My Christmas Gift

WHEELS ARE FINALLY UP!

Congratulations Sean & David Goldman! Father and son, reunited, spending Christmas at the Happiest Place on Earth. What else could I wish for?

Goldman case update

TRF-2 will judge the appeal tomorrow. A panel of 3 judges will decide.

I'm freaking out just a little bit. I'm not concerned about the outcome, I'm pretty sure the judges will rule Sean to return to his Dad. I just want to know whether the ruling will be enforced and the kid will be allowed to go home.

AP story - Ruling Due Wednesday In Brazil-US Custody Dispute

There's something wrong with me

I have been reading Lipstick Jungle for the past couple of days (in the train) and I'm bored out of my mind. I'm on page 28 for crying out loud. I read 10 pages and fall asleep. I guess I'm getting tired of average Chick Lits. Perhaps Candace Bushnell's novels are better on screen than on paper, or was it just SATC that was good? I read One Fifth Avenue when it came out. It sucked.

Anyway, I've decided to move onto something a bit darker, such as the Carrie Fisher memoir. That's probably funny too.

Hey, what's the purpose of this post again? Just rambling... I know!

Exhausted

I'm really tired of everything.

If I put an effort to do something nice, people overlook the good in it and quickly point out the "mistakes". One can have many qualities but it's the one little defect that stands out.

You know what? I'm done. I'd rather do the bare minimum - or nothing at all - and get the same treatment.

"He has my blood running through his veins"

This past Wednesday I had the privilege to attend a Congressional Hearing on International Child Abduction and it was one of the most heartbreaking things I've ever witnessed. Left-Behind Parents pleading Congress to pass a bill in order to impose sanctions on countries that fail to uphold an international treaty they signed, called The Hague Convention on Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. In the case of non-signatory countries, such as Japan, it's a bit more complicated.

There were four LBPs at the hearing: Tom Sylvester, whose daughter Carina was abducted to Austria in 1995 when she was only 13 months old; Navy Commander Paul Toland, whose daughter Erika was abducted to Japan (the only living parent after his ex-wife committed suicide); Patrick Braden, whose daughter Melissa was abducted to Japan; and David Goldman, whose son Sean was abducted to Brazil. I suggest you read all the testimonies. The stories are very hard to read, but those are things that must be told.

After volunteering for many months at the Bring Sean Home Foundation, I had the opportunity to meet the Goldman family. One thing is see them on TV, another is to see their pain up close. I had tears rolling down during David's testimony. Only someone who's a parent can try to understand what those parents go through, but can only have a tiny idea of how much pain they're in.

I'm afraid this case is being pushed to the back burner. Not much has been reported lately. The Brazilian media was at the hearing and recorded interviews, but other than a small note on a couple of newspapers, no other media outlets touched the case.

At this point, we're waiting on the decision of the TRF-2. The iron-clad verdict from June 1st was issued a stay while the courts examine the appeal. The decision could come any day now. Someone said it was to come in September. Well, it has come and gone, as well as October and November. Each day lost is a victory to the abductors, who get to brainwash this child, for it will take much longer to "de-program" Sean once he's back into his father's arms (read the transcript the Wolf Blitzer interview here).

It's interesting the different ways Brazilians react to this case. Some will side with the abducting family, either because they came were abandoned by spouses or father, or because they're unhappy in their marriages and would love to flee with their kids, or because they have a very old-fashioned notion that a man cannot care for a child alone, or because they believe the biased reports that say the child was abandoned. Others will be on the fence, saying the mother is no longer around to give her version of the facts (despite 4 years of court records of her testimony on file that never discredited David for being a loving, dedicated father). And there are the ones that agree that say it was a crime to take the child away but he is now used to the environment and should be left alone, despite the fact that has been proven over and over that the 9-year-old has been brainwashed and the environment where he lives is not healthy. Thankfully the majority of Brazilians I know are outraged by this travesty, the corruption behind-the-scenes, the lies, and the slowness in the judiciary.

The needs of a 9-year-old boy and his natural father are being ignored by a family that is holding him hostage in Brazil.

It's time to make some noise. Write to friends and family about it. Blog about it. Post about it on message boards and forums. If you have a twitter account, please use the tag #bringseanhome when writing about it. Together we can Bring Sean and all the other abducted children Home.

Run, Liesl, Run

My life has been so frantic. I have been working my butt off, planning T's 6th birthday party, having my mother as a guest and preparing to go away during the holidays.

