May 20, 2008

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yeah, I've been seriously MIA for a whiiiile. I've got many irons in many fires....more on that later......meanwhile, back at the ranch....

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Yes, I know my friends love me...because they abuse me so......

...anyway - spread love...and holla back at the Birthday Girl (er, given the black balloons, I guess I mean woman) ;)

Posted by saga_30311 at 12:37 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

April 30, 2008

Marketing 102 - Branding Yo Dayum Self

whispering.women_small2.jpgI gave the introduction to this a long time ago - if you missed it, go read Marketing (ya dayum self) 101: the intro.

I alluded to discussing my volunteer work in more detail - again, I'll recount my volunteer project in another post. I really wanted to share some things I learned the other day as part of one of my volunteer activities for Dress for Success.

As part of a professional women's group seminar, Cheryl Scales, of DSG Solutions Group and Magnificent Women shared her presentation on "The Power of Personal Branding". Her background's in corporate marketing – she was an Associate Director at Proctor and Gamble & Marketing Director at Delta Air Lines, Princeton Grad, etc. But now she does motivational speaking, has been on ABC's American Inventor, she's a Personal Branding Guru, proponent of entrepreneurship etc – see her website at http://www.cherylscales.com/.

Her presentation focused on creating your personal brand, and using it in whichever environment/forum you choose (corporate to climb the ladder, or entrepreneurship to start/promote your business).

So – I wanted to share the key points I got out of her presentation, as well as from Tarona and Dina of DonationNation08 (blogged about them on Monday). Their keypoints:

Yeah, I'm bringing a lot of things that men want, and some bonus things (a lil financial stability, some book-knowlege, and some very ambitious goals that I'd like to achieve) as well. So...is the problem just me? Or them? Or both.

mrRight:: I remember now - it was the "Perfect" guy. The proverbial one that got away. He was the jump off as to why I wanted to throw in the towel. See, I met this guy...and he fulfilled every requirement on the mental list of requirements I keep and use to look for in a potential mate. Not just the ones that would make a date decent, but the ones that make for a potential life partner. Smart, funny, educated, intelligent, ambitious, goal-oriented, compassionate......and he wasn't interested in me at all. Well, a lil - but not enough to get to date #2.

I wasn't so much discouraged after this, as I was focused on getting myself together in preparation for meeting Mr. Right, part deaux. Because I wasn't ready for mrRight, and if I came across another guy like him...I wanted to be ready.

andNow:: Now I am discouraged. I'm frustrated. I'm disappointed. I'm bitter. I'm jaded. And I'm disgusted. Both at myself for allowing certain men to treat me badly, but also at those men for being rude, disrespectful, demanding, controlling, and just...angry. Angry at me for every thing I've accomplished..pissed about my degrees, pissed at me about my job, and just trying their damnedest to minimize me, to turn down my shine, so that they could take advantage of me. Yes, this pissed me the *F* off. I love black men, don't get me wrong. But I'm really f*cking tired of searching for reasons to like them.

I'm done. F*ck them. I've been out here like Diogenes, searching for an honest man. But F*ck it, I'm done.

*licks thumb and fingers, and puts the light out*

ETA: more random thoughts on the matter......

The most common denominator is me, of course. But other than that - these men have issues with women and control, and issues with women who are independent. It's funny, because that seems to cut across education, intellect, background, regional differences, career, etc. There are exceptions, of course - but the one thing I'm finding most common is that they feel threatened/rejected/frustrated by black women who have their shyt together, and threatened/rejected/frustrated by the overall culture in which we all dwell. I hear them complain about marriage being a form of financial bondage, or that women in general are all confused by their financial independence and won't let a man "take his proper place as the head of the household", or that black women undermine men, or are always beating black men up, or are too busy for a "real" relationship or to be supportive to his goals, or ....they're just not interested in commitment, because there are "too many single women out here to just settle down with one". I think that sums up most of the generalities.

myExpectations:: I don't expect anything up front, other than to hang out and have a good time, and get treated with respect. But in a lot of cases, I get disrespect. Completely stood up, or attacked about my schedule and finishing school, accused of cheating (? I'm not in a committed relationship, so I don't even know how that's possible?) or lying about studying, attacked for being too headstrong / independent....etc. I've even argued (heatedly discussed) whether it's feasible for a woman "like me" (black, over 40, never married, with kids) to expect to get married, given the "statistics" about the number of black men in jail, on the DL, already married, etc.

