Departing the D

Departing the SP

2010-06-10T15:23:00.005-04:00

Jackson, Java and I are getting ready to end our chapter as Sao Paulo residents. Tomorrow, all five of us are headed to Detroit to start our new truly goofy life as a split family. Ro is going to stay in Detroit until the end of June and then come back at the end of July. Hannah is going to hang in Detroit until the first week of August and then I'm going to bring her back to Sao Paulo to start school (so Ro can go salmon fishing!). I will be back at work full-time and Jackson starts CCS in the Fall. Our schedules are going to be whacked!

We are so looking forward to being back in our house again.

I can't thank all of my new found friends in SP enough for the hospitality you've shown all of us. We've had a blast. Keep an eye on Ro and Hannah, eh?

Tchau! Ate logo.

He's A Graduate!

2010-05-29T16:31:00.007-04:00

Thought I would post a few quick photos for the Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles and friends. Believe it or not, Jackson is now a GRADUATE!!! More details and photos to come later. We're off to a big party tonight.

Go Tigers!

2010-05-24T22:34:00.001-04:00

I sent this photo (finally) today to the Free Press. They have a feature where they run travel photos of Detroiters wearing the Old English D in the Sunday travel section. How could they resist Hannah and Taylor at Versailles? Because you're my blog friend, you get to see it first!

Post Prom

2010-05-23T14:50:00.003-04:00

Jackson and Hannah went to the post prom gathering on Saturday night. They sure clean up well.

Winding it Up

2010-05-22T07:55:00.019-04:00

Brazilians don't do proms. The whole idea is quite funny to them. I spent 20 minutes explaining to the building receptionist what the concept entailed and why my son was wearing a tux. Jackson had to walk a florist through what a corsage was and how to make it.

Jackson and his girlfriend, Rachel, looked amazing last night. She's such a pretty girl. One of his classmates invited all the senior parents and kids over to a pre-prom party at their house so everybody could see all the kids dressed up. (Not sure if the kids liked having their parents around...but too bad!) Cameras were everywhere. The kids looked great but I was just in awe of this house and their hospitality. So beautiful! Dan had to keep reminding me to not be so nosey. The prom theme was a masquerade so that is why some of the kids have masks on in the photos. We had to leave when the kids left for the prom but I could have stayed there all night. Ro and I went out for dinner just the two of us. (Hannah spent the night with six of her girlfriends.) It was almost like it was our prom night again....only 30 years later.

Hannah and Jackson are going to a post-prom party tonight. From what I understand, tonight is the real party for all the high schoolers. It doesn't start until 11. We hired the kids a driver!

Some of you may have seen this on Facebook, but Jackson was recognized Thursday night as the David Tully award winner at his athletics banquet. The award recognizes the epitome of teamwork, fitness, leadership and sportsmanship. So cool. I have since learned that David Tully was the Graded principal about five years back. He was a fitness fanatic and a big supporter of athletics at the school. He got cancer but somehow found the strength to make it to the Big 8 sports tournament to cheer the Graded teams on the week before he passed away. Sounds like an amazing man. We were teasing Jackson that when he comes back to Brazil next year, he can't pack on the "Freshman 15" pounds at college. The award is all about his commitment to fitness after all.

Hannah was at the athletics awards too with her volleyball and basketball teams but the night was mostly about seniors. They are really looking for her to step up once all these kids move on. She's ready!

I am leaving tomorrow for a quick trip to Los Angeles for work. I was supposed to go, then it got canceled and now it is back on again. Oi vey. I land back in Brazil Friday morning in time for the Senior Awards ceremony that night and graduation on Saturday. Cross your fingers all the flights work because I'm cutting it tight!

Tres Bien!

2010-05-09T16:15:00.019-04:00

I know we're supposed to be all about Brazil and South America but when Patrice and Taylor mentioned they wanted to celebrate 16th birthdays in Paris, Hannah and I were all about it! We left Sao Paulo for Paris last Saturday and spent six great days in the City of Lights.

Patrice found a hotel near the Opera House and it was a perfect headquarters for all the fun. Man, there is a lot to see and do in Paris. I feel like we hardly put a dent in it. I have been there three times for work but I never really have had a chance to play tourist. We tried to see as much as possible, with gusto...Notre Dame, Louvre, Pompidou Center for Modern Art, bike excursion, boat tour, hands on bakery visit, Montmarte, Eiffel Tower, Sacre Couer,Versailles and the Champs Elysees. The Metro sure is an easy way to get around. In between each stop, we put quite a dent into the credit cards of our two families. The stores are amazing.

We were definitely tourists....a snobby French waiter said my choice of chardonnay was "ordinary," we trekked up to this recommended restaurant from our bike tour guide only to find it closed and we tried to go to a Third Eye Blind concert and the show was canceled. Oh well. C'est la vie!

I think my favorite thing was the bike tour we did the first day. We spent about five hours on the bikes and rode through a lot of side streets. It was a group of about 10 people so we really learned a lot. (I took my sling off that day and used a bike with pedal brakes and the dislocated shoulder survived just fine!)

Fun fact: Did you know there are five kilos of butter in every batch of croissants?

As a sleepy Patrice said on the last morning when Hannah and I left the hotel to catch our plane, "We'll always have Paris."

Journeys, Art and the ER

2010-04-30T21:04:00.016-04:00

I dislocated my shoulder while running on the trail this week so it hurts like the dickens to type and is very slow because I only use one hand. My right arm is in a sling for three weeks. So here's a quick miscellaneous update from our world and a bunch of photos.

*Ro is out right now on an overnight fishing outing with the guys from work. They fish all night in the dark. We'll see what the catch is in the morning. I bet he catches a hangover.

*Jackson chose College for Creative Studies in Detroit for school. When it came down to decision time, he decided he liked drawing cars. If cars are your passion, you belong at CCS. He's hoping to get into the new Taubman Center dorms. Graduation day here is May 29.

*Jackson had his senior art show at school. There are some photos here of his display. Hannah had some pictures showcased too. They both did a great job.

*Hannah sprained the ligaments around her ankle at the Big Four volleyball tournament. She has her foot in an air cast. I love that the doctors here in Sao Paulo send you a CD with your x-rays on it. That is Hannah's foot below.

*Jackson had a blast playing softball at Big Four. He was the MVP for his team and has a big medal to prove it. Graded boy's softball also took first place.

*Hannah and I are joining up with Taylor and Patrice tomorrow in Paris. Woo hoo! We are treating the girls to the trip (OK, us too!) as a 16th birthday present. Can't wait to chill. We are going to look like refugees getting off the plane. Hannah is going to be limping and I have a wounded wing. Bet we still have a great time!

*We depart Brazil on June 10. Hello Detroit! I am going to be sad I think. Sao Paulo has been a blast. Ro and Hannah will still be here for two more years so I have quite a few more trips to look forward to in my future...but this will be the end of the residency for Jackson and I.

V

My Mohawk Man

2010-04-16T11:05:00.001-04:00

I'm in the US at my desk and I just pulled up the Web site from the sports tournament where the kids are playing. Look who I found!! Looks like my son is sporting a mohawk. Time for me to get back home! I leave tonight.

Meriva on the Move

2010-04-01T11:02:00.011-04:00

In Brazil, they don't stop you for speeding. There are computerized cameras on the roads that just take your photo as you cruise through a specially marked zone at the wrong speed. You don't even know. They simply mail you a ticket. No hassling, no long stories...you just pay. Ro came home smiling last night with a special letter with a photo of my red Meriva.

I got a ticket for going 103 in an 80 while Hannah and I went to Poços de Caldas a few weeks back. It sounds faster than it is because that is kilometers per hour, not miles. (Conversion is about 65 in a 50 mph zone.) To me, that ticket is like a badge of honor. In Michigan, I had major trouble with speeding tickets and had to pay exorbitant insurance rates and actually go to traffic school to keep my license. To get one here just tells me I've settled in!

Easter Cod?

2010-03-31T15:28:00.006-04:00

A couple people this week have asked me what we're doing for Easter this year. I can tell you one thing for sure...we're not eating that salty cod! Just like ham is the traditional Easter dish in the US, Brazilians eat bacalhau, a salty codfish. They cook it with coconut milk or wine. I've tried it on a couple buffets and it just doesn't do it for me. For Easter, it is sold in all the stores here and most of the time it is displayed without any sort of refrigeration or ice. No thank you.

Thankfully, Brazilians do understand the importance of chocolate. All the stores are lined overhead with these beautiful large chocolate eggs covered in foil. Most of the eggs are hollow and have a small toy inside.

Jackson has a baseball tournament all weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) so our holiday will be pretty low key. Also, I leave for Detroit for two weeks Sunday night so maybe my Mom will take pity on me (please, please) and set aside some Easter leftovers for consumption on Monday.

June 27--Graduation Party

2010-03-28T10:14:00.006-04:00

All signs are pointing toward Jackson joining the Class of 2010 as a high school graduate of Escola Graduada De Sao Paulo on May 29. Yea! I am so proud of him. We're planning a graduation party at our house in Indian Village on Sunday, June 27. I will get invites out soon but mark the date on your calendars now. We still don't have our flights booked home yet but it looks like we'll be leaving Sao Paulo sometime shortly after school lets out on June 10. Hannah is going to stay in Detroit all summer. She is really looking forward to spending some time with her friends. Ro will be able to spend a few weeks in the D helping us get settled back into the house before he goes back to Sao Paulo.

It is still hard to believe that this little guy in glasses is going to college in the Fall!

Running....

2010-03-26T12:38:00.011-04:00

Sorry I have been a failure at blog postings the past few weeks. We had our fabulous neighbors--Sean and Amber--from Detroit visit, Hannah went to Angra for her Model United Nations gig, Jackson organized a run at school to raise money for Habitat for Humanity, I ran a 10K and Ro tried to keep sense of it all. We even had St. Patrick's Day thrown in there for good measure. (We had fun, but Brazilians don't get this holiday!) So we have been all about DOING.

One of the highlights for Sean and Jackson was the discovery of a cool skate park in Sao Bernardo. Jackson's skateboard skill has been accrued mostly riding up and down our flat street in Detroit. This was a real challenge but he did great. Sean is more of a veteran but he was dealing with all new skate gear that he bought here. My photos don't do it justice (Jackson is in the middle of the photo) but they lived to see a new day.

