The Marine Ball was last night and it is always fun to witness, but very thought provoking.  The presentation of the “Colors” (the flag) with the National Anthem always leaves tears in my eyes.   Every year they have a video message from the Commandant of the Marine Corps telling about the birth of the Corp on November 10, 1775 and all it has gone through.  I hear it every year and I still love the story.  For those who don’t know, the Corp was born in Tun Tavern and Brewery in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania promising free rum to those who joined.  As with ever year, there is also a guest speaker, and this year’s was one of the best I have seen.  Very active in his speech and vibrant deep inside.  His love for the Marine Corp was such that he literally could not stand still as he spoke.

When I told MotherDear about the upcoming gala, she wanted me to take many pictures of pretty women.  I think she was hoping I would end up with a wife if I did; but there was a nice supply of such, so I did as I was told.  I start off with this one.  She is a Brazilian friend of mine who speaks fluent Australian English.  Yes.  She learned her English while a student in Australia.  I love listening to her accent, and evidently someone else did too, because she was the MC for the Ball.Below are three young girls who attended.  Their parents were sitting at a nearby table, so they behaved themselves.  I kept trying to offer them wine, but they chose not to fall into a life of debauchery so early in life.   … that and they are too young to drink.So, I’m going to post several more before returning to the Ball itself. I found it fascinating how easy it was to take these pictures after telling them my 99-year-old mother wanted pictures of pretty women.  All except one did not question it and gladly posed.  The lone questioner asked me if these were for my 99-year-old mother or myself.  … Duh!

Okay.  After catching our breath, we move on to the good people who provide protection for us during the event.  I work closely with these men and have great respect for them.  Several you have already met in a previous post.  The first one is Lucas with the orneriness just waiting to escape, and the very serious Antonio who hurts my hand when we greet each other.  And the good Marcelo who is another supervisor.They may not be pretty, but they are incredible to work with.  And below are some of the Guard Force Coordinators.  On my right is a gentleman I call “Little Santos” and on the left is Fabio.  Again, very good men.The ceremony has a cake cutting which is symbolic in many ways.  I recorded the video for it, but my phone says it’s too big to send to my computer.  But believe me when I say it is amazing to witness.  Below are more pictures of the evening. And lastly, I post one of the most poignant images of the evening, which is the table set aside for those who gave the Ultimate Sacrifice and did not return.Every year I look forward to this event.  Knowing my son is a former Marine, and me working with scores of the men and women who chose this life, my respect for them is deep.  I thank them and I look up to them.

D.

Remember me mentioning buying sausage for about a buck a piece on the way home?  Well, I do that at least once a week now.  The old boy at the grill, Antonio also works at my Portuguese class bar, so he is a familiar face.  Here is Antonio busy at work.You know, I may do something like that when I retire….

This is a holiday in Brazil, so I decided to spend some time cooking another pot of Jambalaya.  Came out well with red wine and an after lunch cigar, but next time I will leave out the shrimp.Last month, I went with my buddy Ricardo to a British pub for lunch and ordered a BLT.  That itself is an amazing sandwich because it has bacon on it.  But here in Brazil, they add an egg on it also.Ya know, Life is good at times, and at other times, it is very good!

The Local Guard Force.

I work closely with these good people.  They know me by name, and luckily they wear name tags for me.  The two in the picture below are most interesting.  The one standing next to me is Lucas.  You can tell by his suppressed smile that he is most ornery.  He is vibrant and full of life, happy down deep inside where it counts.  He took his hat off for the picture, but I made him put it back on.

The one on the end is serious as a heart attack.  His name is Antonio Carlos.  He is extremely professional and it took many months of joking with him to get him to respond back.  Now, when I walk past him we will have a hand shaking contest.  I will squeeze his hand until I feel his joints popping.  Afterwards as I walk away, he will shake his hand to get the blood back.

… actually, if the truth be told, it is the other way around.  I am the one walking away shaking to get the blood back in his hand.There is an interesting female guard that I must tell you about.  She does not look Brazilian, but more European.  Because of the massive Japanese population in Brazil, she could be part that.  But she never smiles, so…. I saw that as a challenge.

Every time I saw her I would nod and say, Bom dia (good day), and she would nod back with a polite smile.  Over a period of months, the smile would get bigger.

One day while I was working at one of the Consulate’s gates, I saw a pretty woman enter and pass through the metal detector.  She was laughing and very much at ease, and I found it hard to look away.  Over a period of several months I saw this woman come and go several times, before I realized it is the female guard who never smiles.

