I was originally going to title my last blog "Being Home Sucks, Mom" because now I have to do housework again and I gained eight pounds. Housework is self explanatory since I no longer have a maid. I do have two boys though who are looking to earn money, so I have not had to do too much. It is a $1 a chore at my house. Of course that is as long as it is completed my way. I still rule the roost! The 8 pounds is really not fair. I will blame it on the type of food and the extra processes it goes through here as compared to Brazil, as well as the less eating of fruit since I cannot find good mangoes and any papaya what so ever. I will not blame it on the amount of food I am eating nor the lack of exercise. By the way, I have become adept in the use of wide belts to hide the muffin top. Oh and I can also blame it on my children. Since they are not in school I have to keep them occupied and not killing each other, thus I cannot exercise. I think those are good excuses. Put the blame on someone else I say!
I really enjoy being back. We are still without our sea shipment, but I was smart enough to pack my hairdryer this time. What is funny is that when I got to Brazil I had to use my clothes dryer to dry my hair until our shipment came. As we were leaving we did not have access to a clothes dryer for a week, and I needed to wash undies and such. So I had to use my hair dryer. Ironic isn't it. I think we have about 2 weeks maybe 3 before we see it. That will make it almost three months. Seems about right. We did have to buy a few new pieces of furniture to outfit our house. It is bigger than the ones we've left, hence the money for chore idea. I do love my new house. I can yell at my children without worrying if I am disturbing neighbors. And when we get our piano, I will not have to monitor the times the boys play. Our youngest is now playing trumpet. He is pretty good at it. He can toot that thing all over the house; I don't care. That makes it easy. The boys start school right after Labor Day. None of us can wait. I will party, I mean pray, when they head off hoping they have a good first day. Autumn is starting; a few trees in the neighborhood are turning. I have not had a real winter in four years. I hope the shivering I will do will help in losing some of the 8 pounds.
Yes, I do enjoy being back in the States. Getting things done is so much easier here. Target and Penney's and Macy's have everything I need. I do miss Brazil though. Yes, I have friends still there. I have tried to keep in touch via Facebook and emails, but until school starts it is not easy. Besides the yummy food and friends I am missing, I really miss the warmth of the culture. I have gotten so used to hugging and kissing everybody every time we meet, that it feels weird now not to do that. I know that if I did that here, I would freak people out, "Why are you touching me?!" Bear with me if it happens to you. I have forgotten a thing or two as well. I really have not driven much in two years. Now I have a car. I have gotten out of the car with the keys still in the ignition and the car running, though in park. Oops, I am no longer in a taxi! Luckily I have remembered to put it in park. Otherwise that would have been bad! Oh and that chore thing I mentioned, I have forgotten to do the laundry. "Why is the laundry on the floor and not washed and folded?" Oops, I need to do that. Shoot.
Now I am off to do some of that laundry, run errands, go to the grocery store, monitor summer reading, iron my husband's work clothes, and wash the car. I think that is all I have on the list today. Yep, so good to be back.
