I'm back!

I made it home shortly before 2pm... about 26 hours after leaving the house yesterday morning. Whew. I'm glad to not be confined to a seat in an airplane, airport, or bus anymore! I got business class on the way down, so that was nice. I was a bit restless, though, so I'm pretty exhausted. But I guess I'll get over it in a week or so. :o)

Had a bit of a scare when I got here... At my first stop at customs, the lady scanned my passport and as she was handing it back to me said, "And you know you can only stay in the country for 13 days, right?" My jaw dropped, and I said, "You do mean 90, don't you?" She showed me on the screen where it said I could only stay for 13 days, and I told her that was ridiculous - I went home to get a new visa so I'd have 3 more months, and no one told me I would only have 13 days. She checked with some other agent, came back, and told me that 90 days was right, and I should have no problem. I had her make a note of that in the system and on my customs paper. I will follow up at the Federal Police next week to make sure I don't run into any problems. Ahhh visas... they're fun times!

My bags arrived no problem, but the handle broke on one as we were unloading the taxi. I knew its days were coming to an end...

It's time to attack the bags. The goal is to be unpacked and organized TONIGHT. Then I'll head to the church around the corner for the New Year service. Here we come, 2009! (I hope I can stay awake until then!)

You too...

Going through security at the airport:
TSA agent: Have a good flight.
Kara: You too!
Kara thinking to herself as she walks away laughing: You too! You have a good flight too! Ya know, cause you're gonna fly some day, right? I hope you have a good flight too... When you fly some day...

(See Brian Regan )

Party time

My mom and I went over to Kevin and Jenn's tonight for "the last supper" - before I leave again, that is - and a game of NERTZ (an amazing card game).  As soon as we walked in the door, Emery smiled and said, "Tea party."  And went straight to her room.  The table was all set up for a tea party.  As my mom and I came in, Em said, "Sit down, Mama.  Sit down, Nyanya."  So we took turns having a tea party with Em.  I must say, she makes some spectacular tea.  And I don't even like tea.  Then again, maybe that's why I liked hers so much... 

Seriously? The ice cream man?

It's 39º outside, and I just heard the ice cream man drive by.  I swear I only hear him in the winter... and sometimes the fall.  But never when it's blazing hot outside!  Why is that?   Does he actually sell anything when his freezer isn't even necessary to keep the ice cream cold? 

nice try

So I get a call on my cell today from a restricted number... which is always kind of weird anyway.  But you just never know... it could be a friend from Brazil.  So I answered.  The guy rambled off a 30-second schpeel that I didn't quite understand.  By the time he came up for air, my head was spinning trying to figure out what the heck he just said.  So I said, "whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on.  What is this?  Who are you?  What's going on?"  He tried to convince that he was from Alltel, and I owed $14.95 from my last bill.  When I told him I had no way to pay that at the moment, but that I was down the street from Alltel and would go there to pay it, he said that if I hung up, my phone service would be disconnected.  He assured me he was just trying to save me the $80 reconnection fee I would have to pay if that happened.  Nice guy, huh?  Well, he didn't fool me.  There were a million reasons why his story didn't line up.  Not to mention the dog in the background didn't help....   Needless to say, I hung up.  ... and my phone is definitely not disconnected.   Nice try, buddy.  Now go find a real job. 

An Aunty Christmas Eve

....not to be confused with an Anti Christmas Eve....

I got to be Aunt Kara (or "Nyanya," as Em still calls me) all day on Wednesday.  Both Jenn and Kevin had to be at the church for the Christmas Eve services all day, and Jenn had to run some errands before, so she brought Em over around 9:30 Wednesday morning.  We started the morning off with the last piece of "chawchit" from the advent calendar while we watched (Curious) "George."  We played, cleaned Aunt Kara's room ("nyanya messy room"), and had some lunch.  Then I gave Em a bath, after which she decided she wanted to cuddle, all wrapped up in her towel, for a little over an hour.  Every time I tried to get her dressed, she'd say "no! no! hug! hug!" - which is her way of saying "hold me!"  So I enjoyed my pretty little niece for an hour or so.  Then it was time for a nap.  Three hours later, she still wasn't up, and it was time to get ready and go to church.  She was beautiful in her Christmas dress - and it was the first thing she wanted to show mommy and daddy when we got to the church! 