I am so glad I've read a lot this year. I have no books in my queue, which is so unlikely...

So, how about "V", huh? I'm a little disappointed, not nearly as good as the original... It may get better, we'll see.

Luxo Jr, what have you done?

Pixar Intro Parody - not for kids

If the embedding doesn't work properly, you can view the video here

Slice of Heaven

I'm in love with Flake Chcolate Bars made by Cadbury.

One of my managers just returned from the UK with a Cadbury Sampler. SO GOOD! It reminded me of the days I spent with my sister in London 11 years ago. But I had never tried Flake. YUM!!!!!

When she loved me

Took T to see Toy Story 1 & 2 re-release in 3D. I just love those movies, as well as anything Pixar will do.

So, naturally, I bawled my eyes out when Sarah McLachlan sings "When she loved me" just like I did when the movie came out 10 years ago. I was thinking of my old toys, all my dolls my *evil parents* (LOL) made me part with.

Go ahead... watch this and bawl along with me:

PTA Meeting

Yesterday I had my first PTA meeting. I was excited to go and contribute as much as I could (since I work full-time there's not much availability). Plus my neighbors are heading the PTA this year. In the end, I was very ticked off.

It happens that the meeting took too long for the fact that every paragraph said needed to be translated into Spanish. 37% of the kids in my son's school are Hispanic and the parents don't speak English. Now, seriously, why do we have to accommodate them? They came into the US, they have to learn English. They're not going to make any effort to do it since the school makes it easier for them.

I have learned English, so can you!

Should I demand PTA meetings in Portuguese, Chinese and Russian as well?

I found this video on youtube. It's supposed to be the answering machine of an Aussie school, but it's been attributed to different sources. It doesn't matter. It's brilliant and the example should be followed.

Things I don't understand

A few weeks ago, my friend had invited me to go see TS1 & 2 with the kids this past weekend. It was my husband's 20-year HS reunion weekend (I have to write a post about that). So I told her I couldn't come and asked if we could go next weekend. So we set the date.

She just posted something on a social networking website forum (that we're both part of) that she was proud of her daughter, who did not complain about the 3-D glasses during the 2 movies. Uh, weren't we supposed to go together? And, uh, if she were going to see it this weekend, wouldn't it be nice to drop me a line and say "hey, we decided to go by ourselves" instead of announcing it publicly?

If I knew she was so eager to go and didn't want to wait, I would have taken my son on Friday night (her daughter is younger and goes to sleep earlier). The reason I didn't do it was because I had scheduled it with her in the first place.

I know it's stupid and I shouldn't make a fuss about it, but it's Monday, and I'm not in a good mood.

"It's amazing, Molly. The love inside, you take it with you. See ya."

RIP Patrick Swayze 1952-2009. You left too soon, you will be greatly missed.

Has anyone seen Mary Poppins?

I haven't been well... I need Mary Poppins to teach me how to snap my fingers and fix everything.

I alternate really good times with feeling bad, rock bottom. I'm often overwhelmed and irritated. Is this what depression feels like? I just want to stay in bed...

Hating my job doesn't make anything easier. I wish I could have a break...

Since I'm venting, I might as well talk about some "friends" I have that don't know what boundaries mean. They just *have* to keep tabs on you. Seriously, if you post something on a social networking site, they always want to know more. As in "going on a road trip" "oh, where are you going? so jealous!" bla bla bla. Well, if I wanted you to know where I was going, I would have posted it, right?

Since they don't get a life, I can't even stop with the freaking updates, since they will start asking what's going on, what's wrong, and even prompting calls from my family. Ugh!

First Day of School

My little Peanut is going to kindergarten today, in a few hours. Time does fly!!!

Actually, he was supposed to start last year, but the state has been moving the cut-off date sooner and sooner every year, and they wouldn't even test him.

It still does make me mad, though. People look at me and say "but you don't want to rush him", and I hate that. I hate that because I KNOW my son is extremely intelligent and - per his teacher - reads at the level of an 8-year old. Even the pediatrician urged me to try private school to by-pass the cut-off date (which just didn't happen because they follow the same guidelines as the public schools).

My greatest concern is that he will get bored in his classroom and start to put up a fight to go to school. It happened in daycare 2 years in a row and they had to move him up earlier.

