Our hearts break for the disaster victims and their families

Normally I do not include news stories or so-called “bad” stuff in my blog. Qualidade de Vida is meant to be a celebration of Brazil in all its manifestations, along with some story telling about Luiz and my life here.

But the horror of the floods and mudslides in the mountain communities not too far from our home makes me feel negligent in not acknowledging this tragedy.  Continuing with the happy dance that is my blog during this time seems to place me in a parallel universe.  It doesn’t feel right.

So I do want to mention that Luiz and I, along with our family and friends have been deeply moved by this tragedy (which continues as the rain still falls).  Some of our friends have family living in the affected areas who have been impacted, some horribly so.

You can visit this photo essay to get a greater understanding of how tragic this situation is.

This article offers a host of ways you can help with material aid or by making a bank deposit to an assistance organization.

Fresh Banana Mango Sorbet

Celebrating local ingredients here in Brazil begins and ends with fresh tropical fruit.  I've posted a recipe for a wonderful Banana Mango Sorbet over on Danielle's Cooking in Brazil blog which is a simple way to cool down on a hot summer night. 

This is a super-simple recipe for fresh sorbet – and you do not need an ice cream maker.

Go check it out.  Do you have a recipe to share?

Expat lending library online – come join us

When I previously asked if folks were into trading books in English with each other I got a number of positive responses from bloggers in various parts of Brazil.

Danielle had the great idea to open a shared Google Doc where we could each contribute a list of the books we have to lend/give away so that we maintain a current list without having to mess with group emails, etc.  She has generously created a spreadsheet with some guidelines for listing your books.

You must be invited to view the Books for Expats! document, which is easy.  Just send me your email and I will add you.  Then you can go to the virtual lending library, enter your books and perhaps request a book or books from others.  Some book owners may want the book returned when you are finished with it, others may not.

You will also see an instructions document to get you started.

This is a work in progress so any and all ideas to improve it are welcome.

To visit the library – just send me your email.

Happy reading!

New logo for the 2016 Olympics in Rio

The new logo for the 2016 Olympic games was unveiled during the New Year's Eve celebration on Copacabana Beach. I like it.

Here's the logo launch video.  The official website is pretty cool as well.

The pharmacy lottery

I may be repeating myself, but it is important to do some comparison shopping when it comes to buying prescription drugs at pharmacies here in Brazil.

One of the first things I noticed when I moved here was that there is a pharmacy on practically EVERY corner.  There are more pharmacies here in Niterói than there are Starbucks in San Francisco.  Seriously.  Every corner.

The really weird thing for my US sensibility is that the prices of normal prescription drugs vary WILDLY from pharmacy to pharmacy.  Really – WILDLY.

Recently I needed to fill a prescription for an anti-bacterial regimen drug, plus an add-on drug to seal the deal.

I went to 8 different pharmacies (partly because some did not have what I wanted in stock and partly to compare prices).

Complex drug number one varied in price from R$121 to R$165.

Simple drug number two varied in price from R$23 to R$56.

All were the generic versions of the drugs.

So in the end I paid R$144 (including a free delivery) rather than a possible R$221.  That’s a R$77 difference.  What’s up with that?

You gotta shop around.

Tickets for Rio’s Carnaval go on sale tomorrow

Think: Ticketron and Lady Gaga or Rolling Stones.

Tomorrow, beginning moments before 9:00 a.m., everyone we know will be hitting re-dial from all their phones trying to get through to the computers that will be taking ticket orders.  All of the available tickets for both Sunday and Monday’s big event (March 6th and 7th) will sell out in less than 10 minutes.

It’s always a frantic 10 minutes.  Busy, re-dial.  Busy, re-dial.  Busy, redial.

Each sector has its own phone number.  If the computer picks up here's how it goes (something to this effect): "You have reached the ticket agency for Rio Carnaval 2011.  Listen carefully.  Have a paper and pencil handy, as well as your CPF number.  You may reserve up to four tickets for Sunday, March 6th.  Please enter the number of tickets you wish to reserve, or press zero if you do not want any tickets for Sunday's event.  Please wait... You my reserve up to 4 tickets for Monday, March 7th.  Please enter...  Please wait.  Your order is confirmed...  Your reservation number is...  To pick up your tickets you must go to the Bradesco Bank office in Centro Rio on January 13 or 14 in Centro Rio... (and pay for them).  If you do not show up, your tickets will be made available to others who wish to purchace them."

While we all try to get tickets to attend, LOTS of people are trying to get tickets because they can be sold INSTANTLY upon exiting the Bradesco office where the ticktes are purchased for up to twice their value.

It’s always a crazy morning.  I’ll let you know how it works out.

UPDATE!!!  Luiz is a super lucky man!  We used our home phone and his cell phone to try and connect.  (My cell - I forgot to re-activate my chip for January so it was a dud.)  Luiz got through once and used his CPF to get 4 tickets for both Sunday and Monday, then he got through again and used my CPF to get 4 tickets for Sunday -- by that time all tickets for Monday were sold out.

Of the six other friends who were dialing for tickets this morning 3 of them got tickets as well!  So it looks like our entire group will be going. *happy dance*

Luiz's green thumb

Honestly, everything Luiz touches blooms (including me).

A few months ago he picked up a few "air plants" from the path in the neighborhood park.  They had apparently fallen from the branches above.  In true Luiz fashion he brought them home and created a little succulent garden on the outside window sill in the rear of our kitchen.

Now, the darker green plant on the left has sprouted a clone (see it in the front right of the container) and one of the air plants has popped out a huge pink flower.

Gotta love our Luiz.  He's got the magic touch.