Can you feel it! Can you feel it!

 <--- My Brazil bling











The energy is palpable.  It's flowing into my apartment from the streets.  Rua das Laranjeiras is full of cars and people heading to their individual game destinations. One thing is for sure, the country is ready to stop and cheer on their team.

I'm no soccer expert but I am worried about this game.  I heard the North Koreans have been practicing up in the mountains so that their bodies require less oxygen when they play.  I really doubt the Brazilian team has been doing that.  For starters, a lot of them are big money players in Europe.  The talk around here is that moving to European teams ruin Brazilian players. They play for the money after that, not the heart of the sport.

Our team this year is quite defensive for a Brazilian team.  Kaka will be our play maker... That worries me.  He wouldn't even take off his pants for Vanity Fair. Where's the heart in that?  Take off your pants for Brazil!  Ok, maybe I just wanted to see him in his boxer briefs, but do you really blame me?

In the end, they are Brazil!  And I hope they remember that! Let's pull a Germany and kick some serious North Korean 나귀, 고집쟁이(ass)!

C'mon now tell me....
Can you feel it,
Can you feel it,
Can you feel it!

The hills are alive with the sound of music

I'm super excited today. I'm as excited as a girl who knows she's going to have her cherry popped tonight after Prom.  Ok, not really. I don't think that girl is excited at all.

Point being, Brazil plays this afternoon!  I woke up in such a good mood that I had the coffee made and Pão na Chapa (small french bread pan fried in butter) finished before any requests were even made. 

I am planning to take my boys to the good park that is a 15 minute walk from my house. They need to play and run and climb.  I need to tire these little men out so that they'll play inside later without complaining.

I also have food to make.  We have friends coming over! I love having friends over!  It's the best of both worlds. I get to socialize with other adults who's company I enjoy while my kids are in their own environment.  At home I know where my little climber can get into trouble and my big sassy one can entertain himself.  .

So I baked my Brazilian M&M cookies (made with yellow and green M&Ms) last night. I had to wait until last minute or there wouldn't be any left. I think we've already managed to eat a third of them this morning.  The carrots and celery are washed and cut, ready for the veggie platter which will also include cherry tomatoes.  My maid who comes on Mondays made some Brazilian pudding which is basically the same thing as Mexican flan.  That leaves the cake, popcorn, and stromboli to be made.  I would explain what stromboli is but it's my first time making it so I really don't know how it is or how it'll turn out. I'm hopeful though.  Anything with pepporoni and cheese will at least be eatable.  And last but not least, Pão de queso.

Oh wow, I need to go. I think I smell my youngest's diaper from the other room.  Seriously.  I'm in the dining room and he's in the playroom. I'm almost afraid to go in.  Oh well, let's get this party started!

USA vs England

So today is the day!  Our first game and it's with England. I'm not too hopeful, then again, I am.  My British friend told me that the England team sucks this year.  My husband told me that the US team is pretty good (yeah yeah, I should know that on my own).

If I put those together: England team sucks + US team is pretty good = we have a chance!

Then comes problem number 2. We have another festa Junina party at 4pm. The game is at 3:30 here in Rio de Janeiro!  If we hadn't spent all morning inside, I'd say the kids could just play in the house. I think, in the interest of my family, I'm going to have to suck it up and go to the Festa Junina party.  I'm pretty sure there will be a tv somewhere in the Fluminense club to see the score.  This is Brazil after all.

More math: Brazil (more specifically Rio de Janeiro) + the World Cup = TVs everywhere playing ALL games, especially Brazil games.

Regardless, I'm going to raid my closet for red, white, and blue and wear flip flops so my fabulous American toe flags will be on display for all to see.  Will someone please remind me to bring US flags, shirts, etc for the World Cup in 2014!

I love Brazil

I love Brazil!  It's the only country I know of that let's its people take a half day off work to watch Brazil play in the world cup.

Starting next Tuesday, my husband will be able to come home to watch the 3:30pm Brazil game.  Woo Hoo!  I absolutely love the fact that the Brazilian government and many Brazilian companies support the watching of their team.  People are encouraged to go out and celebrate with family and friends, drink beer, eat, and cheer on Brazil. For those who can't leave work, it's common practice for the company to bring in a tv and everyone stops work for the game.

Let's hope Brazil delivers! 

Of course it's only for Brazil games.  It's just be crazy to take off for every game. Not even Brazilians are that carefree.

I hope to make my home a center for games with snacks, drinks, and a huge tv. Already have the tv, just have to make the snacks.  Hell, I may even keep my son home from school... that is if his school isn't already closed on those days.  My son's school loves any excuse to close.  Even the British school of Rio is closed on Brazil game days. Note to self, check with the school office.