Above and Beyond

I have always known that the love for children in Brazil goes above and beyond. Today that was displayed to me in the simplest act.

The Menace's teacher called home to tell me he was feverish. Today is also The Chatterbox's night to do Capoeira as an after school activity. Normally The Menace and I wait around playing while Chatterbox Capoeiras his little butt off, but since Menace was sick that wasn't going to be possible.

You see, Mr. Rant could not guarantee that he'd be able to make it by pick up time and Menace was really sickly looking. I went up to Chatterbox's class to break the news, no capoeira today.

My boy was already in his little Capoeira uniform and excitedly talking to his friends about practice. Of course he broke down into tears upon the news because "Capoeira is my favorite thing Mommy!"

His teacher looked at me and asked if there really wasn't someone that could pick him up. That I knew of at the moment, no. Sadly, he would have to be disappointed.

She stepped up. The teacher, who has a 1 yr old at the school as well, said that they would stay an extra hour and walk him home. Both of us live near the school and it would be no problem.

I was so impressed that his teacher, just to take away the dramatic disappointment that only a 4 yr old can feel, was willing to stick around with her 1 yr old just to make him happier.

That, my friends, is dedication. It is above and beyond. It is exactly why I love this country. A little inconvenience to make someone else's day is not a big deal.

In the end some friends, whose child is in the same class, offered to take him home so that the teacher wouldn't have to wait around. Talk about all the love I was feeling. A little extra effort for them made all the difference in the world to my boy and I.

In the end Mr. Rant made it to the school and The Menace and I had to take a little trip to the emergency room. The Menace is ok. Bronchitis and a sinus infection decided that they were going to spike a fever and cause some breathing issues.

By the end of the night, both my boys were home and feeling better than they were earlier in the day, all because of the help of the good people around me. Amazing how a sick toddler, a disappointed preschooler, and  a Mother with her hand full managed to all get what they need. I suppose this story has a moral and if I had to guess what it is I'd say it was that the help of a neighbor can change a difficult moment into one where everyone walks away taken care of.

Thank you to all the wonderful people who made tonight just another good evening as opposed to a disappointment! 

Help Solve a Mystery!

A friend and I were walking up to Aterro in Flamengo with the boys. We suddenly see a man run off with two police men chasing after him. There was regular car (not cop car) stopped in the middle of traffic with both doors open. The police men were in uniform. The man ran from, what seemed to be, the vicinity of said car. When the police did not catch the man, they awkwardly entered and drove off in the vehicle.  

The above picture is of the car stopped in the middle of traffic. 

I have my theories but I want to know, what do you think happened? 

The Ugly Side of Rio de Janeiro

So Rio de Janeiro isn't really giving me her best past couple of days. I must have pissed her off somehow because it seems that she is showing me the side of her that likes to give people the finger.

Anyway, I came to this conclusion while cruising the neighborhood. I passed by an old man laying on the edge of the curb with people circled around him.  Poor guy had passed out and badly twisted his ankle in the process.

He was awake at this point and people were trying to help the best they could. The feisty old man was telling everyone to get over it and that he wanted to go home.  I think he forgot that he is super old, just randomly passed out while walking on the street, and that other people were involved at that point. Sneaking home was not going to fly.

The sad part about all this was the lack of professional help. A woman was calling, for the second time I understood, for an ambulance. I figured I'd physically go get one since we were down the street from the freaking fire station.

I get to the fire station to find another man already there telling them the same thing.

The response of the fireman was alarming. He looked slightly annoyed and said that he would go note it down.

Note it down?! I know that there's a lot bureaucracy here but this is ridiculous! The guy was down the freaking street. If you can't take the car walk your ass over there with a stretcher and carry him to the hospital!

It makes me wonder, do these firemen not deserve the raise they want or is it a case of they'd work harder if that had it? Actually, random option number 3, the bureaucracy is the real problem and it does not matter how much they make.

What do you guys think? Does anyone know how the system in Brazil works? 

Rio de Janeiro's Traveling Pit Crews

I obviously love many things about Rio de Janeiro. Love it! But there's one thing that has always struck me as really freaking cool about this city. 

No, it's not the beer, the hot bodies, the sun, the amazing meat, fresh juices, or the fresh scent of urine.  Although those are all quite lovely.  

Nope, it's something so simple. 

You know when a crappy car breaks down in the street.  There it is, stopped and people honking.  Well in Rio de Janeiro, pedestrians come running to help. I'm not exaggerating, any able-bodied man will bust out a little hustle and help the driver push his car. It's almost as if each car has it's own pit crew following it around the city just in case.  

