This blog will been temporarily interrupted.
Apologies to my few readers.
I'll be back soon.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Carnaval II
One week away from Carnaval I find myself dreading it already.
The city becomes a mess at this time of the year, traffic is crazy. All due to street Carnaval and parties all over town. Plus it's boiling hot and I have a cold.
I feel like escaping this place as fast as I can.
And then come back on March, the 2nd, when the year in Brazil REALLY starts.
The city becomes a mess at this time of the year, traffic is crazy. All due to street Carnaval and parties all over town. Plus it's boiling hot and I have a cold.
I feel like escaping this place as fast as I can.
And then come back on March, the 2nd, when the year in Brazil REALLY starts.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Brazilian curiosities
Beautiful, "meaty", hot women in Brazil are vulgarly called "planes".
During pre-carnaval days, we see lots of mulatas around, with sculptural bodies, that would certainly fall in this category.
Embarking on this chovinistic mood, I couldn't resist to post the picture of this mulata, who could be called a Boeing 777, and her formidable "behind".
During pre-carnaval days, we see lots of mulatas around, with sculptural bodies, that would certainly fall in this category.
Embarking on this chovinistic mood, I couldn't resist to post the picture of this mulata, who could be called a Boeing 777, and her formidable "behind".
Ala-la-o o o o
Carnaval is coming. I wish I could throw myself right in the middle of the madness.
Next year.. for sure.
Next year.. for sure.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
The first time one never forgets
And I wish I was talking about sex, as my first time was pretty much below average.
In this case, I mean botox, of course, and I will sure not forget my first (and probably last) shot at it.
After having finally succumbed to this anti-ageing "miracle", or so people call it, I went ahead and "botoxed" my face. I had gone for a normal, harmless consultation at a (new) dermatologist and we then decided to go on with it - on the spot.
During the process, I thought of a joke I heard a few times as a child that goes like "if it's offered for free I'd even take injections in my forehead".. and kind of puzzled, I realised that there I was, PAYING to get injections in my forehead!!!
For most people the result of my venture might go unnoticed (not to Patrick, it sure did not) but I feel like I have a few paralysed spots in my face and a "devilish" look with ONE very high eyebrow...! Kind of a naughty, suggestive look 24/7 !?!
Now... is this whole vanity madness not a marvelous, contradictory contrast to the lighting up of incense, meditating and chanting mantras (next to hairy-armpit women) in my Iyengar class?!
The beauty lies in seeing the absurdity of the situation and NEVER to stop having a good laugh at it.
In this case, I mean botox, of course, and I will sure not forget my first (and probably last) shot at it.
After having finally succumbed to this anti-ageing "miracle", or so people call it, I went ahead and "botoxed" my face. I had gone for a normal, harmless consultation at a (new) dermatologist and we then decided to go on with it - on the spot.
During the process, I thought of a joke I heard a few times as a child that goes like "if it's offered for free I'd even take injections in my forehead".. and kind of puzzled, I realised that there I was, PAYING to get injections in my forehead!!!
For most people the result of my venture might go unnoticed (not to Patrick, it sure did not) but I feel like I have a few paralysed spots in my face and a "devilish" look with ONE very high eyebrow...! Kind of a naughty, suggestive look 24/7 !?!
Now... is this whole vanity madness not a marvelous, contradictory contrast to the lighting up of incense, meditating and chanting mantras (next to hairy-armpit women) in my Iyengar class?!
The beauty lies in seeing the absurdity of the situation and NEVER to stop having a good laugh at it.
Meanwhile in diaper world
My little baby Joaquim is starting to smile and say "Gu-gu" and he just looooves a cuddle. Actually at 2 months and a few days old he is already a professional "shmuzer".
He comes to mummy's arms and "pof!" - dead asleep.
Well, there is still a few years (and a loong time) before I get all mellow about this little chap going to primary school.
But then again, as I said earlier, time flies.
He comes to mummy's arms and "pof!" - dead asleep.