I keep meeting men with ISSUES - gigantic, Louis Vuitton footlocker baggage, and their entire goal seems to be to meet women, denigrate them, then use their exposed insecurities to manipulate them. And when I call these men on their BS - I'm a bytch who will never find someone who lives up to my expectations.

Dating just isn't fun anymore. I don't have any desire to "cross over to the other side"....So - I'm taking some time off, before my frustration becomes a healthy dislike for the object of my affection - namely the black man.

Posted by saga_30311 at 01:28 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack

September 29, 2007

the 101 tasks in 1001 days finale

Start date: January 1, 2005.
End date: September 29, 2007.

The Mission: Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).


  1. lose 10.1 lbs by Feb 1 2005 * updated 2/6/05 and lose 101 lbs by the end of the 1001 days.

  2. drink a gallon of water a day.
    3. * updated 9/29/07 I can/have done this, but this is an ongoing WIP.
  3. get at least 6 hours of sleep a night, every night for 30 days* updated 4/8/05

  4. get my belly pierced
    5. This one just doesn't need to happen. Ever. LOL.
  5. get my GPA above 3.5.
    6. * updated 9/29/07 Yeah, it's there for good ;-)
  6. exercise, 3X/week. for 2 months.
    7. This hasn't happened, although it REALLY needs to. New target = post graduation (Dec '07)
  7. take a vacation, sans resident vagrants
    8. * updated 9/29/07 You did see the posts about Rio, right?
  8. get a passport, and a stamp in it
    9. * updated 9/29/07 See above.
  9. practice punctuality for 30 days* updated 10/11/05

  10. practice celibacy until I get into a serious relationship.* updated 4/8/05

  11. foster & forge relationships with normal women* updated 10/11/05

  12. buy a house
    13. * updated 9/29/07 done Dec '05. And I love my house...lol.
  13. buy a dog. after i buy the house.
    14. Not gonna happen. My house is already like having another mouth to feed...lol.
  14. host a clothes swap* updated 10/11/05

  15. take my new, tagged clothes to the consignment shop* updated 10/11/05

  16. get my own personal closet space down to 1 walk-in closet, incl. shoes
    17. Whew, this isn't going to happen either...lol.
  17. get everyone else's shyt out of my house.
    18. * updated 9/29/07 And can I just say it felt good as SHYT to accomplish this one?
  18. get Hammy into a better after-school program
    19. I opted to try and make the after-school program better. It's a WIP.
  19. workout some kind of visitation schedule with Hammy's sperm donor.* updated 10/11/05

  20. go fishing on a fishing boat
    21. Pass - I think the helicopter ride trumped this though.
  21. end this JC business once and for all.
    22. * updated 9/29/07 Done. More on this in the next post.
  22. send thank you's to: all my godmothers: real, fake & spiritual
    23. I still need to do this.
  23. design AND sew myself one fabulous, to die for outfit
    24. No time. Again, post-graduation.
  24. re-learn to knit & crochet. make one wearable item for someone else
    25. See above.
  25. get porcelain veneers for my front teeth. and some whitening. and caps.
    26. See above.
  26. emote my inner diva with: full makeup, "done" hair, and fake eyelashes.
    27. * updated 9/29/07 Done, and it was Nice...
  27. contribute to my 401K plan * updated 2/6/05

  28. take advantage of the company discounted stock purchase plan * updated 2/6/05

  29. diversify my portfolio
    30. Not done. I'm opting for an exit strategy instead.
  30. create a budget every month - and stick to it
    31. WIP
  31. plan all my purchases, even the so-called 'impulse' buys
    32. I could lie, but this needs work. Badly.
  32. brownbag my lunch for 30 days straight * updated 2/6/05

  33. take a trip to NY
    34. * updated 9/29/07 This has been done a few times. I love & miss NY.
  34. mend the ties that bind my family to the sperm donor's family * updated 2/6/05

  35. reestablish relationships with the:PR Princess, orig. Nerd & G-hetto family
    36. Not done. I'm opting not to do it.
  36. spend < 1 hr daily farting around on the web, outside of work & school related stuff.* updated 10/11/05