Vidro

2010-03-07T05:41:00.012-05:00

Hannah and I (the guys were at baseball) got up early yesterday and followed our friends Richard, Leslie, Thana and Silva up into the mountains to a great little town, Poços de Caldas.

It took about 3.5 hours (in some heavy rain) to get there but it was worth it. We visited several glass showrooms and watched the artists working at the first place, Cristais ca Doro. The prices were extremely affordable. We all left with many packages. My favorite line was when Richard asked Leslie, "Where are we going to put all this glass?" and she replied, "You're just going to have to buy me a big house." I think we're all looking forward to the day when we don't have to live in apartments any more.

Our friends spent the night in the town at the greatest throwback hotel. Big chandeliers, high ceilings and a hot springs pool with Roman columns. It looked gorgeous. We didn't stay because Hannah had plans with her friends Saturday night...a very important Harry Potter marathon, all six movies in one night!

Model United Nations

2010-03-02T17:05:00.010-05:00

Hannah's Model United Nations Club has a competition March 17-21 in Angra, Brazil. They are going to leave school in the morning and then ride a bus for about seven hours to get there. It will be three hard days of resolutions and discovering ways to solve all the world's problems. Good educational trip. I get that. So I signed the permission slip.

So today, I get the link to the hotel where they're staying. Holy crap! Check this place out. (There is a button at the top left for English.) It's a fabulous resort. I want to go! Now she tells me...oh ya, we get a three hour lunch break everyday so we can go to the beach. In my next life, I want to come back as Hannah Robar.

Goofy Dog

2010-03-01T12:48:00.005-05:00

Poor Hannah! Last night, she was trying to watch the USA v. Canada hockey game and do her homework at the same time. Java kept jumping on the couch and pushing against her back in an attempt to get some attention. It was hilarious. Java certainly thinks she is human.

Our Art Loft

2010-02-26T07:36:00.010-05:00

While I was out of the country last week, Ro found time to buy a new potter's wheel. Our patio now has a weaving loom, a potter's wheel and a drafting table with Jackson's stuff on it. If we add underwater basket weaving, we can open up a mental health unit right here on the 14th floor.

Ro sure seems happy with the new addition. I think he'll be able to survive the next few years here now. The Graded art teacher gave him the name of a place where he can fire his work.

Jackson got accepted to the College for Creative Studies this week. He was pretty pumped that all three of his choices said yes. Now he has to make a decision.

Hannah is doing well. She is in the midst of picking classes for her junior and senior year. She is trying to work in another language (Spanish) but I don't know if her schedule will be able to handle it. They sure push the kids here.

This is my latest weaving project. The silk/cashmere yarn is so soft but I wish the water lilies pattern popped a little more. Maybe it will be more prominent after I wash it. I always stink at picking the right colors. (Makes me miss my Saturday weaving friends!) I am trying to get this off the loom so I can put my Weaving Olympics project on before the Olympics end this weekend. I am the international entry after all. My CCS friends and I are all doing the same piece with different yarns and then dipping them in indigo dye. Should be interesting. Luckily, I'm not back in the US again until April 5 so I get to count the Special Olympics too!

Jackson's New Home??

2010-02-20T16:16:00.012-05:00

I am finally back in Sao Paulo after two wild weeks in the States. The first order of business was five exhausting days at the National Automobile Dealers Association conference in Orlando for work. Once I finished up with that, Jackson met me in Orlando and we ventured North to Savannah to check out Savannah College of Art & Design.

He's already been accepted there but since Jackson had never seen it, we thought it best to take the "official" tour, see the dorms and get some questions answered. What an amazing place! SCAD has engulfed many historic buildings in the city and turned them into incredible examples of historic preservation by adapting the structures to the school's needs. Seventy-two buildings sprinkled throughout the town make up the campus. There are classes in old train stations, churches, synagogues, even a former coffin factory. There was a whole building devoted to fibers/weaving. (I made Jackson go look at it.) Once you get past marveling at the architecture, you really start to appreciate the sophistication and high levels of technology that SCAD has incorporated into every curriculum. In short, we were impressed.

The city has all these beautiful squares and trees and funky restaurants. Very cool.

Jackson has submitted his portfolio for scholarship consideration. We should hear back in a few weeks. SCAD is a very expensive school so we have our fingers crossed that they come up with some money.

It was nice to spend some time with Jackson. We got his eyes checked, glasses made, hair cut and did some serious shopping during this whirlwind trip. He was looking for these certain bats so I think we visited every baseball store between Orlando and Savannah with no luck. (We are going to order them online and have our neighbors Sean and Amber bring them when they visit in March.) One of my bestest high school buddies, Tracey Strachan, lives in Jacksonville so we had a great dinner with her husband, David and her son, Camden. All in all, it was a fun and productive trip.

A Five Foot Fish

2010-02-07T13:33:00.003-05:00

Ro went fishing with his work friends yesterday near Sao Sebastio's Ilha Bela Island and caught this freaky fish. It is called an espada, which translates to blade. The fish weighed about seven pounds and they grilled it up and ate it on the boat.

Man in Motion

2010-02-01T08:19:00.005-05:00

Jackson has his mock IB art exam today so yesterday was a flurry of tweaking his models and drawings for the show. This piece came out very cool. In its final state, it will be hung in the school gallery but we set it up in the apartment last night to get it just right. It is hung from fish line and tied to a board that we suspended from the ceiling. Jackson made casts of his hands and legs to make the player. He filled my car with a dozen or so 3-D objects and portfolio cases which I took to school this morning. Hope his show goes well.

Jackson and I are going to visit Savannah College of Art and Design February 17-19. He is going to fly to Orlando (alone!) and meet me after I finish with the National Automobile Dealers Association convention there for work. We'll make the four-hour trek to Savannah, Georgia from there. Everybody tells me that Savannah is gorgeous. He knows Wayne State and CCS well already so it is critical that he sees SCAD to help him make his college decision.

Good Friends...Spicy Food!

2010-01-31T07:49:00.012-05:00

Last night, Ro showed off his Thai cooking abilities for our friends Nandita, Prateek, Thana, Silva, Leslie and Richard. Ro has not been able to find good, spicy Thai food in Sao Paulo anywhere...and it has frustrated him. So this month, while I was away at the Auto Show, he took it upon himself to learn how to make Thai food. He watched YouTube videos, researched Internet recipes and then began combing the Asian markets in Liberdade to find the right ingredients and cooking utensils. Success!!

Ro put me in charge of the bar, appetizers and dessert. Everything else was his domain. He was sweating up a storm over the wok but he did an amazing job. He made matsaman, pad see ew and pad king. They were all great.

I really missed our big Detroit dining room and its 14-person table last night. Don't you love how the guys and girls just naturally separate when given the opportunity?? We are so lucky to have found such amazing friends here in Sao Paulo.

Cover Boy

2010-01-28T04:09:00.004-05:00

Jackson's mug is on the Graded Web site again. This shot is from the school's mid-January Habitat for Humanity building effort. Jackson worked really, really hard for a week helping to build houses in a very poor area a few hours from Recife. It was a great experience for the 25 kids who took part in the effort. They raise money all year long to fund the build.

10K in Sao Paulo

2010-01-25T16:13:00.011-05:00

I have done tons of runs in Detroit but one of the things I really want to do before I leave Sao Paulo is a race here. I signed up today for a 10K on March 21 in and around the Pacaembu area. We start at the stadium where the Corinthians soccer team plays. I always like a goal and this will help me focus my training. Besides the shirt is kinda cute! I like the runner on the back.

Even if my time is crummy, I feel pretty good that my Portuguese dictionary and I were able to pay the fee online!

With the three hour time difference between Detroit and SP, I've been doing the death march through the trails here pretty faithfully every morning with my pals Leslie, Nandita and Thana and then hitting the treadmill in the gym. All I'll need to do is step up my treadmill time and then do a good bit of distance in Burle Marx Park on the weekends.

I'd love company. Any one want to join me?

New Weaving Project

2010-01-23T15:57:00.006-05:00

These 10 beautiful balls of silk/cashmere are going to be my next weaving project. I'm using a shadow weave pattern out of my Handwoven magazine for a 15" wide piece. In theory, the pattern is supposed to look like water lilies. We'll see. Ro reminded me today that we have to ship my loom back in five months and it would be good if I finished the piece before then. He knows me too well!

It is so nice to be home. Like always, Dan and the kids seem to do just fine without me but I sure feel best when I'm here. It was a traumatic trip back to Sao Paulo with canceled flights, comped hotel rooms and lost luggage. I left on Monday and finally got back here on Wednesday. But I'm past all that and just pleased to be home.

The kids finally go back to school from their summer break next Tuesday. (Monday is a Brazilian holiday.) This sure has been a long holiday for them but they are still scrambling to get their homework done. Whatcha' guys been doing all this time??

Crazy Days in the D

2010-01-16T08:25:00.005-05:00

When I'm home in Detroit, I usually don't write on my blog. After all, it is called "Departing the D" not "Visiting the D." I've had a very pleasant, hardworking trip but I'm anxious to return to Sao Paulo on Monday/Tuesday.

In addition to making sure my key card still works at Crain, the main reason I'm home this time is to help out with our biggest event of the year, the Automotive News World Congress. I was so proud of the entire marketing/events team. They did an amazing job pulling this together. The event attracted 1,000 people over the three days. We had 18 sponsors, 20 major speakers from the auto companies and a million details. You know it is a big deal when you have protesters! Sergio Marchionne's speech was interrupted three times by some very irate individuals. Security is definitely going to be beefed up next year. (Note to self--the protesters all bought very expensive registrations. Maybe this is a new niche for us!)

I renewed my membership in the downtown YMCA while I was home. I've been going over there every morning before work. So pleasant! It amazes me how many people are working out really hard at 6 a.m. I think the Y is going to be a big help to me when I'm back here for good beginning in mid-June.

I am blessed with some amazing friends. It has been great to catch up with them while I'm here. I'm really going to need them next year. GM has approved our "split family" status. Dan and Hannah are going to stay in Sao Paulo for two more years. Hannah's school in Brazil, Graded, is wonderful in so many ways and she is very fortunate to be able to graduate from there.

Jackson, Java (our dog) and I are returning to the US and will move back into our house in Indian Village. Jackson will be going to college somewhere (either Savannah, Wayne State or CCS) so that means I am going to be alone a lot of the time. It will be really, really hard but they give us a few more trips back and forth so we can stay connected...and somewhat sane. Hannah will be coming back to Detroit for her two six-week breaks in the summer and winter. Somehow we'll make it...and be stronger from the experience.

