specially for today

One swallow doesn't make a summer! 

Friends warm the life. 

I love mine. I miss them.

I'm very happy not to be alone, even far. 

Friendship has its internal feature. Genuine, it's something from inside to outside.... sincere.

My love is my best friend ♥ 

madly I do

Wondering myself about love notes of the past, I forget that the most important one came verbally, to me(!).

Incomparable, unrivaled, unsurpassed declaration of love... Silly, (married!) girl.

social climber passport

I really CAN'T stand (or believe in) someone who doesn't take off his wristband after going to a concert, party... any event! The possibility to keep it tighten (even worn) during the next day, just in order to show being a person of influence, a recent VIP area guest...  doesn't matter: It drives me crazy!

Sorry, but I think it is cheesy. We are not teenagers anymore. Moreover, I don't need to prove anything to anyone.

It's not something attached to my arm that will say who I am, or give me importance... My worth is not there. It's higher. 

Frivolousness - something which I hate of showbizz universe. I had forgotten how it's full of it...

Finally, (in Portuguese) "vão-se os anéis, ficam os dedos" - if you get what I mean...

take care!

Hell has no fury like a woman scorned...

Dia do Rock

 É nozes!

smooth biter

Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina - everybody knows... even children(!) This is a gospel!

So, when I discovered that, in French, vagina is masculine (a masculine word), I confess I was very astounded... After all, something so feminine would deserve a more delicate classification.

In my opinion (and head), things related to woman are in feminine grammar gender. It has been obvious... by now!

Un vagin - mon dieu! Il samble qu'il mordre! (bon, quelques fois, oui)

C'est la vie!

___________________________________________________________ 

Taking the opportunity, my favorite campaign of all:

the man's ultimate illusion

Marylin Monroe, a diva. One of the prettiest women we know.

Even almost fifty years since her death (on August 5, 1962), she is usually still taken as a model of beauty... (in the bargain: she was crowned best beach body of all time!)

Nevertheless, (even her, majestic!) she had a little tummy.

It's not a complaint about her shape, NOT AT ALL! I just want to illustrate how cruel the current esthetic patterns/demands may be.

Marylin is unquestionably gorgeous, "imperfect" as she was.

Nowadays, perfect women exist only in magazines covers and TV or cinema screens. On the streets and at home, with no Photoshop or After Effect, make-up or coiffeur, dressed as usual, we are all normal people, with some "defects".

Perfection is only both in our dreams, or expectations. The reality is other, though.

And David Burns, the noted best-seller psychiatrist, confirm that, continuing this post title, one of his quotes about perfection (the man's ultimate illusion), with: "It simply doesn't exist in the universe.... If you are a perfectionist, you are guaranteed to be a loser in whatever you do".

___________________________________________________________

By the way, this same (his) theory, I've applied for love.

(after all, "Men: can't live with them, can't live without them")

dutch sky

I always knew that dutch paradise is orange... 

As has happened since then, I discovered with my husband (at that moment my "chum", trying to impress me) la sauce hollandaise, in French.

It's creamy, dense, fort, heavy and, of course, fatty! Delicious. Furthermore, it matches perfectly with eggs, toasts and bacon (le méchant, which it's simply vicious!).

Well, while eating everything together, it seems we're in the heaven... the north-american one, indeed.

However, it was necessary come here, furthest, to taste it. Cruel. As it must be, though.
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How to make it? Here.

a place for everything and everything in its place

It's no use: other's mother IS NOT ours.

Lucky me to have mine, even far!

Going out of her way, truly pulling the universe out of her soul to help me and make me happy, this is priceless.
___________________________________________________________

everything has it's price!

Lately, Queen Elizabeth II revised the Royal Household Order of Precedence. Little changes involved only Kate Middleton, though, in order to remind her about her commoner roots.

At this newest protocol, the Duchess of Cambridge must curtsy to your husband's relatives unless she is with him. Probably the worst part will be do it, whether in private or in public, to Eugenie and Beatrice, two blood princesses, cousins of Prince William, when she meets them alone.

Well, if it is humiliation caused by Queen's jealousy of her popularity (as magazines have speculated by now) or if it is just respect for their old royal tradition, I really don't mind...(!) In my opinion, all monarchy stuff is completely old-fashioned and out of place nowadays.

