Week 6

It is so hard to believe we are closing in on our sixth week here in Brazil. The time has flown. I guess that is a good thing. Before we know it, it will be Christmas and we will be in Houston and then Florida. Then we will be able to enjoy "fresh" air. But we have been enjoying ourselves and learning our new home. And I definitely like that I live right next door to a mall.

What has happened this week? Not too much.

Sunday, we played American football in the lovely courtyard we see from our balcony. But we got kicked off to play on the hard court in the play area. Didn't know grass was NOT for playing on. Football is not the same on a hard court. We will have to brave the park next time.

Ricardo went to Florida for a couple days for work. I think he was there a total of 36 hours and then 18 hours of flying time. Doesn't sound like fun. But he brought back stuff from Florida that Abuelo and Abuela have been collecting for us. Thank you! The boys got their Tebow Bronco jerseys. They have worn them everyday this week. We got mail and magazines and such. The boys got textbooks so they are not behind when we repatriate. Yes, I am a mean mom to have the boys read and do other work after school. But they get no homework so don't feel too sorry for them. And although Ricardo did not bring me Cheerios (I doubt he could have fit a box in anyway) he did bring me dryer sheets.

Dryer sheets? You ask. Why would I be excited about dryer sheets? Well they do not exist here. Not exist? How could that be? Well, it is because they hang dry everything. Which is not fun when you go to dry yourself with a hung-dry towel that is stiff. Yes, everything that is hung dry is a little stiff. And it kind of smells like the air that comes through the open vent that cannot be closed. And that air does not always smell the "freshest". So the need for dryer sheets. Why don't they use a dryer? You ask. Well, because they suck. Try drying a load of clothes for three hours and it not be dry. Yes I wrote 3 hours. That is the time on my dryer if I put it on the first setting. I don't think the heating element is really hot. I would love to see the faces of people when they encounter an American dryer. They would probably fall on their knees in awe at something besides slightly stinky air drying clothes. 'Oh my goodness! A dryer that dries! Who has thought of such a thing? This is truly a work of craftsmanship! A new technology! Where has such a thing come from?'

Alas, that is not going to happen. I did not have an American dryer to bring down here. So I am stuck hanging things to dry and then throwing them in the dryer with a dryer sheet to freshen them up. Or the reverse. Makes life more interesting though. Doesn't it?

We have an open weekend. Don't know what we are going to do. Next month we want to plan a trip to Rio. So maybe Ricardo and I will start that. I think this is Florida v. Tennessee weekend, so that is on the schedule. And of course, Sunday football. Dolphins and Broncos playing this week and everyone is happy. There are several shoe stores in the mall. I wonder if they will miss me while the games are going on.....?