  37. register my own friggin domain * updated 2/6/05

  38. quit the safe, stable full-time gig, and do some risky, yet more profitable consulting work
    39. WIP
  39. routinely volunteer 8 hrs/month to various worthy causes
    40. * updated 9/29/07 and this was well worth the lack of sleep, etc. I learned that being socially conscious is very important to me.
  40. get a tribal tattoo. from my tribe. and know exactly what it means.
    41. Pass. Too old for this.
  41. figure out what tribe I'm from, if I even have one.
    42. the human tribe. Next.
  42. have semi-regular (bimonthly) dinner parties, and invite my closest friends
    43. Whew, I blew this one big-time. I've gotten rid of most of the closest friends I was referring to. Don't feel bad though...it was a good thing.
  43. buy some real dinnerware & flatware that I like
    44. * updated 9/29/07 Done.
  44. take a series of colonics & cleanse my colon (I know, TMI)
    45. Still need-to-do.
  45. purge myself of my sugar & chocolate addictions* updated 10/11/05

  46. take up a healthy vice, like social drinking
    47. * updated 9/29/07 and I think it's travel.. Me likee to travel much.
  47. make a hair commitment, either nappy or non-nappy, and stick with it. * updated 2/6/05

  48. get in touch with the brother that I don't know
    49. Pass.
  49. visit the remnants of family I have left
    50. Pass.
  50. fulfill my romantic ballgown, chignon & waltzing in moonlight fantasy.
    51. definitely PASS.
  51. raise my performance eval. score at the current gig by at least 10% w/in 1 year.* updated 10/11/05

  52. familiarize myself with wines & their proper use
    53. WIP.
  53. practice diversity at work
    54. * updated 9/29/07 Done, but I prefer being k-solo. I'd rather remain an enigma.
  54. learn the art of networking from either EJ or E (the masters)
    55. Pass.
  55. obtain a big screen tv (notice I didn't say buy...)
    56. Pass.
  56. wear a 2-piece swimsuit
    57. HA! Definitely pass.
  57. pay off 1 department store charge, and 1 credit card* udpated 4/8/05

  58. get the other cards below 40% of their available credit limit* udpated 4/8/05

  59. go 7 days without any road rage incidents: no tailgating, flashing my brights, cutting people off, or driving > 80MPH. And get rid of the traffic-induced Turrette's syndrome - I'm inadvertently teaching Hammy how to curse
    60. * updated 9/29/07 Music soothes the savage beast.
  60. teach Hammy to ride a bike
    61. WIP
  61. get Hammy out of any form of Pull-up, Goodnight or training pants
    62. * updated 9/29/07 this was a beautimous thing.
  62. practice random acts of kindness routinely
    63. WIP
  63. be more forthrightly honest - I must either keep phonies outta the inner circle, or keep it real.* udpated 4/8/05

  64. purge the evil bytch from my heart. Yes, this is measurable and defined.* udpated 4/8/05

  65. have my apartment repainted.

