My brother and Dani, his wife, came to visit us last weekend, and it was great.
one of our favourite things to do together was eating, and that’s how we started their Saturday morning… David and I made waffles, with fresh strawberries and a blueberry sauce (made from the blueberries we picked in the summer, now frozen). I also made fresh  apple/ginger/orange juice, with my not-as-new juicer! But the real success was achieved when Donna’s creamcheese sauce was added to this delicious meal… I made coffee in the french press, but it was too strong…
Then, I proposed that we drove around the Lake Monroe. I had never done that before, and I wanted them t see that in less than 3 minutes we were surrounded by nature (corn fields, and then the lake a little later). It was fun, and they seemed to like the little trip. My brother was driving his rented SUV, and Dani was stopping to take pictures of everything… Let’s say, mostly she was amazed by the animals! She called a big bull “bonitao” = very cute
We parked the car near the lake in Hardin Ridge, and we saw from very close that the lake was frozen, although the temperature wasnt very low, and by the way, no snow at all. The snow was all melted, and this disappointed Dani a little bit, but at least we could play throwing rocks and ice on the lake. It was really fun!
Then we stopped in a overlook, where I thought “hum… such a pretty place, I could throw a birthday party our here in my birthday! Well, I guess few of you thought about what I am about to say: my whole life my borthday was usually in the coldest week of the year, back in Sao Paulo. Now, it’s so warm that I can go swimming on the lake Lemon, for instance. If you havne’t done this, you should. It’s pretty damn good!!
Then, it arrived again the moment where we would decide where to take them to eat… We chose Trojan Horse. All the food was great, they seemed to enjoy the lunch, but it was REALLY staisfying for me to see my brothers face and his hummmms when he tried the baklava ice cream. I didn’t think he would like that much, but it was one of his favorite things here. It became already a tradition! Then we walked downtown, little stores, cute stuff, and BANG! I found the “mandala” – a hand crafted wire thing that changes its form, and that I was trying to find one here, since I lost mine somehow in Brasil. It was very popular in the 80s.Made in India.

After this very special surprise, we walked around campus, visited my office, and it was very relaxing. The temperature was around 8celcius (not cold at all! specially compared to today… my hands without gloves were freezing outside!)
Then David went to a talk, and we 3 came back home and chatted in fast Portuguese.
When David arrived back (all excited with the talk!Hopefully he will post something about it in his blog…) we made popcorn and watched Moulin Rouge. Wait! I don’t actually remember popcorn… I guess we were waiting to feel hungry to make fondue!
The movie was great, and Dani, even not understanding very well the English (reading the subtitles) loved it. We picked this movie for her (the only one among us who hadn’t seen the movie)

David made fondue in our new electric fondue pot, and I have to confess that it amezed me how MUCH better and easier it was compared with the fired one. We drank the Italian wine that D and I bought near Florence in our summer trip, and after much delight, we played Niagara. My borhter was actually sleeping on the sofa at this point with his book opened in his belly. Poor little thing! I guess he’s been so tired, that stayng 1 week away from his little kids opened a new whole world of relaxation!! I don’t blame him! iI was happy to see him relaxing and feling so well the next morning.
On Sunday Ki and I did our traditional shopping. We went to get bagels & cream cheese (this time driving, but in a higher temp we bike there)…. He loves the salmon flavoured cream cheese. I also like it, but not in the morning! We were all surprised:  ”peixe de manha??”. I made mor fresh juice, this time, tangerine… (mistaken by orange, but ti was pretty good anyway)
Then we played some games we 4: Hey that’s my fish (not the computer version… yet…), and robo rally, which was a lot of fun, and my bro ALMOST won. Dani and I were having serious problems and kept killing ourselves or pushing each other in the abism!

