Random Stuff

Yes, I am alive!

Yes, I know this blog looks abandoned!

Yes, I do care about it!

No, I don´t have time to come here all the time!

No, I did not abandone this blog!

And I will try my best to post some more from now on!!!

Here are some random old photos that for some reason I never deleted from my computer.

They´re all from last year while I was living in Memphis.

My comments on them will be as random so if you want to know more about this or that, just ask! -- I do bite but chances are I will not want to bite you.

 One Saturday night I was with friends and asked this one friend if the next morning he was going to Al Green´s church, he said no... ok
So next morning he´s knocking at my door and tells me I have 30 minutes to get ready because he had changed his mind and we were going to the church.
Yes, it is the same Al Green who got famous decades ago with nice romantic songs.... He´s been a priest/bishop for awhile now.
The service is something amazing! It´s like to be part of their group you must to know how to sing... they start preaching and then out of the blue they sing and it is so beautiful!!!
Al Green comes later and talks to us about the bible, about life, about how to behave, be a good person and "normal" church subjects.... He does sing! and I loved it! But don´t expect to listen to his old hits, these are all gospel songs that (I think) are not famous unless you´re a church goer.
You can take photos and record the service, many people did, I did! but the photos were all from a distance and not good quality (I have the decency to not bring a pro camera, took my photos with a cellphone).
Respect the place!
It is not a concert and even if you´re a fan he is there as a bishop/priest, not an artist.

After the church (from 11:30 to 2PM) my friend invited to go have lunch at China Inn (the place is close to the Al Green Church, on Elvis Presley Boulevard (around 5 minutes south of Graceland (yes, Elvis Presleys house)).

My first impression of the place: it needs Gordon Ramsey to come and give it a makeover! LOL

But there were lots of people in line, the place was packed!  I though: "these people like bad places, is the food that cheap or what?"

And this sign sayin the maximum staying is 2 hours... WTH?!

Ok, we got to a table and went to get our food at the buffet. There are two: Chinese food and Soul food (mine was 99% Chinese).

Ok, now the craziness starts: Their food is THAT good and I wanted to try everything they had. hahahah  Lucky me the Chinese side wasn´t so crowded, most people wanted the southern food, there was a line all the time I looked!

So me and my friend were there looking around and people coming and going and from where I was I could see that there was still a waiting line and we couldn´t stop eating. OH, my God!

At some poing I was like "ok, I get why the 2 hours maximum stay".

After eating till we couldn´t move we stoped at Graceland.... just because.

In Augsut there is a nice festival downtown called Memphis Music & Heritage Festival and even though I wasn´t really feeling festive (I was pretty heartbroken, that´s the truth) I decided to go..... and, yay, had fun!

Later that day a friend asked me if I wanted to help and work/volunteer for the Center for Southern Folklore.

My job: sell beers.

Oh, how much I needed all the laughs....

This is one of the beers I sold

Wish it tasted like pecan.....

This beer tasted more like soy juice!

This one is from Mississippi.

 mmmm yummy

Earlier that same day I met a girl who were performing some Brazilian songs.... since I am Brazilian I went there to congratulate her (well, also because he was really good).

Instant friendship(to months later I find out the girl is a nut case (worse than me!)).

This is part of her outfit.... 

I had to try it on, of course ;)

I don´t even know why this was here on my computer....

but I agree 100%

 Got this at Dragon China, a (I´m sorry) bad Chinese restaurant in Midtown.

I think the place is closed by now (can´t believe it would last much longer, it was that bad :/ ).

 

Dry white wine, my favorite (not necessarily this brand).

I got it because we would have an evening full of shooting stars and my idea was to sit in my backyard and have some fun watching the sky.

lol I remember the Friday afternoon when I opened it.... two hours later I drank it all and was happy/drunk.

And talking about cheap stuff, here is a classic good one.

The moon behind a nice art piece at Overton Square.

I miss it that place :(

 

The Rainbow Lake.

I took this photos to send to this guy I was dating - or hanging out, or making out, or fucking or whatever; in the end he didn´t want a "real" relationship.

I love that area of Overton Park anyway.

 I miss "my park" so much!!!!

All the trails

and you can also get lost in there... to "find" yourself surrounded by amazing spots.

 

This was my backyard in a heavy rainy day

also my porch, flooded.

I am telling you, it rained a lot!!! the drains weren´t as fast as the rain. Was I desperate?! 

