Fashion Police

January 7, 2012

Finished reading The Leader (Port Townsend newspaper) and eating the rest of the chocolate selection of German cookies from the generous care package the Laura’s sent me last week. My favorite section of the paper are the Police and Sheriff Logs and other than the old timer that attacked assisted living facility staff with a potato peeler, they declared “out of 231 calls, seven were related to a dog, cow or other animal and 15 were either partially or totally retracted.” Time in the wading pool pulling and pushing my tender ankle through the water and more reading, Intermitten Skyping with Taelor and where did the day go?

Dono chucked some outdated and undersized clothes in a substantial pile for the maid so I pawed thru it and found a few workable weather appropriate shirts. Still in the “get something and give something” mode so I scrounged through my plastic bags to donate to the pile. Taelor and I went through that process for several years in numerous times in our lives. Keeps down the stored items and feels productive to give to others who aren’t so fortunate to attain something new. Dono took one look at my shirt this morning and declared “I have that very same shirt!” Guess she had forgotten she had given several up for this afternoon she barked the exact words again, turning to her hospitable elderly caffeine loaded friend and pointed at my floral printed tie back top. The recent DIY haircut chiseled son of the visitor grasped his mother’s ring-barrened hand as they raced out to jump in their unattended car ahead of the utility truck. If they hadn’t left when they did, it would have been impossible to pass the cumbersome work vehicle and exit the sandy and ruddy street. Evidently there was an appointment to make soonish. Never did catch their names!

The chunky blonde neighbor has an ailing dog that cannot eat and whines and cries throughout the day. I practiced my Tellington Touch on her and massaged her belly to help with the digestion challenges. Cookie (the neighbor lady, not the dog) lives next door and hollers her many demands over the fence. I can certainly help with the dog issues, at least for a bit. The veterinarian cannot find anything wrong with Sasha so anything I attempt is better than nothing.

Let's Eat...and Eat!

January 6, 2012

Food is life.

Spent the majority of the cloudy humid day on a beach in the north end of the inner coast. Caught a ferry to the  distant port “gratis” since the boat operator has a brother who owns the bar. The tall solemn captain waved secret signals at each passing vessel. The other passengers were as eager to arrive at our destination with a series of cement pathways to turn up at the waterfall and various shops and snack shacks where the mostly Argentinean tourists vacation. It is a lovely but much changed area filled with colorful homes on the water, boats in their private docks and every so often a public taxi station perched on the end of a small dock to collect and deliver them to the bus stop on the civil side of the inlet.

The menu at the bar suggested vast inflated prices yet we partook nonetheless. Fish stew (90% of the catch is from the inlet though I suspect it is extremely polluted since petrol from the constant boat traffic dumps into the cove) crunchy French fries, white fluffy rice and shredded lettuce to accompany fried fish balls. I ate cheese pastels and shredded lettuce spattered with rich olive oil. Fisherman stand on the edge of the dock to throw their large nets. In the few hours we sat nearby they nabbed half a small bucket full of little silver fish. We share large bottles of beer and the kids slurp soda from straws in the bottle. R$400 and four hours later we were headed back on the wooden putting ferry. Nunca mais (never more) are we going to eat out during the holiday season…too much money while hardly any of us are working. ..until the next time!

There are many more beaches to explore, Florianopolis has more than 100 yet few have shade nor anything more advanced than a simple shack for snacks or men struggling behind carts pushing through the thick sand to sell ice cream and water or beer.

Slapped on mosquito repellent and will plop down to read a few chapters of my book. War and Peace is getting the best of me since I drop off after a few chapters. End up re-reading them the next night and the night after..

Fiesta for Pipo

January 5, 2012

Pipo’s birthday…what do you get a dog? Send your suggestions to: paulafhill60@gmail.com.

Lotta nothin’ goin’ on ‘round here! Most of the crew went to the beach in Lagoa and De and I are helping Dono downsize her various piles of clothing and tokens of memories to take along to Calgary. Moving forward as though it is the reality since the final decision has yet to be determined.

Gang of boys are over at the house from the neighborhood, shooting the soccer ball around, flopping in and out of the now sluggishly tepid water in the pool and pointing vibrant florescent nerf guns at one another. Fights break out and parents yell from across the wooden and wire fences on either side of the savage yard.

