2015 - Year in Review

Wow! I know when it has been too long since my last post when not even my browser is auto-suggesting my blog's address when I start typing it! Ha.

I finally decided it was time to get back into blogging but checking my last post's title I couldn't even remember writing that. I had to scroll over the post to see what that was all about! Ha.

Ok, I apologize for my absence. It was justifiable but I haven't share the reasons with many people, actually! Slowly as I start posting more posts I can better explain everything that went on with our family in 2015. I hope NOT to get into many details in this posts or it would turn out dreadfully too long. (too late, it is me double checking my writing and this post is awfully long. You might want to read it in parts!)

Ideally, I want to get to a point on which I would share daily short posts, as some sort of a diary! I enjoy having our happenings recorded and I know that's the main reason why I am so active on social media! Every time I pause posting for a while on instagram or facebook, the hardest part for me has always been that I stop taking pictures altogether. Therefore, I miss recording our special little everyday moments. I know, you could argue something is not linked to the other, that I could take pics and just not share them, but I have tried it before and experience tells me different: it just doesn't work for me in that way.

All of these to say that it is thanks to posting pictures (and having a wall calendar) that I can remember what happened in our lives last year! Therefore, I do not have many regrets about being a over-sharer.

Without any more lingering, please find our 2015 retrospective below.

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I almost cannot believe that in last January we were spending 10 days with my family in a vacation home in Florida. The memories seem so far away and so much has changed regarding Brazil's economic situation that it is crazy to realize that this was even possible one year ago! We had a blast in Orlando, Fl with the whole family including tia Juju and tio Andre, visiting the Harry Potter (Universal) theme parks. Dan also visited Sea World and Bush Gardens with my brothers as an early birthday present. We enjoyed the game room and the pool a lot and, obviously, my dad's great culinary skills! We also visited St Pete's beach and we (just) passed through the very crowded Clearwater beach.

St Pete's Beach
I love, love this pic!

We went back home to Texas for the rest of January while part of the crew flew back to Brazil. My parents and the rest of my siblings enjoyed a bit more of Orlando, Miami and Key West, Fl. We celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary by going out on a date to a fancy little french restaurant in Houston and I got to try for the first time foie gras (not the pate, tough), escargot and scallops in truffle oil. I didn't like none of the before mentioned. We playfully described our dinning experience as "too french". And of course it was very expensive but we weren't looking at the bill, for a change (or we tried not to). As a bright side, it was nice to dress up for the occasion! It was our first time, actually, having such a fancy date, just the two of us! 

Our 6th wedding anniversary picture - after Mass! 

In the beginning of February we went back to Florida to take care of my siblings while enjoying the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area while my parents headed to Las Vegas for the annual World of Concrete Conference that my dad usually attends. We LOVED Sanibel! Sanibel FOR SURE is the most beautiful little part of the panhandle. I have been to the Emerald Coast and it is breathtaking when the skies cooperate, but Sanibel Island is almost like a world apart. A village! Full of colors, nature, cool architecture, fancy mansions, narrow streets and bike trails! Pictures don't make it justice, don't even try to google it. I liked the north part of the island better, although it is in the south where you will find the shell beach and the famous lighthouse. I thought it is the PERFECT place for a second honeymoon. Fort Myers it is also very cool, well planned and beautiful! Finally, we visited Siesta Key beach and it is also a very nice place! The sand is the best and there is a LOT of room to play games or just sunbathe.

Fort Myers - Lovers State Park

Siesta Keys Beach

We celebrated Dan's Birthday on the beach, and my birthday shortly after we said goodbye to my family. Normal life finally started to make its way into 2015. In March, we celebrated Nico's birthday! It landed on a Tuesday, that's when I take Nico (Rebecca has school) to Children's Adoration at our church's chapel. I have talked about my love for this holy hour plenty of times before! I have the imprinted certainty in my heart that Jesus loves to see the little children praying in front of Him! I always receive very specific favors on the days I attend Children's Adoration, too.

Since I did not celebrate Nico's birthday very well in 2014, this time I really wanted to throw the little guy a party! But as per usual I was a little bit late on my planning alhtough it worked for the best! I invited my friends from church and their kiddos to go to our house right after Children's adoration and I served lunch and cupcakes. I had in mind that anyone who showed up at the chapel that day would also be invited. It was a very low key and easy going "party" on a plain Tuesday but it couldn't have been more perfect! My heart was filled with joy the whole day. I still remember it.

In April we had our Austin/Fredericksburg/San Antonio a-ma-zing trip! It was the first time we spent our money in a "just the four of us" getaway! It was very worth it. We were missing Austin very much since we used to visit it all the time when we lived in Temple, TX. Austin is naturally beautiful with little hills, parks, lakes and rivers, weird (as you don't have to worry about fitting in) and full of things to do and nice places to eat! People in Austin really enjoy the outdoors and the crunchy mentality. And because of UT and other college campuses, there is a lot of young people! We visited our favorite spots and added a few new places to our "Best in Austin" list: Mozart Cafe, Children's Museum, Torchy's Tacos and finally, Oasis on the Lake. Unfortunately, because of the weather, we couldn't visit the exotic water holes the region is famous for but treat yourself, if you ever have a chance.

