've graduated

What happens when you lose sight of yourself, who you are, what you like, your friends that you hungout with, and the ambition of having a goal?

This would be my present dilema: an existencial crisis of stupendous proportions. I've graduated and now what?

Don't worry, this won't be a long cliche novel of ramblings (not sure if anyone even reads this anyway). I don't have patience to do that--seems that I am borderline ADD or a very short attention span. Sometimes, I find it a virtue, as it enables me to multi-task.

Sept 1st, I was slated to travel back to Brazil from Kansas City, Missouri. I was so blocked that I didn't even change the flight to another date. Truth behind it, it would have cost me at least $200 processing fee, plus I would have had to commit to going back at a certain date that I don't know yet. When I left Brazil I promised myself I would go back shortly, but now almost dying of SAUDADES do Brasil, I can't even imagine myself there. It's a very strange feeling. I crave Portuguese and any semblence of Brazil, but I let my ticket elapse. Brazil was such a large part of me for the past 5 almost 6 years, that now I feel part of me is missing. Apparently, I had assimilated myslef so well, that now the reverse culture shock is almost impossible to overcome.

I digress, sorry:

So, hum...what do I like to do? Too many things and yet not enough. I like: writting (but nothing too long, hence the ADD again), exercising, learning about healthy lifestyle trends, cooking, hanging out at coffee shops and reading, playing devil's advocate, watching TV series, movies, listening to music, learning the guitar and attempting to play and sing, singing, composing music (eventhough not good), learning new languages, speaking Portuguese, talking about Brazil, learning about Brazil, different cultures, fashion, dancing (mainly Latin and African influenced), beating on my hand drums, spending time with my family, helping others, making people smile (unless it is a creepy man flirting with me), riding my bike, translating, socio-economics, learning, tennis, volleyball, pateteca, walking, painting, interior decorating, travelling, being a proponent of human rights, and the list continues.

From that list, how do I narrow down what my passion is? It's almost impossible. I like too many things, and they are all so different. I don't have a proper addiction to anything that I do. I am under the impression that anything one is overly ambitious about can be an addiciton. We all have our addictions. I guess the best thing would be to be addicted to something positive, but any imbalance should be avoided, right? Hum...this post hasn't gotten me anywhere, just more confused.

Three Reasons Why I Love Rio de Janeiro

OGX Sponsored Employee Volleyball Tournament - April 02, 2011

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of watching the OGX employees interact and play volleyball with each other on the beach in Ipanema alongside some of the Brazilian National Beach Volleyball team. I was invited my a friend of mine that recently started working there. For many that might not know OGX, it is a company owned my Ike Batista (one of the most influential men in Brazil this decade) that specializes in petroleum.

Bright and Early in Ipanema (OGX Offical Photo)

As many contempory companies are embracing these days: quality of life for their employees. This type of interaction and teambuilding is essential in business because it creates happy employees that enjoy being around each other and promotes a healthy lifestyle. This happiness can lead to a lower turnover rate, better results at work, increased communication, and essentially a more successful business.

Hosing Down the Hot Morning Sand (OGX Offical Photo)



The Professional Girls Stretching Out (OGX Offical Photo)

      



Warm Up Time (OGX Offical Photo)

School Shootings Not Only a Thing of the First World Anymore

I woke up and this was on the news:

 The Realengo Tragedy

Very sad.

Gostosssssooooo!!!!!!

This commerical puts a smile on my face every time I see it.

Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro: 10 Steps for Foreigners Visiting the Marvelous City

First of all I would like to remove all romantic notions of a clean crisp berry smell, that the air freshener Febreeze Carnaval would have you believe Carnaval embodies. Instead, please picture people on top of everyone sweating, beer cans all over the street leaving their scent in the air, wafting breezes of body odor and piss lingering the air, as a more realistic perception of the Brazilian Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, not sure if Febreeze would like to bottle that up.

For all foreigners visiting Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval, we would like to say, thank you and welcome, but most importantly, please wear sunscreen and be ready for a fun ride of random street dancing, drinking, and kissing. Here are 10 simple tips one should know before embarking to a street bloco (street party):

1) Don’t drink too much, because the Johnny-on-the-Spots are really gross and it is illegal to pee on the street. If it is an emergency, I strongly advise you to put out 2-4 reais to use a "civilized" bathroom at a bar or restaurant. It will still be gross, but not quite as bad;

2) Accessories and costumes are very cheap and ubiquitous, so please join in the fun (there is nothing worse than a party pooper);

3) Don’t take your passport to a street party (please, I have to mention this) to avoid it falling out or being pick pocketed; 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

4) Go to the popular street parties downtown and in Botafogo, but be ready for a lot of bodies to rub up against you (and not in a good way); 5) Stay on the perimeter of the street bloco to avoid being in the middle of the crowd if you don’t like feeling claustrophobic, but if dry humping tickles your fancy, go right ahead.