Another Acceptance!

2010-01-03T06:15:00.006-05:00

Jackson found out yesterday that he got accepted to Wayne State University. He would follow their industrial design curriculum. The only one left to hear from now is College for Creative Studies. (He got accepted to SCAD--Savannah College of Art & Design--a few weeks back.) The advantage of Wayne is that he could get a lot of his early credits done much more efficiently...cough, cough...and way cheaper...than at an art school. It is exciting (and a little sad) watching him grow into the whole thought of independence and college. I'm not sure where he'll end up but the decision-making is an interesting process. This is one of the drawings Jackson recently completed.

I leave tomorrow night for Detroit. It is Auto Show/World Congress season so I'll be mighty busy this trip to the D.

Feliz Ano Novo

2010-01-01T06:38:00.006-05:00

Happy 2010. For the past 30 years, we have celebrated New Year's Eve with a great bunch of friends from high school. There is a core group of about 12 people that are always there and the party moves from house to house each New Year's. No matter what, the celebration involves a lot of eating, shots and college football games and leftovers the next day. The guys always play this dumb drinking card game after midnight called "Horse Thief." Somebody usually throws up.

We started first at a parent's house, then had wild trashcan parties at our college apartments, moved to restaurants and discovered they were too expensive, journeyed through the "new Mommy years" where someone was always pregnant and staying awake was no problem because a baby was always up. During recent celebrations, the kids played poker and neighbors joined in the fun and the parties had gotten pretty wild again.

Our friend Karl is a wine salesman. He has a life size Dick Clark New Year's poster from one of his suppliers and every year we take photos in front of it. Those photos are a great way to chronicle how much we've all changed.

Since we are 5,000 miles away, we missed the party last night and were feeling a little blue. We felt like we were really missing something. I think the only other time we missed it was when we were in Japan. While the fireworks were going off in Sao Paulo and it was still three hours before New Years in Michigan, we called Rick and Lori's house to wish them all a Happy New Year. There were only six people there. All the babies are now in high school or college and wanted to do their own thing. A few of our friends had to stay back to make sure the kids got home safe. Heavy sigh.

We'll be be back for next year's party. I guess it will be time to transition to another kind of celebration again. Hannah suggested that now the kids will have the wild parties and we can go out for a quiet dinner and stop by the wild party for the midnight celebration. NO WAY!! We're not giving up the ship that easy.

Poor Hugo

2009-12-31T07:10:00.003-05:00

This is a photo I took through Skype of my Dad's new blue cast. While we were at the Falls, the rails were all wet and he slammed his hand the wrong way against one of them. It swelled up and turned funny colors while we were traveling but he didn't have it x-rayed until he got back to Michigan. The hand specialist gave him the U of M colored cast this week. Looks like he got out of snow shoveling for this season!

It just amazes me that I can take a picture of my Dad's hand 5,000 miles away. Skype has been my salvation for this journey to Brazil. I can talk and see everybody and it is totally free. Al Gore sure invented a way cool Internet.

Here Fishy, Fishy

2009-12-30T08:33:00.008-05:00

The day after Christmas we got up ridiculously early, jumped in a taxi and flew to Rio. Ro and Jackson had booked two days of charter fishing and Hannah and I just came along. I have no clue what kind of fish the guys caught.

We had been to Rio with the Santoscoys in August and stayed at a great beach house and did the tourist thing then so this was our chance to just hang and soak up the city. We stayed at an OK hotel in Copacabana a few blocks off the water. Copacabana was a great area for early morning runs among the beautiful people (and a whole lot of ugly ones too!) They were setting up for the big New Year's celebration. Brazilians all go to the beach dressed in white and watch huge fireworks that are shot from barges in the water. At midnight, the party moves into the ocean. Copacabana Beach is the largest celebration in all of Brazil. The stages were mammoth.

But we left before the madness (and astronomical hotel rates!) started. Instead we beached, went to an art fair, shopped at a local mall and toured the botanical gardens. Much fun! The guys joined us the last day for a tour of the Neimeyer Contemporary Art Museum in Niteroi. Such a funky building.

Quiet Sao Paulo Christmas

2009-12-25T07:07:00.006-05:00

It is 10 a.m. on Christmas morning and the kids are still sleeping. I remember one year when Hannah and Jackson woke us up at 4 a.m. because they were so excited. My, how times change! We purposely went very low key on presents this year since we are leaving tomorrow for a long weekend in Rio. Ro and Jackson are going sea fishing and Hannah and I are just going to hang around the city. That was the gift we gave to one another this year.

It doesn't make today any less weird though. Our family and friends are a long 5,000 miles away. Hope they have a wonderful day! I'm sure we'll give them a call before the day is up.

I bought a small ham and I'm going to attempt a holiday dinner. Hannah and I made cookies the other day so we have the essentials ready to go. It will be strange to have Christmas dinner in shorts and flip flops though. Merry Christmas everybody!

Abracos and Beijos (hugs and kisses) from the Southern Robars.

FYI: This photo is the Ponte Estaiada Octávio Frias de Oliveira suspension bridge that we pass almost everyday. They light it special for the holidays.

HF and DJ do SP

2009-12-22T07:19:00.010-05:00

My Mom and Dad are such troopers. Over the past 10 days, they ate mountains of beef, went to several amazing parties, visited the ocean, toured the city, critiqued an art fair, walked through parks, dashed through waterfalls, marveled at birds, danced the samba and just enjoyed some great family time. My Dad is now a Caipirinha (Brazilian cocktail made with cachaca rum) fan. (I am spelling it out here since my Dad must have asked me a 100 times, "what is this drink called again?") Ro and I are so blessed to have two sets of healthy and fun parents. This trip also proved to me that Jackson is developing many HF tendencies.

Igacu Falls (some people spell it Iguassu) was an amazing place to visit. We flew out on Thursday and walked through trails on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides of the falls. So much bigger and more natural than Niagara Falls. On the last day, we even took a hydroplane boat ride through the Falls themselves. We had a fabulous and patient guide, Gunter, who helped us with every detail of the trip.

Such a nice Christmas present to have them here with us!

Accepted!

2009-12-11T13:18:00.009-05:00

Today, all the Graded High School seniors carried out their ritualistic scalping of my son. There is a weird tradition at the school whenever a senior gets accepted into college, the other kids shave their head (badly). Jackson found out last night that he got accepted (and even got a bit of an academic scholarship) to SCAD, Savannah College of Art & Design. Jackson is pretty geeked about this choice because they have industrial design, a baseball team and a ROTC program. Once he submits his portfolio to SCAD at the end of this year, he will be eligible for art scholarships too. He has applied to two other universities: College for Creative Studies and Wayne State University in Detroit. Still waiting to hear from them. Sure hope Jackson doesn't get scalped again. He's in the bathroom now trying to fix it. Good luck dude.

My Mom and Dad arrive tomorrow morning for 10 days. I'm so looking forward to their visit. We are going to take a few days next week and go to Iguassu Falls on the Brazil/Argentina border. It is supposed to be beautiful.

HAIR UPDATE: It's gone! Jackson came out of the bathroom with a dull razor and smelling like shaving cream.

Our Little Tree

2009-12-02T09:39:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-30T07:44:00.009-05:00

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

2009-11-29T04:47:00.007-05:00

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

2009-11-25T06:29:00.006-05:00

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

2009-10-16T12:47:00.007-04:00

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

2009-10-11T14:55:00.002-04:00

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

2009-10-02T14:35:00.005-04:00

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.

Fun in Recife and Bahia

2009-09-27T15:32:00.007-04:00

Hannah and Jackson traveled "in loco" with Graded School this past week. Jackson went to Recife and Hannah visited Bahia. It is so cool that their school does this every Fall and allows the students to explore different parts of Brazil. Mostly, I think it gives the kids a chance to grow as independent, curious young adults. Both did native drumming, made crafts, danced, talked to locals in their best Portuguese and did a lot of "hanging" with their classmates. Oh yea, they got to swim in the ocean too. Hannah's video (she's near the front on the far right banging a drum) is from Oldum. It was made famous when Michael Jackson shot a video in the streets there in the mid '90s.

This week was also a good test for Ro and I to see if we'll be able to handle being "empty nesters" in a few years. We're still married so I think all is good.

Fire Up Chips!

2009-09-14T15:39:00.002-04:00

This photo is dedicated to my husband, my brother, my co-workers and every other "Go Green" Spartan I've ever had to listen to!

This is the Guy I Dated

2009-09-12T07:26:00.004-04:00

I was sent this great retro shot this week by John Zimmerman. Cracked me up. Hard to believe that Ro and I started dating in 1980, the same year this was taken. Even harder to believe that was nearly 30 years ago. Ro must have known what was ahead and that's why his eyes are closed. Jackson is the same age now as Ro was in this shot....and his hair is just about as long.

Random Thoughts from this Week

2009-09-06T07:20:00.009-04:00

I have spent the week at the mercy of Brazilian plumbers. The apartment downstairs had a leak so they are ripping up our bathroom to repair their problem. Oh the dust and the noise! They tell me they will be with me next week too. Ugh!

My kids are getting to go on a bunch of cool trips in the next few weeks. I am way jealous. I've spent the week filling out a lot of paperwork. The school has a "bonding" trip every September for each grade. Hannah is going to Bahia and Jackson is headed to Recife from September 15-21. Then little Miss "I want to see the world" Hannah is going to Lisbon, Portgual with her Model United Nations Club in November. Jackson is headed to the beach for a senior trip. Top that off with the Big 8 Athletic Tournament at Nosso Recanto in late November and I don't think these two will be spending much time in their classrooms.

We're starting to focus pretty heavily on what Hannah and Jackson will be doing next year. Jackson has narrowed down his college search to Savannah College of Art & Design, College for Creative Studies, Cleveland Institute of Art, Wayne State and Grand Valley State. He's deep into applications right now and is going to tackle the ACT one more time in October. Hannah still seems a bit confused about where she wants to finish her last two years of high school. I think she wants to stay here!

Next month, I'm headed back to Detroit for a long stretch (October 3-November 5). Work has been crazy busy the past few weeks so it will be good to see people eye-to-eye. Working long distance is definitely possible but without that daily contact my mind does weird things.

We've got a loud thunderstorm moving in right now. I love the rain! It sure is weird to be in September and see the days getting longer and the temperatures getting hotter.

