Thursday, April 19, 2007
Letter to the father
I know you aren’t a terrible person. In fact I think you are a good guy!!! I just think you’ve forgotten to be a good son to your parents, a good husband to your (ex)wife (mum) and a good father to your kids (my brother and I).
I don’t know if I can say I hate you, because most probably I don’t. I just wish you’d listen more, and never played ‘the victim’ in every single fucking game! I wish you’d be a team player and swim in the same current to us (not sure if this metaphor makes sense…).
Why aren’t you a bit more down to earth and realise that everything you’ve built so far was together with mum. And without her, you’d have done fuck all??? Why don’t you face your responsibilities and problems instead of always saying “Don’t tell me your problems, I’ve got enough to worry about already”???
Don’t you see that all you’ve been doing your whole life is push people away from you and hurt the people who most care about you??? I’m soooo tired of being disappointed by you. I just can’t handle this anymore!!!! When the fuck are you going to grow up???
Please, note one thing. MONEY is very good, but it isn’t all!!! My brother and I would rather a stable, responsible and caring father than a rich one!!
I’m also tired of the old bullshit “I work for my kids”, because by not accepting criticism and always getting pissed off if we make any suggestions prove that you don’t mean it. Do you really???
I wish you'd also leave this stupid pride aside and get back with mum. Not because I can’t live with separated parents or she’s desperate in love with you – a) I don’t live with my parents and b) mum is better off without you – but because we all know that she’s your balance and the brain of the relationship. Without her I’m sure you’ll end up giving your money (read my inheritance) to the first little bitch you come across.
Again, I’d like to say that I don’t hate you, I just don’t see you as a father. I know we have fun together, and we laugh at each other jokes, and you’re a very pleasant person to be around…but… (sigh)!!! I wish I could figure out what you mean to me and how I feel about you…
All I can think about at the moment is that you make me sad and you make me cry…”
Monday, April 02, 2007
GET UP!!!!
The short lady is there as well. She’s there everyday with us waiting for the bus. It’s always the three of us waiting. Sometimes we have other visitors… back to the lady. She looks very South American to me. Not really Brazilian, but she has a Venezuelan, Peruvian appearance to her. She wears the black skirt and jacket, with a black top inside – the “I’m going to a funeral” look. I wonder how she manages the Queensland heat under this outfit. She always has shit loads of make up on, a very big pair of sunglasses and very long (read ugly) fake nails. She always wears this open-back black shoes and a gold anklet. Bad, bad taste!!!
We get in the bus and that’s how my radar gets even more critical. I admit with no fear I’m a people’s watcher. I watch and observe every step, fashion sense (or non-sense) and behaviour. My favourite topic? EVERYTHING that involves people. And one thing has been in the back of my mind during my trips back and forth work. When should you stand up to give others your seat??? My mum always told me as a child to stand up for older people. Being a child, I almost didn’t have a seat, as pretty much every one taking public transport was older than me. Mum used to sit me and her lap so others could sit down.
I honestly don’t know if this was right or wrong by her, but I can’t help to agree with her, and I think the same way nowadays. I think that if you have a young child, you should make them stand up to let an adult sit down. Kids are full of energy and they don’t really do much, let’s face it. So they should either stand or maybe sit down on your lap. And I promise that it has nothing to do with them paying a cheaper fair than adults.
Also, I have to say it; adults should get up for elderly people. That’s how the cycle works. You get up for the one older than you. It drives me NUTS how everyday there is at least an older person standing in the bus while the pretty looking latest fashion queen and the bloody classy walking suit with Gucci sunnies (because that’s all they’re; an expensive look with nothing in the head!!) sit down looking pretty. Now you may ask, why don you get up??? Well, well my friend, I do every single time, when I can. But sometimes I’m right in the end of the bus and the older person is right at the front… I can’t yell out “oh, you!! Do ya wanna sit??”, can I??? But the princess and the walking suit are right there in front of the standing elderly, sitting right below the “RESERVED SEAT FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE” bloody sign, they can.
I’m sorry, but I don’t get it. Where is the respect?? Isn’t that enough that older people are already discriminated in the workplace, or neglected by their families, or struggle as it is with people trying to rip them off, they are physically disadvantages, and people still want them to stand up on the bloody bus?!?!??!?!? That, my friend, I don’t get!!!
The other day the bus was soooo packed and I spotted this guy – he wasn’t that old but just old enough to be offered a seat. He was very far from me so I couldn’t offer him the seat. And no one offered it either. As the bus was getting fuller, he kept walking towards the end of the bus and I was hoping he’d get closer to me. When he finally did, I offered him the seat and he was so appreciative of my gesture. He thanked me when I stood up, and again before I got off the bus. I was happy for that fella for having someone to offer him a bloody seat.
So think next time when you’re in a public transport, if maybe you should get up for someone who needs that seat more than you do.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Desperate hoping-to-be-housewife...
Oh dear!! It has been a while… so many things happening (or maybe things I’ve been hoping to happen) at the moment that I haven’t written a chapter in my book for a long time…
I’ve been missing a lot having this book to write whatever I feel like…so many things to say, so many thoughts mixed together, and I don’t even know where to start.
When I started writing this chapter, a-minute-and-a-half ago, I was going to write about my daily bus trip to work. This is a story that has been going through my mind for a while now, but this will have to wait for next time as I feel like writing about something else…Ok, enough!!!! Straight to the point!!!
You know when you have a great partner, a great job (not perfect, just great!!), great friends, nice home, you’ve been saving money, all these good stuff??? Yeah!!! Welcome to my world, that’s me at the moment!!! But I’ve been feeling soooo empty lately!! Kind of incomplete!!!
