The following list comes originally from a Breast Cancer 3 Day teammate and now friend, Tammy Gallagher in MN, via an '06 Fight like a Girl team member's blogsite (in WA). Thought I'd try my hand at the
Three's List (from RIO)...

1. 3 things that scare me:
Sierra's heart being hurt, being old and alone, sharks

2. 3 people that make me laugh:
Joe, Jim Carey, Jamie Fox

3. 3 things I love:
coffee, the beach, listening to Sierra sing

4. 3 things I hate:
I don't say hate, I try to NEVER use hate. so I'm changing this one to 3 things I don't care for:
deception, ignorance, war

5. 3 things I don't understand:
Stonehenge, gas prices fluctuating, the electoral vs. popular vote deciding who is elected

6. 3 things on my desk:
telephone, Portuguese-English dictionario, microphone for computer calling

7. 3 things I'm doing right now:
eating club crackers, blogging, listening the traffic splash through the damp street

8. 3 things I want to do before I die:
publish my master's thesis, earn my PhD., be an agent for change in as many kids as possible

9. 3 things I can do well:
sing, write, parent

10. 3 things I can't do:
samba, stay mad, bite my nails

11: 3 things you should listen to:
your heart, your intuition, your mom

12: 3 things you shouldn't listen to:
gossip, heavy metal music, the little red guy who shows up on your shoulder sometimes

13. 3 things I would like to learn:
to play the piano, to be more patient, Portuguese

14: 3 things I watched as a kid:
electric company, fame, the dukes of hazard

15: 3 things I drink regularly:
coffee, water, coke

16: 3 favorite foods:
cashews, picanha (it's a cut of beef in Brazil, and better than any cut I've ever had in the states), avacados

Well, here it is. Presumably boring to read for many of you perhaps, but novel entertainment for others I suppose. Right now something for me to do instead of finishing that almost done thesis mentioned in #8. Yeah, Procrastination should have made the list somewhere!

Mom and Sierra Christmas morning. Can you tell it's only 6 a.m?

Greetings and Happy New Year to all!
I wanted to get this website out:
http://www.nokia.com/A4254113 As Nokia cellular company is attempting to connect 5 countries worldwide ringing in 2007. We are lucky enough to be going to one of the named five cities' parties with THE BLACK EYED PEAS!!! in Ipenema. We are all very anxiously awaiting tomorrow's festivities. Rio is one of the top ten cities in the world to celebrate the New Year and from the testimonies of friends, both locals and expats, it is the experience of a lifetime. Sierra is gearing up for the big night as well and is cooperative in the anticipation of needing a nap before our adventures begin. On Nokia's list is New York as well, so it is possible that we could virtually party with our friends abroad this year! Look for us, we'll be wearing white.

Merry Christmas
everyone! The first Christmas in Brazil was wonderful! I hope you all have enjoyed the time with the ones you love.

Well, as a tradition anew, we started with "family" gifts today. Starting with me (mom) at 9:30 this morning, one of us each alternated opening one present each hour. Sierra's most asked for gift is pictured here--Rolly Shoes! By 4:30 this afternoon, Sierra opened this present. She was actually speechless for a few seconds. Then she read the directions, assembled the wheels, and gave them a spin!

She quickly realized they are harder to use than it appears when she's seen others in the malls skating away in their tennis shoes! I can't wait for Santa to come!!! I love Christmas morning more as a mom than I ever did as a child! Believe!!!

Peace and good cheer to all! Happy Holidays.

I think this picture is best titled "the look". She's a total fish.

Will swim the whole day if we let her.

And look how strong she is!
Ahhh, summer in Brazil! Beijocos para todo mundo.

The weeks have been extremely busy as we finish up the first semester at EARJ. From my previous post, you know I went last weekend to Buzios with "the girls". There were 20 of us total for a girls weekend on the ocean at a very charming Pousada in the beach town Buzios. This is a town I had visited while here in '95, but I can't begin to describe how much it has grown and changed. I have to hand it to the tour industry for spotting a good thing when they see it; however, I think I preferred the town when it was a quaint beach town. Many more trendy shops and restaurants, fewer off the beaten path locations...McDonald's even found Buzios! What a shame. Nonetheless, a good time was had by all. This first picture is of me and my friend Suzanne at a crepes restaurant the first night.

This weekend was just as adventurous. Friday night was the all school Christmas party hosted by the headmaster and his wife at their beautiful home in Jardim Botanico. Many people attended. There was plenty of food and beverages, a dj and lots of chatter. Since we were minus a sitter, I went solo and Joe stayed home with Sierra. It was a nice party. Sunday we spent the day lounging at the pool. Sierra was a prune by 4 o'clock.
Saturday mornining we met a new friend, Kathleen, in Ipenema at the CCAA (a worldwide language institute) and drove to Riachuelo, a neighborhood on the other side of Rio from Gavea, for Sierra to "work". Kathleen records children's stories for the language institute, and Sierra is a prime candidate for the position! We all went together along with 3 other children who have worked with Kathleen for about a year. We spent 3 hours at their recording studio, and Sierra recorded! And, Sierra was paid! Yes, at 8 years old, she's working. haha The results of her Paddington performance last month led another teacher at EARJ who goes to church with Kathleen to recommend Sierra, so we got the call. Sierra loved it! The studio is state of the art and exactly what you would see musicians use to cut a CD. Not to mention the element of acting and reading and language, which are all right up her alley! It was very neat. Likely, Sierra will work through this new year for Kathleen and perhaps after that as well. On Saturday mornings, Kathleen takes the kids to Riachuelo to the studio and then returns to Ipenema. There are wonderful benefits to this "gig" aside from the fact that Sierra really liked it and worked well with Kathleen, the other children who were there were really good kids, seem to come from good homes, Americans, and polite. Along with acquiring Portuguese, comes a level of influence on the existing language. Brazilians who speak English use a certain accent, of course, and at times, since our arrival, I have heard this accent in Sierra's English. The recording is added grammar, speaking and listening practice in native English that will only re-enforce her native language. For that I am happy. And Kathleen is a really cool woman. Originally from Colorado, living in Brazil for 34 years now and still a total product of the 60's "man". :-) She was fun to meet and talk with. She is also good friends with Mark McFarland, an upper school Spanish teacher who was here in 1995 when I first came to Brazil. McFarland backpacked to Brazil from AZ in the early 70s, and he has been an icon of sorts for me since our first meeting. Good people.

Girl's weekend in Buzios!!! Need I say more? Happy Holidays all!