In Fredericksburg we visited the historic downtown and spent the afternoon in the beautiful wildseed farm which is GORGEOUS in spring! We enjoyed views of colorful wildflowers fields and its cozy cafe for some snacks. Sweet memories! We decided at the moment to drive back to Houston through an alternative longer way, making a stop in San Antonio! What we didn't expect was the country road between Fredericksburg and San Antonio to be so beautiful! It was a nice treat.

Becca sleepy on the restaurant in Fredericksburg!

Eating Popsicle reminds me so much of my own childhood!
My dad would always buy us popsicles, specially on trips! 

I thought it was very nice they had a Mary garden in the farm! Blessed trip!

In San Antonio we strolled a bit around the riverwalk with the kiddos and stopped at Mi Tierra mexican restaurant at the historic market square. The ambiance is SO fun, although the food was overpriced, with little portions and not that tasty (to me, nothing beats that humble and cheap place in Temple, TX we used to go and love but, unfortunately, I can't remember the name right now... sorry!). We got home in Kingwood VERY late at night and we were totally worn out, but we loved every bit of our trip!

blurry, I know....

In May I had my first tennis practice in years with my friend Brigid! It was a highlight worth of mentioning here (I ended up playing tennis one more time with my good friend Katie in December). But more importantly, my parents visited us in May. They were in New York for my sister and her husband's graduation and with airline's miles (mine and theirs) they made a 4-days stop in Kingwood! We took them to visit Austin (mostly repeating our April visit), and then I took them to my (along with theirs) favorite spots in Houston! It was a blessing to have them with us one last time in that beloved house!

On our first day, eating at Pappasitos Mexican Restaurant!
My mom loved it!

At Oasis on the Lake

I have other dresses too, you know.

At Mozart's Cafe in Austin

My mom's favorite places in the US always included a Whole Foods.
My dad was feeding the kids all the free snacks he could find!
Good timing, because the kids were huuuungry!

Unfortunately, May was also the month of the worst flooding that Houston had ever seen, I believe it was. Lots of damage. Some lost lives. Very sad that exceptional natural disasters surpass our best human efforts and resources.

In June nothing big happened but pool season started and the kids loved to swim with us! Gotta love Kingwood and their village's pools! Pool season lasted well through August and I even ventured taking the kids (solo) to the pool, twice! Rebecca improved her swim a lot and Nico showed us he is a crazy little dude in the water. Gotta hold that squirmy and strong little boy tight!

Sweet girl, new swimsuit!

With daddy is so much more fun! Almost every weekend!

Nico turned out to be pretty shy on his toddler years.
This is a rare moment when he lets his smile be recorded on pictures (pool and snacks are the reasons, of course)!

For the 4th of July we drove to the Kemah Boardwalk to see the fireworks. Advice: don't do it! It was crazy busy!!!!! We spent hours to get out of there on our way back home. BUT, God gave us a little treat in the midst of that craziness. The place was so crowded that when we arrived there we couldn't even get close to the boardwalk. So we parked our car in the packed neighbor streets. It was dark, we were ready to walk by foot to the boardwalk when we saw some local people leaving their houses and we decided to follow them because we thought they should know the better way to get there!

But they were actually going to a "secret" (residents only) passage to a private pier. When we notice this, we asked if that was only for residents, they confirmed it but I guess they felt sorry for us, so lost and with two kids in the dark that they happily invited us in! The place is a hidden gem! You can see all the cities around Kemah, plus the Houston Yacht Club and the boardwalk too. It was very dark so when you looked into the water you could only see a wall of lights. The friendly people who welcomed us explained that those lights were all boats anchored to see the fireworks (you could think it was city lights)! When it finally started, you could see fireworks from all directions! It was a very special moment! God and his little treats to us, always!

Besides the goings to the pool, we enjoyed our summer a lot! I took them a number of times to the local indoor playground (too hot and too many killer mosquitoes to be outside), took them to playdates and to the library. But the high point of the summer for me was that I had the inspiration of taking the kids every other Thursday afternoon (when it's free) to visit all three Houston major museums (Natural Sciences, Children's Museum and Fine Arts). They LOVED it!!!

Learning games on the iPad at the library! We would also get tons of books each time!

Arriving at the Fine Arts Museum on my first endeavor! Mommy was VERY excited!
The children didn't know yet what they were doing there!

I was crazy, honestly speaking, because it is so crowded, and hot outside (you commute from one museum to the other by foot since parking is a pain and they are very close to one another, anyway) and my kids love to run away from me, but it worked so well! They cooperated with my rules, they loved the dinosaurs, our snack times, and - obviously - everything about the children's museum. The Fine Arts Museum they didn't like much, but I did A LOT. We even took daddy with us the other Thrusday so he could have as much fun as we were having. I ended up doing that on three Thursdays, and when we wouldn't go, Rebecca would be upset and cry about it! :) I love that my kids enjoyed it so much, because I was never a big fan of museums growing up and always felt ashamed of this not-so-cult side of me! I love to see my kids experiencing different!