Marriage is a topic that has been hunting me, for some reason, for the last 6 months or so. I always wanted to get married, I always wanted the commitment, the party, the honeymoon, the new home together, and when I met my babe, I knew he was the one!!! I left Brazil when I was only a baby (excuse me, 18 is a baby!!!), and I decided to not go back to my beautiful country (full of issues nonetheless, beautiful!!!) so I could be with that amazing man I had met somewhere in a crazy bar in London.
Well, things haven’t changed there. I’m still very much in love with that man, but I just feel like I’m ready, you know??? As this marriage conversation keeps coming towards my direction, more I think that maybe it’s my turn now. I feel that it’s time to be ‘us’ instead of ‘I’ and ‘him’.
And the crazy thing is that this thought has been taking all my mind-free time. If I am not doing anything, that’s all I think about… and this is actually driving me insane, and very upset as well. Insane because I don’t want to be the pushy girlfriend, but upset because I wonder if he actually wants to marry me ever.
The thing is, I don’t want to have to ask him or push or force him to do anything. I want this to come naturally, because he chooses to, and that’s what he also wants, rather than because I said so, you know?? But we’ve been together for 6 years, what else is he waiting for?? I don’t want to wait forever, in fact I don’t want to wait for another month, even!!!
I feel that my life is on hold at this stage waiting for him to make a decision. And that, I absolutely HATE!!! I’m a girl with her own opinion and I hate depending on people. But yeah, I think that’s why I feel empty; because I’m in that stage of my life that I need to take a step forward. And I really want it to be with him. I just need to know if he wants it or not, and if it is ‘not’, I guess I’ll have to take that step forward by myself and move on. Maybe go back home??? I actually have been thinking about that for a while as well. There is no point of being away from my family and culture if I am not going to be with my babe.
Why are guys so bloody difficult and undecided??? Why do women always have to push them for them to make a move??? Why all they think about is their jobs, and that bringing money and being the provider is doing a lot??? That’s soooo annoying…. And I also hate how this chapter makes me sound like a desperate hoping-to-be-housewife…not quite housewife, but you get the picture. So…enough!!!
Friday, February 16, 2007
I think I like Valentine’s Day…
So I just quickly tell you what happened yesterday (bullet point – I like that if you haven’t noticed, so shut up and read it!);
· Woke up, got ready and left home to go to work at the same time as usual. Took the City Cat (public transport – catamaran – that crosses the Brisbane River) instead of the bus. Because it’s such a pleasant way to get to work, everyone takes the City Cat in the morning. Result: 4 City Cats came by my stop but none actually stopped as they were absolutely full. I arrived at work an hour late. But I managed to keep myself very calm and I didn’t let it spoiled my day. I was in a bloody good mood!!!!
· As soon as I arrived at work, I had a quick chat to my lovely, lovely boss about my late arrival. She thought it was really funny. She’s great!!! Anyway, as I was in a good mood, I talked to her about changing my work title as the previous one wasn’t really make a good impression as well as I currently have better responsibilities than what the old title suggested. She nodded and gave me the thumbs up for the change. This is great, as I feel more appreciated, I’m a happier employee and I produce better… very smart move from her. And she didn’t even have to spend a buck to make me happy. Good on her for let me do it. In the same topic, I also changed my name. Oops!!! I hope it doesn’t sound too weird. Well, we both have the same name, so I suggested that I should be called Paulinha, instead of Paula. That’s a nickname given to me by family and friends, and I’d love to have people at work calling me that. She also gave me the thumbs up for that. So I created a new identity yesterday at work. The funniest thing is that I got heaps and heaps of phone calls from the staff at work asking how to pronounce it… they’ll get used to it.
· Next thing. I got a call from a very lovely lady saying that she wants to learn Portuguese (my first language). How cool is that?? I’ll get paid to chat to her a few hours a week. Extra money for me to shop!!! WORREY!!!!
· My arvo was ok. Nothing overly special. So let’s fast-forward it to dinner.
· Boyfriend, seafood pasta, Mad Fish (one of my favourite white wines), a movie, and a beautiful pair of black shoes given to me by my babe. We had such a lovely night.
Now, I’d like to say something in regards to Valentine’s Day. People bitch about it, saying that it’s too commercial. I think it’s a very fair comment. But I don’t think it has to be that way at all. I think Valentine’s Day can be a great idea. I think it’s another encouragement to people to do or make something extra special for their loved ones. I know, I know, you might say, but you can do this everyday that you want. But let’s be honest here, in this crazy world we live in nowadays, it’s a bit hard to be romantic. So, I’m glad I celebrated Valentine’s Day yesterday. And I hope to have a special day like that every year from now on.
Well, I hope you all had a special day yesterday. Happy belated Valentine’s Day
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
'I bitch' continues...
It should be fun (yeah, right)!!!
1. I hate my anxiety. I make plans for everything months in advance, and most of the time I can’t sleep until the occasion comes. Imagine how well I usually sleep??? My baby gets angry with me because I annoy him waiting for answers to things that won’t happen for at least three months. He thinks I’m crazy!
2. I can’t say ‘no’ to people. This is something that actually drives me crazy about my personality. I always try to please everyone, I always try to solve everyone’s problems, I always try to assure everyone is happy and looked after, and many, many times I get fucked (excuse my language!) because of it. I hate, hate, hate, hate when I change my plans to adjust with someone else’s, and they call off or they choose to do something else instead. IT DRIVES ME NUTS!!!
3. I’m a very, very neurotic person!! I don’t really know what is the best way to explain this. Just read the link and you’ll understand it!