Last Friday we had an open house at his school. He was really happy there, and quite comfortable. In fact, he didn't want to leave.

In a few hours he will be entering the school building with a Cars backpack and an apple for the teacher - his idea - anxious for knowledge. A big boy!

Bring The Boy Back Home

Couch Potato

This summer I've been catching up to the TV series I didn't watch during the regular year.

Heroes: I know it's the third season. Season 1 was awesome, season 2 sucked and was cut off short due to the screenwriters' strike. I hadn't seen it because it comes the same time as DWtS, and DWtS is always a priority for me. Season 3 looks a bit better. I have seen 5 episodes so far and I'm lost, partly due to not remembering most of season 2. Many wtf moments so far. Looking forward to the rest.

Fringe: I have spoken about it before. It's the new series by JJ Abrahams. That is enough to make it good (okay, I didn't like Alias, I admit it, I stopped watching it in the middle of the first season). It's a freaky twist on the X Files, mixed with the LOST crazyness. And Joshua Jackson is in it. Anyway, the pilot episode was a little "ah, whatever", but once you keep going, it's addictive. I watched all 22 episodes in less than 2 weeks.

Dollhouse: Okay, this is a Joss Whedon series and I was very reluctant because of that. It's the guy who created Buffy - a really bad show based on a bad movie. I watched a few episodes (mute on) because of David Boreanaz who played Angel, then he got his own series, but the storylines sucked too. He's in Bones now, which I watch if I happen to catch it. Anyway, I watched one and a half episode of Dollhouse and I am hooked. Think "Total Recall" meets "The Matrix pod" (something I'd totally like to have in my head). Plus I like Eliza Dushku.

How do I fit all this in a schedule that already contains Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy, LOST and the whole nine yards? Do I need to cancel my netflix? (please say no)

It's just getting worse...

Since the huge metro accident last month, service - that was already poor - just went downhill.

Last night the commute was especially bad since I took off work 10 minutes earlier to avoid the usual mess.

- Got to the station. There was a train leaving the platform and the sign said another one would come in 4 min.
- I wait. The 4 min appear and disappear from the sign, for about 10 min. Then finally changes to 3, 2 and 1. And it doesn't show up.
- It gets more and more crowded. I look angrily at the metro employee. On the other side, 3-4 trains pass by.
- A few minutes later, the train passes by the station, empty, lights still on. It stops. People get to the doors. Train resumes the trip (wtf?)...
- Sign says next train will be in 3 min. We wait. It gets more crowded.
- Train finally comes, fully packed with people Only 6 cars instead of 8.
- A few individuals come out. Then everyone just shove themselves in. No A/C. No space to breathe.
- 2 Russian young ladies read a book together (which is hard cover and kept hitting me on the shoulder) and giggle, like it's the ride of a lifetime.
- 2 kids (10 years old maybe) roughhouse on the seats, right next to their Mom, who does nothing
- Trip goes on, and I finally reach my destination at 6:00PM, 40 minutes later than it should have been. Considering it's a 30-minute trip (in theory), it took more than twice the time.

And it was short, considering it's taken me more than 90 min at times.

A few considerations about metro:

- a mild delay is about 15 min (for me, a mild delay is about 5 min)
- a delay is about 30 min
- a severe delay is about an hour
- if there's a delay, there's an 80% chance it's on the red line
- e-mail metroalerts will not come out until 20 min after the event occured, which means most of the time you're already at the platform waiting
- if they tell you to "add 30 min to your commuting", add 60
- if they tell you "find alternate means of transportation", you're screwed. Buses only take you to metro stations, never home. You will have to spend $$$$ in a cab
- rush hour fare is 4.50 each way (even when you're late to work and never get home on time), plus 4.75 parking. If they cut service, they won't discount your fare.
- if metro's ridership is up, they raise the fares. If the ridership is down, they have to raise the fares too. The fact that bananas are yellow also causes metro to raise their fares.
- metro employees are extremely rude and think they're there just doing you a favor. If I acted that way at my workplace I wouldn't have a job anymore.
- metro employees don't use metro system. They know it's unreliable. There was a fire in the red line a few years ago and metro personnel was late to work, stuck in traffic on Connecticut Avenue
- metro is unreliable and dangerous - per the Washington Post. The General Manager, obviously, denied.

I have ridden subway systems in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, New York, Paris and London. DC metro is - by far - the worst and more unreliable of all.