46...how could that be?

2009-08-25T10:38:00.003-04:00

I used to always be the young one on every committee or team. Not so much anymore. 46 seems really old. My status update on Facebook this morning was an Abraham Lincoln quote, "And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." How true. I am very blessed. My kids are great. I am married to an amazing man. My friends rock. My parents (and Dan's parents) are healthy and fun. I am running a half marathon in October. I have a great job that is always interesting. I have lived in the US, Brazil and Japan. But 46? Wow, that's old. I better go take a nap or something.

Like my birthday presents? Lynne left me the Havaianas and Ro bought me these pretty earrings. I am spoiled.

The Party's Over

2009-08-23T07:27:00.012-04:00

What a fun two weeks we've had here in SP. Our fab neighbors from the D, the Santoscoys, came to Brazil. We did our best to point them in the right direction of things to see and do and every chance we could, we ate and ate and ate. The power of the rodizio will live with all of us for quite a while (especially around the waist!) They were troopers though. Everyday at 7:15 Lynne took part in the "death march" around the hills of our complex. Nathan even went to school for a day with Hannah and Jackson. (Check out the sand sculpture behind Lynne and Dan. They had carved Barack Obama's name into it to attract gringoes like us!)

The highlight of the trip was a three-day jaunt to Rio. We had never been so it was a great excuse to go. We rented a beautiful beach house at Mirante de Itacoatiara and then used that as our headquarters. We jumped in the ocean waves, drank a few cervejas on the beach, visited Copacabana and Ipanema (yes we..ok me...sang the appropriate tunes), boogied to a samba band on the train ride to Christo, took the cable car up to Sugarloaf and went to a hippie art fair. What a beautiful city. I wish we had more time to spend there but the kids are in school now so we had to come back to Sao Paulo reality. Jackson put together an album on Facebook with some of our pictures. Click here if you want to see it.

We are so lucky to have such good friends. We had traveled with them to Playa del Carmen a few years ago and Noah's famous quote on the last night then when we were pulling out the margaritas was "No. The party is over." We use that all the time.

It was an amazing two weeks. So many laughs. I think Hannah said it best on the last day, "Mom, it is like I have Detroit and Brazil in the same place." So sad that this party is over.

First Day of School

2009-08-10T19:21:00.005-04:00

Hannah and Jackson were there for the first day of school this year. They didn't start until October last year so this wasn't something they experienced last year. Jackson had to be there at the crack of dawn (OK, 6:30) for a special senior sunrise event so I couldn't even get the two of them together for a photo opp today. This is Jackson's last first day. Heavy sigh.

Forget it Santoscoys!

2009-08-05T16:47:00.006-04:00

Here's a story I saw today that cracked me up. We don't encourage this in the Robar House.

Brazilians Urged to Urinate in the Shower

(Aug. 5) -- It sounds a wee strange, but a leak can save lots of water. That's the message an environmental group is sending in a new ad campaign.

Spots running on several Brazilian TV stations promote urinating in the shower.

In one commercial, animated characters such as King Kong, a trapeze artist, a basketball player and an alien show viewers how it's done -- usually in silhouette behind a shower curtain. There's even a momentary homage to the shower scene from 'Psycho.'

Children's voice narrate as a bouncy tune is strummed in the background. At the end, the kids shout: "Pee in the shower! Save the Atlantic rainforest!"

The ad campaign is "a way to be playful about a serious subject," according to Adriana Kfouri, a spokeswoman for SOS Mata Atlantica in Rio de Janeiro.

The group says eliminating just one toilet flush a day can save more than 1,100 gallons of water in a year.

Hilarious Photo of the Day

2009-08-03T11:33:00.003-04:00

Sorry this photo isn't better. We took it from my car with Hannah's phone. The motoboy and his passenger were transporting a huge mirror on the back of the bike. The guy in the back had to fully extend his arm to hold the mirror with one hand. We were cracking up. You could see our car in the mirror. Wonder if they made it to their destination?

That Evil Piggy!

2009-08-02T14:35:00.006-04:00

OK, Sao Paulo has dozens of cases of the swine flu. The metro area has a population of 20 million people. I feel bad for the sick people but come on...talk about overreacting. We had to fill out special H1N1 paperwork on the plane. School is starting a week late for the kids (and two weeks late in the Sao Paulo school system) so people can get it under control. Even in church today, no wine and no sign of peace.

All of this is especially stupid given the warm way Brazilians greet each other. Everyone gets a hug and a kiss on the cheek as a hello. Germs abound on a regular basis. We could have a pandemic on our hands!

Hannah and Jackson are ready to go back to school. Jackson is a little behind in his summer homework so he wasn't heartbroken but I know he would have rallied and been ready. The kids really need to return to academia and their friends now that we are back in Sao Paulo. If the break gets extended longer, I won't complain too much because Lynne, Dan, Nathan and Noah are coming on the 11th. We'll see what happens.

Nao Aqua Quente

2009-07-28T12:04:00.006-04:00

This weird contraption located in our laundry room is the Brazilian version of an apartment water heater. Usually, life is good. We have hot water even when we are running steamy showers in three bathrooms at once. Today though, I hate this machine.

It died. I have been waiting for the repairman for two days now. He was supposed to be here today by 1:00. It is now 1:17. I hate Brazilian time...which is whenever we feel like it.

This morning, Ro, Hannah and I took pioneer showers. We warmed up water on the stove and then used a pitcher in the bathtub to clean up. Jackson the renegade is still stinky. He is down playing basketball now. Maybe nobody will notice.

6:00 p.m. UPDATE: He came. He fixed it. Jackson showered. Phew!!

Phew....finally back in Sao Paulo

2009-07-25T10:46:00.005-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. It seems weird to post to "Departing the D" when I was in the "D." We had a great visit at home. I worked. Ro fished. Jackson went to art school and Hannah took driver's ed. In between that, we ate a ton of great BBQ, caught up with some friends but ran out of time to see everybody, and shopped and shopped. We squeezed in a "girl trip" up to Mackinac Island and Ro and Jackson made the "guy trip" in Grayling with Rick and the guys. My Mom and Dad were fabulous hosts putting up with all of our shenanigans.

I put together a few of our photos from Michigan together in a Facebook album. Check it out.

We are so blessed with amazing friends and family. Trips like this one really remind me of that.

Festa Junina

2009-06-30T08:08:00.010-04:00

Saturday was a crazy day at Villagio Panamby (apartment complex where we live). The Brazilians celebrate Festa Junina at the beginning of winter. It is essentially a way to honor rural life. Kids wear straw hats and peasant costumes. Our complex had food booths, games, animals, bonfire and a live band. (Not sure how it fits in but our favorite booth was the Japanese booth from the sushi place up the street.) Good times!
Sunday, we dropped Java off at Caopestre Dog Park and Hotel after Jackson's baseball game. What a beautiful place. I think she is going to have great fun there for the three weeks we'll be back in the States. She was already hanging out with Roy, a beautiful chocolate lab that belongs to our friends Pete and Shannon.

Bedroom Cleanup

2009-06-24T13:52:00.008-04:00

Hannah and Jackson finally cleaned and organized their closets yesterday. We have some great built-ins in their bedrooms but they were both using the "throw it all in and make one big pile" method. Not any more!

Facapai

2009-06-23T08:38:00.008-04:00

Meet facapai. Faca (pronounced fuk-a) is the Portuguese word for knife. Pai (pronounced pie) is the word for Father. This was the kid's gift to Ro for Father's Day. We've named it Facapai. You can't help but grin everytime you say facapai.

Winter in Sao Paulo

2009-06-22T10:25:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was the Summer Solstice (longest day of the year) back home. In Sao Paulo, we are below the equator so it is just the opposite. We are at the center of Winter. But don't worry about me. Today's temperature is a beautiful 63 degrees. At home, that would mean t-shirts and jeans. Here, no joke, people are in wool hats and parkas. So funny. By August, it should start heating up again.

This photo is from last week. Hannah, Jackson and I walked up the street for sushi. We sat outside. We have Michigan blood.

Our apartment has no heat and no air conditioning. We control the temperature by opening or shutting the windows and it works quite well. The weather now is sunny and we have the windows open to let the heat in during the day. At night, we shut them. Easy.

Most of the gringoes with school-age children have returned to their home country for the month of July. It is really quiet here. Hannah and I went to church yesterday. Normally, there are about 150-200 people there. There were only about two dozen and we had Mass in the small chapel. A lot of the people we talked to were leaving in the next week or two.

We head back to Detroit on July 1 for three weeks. Dan and the kids are really excited. I'm going to work while we're home. Hannah, my Mom and I are going to take a long weekend for our annual "girl trip." This year's destination is Mackinac Island. Jackson is going to be at a pre-college workshop at the Cleveland Institute of Art for two weeks and Hannah is signed up for driver's education classes. Ro just wants to fish.

Ro, the world's best Dad

2009-06-21T06:47:00.006-04:00

My kids are so lucky. They have the greatest Dad. Here it is Father's Day and all; Jackson and Ro just left for baseball at 7:30 in the morning. Ro knows how important baseball is to Jackson so he never complains about what a pain it must be to spend every weekend at the baseball field. He just does it.

So far, I have been in the States more than I have been in Brazil because of work. He's been a single Dad lots of weeks and even though he's tired from the daily grind, he doesn't miss parent teacher conferences, plays or games. In short, Ro rocks! Happy Father's Day to the two Dads in my life too....HF and Wayne. I am very lucky.

Hannah and I went with Sharon and Christa to Jose Paulino on Friday. Such adventure! Sao Paulo has so many hidden little areas. Jose Paulino is a discount shopping district downtown. Store after store has piles of clothes, all at bargain prices. You had to dig but we found some great items and had a lot of fun. We ate corn from a cart (until the girl got in trouble and had to quickly wheel her business to a new location) and enjoyed a nice sunshiney day!

Back At It

2009-06-15T16:00:00.005-04:00

Today was the first day back in the office in the Southern (way Southern) bureau of Crain. It was very normal and reassuring after all the craziness of the last few weeks. I really feel like I get a lot done while I'm here. The kids are off school now so it is a little weird to have them around all day. The constant hum of the XBox and the television is very different. I like it quiet (except for Java barking).