So far removed from life in privileged North America. Never taken the opportunity to spend six months, abroad or otherwise, without serious and profound concern with paying rent, utilities nor expenses outside of simple food and exotic drink. The sensation of being on a perpetual vacation was disconcerting initially since my sense of value had always been attributed to production-work that translated to adequate income.  Various times in my adult life, after relocating to a new spot (Minneapolis, Dallas, Sacramento, Madison, Florianopolis, Seattle, Kona, Hilo, Port Townsend) I discovered a new avenue for financial stability and limited commitment. The worries creep in now and again yet for the most part drift away with acceptance rather than a per usual resignation. A freedom I could rarely exhibit in the even recent past.

Greater worries such as the street battles in Sao Paulo between drug cartels and federal and civil police continue to weigh heavy on Brasilian everywhere as well as the corruption of the police force and political leaders. This is not a country of war yet the great battle grows between right and wrong, an abyss of desolation and distrust with impoverished victims getting caught in the crossfire. In the meantime, the professional futebol players have preposterous insuperable humongous absurd salaries. As deprived patients await urgent surgery for days, weeks, months on end. Yes, I am exceedingly fortunate.  I have the option to escape a tumultuous situation when not everyone is as auspicious.

Onto celebrate Pipo’s birthday with a beef enhanced cake!

Emotional Upheaval

January 4, 2012

Dying food whisked out of the frig to revive into ham, tomato and ricotta cheese as well as spinach and feta quiches, broccoli and garlic risotto, kale soup and fresh peach, pineapple and mango fruit juice. Piles of steamy towels, sandy shorts, molding t-shirts which happens relatively quickly in this humid environment end up in several loads of wash. We all tend to argue about where the soiled beach and pool towels should be placed versus the clean or used and now drying ones on the thick wire lines. Ah, battles of the beach community! Smelling them does not always determine use.

After much digging around on the internet and searching thru business cards, Gi finally discovered an ophthalmologist who could check out her droopy eye today. They just returned to report it is most likely an emotional issue since the physician could not  allocate the symptoms to something specific and charged a mere R$200. The past few days she appears lopsided and sinister with one semi-closed and puffy punk left eye.

Since the postal worker will not accept the outgoing mail, I have to wait to send my letters in Lagoa or downtown. I am not sure if they deem the Chippendales dude untrustworthy or if no one actually mails anything out. Denise told me the government no longer makes stamps, they simply run the mail thru a machine. I beg to differ, showing off the colorful international and domestic stamps I bought in Registro and Sao Paulo. So, worldwide, letters are unfortunately, fast becoming an antiquated ritual.

There is doubt whether it is a best option for grandma to go to Canada in eleven days. Decisions like this one are infinitely complex and poignant. The elderly seemingly have little say in their final days, months, years on earth whether they actually have the ability to express words or not. Though everyone involved strives to be fair and just, the senior isn’t able to make the choice even when they have all of the details and facts laid out before them. Confusion and chaos, consequential alternatives and doors closing or opening depending upon which side of the fence you happen to be standing. I explain about our culture and how customarily the grandparents sadly either live on their own until they are unable to manage independently or are shuffled from one home to the next and quite often not residing with a family member. Adult children are busy with their own family and the majority have full-time jobs and children of their own to accommodate. It is not an easy decision especially when the family members are physically terribly far apart or do not see eye to eye on these matters. Dono holds my hand and whispers in her sluggish words not wanting to offend either of her children nor sadden the grandson who is old enough to be aware of the controversy. She is torn about moving so far away from her daughter, family and culture. Whether Dono leaves the area or not, her life is clearly changing since the routine here must shift if she remains.

Off to the beach again since I decided on a new resolution is to go to the water daily whether I dip in or not!   

Rescue

January 3, 2013

Help! Stuck inside the house with the house key and I cannot get out! This is the last desperate message I received in my “in” box just as I was shutting down my laptop. Tomoko is sooo fortunate I got the email in time since she can’t speak Portuguese to  explain the situation to the renters below (if they are even around) and has no phone to contact us. Sent the recruits over to help her slide the house key thru a window to attempt to unlock the door from the outside. Not even sure she has rations…poor thing!

Transparent perfectly round jellyfish galore dotted the beach this morning, high undulating treacherous waves tore thru and toppled many a child. Considered sloughing into the surf yet realized I would consequentially have to be rescued by the virile deeply tanned red-shirted capped life guards patrolling the semi-crowded beach. Though that might not be such a bad experience I would probably end up on someone’s Facebook page in a tagged photo in my stark white runners top hitched up to obtain a better tan and my black bottoms that cover a non-Brasilian rounded butt. So, when I am thinner, have a more appealing bum, the perfect swim suit combination for my body and a good tan I will be willing to have a search and rescue episode with the life guards. Be sure someone is there to catch it on camera and post it, ok?