4.I don’t think I’m stubborn, but I have a very strong personality. I’m always open for discussion but if your point isn’t too convincing, tough luck!!! It’s just that I have my beliefs and it might be hard to convince me they’re wrong. I can imagine how annoying this can be for someone who is trying to get in agreement with me…
5.Because I like to articulate my opinion, and I might do it straight to the point, heaps of people think I’m rude. They might be right, I don’t know! I just know that whenever I feel comfortable (it might be often!), I say what I think!!!
6. People say I’m fiery. Ok, I’m fiery…
7. I take everything personally. If someone is rude to me, I think it’s my fault. I never think that it might be a possibility that they are stupid people and have issues… it is a huge floor in my personality. It affects my personal and professional life.
8. I hate that I have a very weird relationship with my dad. I hate that despite my anger towards him, and the fact that I despise 85% of the things he does, I still treat him very nicely every time I speak to him. It makes me feel very weak and powerless.
9. I can talk, I can talk and I can talk. My boyfriend says that very often I keep talking around, around and never get to the point… it’s boring!!! I hate when people do that, but I do it myself :(
10. I can bitch, I can bitch and I can bitch!!! See here
That would be great if you could also write down the list of things you hate about yourself or maybe someone else… come on, have a bitch!!!
I bitch or I, bitch !?!??!?
Man, it has been a while since I came here to bitch about something… but funnily enough, I think I was away in the last few weeks because I was feeling soooo bitchy, but soooo bitchy that I thought I would end up frightening someone away from this blog. That is if any person in this whole world has nothing better to do than read my blog…
Anyway, I don’t know where my bitchness (the stupid Word dictionary is saying that this word doesn’t exist. My ass!!! I’m going to leave it here anyway… this is one of my main traits, it gotta exist!!) came from, but I was finding very hard to live with myself…
After going to Woodford, I think my bitchness got a bit worse. If something is bothering me, I just go “what the fuck with that shit??” or “fucking hell, I’m sick of this crap!!!” I know that’s not very nice for a lady to swear that much. And I know that I shouldn’t be using these bad words out loud for free like that. I should behave a bit more… (yeah right!!)
Another way in which my bitchness has gone very far is when it’s related to people. I’ve got this bad, bad habit of observing every single detail around me. I listen to people carefully, I observe their attitudes, their traits, floors, everything!!! And I have a great memory too!! I don’t do this in purpose. I promise it’s involuntarily. But it leads me to know people very well. I very often know what they are thinking (not exactly, but you get the picture!!) and how they would react in a particular situation. Through this process, I also get to learn their weakness (as we all have!!), and that’s when things get really ugly!!!
I don’t think I am not an accepting person. I think I’m a VERY, VERY accepting person. But maybe I lose my tolerance after a while or maybe I just get sick of pretending that people’s floors are not there…
I didn’t use to tell people what I think at all as a child. Then I grew up and started to do so. I don’t know if I do it as often as I should, maybe that’s why I choose to bitch instead.
And don’t get me wrong, I do the same with myself. I don’t actually bitch, but I make fun of myself and, most importantly, I accept when people are sarcastic at my expense. I’m talking about REAL sarcastic, not the bullshit sarcastic - “I’d like to be sarcastic but I’m too dumb to make the right joke”.
I don’t care if someone makes fun of something that I DO often, or something about my personality that is funny. But don’t come to me and make fun of something I’ve never done in my whole life though!!!
You know what?? I might just stop the bitching right here, right now and send a message to everyone who wants to hear (ops! read) what I have to say:
PEOPLE, I LOVE YOU ALL!!!! But no one, that is, no one is perfect!!!!! Everyone has their floors (I might be the one with the most down sides…). And I love to bitch about them!!!!! It makes me laugh, entertain myself, release my anger, I LOVE TO BITCH!!!
So that’s my message, that’s me!!! Take it or leave it!!! I bitch or I, bitch!?!?!
Thursday, January 04, 2007
I’m no longer a virgin!
Let’s leave the dirty talk aside and let me tell you about my MARVELOUS experience. Although many may have doubted that I would survive a camping experience (of course I’d survive. I’ve been trough worse shit!), I not only survived, but I had a ball!!!
Firstly I have to say that the Woodford Folk Festival has just this energy about it. It has an amazing vibe, and you really can’t feel any negativity or anger in the air. There were heaps of families participating in the Festival. The contrast in the people in that place was very interesting to watch. I saw people from different background, age, fashion styles, different everything. Although Woodford felt like a very hippie festival (and it is!!), I could tell that we were all welcomed (I am definitely NOT a hippie!!).
The Festival is set up in a way making it looking like a small town. You’ll find little restaurant, bars, a bank (it costs a bit to take money out, but it’s still helpful), stores and all sorts of things. I think I could live there! I loved it that much that I definitely could live there (please keep in mind that I’m NOT a hippie!!).
The performances were just sensational!! There were dance and arts workshops, comedy, dance performance and music, heaps of music!!!! We had from blues to batucada (drums!) and from Indian Classic music to Aboriginal style. Everything was so fantastic!! The highlight of the Festival for me was Xavier Rudd. He’s a one-man band. The guy rocked!!! He played at least three instruments at the time. He’s really talented.
I couldn’t forget the Umbilical Brother either. That’s a comedy ‘group’ (consisting of two men) that makes everyone wet themselves. They don’t talk much. Instead, they perform and make sounds with the microphone to suit their movements. Does it make any sense??? For example, if they walk, they make the sound of the shoes hitting the ground. It’s bloody hilarious!!! Not the shoes hitting the ground but the whole performance. Whatever, I’m sure you get it!!!
The other highlight of the Festival was the camping itself. It was my first time and I really enjoyed it. It gave me the feeling of freedom, non-responsibility, and stress free, you know?? I even enjoyed the cold water (there was no hot shower). It kind of didn’t bother me.