Snack break in the Natural Sciences Museum

Children's Museum. It's gigantic!

Children's Museum

Children's Museum

The Fine Arts Museum has a nice shadow-monsters projections exhibition. But Rebecca was a bit shy about it!

In August, 30th, we celebrated Rebecca's birthday by taking her to the beach! She loooves the beach. And Menchies Fro-yo, and cupcakes and lots of cool and educational engaging toys!

Excited to be talking to our both families in each tablet! We all sang Happy Birthday together!

Meanwhile it was time to be back to school as Rebecca entered Kindergarten (KG). We had a couple of hiccups changing schools in the first week of school but everything calmed down eventually, and Rebecca loved school, as she has always had. Along the first semester, she completely shined and was considered Gifted and Talented by the CoGat test. She scored in the 99 percentile regarding kids of her same age all across the US, and in the 98 percentile regarding kids all ages in her level grade (her teacher even told me that some kids in KG will be turning 7yo before the school year ends) and since Rebecca was born at the end of August - meeting the KG age requirement by mere 3 days -  she is the youngest of the youngest!

Cute

Big little girl!

Her teacher also explained that a child to be considered for further testing (the whole process is only done by february) has to score on the 95 percentile. And that only 6 kids in that school, made it. The second part of the testing was a behavioral questionnaire that her teacher and us, the parents, had to fill out separately.

As her teacher had her questionnaire already finished when she handed mine to me, she said Rebecca was the perfect candidate. When I was filling my questionnaire and reading the introductory list of the characteristic behavior of a GT child, I started crying. It was Rebecca in a shell! Everything that usually requires me so much energy and PATIENCE to deal with her, it was all explained. I always knew she was different, more like a "difficult child". If only I knew that was all a part of something bigger and good, I would have looked at it in a different way as I have done so after learning all of this. I was so, so proud of her! I finally understood her better! And I felt sorry for her and ashamed of myself that it took me so long - and a computer test, to show me this.

And she continued to impress us by learning how to read at 5 years old, in the first months of KG! She loves to read and is very good at it! She is a golden girl! I hope she uses all her intelligence for the great good of others and for God!

About Nico, he started going to MDO and looooved it!!! He developed so much socially! His teachers were all so sweet to him! It was well worth the bucks! But the coolest thing this MDO brought us was to see Nico shaking the maracas according to the song - on stage - along with his classmates and teachers during the MDO Christmas party! Dan and I watched it, and we were in heaven to see our little introspect guy doing so well!

IT WAS SO CUTE I WANTED TO DIE!!!

Nico at the end of presentation. Yes, mommy didn't understand the kids were supposed to dress up in holiday attire. He was the only one dressed in blue! I said he was representing the Virgin Mary because that was a baptist school!

Dan and I also enjoyed both kids being at school at the same time to go out for lunch-dates on a number of days. We enjoyed some restaurants, time together and even a going to the movies (The Hunger Games!!!). What a year!

Menchies date! Oh, we were haaaappy!

The Cheesecake Factory one last time!

Breakfast-date just Dan and I and a milkshake!

Obviously this was only possible because I started working part-time! While totally not the usual between my stay-at-home sweet friends, we had not much of an option. It was never a secret that we live in a very tight budget and that's actually the reason why I'm still not pregnant with our third child yet. Just an observation, I use Natural Family Planning, and it successfully works for us, just like that. You might find it hard to believe but it is true and I don't hide it and have never done so. In fact I will teach about NFP to anyone who wants it, as I find it to be a true blessing in our marriage and in our family!

Besides getting a few more bucks in, having a job taught me a lot about people and specially people in different circumstances of life. I will be forever grateful for this experience and life learning. I had two jobs, actually, one at the church nursery taking care of kids, and the other one on weekday evenings at some retail store. Dan would be back home from work and we would have dinner together as a family, then I would leave for work and he would help the kids be put to bed. It worked great, but it did require me to take daily 30-min naps in the afternoons.

Also thanks to me having jobs, we could visit my sister and her husband in NY. It was sooooooo cool! Every single bit of it! I flooded Instagram and facebook with pictures while we were there so I won't bother sharing the same thing here (specially because is already November in a retrospective post written by Gabby - me! - meaning, of course, that IT IS TOO LONG).

Just to wrap things up, it was a year that I had many friends, many socialization events, parties and get-together's. What a happy year! I never envisioned it to be so great! Thank you God, for the blessings in our life!

It was a year that I was very active on Facebook fighting the terrorist groups of the Islamic State (much before the attacks in Paris), defending the pro-life cause (you "might" remember my countless posts exposing Planned Parenthood and their shady practices. Probably, that's when you decided to stop follow me on FB), publicly talking about the damages of a certain filthy book and movie when you and society are exposed to them, and finally, about Brazil's political and economic situation (that's when another chunk - I would say about 1/8 - of my online friends stopped following me).