Never saw it "in person", just on the news/movies.... then I had water up to my ankles and it was right in front of my door :/ 

Could this post be more random than now I post a photos of the ceiling of Shelby Foote´s bathroom?

It looks like a circus tent, I like it ;)

 If you´re downtown go see the sun setting, it is gorgeous!!!

These were taken from a patio in the back of the Cecil Law School; you can sit there and admire the view ;)

 

 Again, random stuff...

This goes well with the news I got today.

Goodnight.

"Four candles" by The Two Ronnies

Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett had the show "TheTwo Ronnies" from 71 to 87, I´ve seen so many but no doubt "Four candles" is my favorite!
The best part is, no matter how many times I watch it, even reading the script, I still have a hard time understanding... and I love it!!!!!!!

And because it really is hard to understand, here is the script; enjoy ;)

 In a hardware shop. Ronnie Corbett is behind the counter, wearing a warehouse jacket. He has just finished serving a customer.
CORBETT (muttering): There you are. Mind how you go.
(Ronnie Barker enters the shop, wearing a scruffy tank-top and beanie)
BARKER: Four Candles!
CORBETT: Four Candles?
BARKER: Four Candles.
(Ronnie Corbett makes for a box, and gets out four candles. He places them on the counter)
BARKER: No, four candles!
CORBETT (confused): Well there you are, four candles!
BARKER: No, fork 'andles! 'Andles for forks!
(Ronnie Corbett puts the candles away, and goes to get a fork handle. He places it onto the counter)CORBETT (muttering): Fork handles. Thought you said 'four candles!' (more clearly) Next?
BARKER: Got any plugs?
CORBETT: Plugs. What kind of plugs?
BARKER: A rubber one, bathroom.
(Ronnie Corbett gets out a box of bath plugs, and places it on the counter)
CORBETT (pulling out two different sized plugs): What size?
BARKER: Thirteen amp!
CORBETT (muttering): It's electric bathroom plugs, we call them, in the trade. Electric bathroom plugs!
(He puts the box away, gets out another box, and places on the counter an electric plug, then puts the box away)
BARKER: Saw tips!
CORBETT: Saw tips? (he doesn't know what he means) What d'you want? Ointment, or something like that?
BARKER: No, saw tips for covering saws.
CORBETT: Oh, haven't got any, haven't got any. (he mutters) Comin' in, but we haven' got any. Next?
BARKER: 'O's!
CORBETT: 'O's?
BARKER: 'O's.
(He goes to get a hoe, and places it on the counter)
BARKER: No, 'O's!
CORBETT: 'O's! I thought you said 'O! (he takes the hose back, and gets a hose, whilst muttering) When you said 'O's, I thought you said 'O! 'O's!
(He places the hose onto the counter)
BARKER: No, 'O's!
CORBETT (confused for a moment): O's? Oh, you mean panty 'o's, panty 'o's! (he picks up a pair of tights from beside him)
BARKER: No, no, 'O's! 'O's for the gate. Mon repose! 'O's! Letter O's!
CORBETT (finally realising): Letter O's! (muttering) You had me going there!
(He climbs up a stepladder, gets a box down, puts the ladder away, and takes the box to the counter, and searches through it for letter O's)
CORBETT: How many d'you want?
BARKER: Two.
(Ronnie Corbett leaves two letter O's on the counter, then takes the box back, gets the ladder out again, puts the box away, climbs down the ladder, and puts the ladder away, then returns to the counter)
CORBETT: Yes, next?
BARKER: Got any P's?
CORBETT (fed up): For Gawd' sake, why didn' you bleedin' tell me that while I was up there then? I'm up and down the shop already, it's up and down the bleedin' shop all the time. (He gets the ladder out, climbs up and gets the box of letters down, then puts the ladder away) Honestly, I've got all this shop, I ain't got any help, it's worth it we plan things. (He puts the box on the counter, and gets out some letter P's) How many d'you want?
BARKER: No! Tins of peas. Three tins of peas!
CORBETT: You're 'avin' me on, ain't ya, yer 'avin' me on?
BARKER: I'm not!
(Ronnie Corbett dumps the box under the counter, and gets three tins of peas)
CORBETT (placing the tins on the counter): Next?
BARKER: Got any pumps?
CORBETT (getting really fed up): 'And pumps, foot pumps? Come on!
BARKER (surprised he has to ask): Foot pumps!
CORBETT (muttering, as he goes down the shop): Foot pumps. See a foot pump? (He sees one, and picks it up) Tidy up in 'ere.
(He puts the pump down on the counter)
BARKER: No, pumps fer ya feet! Brown pump, size nine!
CORBETT (almost at breaking point): You are 'avin' me on, you are definitely 'avin' me on!
BARKER (not taking much notice of Corbett's mood): I'm not!
CORBETT: You are 'avin' me on! (He takes back the pump, and gets a pair of brown foot pumps out of a drawer, and places them on the counter) Next?
BARKER: Washers!
CORBETT (really close to breaking point): What, dishwashers, floor washers, car washers, windscreen washers, back scrubbers, lavatory cleaners? Floor washers?
BARKER: 'Alf inch washers!
CORBETT: Oh, tap washers, tap washers? (He finally breaks, and makes to confiscate his list) Look, I've had just about enough of this, give us that list. (He mutters) I'll get it all myself! (Reading through the list) What's this? What's that? Oh that does it! That just about does it! I have just about had it! (calling through to the back) Mr. Jones! You come out and serve this customer please, I have just about had enough of 'im. (Mr. Jones comes out, and Ronnie Corbett shows him the list) Look what 'e's got on there! Look what 'e's got on there!
JONES: (who goes to a drawer with a towel hanging out of it, and opens it): Right! How many would ya like? One or two?
(He removes the towel to reveal the label on the drawer - 'Bill hooks'!) 