In the New Year’s Eve, we all (a few thousand people) went to the main stage that was located in the bottom of a hill. The organisers of the Festival distributed candles earlier that night. Half an hour before midnight, we all started lighting the candles. Man, you could see the light slowly spreading through that hill. The place was a bit dark already, so it helped even more to provide the perfect and beautiful mood. For three minutes we all sat there in silence (there are always those idiots who feel the necessity to scream. Fuck’em!). Man, it gives me goose bumps just remembering this moment!!!
Well, that was my New Year’s celebration. It was amazing and that’s how I hope my year will be. Not only mine but yours as well. And how was your party??? Did you lose your virginity???
Happy New Year everyone!!!!
Thursday, December 21, 2006
The thing about Christmas!
Well, I really want to use this post to say how I really feel about Christmas. And just to let you know, I’m writing this now under the influence of three pints of beer and half a bottle of wine, so I don’t know what you might read here…
Anyway, the topic is Christmas!!! I reckon that Christmas is good and bad. When I was very young, I used to LOOOOVE Christmas. Every year we used to have the party at my grandparents – our house. My mum and dad didn’t really have money to buy our own house, so I used to live with my grandparents, my uncle (mum’s brother), mum, dad and my brother. It used to be a bloody mess!!! But I always loved it!!!
My grandad was a very generous man, and I think I was his sweet heart (I don’t like to play favourites but my uncle’s favourite was my brother so I guess I can say without remorse I was my grandpa’s favourite one). Every year we used to have a fabulous HUGE Christmas party and he used to buy me heaps of cool presents. We always had a great feast, hundreds and hundreds of presents and all the relatives used to come over. Man, that used to be the highlight of my whole bloody year. My grandad was ok with money at that stage, so presents were in excess. I was very young, so I can’t deny that it was all I thought about…and after all, everyone seemed to always be having a ball as the food was great, the whole family was there and everyone got presents. That used to be the time when Christmas was bloody fantastic!!!
As the time went by, money became an issue. My grandad was having a few financial problems (as everyone always does in Brazil – a part from the corrupted politicians, which is another story). So the X-Mas parties weren’t that crowded anymore. There weren’t that many presents anymore. And being a young girl, for me that was a shock!!! All of a sudden Christmas didn’t seem to be that great anymore. And I have to say that it is too embarrassing. But that’s exactly how I felt. And I won’t ever forget the day that instead of having 40 relatives in my house for Christmas, there were only the seven of us. That was maybe one of the saddest times of my life!!! So that’s when Christmas started to suck for me…
After that year, I cried a week prior Christmas every year without stoping. I didn’t know exactly the reason for the tears. And now that I don’t care about the presents, I think that I cried not because of the lack of money to buy presents, but because I realised that the relatives that I loved so much weren’t going to spend that special night with me. I realised that Christmas wasn’t about all those presents. Christmas was about having the family together laughing together, joking about each other, having that smile in my grandad’s face because the house was full of people…
Nowadays I still feel that Christmas is kinda sad. And, even though my grandad isn’t here anymore, he still plays a HUGE part in my Christmas. But not for the present, but for the happiness he brought into my heart all the time he lived!!!!
Well, I think that’s the thing about Christmas. It’s good and bad. It’s happy and sad. It’s family and individual time. So that’s how I feel.
I miss my family sooo much, and Christmas is kinda of important to me.
Sorry about the melancholic post. But that’s the thing about Christmas…
Merry Christmas!!!!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Quick note!
Well, but as I was saying, I started my new job this week and it has been so much fun. I don’t think I should be giving you many details about it for a few reasons (which don’t include you, I promise!!!), but I’d like to say that so far so great!!! I love the team and the environment, and I think it’s just in the perfect industry for me. And it seems like I’ll be as busy as hell very soon, just how I like it!!! It’ll be very different to my previous ‘glamorous’ job. Wish me luck!!
But before I go, I’ll just let you know what happened in my X-Mas party in my ‘glamorous’ job last Friday, which was by coincidence my last day as well. We went to a Turkish restaurant, and the food was really yummy!!! They have belly dancing performances usually in the weekends but in this time of the year, they have it more often. Anyway, the dancer goes around picking random people to dance with her. Guess who she picked???? Of course it had to be me, huh??? But that’s ok because I can be a bit of a show off sometimes and I know that shaking my ass is one of the things I know how to do best. I’m Brazilian for God's sake!!!
In the end of the night the Director made a speech to thank me for my good effort and dedication. I was pretty touched, as it was the first time someone had a speech to thank me, and I was there for only five months!!! I also had to do a speech. It was a bit weird but as I’ve just mentioned before, I’m a bit of a ‘shower’ so I didn’t really care. I actually enjoyed it!!! In the end of the night they gave me a BEAUTIFUL orchid flower. Man, that was NICE!!!! Do you know how precious and expensive orchids are??? Anyway, even if it was cheap, I love it!!! They gave me another present and a big card, where everyone signed.
Aren’t they lovely??? God bless them… I think I deserved it after all. I’m a good employee.
Well, that’s it for me. Tomorrow is the BIG day… my partner’s admission is on!!! Thank God I won’t get drunk (yeah, right!!!).
Beijos people!!!
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Today I'm feelig blah!!!
Since my HUGE shopping spree, I’ve been feeling kinda empty… What the hell???? Shopping used to be my best therapy, and the more I spent, the happier I got. Although, in these old days, it used to be mum’s money we were shopping with, not mine!!!!