FINALLY - congrats to you, my reader, if you made this far - it's the end of the year. And what better way to finish it than to pack all of our things and move to Sioux Falls, SD? What a busy time! But we managed to say our goodbyes although we are sure to forever miss our great friends, our beautiful Kingwood and our lovely, little (just perfect for us) house! Everything was so well taken care by God, I can not even describe it! I feel a lot of gratitude in my heart!

Now some random pics:

Rebecca giving me beauty and fashion tips (really! She chose my dress!).
Dan and I were going to the Celebration of life Gala dinner. 

Rebecca's new way of locomotion in airports - getting a ride in our luggage.
The whole family visit Sioux Falls, SD to look around and search for a house!

Sioux Falls Country Club just behind our hotel!

Merry Christmas!

I wish you all peace! And a grateful heart for the big and little things of your daily life! Every person, every life is different! There is good and there is bad in everything, that's just real world! I wish you can seize what's good and deal with what is bad! I wish you are constantly trying to be a better person - for your own and for others! For me, by doing this, is when you find a way to happiness! And I guess I would be lying if I failed to mention that I TRULY BELIEVE that my family life centered in Jesus, my catholic faith, is what makes us such a happy family (in the midst of all our trials and tryings). Of course we have bad moments - everyday - but in general, I have the peace of a happy home. Of course that's just my experience but I wish all of you peace and happiness too. Sincerely!

xoxo

Gabby

How to Discipline Children - TWO RULES

Two Simple Parenting Rules

PS. If you are in a hurry, jump to the final part

I have been PMSing for the last ten days and, at the same time, I’ve been struggling about disciplining my petite - almost 5 years old –daughter, Rebecca. We had it rough since the beginning of this week but I guess I have been noticing a sudden change of behavior since Summer School ended mid-July. As I was telling my mom two days ago through Skype, it seems to me like she is going through a new phase of misbehavior. We obviously had the Terrible-Twos misbehavior phase which for us started when she was 18 months and lasted until she was 3.5y, more or less when she started speaking better. Eventually - and somehow - I managed to change a couple of things in the way we were doing things and, more importantly, I changed MYSELF. We rose victorious! We had 1.5 years of a blessed, peaceful family living!

I don’t want to say that this lull period is over yet! Like I said, this new misbehavior phase is pretty recent and it doesn’t look as bad as the Terrible-Twos did and actually were. It might be that Rebecca is just bored. But even when I manage to fill her day with lots of activities that both Rebecca and Nico love, which actually happened quite often during this summer, like going to the swimming pool, going to the museum, going to the playground, having fast-food  for lunch or dinner, going out for ice-cream, buying their favorite snacks and desserts, blowing soap-bubbles, getting them a lot of art supplies and activity books, Rebecca still might act disrespectfully and be ungrateful at the end of the day! She’s gotten an attitude, and she is acting disobedient and defiant.

That really bothers me! But I guess what really takes me off tracks is when Rebecca and Nico fight with each other or – even more – when Rebecca ends up hurting Nico when they are playing roughly and too agitatedly specially when I have been repeatedly telling her NOT TO JUMP ON MOMMY’S BED!!! And not to drag Nico into it! And not to hurt him!!!!!

When one of these events happens, I lose it! I don’t spank (except in very rare cases and not without a lot of previous warnings) but I do scream! Especially when I am PMSing. I hate it! I feel like the worst person on the planet! It’s terrible this sensation that you acted like a crazy woman. And most importantly, I am afraid of scarring my children for life. It is not fair to them, I know this. I really wish I could always be cool and actually think before yelling.

Anyway, on tuesday – talking to my private counselor, my mom – I knew I had to come up with a new plan, for this new challenge. I knew I could do it! And just in time, tuesday was my recollection day! I know, I know!!! I always mention my recollections like they are my savior, but it truly makes a huge impact on my life! I will need these recollections as long as I am alive! Well, the last recollection not only it wasn’t an exception to the rule, but it surpassed by A LOT!!!

On an usual evening of recollection we have two meditations ministered by an Opus Dei priest. In the middle of these, we have a “talk” given by a lay person and then some questions for an examination of conscious going over the evening’s theme. Confession times are available throughout the entire time and the Recollection ends with a Benediction (Adoration).

Even when I don’t find the meditations to be much an insight, or when I am too tired to focus my attention and I don’t absorb much content, I consider the night a win when I get to go to confession! Yesterday they didn’t have a second priest to help with confessions so I didn’t get to go because the line of people before me was too long. The “talks” are usually good, with lots of practical advice, but it is not my favorite part, by any means! Maybe because I rarely find something new! Of course,  even when it is something you have heard many times before, it is still useful to be reminded of them from time to time, anyway!

So do you want to guess what happened? The “talk” was the gold of yesterday’s recollection! It was too much of a coincidence! The theme of the “talk” was precisely about educating and disciplining our children in virtues!!!! And it started just ok, I guess. The person giving the talk is usually a bit uncomfortable lecturing to a bunch of people more or less like herself, as she clearly thinks and acknowledges that she is no master on the subject either. I am not sure if it pains me to watch the first five minutes of it, or the opposite, if I actually enjoy observing this pattern over and over again.