Speaking of Java, we found a great place for her to stay while we're home in the States July 1-23. Thanks to a tip from our friends Pete and Shannon, Java is going to Caopestre Park and Hotel near Embu. Check this place out with the link. She is going to live large. Pete and Shannon's dog Roy will be there at the same time. He's a playful lab so Java will have a buddy.

This photo is Sunny, Bobby and Jackson outside today playing roller hockey. I think the whole concept of no school is making them very happy.

An Artful Day

2009-06-13T16:15:00.006-04:00

Where I have been? In the last three weeks, I've been hanging with my pal Delta playing alphabet soup. We've been to JFK, LAX, ATL, DTW, MEM, BHM, back to ATL and then finally home to GRU. I think this trip alone will bump me up a status level. I had a great trip, accomplished a lot at work, saw some dear friends, hung with the family, ran a bit and ate way too much everywhere I went but it so, so, so great to be back now with Ro and the kids.

Today, Hannah and I went to the Museu de Arte de Sao Paulo. After missing just about every turn trying to get there, we finally arrived and had a nice few hours. It is a cool building even before you look at the art. They had the usual masters and then we went to the signature show there now by Brazilian artist Vik Muniz. He lays out dramatic images with normal objects like garbage, sugar, diamonds, toy soldiers and food and then photographs the images from above. This Mona Lisa was made out of peanut butter and jelly. My favorite images were the sugar children.

Running....and then lots of eating!

2009-05-31T08:30:00.009-04:00

I ran the 5K Race for the Cure yesterday. The event had 30,000 people!! So cool. After the race, a whole crew of us went out for breakfast and ate all the calories (and probably more!) that we just ran off. Such fun. I do so love and miss my friends. I took this photo for Hannah of her pals Rosemary, TJ and Ella.

After the breakfast fest, I stopped by church and paid my respects to one of St. Charles finest, Terrence Dearing, who died on Monday. Such a nice man. I just chatted with him last Sunday at church. RIP Terry.

While I was in the D, I made sure Ro's pond in the Village was fully operational with filter, plants and fish. It was really peaceful working outside yesterday afternoon. I got it all hooked up. Our next-door neighbor is on the Home Tour next Saturday so I wanted to make sure it was all set for Stan. My Mom and I are going to be docents at the house. It will be a great way to say hi to a bunch of the neighbors all at once!

Tim and my Mom and Dad went out for dinner last night to celebrate my Mom's birthday earlier in the week. Look at this dessert! This picture of my Dad cracks me up.

Jackson's Prom Date

2009-05-28T07:46:00.002-04:00

You have to love Uncles. They can solve all your problems (especially when they have whiz bang computer programs). Uncle Dave saw a need and filled it for his nephew Jackson. Thanks Dave. I'm sure Jackson was the hit of the Graded School Prom with his date, Hannah Montana.

While I've Been Gone

2009-05-24T21:39:00.009-04:00

I left Sao Paulo a week ago. Since I've been gone, Jackson went to the prom Saturday night and Hannah was honored at the Graded Athletic Awards on Friday.

Jackson decided to go "stag" to the prom and the after-party. (Do they still use the word "stag"?) He said that a lot of the guys do that. He passed on the tux and just wore a nice suit. Of course, this morning I asked him how it went. The typical information-filled teen response: fine. Lot of people there? Yes. Did the girls look pretty? Yes. What time did you get home? 3:30. Guess I'll have to pry some more details out of him later in person.

Hannah, on the other hand, was all chatty about Friday's Graded Athletic Awards. She got some bling as the "most improved player" on her volleyball team but she seems to think the award was destined for another player who just didn't show up so they gave it to Hannah. She laughed a lot about it. We'll have to find out what the real story here is and whether she'll have to forfeit her hardware.
The last photo is for Ro. When I was visiting his family yesterday in Milford, I drove by the canoe rental where we worked in high school and college. We both have fond memories of the place and the nice family, the Ruckers, that ran it. Back then, it was kind of falling apart but the Ruckers did their best to keep it occupied and maintained. It looks like the town has rallied around this old powerhouse and preserved it. The change was startling.

I am definitely missing my family on this long holiday weekend. I went to church today at St. Charles and said hello to a few of my favorite Detroiters. I drove by our house and it looked great with lots of flowers out front. Stan is doing a fab job taking care of it. Tomorrow, I am going to partake in Santoscoy BBQ (aren't you jealous?) on the street. Maybe I'll take a few photos of the house so Ro can relax.

Acting Fashionable

2009-05-17T08:08:00.020-04:00

I leave tonight for LA, then Detroit, then Alabama. So for my last night in Brazil for a few weeks, we went to the Graded "Fashion for Humanity" event. Graded has a program where they build three houses in a rural area in Brazil with Habitat for Humanity. These high schoolers really know how to shake the last coin from the community. It was a very high class event in the richest mall in Sao Paulo, Iguatemi. Jackson worked stage crew. The student models were dressed in clothes from the retailers of the mall and it was all very, very professional. Great music, lighting, everything.
Ro still fell prey to the salesman-ship of the Graded kids for more support.

This is Jackson's art teacher, Miss B.

Hannah hung with some friends, Maru and Janna.

Are Dogs Supposed to Sit Like That?

2009-05-14T20:13:00.004-04:00

OK, it is bad enough that Java parks on the couch and watches Scrubs (complete with Portuguese subtitles) but look how she is sitting! I think she is human! Of all of us, Java has had the biggest adjustment. She used to be able to roam free in our Detroit backyard and hang with her boyfriend black lab, Logan. Now she is in a 14th floor apartment and has to go down an elevator on a leash to go outside. So maybe without any dog companions, she has decided to become human. If she starts changing the channel, we're in trouble.

Recognize anyone?

2009-05-09T06:05:00.004-04:00

We were at Graded School last night for a play so I finally had a chance to snap a picture of Jackson next to his self-portrait that he did for a recent art show. Pretty good, eh? His school really has an amazing art program. I liked the play (Blithe Spirit by Noel Coward) but the art show was the highlight. They used a ton of media and the students expressed themselves well. Good stuff.

This summer Jackson hopes to get accepted for a two-week program in July at the Cleveland Institute of Art. (Dave and Wendy, get ready. I'm sure he'll need a meal or two while he is there on campus.)

The kids seem to have settled into school here in Sao Paulo. They take their studies seriously and are learning a ton in class and out. The thing I like best is that they are relating to their new friends even though everyone is from different countries. Hannah and Jackson are both in early training for the basketball season that begins in August.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!

Vamos Gringo!

2009-05-04T11:09:00.005-04:00

The Nippon Blue Jays beat the Sao Paulo team 11-10 and won a big baseball tournament yesterday. I give Jackson a lot of credit. He has spent most every Saturday and Sunday that he has been here working out with the team. With the exception of one kid and one Dad who know a little English, Jackson has had to muddle through in Portuguese.

The first game was on Friday but Jackson screwed up his back on Thursday playing basketball at school so he sat out. But the team won the first round. Jackson took his SAT tests on Saturday morning so he met up with the team after their Saturday victories at the camp. They spent the night there on Saturday and played in the championship yesterday. It was a long game and there was a lot of back and forth in the score.

This park at Ibiuna is like a professional baseball park set in the mountains. It took us about an hour to get there but it was worth the drive.

The best part was when Jackson got up to bat. He was playing DH (designated hitter) because his back was still a little tender. The crowd screamed "Vamos Gringo" which translates to "Let's Go Gringo." They then thought it was hilarious to yell at him in English, "Let's Go Jackson." Such an enthusiastic crowd.

Jackson's team went out to a churrascaria to celebrate the victory so he went with a teammate to the restaurant and then took a cab home. It is tough to be the Mom when you send your baby off with people you hardly know to a place you've never been in a foreign country and then tell him to get in a cab home. But of course, he did fine.

We couldn't go to the celebration because we met up with Pete, Shannon, Rick and Judy and went to my favorite place so far in Sao Paulo, the Bananeria. Their web site is here if you want to take a look. The food was great, friends were fun and it was just a cool venue. I had this shrimp stew dish that was just delicious!

Let's Start Over in May

2009-04-30T19:13:00.005-04:00

Boy, I am glad April is over. I'm sure everything will be just peachy keen tomorrow when it becomes May. No more bankruptcies, breakups, layoffs or swine flu. It is a new month. The sad Chrysler news today makes me think about the number of people that I know that work for that company and its ad agencies and suppliers. My heart goes out to them. I know this reorganization may save some jobs, but let's face it. A lot more people still have to go. Fiat will want to do it their way, just like Daimler did when they took them over and Cerebus did when they became the boss.

It is very strange to be so close (via the Internet) and still so far away when stuff happens.

Everybody keeps asking us about GM and Dan's job. Who knows? For right now, I think GM do Brasil is a great place for us to ride out the storm. We are here so we are trying to make the most of it. Dan is working really hard.

Finally, turn on your prayers for my friend Al's son, Christopher. I just found out today that he is on his third round of chemo for non-hodgkin's lymphoma. They are an amazing family so if anyone can get through this, it is the steely Sebastians. We also need prayers for Detroit. With Chrysler's setback and so many other hardships, we need new strong leadership. Let's pray that that happens...and soon!

My New Car

2009-04-29T19:40:00.006-04:00

It took about six months for my Meriva to arrive but Ro picked up my new little beauty today. There are very few red cars here but I wanted to be able to find it in the parking decks. We took a quick snapshot of it this evening in the parking garage. I had been driving this rather large minivan, a Chevy Zafira. It was nice to have the space but I'm glad to say goodbye to it. With its blistering 1.8 liter engine, the Meriva will be a lot more fun to drive around Sao Paulo. It has an easytronic transmission so I can drive with it in manual and automatic. Giving my lack of driving skills, I think that thing will be in A always. Ro drives an Opel Vectra.

We're starting yet another feriado (holiday) weekend this Friday. This is the Brazilian Labor Day. Jackson has a double-header on Friday and is taking the SAT on Saturday. Guess we won't be sneaking away anywhere fun this weekend.

Killing Time in the Newark Airport

2009-04-22T17:45:00.004-04:00

I feel like the Terminal Woman. I left Detroit this morning. I had a few meetings and an awards program in New York City for work so I fixed my flight back to Sao Paulo so I would have time to go into the Big Apple and get back to Newark in time for the 10 p.m. overnight flight back to Brazil. Well my afternoon meeting got canceled. Cool....I can bum around New York for the afternoon. Not to be.