  66. incorporate monthly trips to bath & body works CVS (I can find decent knock offs) into the budget
    67. * updated 9/29/07
  67. buy a new hard drive
    68. WIP
  68. organize & backup all my music files
    69. WIP
  69. learn to play golf
    70. Pass.
  70. take a voice lesson, and put my inner Jill Scott to rest
    71. Temporarily pass.
  71. nurture houseplants at home, not just at work
    72. Pass - my thumb's too brown.
  72. take a dip in a jacuzzi
    73. * updated 9/29/07
  73. get over my aversion to seafood
    74. WIP
  74. give up pork completely
    75. WIP
  75. minmize other meats to once a day, then 2-3X/week, then occasionally
    76. WIP - I love Beef :-(
  76. normalize my iron & cholesterol levels thru nutrition, no supplements
    77. WIP
  77. get rid of my home phone, retaining my high-speed access & cell.
    78. WIP
  78. gather my home office space
    79. WIP
  79. listen to another genre of music foreign to me, like bluegrass, world music, country, etc.
    80. Pass - I still love hip-hop, neo-soul, reggae and R & B way too much to cheat on ...them (lol).
  80. expand my music library to really embrace hip-hop, r&b, and house.
    81. * updated 9/29/07 Thanks to Sirius, OkayPlayer, AllHipHop, SOHH, etc, etc....
  81. learn to merengue, and take my final in a lowcut salsa dress
    82. WIP, although I did a mean samba in south america.
  82. use the Twinz to solicit free drinks at Hairston's or the Tanqueray
    83. Pass - I'm over this.
  83. learn Spanish via instructional audio tapes
    84. WIP
  84. attend just 1 nat'l Blk-focused vacation event:Black Ski Summit, Essence Festival, etc.
    85. * updated 9/29/07 Does a Michael Baisden event count? Ok, how about the PhD Project conference? hm.....I'm counting it!
  85. take a continuing ed. photography class, blow up the best result & hang it in my house
    86. WIP
  86. regain my dancer's grace - take ballet lessons, again
    87. WIP
  87. find one relatively challenging but low impact home improvement project, and finish it, sans testosterone
    88. * updated 9/29/07 Now that I have a house, I've had a few, but painting was my favorite.
  88. institute self stress-relieving techniques for 30 days
    89. WIP
  89. take piano lessons
    90. WIP
  90. learn to play the guitar
    91. Pass.
  91. clip coupons & shop sales for everyday items & groceries for 3 months
    92. WIP
  92. learn to play spades confidently
    93. WIP
  93. sip mint juleps or mojitos on my porch
    94. * updated 9/29/07 But I opted for caiprnhas instead.
  94. make love on a beach at the edge of an ocean
    95. Pass.
  95. get a second job or sideline hustle
    96. WIP
  96. take a gambling trip
    97. Pass - this is so ova.
  97. figure out a way to get my domain/blog to make money* updated 10/11/05

  98. participate in the political campaign for a candidate I truly believe in
    99. Pass - I don't believe in any.
  99. attend a ball
    100. Pass.
  100. go horseback riding
    101. Have I done this? Let's make it a WIP - I'd like to do it again.
  101. learn to water ski
    102. WIP :-( I really wanted to do this one.

43% !!!!!!!!!!!! I'm really proud that I accomplished as many tasks as I did, since I thought when I made this list that a lot of the tasks were ambitious, and some were unreachable. The cool part IMHO, is that tasks that I thought were impossible (the passport and travel) were actually very much possible.

Funny, how writing something down and committing to it can make a task so much more achievable. Time to start a new list..but this one's for my use only ;-)

Posted by saga_30311 at 08:11 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

September 26, 2007

It's Over...?

I've fallen out of love with blogging.

I'm sorry for the extended absence, post-trip. I'm playing catch up on my real life here at home. Work, school, you know the drill. Graduation is right around the corner - December 15th, and my classes are the most challenging I've had in my academic career. My brain is getting more than its share of exercise.

Which brings me to my short and sweet point. it's time to make a decision: to blog, or not to blog - that is the question. Lately, I've felt like this whole site is an exercise in mental masturbation, with an audience (albeit, limited) to view it. I'm running out of things to talk about, namely because I'm focused like-a-laser-site at all things MBA. While that makes for stirring academic discussions, it's not post worthy.

And honestly - my colleagues are getting so much better at focusing on other things. Of course, EJFlavor's music is outta control, as is ToddKelley's and HoneySoul's. Fave's holding it down on the relationship front. HumanityCritic and LynneDJohnson hold down music and culture reviews. And Crunktastical is holding down celebrity gossip and culture. I could go on, but you get the idea.

And here I am, with a thousand things that I need to do (find a new gig, start a new biz, finish the two books I've started, raise my son, etc.) and what am I doing? Still trying to find my voice and carve out my own space with this blog.

Hmph. I'm unimpressed with my own performance, honestly. Not on some grass is greener (I love other blogger's, so it's not really envy), but because I cannot dedicate the time and effort I need to: a) maintain the site (my design is 2 years overdue), b) post as often as I'd like and c) provide you with the content I'd like to share.

So - on September 29th I'll update my 101 in 1001 - yanno, that list of tasks I took on 1001 days ago? I'll let you know how much I completed. And then - an indefinite hiatus. Maybe permanent. We'll see.

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:19 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

September 24, 2007

my Ray of Sunshine

ray_o_sunshine.jpgMy calendar has not been empty since I got back from Brazil, so I'm ecstatic.
*beaming*
It doesn't take much to make me happy, can you tell?