Books arrived via Correios today. I wasn’t home to encounter the Chippendale guy which was a huge disappointment. My good friend, Kay sent them along with a local Port Townsend newspaper and a box of slightly melted truffles. Yum! Everyone was so excited and crowded around for a peek. I am just finishing War and Peace so this is perfect timing. I am so grateful for the wonderful friends I have.

Dono had more medical tests today and she always insists on stopping for her favorite sugary egg tarts and having a bite to eat in a restaurant. When she gets out, she takes full advantage and as a result the medical excursion takes up most of the afternoon.

The water has run out again…so I have to turn on the switch for ten minutes to allow the pump to push the fluid up into the tank. Please preserve our fresh drinking water!

Aunt Ant

January 2, 2012

My new nickname is formiga (ant.) Dono designated this apelido since I am forever futzing ‘round the house-sweeping up sand and bits, washing mix-matched dishes, adjusting the damned newly stained slick sofa cover, tossing hoards of laundry in the machine, hanging or folding grand to tiny clothes, chasing down rascally fleas on the dog, collecting child’s toys, organizing and tossing from the frig, etc. Dono knows who to request assistance in searching for sweets in the cupboard!

My package arrived in the bright yellow correios van this morning with a cheerful exuberant confused driver decked in shorts and a tank top like he was applying for a job at Chippendales. Paula is a common name but Hill doesn’t ring true since the “h” in the beginning of a word is silent so I had to repeat my name several times for the young stud. My Swiss Army Knife comes in handy to pry open the strong tape encasing the box…whee!

Anticipation…Tom’s toothpaste and other things I am hesitant to write since the occasional passerbyer glances over my shoulder and some have English class…shhh! Felt like a little girl at Christmas. Thanks Lauras!

Nearly everyone left for the famous turtle sanctuary on the island. I don’t have the sympathetic courage to go along since I only feel deep pity for the trapped captured unnatural pool-housed creatures. Besides the fact that we lived on the Big Island of HI and spent oodles of time with the fabulous slow moving reptiles and adored them in the glory of their natural environment.

Applying accupressure to my tightly wrapped near full range of motion capable foot. My tooth is better. Haven’t caught the communal virus hot potatoing (is that a word?) like a hideous white elephant gift.

Denise and I spent time with Dono selecting the voluminous clothing and items she insists on carting to Calgary. Experimenting mostly outdated clothes, separating flashy jewelry, transferring vast items from one bedroom to the next and storing snug or oversized bits and pieces which is always dangerous. Have several weeks to accomplish this job yet made a good dent. Reminds me of the Sorted Affairs clients I had with over the years organizing their lives and heard the sad, trying, joyous, challenging and hilarious stories they wanted and needed to share. One of the most inspiring and intriguing business adventures in my years of employment.

Pizza, wine and chocolate…have to sign off! Red-faced and tipsy..

Gotta run…

Resolutions

January 1, 2013

The electricity went out this morning, all computers are down, water pump doesn’t work, can’t even open the garage door or light the stove so we packed up and went to the beach divided into three cars. The misty rain fell, the wind picked up and we landed at a friend’s beach bar near the southern tip of the island. The skewer thin wife and shy but cheerful Italian hubby bar owners were very helpful moving us from the table directly on the beach to under the eave of the restaurant. Much more attentive than our prior experiences at beachside bars. Had to pay $10 per car to park and the shocking resulting bill was $782 for the endless dishes of fried foods and multiple drinks. It is rare anyone leaves a tip, nearly unheard of actually. In the old days, friends would leave a joint if the service was over-the-top! Times have changed and we just leave a huge mess.

An afternoon of scarfing leftovers from last night’s dinner and plates of dessert then wii games on the television in the efficient living room.

An old empregada who has worked for several friends of mine came home to dress for a party last night and found a snake wrapped around her verandah post. It promptly slithered down to strike her directly in the forehead. Her son was with her and called the paramedics who sent a helicopter to pick her up and take her for emergency treatment. She is doing fine now but was frightened and shaky in her recovery.

On her list of New Years resolutions for Iemaja she told me she is wishing for a big strong boyfriend to protect her from large venomous snakes! Her son asked for his mother to recover and be able to make enough money to move closer to a civilized neighborhood where they don’t have to call a helicopter for assistance.