Anyway! Maybe is all in my head! Maybe she is not really thinking any of it, but I just suppose she is, or maybe it’s because I’m too proud to simply sit down for the talk, with no judgements, and no pre-conceived ideas and just reap the good information! Fortunately, I still can get through the initial moments and start jotting down good pieces of advice on my journal! And that’s what I did! Actually, when I start writing on my journal I usually can’t stop until the talk is over! Even if it’s something I have made notes about a hundred times before!

It was going more or less like this: me-non-stopping-writing on my journal, when she stopped her line of thought to mention the example of her friend! Well, that’s always refreshing! It is really something she got out from her experience, and not only her knowledge! I will try to reproduce her words.

“I know a family. They have five children! You know that family that the kids are…. so beautiful! So well behaved!! Well, when I was a young mom and she was a young mom, we were talking about how to discipline our children. And I was saying how many rules we got, that we have to do this and this. And she stopped me and said: in my house we only have two rules! Cheerfulness and Obedience.”

And then she added that along the way, as she was trying to see what works and what doesn’t work for her family, she often realized how almost everything would go back to expect our children to be cheerful and obedient at home!

_________________________

(Final Part)

On the next day after my recollection, the PMS wasn’t over yet, but I was different somehow! I had my hopes high again, and at the breakfast table I told Dan about what I have heard at recollection and that I wanted to apply “cheerfulness and obedience” immediately with Rebecca! He agreed and we openly talked to Rebecca about the new two rules of our house! She understood and she was excited!!! 

And it worked!!!

Cheerfulness and obedience are the two rules for the children but I also would like to add two rules for the parents! Mommy and daddy, or nana, or teacher, or anyone who is charge of some authority need these extra two rules, but to apply to themselves, when disciplining children! They are: being loving but firm. I highly believe in the efficiency of these four rules combined!

Finally, I would like to end with a few words that my mom found on facebook and shared with me. The picture below was also included on the post and it reminded me SO much of Rebecca and I together! She loves to touch my hair! And the girl in the picture is just like Rebecca’s size and all! It was just too perfect! Here are the wise words:

"Breathe. You'll be a mother for all your life.

Teach the important things. The truth.

To jump puddles, to watch the animals,

to give butterfly kisses and to hug very strongly.

Do not forget to hug and don’t ever deny it.

Maybe in a few years, the hugs you will miss

Will be the ones you didn’t give.

Tell your child how much you love her, every time you think about it.

Let her use her imagination. Imagine together with her.

Walls can be painted again,

things that are broken can be replaced.

But the mother's screams will remain.

You can often do the dishes later.

While you clean, they grow.

She doesn’t need many toys. Work less and love more.

Less gifts and more presence! And, above all, breathe.

You will be a mother for all your life. 

She will be a child only once. " (Unknown Author)

Dear Mike, Cullen, Steve and Kyle

An Open Letter to Mike, Cullen, Steve and Kyle.

Facing the events of last Friday and the storm of opinions erupting on facebook I felt compelled to write something too. But I will do it differently. I will do it writing a personal – but – open letter to four gay friends/colleagues I have met and interacted with in my life so far.

The first one of them is Mike. Hi, Mike! How is it going? I haven’t heard much from you for quite some time now! I understand it. You know my points of view about sexual morality and you probably dislike me nowadays. Well, I don’t dislike you. I hope you know this!

We met in school. Although you never came up publicly in those days, people would talk about it. I can only imagine how hard that must have felt. To know that people all around you would gossip about your sexuality and that you would even face some bullying and discrimination.

Did you know that I tried to protect you one time that two girls were trying to pull a nasty joke on you? I overheard them, stood up and gave them my best stinky eye (you know the one! The one that is able to set fire to a green tree) and kept observing them. Looking back, I should have been even more direct.

But did you know that because of that episode I never friendly-talked to those two girls anymore in my life? That they are probably in the 10% of the people I met in school that I don’t count as facebook friends?

Did you know that I never ever gossiped or even talked about your sexuality with anyone? Did you know that I cared for you as a true friend? One that would make me genuinely laugh. I loved to spend time with you! You are one of the brightest people I personally know. I admired you for that!

Do you remember one day at school that we were supposed to choose a friend and tell the rest of the class why you chose that person? I chose you! I did it because I really cared about you. Gay or not, you were a good friend to me. I was supposed – by your request - to construct/design you future house, remember?

After school we lost touch. On facebook we met again. Since then we have exchanged two private message sessions about nothing, the two of them quite spaced in time. I think I started both of these conversations. Not long ago I would still “comment” and “like” on some of your statuses. Then I stopped. I came to the conclusion that you really didn’t want me there, “giving you any kind of hidden messages” or reminding you of “anything”. So thinking of you, of your well-being, of your probable feelings about me, I stopped checking on your updates.

Well, I love you Mike. I hope you know that! If anyone would strike a bullet on you because of your lifestyle, I would freely and willingly jump in front of you so you wouldn’t get hurt. And you better believe that because I mean every word. I hope you still know me enough to realize that I don’t tell lies. Bye Mike.