I think I might finally be caught up

on sleep, that is.  

I've been home for just over a week and have been going non-stop it seems!

Monday night was the big surprise.  

Tuesday - work, dinner with mom and her coworkers, then swing dancing.  

Wednesday - work, errands, a run, church

Thursday - I finally realized how tired I was, being 5 hours off, jet lagged, and going non-stop.  So after work, mom and I ran an errand, picked up a video, and had a quiet evening at home.

Friday - work, rocking climbing, and a Christmas party

Saturday - after a whole 4 hours of sleep, it was off to Wolf Creek for a day of snowboarding, followed by the Pagosa hot springs!

Sunday - drove home from Wolf Creek and headed straight to mom's church, took a nap, family dinner, and service at my church

Monday - snowboarding in Taos with Kevin.  I got to bed about 9 Monday night.  I was exhausted!

Last night I took the night off and just stayed home.  It was nice.  I can't believe it's Christmas Eve!  I have Em today while Jenn is at church doing worship for the Christmas Eve services.  Mom, Dad, Em, and I will join Kevin and Jenn at the 6pm service.  It is sure to be a special Christmas!

Here are some pictures from this week....

I'll Be Home for Christmas

I love surprises!  Whether I'm the surpriser or the surprisee, I love them!!

A couple months ago, shortly after I had returned to Brazil, I found out I would have to return to the States in December to get a new visa.  At first, I didn't want to tell anyone in case it turned out I didn't have to come... wouldn't want to get anyone's hopes up and then trample on them!  Then I decided it would be great to keep it a secret... at least from Mom and Dad.  So that's exactly what I did!  By the time I got here Sunday at noon, very few people knew - about 3 friends, Kevin and Jenn, and that was it.  Kevin and Jenn were on their way home from a mission trip in Mexico, so Brandon picked me up from the airport and let me hide out at his place all day.  We went to church in the evening, and it was so great to see everyone - they were all surprised to see me too!  But not as surprised as my mom and dad were... I spent the night at Kevin and Jenn's on Sunday.  Kev, Em, and I got some Christmas shopping done on Monday, and then it was time to prepare for the big surprise Monday night.  

I'll let the video tell the rest... 

I love the beach!

I went to the beach this weekend. :o)  It was spectacular!  Maddie and Lydia (the two American girls that are here) met me at my place at 7am on Saturday, and we were off to the bus station.  Turned out the 7:30 bus was already full, so we caught the 9am bus to Praia Grande.  When we got there, we found a hotel - beautiful, clean, two rooms, four beds and a couch, full-size refrigerator - right off the beach.  We spent about US$32 each and were set, breakfast included.  Both Saturday and Sunday were beautiful and sunny.  It was a perfect weekend.  We even made it back in time for church Sunday evening!  It's funny to think that we were out on the beach in the hot sun this weekend when, if I were at home in Albuquerque, I would probably have been snowboarding or bundled up to stay out of the cold! 

On the way to Praia Grande there is a scheduled stop to stretch, go to the bathroom, get a bite to eat or whatever (it's a 4-hour drive to Praia Grande from Campinas).  The place we stopped (a truck stop, basically) was apparently having a North Pole convention - complete with multiple Santas, elves, and a Mrs. Claus (far right).  Mrs. Claus was a little crazy... the last thing I saw her do was stand in the first lane of traffic, pulling up her skirt to show a little leg as the cars passed... 

the view from the hotel 

me, Maddie, and Lydia! :o)

a few days off...

After working 10 days straight, I finally got a break!  We had a guy come last weekend to help us organize our thrift store, so that meant I worked from LAST Monday straight through until yesterday.  So I got today and tomorrow off, and it turns out Monday is a holiday, so I just might have 5 days straight off. :o)

This morning I went to a second-hand store with the two American girls that are here right now (Maddie and Lydia).  We found the most ridiculous pair of shoes I've ever seen!  Check 'em out...

I also got my hair cut, got a pedicure, did a lot of reading, and went to dance class.  Tomorrow I have to do laundry (it's been about 3 weeks... I'm overdue!), clean the house, and try and get plans set for going to the beach this weekend.  :o)  Life is rough...