After all, who pay for it? By the way, I sincerely don't understand how a country as Canada, for example, still maintains its political system tied with the British Royal Family, supporting them and their caprices (Kate's expensive new dresses, included!).

Tant pis au Québéc! (yes, unfortunately we are also paying for that...)
___________________________________________________________
  
in the bargain, I feel very blessed not to having a mother-in-law like princess Diana had.

Fortunately, I love mine! ♥

all is not lost

Each time that I watch some movie as The Corporation, among others (more or less political... doesn't matter!), I feel depressed. Serious! 

It"s not to say that I can't do anything to change it, but I really wonder myself about have children, for example... Why bring them to this dangerous world, where values are upside down (like money being more important than people)?

It seems that there is no solution, no future, no way... F*ck! 

___________________________________________________________

notwithstanding...

Of course if everybody who is unsatisfied does small (but important) acts in their own daily lifes, all of us, together, we can change something! By the way, we are the majority - 99% of the population(!)... exactly who suffers the most severe consequences of the capitalist system. Its not something we should disdain! In our actual situation, we can even say that its not worth doing nothing about that, just ignoring we have the most powerful power in our hands. And we do have... but only while united - refer to water privatization in Bolivia and its consequences.

Stopping drink Coke and eating at McDonald's (both with some difficulty, ok... but it's possible!), spurning Walmart specials, not buying at Zaara or using Nike, for example, I can do it. And these two latter, I've been doing yet for a long time... since I knew atrocities about them. Furthermore, recycling, not lying or betray people (including not cheating on my husband, for sure), and MAINLY voting in a good way, giving my vote for candidates who I think may be good to govern... yes, finally, I thing I've done my part! (phew!)

I sincerely DO NOT want my kids seeing me drinking coke, eating many McDonald's often.. or worse: taking me supporting psycho corporate bodies as a normal thing. After all, there are some standards that must be both explained and taught at home, since young. This is the minimum we can do not to leave wrong standards be got as the right ones. This is a matter of choice, but just when you have enough knowledge to do it by yourself, with no doubts.
___________________________________________________________
 
light-hearted
 

Today, in the 236th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in the USA, the international known "Fourth of July" (which I really don't care about!), I would like to proclaim myself independent too.

No, I'm not a slave (of my work, at least, not anymore...!), and I'm not even a sad married woman... No, I DO NOT feel my life miserable, NOT AT ALL - and I'm a (still) happily married! However, I just want to be more free than I am right now. 

It's a subtle thing... I want to feel the lightness of life. Surprising, this is one of the most difficult feelings for me, to dabble in. Free mind, free spirit, no worries, no regrets.

art never fritters time away

 

The opposite of (lots of) certain politicians.

By the way, to do this painting, it really seems that Pawla Kuczyńskiego was inspired by watching Charest during his speechs (and also the PQL material)... After all, practically nothing has changed by now.

Economical, social and political critiques through the nice (but heavy!) masterworks of this artist from Poland. This man simply shocks in a smart way! Check him out here.

Concluding my criticism, we are just waiting for elections. Coming soon!

des petits poissons

Michelle, 3 ans et demi - Elle nage toute seule dans une piscine d'adultes. 

Colin, 1 an et demi - Il se débrouille facilement tout seul dans l'eau de la piscine pour les enfants, sans des bouées bras.

Ceux-ci sont des exemples à être suivis pour tous les parents, contre la hausse de noyades au Québec cet été.

Il y a des bons conseils au Infant Swimming Rescue (ISR). 

Et félicitations à mes cousins pour son initiative, qui soit l'idéale, de leur enseigner à nager.

private garden

I support campaings of urban farming. However, differently of community gardens which exist in Montreal (an excellent idea, by the way!), I have my own organic one, which I cultivate alone.

Well, I'm also in favour of home gardening:

Mon jardin... I love that! ♥

horoscope

All astrological predictions she read her whole life were worthless. None of zodiac attributes she thought being about herself were true.

Born on a day of transition, the sun hadn't entered in cancer yet at the moment she came into life, that year... Aged of 30, she discovered she is gemini.

What a mess because of a detail... 

Only one hour, all difference!

welcome!

Verão: 

Que seja eterno enquanto dure.

pequenas GRANDES coisas

less = more

Better than do nothing sometimes, is do it TOGETHER, with who you love...