Dear Cullen, we met in college. You were tall, handsome, very intelligent, good boy and overall one of the most pleasant people to be around with in the whole wide world. On my first semester in college I remember saying playfully to two of my girlfriends that I would marry you someday.

Well, our paths continued to cross on a regular basis and you eventually asked me out. We went out to lunch one day and the other time we went to the mall to talk. Sorry about that night, I think my perfume gave you allergies. Don’t worry, I noticed it and that was the last time I used a Boticario perfume so I wouldn’t asphyxiated any other prospects - or friends, in general. (No jokes intended about the whole Boticario ad. Their perfumes just suck. But I love their lipsticks).

I know I didn’t give you much of a real chance with me. I realized that I actually wasn’t in love with you to give it a try. And since I cared so much about you, I didn’t want to ruin that. I wanted for us to remain friends. Which we eventually did after a time of not talking to each other, naturally.

I actually remember that you made out - twice - with my best friend in that meantime. Yes, the same girl who heard me speaking of you being my future husband and all. Okay, I didn’t blame her for a long period of time. It was wrong of me to actually say that. In the end, I was actually cheering for the two of you to end up together.

One observation, I probably never told you this, but before I met Dan, I've never stayed with a guy for more than a month. I've always had a pretty good idea of my real feelings in the first week of going out with a guy. That was me! I just knew when it wouldn’t work out and the effect of me actually pushing on myself the opposite idea would just make me shut down even more. And that is why I should probably be one of the girls you know that less got into relationships.

My parents liked you a lot, we also had some friends in common outside college and I invited you to my actual wedding. The one I was marrying Dan, my soul mate, and not you. We were cool about it. I tried to introduce you to my beautiful, smart and single friend – Jane – as I thought you were too great to pass to the crowd - and because she asked me to.

I didn’t know that you've already decided to be gay, by then. I only found out you had a long term boyfriend four years after college. After a few months of digesting the information, I decided to write you a private message about the whole me trying to push you a girl. That I didn’t know you were gay. (How could I?) That I have always considered you as a friend. And that being gay didn’t change that. 

But I felt that my conscience pushed me to add what you already knew about my personal opinion on sexual morality and that has not changed for me either. That I hoped you could understand that these two things are different for me. I hoped you would understand that I don’t let my beliefs interfere with my idea of someone. And in this case, I still have a very high esteem of you, Cullen.

You are still the same Cullen, tall, handsome, smart and easy to make laugh. You are probably the person who holds the most prestigious job of all my friends and that is all because of you own qualities and attributes. I don’t follow you on Instagram because we are just into different things now. I still have you on facebook and I hope you don’t ever shut me out of your online circles of friends. I wouldn’t want that. Bye Cullen.

Dear Steve! I don’t like you. And that has nothing to do with the fact that we don’t agree on this subject. We actually don’t agree on anything. Not politically, not socially, not religiously, not anything-ly. And you quite annoyed me a couple years ago when you would comment/like on every post of mine. Gay or not, man or woman, I hate that! That is the single thing that I hate the most in the entire world. So sorry about adding you the “restrict friends” category on my facebook, but hopefully you will understand that we can’t be friends. Bye Steve.

And finally, dear Kyle. Sorry if I added you wrongly to this letter. I am not really sure if you are gay or not! And – actually - that doesn’t matter! We have met for a few months at the university and then we lost touch. Before that, I actually helped you around with some things.

Sometime into college, I met you at some party and you were more than happy to introduce me to some of your friends after I asked you to, hoping it would be the “dark haired - blue eyed – future doctor” I used to flirt with on Monday afternoons at the central library. Well, the friend you introduced me wasn’t actually him, so I fled!

We continue to be friends on facebook and I admire you for what I have seen! I see you going to less civilized places to be a doctor, I see your smiling face, and I see you enjoying your family. I wish you all the best, always! Bye Kyle.

Finally,

I wish everybody could understand that the real deal about legalizing homosexual marriage is not about love. I am all for love, believe me. (I also believe that sexual acts and love are not the same things.) But unfortunately, what is really on the table is: abolishing religious freedom and all that it entitles. I won’t linger on this topic. I could say a thousand words but I will let it be. I don’t want to cause any animosity. But I will be coherent. I will not bend the essential truth to look good to my online friends. I am lucky enough to say that my actions speak by themselves and that being publicly criticized/questioned on social media doesn’t bother me. I wish everybody could say that about themselves. We would have fairer and more honest conversations.

O Melhor de Austin - O que fazer em menos de 48h

Dois meses sem postar mas vontade não faltou de ter escrito mais vezes nesse meu diário, quer dizer, blog! Desde a última postagem tivemos alguns eventos excepcionais que foram muito legais!

Entre eles, a nossa viagem inteiramente recreativa a Austin, TX. Há dois anos e meio atrás nós morávamos em Temple, TX, uma cidade que fica uma hora de carro de Austin! E de fato Austin foi a cidade para a qual mais nos dirigimos durante os quatro anos em que moramos em Temple.

