Thursday, December 31, 2009

Feliz Natal...Merry Christmas

Here are some photos from my family/friend time in San Diego for Christmas. It was so wonderful to see my family and friends....What a great time!!

I had my fill of Starbucks, Mexican food, Shopping malls, big SUV's, and my mom's cookies (yummy...but ate one too many...)! And....got to watch 2 Charger games!!!! Ahh!! Gotta love time with the family and Christmas morning in PJ's, too....


Making our traditional Christmas cookies
My Grandma!








Yummy Spanish wine we enjoyed on Christmas
Note the Charger jersey!!!
Stuffed Spinach & Ricotta Shells - Homemade by me!


Saturday, December 19, 2009

Back on Red/White/Blue Soil!

I landed about 1 hour ago back in good ol' USA!!! I am so happy to be here, even if it is Houston (ok, sorry to my Houston friends)! The airport is so big, organized and I bounded off the airplane full of happiness! I think the US Customs officer was a little thrown off at my cheeriness at 5:30 in the morning. Thankfully I didn't get sent to secondary inspection. Ha ha.

The airport is full of good smells...coffee, fried foods, and other smells that are "American" smells. I have the final leg of my journey shortly to San Diego! I cannot wait to land and see my family and my city...and enjoy those smells and moments.

Um GRANDE abraco!
Mollie

Monday, December 7, 2009

Another One Bites the Dust

Well, summer is in full force here. It's getting warm, the days are longer with sunlight until almost 9 pm, the  swimming pool opened, and, of course, I am fighting the never ending Battle of the Baratas. What is a barata you ask?? Well, it's a cockroach. Yup, a big, black, cockroach.

Because Horizontina is in the countryside and surrounded by a lot of forested area, you cannot avoid these buggers (no pun intended). They started showing up, uninvited, about 3 weeks ago. One here.....one there....so I got angry and put out these Roach Motels. They also have had some encounters with my Havaiana flip flop and let me tell you - I have a mean flip flop WHACK! So far, there has only been one that missed the flip flop flap. However, we had a re-match 2 nights later when I caught him ON TOP of the  Roach Motel. Let's just say, " he checked in, but never checked out".

Now, you might think that I have a dirty house, trash littered about, or something like that. NOPE! I have a nearly spotless house because I have someone who helps me take care of it three times per week. It is just something that you cannot avoid here and EVERY Brazilian has them in their homes in Horizontina. It's gross, but a fact of life here.

Last summer, I was SO freaked out by them and it would physically upset me when I saw them because I was so revolted by them. I found them in my bathroom, my bedroom, the kitchen, the living room. It's not like there are hundreds, but there are 1 to 2 at a time and THAT IS ENOUGH for me. I was fearful of them last year. What a difference a season makes! Now, I see them, RUN for the closest Havaiana and TAKE NO PRISONERS.

I just caught another one scurrying about the floor, a good 6 feet from the Roach Motel. I don't know how to advertise that this casa has NO VACANCIES! Oh well....WHACK! Another one bites the dust....

Um abraco,
Mollie

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Tango, Mountains, Waterfalls and Beach Vacation - Argentina & Brazil


I recently enjoyed a visit/vacation with Jim and Diane, who are good friends of mine from the Quad Cities. They are very special people to me and I was so excited they want to come and check out South America. We had a great time touring Buenos Aires, Bariloche (Argentina Patagonia), Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro and Angra dos Reis. I had such a great time goofing around, seeing some amazing sights, eating/drinking delicious food and wine, and spending time with special friends. Thank you Jim & Diane for your friendship and the WONDERFUL memories!! With love...Bejos and Abraco...(more pics to come!)


Tango Dancers @ El Querandi




Neighborhood of Caminito - very colorful!  
Statue in Buenos Aires. There is one on every corner!      



Tombstone in Recoleta cemetary. Guarded by one of many cats!


Beautiful tombstone. So powerful and expensive!


Monday, October 26, 2009

More Vacations...

I have been busy lately with some little get-a-ways! Last weekend, I went to Florianopolis with some friends (Americans). It was great!! Pics to come.

Next weekend I leave for 10 days in Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro again! This will be my 3rd time in Iguazu Falls in 2 months and my 4th time in Rio this year!! I love those two places. Two good friends of mine are coming to visit and we are doing a South American tour!

So, if you don't see any posts from me for a bit, it's because I'm busy....seeing and enjoying Brazil & Argentina!

Um abraco,
Mollie

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Feliz Aniversario para mim!! Happy Birthday to ME!


Happy Birthday to me! 32 years YOUNG today!!

I had a wonderful surprise at work yesterday when my sneaky mother sent me FLOWERS at work! I was extremely surprised. They called me out of a meeting to go get them from the security entrance. I was so surprised! The roses smell and look like roses from my mom's garden so I have my family very close to my heart today. Thank you Wolfpack!!!

So far, I woke up early, enjoyed my homemade faux Pumpkin Spice Latte and the morning sun streaming in onto my veranda. What a truly perfect day so far....

Thank you for all the birthday wishes, cards, phone calls and hugs I've gotten yesterday and today. I feel truly blessed and remembered by my dear family, friends and colleagues.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Advertising...Propaganda (portuguese word for advertising)

A popular form of advertising in Horizontina is hiring a guy on a motorcycle to drive up and down residential neighborhoods with a big speaker on the back BLARING some advertisement for a grocery store, party, or whatever else is going on. It is deafening how loud it is and quite annoying.

In the past, I didn't understand what was being advertised because my portuguese wasn't so good. Now, I can, unfortunately, understand every word! UGH!  There is so much truth in " Ignorance is bliss"!

It sounds like this..."Come to the new Zaleski where you can get sweetened condensed milk for R$1.50...." or "....SUPER promotion on mayonnaise R$2.59...." always followed by a "...don't miss out!"

I really wonder how effective this advertising is. I wonder if they do follow-up surveys or something to measure the effectiveness, in a quieter way?

Um abraco...Mollie