Being at home on weekends, calm, naked (or almost...), laying down on the bed or couch, just standing to get something to eat, or change movies on DVD... This is life!

Happiness = simplicity, in good moments - mainly married.

finalement

Aujourd'hui, il est temps de remercier ♥

Après tout, c'est fait. Pour toute la vie. 

toutou Anarchopanda

C'est le Jour des Amoureux au Brésil.

Et ici, au Québec, j'ai reçu le cadeau parfait pour l'occasion! ♥

Merci Pat,  non seulement pour les choses matérielles qu'on acquiert. Le vrai amour excelle ça.

Être avec toi, en soit, c'est déjà fantastique! 

printemps érable

J'y crois!

Soyons ensemble, en paix...

músicas para amar

Em função de meu casamento, dei início no mês passado a uma divertida pesquisa sobre o tema. Aliada a meu noivo, DJ de Montreal, juntamos preferências pessoais a sugestões recebidas de amigos - ligados à música, ou não, para compôr um setlist para embalar a hora H.

Inspiração + experiência e ‘voilà’! 
(o resultado dessa brincadeira pode ser conferido aqui em cima, no link)

surprises for good

After to be struck for someone who I thought could be my (new) friend, but won't - definitely... I'm positively surprise with other people's attention and affection with me. Ultimately, help comes from who we least expect it...

Even far from my close friends, I had acquired my new ones. True ones.

Life it's not a bed of roses, but there is always a person even better and more important than others who simply don't care of us. Though luck! Now I now who can I rely on... This is more important than everything else.

___________________________________________________________

This episode made me remember Julia Roberts in 'My Best Friend's Wedding', the movie... I never thought one day i'll think of me playing the Cameron Dias role, but that is it!

Good surprises at the end.

chá (de panela)

Adoraria fazer uma reuniãozinha básica, um encontro comemorativo com todas as minhas amigas...

Saudades! ♥

biting the own tail

Irritability, stupidity, coarseness... It's a shot in the own foot.

Dogs do that, irrationally! (ok, but they are animals!)

That's nonsense... Take it easy!

too bad!

I can't get stressed nor topsy-turvy...

Sergio Mendes, mas que nada... salve Jorge!

Excuse me, but I have to confess that each time I heard somebody glorofies Sergio Mendes by his Jorge Ben(Jor)’s hits, I became a little upset. It hurts me the fact that abroad EVERYBODY knows him, while the other, the true musical composition and playing of “Mas que nada”, is completelly forgotten and ignored outside Brazil. Unfortunately...

Damn it! Jorge Ben is a classic, a knighthood. Besides this song, there are many others wich can enshrine him. A simple exemple, in 2008, Rolling Stone Magazine in Brazil built a list of their 100 most important Artists of Music, take a look here to see who is top 5. I’m not jocking: Jorge Ben(Jor) is there.

Actually I do NOT have anything against Sergio Mendes. On the contrary, I’m very glad about his partnership with Black Eyed Peas (that I could check live and totally free on Ipanema sandy at reveillon 2007). He is a good artist and they did a nice job together, which has promoted a lot our music... It's awesome! I just hate to feel people leave behind another (black) marvel artist of Brazilian Music, and, sincerely, I don’t understand why (and how) this (could) happend!

There is no party in Brazil where at least one song of Jorge Bem(Jor) plays and EVERYBODY dance. It’s great. I have already been in a place where with only one CD of him, we dance all night long (poor Jorge Ben, who became rough at that moment!). Furthermore, he is kind... In 2001, when I worked at Planeta Atlântida, I knew him personally and he was so gentle (my mother won a photo of us, inclusively!).

I think he is blessed by Saint George (and His dragon), as in Brazil we are used to do this link... "Salve Jorge"! By the way, today is a special occasion for this post: Jorge Ben(Jor) is turning 70 years old. To celebrate? I'll listen his music, of course...  Here, some of my playlist (all old and original versions, which I prefer):

Ponta de lança africano (Umbabarauma);
Zumbi;
Balança Pema;
Menina mulher da pele preta;
O telefone;
Minha teisomia, uma arma pra te conquistar;
Que pena; 
Ela é minha menina;
Os Alquimistas estão chegando;
Santa Clara clareaou;
Por causa de você, menina;
Bebete Vambora;
Cadê Teresa, among other tunes...