Well, there is still a few years (and a loong time) before I get all mellow about this little chap going to primary school.
But then again, as I said earlier, time flies.
A Milestone
Tomorrow Antonio starts primary school.
I can't help but to feel kind of blue facing this milestone of "my big baby's" life.
While tagging his books this afternoon I kept thinking that from tomorrow on he'll start building his knowledge and opening his mind to an infinity of interests. Forming life-long friendships (or at least as long as we stay here) and experiencing all the ups and downs that school life brings.
Extremely touched by all that lies ahead of my beloved little boy, I came to realise how time REALLY flies. And how important it is to fully participate in his life, guide, love and instruct him. But most of all, to enjoy -with him- the glorious childhood years of life.
I can't help but to feel kind of blue facing this milestone of "my big baby's" life.
While tagging his books this afternoon I kept thinking that from tomorrow on he'll start building his knowledge and opening his mind to an infinity of interests. Forming life-long friendships (or at least as long as we stay here) and experiencing all the ups and downs that school life brings.
Extremely touched by all that lies ahead of my beloved little boy, I came to realise how time REALLY flies. And how important it is to fully participate in his life, guide, love and instruct him. But most of all, to enjoy -with him- the glorious childhood years of life.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Revolutionary Road
Yesterday night I went to the cinema to watch Revolutionary Road.
More than a film, this is a mirror held in front of one's face.
I felt like my life will never be the same after being thrown those truths at.
The movie, nonetheless, is a masterpiece.
More than a film, this is a mirror held in front of one's face.
I felt like my life will never be the same after being thrown those truths at.
The movie, nonetheless, is a masterpiece.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Fish goes, fish come
My son's fish died this morning.
My sister gave it to him as a Christmas present and he fed it, looked at it and talked about it every single day ever since.
The little one got really shaken by his loss and after calling the whole family to deliver the news, we had a little funeral to poor Gary.
I promised him instantly to get him a new fishy and late afternoon we drove in a flooded Rio to a pet shop to buy his new aquatic pal.
Two "female" ones were picked and paid for and as we drove home their names were chosen. "Anna" is the red one and "Bluey" is the blue one.
So easy to make a six-year-old mind-blowing happy. So rewarding as well.
This afternoon, the fish costed me 3 Euros but his smile was just priceless.
My sister gave it to him as a Christmas present and he fed it, looked at it and talked about it every single day ever since.
The little one got really shaken by his loss and after calling the whole family to deliver the news, we had a little funeral to poor Gary.
I promised him instantly to get him a new fishy and late afternoon we drove in a flooded Rio to a pet shop to buy his new aquatic pal.
Two "female" ones were picked and paid for and as we drove home their names were chosen. "Anna" is the red one and "Bluey" is the blue one.
So easy to make a six-year-old mind-blowing happy. So rewarding as well.
This afternoon, the fish costed me 3 Euros but his smile was just priceless.
Vik
This afternoon I took Antonio, and three of his mates, to Rio's Modern Art Museum to see the exhibition of US-based Brazilian artist Vik Muniz.
His works are extraordinary and consist of well-known master pieces redone using different materials (garbage, toys, coloured paper, real diamonds, tomato sauce, peanut butter, chocolate fudge).
We saw a "Medusa Marinara" made with spaghetti and.. marinara sauce, a Monalisa made of peanut butter and another one made of jam. Boticelli's Venus of Milo made of garbage and an Elizabeth Taylor portrait made of real diamonds.
Difficult to describe his vibrant, original, phenomenal work. Unmissable.
Hong Kong
My last posts made me think of Hong Kong and I realised I had never written about the city I adore.
Maybe because I am moving to NY soon and the association between both cities is inevitable, I've been thinking more and more about it.
Just to make things clear, Hong Kong is New York of Asia.
We came there, myself and Patrick, with 23 and 25 years old respectively.