There are sooo many good things happening with me at the moment and I’m steel feeling that way. Please God, tell me how to fix this blah feeling in my heart…
I thought that maybe a useful strategy for me to feel better would be sharing with you the good things that have been happening with me lately. So here I go (bullet point is easier for me to organise my thoughts and I guess it keeps the blog dynamic, so don’t complain, shut up and like it!):
• Today is my last day at my ‘glamorous’ job. As I said a few times, the problem isn’t the place but the boring role. Anyway, my workmates have told me they were very happy to have me around and they really wish me the best. I had people calling me from the Melbourne office (people I’ve never met before but I used to work with via phone/email all the time) to wish all the best and thank me for my help and efficiency (see???? I’m a good worker!!! To you all suckers who chose not to employ me when you had the chance).
• I have a new job where I’ll start on Monday. It isn’t EXACTLY the job I’ve been dying for but I think it’ll be very challenging, busy and it’ll teach me a lot. Well, that’s what it looks like and that’s what I’m hoping for…
• I spoke to my mum last night, and for a loooooong time I hadn’t heard her voice being so lively and happy (I’ve told you before my mum has been depressed for two years). She sounded soooo great, just like in the old times!!! I’m sure she isn’t 100%, but I think she’s much, much better… I MISS her like fucking hell!!!!!!
• My boyfriend is getting admitted to become a solicitor (I’ve told you this too), after five bloody years of Law studies. Oh dear, I’m glad he has survived to this boring, long and difficult journey. I’m so proud of him and his efforts. I’m also proud of the man he is and proud of myself for hooking up with someone so beautiful, supportive (even with my shopping) and gentle!!!! Love you bebe!!!
• My future lovely father-in-law (hopefully), gave me a trip to Melbourne for X-Mas (air fares and accommodation). So babe, his dad (future father-in-law, hopefully again!!) and I are spending five days shopping, pigging our ass off, drinking and watching cricket (that isn’t really the highlight of the trip in my opinion but that’s a different story…). It should be a blast!!!
You see!?!?!?!??!?! These are all good things that have been happening in my life at the moment and I still feel very, very shitty… but why???? I feel soooo lonely even though this week I went out for dinner with a new friend, got drunk and danced Brazilian music (many may not find that as interesting as I do, but…) under the full moon. Even though my babe has been very patient with me for the last few days after I screamed at him. Even though my beautiful best friend cooked a yummy salad for me during my lunch break today. Even though all these good things are around me, I still feel blah, shitty and lonely.
AND THAT’S NOT FUCKING PMT!!!!!! Don’t say that, I know it looks like it but it can’t be because my period is coming only in two weeks time. AND THAT’S TOO MUCH FUCKING INFORMATION ALREADY!!!!
You see?!?!??!? What’s going on here??? Sorry about the shouting but I need to let it out. Please someone help me out of this shit…
Monday, December 04, 2006
I shopped till I dropped!!!
I had a great weekend though!!! My babe is getting admitted in the bar (I don’t know if that’s how you say this exactly. He’ll be admitted as a solicitor) in a week, and we are having a big party to celebrate. As I’m the first lady (ha!!!), I really want to look outstanding!! So that’s how my weekend became great!!!
I convinced him to come shoe shopping with me on Saturday, as I’ve already bought the dress for the admission party. There is this great outlet here in Brisbane, close to the airport with heaps of good brands with reduced price. Oh yeah!!!
He was super patient with the whole getting IN and OUT of every single bloody store, but as I know him sooooo well, he was getting very bored (and I think it’s fair enough!!!). Yeah, and I was getting very frustrated, as I wasn’t finding bloody anything. So an hour (only!!!) later, after a jacket and small little boring top, we decided to leave.
I was very, very frustrated as I usually go to this outlet with B, spend 3-5 hours shopping, and leave with at least 10 bags. But not Saturday, noooopppp!!! So I had to fix this problem. I still had the whole Sunday to be able to find this pair of shoes to go to the party.
I was determined to go back on Sunday, hopefully with my beautiful crime (ops!), shopping partner B, and sort this shit out!!!!
I was very excited after B agreed to come, and help me with my hunt to get a pair of shoes. B and I got up in the morning, put on our shopping gear (it consists of comfy shoes and easy to put on and take off clothes to easy the whole trying new outfits process) and we headed to the outlet. Man, it was FUN!!! We got there at 12pm and we had a quick bite to eat. Then the hunt started…4-and-a-half hours later (and a couple of hundred dollars less), I finally got the shoes for the admission party. But not only that!!! I got a perse (mine was old and almost black. It used to be red), pair of pants, a belt (red. Everyone NEEDS a red belt!), a red pair of shoes because I don’t have any (only two) like the ones I bought and a handbag. Ah!!! I also bought a X-Mas present for my babe’s auntie who I LOVE very much!!! B got a dress, two tops and a pair of red shoes as well. I’m telling you, girls NEED red shoes, belts, handbags. Red is THE colour!!!
My biggest excitement of the whole day though was when I got home. Babe was watching the Cricket (there is a very important competition happening here in Australia at the moment), and as soon as I arrived he asked me to see everything I had bought. And although I was feeling a bit shitty as I spent so much money, he was absolutely supportive of my shopping. He said I needed every single thing I bought and he loves the shoes I bought for his party. Man, I LOVE this man!!!! I feel so lucky that he always supports me but he still tells me when I’m wrong. I’m so lucky to have him!!!
That was my great weekend. By the time I got home, my back was so sore and I was exhausted!!! I definitely shopped till I dropped… in bed!!!!
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Ops!!!! Intruder…
“I’m so sorry for the intrusion this morning. I thought you were aware of my visit. Even though I thought you were informed, I still knocked the door several times before entering the unit. I also shouted ‘hello’ all the way down the stairwell blah blah blah…”
The letter was a bit more formal than that, put you get the picture. Well, I was a bit confused and curious at the same time when I saw this letter. I was at work in the morning, and I kept wondering if a stranger did come into the unit while I was away. I kept thinking if this carer actually had been in our unit, what the hell was he doing there??? We didn’t receive any note saying they need to inspect the unit or anything like that.