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:56 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 29, 2007

Study Abroad - Lessons Learned & Final Thoughts

Now, having put some time behind me - and with the day-to-day of being back squarely surrounding me...what did I really come away with? What could've been better? Worse? What could I have handled better? What did I really learn? Hm...I mean, I am a bad bytch, but other than that....

C.R.E.A.M. This I could definitely have handled better, but I know better next time. Traveling doesn't have to be super-expensive, but it does come with a price. Today's price...and it behooves one to find out what today's price is. Our student advisor suggested $XXX dollars would suffice for the entire trip, and I spent 3X that. Google is a tool, and I could've easily done my due diligence to find out how much money I really needed to take with me. The other thing is that I needed to have fund a-v-a-i-l-a-b-l-e, meaning if I didn't have cash: ATM, Credit Cards, a family member, good friend, supportive husband or financier would've sufficed. But I seem to have burned a lot of those bridges (for better, no doubt) in the last few months. I know better next time.

Speaken ze Portuguese? We were advised that fluency in foreign languages (or even a baseline of "how do I get to the bathroom?") isn't necessary for foreign travel. No, it's not necessary. But imagine being in the US, and trying, in broken Spanish, to ask the clerk making minimum wage at Mickey D's how to get to the bathroom - and their response. Psssht. Extend that to shopping malls, street vendors, policemen, cab drivers and the average person that bumps into you on the street. They were considerably more gracious in Argentina and Brazil than I imagine any US citizen would be. My advice: try to learn at least a little of the native language wherever you travel.

theREALRealWorld:: I could easily regale you with gossip...drunken nights, partying, drunken hookups, drunken clumsiness and injuries, folks getting pissed off and verbally berating each other - but then what would we learn? We've seen all this stuff often enough on TV, so there's no need** to recount the glory gossip details here. Suffice it to say that although the parties on reality shows always say "it's the editing", the producers can't edit in what didn't happen.

Hows-n-ever, I have to add that we (American people) are sorely lacking in communal spirits, and even in close quarters/circumstances such as these - it shows. I love my country, and it's people, but we are rather intolerant. Myself included. It's funny, because even 5000 miles away, racial/cultural lines/boundaries were drawn rather quickly. I'd like to try to do better in the future.

oh, and about that cultural sensitivity Opinions, views, perspective, behavior, frame of reference - they're all build upon a foundation of values, which are squarely subjective based on culture. This is not just International Business 101, but should be Human Rationale 101. We're all guilty of it, and subject to it. So given that, when encountering or engaging or a guest of someone from another country, in trying to communicate, get a point across, argue with, sway, convince, question, etc. - it's crucial to be culturally sensitive, and to keep the other person's viewpoint in mind. Our hosts were incredibly gracious in the face of comments, questions or behaviors that were very Western-centric and either (at least) vaguely annoying or (at worst) offensive. It's best to err on the side of cultural conservatism, and try very hard not to offend your audience/hosts.

Grace is a Virtue:: I *get* where the image of the angry, obnoxious, ignorant American comes from. I observed some of my colleagues, at one point or another:

Grace : the quality or state of being considerate or thoughtful; a charming or attractive trait or characteristic; a pleasing appearance or effect; CHARM; ease and suppleness of movement or bearing.

Gracious (ness): marked by kindness and courtesy; marked by tact and delicacy; URBANE; characterized by charm, good taste, generosity of spirit, and the tasteful leisure of wealth and good breeding.

You see the difference? Grace implies attractiveness. Resilience (in this instance) implies unattractiveness. Grace, gracefulness, graciousness, quietness, tact, charm, flexibility, courteousness, delicacy, consideration, thoughtfulness - would all be attractive, Virtuous qualities in this instance.

aside: as I live and breathe, being classified as Urbane will make me eternally grateful ;-)

capitalism Can have a conscience, and a cultural identitiy:: one of the things I noticed in both Argentina and Brazil was their communal spirit eeking out of the country's very pores. While in Rio, I noticed that identification with Rio, and the "Rio way of life" branded everything, and this colors the collective social conscious. There's no Ferreria Lexus, or de Souza Ford in Rio - its Toyota Rio, or Rio Mercedes, or McDonald's of Buenos Aires. It's all indicative of the companies' adapting to the local environment, not forcing customer to adapt to the company.