Mas o que acontecia é que acabávamos fazendo sempre as mesmas coisas em todas as nossas visitas: passear no Capitol (sede do governo do Texas, um prédio muito bonito, com um pequeno museu e um bela área verde), dar uma passadinha rápida no Zilker Park (rápida, porque sempre algo nos impedia de ficar lá por muito tempo, ou era estacionamento lotado, ou não sabíamos nos localizar tão bem e nos entediávamos rapidamente com as mesmas coisas, ou medo da Rebecca cair na água, etc) e sempre terminávamos nossa visita indo no supermercado asiático (que cheirava mal horrores, mas que depois de 5 minutos seu nariz milagrosamente se acostumava com o cheiro). E voltávamos para casa com as compras na geladeirinha de isopor com gelo que sempre levávamos no carro.

Capitol - há 5 anos atrás em restauração

ainda nos arredores do Capitol, com Downtown em frente

Mas Austin tem seu charme. Algo que para nós só ficou realmente evidente em nossa memória remota quando nos mudamos para Houston e a saudades bateu. E além de Austin ser muito charmosa eu percebi que nunca tínhamos visitado (ou o feito muito pouco) alguns de seus pontos mais legais e turísticos. Agora moramos há quase quatro horas de carro de Austin e a vontade de passear por lá de novo só aumentava!

As crianças estão numa idade ótima pra viajar e vimos então que era hora de finalmente fazer a viagem e reservar um hotel em Austin. Iríamos aproveitar a cidade como se fosse nossa primeira e última visita! Fizemos a reserva com mais de três semanas de antecedência! E ficamos ansiosamente esperando pelo grande dia! Aos poucos fui fazendo um roteiro do que queríamos ver e fazer e tudo parecia perfeito - no papel! Na realidade, conforme a data ia se aproximando, percebíamos que a previsão do tempo era de chuva. Muita chuva!

De fato, chuviscou o Sábado todo, mas foi algo muito leve que apenas nos obrigou a mudar um pouco nosso roteiro e algumas trocas de atividades! Acabamos por fazer uma viagem incrível! Alguns fatores contribuiram para que gostássemos tanto da viagem. O primeiro deles, como já mencionei, foi que nossas crianças se comportaram muito bem. O segundo fator foi planejarmos uma viagem com tanta coisa pra fazer e visitar que não ficávamos muito tempo em um mesmo lugar e não dava tempo de nos entendiarmos (incluímos duas outras cidades no nosso roteiro: Fredericksburg e San Antonio na volta). O terceiro fator foi realmente pesquisar e escolher os melhores pontos turísticos (Dica: pensar como se fosse a sua primeira e única viagem a certo lugar! Você acaba tendo outra perspectiva), E finalmente, o quarto fator, foi conseguir mesclar uma viagem com crianças com uma viagem gastronômica para os adultos!

Nossa viagem consistiu no seguinte roteiro (e o recomento muitíssimo):

1. Entre Houston e Austin, desviando apenas algumas milhas ao norte, você encontra a cidade De Lexignton, TX, casa do melhor BBQ do Estado e arrisco dizer dos EUA inteiro. Chama-se "Snow's BBQ". Aberto ao público apenas aos Sábados de manhã. Funcionam até acabar a comida por volta do meio dia! Realmente muito gostoso! Prova disso é que você esquece totalmente de molhar as carnes no molho barbecue. Nos EUA praticamente todos os lugares de BBQ tradicional são pequenas casinhas de madeira com mesas comunitárias no pátio. Pão de forma a vontade acompanha, assim como condimentos, molho bbq, pickles e no caso do Snow's. o feijão delicioso (lembra o brasileiro) também é a vontade. Recomendo todo o menu, em especial, as ribs, brisket e a sausage! Outro fator que eleva o apreço a comida é a medida certa de pimenta e outros temperos que para o paladar brasileiro costumam ser muito forte. (Link)

2. Thinkery: Museu da criança! Em uma região cult de Austin com um belo parque público na frente e playground cercado (estilo Central Park). Por causa das chuvas escolhemos passar parte da nossa tarde com as crianças em algum tipo de entreterimento que durasse por certas horas e fosse coberto. Uma pessoa no meu facebook sugeriu o museu das crianças e acabamos por ir até lá! Ótima pedida. O Nico simplesmente adorou e aproveitou muito, a Rebecca aproveitou menos mas deve ser por ficar dengosa e tímida quando está com o papai. Ponto contra: muito lotado. Dica: levar troca de roupa e aproveitar o museu sem pressa! Na saída do museu a chuvinha tinha dado uma folga e as crianças ainda brincaram no playground da frente e andaram pelo parque em volta do laguinho! (link)

viu o que eu disse sobre trazer uma troca de roupas?

3. Comer e comer: Perto do The Thinkery achamos um restaurante da famosa rede de tacos original de Austin chamada "Torchy's Tacos". Recomendo o Beef fajita Taco e o The Democrat. Não são muito apimentados e para aqueles que gostam de pimenta tem molhinhos a parte e muitas outras opcões no cardápio! (link) Infelizmente não tirei foto da comida!