Anyway, I left the note on the table but I was going to ask my flatmate if she knew anything about it once I got back from work. And that’s what I did:
Me: “B, have you seen this note??? What the hell went on this morning???”
B: “What note??? Let me see…”
(Pause for her to read it)
B: “hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha”
Me: (thank God I am not curious) “What, what, what???? Tel me, tell me, tell me…”
Well, it turned out that the carer definitely came in this morning, and she had company in her bedroom. Meanwhile, this carer nutcase comes in, knocks the unit door and no one hears him (of course – when we have company in our bedroom, we don’t hear anything that is outside the bedroom, right??). Then he decides to get into the unit anyway. Then he goes downstairs, where our bedrooms are, and goes straight to B’s room. Then he knocks the door however, he opens it straight way... Guess what he found???? tchan, tchan, tchan, tchan!!!!!! An alligator eating a bird!!!!!!
He was so embarrassed!!!! He closed the door straight away and raced to the door trying to get the hell out of the unit as quick as possible.
Man, how awful for him and for B and her ‘friend’. We still don’t know what the hell he was doing in our apartment, and that’s something I really want to know. We didn’t get any note saying he was coming around, and I don’t think he should have entered the house at all without one of us opening the door for him.
Well I hope it teaches him a lesson…
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Stupid Bureaucracy
Now, listen to this crap!!! If I DIDN’T have a licence at all, I would walk there (to the Transport Department) and say:
Me: “Hi, I’m here for a written test”.
Bitch (she is the bitch who assisted me): “Great! Can I please have 2 IDs, proof of address and 17 bucks, thanks?”
Then I’d do the fucking test and if I passed they’d take a picture and give me the licence straight away.
But because I have a Brazilian licence, the nightmare starts. First of all, I have to have it translated by a reputable institution that they choose. However, even if I have this perfect translation I still can’t drive in Australia for more than three months with the Brazilian licence (even if it hadn’t expired!). The thing is, I don’t have this fucking translation. But who cares, I thought that as a resident of Australia I have the fucking right to go to this fucking Transport Department and just do the test. If I pass, I should sit my ass in the chair, taking a picture and piss off with my stupid learners licence.
But NOOOOOOOOOOO, that isn’t what happens in this country. After I passed the test, that’s what happened:
Bitch: “Can I please have you Brazilian licence with the appropriate translation?”
Me: “Why?”
Bitch: “Because you have a licence already so I can only give you the learners if you give me you Brazilian licence with the appropriate translation”.
Me: “WWWHHHHAAAATTTT????????????? So, what would have happened if I arrived here and said I had no licence at all, would you give me my learners now???”
Bitch: “Yes!”
Me: “WWWWHHHHHHAAAAATTTTT??????”
Bitch: “But you chose to be honest so now you get fucked as you won’t get you licence until you bring me a proper fucking translation of you useless Brazilian licence that you aren’t allowed to use in this country anyway. So, by the end of the day, your useless Brazilian licence is only useful to put you in trouble and make your life in Australia hell!!!!!”
Me: “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That’s a very loud scream)”
I mean, the last part of the conversation I came up with. The bitch didn’t really say that but it is exactly what the deal is. My Brazilian licence is not an advantage when I want to use it here. However, when it is absolutely unnecessary, they decide that my licence is the major element for me to get an Australian licence.
Man, it drove me mental!!! I love driving. That’s the thing I most love in this whole world. But now I have to wait until I get my licence translated to get a learners licence that I’d have gotten if I didn’t have a Brazilian licence at the first place.
Sometimes I hate this country….
Friday, November 17, 2006
YES, I’m a friendly-neurotic!!!
But please note; I’m seriously talking only about those people who DON’T drive others crazy with their nonsense. So, to illustrate this a bit better to you, I’ll give you a few examples of my friendly-neuroses and you see if you fit in:
• I only change pyjamas when I change the bed sheets.
• I can’t wash tea towels or bathmat together with my own clothes.
• Under no circumstances I use the bathroom towel to go to the beach. I have to have a beach only towel.
• I can’t get changed without having a shower first. If I’m changing clothes, I have to have a shower before.
• I have clothes to go to uni, clothes to go to work, clothes to go out. They are all different and they live separately in my wardrobe. I can’t wear the jeans to go clubbing for a lunch in the park. That’s impossible!!!
• I hate when the cleaner at work move my things on the desk around (pencil case, stapler, these unimportant stuff) and he doesn’t put it back in the exact same place.
• I hate when people buy things they will NEVER use, even if it costs 5 bucks. It isn’t about the money, it’s about the attitude!!!!
• I can’t chuck food away. So if I cook something that I can’t keep (salads, fish etc), I pig myself until I bust instead of being a normal person and just throwing the left over in the bin.
• It drives me NUTS when people at my ‘glamorous’ work print stupid and unnecessary things in normal paper. People, if you’re printing a recipe for you bloody wife to cook it for you, please print it in a recycle paper. PLEASE USE THE RECYCLE PAPER!!!!! And I promise I am not an environmentalist freak, I promise!!!
• I don’t like people driving my car (er, my boyfriend’s car). It isn’t that I don’t trust people’s driving skills, but I’m just neurotic!!!
• I’ve just opened an internet banking account (after a few good years resisting it) two weeks ago because I don’t have time to go to the bank to deposit my rent anymore. I used to go to the bank every single week to take money out of my bank account and then walk to another bank to deposit it into my land lord’s account. It used to be like that because I hate computers and technology and above everything else, I DON’T TRUST THEM!!!