Then, it was my time to go to the Welcome Table rehearsal, while they went to a bar watch the Colts game. Tehy won!! This means that there will be lots of parties around. Specially for football fans. I might try some, but I confess I am not a big sports person!…

Kiko and Dani came to watch a little bit of the rehearsal, and pick me up to go back to the bar. David was so cute and happy and excited when I arrived!!! For this reason, I am can say: “Go COLT!!!” I am rooting for them because it makes my dear husband happy. (it’s similar to when I was a kid and realized that when Sao Paulo soccer team won my brother stayed with good humor, but when it lost – ai ai ai… I had to disapear!)
When we arrived in Opie Taylors the game had just finished, and I was starving! After some backs and forths, we ended up in Upland, and I have to confess that I craved a cheeseburger…. This one made me feel not guilty because it was made of meat from a local organic farm. I like being eco-friendly to the enviroment and to my own body!
Then we came back  home, and while I was doing the dishes somebody was playing the piano! Only then we realized Dani knows how to play music! (Se used to play organ when little). So, David and I also played, piano and Harpsichord, and we had all a lot f fun – we did from Bach to Balao Magico! It was a lot of noise and I coudln’t believe when I saw that my brother was asleep in the sofa. (wow…. having kids must be really exhausting! I’m glad he could enjoy the vacation. I am in favor of going to bed when tired.)
On Monday, David and I went to work, they had their breakfast, and we met at around noon to have farewell lunch in Uptown.

The surprise gift to Dani and Ki was the snow! It was their first time to see the snow falling. It was much colder, and I guess they has a bad weather with lots of snow driving to the airport…, But I know they got safe and sound in Florida, so they must be warm now. Different form me. I’m freaking cold now, downstairs, at my office, with my fingers getting harder , so I’ll stop writing…

Anyway… It was all super legal! I am so happy that they liked all our activities and the time spent together.

Ki e Dani, amo voces dois! Obrigada pela maravilhosa visita!!
Ki and Dani, I love you both! Thanks for the sweet precious visit!

Photos are here:

2010-01-KikoDani

Yesterday in Cleveland, at David’s parents house, was the first snow of the season. In the morning through the bathroom window i saw some flurries which prepared my spirit to the whiteness to come later. I went jogging with George (who admirably jogs 1.5miles everyday regardless the weather) and they were already gone. It was refreshing and lifted my spirit and moved my tingling body towards vigorous freedom. Driving to the airport I saw the snow had taken over everywhere. My goodbye kiss was under the delicate snow that got caught in Davids beautiful curly hair.
In the plane it was almost like in a sci-fi movie…. I was in an airplane-wash: first removing the layer of snow from it’s wings and then using jets of what seemed to me to be soap and then a green liquid all over. at this point the snow was not falling anymore.
Arriving in the parking lot in Indianapolis airport I walked through the roughly one inch of snow with my not-for-snow leather boots and sicks and followed the detailed instructions of how to find Erics car- a white car hidden under an inch of white snow. the fun of the adventure was mixed with the apprehension of not finding it immediately, with my feet freezing and my gloveless hand trying to reach the cellphone to call him. Not being in the correct row and not being able to acess his very nice YouTube video of how to find the car made me feel even colder…
after his help I found his car and although 3 doors were frozen-locked with the cold, the drivers one opened, together with my huge smile of relief to be inside the car rubbing my hands… After some instructions and laughs, I got courage to go scrape the car. I learned immediately the real importance of wearing gloves, so I had to do half of the car and run inside to revive my red hard hands and my feet inside the covered-in-snow boots. after some more instructions (the windshield was also frozen and it worried me) I finished clearing the snow off the car (using the driving gloves i got from Donna last Xmas) and was ready to leave. There was no more snow coming from the sky, and the roads were clear. very few cars. wrong direction for 5minutes due to a sign that was covered by snow( I could read “67..th” and I mistakenly assumed it was south…). David helped me out and I felt safe again moving now towards home.
slow drive – arrived home at around 1:00am.
When I woke up I was in a land with snow on the ground where people used some kind of powder which prevented feet to get cold. In the dream I was barefoot walking by a frozen river. Imagine that!
(I fell now more prepared to face the real winter by myself. at least fir 3 days…)
off to work…

Vou editar algumas fotos que estão muito boas e mandar novo link… Mas só quando eu tiver tempo!
beijos
Pri