Is it March 5, 2010 yet?

How cool - and freaky - is this?

Harry Potter

My son and I started to read Harry Potter together. We just read a few pages every night before bed time. It's nice, he takes his shower, gets ready for bed and we read.

He has a lot of interest in reading. His teacher said that at 5 1/2 years old, he has the reading level of an 8-year-old.

We picked Harry Potter as a series of books to do. Plus when he's a bit older he can ready them all by himself. But we're pretty busy as it is now, there are quite a few to go, since we barely started the first volume.

The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys

Women too, I guess... :)

Sound of Music mode on

When I was little girl, I watched "The Sound of Music" every single day. Our VCR was one of those that had a remote connected with a wire LOL. My cousin had taped it from the TV and I would watch it over and over again. My mother would get fed up sometimes - just like we do when our kids *have* to watch Monsters Inc every day.

Most of the times we watched all the way until the wedding scene, and then turn it off, cause after that the Nazis invade Austria and things go downhill.

But when we did watch till the end, it was amusing to count how many times the lady bows at the festival. My aunt and I used to count it out loud. I think it was 23 times :P

So, I was chatting with some friends in Orkut how much I love TSOM - what's my nickname, again? - and we all found out we have a Julie Andrews virtual fan club. We all want to go to Saulzburg to sing and dance - how sad is it? LOL

I was very fortunate that when I visited NYC in 1996, Julie Andrews was playing the main part in Victor/Victoria. My father and I were fortunate to get tickets (and a guy who looked exactly like Kyle MacLachlan was next to us). It was a dream come true and I even shed a little tear.

So, while searching youtube, I found these. Pretty cool!

BTW, Nicholas Hammond, who played Friedrich, also played Spiderman in the 1970's series.

10!

Exactly 10 years ago I boarded a plane from Rio de Janeiro to Washington, DC, connecting in Newark, NJ. The immigration line was so long when I arrived I missed my domestic connection and had to be on stand-by for the next flight.

It's easy to remember the date. The day I arrived was the day JFK Jr. died. I remember seeing all the commotion in the airport, people looking at the monitors, their sad faces. It took me a while to grasp what was going on, I was still sleepy.

It was supposed to be a 2-year stint, but hey, I'm still here!

So, I guess, happy anniversary to me!

Hey, Mauro same to you!!!!

A bit of everything

Well, where do I start? I write posts in my head, daily, then I get home and don't write anything...

I've been working a lot. No news there. Times are hard, the company slashed our overtime. We're not authorized to do it, they won't pay for it. I end up doing it anyway, the work has to get done. I guess management did notice I was going above and beyond the call of duty and gave me a promotion. I was pretty happy about that!

Now hubbs and I are shopping for a new vehicle. His car payments ended in 07, mine in 08, so we did have a few extra bucks every month (which was nice considering there is a recession out there). I'm going to get an appraisal on my car tomorrow to see what we are able to afford.

T is his happy self, as usual. We traveled to WDW/Universal during memorial day week. He had a blast, rode 2 rollercoasters with his Dad (which means he cannot possibly be my son) and the splash mountain. The following week was his Pre-K graduation, the same day we met "his lovey girl who he's going to marry". He has very good taste, I must say.

BTW, he has decided the theme of his birthday parties in 2009, 2010 and 2011, which makes everything so much easier for me. 2009 and 2010 are practically ready. For 2011 I already have a few things - yes, I'm a planner!

I am still volunteering my time at the Bring Sean Home Foundation. Despite favorable court decisions, appeals after appeals have been filed. Add that to a slow judicial system... that really makes me mad. The Federal Judge wrote a brilliant, airtight 82-page sentence on this case (followed by a 2nd ruling concerning parental alienation). I feel really bad for this child, all this abuse. The family wants to cut all contact between him and his legitimate father. It makes me sick to my stomach...

I just realized I didn't write a single movie review this year. We've seen a few. There's also the TV series. LOST is more awesome than ever. I can't believe next season will be the last. Since we have a lot of time to kill before the next season, we've been watching it from inception? Who's we? Well, I attend a LOST roundtable every Friday at my friend's workplace (down the street from me). Well, now I'm also addicted to Fringe. I found the episodes from Season 1 online and I'm almost done. It's like the X Files, many conspiracies, twists and freaky stuff (and cutie Joshua Jackson). Lil Ole Nerdy me loves it.