It was pouring rain. I went to my favorite weaving store after the awards luncheon but after that I wasn't really in the mood to walk streets in the rain in my high heels hauling around my heavy briefcase and laptop. So I got back to the airport around 4:30. So now I am juicing up at the power station and people watching in the international terminal. It is kind of fun.

I am surrounded by rude business people having loud conversations on their cell phones. A whole bunch of stressed out leisure travelers are loading up on enough carbohydrates to run a marathon. This long hair guy is trying to pick up on the hot girl next to me. He's romancing her by telling her he can get her free wireless.

Today was a weird day. My cab going into the city got rear-ended in the Holland Tunnel. We had to fill out police reports and deal with all of that drama. Then at the luncheon, Automotive News received an "Engaged Media Brand" award. Very good. The bad part was we got beat out for the top honors by Martha Stewart Living. Didn't she go to jail? Shouldn't that prevent her from being honored by industry associations? Evil woman!

Oh well, a few more hours to go. Time to get out my book and try to stay awake.

P.S. No sooner had I posted this entry than I looked over and saw this! I'm not making this up. These two weary travelers did yoga for about 30 minutes. Guess I'm not the only one that is a little stir crazy.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

2009-04-14T10:18:00.009-04:00

Hard to believe my beautiful baby girl is 15 today. She (and Jackson) left this morning for a four-day sports tournament so we did all of our celebrating this past weekend. What fun! We went with the Mishras to Templo Kinkaku-ji, a Buddist temple right in the middle of a huge ecological park on Saturday. For Easter, we went to Embu das Artes, a great little town with an art fair throughout the streets. To celebrate Easter and Hannah's birthday, we went to the local churrascaria and ate way too much beef and then had birthday cake at home. Hannah wore the new skirt she bought at the art fair out to dinner (last picture).

I took this photo for my brother Tim. They deliver beer to the table here with a tap. It holds about six beers and has ice in the middle. You must have missed that when you visited Sao Paulo. Guess you'll have to come back.

I'm off to Detroit tonight. This will be a quick trip (I hope!). I'm back on Thursday next week. Ro is going to be alone for four days. The poor guy hasn't had any peace and quiet for months. Good thing Java is here.

Feliz Páscoa!

2009-04-09T13:33:00.012-04:00

Brazil has a huge population of Catholics. So I thought Easter would be a solemn and beautiful occasion here. No way. It is all about the ovo de chocolate (chocolate eggs). I was at the local supermarket today and everywhere you go you are surrounded by these things. They hang them overhead. The aisles are filled with them and the workers are unloading them as quickly as the customers gobble them up. The eggs are wrapped in brightly colored theme paper of everything from Disney characters to soccer teams. I took these photos with my phone so I'm sorry they are not better.

We are going to have a very quiet Easter this year. Easter Vigil is on Saturday night so we're going to celebrate Easter AND Hannah's birthday on Sunday. I'm sure we'll be thinking about Aunt Sue's rock-em, sock-em, blindfolded Easter Egg Hunt at Carolyn and David's house in Chelsea that we'll be missing. Hannah and Jackson are in the Big Four sports tournament in Nosso Recanto next week from Tuesday-Saturday and I'm leaving for the States on Tuesday night so Sunday is our day to party! So far, Hannah wants to go to a churrascaria for her 15th.

Mii Old

2009-04-05T06:58:00.007-04:00

We bought a Wii Fit over the holidays and shipped it to Brazil with our friends Pete and Shannon. Well the darn thing got here this week so we were all excited to play with our new toy. Jackson, of course, got into it first and set it up. It begins with a fitness assessment that tests your balance, weight and BMI and gives you a fitness age. It assigns you a Mii character to work with you to meet your fitness goals. The icon even looks like you. Jackson's was right on. His age was 17. He can crank through the 40+ yoga, balance, strength and aerobics units like an Olympian. No problem.

Hannah did it and her fitness age was 19. She likes the aerobics. She is the Mii character in the green.

So yesterday, after running three miles at the Graded School track in the morning I might add, I got my sorry butt on the balance board. It said my fitness age was 67!!! I had some trouble with the balance assessment so I did it again and it came down to 54. Still!! The funniest thing was my Mii character. As soon as I weighed myself, the character puffed out! Doesn't Nintendo understand that I was the one who bought the Wii Fit in the first place and they should be nice to me?

Dan hasn't done it yet. (The fourth character on the TV screen in yellow is Jackson's friend Sunny.) Poor Ro. He played in a charity softball game yesterday with GM and one of his own teammates decked him with the ball at full speed. Luckily, he was wearing sunglasses so they took some of the blow. He has a shiner today. Add to that his continuing problems with his foot and I bet his Wii age will still be less than mine.

Happy Birthday Judy!

2009-04-03T20:11:00.007-04:00

I am very tied to my computer, phone and home office with my job so it is rare that I get out past Graded School and the grocery store during the week. Today, I snuck out at noon and went to a birthday lunch with a bunch of the GM crew for my friend Judy. For a group of women who didn't know each other before this whole escapade began, we sure had a lot of laughs today. Ro and the kids met Judy and her husband Rick when they spent the first two weeks at the Transamerica Hotel. They arrived in Sao Paulo the same week as us. They are a great couple. For her birthday, they are going to celebrate in Buenos Aires. Very cool. Parabéns a você Judy!

Getting Cleaned Up

2009-03-30T19:01:00.009-04:00

Poor Java. I took her today to the pet care place in our complex for a banho (bath). When I picked her up, they had bedazzled her. She had sequins on her ears and even a bindi between her eyes. Can't you see the humiliation in this homedog's face? Our poor adopted mutt from the streets of Detroit is now jeweled. We had a good laugh.

Speaking of cleaning up, how about those Spartans?? Ro and Jackson watched the game on the computer. Thanks cbssports.com! Go Green.

This weekend we took in the international scene. On Saturday, Hannah and I went to the International Festival at Chapel, the rival international school. We pigged out on Mexican, Taiwanese, Indian, German and Greek cuisine (and we didn't even come close to visiting all the stations). We took Flat Ben with us and had some fun getting people to pose with him. The next day, the entire family went to Liberdade, the Japanese district of Sao Paulo. There were lots of cheap items for sale on the street from vendors and we ventured into a few shops. Ben found his way into the hands of a street performer. I plan to bring Ben back to the States with me on April 14 but maybe we'll keep him here in Sao Paulo. He's having a good time.

A Day at the Policia Federal

2009-03-27T20:49:00.002-04:00

Flat Ben, a class project of my nephew Ben, visited the Policia Federal today in pursuit of his RNE card, the Brazilian equivalent of a green card. After taking a few fun photos with my guide Mara, we put Ben away and went upstairs. It should have been a quick signature and goodbye. Instead, my card was handed to me with an M in the Sexo field. Big trouble. I asked Mara if they meant mulher, the Brazilian word for woman. Not a chance. Did it mean I have sexo with males? Nope. It meant masculino. The Brazilian government has coded me as a male. So all the applications I filled out in November are now null and void because they are wrong. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!! So I spent the next hour getting new fingerprints, new photos and filling out the paperwork again. I figure I'll get the card about the same time I leave Brazil. Mara thought it would be at least six months.

I kept hearing the Beyonce song over and over, "If I were a boy...."

Waffles!

2009-03-26T07:44:00.007-04:00

Thought I'd share the first piece off my loom (notice the colors are kind of similar to the Brazilian flag which I didn't notice until I was finishing it). I finally completed the ends of it last night. It is a waffle weave made from cotton I bought with my friends at the Ann Arbor Festival last year. The weft is a rik rak rayon. It is 96 inches long! I lost about an inch in width when I washed it but the length stayed. Guess it will be a good scarf to tie around a couple of times during those cold evenings in Brazil (not!)

I am going to dive into my Habu stainless steel/wool next. It is so thin you can't call it yarn...it is more like thread. The pattern is an 8-block shadow huck and I am going to combine the stainless/wool with some leftover alpaca/silk from another piece. Wish me luck.

Ah! Brazil!!

2009-03-21T19:25:00.008-04:00

After a grueling month of layoffs and cutbacks at work, I raced out of Detroit probably a little too early so I could get to Brazil to see my brother Tim and his girlfriend Jennifer who were visiting. They were leaving on Friday so I landed mid-day on Thursday. What's my rush?? When I got here, they were having a relaxing vacation. It was exactly what I needed. I can learn a lot from them. After a big beef dinner at a churrascaria Thursday night, we had a nice visit and trekked around Ibirapuera Park on Friday. The park has a modern art museum, beautiful paths and bridges and lots of people running and biking. What a pleasant day and a great chance to breathe again after all the stress.

It is really nice to be home.

These pictures were taken at the Monumento às Bandeiras, just outside the Park.

Home to SP

2009-03-17T17:49:00.004-04:00

I had the hardest day today. I had to let two really talented people go from my Automotive News team. They were in way better shape than I was when I gave them the news. Both were real professionals as I ripped their world apart. I feel terrible.

This was a grueling month of duty.

But, I get to go home to Sao Paulo now. I am flying home (through Toronto??) tomorrow night.

Say a prayer for my friends.

Still in the US

2009-03-08T19:40:00.002-04:00

I am starting my third (!) week here in the States. If I stay all this week, I'll have been home longer than I have been in Brazil. I have really hard, hard work ahead of me at Crain, but if nothing is slated to happen for a few weeks, I am going to high tail it back to SP. I can do a lot of it long distance. I should know more about timing tomorrow.

I must say though, I do so love my friends. In the last week, I've dined with Trish, Linda, Kim, Miriam, Shelia, Paula, Sean and Amber. I even went to the St. Clare Auction last night and caught up with so many wonderful people. I am very lucky but if I keep eating this well, I'll never fit into my clothes.

Today I went and saw Slumdog Millionaire. I am so glad I did. Awesome movie!

Cross your fingers that I get to return to my family soon.

Catching Up with Friends and Family

2009-03-03T08:05:00.003-05:00

One good thing about being home for a week or more is that it has given me a chance to see a bunch of friends and family. On Saturday, I stopped by my weaving class (oh, how I miss that group!) and then went to Dawson's first birthday party. He fell asleep during his gifts. I bet this is the only year in his whole life that he'll crash as he opens presents. By next year, he'll get it. Saturday night, I went out to dinner with the Santoscoys and Thomases and then saw Rosemary in Godspell. Very fun. On Sunday, I was driving through Highland after stopping at the funeral home for Aunt Ellen Jo and dropped in on Lori. Good to see those Emme Boys. Man, are they getting big. As nice as the visits are, I really want to go home to SP. I still have no clue when I can leave.