And on that note, I have to touch on the mom & pop-ness of a lot of South America's stores, shops and businesses. From massive companies like YPF/Repsol and TV Globo, to the leather "factories" on the Avenue Florida, to the street vendors in marketplaces, to the Regional Manager at Sendas... you got the distinct feeling that this business was also about family. The employees, owners, managers - all family. The took care of one another. And they took care of their customers. Profits are good, common good is better. It seems that's where their collective spirit comes from. I didn't know I missed this about the US, until I traveled.

It is a small world:: and humans are not all that different. From Rio to Buenos Aires, to the US to Colonia, to NY to Boston, To TX, to Venezuela, to California...we all love to love, to laugh, to enjoy life. It sounds really cliche, but it's true. So, sitting on Copacabana beach, or watching Brazilians toss a beach ball around on Copacabana beach in a Pepsi commercial - we're all connected, intertwined - and we should all treat each other accordingly. And I should be more tolerant of those who don't get that.

Other lessons:
I am a bad bytch, but that's a useful thing.
Traveling internationally is a strong possibility that can be a probability - this is completely within your grasp.
Every American should visit another country, and get some perspective on their own. That would definitely color your feelings about our foreign policies, and affect your vote accordingly.
The US could definitely stand to import some collective spirit and cultural values from its trading partners and its "immigrant populations", into its social conscience/conscious.

One other thing I learned: trying to keep a blog up to date while busy is pretty challenging. I want to thank you, kind readers, for bearing with me while I finished documenting this, and for your patience in allowing me to ramble on. I hope you enjoy reading these posts, as much as I enjoyed writing them. So now - back to my regularly, infrequent ramblings...lol.


**I could be persuaded to gossip at little - but you have to email me to persuade me. And send chocolate...lol.

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 17, 2007

Day 13 - Ipanema & Copacabana

Ahhhh...the Beaches. I look forward to chilling with no agenda, no rush, and no reason to do anything but lounge. With that in mind, I wake up late, eat a late breakfast, and lazily put on some water-tolerant gear to take in the beaches in Rio.

Rio 557Ipanema and it's Boys:: I was unaware of this before traveling to Brazil, but Rio has a healthy, active gay community - and it definitely has its markers. Now, Brazilians are pretty uninhibited, and very friendly, so as we walk and I ogle (a little), I'm struck by the beauty of the location, and how beautiful....wait, let me stress this...


BEAUTIFUL (bodies below the jump)

Rio 1475

...it was to admire Ipanema's boys. We also pass a travel agency that sells t-shirts, stating "I am the Boy from Ipanema" I almost want to meet one...lol. But these boys are not for me, so my companions and I decide to take a leisurely stroll, take in the sites, but move on to heterosexual waters.

Rio 485walking in Sunshine: and in 75 degree weather, Ipanema and Copacabana are about a 25 minute walk apart, so we hoof it from one beach to the next. On the way, we past stands selling coconut milk, beer, caiprinhas and empanadas, and lovely, lovely, LOVELY people. This was so different from Argentina, in that the people are open (instead of reserved), laid back, friendly and diverse. We'd noticed on previous occasions that the beaches are never really empty - even at 7AM, there are grandmothers running in the sand, rowers making laps, ad hoc volleyball games, soccer practice, and of course...the booties (more later).

We also pass through a residential area, where school children were about to take recess - on the beach. More street markets selling fresh sweet sop, papaya and mango. Newstands selling beautiful posters of Corcovado, shops selling the latest fashions and jewelry. Still geared for tourists, but it was good to get away from the malls, and shopping centers we'd been frequenting all week.

Rio 1370Copacabana:: ...and peace...sand...wind...sea...

I can't begin to tell you how serene and peaceful it was to just sit and drink in the sun. My companions went to explore, but all I wanted to do was sit & look at the water. And I did. ALL DAY.

A few things though: the vendors are really aggressive, and there are tons of vendors. From huge fresh shrimp, pre-skewered and ready for grilling, to every imaginable trinket/souvenir you can find. Jewelry made from raffia & beads, or agate, or other stones, leather jewelry, bikini's, cover-ups, towels, key chains, hats, sunglasses, visors, chairs....fruit, candy, cotton candy....anything you can possibly want, someone will come by trying to sell it.