Just wish I were in San Diego for the Comic-Con.

Deadly Metro Collision in DC

To celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary:

Shortly before 5pm today, there was a major accident on the DC Metro Red Line. Yes, it's the line I use to get to and from work. Fortunately I was not injured in this accident since it was on the opposite side of the line.

Traffic and train circulation is a zoo, though, and the metro trip that usually takes 35 min + delays took over 90!

As of 10pm today, there are 6 dead and over 100 injured.

Sending my thoughts and prayers to the victims and their loved ones.

Images below: CBS News


 

Shocked!

Seriously, I think I've seen everything now.

There's a couple, they're friends with my Dad and it's the guy's third marriage. My Mom was telling me the things they say about each other.

First, he told his wife "you're not the wife I loved the most but I'm going to spend the rest of my life with you".

Pretty sweet, huh? Especially for a guy who's been divorced twice.

Now it's the wife's turn, talking about her husband.

"He's my master and I do everything he says, I'm here to please him".

That was my queue to start whistling the theme from "I dream of Genie"... This is 2009, people!!!!! How can someone act like that????

Collective Blogging - Bring Sean Home

Truly ashamed of being Brazilian right now.



Bruna Bianchi Carneiro Ribeiro and David George Goldman got married and settled in Tinton falls, NJ. They had a child, Sean Richard Goldman, born in 2000. They had a very happy life.

On June 16, 2004, David drove Bruna, her parents and Sean to Newark airport. She was taking Sean to a 2-week vacation in Rio de Janeiro. Once she arrived in Brazil, she called David to tell him their love story was over and if he ever wanted to see Sean again, he'd have to come to Rio and, among many demands, sign off his paternal rights to Sean. It was a huge blow to David, who tried to reason with his wife, to no avail. David then started pursuing the matter legally, based on the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which both Brazil and USA are signatory. The Convention says a child must be returned within a 6-week period to the place of habitual residence (NJ) which is the appropriate forum to make a decision on this case. Well, 5 years later, Sean is still in Brazil.

When in Brazil, Bruna got custody of Sean immediately in family court, claiming it was a consensual separation and David authorized Sean's permanence in Brazil (using a travel authorization given by David, something that every child traveling without one parents is required to have). She also got a unilateral divorce from David and married family law attorney Joao Paulo Lins e Silva, from the prominent Lins e Silva family of attorneys. The law office where he works, ironically, is specialized on Hague cases. His father is a scholar on International Child abduction and Parental Alienation.

David was denied the right to see his son, as well as communication via email or telephone. The gifts he mailed were returned, unopened. The judicial battle taking years, mostly due to the slowness of the judiciary.

Last year, in August, Bruna died from complications after giving birth to a daughter by her second husband, Chiara. David thought the case was over, when he found out Bruna's new husband has filed to get custody of Sean and had it granted on the same day (even though the judiciary is really slow, isn't it weird?). David's case got the media attention, being shown on Today Show and Dateline, but the Brazilian family had an injunction in Brazil, saying nothing about the case could be published because the case ran in secrecy of justice. It wasn't until the New York Times published an article about this case in February of this year that the Brazilian newspapers picked it up. The maternal family fired back, with material based on hearsay and making up lies, publicly slandering David, including a letter Bruna's new husband sent, commenting on the couple's alleged intimate life. The family's connections in high society and politics, and a massive PR job changed the coverage of this matter to "poor rich kid who lives with loving relatives is afraid of being taken to the US by a mean American who never pursued his son". Liars!

They also say Sean should not be separated from his baby sister since they are blood relatives... what about his father???? They say it's inhumane to take Sean from his posh life in Brazil... what about taking him from his father 5 years ago???

David's battle gathered many allies, such as SOS Hillary Clinton, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Senators Lautenberg and Menendez, among others. When President Obama asked president Lula about this case, Lula simply said it was in Federal Court and that Brazil has an independent Judiciary.

In February, David saw his son for the first time in years and saw their bond had not been broken.

Finally, on June 1st, 2009, Federal Judge Rafael Pereira Pinto, on a brilliant 82-page sentence, ruled that Sean was to return to the US. The family had 48 hours to present the boy to the American Consulate in Rio de Janeiro. The judge's decision says, among other things, that Sean has been brainwashed by the family into believing his father never tried to get him back, and also Sean said that it didn't matter whether he stayed in Brazil or returned to the US, that the judge would decide. But would only start repeating he wanted to stay after a psychologist sent by the stepfather questioned his response. David flew immediately to get his son.