2009-08 Sao Paulo

Hoje é nosso terceiro aniversario de namoro! E eu tenho estado tão ocupada com diversos projetos, já cansada logo após voltar da nossa viagem, que nem lembrei. Nossa… EU NEM LEMBREI!!! Que vergonha….Nem parece a mesma Pri de antes…

MAS o David não só lembrou, mas comprou um vaso lindo com flores (que vamos plantar juntos), escreveu um cartão muito doce, junto a um pacote de gengibre cristalizado que eu amo…hummmm). EU tomei um grande susto quando entrei na cozinha pra pegar meu café da manhã e vi tudo isso em cima da mesa…

Hoje à noite depois da minha yoga vamos nos encontrar no mesmo restaurante indiano que fomos há 3 anos atrás, logo antes de começarmos a namorar.(e que a gente adora)

Como eu sou abençoada de ter David, que é tão carinhoso, cuidadoso, sensível, como meu companheiro nesta vida. E que companheiro mais alegre e sempre sorridente e positivo!!!

Tirei a sorte grande…

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Today is our 3rd anniversary, and I have been so busy, tired and overwhelmed by so many things happening at the same time that I confess… I forgot!!!…

How shameful…

BUT David – not only remembered – but also surprised me with beautiful flowers! YES he gave me flowers (which we’ll plant, and see if they come back next year as well…), and a pack of crystallized ginger… hummmmmmmmm

David, thanks for being so sweet, so caring, so loving, so thoughtful, and being my companion, and being such a happy (huge) part of my life. I love you!

Que beleza a primavera esta comecando!!

A grama esta ainda seca, mas as flores estao comecando a tomar conta!!

Fiz um videozinho aqui pra voces!

(deem uma olhada tambem no nosso website davidandpri.net pra mais videos)

Help spread the Bloomington Mandoliners Wylie House November 2008 Concert!

Queridos todos,

este é o clip da peça de teatro que a minha amiga Silvana Abreu está participando.

Este grupo tem uma força e intenção belíssimos.

Vão assistir! Vale muito a pena! Aproveitem… já que eu não posso ir…

Beijos a todos!

Priscilla

This end of the year was very good, no problems in our trips, LOTS of ping pong (we’ve been playing almost every evening!), and abundance of joy and relaxation in the holidays! (good to have some days off work!)

Some new things happening now:

-finally we’ll start to fix the walls in the basement! Remember that in June 2008, while David and I were in Brazil we had a flood here?… So, it’s exciting to have it all back to normal.

-I’ve been doing more and more graphic design work. I might even to a big project related to a museum…

-I’m also excited about learning new things -such as Flash, or the new CS4 Adobe Suite. I just got my new computer – oh… so good to have a reliable and super fast computer at home!… And all paid with the money I got from my extra-income as a designer!

-For the first time in my life I have a color printer at home – and you know how I am fond of color…

-David and I are enjoying reading together Anne of Green Gables (such a cute beautiful story about an orphan (who is clearly to me a mix of Mary Poppins and Pollyanna!)

-I’ve been using my new iTouch quite frequently. It’s a very handy type of palm, with connection with the internet when there is an available wifi signal. Ive been also struggling with it to learn simple things like how to keep my contacts updated also in my computer etc…. I’m also trying to find time to search for applicatins that will make it more like my ex-palm or organizer… (see here a VERY modern version of the machine I am retiring)

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Is there a bad sign when some of our resolutions for the new year sound similar to the resolutions of the year that had just passed?…. I feel that I am progressing, but some things – like having more time for myself – are always part of my resolutions. They’ve been in different “shapes” along the years (read more books, do more exercise, study more, meditate more often, etc)

Well, some of my 2009 resolutions are : writing once a week in this Blog. (I bet there is always something to say – even if it’s small and unimportant); exercise twice a week during lunch time plus yoga twice a week; try a new voice teacher – she is a jazz singer in Bloomington; meditate at least twice a week; starting to give blood (after 3 years living in US I am now eligible!); starting to volunteer, preferably with kids.

According to David, if the resolutions are falsifiable (you can clearly check if they have been accomplished or not) it’s easier to keep track, and, in my opinion, we are more likely to accomplish them.

Let’s see how I will do this year!

Cheers!

Love,

Pri