• I have a HUGE key ring, and my babe hates it. So if he needs my keys, he leaves half of my key ring behind. It drives me mental!! He thinks I’m crazy, I call it a friendly-neurotic.
• I never wear black and brown together, NEVER!!!
• I find it very, very hard to write without using heaps of !!!!!! or ????, as you may notice in my posts… I feel that if I don’t do it, I am not expressing myself properly.
Well these are just a few things that I can remember at the moment. Do you think you fit in under the friendly-neurotic category??? If you do, welcome!!! And maybe let me know about you friendly-neuroses stories.
Beijos e tchau!!!!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Is this fear, craziness or what???
On Friday morning, I woke up a bit earlier than the usual to pack his and my stuff. I was so anxious the whole day waiting for the time to come to pick him up from work… I had to tell him that I had plans for our Friday night as he had a work function to go to, and he always attends them. But the good thing was that he thought the surprise involved only the Friday night. It didn’t occur to him that we were going to be away for the whole weekend. He actually thought we were going to the Pearl Jam concert that was on, here in Brisvegas (I really wish we got tickets for that!).
Anyway, he was very, very happy with the surprise and we had a fabulous weekend with a lot of food, alcohol and sun baking involved. I have to say that, although I got an AWESOME bikini line (us Brazilians – boys and girls - really like that white bikini shape on the body after baking hours under the sun, very weird hey??), but I’m quite hurt at the moment… it looks good though! We should do some sacrifices to look hot sometimes…
During the weekend though, I was very, very worried about the sharks that inhabit the Australian beaches. I promise I don’t want to scare anyone, and always when I talk about it here, people make fun of me. But I’m PETRIFIED of sharks. And they live bloody everywhere in Australia, rivers, channels, beaches, you name it. And what people don’t understand is that I am not scared of dying, I’m scared of having one of those animals serving themselves with a few bits of me (legs, feet, a hand – or two - , arm) but keeping me alive and making me live with the pain and the loss. Not even mentioning the terror of coming across one of them in the water, where they are five zillion times faster then me, having to look straight into their teeth. Believe me, you won’t ever meet anyone who fears sharks more than I do! Well, why am I telling you this story again? Ah! To tell you that my babe wasn’t allowed in the water without me (funny!! Not the other way around) just in case a shark was around. I’d be too worried about him. Imagine if a shark actually came?? And he was there by himself??? Know that I’d make a difference…ah!! Forget it!!! It’s too hard to explain why my almost thirty-year old boyfriend wasn’t allowed in the water without me. Also, both of us were only allowed to have a very, super quick deep in the water… so the sharks wouldn’t bother with us.
Now that I’m actually writing about this fear I have of sharks, I’m starting to realise that I’m very, very crazy!!! Do you also want to know one of the prerequisites for me to get into the water in an Australian beach? I need heaps of people around. My babe asks me why, considering that if a shark comes no one will be able to help anyone…and my answer is (and I try very hard to believe it!) that they will get distracted by so many people that they will leave me alone. There are always a few people that are swimming further away from the shore than I am. Man, this is sick!!!!
Friday, November 10, 2006
Throwing a few thoughts in the air
I’m so excited that, for the first time ever, I’m taking my babe to a romantic weekend away. I never could afford it before, and he’s always surprising me (I LOVE surprises!!) and being very nice to me, so I thought now is my turn to be lovely to him. I’m taking him to a small Island in the south-east coast of Queensland.
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Last night I couldn’t sleep much :( I’ve been so addicted to a few bloggs that I’ve been reading, and they are so inspiring, that I kept waking up, but kinda of being half asleep, thinking of these bloggs and what I could write to make mine more interesting… I love reading and amusing myself with some excellent bloggs that are out there.
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I spoke to my mum last night and she sounded much better. I haven’t told you this yet but she’s been depressed for two years now, I think. But she had always been up and down. In the last three to four weeks though, she was absolutely shit!!! I mean, she was crying pretty much everyday, talking nonsense, very depressed. For me it’s very hard as I live a few continents away from her, and I can’t help her much. It’s strange, and very bloody difficult to see (hear, I mean) her that way. She’s always been my strength, my balance, she always encouraged me and took care of me. And now she is so lonely, fragile, weak, depressed!!!
She wants to come over to stay with me for a while. But I don’t think it’s a good idea, as she doesn’t speak a word in English, and she’d feel even lonelier here, as I have to go to the ‘glamorous’ work everyday (as in week day).
It’s a different thing here compare to home. There she is in her own habitat, and even though she hasn’t been that great, at least there are people there that she can talk to. I guess I say these things to myself to make me feel better. I hope you don’t think I’m a selfish bitch who prefers to leave her mother suffering instead of sacrificing her freedom. Am I that bitch??? Am I really doing that to preserve my freedom??? Well, I don’t actually think so. I love mum more than anyone else in this world. She’s my hero and I’m doing this for her own good. But where was I going with this blog again??
Ah!!! I remember now… I was saying that I spoke to her and she sounded much better. A good friend of hers (who lives in another city), came over to visit mum. I think that’s why she is happier. Think all mum wants now is a bit of attention and companionship. So good on her friend who can bring mum this happiness. I actually ask mum just before I was saying good-bye, “please be happy like that for a while. I’m proud of you and I love the sound of your happy voice. I missed this. Please be well and happy again.” Sigh!!! I’m suffering with this…
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Melbourne Cup...go,go,go!!!!!
This event is called Melbourne Cup, and of course you can tell by the name, that’s held in Melbourne (ddduuhhhhh!!!!!). The whole country stops at 2pm (and in a few states at 3pm) to see the 24 horses racing, trying to collect the main prize, which I don’t know exactly how much, but I think it’s around one million Aussie dollars.