But 17 hours before the deadline, the Supreme Court issued a stay on the order, when prompted by a political party whose leader is friends of the family (wait a minute, isn't the judiciary independent?) and is questioning the "constitutionality of the Hague convention".

On Wednesday, June 10, the Supreme Court will decide this matter, and we don't know what their decision will be. Let's pray that justice will be done and Sean will be sent home.

I have attended the DC Rally in March, as well as written my congressmen and senators in Brazil and USA. Can you help???

Please visit BringSeanHome for more info and documents.

Happy Easter!

I know I haven't been in here forever, but I haven't forgotten...

Things have been busy, @ work and @ home. I guess that can be a good thing, right?

Hang in there, I am preparing some posts, I will write again soon. If all goes well, I'll post something by the end of the week. I even have 2 movie reviews to post.

Don't give up on me yet! :)

Socrates' Triple Filter Test

I know I haven't been here in a while. Don't worry, I'm still coming back.


A friend sent me this, and it's so true (even if it didn't happen). I wish A LOT of people would use it.

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom.
One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students called Plato?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates replied. "Before you tell me I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test".

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student, let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say.

The first Filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not.

Now let's try the second filter, the Filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed.

Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the Filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good, nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

The man was defeated and ashamed.

This is the reason Socrates was a great philosopher and held in such high esteem.

Sorry I never told you all I wanted to say

UPDATE: Grandpa passed on Saturday, Jan 24, 9:25am Brasilia time. Thanks for all the prayers and support. I'm hanging in there.

My Mom called me today to tell me the doctors said there's nothing they can do for my Grandfather. He had been in the hospital since Dec 25th. I think he was misdiagnosed before being admitted, and had infection after infection since then.

The last time I spoke to him was on the 24th, and it felt like he was saying goodbye, you know?

So maybe by the time I type this, or by the time you read this, he'll be gone.

My consolation is that he lived nearly 86 years. He was a hard-working man, raised 3 daughters and a son, loved 4 granddaughters and a great-grandson. He'll be dearly missed. More than my Grandpa, and my Godfather, he was a great friend.




I can't think of nothing else to say, so I'll just leave this really sad song that I love:

One Sweet Day

Sorry I never told you
All I wanted to say
And now it's too late to hold you
'Cause you've flown away
So far away

Never had I imagined
Living without your smile
Feeling and knowing you hear me
It keeps me alive
Alive

And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be togetherOne sweet day

Darling, I never showed you
Assumed you'd always be there
I took your presence for granted
But I always cared
And I miss the love we shared

And I know you're shining down on me from Heaven
Like so many friends we've lost along the way
And I know eventually we'll be together
One sweet day

Although the sun will never shine the same
I'll always look to a brighter day
Lord I know when I lay me down to sleep
You will always listen as I pray

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones

There is this woman I know, who is very quickly to point out the problems in everyone's marriages (we'll call her "B"). B goes out of her way to pass the gossip to everyone - and embellish quite a bit to make it more dramatic - about what goes on in other couples' lives.

Well, the other day I was chatting with a mutual friend (we'll call her "F"). So, F was at a party and saw B's husband hitting on a few ladies. Especially on a girl who happens to be F's cousin. Once he learned she was related to F, he backed out, very ashamed.

I'm wondering here how many times has B's husband cheated on her.

Everyone has problems and we never know what tomorrow may bring. We should just stay quiet and out of other people's lives.

Just saying...

100 things

Sunshine posted on her blog so I decides to give it a try. It was cool, it was like playing "I never" again :)

When you see a bold number, it means I have done this.

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band. (no, but I sung live, does that count?)
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child (no, but I'd love to)
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill...
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (yes, Portugal)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (I still have to work, so the answer is no; when I win the lottery you can ask me again)
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (we were not allowed all the way to the top, but I did go up there
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (just did... comingo soon!)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Gotten flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (I can't, I'm borderline anemic)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check/cheque
69. Saved a childhood toy (more than my hubby would like)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar (unfortunately... ugh)
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book (no, but I will soon)
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible (I tried, I think I read all the way until Exodus)
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee (yes, in my ear!!!)
100. Been to the Panama Canal.

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

As in http://carriestuckmann.blogspot.com

I know, I haven't posted much. The layoffs have started at work so I've been laying low.