Back in the D

2009-02-27T14:52:00.004-05:00

I'm in Motown for a few weeks. Times are tough all over and my company is looking at everything...and I mean everything...to cut expenses. I'm the corporate communications person so they needed me here to help with announcements. This has been one of the hardest weeks ever. I am a wordsmith...not a numbers person. This week has been all about looking at numbers. People are so, so stressed. I will be glad when this phase is over and we can return to producing great publications.

Say a prayer for Dan's Aunt Ellen Jo. She died yesterday in a car accident. I wish I had my photos with me so I could post a photo of this special lady. She will be missed. Her funeral is Monday.

Carnaval!

2009-02-22T10:32:00.010-05:00

I've never been to an event where they handed attendees a condom when they arrived. These smiley girls put one in everyone's hand right after you came through the gates. With that good giggle and a sense of protection, we entered Sao Paulo's Carnaval celebration last night.

The four of us went with our friends Prateek and Nandita and their two boys. We probably got there too early (9:30) because things really didn't get rolling until 11:00. We were in the table section so we were able to order beers and food which was really nice. The kids were very into the "beef on a stick" which was delicious.

Everyone warned us to not wear jewelry and to not carry purses because the crowd can be rough. I'm sure there is some of that but I found everyone really nice and helpful. We were a bit stressed out when we found out that our seats were on the opposite side of the dome and that the crowd had to walk counterclockwise around the place to get in since there was no way to cross the parade grounds. So instead of walking 100 yards to the right, we had to walk about 3/4 mile to the left around the outside to get to our seats. The kids loved that! Especially when we had to do it again at the end of the night.

I always thought of Carnaval like Mardi Gras with street parades and things. Not so much. In Brazil, it is a serious competion between the area's samba dance schools. The Sambodromo is a huge parade ground and each school enters with thousands of dancers, floats, drums, singers and the most amazing costumes. It takes 45-60 minutes for each school to go from beginning to end. We learned that the costumes and floats are only used once and that the schools spend the entire next year getting ready for each Carnaval.

What a riot. Some of the best dressed women in the schools are guys. One group had the men dressed in the tiniest of purple loincloths and lots of glitter. The schools of course highlight their most beautiful people, but they also let seniors, children, handicapped and others join in the fun as they march through. Even the clean up crew is part of the show. The crowd is dancing and singing along with the music the entire night. It was cool to see people cheer on the schools like they were sports teams. My ears are still ringing.

We left the area about 3:15 and we only saw four or five schools. I bet it went on until at least 5 or 6:00. We were all exhausted but I am really glad we went.

I loaded a couple dozen photos on Facebook. If you want to see them, click here (even if you don't belong to Facebook).

I even took a shot at posting this video from my camera so you can get a sense of the music. Check out the guy in the white shirt on the lower left. He's not the youngest of dudes but he danced and sang all night!!

Hardworking Students

2009-02-19T06:55:00.005-05:00

Hannah and Jackson seem to have adjusted really well to school. Graded is an amazing place. Class sizes are small and the work seems really interesting. Jackson is loving the art. Ro gave a talk to the IB art students the other day about clay modeling and Jackson prepped some clay for the "show and tell" part. (They used my Crock Pot to warm up the clay. I'm glad it is being used for something.) Hannah has done a million things in her English class with the book, "Secret Life of Bees." Last night, she was finishing up a poster on the importance of family. They have no school next week due to Carnival. We're going on Saturday night so my photos should get more interesting by the weekend.

Java is good too! She's as busy as always.

Good News/Bad News

2009-02-15T10:15:00.004-05:00

Good News: Daylight savings time ended last night in Sao Paulo so there is only two hours time difference between the D and SP.

Bad News: Ro forgot about it and woke up at 6 a.m. today to take Jackson to baseball, rather than 7.

Good News: He made waffles with his extra time!

Bad News: I'll have to run extra to work off the waffles.

Good News: I found a great park for running. It is called Parque Burle Marx and it is located one giant hill away from the apartment complex. Really nice trails through the woods and over a few streams.

Bad News: Somebody at dinner last night told me to watch out for the monkeys in the trees in that park. Monkeys?! I'll have to pay more attention.

Good News: We went for a fun Valentines Dinner last night with a bunch of the GM crowd to an Italian restaurant called Tomatto. Really nice people. We took a taxi so we could have a few beers.

Bad News: No drinking and driving here. They have breathalyzer lanes all over the place.

Good News: I feel like I know my way around well enough now to venture out in the car (sober of course).

Bad News: I can't get the car out of the garage! Our second remote control to the apartment complex garage gate is broken. So far, we've bought two of the wrong ones. So frustrating.

Good News: We are going to go the Mall AGAIN today and buy yet another remote at the electronics store and then ask the apartment maintenance staff to program it for us.

Bad News: It will probably be the wrong one again. Boy, I need to get better at Portuguese.

Good News: I'm one week into lessons with my new teacher, Regina. I have classes in the apartment on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30-10 a.m.

Bad News: I haven't done my homework for tomorrow yet. So tchau!

Brazilian Softball

2009-02-11T13:25:00.008-05:00

Brazil is all about soccer. My boy Jackson is a hardcore baseball player. He is on a really good Japanese baseball team down here that plays on the weekends. At school, they only have a guy's softball team. Most of the kids have never played baseball or softball before. It drives my "oh so intense" son nuts....but he is playing anyway. I like that he is on the school team. They have to wear ties on game days so Jackson gave his bud Sunny a lesson the other night which cracked me up.

Graded played Pacca yesterday. Let's just say they showed a lot of potential. Here are a few snaps. Hannah had fun with her girlfriends during the game too. She is on the volleyball team.

Saturday Mornings!

2009-02-07T09:36:00.004-05:00

In Detroit right now, a group of hardworking, creative and inspiring women are walking into Mollie's class at CCS for a morning of weaving, gossip and baked goods. I am doing the same thing here in Sao Paulo (although I only have coffee). My loom left Detroit in late September. As much as I like being reunited with my family, the loom is a welcome site! We parked it on the sunporch so I get to look outside as I weave. Makes me happy.

Random Observations

2009-02-04T06:32:00.003-05:00

With just a few days here in Sao Paulo, here are some of my first observations:

1. Someone calls me everyday at 9 a.m. and asks me a question in Portuguese. I have no clue what they want yet they call everyday.
2. The roaches (in the street, not in the apartment) are HUGE. Hope they stay outside.
3. I love listening to WDET on the computer.
4. Java is mighty freaked out at the sight of the peacocks that roam our complex.
5. Driving should be interesting but it is time I did it. Maybe this weekend.
6. Sao Paulo students (not the international school that Hannah and Jackson attend) only go half days because of the number of people.
7. There are A LOT of maids that arrive everyday at 8 a.m.
8. Working without makeup while wearing shorts and flip flops is the bomb.
9. The rainstorms here are fierce and brief.
10. I am looking forward to going to Carnival at the end of the month. Ro is getting tickets for us to the Sao Paulo celebration. Schools are closed for a week and Ro has time off. Unbelievable.

Super Bowl--Southern Style

2009-02-02T07:46:00.006-05:00

I was curious how American football would go over on Brazilian TV. We watched the big game yesterday at Nandita's on ESPN Vivo (with a great Indian meal...yum!) No American commercials and a weird 10 second delay that made Faith Hill, Jennifer Hudson and Bruce Springsteen appear to be doing a bad lip sync version of their tunes but all in all we caught the spirit of the game. And of course Dan and Jackson were thrilled that their Steelers won.

There was a weird Volkswagen commercial with a fish-dog so I guess I got my fix of funky advertising. To watch it, click here.

I went for an energetic one-hour walk with two friends this morning through the hills around the complex. They go out everyday at 7:15 when the kids leave the house for school. It will be a nice routine to get into. I don't have to really start working until 11 a.m. (8 a.m. Detroit time) so it is a good way to get the day started.

We've had wacky power issues since I've been here. (Jackson said it is my fault.) We had no power most of the day on Saturday and none this morning. Thankfully, it is back on now. They were doing some demolition work in front of our complex so maybe they cut a line and that caused the problem. I just hope it is done now. A woman needs coffee in the morning!!

D Departed

2009-02-01T08:30:00.016-05:00

Oi Sao Paulo. I am finally here. It wasn't easy but I departed the D as scheduled on Friday. We had to have one more going away party Thursday night (that sneaky Lynne). It was great to see all my friends but I think they're ready for me to be in Sao Paulo so they get to quit saying goodbye to me. They'll have to find another excuse to party now. My friends are amazing. Sure hope they make it to Sao Paulo sometime.

After a few too many glasses of vino at Lynne and Dan's, I had to pack up the last of the house. I finished at 2:30 and then got up at 6 to fill my three suitcases. After a quick brush through work for a department meeting, I was on my way.

Sao Paulo Airport was its usual chaotic self. I got through the passport line no problem but then the line after you got your luggage snaked all around. People were cutting in and causing problems. Of course, I had the world's worst cart so I couldn't make any of the roped turns. It was pretty comical. It took about an hour to get through that mess.

Java is here with me. She got to the apartment about 5:00 yesterday afternoon. She is sleeping on her new bed and acts like nothing is different. Oh to be a dog. She is panting a bit though. The switch from 10 degrees to 85 is quite tough on the system.

It is great to be a family again. Now if only I can get Ro to give up some of the closet!

Getting Ready to Depart the D

2009-01-28T19:48:00.003-05:00

I have less than 40 hours left in Detroit. New Orleans was a lot of fun (and warm!) but now I am in serious departure mode. My buddies at work today threw me a "safe travels but you're not leaving" potluck lunch with some sinfully wonderful food and then I took off in a sprint to pick Java up at the vet and then get her (OK, me) mentally ready to be picked up at 3:00 by the Pet Transport company. She looked so puzzled as they shut the van door. Hope she's OK.

Stan came over today and we went over alarm codes and details. I feel so lucky to have him watching our house. I don't think any of the weirdness of an old house will phase him one bit.

As soon as I finish dinner, I am going to start organizing my clothes. I get to take three suitcases and man are they going to be full. Luckily, anything that doesn't fit in my bag I will take over to my Mom's and take it when I come home in March. All the remaining rubble in the house is going up to the third floor for storage until we return.