Buzios -- indo lá....

Ok, então que sabe quando você está tão cansada da sua vida ou com tanto problema, tem que tomar alguma decisão importante.... Está de saco cheio de tudo e fala:  'preciso sair daqui!'
Eu tenho isso  constantemente e minha última "escapada-viagem' foi pra Búzios (agora estou morando em São Paulo,  não sei por quanto tempo fico aqui, mas por enquanto ainda nessa cidade caótica, estressante, chata, feia mas que tem trabalho). Tem lugares lindos, claro, mas em geral, sinceramente me pergunto "porquê as pessoas gostam de Sao Paulo?" Alguns dizem "São Paulo não dorme" --ha! vem morar na periferia!!! Depois da meia noite tu não tem como sair daqui se não tiver de carro; andar na rua pode ser relativamente perigoso...... Não vou entrar em detalhes do que acho de Sao Paulo, embora lembro que uma vez, alguns anos atrás, numa das minhas muitas andanças eu estava pensando nas coisas que me agradam em SP e cheguei a conclusão de que gosto daqui - sáo não todo dia, todo o tempo..... Pra ser bem sincera, me desculpe os amantes de Sao Paulo, mas ô lugar feio. Ok, tem galerias, parks, museus, cantinhos lindos e acho bacana que cada vez mais e mais as pessoas têm e interessado em passear e explorar SP, por outro lado a cidade tem 20tantos milhões de habitantes..... é meio complicado!!!! e em geral o stress é tanto que eu TENHO que sair dessa cidade de tempos em tempos (e não me venham dizer que sou chata e estou errada, o número gigantesco de gente que foge de Sampa em fds ou feriados é absurdo, ou seja: MUITA gente sente o mesmo).

Post sobre Búzios! Foco em Búzios!!!!

Ainda no Rio, atravessando a ponte Rio-Niterói

Ok, nessa primeira parte é só pra falar do caminho para o tal paraíso ;)

Fui de ônibus de SP para Rio (aliás só voo se precisar, detesto voar!) = $78 e 6 horas de viagem.
Do Rio para Búzios = $45 e 3 horas de viagem.
Até onde sei apenas a viação 1001 faz o trajeto.

Ainda quero a casa no meio do nada..... Alguém aí me dá?!

--> Dica: tem dois preços diferentes nessas passagens pra Búzios, um de $45 e outro de $60. A diferença eu achava que era por conta de um ser ônibus-leito e o outro normal mas parece que tem mais a ver com o tipo de combustível.... de qualquer forma os ônibus saem da Rodoviária Novo Rio a cada duas horas e intercalam esses preços pra uma viagem que é a mesma então se tu quiser economizar (pra gastar com 2 cerveja no centro de Búzios ou 1 (sim, UMA) cerveja na praia (custa $10, nem adianta tentar encontrar mais barato, os caras fecharam acordo entre eles)....
Os ônibus não costumam atrasar muito e quando se chega na "rodoviária" de Búzios tem van ou ônibus num ponto bem ao lado, super fácil se locomover lá.