For this week's FFFF, I've decided to post random strange things I've seen around. I was particularly inspireed by a lady who rode the metro with me today. She had a tan overcoat and a rather large scarf. It was red, fluffy, and it was wrapped around her neck and head. The ensemble made her look like a chicken.

Anyway...

On my last trip to Rio de Janeiro, we drove by the beach and suddently I saw this kiosk (this photo is not mine, I found it on google). You find these kiosks by the beach, and they sell beverages, snacks and the like. I'm sure the owner has no idea what the name means, but I just couldn't stop laughing. I'd steer away from the beer just in case :)



This one I found in Baltimore (duh). This bench is exactly across the street from Charm City Cakes (you know, Ace of Cakes from the Food Network channel? that guy!). So I just had to take a picture. I mean, seriously, if you've been there, you just KNOW it's not true. My co-worker was laughing really hard and pointing out all the litter underneath the bench.



This one is for Portuguese speakers only. I'm not going to elaborate. I saw this sign at a local park here in MD. I was with my Dad and we laughed so hard we nearly crashed the car.



This one I snapped on my last trip to WDW. This lady unfortunately turned away. She looked to be about 70. Her husband was on a wheelchair. They were taking pictures with Pooh and Tigger. Her ensemble was just something, the Snow White strapless top and the Minnie mouse ears. Hey, they say you turn into a child at WDW. I guess that's true....



NYC is already a strange place with strange people. We all know that. But here, on the same photo, on the famous Times Square, you will see a Naked Cowboy, a Chinese Elvis and the ugliest Statue of Liberty ever (suggested donation: $2).



Hope you've enjoyed the show. I'll see you next week.

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta

As in http://carriestuckmann.blogspot.com

Arlington National Cemetery

On Thanksgiving morning, I drove down to Arlington with my Dad and my friend. Hubby was in charge of the cooking :)

I've been living in DC for nearly 10 years but it was the first time I went there. It's a beautiful, peaceful place, but of course very sad. It looks like a neverending garden of stones. So many men & woman who sacrificed their lives for this country. It's a truly remarkable effort.

For those who do no know, Arlington Cemetery was built on what used to be General Lee's farm. General Lee's house is still there, under renovation now, but we were able to go inside for a bit. In the back of the house, there was a vegetable garden, 2 slave quarters (quite small, really) and a gazebo.

We were able to see President Kennedy's grave, L'Enfant's Grave and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Pierre Charles L'Enfant was the man who designed the plans of the city of Washington, DC. His Grave is at the top of a hill, overlooking the entire city. The view is incredible from up there.

On our way home, we stopped by the USMC/Iwo Jima War Memorial.

Here are some photos I took while I was there. Please roll over for the caption, and click for the enlarged version.



 

 



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Super cute!

Portion of the Disney movie "Saludos Amigos", released in 1942.

I'm just a *bit* biased to say Ze Carioca is one of my favorite Disney characters.

[Gotta hold back the tears when he plays "Tico tico no fuba" and teaches Donald to samba on the sidewalks of Copacabana]

I think even Christie Brinkley passed us in her Ferrari

I have to warn you, this is long....

Last week we received an email @ work, which was part of group mailing list for "Arts & Events". They were offering a coupon code to get discounted tickets to see The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber at the Kennedy Center ($90 orchestra tickets going for $25). Of course my co-worker and I jumped at the chance and got ourselves tickets (the 2 of us plus her 2 boys).

The show was on Saturday, Dec 28th at 7:30 pm. She said she'd pick me up at 6 pm. She calls me from her cell and says there has been an accident on the road which caused a backup. So she arrives at 6:30pm. I was a bit nervous with the timeframe but no biggie.

We're chatting in the car and she mentions to me she and her husband used to go to the KC before the kids were born (her oldest is 11!!) but she remembers how to get there. Okay, I guess (even though we had no maps or GPS in the car!). So we make into DC with no problem whatsoever and at about 7:05. We're early!!! She says we have to get onto Whitehurst Pkwy and then to E Street. But we see the KC from the overpass and she just gets on a ramp, that goes around the KC and ends up in Rosslyn, VA!!!! (Sunshine, my friend, I was laughing inside remembering the day you guys were trying to get to the Verizon Ctr and could see it from the road and not get there).