How freaking awesome is that! No one likes a car sitting in the middle of the road, nor do they like to be stuck in one.  It's community problem solving at their best. Quite often the people just help move the car out of the way, but I have also seen people push a car as far as a city block to a gas station.  

If that's not awesome, I really don't know what is.  

And I just saw it happening, yet again. I was waiting for my ever dawdling senior doorman to come open the gate when a taxi just didn't move with traffic. It took one honk from the car behind it to get people to run over. A moto-delivery guy, a Botafoguense, and a doorman were the first ones on the scene. 

That's when my ever efficient doorman finally decided to work and buzzed open the garage gate.  He was chatting in the parking area behind the building. Glad to see my need to bring my groceries inside my apartment didn't interrupt his conversation. 

Anyway, that's just a picture of Cariocas. They are really helpful people. They stop to push your car, help women with strollers get up and down stairs, and give us ladies an ego boost with hisses. Ok, maybe that last one isn't any help but I'm sure they feel they are doing something good. 

What good deed do people of your city do regularly? 

I need your help! What Should I do?

I have hit the last 13 or so days of my vacation home and my guesstimate weight gain total is about 25 lbs (11.4 kilos).

Houston, we have a problem.

I'm no ok with this. I'm fine with some weight fluctuation but it's not ok to be a little disgusted of yourself in the mirror.  Hey, in my defense, I didn't know I was this vain either.

The thing is, I went head first into food upon my arrival. I had no idea that my metabolism had gotten the memo that I had turned 30 and had given birth to two babies.  There you go underestimating... or overestimating, your body again Rachel.

And while I'm doing "The Firm" videos quasi daily, which I am as embarrassed to admit as you are to read, it is not working.  Sadly, my DVD did not come with a lipo vacuum attachment.  Now that would help you firm, not the side step and the samba for 40 minutes.

Oh the insanity of it all. I'd be fine if I were staying here where the season allows for Moo Moo sweaters to be cool under the right circumstance, but I'm not.  I'm going home to Rio de Janeiro where I will have to wear a bikini.  I think my stomach is going to eat it... God forbid, maybe even my ass.

So what to do?

That is where you guys come in! In my full dramatic way, I want you to decide what to do and I want you to be honest with me. None of this, oh I'm sure you look great load of crap.  What would you do if you were feeling like I do now?

The options I give are:

1.  Say Fuck it, pardon my French.  I'm already screwed might as well eat as much as possible, even though I don't really want to eat that much at this point because I have been eating as much as possible.  Phewww, long one.

2.  Keep up the 80s video jazzercise and eat a smidgen better.  Upon arriving home, good diet and an active lifestyle will make your body return eventually.  Maybe once the boys are back in school, you can even join pilates once again.  FYI: this is very balanced, sound, and middle ground. I am none of the above. I am rash, irrational, and indecisive. I don't know if I can stick to this one, no matter how sane it may be.

3.  Do the Master Cleanse, but for 7 days max... maybe just 5.  Yes, I'm a gluten for punishment but seriously, not looking forward to this one. The weird potion you drink, no food, and all that.  Makes me nervous.  And I know I will gain back the majority that I lose. But I will say, the 3 days I managed to do the other cleanse gave me a great jump start.  I figure, if I can get the extra frontal baggage off, at least 50%, I can do the other half sanely.

4.  Spontaneously thought of idea by you.  This is the thing that popped into your head while reading 1 through 3.

Now, I know you think I've made up my mind but, once again, refer to the second to last sentence of option 2.  Indecisive to the core.

So you tell me, honestly, if you were me, what would you do? You are a bit out of control right now with your eating, you are not craving any food from here in particular at this point, you are a bit disgusted with the girth, and are totally irrational.

By the way, I also am aware that while I put on weight, it's not that big of a deal. I know I'm being a big poor sport about the whole thing. Just a little whine with my wine.  But seriously, I hate feeling this way about myself.  Such a little pity party and it's starting to get me down.

So, what's the verdict?

What do you think?

 
Inspired by a friend's blog, I'm doing a little maintenance on my site.  While I may be many things, I am not a designer.  That's where you guys come in. 

Any ideas?  What do you like and not like about blogs?  Should I jump on the numerous page bandwagon and put a second page on?  Should I calm down my acid trip coloring?  Do I really need to organize my labels and make browsing my page more convenient? Or is everything just rainbows and unicorns and I should just leave it be?

Any thoughts and tips would be great!!  Thanks!