4. Comer e comer (2) com uma vista: Mozart's Coffee. Lugar incrível com mesinhas dentro e fora em um grande pátio de dois andares aonde você encontra várias pessoas usando seus laptops, ou estudando ou então relaxando sem pressa com seus cachorros por perto. O pátio é de madeira no estilo docas! E de fato fica ao lado de uma docas com barquinhos estacionados nas margens do lago. Sobremesas incríveis, café de refil! Falei pouco, mas é simplesmente o lugar que eu mais recomendo dessa minha listinha! (link)

amazing!

5. Comer e comer (3) com uma vista (2): a viagem de carro até chegar ao The Oasis - Lake Travis já é muito linda. Chegando lá você cai pra trás com a infra-estrutura e a vista do local! O restaurante é íncrivel e de vários andares. Os mais altos ficam reservados para eventos como festas e casamentos. O térreo e os andares de baixo é aberto ao público. Quer dizer, você não precisa nem comer no restaurante para apreciar a vista ou simplesmente passear pelo restaurante que fica lotado de visitas! As crianças ainda recebem uma pelúcia pequenininha de graça. O pátio de entrada do local é maravilhoso e tem várias lojinhas em volta numa espécie de galeria. Aliás, o mirante fica do lado de fora do restaurante! Um lugar bem tranquilo, aonde você pode andar e fuçar a vontade sem ninguém vir te importunar! O tempo permitindo, você pode presenciar um belo pôr-do-sol. Não foi o nosso caso, infelizmente, mas ainda assim aproveitamos muito o local! (link)

minha princesa mimosa!

chegando

olhas as pelúcias que falei!

6. Agora vou indicar outros pontos turísticos que infelizmente não pude visitar até hoje. Foram os lugares que saíram da nossa listinha por causa da chuva! Austin e região possue muitos rios e lagos! Inclusive quando erámos ainda só eu e o Dani no nosso primeiro ano de casados, um dia fomos para Austin apenas para andar de caiaque no rio Colorado, uma das muitas entradas pelo Zilker park! Mas Austin tem muitas outras jóias raras em relação a natureza como o Jacob's Well e a Hamilton Pool. O primeiro inteiramente de graça e com nado liberado, o segundo paga-se uma pequena taxa de estacionamento. Enfim, o resumo da ópera é que Austin e região tem muuuuitos lugares de piscinas naturais abertos ao público. (Para uma lista bem completa entrem no link) As três primeiras fotos são copiadas desse link e são apenas uma parte da extensiva lista! As fotos seguintes são de uma das nossas primeiras viagens a Austin no comecinho de casados!

Hamilton Pool Preserve - não sei se o nado é autorizado

Jacob's Well

Sculpture Falls

Há 6 anos atrás - passeando por um dos muitos caminhos! Aqui estamos passando por cima do rio Colorado!

Andando de caiaque no rio Colorado!

Rio Colorado - essa foto não mostra, mas tinha muita gente andando de caiaque

7. No domingo de manhã fomos a missa cedinho na St Mary's Cathedral. Igreja pequena situada em plena Downtown e arquitetura em estilo tradicional com cantos e liturgia lindos! E para nossa surpresa, a missa foi celebrada pelo Bispo! E para nossa maior surpresa, as crianças se comportaram e não tivémos que sair nem por um minuto para as acalmar! Foi algo muito especial que selou nossa viagem como se fosse uma benção! Me arrependi, mas não tirei nenhuma foto!

Nossa segunda parte da viagem constou em visitar Fredericksburg e San Antonio e estarmos de volta em Houston tarde da noite! Mas esse post já ficou muito grande então vou dividir em dois posts!

___________________

Comentários finais sobre Austin - para outros tipos de público (aka, solteiros ou sem crianças):

1. Chegando em Austin você já começa a ver os muitos valinhos e percebe porque a cidade é tão charmosa e com uma arquitetura única e "quirky" (tradução livre: esquisitinho mas legal!). Aliás o lema de Austin é "Keep Austin Weird" e de fato é uma cidade com muita gente diferente, os típicos hippies modernos e adinheirados! Visitar o Whole Foods e passear de carro pelos diferentes bairros te dará uma boa idéia do que estou falando!

Austin também é considerada uma cidade muito jovem e culturalmente diversificada (devido principalmente ao maior campus da University of Texas) e muito saudável aonde as pessoas ativamente se entretêm com vários esportes ao ar livre como bikes, corrida, caiaque, etc. Aliás Austin tem muitos parques, rios e lagos.

Finalmente, Austin é a capital da Live Music e seu maior e mais famoso festival é ACL "Austin City Limits" que tem seus ingressos esgotados rapidamente e conta com a presença de várias bandas famosas distribuídas em seus 3 dias de duração! E também é ao livre em uma área bem grande com várias tendas. (link)

Ainda para o público jovem existe a 6th street cheia de barzinhos. De noite uns três ou quatro quarteirões ficam fechados a entrada de carros e as pessoas ficam passando de bar e bar e socializando na rua. Eu nunca fui, mas dizem que é um pouco doido demais. Do tipo: "uma visita basta". (link)