This is my tribute (my particular way to do people get to know him and more about our music... after all, who doesn't know Jorge Ben, doesn't know Brasilian music at all!). Read the complete Rolling Stone article about this 70-years old artist online.

the docility with which they follow the sun...

Today, World Down Syndrome Day: 

to these special people, my support!

spring time

Inspiring weather. 

Lovely days!

Spring time, almost there... 

Here we go ♥

more popcorn, please!

I'm really touched by Quebec cinema.

First of all, it was "Les Invasions Barbares" (2003), followed by its forerunner "Le Déclin de l'Empire Américain" (1986) and later by "L'Âge des Ténèbres" (2007), known as Denys Arcand's trilogy. Nausea feelings while watching them drew my attention to this interesting cinema.

However, I was far from getting into that... Only nowadays I can really affirm I felt in love with it.

Robert Lapage's "La Face Cachée de la Lune" (2003), and more recently Jean Phillipe Pearson's "Le Bonheur des Autres" (2011), Philippe Falardeau's "Monsieur Lazhar" (2011) and finally: Jean-Claude Lord's "Parlez-nous d'Amour" (1976), they were all fateful to crush on it.

Actually there are still some titles I'm very interested as "Québec sur Ordonnance (2007, Paul Arcand), "Jésus de Montréal" (1989, Denys Arcand), "Incendies" (2010, Denis Villeneuve), "Le vendeur" (2011, Sébastien Pilote), "Starbuck" (2011, Ken Scott), C.R.A.Z.Y. (2005) and "Café de Flore" (2011) by Jean-Marc Vallée, "J'ai tué ma mère" (2009) and "Les Amours Imaginaires" (2010) both by Xavier Dolan, and so on...

Yesterday I was in delight watching their Le soirée des Justras, the Quebec Oscar. More than its winners, I was involved by the idiom, their culture, all proximity of being here, and also the similarity between them and our RS cinema... everything fascinates me! I could made out they love for movies, and mainly that they have a promising (prometeur - in French) and strong film business here, an excellent cinema trade... Not cold - not at all! 

Hmmm, I like it! Thanks, Pat, for introducing me all the magic of your cinema. 

parlez-nous d'amour

C'est un excellent classique du cinéma québecois. Remarquable.

Le film raconte l'histoire d'une émission fictive de la télé des années 70, présentée par le charismatique Jeannot, interprété par le vrai animateur Jacques Boulanger. Pouvoir, intérêts, glamour,  promiscuité, insatisfaction et vraissemblance... Il a touts les ingrédients nécessaires pour une bonne trame de l'époque. 

Et, en plus, c'est sur les coulisses du média. J'adore ça!

Regardez un petit extrait ici.

my plea for the Day:

Stop violence against women!

Sexual, physical, verbal or moral - It must end.

Let's start by basic rules: No means NO and yes means YES - wherever we go,  however we dress. Simply as that. Why does society teach us "don't get raped", instead of "DON'T RAPE(!)" for men? [Indignation.] 

Here we go... No to any kind of sexual abuse.

Another atrocity:

Do you believe that female genital mutilation  is still practiced in 28 countries in western, eastern, and north-eastern Africa, in parts of the Middle East, and within some immigrant communities in Europe, North America, and Australasia?! Unfortunately. Typically carried out on girls from a few days old to puberty, FGM is usual performed with no anesthesia, and all this paining process most part of time results in epidermoid cysts, recurrent urinary and vaginal infections, chronic pain, obstetrical complications and fatal hemorrhaging,  

The Human Rights with supported by United Nations have concentrated efforts to stop  this crime against women. By the way, February 6th is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to Female Genital Mutilation. Excellent initiative which since 1979 makes  officially opposition to this complex cultural issue.

Numbers of World Health Organization.

Socially we have overpassed many issues, and that is awesome... Nowadays women and men are ALMOST in the same level, professionally speaking. Of course we still suffer some equality problems, which may include some kind of intimidation at work. However, it is at home where could live our worst enemy. That is is where the danger lies...

Lamentably, thousands of women around the world stand this cruel situation. I sincerely believe that is the most difficult to deal with, once the aggressor is who we love (and was also supposed to love us!). Just to make things clear: violence IS NOT affection, and the person who does it IS NOT good (even less IDEAL) for us.