Gaulo, the boy-toy:: Which is how I met my Brazilian boy-toy, Gaulo. Gaulo was selling necklaces made from black quartz, which were really pretty, and stopped to see if I wanted one. My poor Portuguese and his non-existent English only got us to the point of "No, Obrigado" (no, thank you), but he still hung around and tried to get us to meet in the Portuguese-Spanish middle. He found me "bonito" (beautiful), wanted to know if I was in Brazil "solo" (single) and if he could come by my "dormitorio" (hotel room) later on that evening. Dayum Gaulo - I guess you're not shy, eh? Despite Gaulo being perfectly sun-kissed, and having both skin, eyes and hair the color of tigers-eye: I had to decline. Gaulo was old enough to be my dad, and I wasn't sure if his offer required a "honorario/taxa" (fee).

Don't sleep, the sex trade is really serious in South America. We saw plenty of kids, in both Downtown Rio, Buenos Aires and in the favelas, both begging/tricking people for money, as well as offering themselves. Young boys, 8-10 yrs old. So, I was more than a little wary of whether Gaulo's affection was real/free, or came at a price. Either way, I enjoyed the attention, and Gaulo made sure to kiss me on both cheeks, before he left.

And no, he did not give me a necklace - damnit.

Rio 1485later....:: my colleagues catch up after Gaulo leaves, and we walk about to Ipanema, and pick up a few souvenirs along the way. I'm most fond of this wrap that was left over from the recent Pan American Games 2007 held in Brazil, so I made myself a shrug, and used it to keep myself warm.

Am I fly ova here, or what? lol

All told, this was the perfect way to end a pretty much excellent vacation - even if it wasn't truly a vacation...lol. We grab empadas on the way back, and head to the hotel to get ready for our night flight back to Atlanta.

more Nekkidness?Oh wait - did I promise more nekkidness? Well, here's the thing....Brazilians are not shy, but I felt like a real perv taking pictures of semi-naked sunbathers. Let me say this, the people are beautiful, but they aren't all supermodels waiting for Pharrel and Snoop to sing about them. I saw everything from bold grandfathers, to bikini-clad grandmothers - some of whom have all the right "stuff" sitting up as high and perky as is exercise-diet-and-surgically possible, feel me? It's nothing to them to wear a thong while they're out swimming with their kids and grandkids, and frankly - it was pretty refreshing.

Next up: why I should've spent ALL my money, and transitioning back (or why I'm still looking cross-eyed at my neighbors).

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 15, 2007

Day 11 - Petrobras & BACEN

UGH - life has me hemmed up....I'm playing catch up again. I started 6 posts like 2 weeks ago, and am just now finishing them. The full story is below the jump, along with my trouser sock obsession.

Rio 397Petrobras:: Back to the schoolwork, we still have planned company trips to attend to. So, we're scheduled to visit Petrobras, the Brazilian oil refinery, and a direct competitor of YPF/Repsol of Argentina. So this visit is to really contrast the companies, and get Brazil's take on their industry position, etc.

Now, after yesterday's festivities I gotta be honest - my brain has kinda checked out. Yeah, I'm an MBA, and I have an interest in technology, and development in emerging economies, but I also like fun. Knowledge is great, but I'm daydreaming of helicopter rides and caiprinhas....lol. But I'm also distracted by the fact that a sister is BR-IZOKE, and after yesterday's little subway fiasco, I'm focused on getting that taken care of.

But the Jokester is here to entertain us - see pic at left. He's one of our tour guides for Petrobras, and speaks NO English at all. What he does speak is the international language - love! Yes, he's quite the charmer, flirting with the students, managing to crack jokes in Portuguese and Spanish, and overall keeping us engaged. He's a few months from retirement, and plans to expand his music business immediately after. There you see him hugging his imaginary girlfriend ;-)

The one thing I do observe at Petrobras, is that while the Brazilian work ethic is very different from what we typically consider "American", it's no less thorough, or business savvy. Though laid-back and jovial during our tour, they're very knowledgeable about their industry and competition. And we're seriously overdressed in our business casual, compared to their jeans, t-shirts and sweats, we seem much more appropriate for a refinery. However, it's never clearer than when we join them in the cafeteria for lunch, and we see their recycling stations, and feedback mechanisms. They actually have a rating system where employees can electronically rate how their lunch was, based on smiley faces. :-D is great, :-) is good, :-| is okay, :-( is poor, and then you can add comments, and submit - all while you're dumping your trays and tossing away your recycled bottles/cans/paper. My multibillion dollar global company employee company can't even get the recycling part right....lol.