Not being an Aussie myself, I have to say that in my first year in Australia, I was chocked with the Australians’ obsession with horse racing, and with the Melbourne Cup in particular. Even the few people who don’t gamble normally (there aren’t too many of them here in Australia), make sure they make their way to a TAB (I don’t know what the name stands for but I know it’s a kind of a betting bank full of smelly people, wearing some weird clothes etc) to place their bets.
Here at my ‘glamorous’ work, we had a sweep. So I got the list of all the 24 horses and wrote them in a paper so we could gamble a bit and have some fun. So each one of us got the chance to pick at least two papers out of the hat, and for each horse you get, it costs two dollars. So I collected AU$48, and the person who picked the winner (horse) will score AU$40. And the person who picked up the loser, the last horse to come, will get AU$8. That sounds good. At least once in a while the loser gets to win something…
Well, but what I thought was quite funny is the fact that we are all having a bbq this arvo, and the company is providing the food and the alcohol. But the boss MADE SURE that everyone knew that partners weren’t allowed in. But guess who is coming??? His wife!!! Also, when we were doing the game with the horses, everyone picked two horses only to make sure everyone would have at least two options. He came in running, saying that his wife was coming so he could pick four horses. It kinda of pissed me off, as I had to have only two horses in the end while the only partner allowed in the bloody bbq had her two.
Now, I have to say that I'm happy about one thing. He picked four very shitty horses, so even though he has more chances to win than everyone else, he still is going to lose. Hehehehehehehe… I’m keeping records of every horse each of us picked and he is so disappointed that he got shitty horse that he wrote down under his name in the record (I didn’t see him doing it. I just know it’s his hand writing!) the name of the four best horses... What a nut case??? He should be happy that at least he’ll have his partner at the bbq to cry with when one of us gets the first prize!
Go, go go horses!!!!! Good luck to everyone!!!!
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Thank God for the ‘pregnant woman top’!
Yeah, now I cynically say that I have to loose some weight. But I DO!!!!!! I’m still tall, I still have the long and skinny legs, but my tummy, oh boy, my tummy isn’t looking its best. I used to love wearing my small tops, and showing off my ribs (there wasn’t much skin in that time!). But know all I can wear is the pregnant woman tops, you know the ones that are tight around the breast but they get loose from there downwards? Thank God for the pregnant woman top!
So, to solve this problem, my boyfriend and I started a diet together. It isn’t really a proper diet, it’s more like healthy eating. We’ve been eating fish, veggies and salad, instead of my old favourites (burgers, pizzas, junk food!). It’s going well, although we only started it five days ago.
Now, the next step is the exercises. PAIN, PAIN, PAIN!!! I was dieing to do kick boxing as I think it’s great for girls to know how to defend themselves, and be able to kick some asses. We went to check out the place but the babe wasn’t very happy with the idea. He said that the gym was full of men with high level of testosterones, WHAT???????????????????????????? Hahahahhahahahhahahhahahha… how funny is that? Who would say something like that?
The bottom of the story, he convinced me that he would help me with the boxing exercises by training me himself. He bought the boxing gloves and off we went for the first session last night in the park. I have to say, it was great, but ouch!!! After a few good years being so sedentary, I’m in absolutely PAIN!!! My arms hurt, my legs, my abs, everything!!!
I hate exercising! I wish I could just blink my eye and make it happen. I would like to have muscly legs, a six-pack and I would LOVE to be able to wave good buy without having to hold the skin hanging from my arm…PAIN, PAIN,PAIN!!!!
Monday, October 30, 2006
Chapter 3: How to enjoy life?

Does anyone there have the secret to enjoy a healthy and beautiful life? When I say healthy, I don’t mean boring! I mean enjoy a life full of happiness, smiles, parties, companionship, friends, love, passion, lust, all these things…
I wonder sometimes if I enjoy life as much as I should, I wonder if I actually LIVE my life it all.
I envy (in a positive way) those people who are so young (or at least my age) and they’ve been in so many different places in the world, or they are passionate about a particular sport, or a band, a festival or whatever. I’m so scared sometimes to turn 40 and say that I haven’t done much with my life.
It’s funny though as I left home when I was 18 years old and I’ve been living in a different country for four-and-a-half years. I’m sure there will be people saying that I have done heaps already. But you know when you look back and you don’t have that many stories to tell?
I’m so scared that one day, when I have my kids, and they ask my friends “what was mom like when she was young?” And they go like: “well, don’t really have much to say…” That’s a scary thought!
So, how do I enjoy life? Bettina and I always talk about how important it is for someone to have passions, and that is what makes a person be interesting. But what are my passions? What am I crazy about? I think that after all, although I always try to be everywhere, doing everything, I ended up doing nothing and just living one day after the other…
I don’t know! I should be grateful for my life (and I guess I’m), but I just wish I could live my dreams, make them happen. Do you enjoy your life?
Thursday, October 05, 2006
I'm so proud of her!!!

I know this might sound weird, but I had to write about what just happened a few minutes ago! My best friend just sent me an email to say she is one of the three finalists for the Queensland Media Awards for best Journalism student.
How cool is that??? It’s also awesome the feeling that, even though we studied together, the same major, and she is a clever little thing, while I was just an average student, I can still share this great joy with her. I’m so proud of her!!!! She is not only beautiful, funny, baladeira (someone who party hard) and so much fun, she’s also very INTELIGENT.
You go girl!!! You ROCK!!!! And it was so funny how she said, “I don’t think I’ll apply for it, it’s too much hassle!” And now, here she is, the finalist!!!!
I’m so proud of you babe! Good luck!