Moving Forward

Well, things are looking better. I think my Visa problems have been sorted out and my Brazilian Visa should arrive Tuesday or Wednesday. Hopefully not later as my plane leaves Thursday Aug 06 @ 3pm from Calgary and arrive @ 9am Aug 7 in Rio.

I just picked up the R$550 - $550.00 in Brazilian Currancy today. Paid for the first 3 months of my stay (worked out to $1316.44 in Can funds for 3 months stay.)

Everything seems to be going teh way I'd like them to. Now if only other issues could come to a 'closer' I'd be so much happier leaving.

But I guess it's forward to whatever awaits me.

"I would have been her fool."

Wisdom from a cup of tea...

I'm sitting here having a Passion tea after a long day. Doing some writing and thinking. I've been wondering if my decision to move to Brazil for 4 months was the right one. It was in April of this year that I bit the bullet and said this is what I have to do. But it's a daily struggle to keep from panic and anxiety attacks at bay. I quit a good job with many comforts and benefits. But in two weeks I will be on a plane to Brazil and my uncertain future. I'm excited, I'm scared, I wanna smile the biggest smile ever, I wanna cry cause I'm scared. Outside of my Visa not arriving on time (which is a possibility) I've made my decision. Whether or not it was the right one time will tell.

This was the little quote on the back of the Starbucks cup:

I guess it's a sign - this quote along with the fact that I was drinking Passion Tea. I've made my commitment to Jiu Jitsu and Brazil and I must follow through - only good things can happen from my adventure. But I'll still always ache for a gal that did not give me a try - I know it's pathetic. But I never claimed to be anything or anyone worth admiring. Maybe a new girl in Brazil will help me forget.

No Retreat, No Regrets...Meet me by the rivers edge!

What Would You Do?

If you only had one day, one week, one month to live?  So this is the question that is posed to the viewer of the feature film “One Week.”  I viewed this particular movie this past weekend.  Now this blog is not intended to be a review of the movie – as I feel unqualified to offer nothing more than my opinion on a movie.  In this case I will say that I liked this movie and leave it at that.  Go rent and watch the movie and form your own opinion.

 

More to the point I’ll answer the question that was asked at the end of the movie – what would I do.  Since I’m trying write more and get that practice in I’m going to answer all three.

One Day

Get up an hour earlier than usual – in this case at 6am.  I would go for a 45 minute run through the coulees in the early morning coolness.  Get home by 7am, shower and clean up then go have one last breakfast of pancakes, bacon, and sunny-side up eggs.

I would then drive to the downtown Starbucks grab a venti size coffee, find one of the big brown armchairs and just sit there and enjoy my venti coffee – just thinking about everything and nothing all at once.  Regardless of time I would only stay in Starbuck till 9:45am.  I would then walk to Park Place mall (across the parking lot) and just wander around for 1hr window shopping – one of my favorite things to do.

I would then drive out to my parents house at 11am pick up my dad’s truck and drive back into Lethbridge to pick up 2 pieces 4 by 3 foot piece of plywood as well as 4 temporary steel posts (the greenish spikes) and some black, red and purple spray paint.  I would also ask if they could drill holes in each corner of the plywood.  I would also grab some wire.  All told I would gather this would take me till approximately 1:30 to 2:00pm.

I would then take the highway that goes past the airport and drive south and towards the town of Raymond.  Just past the township of Welling you encounter the left hand turn that will take you to the town of Raymond.  I would take that left hand turn and stop and pull into the ditch near that beginning of that turn off.  I would measure the 4-foot diameter and then pound the steel spikes in.  Then I would take one of the pieces of plywood and using the wire tie each corner to the steel spikes.

I would then put all my tools (sledge hammer, pliers, wire) back in the truck and then grab the cans of spray paint and walk back to the make shift sign I’ve just made.  I would give the purple can a shake, take the lid off and raise it to my sign and begin to spray the following:

“Molly,” (in larger lettering) I still care, I always have…”

 

I would then take the red can and spray paint:

“You should have taken a chance because who knows what we missed out on”

 

I would then take the black spray paint and write:

“Maybe we can try again on the other side – I’ll wait for you.  Andre”

I would then drive towards Raymond and into the town take left turn at that gas station and drive north through the town then take that right hand turn through town and then head back out of the town on the road that goes by the motor cycle track.  Just before I leave town I would pull into the ditch again and repeat the sign process again.

I would then drive back into Lethbridge and the Safeway on the south end of the city to grab some buffalo burgers and of their fresh hamburger buns, as well as some hot dogs, potato salad and some boneless chicken breasts.  Then I would drive up to save on foods and pick up the stuff for a fruit salad (blueberries, pineapple chunks, melon, cantaloupe, banana slices and strawberries.)  I would then drive out to my parent’s house for a BBQ.

By the time I arrived at my parents I would guess that I would be close to 4pm – for time keeping I’ll say 4:30pm.  We would start cooking at 5pm – I of course would have sent out invites before hand to all friends and family – whether or not you showed up would be up to each individual; no hard feeling if someone did not show up.

We’d eat, laugh, tell stories and eat some more – just forgetting about everything for a while.  At about 8:30 pm I would take a short drive up to the Belly Buttes to watch the sun set (of course I’m assuming this last day would be during the summer – July or August.)  After the sun had sent (9:30 approximately) I would drive into Lethbridge and the U of L – as it has wireless.  I would sent out one last thank you to everyone I know.  I would also send Molly one last message saying that I left something for her at Neighbors gas on 6^th ave and 6^th street south.  I would then quickly drive downtown and drop off the mix cd I had made for her then drive back to my parents house.

I would stay up and just chat with my family and anyone who cared to hang around while I was out finishing off what I needed to get done.

I would then go to sleep in the area that was my childhood bedroom – it was, along with my sisters adjoining room, converted into one big room.  I would close my eyes and sleep easy knowing that I did what I wanted to do on my last day.

*I will do One Week on my next blog, then One Month to finish this series of blogs off. 

Connections Rio -Largo da Barra house

This is where I'm going to be staying while in Brazil - it's located in Barra da Tijuca and approximately 20 mins walk to the Gracie Barra Academy.  The Gentleman's name is Dennis.  He has been very helpful with answering my questions and helping me out.  I hope that things work out.  If you plan on journeying to Rio to train or just visit for awhile.  Contact him.  His website is:

http://www.connectionrio.com/Home_Page.html

Dennis has been very helpful with answering my questions and concerns.

This is a video sent to me by Dennis - a brief Youtube clip to give me an idea of where I'll be staying for my time in Rio.

Brazil

Some of you may or may not know what this blog is about or why I'm writing.  Well right now it's mainly to practice my writing and get used to writing on a continual basis.  What you may also need to know is that I'm going to be going to Brazil - Aug, 06 till Dec. 15, 2009 to train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu at Gracie Barra in the Barra da Tijuca section of Rio.  There is a big story on why I decided to go down and train; which I will write about in the future.  Anyhow here is a great Youtube clip that gives you a visual of the place I will be staying for about 5 months.