Our Little Tree

In Detroit, we have a 12-14 foot live tree in our foyer filled with treasured ornaments we've collected for decades. I didn't bring any of them. Our Brazil "Feliz Natal" is a little different. We bought a Christmas tree just as we were leaving the US and put it on the shipment so we decided we had to use it. We got some cheap ornaments from the nearby Extra store and decorated it last night. It didn't take too long. We each got to pick our favorite Christmas tune and by the time the four songs were done, so was the tree. As Hannah said, "Mom, it looks better in the dark with the lights on."

In case you were wondering which tunes we chose:

Ro--Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer
Jackson--Eminem Christmas song
Hannah--All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
Me--Bruce Springsteen Santa Claus is Coming to Town

An Ecological Holiday

When the temperature is 80+ everyday, it is really interesting to see what Brazilians do to get in the holiday spirit. This is one of the greatest examples I've seen so far. At first glance, this is a traditional tree. When you get closer, you see the whole thing is made out of recycled green plastic pop bottles. Very cool. Brazil is really into the environment. The country is energy-independent, relying on sugar cane alcohol to fuel cars. Recycling trash containers are everywhere. But a recycled tree??

Our tree is going up this week. This will be the first time we've ever had a fake tree. We'll have to see if we can find something recycled to hang on it.

Giving Trees

I am in a wrapping frenzy today. Our living and dining room are a mess with paper, gifts, tags and ribbon. (Java can't resist getting in the picture.) We adopted two senior citizens through church and two nine-year-olds through GM and of course, all the presents are due today and tomorrow. I finally have everything bought. Their needs are so simple: shoes, pants, shirts, socks, towels and a hygiene kit with toothpaste, shampoo, soap, etc. The kids also got a couple toys and the seniors got a panettone (cake) and some bedding. Wrapping is a big thing. They want everything individually wrapped.

We are going pretty low key on our own Christmas this year. My Mom and Dad are arriving on December 11 (yea!) and we're going to visit Iguassu Falls on the Brazil/Argentina border. That's our Christmas splurge this year. That's enough. We really don't need anything. And when you think about people that are going to be excited about getting our small gift basket with simple necessities like shampoo, that kind of puts it in perspective.

Hannah and I are solo today. Ro left the apartment at 1 a.m. to meet some GM guys. They are going fishing on the ocean today. Jackson is due home sometime today. He's been at the beach for the past three days on his "unofficial" senior trip. Both guys are going to be excited, full of stories and exhausted when they get back.

Surprised I Remembered My Password

Sorry I haven't posted in ages. No excuses. Jackson's basketball team won the Big 8 Championship last weekend in Nosso Recanto. This video was created by the tall blonde guy cheerleader, Matt. Jackson and Hannah are going crazy in a couple of the frames. Check out the ninja fans. Hannah, Ro and I went up to watch and stayed in a great town nearby with a couple other families. (Hannah wasn't allowed to play with her team because she went to Portugal with the Model United Nations Club and Graded has a rule you can't miss that much school.) Big fun!!

A few snaps from the action are below. Jackson took an elbow to the eye from another player and got three stitches. For fun, I also included a picture of the Portugal gang too. A little different vibe than the basketball tournament, but still very cool.

Ready to Run

This is one of my favorite weekends of the year. Tonight, I am going to go over to Cobo and pick up my credentials, shop a bit and go to the Traffic Jam for dinner with the "Moms on the Run" relay team. I have run the relay with them the past five or so years. Since I signed up for the half-marathon this year, their time will definitely be a lot faster. I am doing the 13.1 miles this year for two reasons: 1) I've always wanted to try it and 2) I didn't want to mess the team up if my travel schedule changed. Their team name this year is "Mothas on the Run" because they recruited Scott Lowell to the team. Scott is a great runner. He and his fabulous wife, Carolyn, own Traffic Jam and Cliff Bell's. I am so grateful that I still get to go to the pre-race dinner.

My strategy for Sunday is simple. I just want to keep running...no stopping or walking. I am sure I will have a slow time but I just want to finish. The path takes us from downtown over the Ambassador Bridge, down Riverside Drive in Windsor, through the tunnel and back to Detroit. We go into Mexicantown and then back to Woodward. Should be a blast.

After the race, Pat is having the usual Marathon Brunch on Burns since the race goes down our block. I don't even like eggs but she makes the world's best quiche. I am looking forward to seeing everybody once I finish with the race. What a relief it will be!

Brazil is changing time zones tonight so the kids and Dan will be two hours ahead now. It sure will be nice to get back there. It is cold here!!

My friend Libby sent me this photo. These are words to live by.

RIP Uncle Joe

My Uncle Joe died on Friday. He was my Dad's only brother and even though he lived far away in Harrison, Arkansas, he was always one of my favorite people to talk with when I had the opportunity. He had a great mind and loved to talk in depth about any topic, the messier the better--some of his favorites were Detroit government and the Catholic church. He was also my godfather. My heart goes out to my Aunt Pat and cousins Michael and Kathy and my Mom and Dad. It isn't easy to say goodbye.

I am back in the USA but I can't go to the funeral. My Mom and Dad left yesterday. Crain brought me back to run an executive meeting on Monday and Tuesday. Of course, the funeral is Monday. No way could I go. My heart will definitely be in Arkansas on Monday.

I really like this photo of my uncle and my brother, Danny. I lifted it off the online video. I'm not sure when it was taken, probably at my wedding. I bet the two of them are having a great conversation in heaven today.

Poster Child

Check out who's mug is on the home page of the Graded Web site! I hope he doesn't scare away any new students.