Today started unreasonably early: I had to get up at 5am to go to the dermatologist (leave house by 6/6:30 and arrive at the dermatologist at about 7:10, be attended at 7:30).
Well... I laugh in the face of whatever it is Brazilians (let me be fair and say 'Paulistanos' instead - what we call people from São Paulo) call "punctuality". We were seen to at about 9:30.
From far, the doc seemed pretty sullen. She had a face that made me think someone must have forced a lemon down her gullet. When I got into her little office, she still had a straight face, kept saying "hmmmm!" (I swear it sounded like she was plotting something!), but she seemed fairly interested in me as a person and made me feel comfortable. Nice lady, however sullen she looked. Made me think - Never judge a book by its cover (even though many a time judging the book by its cover has found me a really good read - or avoided a bad one).
Went to get the stuff the doc perscribed, the lady behind the counter gave me MORE than i'll ever need (wonder if she thought I had to treat my whole body + someone elses?).

Mom and I stopped at the petstore on our way back home to buy some dogfood and treats for the cat and dogs... Heidi (the bird) Still has treats 'n what not.

Anyway... Mom found this site where they custom make teddybears out of things that mean a lot ot you (a special shirt or tie or something) and suggested that they cut up my old scout uniform for something like that.. I 'bout freaked! So mom and I made a bet, if I could still fit into my Scout uniform, she'd owe me a big bobs ovomaltine milkshake with extra toppings (and I wouldn't lose my uniform).. If I didn't, I'd have to get the big bobs ovomaltine milkshake with extra toppings for us (and I would have made sure I *still* didn't lose my uniform, lol).
Mom now owes me a milkshake ;D
My uniform felt so stiff... I haven't worn it in 3+ years. I still have my patrol leader badge on, my first aid badge and all that other stuff... But I was pretty sad at how stiff it was feeling... I ended up putting the whole thing on, not just the skirt (yes omg, me in a skirt! Please don't faint! LOL). Took a few trips down memory lane when I saw myself in the mirror with my uniform on, and even more when i opened my pockets and found my hankerchief, scout cards and an old copy of my ID.

Later on, mom showed me a picture of someones son on her friendslist who did kenjutsu in Japan (please note: jealousy written all over my face, LOL!). I took a look at a few kenjutsu videos on youtube and went down memory lane all over again... I often fight with myself... I will get my black belt in Aikido (and hopefully my Dans after that ), that I already know. I would like to get my black belt with my old sensei, poor guy will probably be canonised after I've been through his dojo... I lost count of the amount of times he told me to stop talking/laughing and train harder (I was later told that he said I have a good future in aikido, that's why he was stricter with me than with the others). But in my heart of hearts, I want to get my black belt in Japan... Obviously I'd have to spend a year or more there to get that, but I think it'd be awesome! I'd better start saving, lol.

Just a little something before I leave:

Don't leave me alone!
A cry in the night,
Of anguish heart-striking
If soul-killing right.

Live for my living
Or else I must die
Don't Leave me alone
A world heard that cry
                Menolly's song to Brekke
                (Stolen from Anne McCaffrey's "Dragon Riders of Pern series)

Ja, oyasuminasai, minna-san ^_^                 

SHE Samurai

Standing out in the freezing snow,
Laden with heavy overcoat,
Holding a single red rose…
Tears of strength pouring down her face
Tears of achievement,
Tears of happiness

A katana is only as powerful as the
Samurai who uses it
Soon it will be spring,
The cherry blossoms will be all over
Soon all the children will be
Running out of doors
Laughing and playing

The wind playing with her long, black hair
The snow falling fresh on her eye-lashes
She has completed her task
She went through it all…
The pain, the suffering
Cold, despair, death
But she was here now

The katana laid to rest
Peacefully in it’s sheath,
Her skills no longer needed,
Her heart at peace with the world
Like a ghost she disappears,
The red rose left lying on the soft, white snow

The wind plays an eerie tune through the trees,
All that passion, hate, suffering and love
Laid to rest somewhere, forgotten forever…

All the strength and courage left its mark,
Somewhere in old Japan…

Our family has a little joke going...
Here in Brazil, it's rather rare to hear people speaking fluent English in the streets, but whenever we go out as a family (or even just two of us) we always speak English.
Of course, because it's sort of rare to hear English here, people always turn and stare, or have their ears out on stalks for a "free English lesson". So mom and I usually joke about our second heads.

If you speak English in the street, you're a freakshow, if you have two heads.... You catch my drift, I'm sure. Some times we tell them "No photos please, and autographs are tomorrow!" Sort of depends on our moods.. Some times mom and/or dad switch to Afrikaans and really throw our eavesdropper/s. When they do that, I can only giggle and nod and answer in English (I only understand some Afrikaans, and I definitely don't speak it - wish I did). It really confuses people.

Usually we get really good laughs out of it. Anyway...
Yesterday I went out on my own to get some things bought and ready for *whispers something inaudiable so that mom won't find out what it's for* (after all, a surprise is a surprise, isn't it? ). I hurried through my purchases, like I do every time I go out on my own, sat down a while to scribble something down in my notebook/journal, then rushed off to the bus stop to wait for the bus. Didn't take too long for the bus to come rumbling down the hill and I got on, payed, and made my way to the back. I was close-ish to home, when I decided to phone mom and ask if she wanted anything from the "village".

Me: *takes out cell, flips it open, dials moms cell & waits for her to pick up*
Mom: "Ya, hi?"
Me: "Hi mom..."
*girl in front of me whips around (I'm sure she got whiplash), checks herself mid spin-around and looks forward again*
"Is there anything you need from the village?" *girl in front of me looks around again, sort of bewildered then looks forward again*
"I'm going to stop at the post office, so I was wondering if there was anything you needed"
*girl in front of me, obviously still shocked half turns around again*
Mom: "No, I don't think so... It's ok"
Me: "Ok, see you in a bit then." *girl in front of me checks herself this time, just as she starts turning around, she stopped*
Mom: "Cya"
Me: *hangs up*

Then I did something I probably shouldn't have... I think I embarassed the girl no end.. Leaning forward slightly, as I was standing behind her, says I in a stage whisper (just loud enough so that the middle-aged lady sitting next to her, and the tall guy standing next to the other lady could hear it too, and in Portuguese): "Don't worry, just because I speak English, it doesn't mean I have two heads".
Girl: *Stare!*
Girl: *Turns around and makes sure she doesn't move her head at all for the rest of the trip*

When I got off the bus, the girl didn't look out the window, nor did she look anywhere else. Her gaze was Stuck. In. Front. Of. Her. I couldn't stop laughing!! I'm sure the people around me thought I was quite crazy, but it was so funny!
Mom said it was mean. I do hope I can be forgiven my little 'sin'.  And I'm pretty sure the girl learned her lesson too.. LOL!