Upon arrival at the city and at our "hotel" we went (surprise, surprise) straight to a pub and after a few beers walked towards Kowloon's promenade.
We had little idea and few expectations about the place and were taken - full blown - by surprise. The view we had of HK island and its skyline was shattering and absolutely unforgetable to us.
I have the feeling that it was right there that our globetrotting life reallly started.
Maybe because I am moving to NY soon and the association between both cities is inevitable, I've been thinking more and more about it.
Just to make things clear, Hong Kong is New York of Asia.
We came there, myself and Patrick, with 23 and 25 years old respectively.
Upon arrival at the city and at our "hotel" we went (surprise, surprise) straight to a pub and after a few beers walked towards Kowloon's promenade.
We had little idea and few expectations about the place and were taken - full blown - by surprise. The view we had of HK island and its skyline was shattering and absolutely unforgetable to us.
I have the feeling that it was right there that our globetrotting life reallly started.
Likes and dislikes
I bought my first (and only) Celine Dion CD while living in Hong Kong and came back home from work everyday - in the very cool HK tram - listening to it in my diskman (Jurassic times).
Maybe I associated her music to the fabulous time I had while living there.
Her passionate tunes blended well with the very emotional local music, that even sang in Cantonese and totally non-comprehensible, nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Talk about the likes of Emil Chau... (maybe a cheap Chinese version of James Blunt)
This is powerful stuff, my friend.
Maybe I associated her music to the fabulous time I had while living there.
Her passionate tunes blended well with the very emotional local music, that even sang in Cantonese and totally non-comprehensible, nearly brought tears to my eyes.
Talk about the likes of Emil Chau... (maybe a cheap Chinese version of James Blunt)
This is powerful stuff, my friend.
Skeleton in the closet (chapter I)
Everybody has one or more skeletons in the closet.
I have a zillion of those. Believe me. I could even be in the Guiness book of records, I suppose.
But my really tacky, cheesy, whatever you call is...
CELINE DION... (Blimey!!)
She is whatever people say but her voice is just out of this world. And it gets under my skin..
I'll still go to Vegas one day to see her. And Patrick will for sure be sitting right by my side, clapping and nodding (kind of "yeah, amor, she's all right!"). And getting all touchy and emotional. In a way only real die-hard Germans can get... hahahahaha
I have a zillion of those. Believe me. I could even be in the Guiness book of records, I suppose.
But my really tacky, cheesy, whatever you call is...
CELINE DION... (Blimey!!)
She is whatever people say but her voice is just out of this world. And it gets under my skin..
I'll still go to Vegas one day to see her. And Patrick will for sure be sitting right by my side, clapping and nodding (kind of "yeah, amor, she's all right!"). And getting all touchy and emotional. In a way only real die-hard Germans can get... hahahahaha
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Sun worshipers
I've checked on BA's site which area Patrick will cover in his new job. Latin America and Caribbean is quite a vast possibility of countries and I wanted to get familiarized with his stations.
Mexico, Bermuda, Nassau, Jamaica, St Lucia, Tobago, Buenos Aires, Miami, etc... Let's just say we'll have a hell of a good year ahead.
And the word of order will be: SUNTAN!!!
Mexico, Bermuda, Nassau, Jamaica, St Lucia, Tobago, Buenos Aires, Miami, etc... Let's just say we'll have a hell of a good year ahead.
And the word of order will be: SUNTAN!!!
God bless
My 6 year-old is the best son and brother anybody could wish for.
His affection towards Joaquim is never-ending and his jealousy is down to the very minimum.
I simply have no words to describe how lucky I am.
Saying farewell. Once again
Crying like a river. And no one would understand if I said I was writing an e-mail to a bunch of friends and getting so emotional.
Well, it's true and I did cry my eyes off as I wrote my farewell e-mail to my South African friends yesterday afternoon.
I had an idea already that my bond to SA, its people and the friends I made there was very strong. I had seen evidence of it once, less than a year ago, as I was driving home from the gym in Joburg and I received a phone call.