Here I suggest a site for who needs help, or want just to get to know more about the issue. Anyway, here it is my way to “celebrate” this occasion so important for us: appealing for peace... (!) After all, world peace begins at home.   

   

indo...

... pelos inspirantes caminhos de Caio Fernando Abreu.

il y a cinq mois...

Et, depuis lors, tout a changé.

À partir de ce moment-là, nos vies sont plus fleuries et aussi pleines de bonheur.

À la fin, c'est à quoi ça sert, l'amour... (en paraphrasant Édith Piaf)

o pulo da gata neste carnaval

Este ano, pela primeira vez, estou passando em branco - literalmente: MUITA neve pra todo o lado. Nada de bloco, confete ou marchinha. Afff! 

[sinto falta, admito]

Fantasia? Bom, isso a gente dá um jeitinho sempre... na cama! 

(a minha foi de enfermeira, gatíssima)

a piece from here

Once 'Tropa de Elite 2' wont be there, I sincerely hope that 'Monsieur Lazhar' (Canada - Quebec) win next week the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award - Oscar 2012. It's awesome, really touching. I suggest: watch it!

*Of course, I'm also supporting Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown for Rio's Original Soundtrack (''Real in Rio'). Terrific!

different strokes for different folks

Everytime I feel their sarcastic smile, criticizing me because my inexperience in walking on ice or snow, I remember of them, wiping-out in waves of the rough Ipanema sea...

I slid, I fall, I laugh, I get up and restart again (nice and slowly). Hilarious!

I'ts all about practice... Everything is new now, but I'm getting used to.

Wait for that. Soon!

dutch machine

Despite of a school bus, in Holland is like that: kids pedal to go study!

Yes, a (different kind of) bicycle is their transport. What a good idea!

I love that... Everything related to their means of transportation.

(It's a good thing that in Montreal the spirit is the same! I'm really glad to be here - witing for summer, to finally ride a bike...)

pour l'amour

Inspired by their Valentine's Day...

“I can be alone without Yoko, but I just have no wish to be. There’s no reason on earth why I should be alone without Yoko. There’s nothing more important than our relationship, nothing. And we dig being together all the time. Both of us could survive apart but what for? I’m not going to sacrifice love, real love, for any whore or any friend or any business, because in the end you’re alone at night and neither of us want to be. And you can’t fill a bed with groupies. It doesn’t work. I don’t want to be a swinger. I’ve been through it all and nothing works better than to have someone you love hold you.”

John Lennon

com jeitinho

so far

If there is NO space between us, how can I stand be as distant?

My body asks for you! (its basic necessity now...)

Saudade.

j'y crois

Yes, I do.

Unconditionally.

 There are models of a life as a couple who inspire me a lot.

Friday the 13th

My black cat and me,

(not very superstitious...) 
  
we wish all you guys 

so much good luck today!

love is...

In Canada: a 2% milk fat.

He likes 3.25% butterfat (or coffee creams 10%), while I prefer  1%, or even the skimmed one.

So, that's our compromise.

Hooray!

killing it

EVERY time I see people breaking spaghetti before putting it in boiling water, or even when, already cooked, they cut it on their plates, this hurts me so deeply! I admit.

My (Italian ancestry obligates me to start a) campaign: DO NOT do that! Please, use the spoon in order to help you to roll up it around the fork.

It's not difficult! Furthermore, it's the protocol.

cool

Music, dancing, beer/wine, among other things - besides of love, of course.

Sincerely, we don't need anything else... neither no one.

It's great that we can party in couple at home! (just the two of us ♥)

the end

Final de ano, sabe como é... Festas, votos, resoluções, sentimentos - tudo junto misturado! 

E, nesse clima, a gente acaba arriscando, querendo saber do futuro, o que nos aguarda, o que vem pela frente. Normal.

Confesso que nunca quis saber desta data, mas o motivo sempre me interessou. Quando e do que eu vou morrer?

Numa dessa brincadeiras virtuais, veio o resultado (ali, na imagem que ilustra este post).

O ano nao poderia ser outro: 69! Fiquei satisfeita... Vou morrer velhinha: 87 anos de praia(!), feliz da vida, curtindo até o final, com certeza - com meus netinhos! (no trem fantasma, como diz meu epitáfio).

Confira a sua lápide aqui.