From there, we travel back to downtown Rio, and stop briefly by the Cathedral do Brasil. It's beautiful, and sorta decaying, but we barely have time to pose for pics, before we're off to our next stop....



Rio 468

Banco do Brasil::We have a planned visit to the Central Banco do Brasil. We expect another economic overview, discussion of their financial crisis, fiscal responsibility, and measures that they're taking to stabilize the economy. Yes, it's all thrilling stuff here!

Don't let the headiness of the topics fool you, this visit is major. The Banco do Brasil is the equivalent of the Federal Reserve, and responsible for setting/directing Brazil's monetary policy. So when it's deputy director spoke with us about hedging for currency fluctuations, the accumulation of reserves to offset economic downturns, inflationary spending vs. accumulating those reserves, etc - it is major. Yes, I was listening intently...

...Even as my mind is still on my br-i-zoke-ness, and handling my financial biz. I mention to our other host that I need to make a Western Union payment, and he mentions very casually that he'd like to do what he could to help.

The next thing I know I'm shepharded into a private branch of the bank, reserved for employees. After taking my information and my passport, I'm assured that I will have no difficulty being helped...and then I'm invited back to my presentation, to have coffee and cookies, and wait for my gracious host to handle my request. No lines, no numbers, no waiting. So, I return to the presentation....and....

10 minutes later, my host comes back with a few forms to sign...and my cash. In hand. Along with an apology for yesterday's fiasco. And a little extra bonus cash, thanks to the fluctuating exchange rate. Nicccce.

thePowerofRelationships:: What happened, you ask? I benefitted from the power of relationships, and relationships are the fuel that drives non-Western society. One day, I'm just some silly American, unfamiliar with the way things work in a foreign country. But with the right relationships, the next day, I'm an honored guest from a prestigious university, that happens to have a long-standing relationship with the Central Bank of Brazil, and who may work for a company that does business in Brazil. You feel me? I've never been one to put much stock in the whole "who you know" notion, but I truly understand and appreciate that the world, particularly outside the US, works exactly that way. I've definitely got to work out my networking-using-relationships muscle.

Buenos Aires 430myTrouserSockObsession:: No, I do NOT have a foot fetish, at ALL. But I will say that the deputy director of the Banco do Brasil struck me as really sexxy, as did the deputy director of the Central Bank of Argentina, even though he was a shawty (< 5'7", and I'm 5'8"). So, my female companions and I were trying to figure out what it was.....


companion1:: He's too short, you're on your own with this one....
companion2:: The other guy was way cuter, that pink shirt was working for me, even though I hate men who wear pink.
me:: He was cute, pink shirt and all.
companion1:: Yes, he was - but he was well put together. From the shirt, suit, shoes...even the cuff links. I love a man that's well put together...
me:: see, you're a woman after my own heart. I love a man who can pull off a serious set of cuff links.
companion1:: Yesss!!
companion2:: And their clothes fit so well, that European fit, kinda slim, but not tight? Yum!
companion1 & me (in unison):: Yesss!!
companion2:: But I still don't see what you see in his short guy here....
me:: yo, did you peep his Trouser Sock game.
companion1 & companion2 (in unison):: What???!!
me:: I am a sucker for a guy in a mean pair of Trouser Socks.
companion1:: Here again, you're on your own with that one....

I know, I know...but I'm saying , if you can pull off a distinctive, but non-flashy/non-fruity trouser sock (a nice small disparate paisley perhaps?), with your (of course) mean suit, shoes and cuff links...*sighs*. I'll melt, I swear.

And don't throw in a hat. A nice small-brimmed Dobbs, or a Bailey...*swoons*

Whew. But I digress. Next up: why every brazilian household has a maid, volunteering abroad, and SAMBA!

...oh, and yes there will be partial nudity. Stay tuned....lmao.

Posted by saga_30311 at 11:06 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack

August 14, 2007

Day 10 - Sugarloaf & US Consulate

Helicopters, cable cars and an Angela Bassett look-a-like: oh my?!

Rio 384Sugarloaf:: it pays to know someone who's traveled to your destination, because they're sure to hip you to the best places to eat