Better get back to it!

Off to the Big Easy!

2009-01-22T20:31:00.004-05:00

OK, I only have seven days left in the USA. So what am I doing? I am headed to New Orleans for the National Automobile Dealers Association meeting for four days. Makes sense? This is typically one of the biggest pow wows for Automotive News and it is one of the main reasons I hung around this long without Dan and the kids. However, with the auto industry implosion, we are expecting lean, lean, lean attendance. But, the weather is supposed to be 70 so I am hoping to at least sneak a run in amidst booth duty and the many events we host.

I have spent the last three days locked in the Marriott RenCen for another event, the World Congress. Poor Java. She hasn't seen me for more than a quick minute this week and now she's at the vet for four days. I will pick her up from the "doggie spa" Wednesday morning and the company is coming to take her to Brazil Thursday at 7 a.m. She is going to wonder just what is going on. She is going to stop in New York and visit the USDA for certification and then make the long flight. (The dogs fly in the pet cabin right under the pilots so it is warm.) They anticipate delivering her back to us in Sao Paulo Monday morning. So strange!

It is really starting to hit me that I am moving. If I start getting weird, I can always go in search of beads and big Hurricane drinks in the French Quarter to calm me down.

Good Friends

2009-01-18T19:39:00.017-05:00

Last night was the "Mama Jama" (pronounced so the two words rhyme). A fun crew of my girlfriends decided a while back that we should have a pajama party while Ro and the kids were away. Last night was my last Saturday in the house (I am in New Orleans for work next Saturday) so it was TIME!!!

What fun. We drank cosmopolitans, ate good food, danced a bit, played Mystery Date and watched Sex and the City. Everybody wore their goofiest pajamas and really just chilled out. The six inches of snow we got yesterday helped the chilling part.

Jean, Lisa, Pat, Lynne, Patrice, Amber, Helen and Carol...you guys are crazy and so, so sweet. Thanks for the great send-off. I wonder what kind of pajama parties they have in Brazil??!!

We Have Furniture

2009-01-15T09:02:00.004-05:00

Hannah sent this photo of our living room in the Sao Paulo apartment. It looks so different (and so much better) with furniture. Now all we need to do is add some art to the walls and we're in business. I am so glad the sea shipment finally arrived this week.

The Closet Wall

2009-01-14T20:15:00.008-05:00

In my pursuit of finishing up the house so I can depart in 15 days, I am trying to totally complete two rooms a night this week. Tonight, I tackled the last of the rubble the kids left in their rooms.

Since the kids have been old enough to stand, we've gathered in Jackson's closet for a special ceremony on both Hannah and Jackson's birthdays. Ro has them stand against the wall with a book on their head and we measure how tall they've gotten. I love this wall.

Ro Has Changed

2009-01-12T20:15:00.007-05:00

I think Brazil and the stress of missing luggage, delayed shipments and way too many tax forms must be getting to my husband. Jackson sent this photo from his phone. I wonder what '80s band Dan has playing on his new IPod?

The Party is Over!

2009-01-09T20:52:00.013-05:00

The Sao Paulo Trio left today to head back to the warmth of Brazil. It was tough to drop them off at the airport this afternoon but man, we sure had an awesome time over the past three weeks. We saw so many friends and family and ate and drank so, so much! Dan worked his tail off and finished tiling and painting the butler's pantry and took care of a million things around the house. The kids visited their high schools, got their hair cut, became Wii afficinados and shopped a ton. Jackson and Ro even found time to get to the Ultimate Fishing Show.

I thought I would post just a few shots from my camera of the fun over the holidays.

My turn to depart in just three weeks....

Packing (Again!)

2009-01-03T14:36:00.004-05:00

It is hard to believe that Dan and the kids will be leaving on Friday. We've had such a crazy busy time the past few weeks. Jackson and I did the New Year's Eve four-mile run on Belle Isle and we had a great time at Lynn and Karl's house to ring in 2009. It was terrific to see all the Milford gang again.

Hannah and I went and saw Wicked last night with my Mom and Dad and enjoyed a great Italian dinner at Angelina's Bistro. That is my favorite musical by far. We had seen it in Chicago two years ago with Hannah's girlfriends but it was nice to see it again in the D. Hannah and I have the soundtrack on our IPods and we know all the words.

Ro and Jackson took the opportunity for guy bonding at the batting cage and at the go cart track last night. They even went to Taco Bell. I like the girl version way better!

We're starting to get really serious about packing up the house. We shipped a lot of stuff to Sao Paulo in the Fall but now we're clearing out the cupboards, etc. so Stan and Barbara have their own storage room when they stay in the house. We've found lots of fun photos, news clippings and cards from the years. Hannah and Jackson cracked up at a photo album from my bachelorette party (Lori got you a stripper, Mom?) and we smiled at how little the kids were in the photos from the Japan years. We found my brother Dan's baseball mitt and freshman player of the year baseball. He died in 1998. There was also a lot of chewed up paper in the bottom drawers. Guess we had a mouse or two we didn't know about.

After three trips to Home Depot for more bins, I think we've packed away most of the big stuff. The kids have to do their rooms before they leave. They keep avoiding it so I've told them they may have to pull an all-nighter Thursday but they are not leaving the US until it is done. We're storing the bins on the third floor. I'll pack up the last of the remaining rubble before I leave at the end of the month.

I think I have someone to take over my car lease. I posted the Enclave on leasetrader.com and a teacher from Novi replied. We're in the process of filling out all the paperwork with GMAC now but it all looks good. Guess I'll have to rent a car for the last few weeks which is no big deal.

Our wonderful neighbors are treating us to yet another fabulous home-cooked meal tonight. Lynne and Dan (and all our friends) have been so good to us.

The Robar Side of the House

2008-12-31T10:31:00.003-05:00

I borrowed these photos from Rob's Facebook page. I really like these group shots of the cousins and the brothers and sisters from the party at Sue and Paul's house last Saturday. Happy New Year everybody!

I Love My Family

2008-12-29T08:59:00.006-05:00

Christmas is a whirlwind. We've had such a nice time together over the past few days. The Wii we got the kids was a big hit but we haven't had much time to play. I sure like that game system since it requires you to move around. Hannah and Jackson seem to be enjoying the games. (I bought a Wii Fit for me too.)

We spent Christmas Day at my Mom and Dad's with Tim and his girlfriend, Jennifer, and her son Calder. What fun to have a six-year-old around again on Christmas. He's awesome. My Mom did her usual "oh my is this good" dinner and spoiled us all with presents. On the 26th, we hit Oakland Mall and loaded up on jeans, shoes and t-shirts for the kids to take back to Brazil. Such sales!

Saturday took us back to Milford for the Robar gathering at Sue and Paul's. It was a crazy, chaotic gathering with everyone there! Dan has five kids in his family so with all the spouses and kids, there are more than 20 people. Such fun. Sue made it look so easy to put together a meal for everyone (although I am sure it wasn't). She even took the time to get all the fixings together so the kids could frost and sprinkle cookies. They had a blast. We took some great photos but I'll have to post them later. Hannah sure had a fun time with her Cleveland cousin, Cooper.

Yesterday, we went out to visit Pete and Shannon in Troy. Pete is a designer with GM so it was fab for Jackson to see all his artwork from Pete's college days at CCS. Hopefully it inspires our young lad to keep working. They are moving to Sao Paulo in mid-January so it was fun to chat with them. We loaded up a box with syrup, PAM, Bisquick, spices and peanut butter for them to put in their sea shipment. It will be a real treat in four months when their stuff arrives and we get the care package. They took the photo above at our apartment when they were in SP around Thanksgiving.

Tonight, we're off to the Barrows for more fun.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T19:55:00.002-05:00

We have just completed the trifecta....church in Milford with Dan's family at 6:00 on Christmas Eve, church at 9:00 at St. Charles in Detroit and mass with my Mom and Dad in West Bloomfield this morning. In between each Mass, lots of eating and family time. Got to love Christmas. What a fab 24 hours.

Where Sirens Never Sleep

2008-12-24T09:49:00.005-05:00

I just read the most honest and oh so sad story about Detroit in the Industry Standard. If you want to read it, click here. Add to that a comment in an email that I received this morning from one of my favorite people, Father David: "Bet you never imagined that St. Charles might outlast General Motors?"

What keeps Detroiters going? Our Mayor is in jail, our Lions haven't won a game, one in seven houses in our nice Detroit neighborhood are empty, only 25% of Detroit Public School students graduate and the Detroit 3 is the laughing stock of the world. So much sadness.

Why do I like it here? I think it the amazing resilient spirit of city residents. St. Charles was on the "hit list" of the Archdiocese for decades. We rallied and kept the doors open. Groups like the Greening of Detroit saw that trees weren't enough. They saw all of the city's open land and said "Hey, people are hungry. Let's start some urban gardens and grow our own food."

This morning, I got an invitation from my friend Trish to support the Colin Hubbell Memorial Fund. The group's theme: Improving Detroit, one connection at a time. So true. That is exactly what the City needs. It is not one blanket "fix-it." It is one little improvement at a time.

I am about to be part of the problem. I am joining the thousands of people who are leaving Detroit. When we get back from Sao Paulo in late 2010, what will Detroit be like? Will we want to live here again or will we take the easy path and bolt to the suburbs? I'm not sure.

So on this Christmas Eve when I am feeling so blessed to be surrounded by my family, my hope is that all the negativity swirling around Detroit can be channeled into good. Even the homeless guy the writer in the Industry Standard piece interviewed had a sense of optimism.

Strangely Familiar

2008-12-22T08:35:00.004-05:00

It is amazing how quickly things seem normal again. Dan and the kids have only been home since Saturday night but we've quickly gotten back into the groove. Yesterday, we went to church and decorated the altar tree. Denzel was over most of the day. We had a Thai lunch with Patrice and Taylor and then Hannah went to the movies with Rosie, Ella, Alex and Taylor. The girls were so sweet. They had all seen Twilight before but they knew Hannah hadn't so they went again.

I think the comment of the day goes to Jackson. "Mom, the temperature has changed 100 degrees for us." They were at the beach on Thursday and it was high '90s. Yesterday, there was a below zero wind chill in Detroit. Brrrrr!

What a treat it is to have the family home for Christmas! You can't believe how much it has lifted my spirits.

Here's a few photos of the St. Charles tree. I love how all the ornaments are only as tall as the kids who hung them!