A few months ago, I was working in the LGF Command Post during the shift change, and I happen to see her enter to start the checkout process.  I watched her remove her body armor, unload her firearm and check it in.  I watched her remove the tunic she was wearing and complete her required paperwork.  And with each step, I saw her personality slowly transform from serious armed guard, to a frivolous young lady.  At one point, she looked over at me and smiled, without me having to force it from her.

I found the transformation fascinating, yet beautiful.  I wish I had a picture of her to post.  She knows no English, so I can’t pull the 900-year-old mother trick.  Perhaps I will get one someday.

So, take care, kick butt and take on any new adventure you may encounter.  This weekend is the Marine Ball.  MotherDear asked me to take lots of pictures of pretty women, and that I can do.

In a previous post, I spoke of the Brazilian Elections.  Today is the runoff with the two previous candidates and from what is coming in, Jair Bolsonaro has won the Brazil elections with 55% of the votes.  This is Brazil’s version of Donald Trump.

Most of the people I work with are elated.  The previous President is serving eight years in prison for extortion and it is his friend who ran against Bolsonaro, because the Court ruled he could not run for Office while still in prison.  The President before him was impeached on corruption charges.

As fireworks are going off all across this huge city, a pretty friend of mine texted me the message:

Im crying.  Its been a long time I dont feel so happy

I know how she feels.

Brazil had its presidential elections last Sunday.

It was most interesting as elections all over the world are different from ours.  Brazilians are very passionate about most everything, and it shows.  The two top contenders, Jair Bolsonaro and Fernando Haddad have won the first round and will vie again on October 28th.  As of the last count I have seen, Bolsonaro had 46% and Haddad had 29.3%  If Bolsonaro had accumulated anything over 50%, he would have won, but since he didn’t, the run-off takes place.

Now, you have to understand in the US there are usually about 4 different parties.  Republicans, Democrats, Green Party and the Socialist/Communist party.  In reality, it is only the first two.  But in Brazil, I counted 13 different political parties.

Normally I would not pay attention to any of this, but a pretty friend of mine explained to me who stood for what.  I now understand Bolsonaro with his 46% of the votes is the Brazilian “Donald Trump”.  He is far right and promised to “drain the swamp”.  I am convinced he will win on the 28th, but it will take time to see if he can keep his promises.  Brazil has had decades of corruption in its presidency and I cannot believe Bolsonaro will be able to clean house.  It will be an interesting thing to see in the next few years.

A few interesting side notes:

1. In Brazil, you are required to vote or pay a fine.  My friend told me the fine is about equal to one US dollar.
2. On the day of the election, no alcohol can be sold.
3. As with the elections in the US, there is a lot of corruption involving the voting machines.

I will watch this closely, as my friend is very political and shared her interest with me.

D.

My good friend on the 14th floor, whose sink I severed my finger off in, has one of those strange little squat-body vacuum robots.  I was visiting her one afternoon when she showed it to me.  It was the cutest little thing but I thought, No way would it be of any use.  But just the fact it is a new movement in the technical area (on my ignorant level), I looked closer at it.

I ended up buying one since they have been on the market long enough to establish a good product.  The one I purchased from Amazon had the best reviews and price.  It is the DEEBOT.  Below is what it looked like after assembly.I sat it in its little charger home and a few days later decided to see if it was worth the purchase.  Using the remote control that came with it, I sent it off on its intended duty to clean the dining and living areas.  It took only a few minutes for it to get lost under the dining-room table amongst the chair legs.  I think it saw it as a dense forest.  So, I pulled all the chairs out so it will be able to finagle its way through.  Below is a video of it when it first comes alive. (one of the days, I need to figure out how to embed the videos directly into the post – if any of you little ones know how, please let me know)

Waking Up

And I like the way it will busily go about its work.  I like it going under the couch and love seat, looking for anything Camila missed while vacuuming.

Busy Busy

It took about an hour and then went back to its little charger home.  I picked it up like a flat little turtle and took it to the utility room and emptied its dust bin.  I was surprised what it had picked up on its task.  After only one run, it collected this:I am impressed and I will run it once a week.  I would fire Camila if this thing would empty the trash, clean the bathrooms, clean the kitchen and change the sheets on the bed.  Additionally, Camila is a bit better looking, as she like most Brazilians have cleavage.

But I like this little critter and will use it once a week.  … after Camila does her part.

Kick butt, go for any adventure Life puts in front of you, but remember ….  breathe.  D.