On the other end was Patrick and he was breaking the news that he might be transferred to New York. - "HEY, HO! Congratulations, bla, bla, bla..!" And fat tears started rolling down my cheeks, like a 10 year old kid, driving by people and cars, in complete disarray. I was two months pregnant then.. and I got so damn sad about the prospect of leaving South Africa.
The transfer did not materialise then and we stayed on in SA a few more months.
However, at that exact moment I knew I was hooked. And might stay this way until I go back one day to my beloved Africa.
Well, it's true and I did cry my eyes off as I wrote my farewell e-mail to my South African friends yesterday afternoon.
I had an idea already that my bond to SA, its people and the friends I made there was very strong. I had seen evidence of it once, less than a year ago, as I was driving home from the gym in Joburg and I received a phone call.
On the other end was Patrick and he was breaking the news that he might be transferred to New York. - "HEY, HO! Congratulations, bla, bla, bla..!" And fat tears started rolling down my cheeks, like a 10 year old kid, driving by people and cars, in complete disarray. I was two months pregnant then.. and I got so damn sad about the prospect of leaving South Africa.
The transfer did not materialise then and we stayed on in SA a few more months.
However, at that exact moment I knew I was hooked. And might stay this way until I go back one day to my beloved Africa.
The little eater
Unlike Antonio, our baby Joaquim, is a BIG eater and his 2nd visit to the pediatrician broke all the records.
His weight, at 2 months, is astonishing 5.300kgs and his height is 57,5cms! As he was born with 3.030kgs and arrived at home with 2.600kgs, his weight DOUBLED in a space of 60days.
The sky is the limit for our little eater.
I knew this one was just like daddy..!
KIDDING, amor!
His weight, at 2 months, is astonishing 5.300kgs and his height is 57,5cms! As he was born with 3.030kgs and arrived at home with 2.600kgs, his weight DOUBLED in a space of 60days.
The sky is the limit for our little eater.
I knew this one was just like daddy..!
KIDDING, amor!
Big news
I heard last Friday that the Fehring household might be crossing an ocean once again.
Patrick was offered a very good job in a dream location.
BUTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH!!!!!
New city, new house, new friends, new surroundings.
NEW YORK!
Patrick was offered a very good job in a dream location.
BUTERFLIES IN MY STOMACH!!!!!
New city, new house, new friends, new surroundings.
NEW YORK!
Dr Alberto Goldin
I have a new shrink and he is brilliant. I love his "no frills, practical" approach towards things.
In Rio he writes a newspaper column and is very well-known, a bit of a "celeb" himself. Apart from treating a few screwed-up local celebrities as well.
I usually avoid famous doctors but this one came very well recommended and I couldn't resist it.
On our first consultation as I walked in he asked me "why are you here?" and I answered "because of so and so". After a few more questions, he asked me again "but are you sure you are here for so and so"? And as I confirmed it he answered...: "BULLSHIT!!"
(in a much softer way, of course, but that was the message that came across).
Feeling as if I had been hit by lightning, I finally saw the light in the end of the tunnel.
Welcome to my new, beautiful, no crap world.
In Rio he writes a newspaper column and is very well-known, a bit of a "celeb" himself. Apart from treating a few screwed-up local celebrities as well.
I usually avoid famous doctors but this one came very well recommended and I couldn't resist it.
On our first consultation as I walked in he asked me "why are you here?" and I answered "because of so and so". After a few more questions, he asked me again "but are you sure you are here for so and so"? And as I confirmed it he answered...: "BULLSHIT!!"
(in a much softer way, of course, but that was the message that came across).
Feeling as if I had been hit by lightning, I finally saw the light in the end of the tunnel.
Welcome to my new, beautiful, no crap world.
Weight off my shoulders
I have decided to cancel my skiing trip.
My baby is too small and I don't think it is a good idea to leave him "motherless" for a week.