A rodoviária como se vê é um ponto de ônibus estilizado com dois banheiros químicos ao lado e é isso.
Não muda nada, é claro. Você desce ou sobe no ônibus e segue seu caminho..... é só pra te mostrar onde tu vai; muita gente desacredita porque o lugar não tem nada a ver com rodoviária mesmo.

Lembro que ano passado fiquei 1 semana em Búzios durante a Copa do Mundo e o escritório pra comprar passagem era diferente, agora não tem mais como ver o banheiro deles que quando pedi me deixaram usar (simplesmente me nego a usar banheiro químico!!!), agora tem uma dry wall entre as salinhas (e o banheiro) de trás e a parte que os cliente veem mas imagino que agora se alguém pedir eles vão dizer que não tem banheiro mas tem sim! (se vão fazer o favor de te deixar usar aí vai da sorte....).

 

 A rodoviária fica num lugar estratégico, de lá é fácil ira pra todo lugar..... Mas antes de chegar lá tu passa por cantos que tu vai até achar que são o ponto final mas calma, depois que se entra na civilização demora mais ou menos meia hora até o destino final.
Tu consegue ver o quadradinho na parte de cima à direita? Então, é ali que tu salta do ônibus.
Ok, o mapa esta amassado e as letras são pequenas, eu sei! Postei aqui só pra se ter uma idéia da parte 'turística' da cidade, repara que não é muito grande. Dali no quadradinho é 10-15 minutos andando ao centro.
A praia mais próxima é a da Ferradura, onde fiquei ano passado e também isitei dessa vez. Lugar calmo, praitcametne sem ondas, bem "familia e sossego". Se tu for em direção ao centro tem as praias mais cheias de turistas tirando fotos rsrsrs mas valem a pena também (algum dia, sabe-se lá quando, posto sobre as praias rsrsrsrs).

Se tu estiver indo à praia da Ferradura vai passar na frente do prédio da Prefeitura.... até 2 semanas atrás estavam com uma campanha de incentivo à leitura e vendendo livros por $2 cada :)

Comprei 5, nem fiquei feliz!!! :D

E na pracinha ao lado tem essa escultura toda colorida linda que, claro, fotografei :)

Ok, caso tenham dicas sobre Búzios e quiserem dividir, bóra falar sobre elas :)
Como eu disse em outroS postS falarei um pouco mais sobre a cidade.... um dia num futuro, espero, não muito distante.

Ciao

La Casona, Pizzeria & Cafe - Buenos Aires.

One word to describe the place: Dirty

I spent a week in Buenos Aires and one day after walking like forever I was tired and decided to have lunch in this place downtown Buenos Aires (Corrientes Avenue, a few blocks away from the Obelisco).... the outside of the restaurant looked good and, even though it was kinda empty, I thought it was maybe because it was a bit late for lunch...
I sat by the window and in a few minutes a waiter brought me the menu and I wanted ñoquis!!! I ordered gnocchi and melon juice.

You can´t really see but like I said the place was kinda empty....

Around 3-4PM I thought it could be because it was too late for busy lunch time, which at first was good, less people around.

Buuuuut the pasta was 'chewey" and dry.... I don´t know how they like it in Argentina so won´t complain on it, just say that I couldn´t finish and left the place still hungry.

 I still don´t know why I touched under my plate.... but to my surprise it was FILTHY!!!!

Not dirty from that morning, for example, it looked like that thing was like that for days :/

I called the waiter and nicely told him what I saw, he was kind and asked if I wanted something else.... -- Are you kidding?!?! 

With an extra polite voice I said no.... then he said "enjoy" -- Really?! He didn´t sound sarcastic or anything, it was like this happens everyday.

I asked for the bill and thought they´d give me a discount, a "sorry" note or anything... but nothing.

After paying I went to the manager to tell him about the problem, he got angry at me!!!!

It was like I was doing something wrong -- Not kidding!

NOT to my surprise when reading about them on Trip Advisor I found out that the mess happens quite often and it can get even worse.

Do yourself a favor and try another restaurant.

Not that they were not good enough.... they were just not as good as they should

So these are from a photoshoot awhile ago.... photos that for some reasons (obvious reasons) were never used, wrong angle, shadows, hair on my face, outfit not fitting.

But, hey!, I like blurry photos! and the one missing my head - wow!

I see beauty in weird things.

Ernerstine & Hazel's, Memphis- TN