So I say "I remember this area, we're close to the Iwo Jima memorial..." and there we see the Iwo Jima Memorial. I swear to you I felt like I was with Chevy Chase in the car. After that we just went around and around, finally made it back to the Natl mall, got to a ramp that seemed to go towards the KC and then got onto George Washington Pkwy on the way back to MD. OMG!!! I had to roll down the windows. I was starting to get hot and really nauseous.

Okay, so she calls her hubby (actually, her kid had already dialed the phone LOL) and we manage to get onto E Street - finally - but no KC, just the Watergate. Then we see a cab and the driver gives us better directions and at one point I see this entrance that says "John F Kennedy Center" and I started screaming "make a right here! here! here!" (LOL). At this point, we make into the drop-off location and we're afraid to move, but the parking lot is right ahead so we get in ($17.00 to park BTW!) at 7:27.

So we get to the theatre and we still had to get tickets at Will call (oh dear) but in the end we only missed the intro of the first song.

(A short intermission here before I start commenting the concert. Go freshen up!)

The concert was really good. It was a collection of songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber's shows. The first part of the show had many different shows. The second part was centered on Sunset Boulevard, Evita and Phantom of the Opera.This website posted the songs and some photos of the evening.

The Orchestra was really awesome, but a performer called Ron Bohmer really stole the show. His songs were spot on and he hit notes I had no idea a man could do. Especially the Phantom songs.

There were a couple of performers there that - seriously - I don't know how they got the job. I mean, I was ready to pull the mic from their hands. It got to a point that I stopped applauding altogether.

(Okay, show is over. You might want to use the bathroom before we head home)

Now we're back in the car and I start to sweat. But we made it safely to Clara Barton Pkwy. I let out a sigh of relief since it's the way I come home from work when I drive in. I just had to be sure to tell her when to make a left so we could make it back to the beltway. Oh, yeah, she got off the wrong exit to bring me home. Thankfully, it just made the trip 5 minutes longer. We made it home alive.

But next time, I'M DRIVING! (and with a GPS just in case)

The World's Worst Dog

I have to start by telling you I have never owned a pet. I grew up in a condo and therefore there was no room for a dog to run around (even though some of our neighbors had dogs).

The only memory I have of a dog growing up a pechinese my aunt had called "Fofinha" (something like "cutie pie"). And most of my memories are from photos. See, Fofinha was my aunt's dog. When my mom went back to work after I was born, I'd stay at my Grandma's for the day. Everytime I was napping in the crib, Fofinha would lie on the floor, right in front of the crib, making sure I would not be disturbed by anyone. My aunt said if anyone came by, she'd get up and make a mean face, but never bark or make any noise.

My aunt had to put down Fofinha when I was just a toddler. She had a bad disease (we call it sinomosis). I know she had seizures and was in a lot of pain. My aunt suffered a lot and never wanted to have a dog again.

Hubby and I can't have pets since we're allergic (and I don't want to clean up after another 'kid'), but I admit I do have a healthy obcession with pugs. I just love them. They're small, they're cute, they're adorable, and if one day I win the lottery I'll buy a house large enought to have a dog-only area and then I can have my pug. Anyway...

Well, a couple of months ago my friend sent me the "Marley & Me" book. It's a great book, it makes you laugh and it makes you cry too. The idea of having Aniston and Wilson portray the main characters gave me chills. I will be honest and say I don't particularly care for either of them, especially Aniston.

My son practically dragged me to the movie theatre and I admit before the movie started I was already crying (LOL). I know, I don't even cry watching movies.

At this point it's possible not to compare book and movie. They moved some things around the book, changed a bit, but in the essence it's what the movie was. It was heart wrenching at the end. I was ok in the end, however, when the oldest kid (a great young actor, he was in "The Mist" and "The Dark Knight") held Marley and wept I just lost it! I was bawling my eyes out. There was plenty of laughter during the movie, but when the end came it was just silence and sniffles.

In the end, I thought the movie was a bit long but good. The scenes that Grogan chronicles the events going on in their lives were pretty good. Wilson did really well, especially towards the end, and he and Aniston had great chemistry. However, I didn't get the vibe from her that she was such a "Mom", you know what I mean?

So, if you go see it, just remember to bring an oversized box of tissues, okay?


(Was this really a review?)

P.S. They left out from the movie 2 great scenes: loading Marley into a plane to PA, and also when the house is nearly hit by lightning.