Patrick applauded my decision and will go snorkeling with Antonio on Brazil's Northeastern coast instead.
Decision taken, I feel light again and maybe I might just manage to have a full night of sleep.
My baby is too small and I don't think it is a good idea to leave him "motherless" for a week.
Patrick applauded my decision and will go snorkeling with Antonio on Brazil's Northeastern coast instead.
Decision taken, I feel light again and maybe I might just manage to have a full night of sleep.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Why I love Africa
I LOVE the sort of headlines one can only read on African newspapers. This one I "highjacked" from the facebook page of a friend's friend.
Attention to the smaller note "Denial in time of Cholera" and a (not so cute) pic of good old Robert M.
Histerical.
Attention to the smaller note "Denial in time of Cholera" and a (not so cute) pic of good old Robert M.
Histerical.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
And Cholera is coming
As I first heard of the Cholera outbreak last year in Zim and the neglect of Mugabe's governement towards the crisis I feared what is actually happening now.
As thousands of Zimbabwean workers go back to spend Christmas holidays at home and come back to South Africa in January, it was expected that some could come back infected or with the disease fully in place.
As 60 cases were identified and one death reported in Mpumalanga, a province right next to Gauteng, where Johannesburg is located, I fear the worse might yet to come.
Hopefully our dear Loveness is safe and healthy wherever she is.
As thousands of Zimbabwean workers go back to spend Christmas holidays at home and come back to South Africa in January, it was expected that some could come back infected or with the disease fully in place.
As 60 cases were identified and one death reported in Mpumalanga, a province right next to Gauteng, where Johannesburg is located, I fear the worse might yet to come.
Hopefully our dear Loveness is safe and healthy wherever she is.
Motivation
After writing my last post and thinking that I will actually stay away from my beloved baby Quim for a whole week, I had to go and check him out - sleeping like an angel in his cot.
And look for motivation to fly to Switzerland.
Found it.
And look for motivation to fly to Switzerland.
Found it.
Skiurlaub
My son has been a real partner and friend to me. His support throughout my pregnancy was amazing and surprising - coming from a 5-year old.
I do any sacrifices for him so I decided to reward my little boy with a skiing trip to lovely Klosters.
I will leave my beloved Rio at the hight of its summer, leave my 2-month old angel behind and hit the freezing slopes to do something I am not particularly crazy about. All for him.
Departure is on Jan 29th.
I do any sacrifices for him so I decided to reward my little boy with a skiing trip to lovely Klosters.
I will leave my beloved Rio at the hight of its summer, leave my 2-month old angel behind and hit the freezing slopes to do something I am not particularly crazy about. All for him.
Departure is on Jan 29th.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Delightful
It's moments like this that make all the upheaval of the last months absolutely worth it.
But hey! Who the hell put a sock over the baby's hand..!?! The poor thing.. CUUTE!
But hey! Who the hell put a sock over the baby's hand..!?! The poor thing.. CUUTE!
Back to life
Despite the awful weather in Rio, and LOTS of ups and downs, the arrival of 2009 brought me back to life.
I had my first bit of exercising today - a brisk walk on a treadmill in my new Yoga Studio (the awesome Nirvana) and am back full force with my meditation practices. (And I have no idea how I could live without pranayama for so long).
Tomorrow I'll go for an Iyengar class. Ahhh.... BLISS!
My boys are doing great, Patrick is back in Joburg and I am finally in touch with my girlfriends, making lots of social plans for the month.
After a long and dark winter... I am back. Full stop.
I had my first bit of exercising today - a brisk walk on a treadmill in my new Yoga Studio (the awesome Nirvana) and am back full force with my meditation practices. (And I have no idea how I could live without pranayama for so long).
Tomorrow I'll go for an Iyengar class. Ahhh.... BLISS!
My boys are doing great, Patrick is back in Joburg and I am finally in touch with my girlfriends, making lots of social plans for the month.
After a long and dark winter... I am back. Full stop.
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