6) Girls, this tip is mainly slanted toward you. Don’t make eye contact with the boy that keeps checking you out unless you are prepared for the attempted kiss or hookup to follow, and I have a boyfriend won’t deter a smitten Brazilian guy on a mission to conquest your lips. (Demonstrated in the pic to your right)

7) Boys, if you are interested in kissing randomly, as written above, please pay attention to the Brazilian girls’ subtle hints if they are willing. Sometimes “no” doesn’t really mean “no” here, unfortunately for the foreign girls that are trying to be nice and infer “no” it really means “try harder”, just keep that in mind.

8) Try not to get sprayed with the water guns and please don’t perpetuate this annoying act. You never know if it is water, cachaca, beer, pee or a combination of the aforementioned being shot at you.

9) Learn the Carnaval songs and sing along. It’s more fun and you look less awkward.

10) Have fun and smile, you’re at Carnaval!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you follow these simple tips to the “T”, Carnaval is bound to be a good time for you and your friends.

Making Donations to Japan

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the earthquake in Japan. Events like this underscore the important work of voluntary organizations/humanitarian aid organizations, many of which also have domestic programs here in the United States. While the public at large often want to send unsolicited goods, please help disseminate the important message that “cash is best”.


http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/howtohelp.shtm


Financial contributions to a recognized disaster relief organization is the most effective donation to make.

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Most needed and the most efficient way of helping those impacted by disaster.

Allow voluntary organizations to fund response and recovery efforts, obtain goods and services locally, and provide direct financial assistance to disaster survivors to meet their own needs.

Make a financial contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice.

If you need help in determining who to give to, National Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster website has a list of major Non-profits that are active in disaster work or you can make your offer through the National Donations Management Network.

When the public supports these voluntary organizations with financial contributions, it helps ensure a steady flow of important services to the people in need after a disaster.


Donated Goods (Confirm what is needed BEFORE taking action!)

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Donate in-kind goods that are specifically requested or needed by recognized organizations.

Unsolicited donated goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable foodstuffs require helping agencies to redirect valuable resources away from providing services to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.

Confirm the needs by contacting the voluntary organization of your choice before starting to collect.

If you have a quantity of a given item or class of item to donate, and you need help in determining which organizations to give to, you can make your offer through the National Donations Management Network.

Everyone is moved when they hear the news that disaster has struck a community. By learning the best ways to donate and volunteer, we can all make a huge difference in the lives of those affected.


Jono Anzalone (FEMA Region VII VAL)

Perpetual Construction- Ting, ting, ting...

Sure, I use my blog a lot as my outlet to vent, but this has to be the most annoying thing about Brazil to me that I will never, ever, ever, ever....(get the point) miss: the incessant perpetual construction everyday. The apartments are all made of steel enforced cement, so when construction takes place, it is a loud banging that echoes throughout the building and imagine if you are right next to it, and there is always someone fixing or reforming something.

 For the past two months there has been a rhythmic bang, bang, ting, ting, bing, bing constantly everyday starting at 9:30 am from my neighbors apartment. Not only can I not sleep in, I can't concentrate on my studies, and the sounds is so maddening that it automatically raises my blood pressure. Every other day I complain downstairs to the doormen, but there is nothing they can do, since it is within the owner's right to make reforms and undergo projects outside of the "hour of silence", that doesn't really exist here also.

So the moral of the story is, I pay rent to be able to study, read, enjoy myself around the house, live and I can't even cook or do laundry sometimes because of all the banging. Livid at this point. Watch out construction workers!!! Just kinding, but seriously annoyed!

Here's To Another Year!

I raise my plastic champagne glass to the sky and thank God for another year wishing for the best.

I think to myself and ponder what will 2011bring? Hopeful, I comprise a list of goals for the new year:

1. Laugh More

2. Make My Health Number One Priority

3. Eat More Healthfully

4. Exercise Daily

5. Practice Guitar & Piano More

6. Finish MBA

7. Learn More Interesting Information Just For The Fun Of It

8. Dance More

9. Realize Personal Projects

10. Love And Have More Grace

11. Don't Judge Others As Much

12. Spend More Time With Loved Ones

13. Stress Less

14. Get One Step Closer To Where I Want To Be

15. Move Closer To Figuring Out What I Want Out Of Life

THE NEW YEAR IS PROMISSING & DIVINE: HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR!