I swear I have the biggest teeth in the world but I still like this picture — it means a lot to me! This photo was taken with one of my oldest friends while I was in Brazil. I have known Paula since we were in 3rd grade. We were at the mall shopping together (she’s a fashion stylist so there’s no better shopping companion) and we decided to check out the arcade area where we spent many hours flirting with guys when we were eleven or twelve. That’s when we saw this photo booth and thought we should get our pictures taken. The only problem? The photos could only be printed in the style of famous painters. It was hilarious! So we went with Leonardo who seemed to be the least strange in terms of his strokes (Joel, don’t go there).

Cindy will relate to this one, it reminds me of the Flip the Bird feature from Kodak Sweden (I think that’s where it was from). I was reviewing a portfolio today for a German designer. He had links to his digital work and links to his traditional fine art work. The label for the latter one? "Hand Job".

I’m one of those people who hates cutesy ring tones on cell phones. I once shared an office with a designer who had the worst ring tones on her phone. And it was the kind that would get progressively louder with each ring. Well, I have now crossed over to the other side. Apparently, everyone now has the same cell phone I have. And it has become increasingly harder to be able to tell when my phone is ringing. So I’ve decided to go native.

I have this work thing on Saturday at SFMOMA. It’s a celebration for finishing this year’s release. The party sounds great but I hate these coupley affairs when I have no one to bring. Most of the guys I date wouldn’t make suitable dates for work things. So my married Italian friend said he would go with me. And he’s the perfect Plus One. He’s tall and handsome and super smart and charming. But I have to wonder: “Is it worse to show up to a work thing alone or with your happily married but temporarily single (his wife is in Italy for the Summer) friend?”

* If you watched Sex & the City, you know exactly what I’m talking about

bug bite
I think that I got bit by a spider on my left index finger. It’s itches like hell and it’s swollen and it’s driving me crazy. Help!

Pentacampeão!

Only in a small town in Brazil…

When I was younger, I was really jealous of my sister’s name. See, growing up, Michelle was a very uncommon name in Brazil so she was constantly getting compliments on her name. (Of course that all changed after we both moved here and all of a sudden, Daniela was the more unusual name). Anyway, my parents used to sing “Michelle” to her all the time (you know, Michelle, ma belle. These are words that go together well, My Michelle. Michelle, ma belle. Sont les mots qui vont tres bien ensemble, Tres bien ensemble.) I was pretty jealous and kept wishing there would be a song with my name so they could sing it to me.

Well, one should never give up hope. I now have two French friends and one Italian-french-speaking friend who keep “serenading” me with a song called “Daniela”. The first time they sang it, I asked them to translate the main part and it went something like “In the mouth of Daniela, all my friends pass by”. Hmm, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind… Anyway, they insisted the song wasn’t as bad as what I was thinking. Then yesterday Jean-Marie sent me the words with his “rough” translation. I’ve included it here for everyone’s enjoyment (with no editing in my part from his translation). Not bad my a**! The French!

Ouiiiiiiii Hihiiiiiiii…

Moi, ce que j’aime, chez Daniela,

C’est que l’on peut y mettre les doigts.

Elle est toujours d’accord

Pour me prêter son corps.

Ouh ouh ouuuhhh…

Moi, ce que j’aime, chez Daniela,

C’est que l’on peut s’y mettre à trois.

Elle est toujours d’accord

Pour battre des records.

Ouh ouh ouuuhhh…

Daniela, la la la la la la la laaaaa

Oh Daniela (la la la la la la laaa)

Oh Daniela (la la la la la la laaa)

Oh Daniela (la la la la la la laaa)

Oh Daniela…

Ce que Daniela aime en moi,

(pa pou pa pap yeah yeah yeah)

C’est que l’on a toujours le choix.

(pa pou pa pap yeah yeah yeah)

Je ferai tout pour lui plaire,

Par devant et par derrière.

Ouh Ouh Ouuuhhhh…

Daniela…

Et dans la bouche de Daniela

(Et dans la bouche de Daniela)

Et dans la bouche de Danielaaaa…

Oh oh oh oooh…

Il y a toujours de la place

Pour les copains qui passent.

Ouh ouh ouh ouhhh

Daniela, la la la la la la la laaaaa

Oh Daniela (la la la la la la laaa)

Oh Daniela (la la la la la la laaa)

Oh Daniela (la la la la la la laaa)

Oh Daniela

Danielaaaaaa

Danielaaaaaa

Danielaaaaaa

Ouiiiiiiii Hihiiiiiiii…
Me, which I like, at Daniela,
It is that one can put the fingers at it.
It agrees always to lend its body to me.
Ouh ouh ouuuhhh…
Me, which I like, at Daniela,
It is that one can put oneself at it at three.
It agrees always to beat records.
Ouh ouh ouuuhhh…
Daniela, the laaaaa Oh Daniela (the laaa)
Oh Daniela (the laaa)
Oh Daniela (the laaa) Oh Daniela…
What Daniela likes in me, (Pa louse Pa PAP yeah yeah yeah)
It is that one always has the choice.
(Pa louse Pa PAP yeah yeah yeah)
will make very it to like Me,
By front and behind.
Ouh Ouh Ouuuhhhh… Daniela…
And in the mouth of Daniela (And the mouth of Daniela)
And in the mouth of Danielaaaa…
Oh oh oh oooh…
There is always place For the buddies who pass.
Ouh ouh ouh ouhhh Daniela, the laaaaa Oh Daniela (the laaa)
Oh Daniela (the laaa) Oh Daniela (the laaa)
Oh Daniela Danielaaaaaa Danielaaaaaa Danielaaaaaa

I have observed a phenomenon, which is very similar to what some people call “the beer goggles effect”. I decided to call it the Brazil Goggles phenomenon. It goes something like this: You’re out with your friend, let’s call her Jane. Jane is flirting with a guy who also happens to be there with his friend. The guy your friend is flirting with (let’s call him Bob) finally comes over to talk to Jane. Bob’s friend (whom we’ll call Bill) also comes over but he’s only there to support his friend and seems very uninterested.

Then the question comes up: “So, where are you girls from?” Jane: “Here”. Jane’s friend: “Brazil”. Bob and Bill: “Brazil???? Wow, you’re Brazilian? So, you’re from Brazil huh? A Brazilian chick! Wow”. The whole time, you can see little movies of Carnaval and thong bikinis playing in their heads which seem to match the silly smirk on their faces. And that’s how you know they’re suddenly sporting Brazil goggles.

I got a postcard from Jamba Juice yesterday. I’ll bet Tina will be jealous and maybe she will even plan a trip out here so she can see it.
This is what it said on the front:
Greetings from Jamba. Wish you were here!

Then on the back, this is what Jamba had to say:
Hey Sunshine! (yes, that’s what Jamba likes to call me)
You gotta experience life here. Fresh fruit in abundance. Amazingly delicious smoothies I get to enjoy EVERYDAY!! Here’s a coupon so you can try one for free! (yes, I did get a coupon for a free smoothie. Tuna, it expires on 3/31 so book your ticket already!)
Jamba Juice
XOXOXO (I know, I know. What can I say? Jamba REALLY likes me).

This is the kind of stupidity that only I am capable of. This morning, I had to be in my a class at 8:30 am. The reason why I signed up for a class with this title during our current economic environment is another example of my stupidity but it pales in comparison with what I’m going to describe next.

Anyway, I am not a morning person to begin with and I was having trouble sleeping last night. I ended up getting about 5 hours of sleep, which these days isn’t much (meaning that I’m getting old). As usual, I was running late this morning so I just rushed out of my house. I get to the class barely on time, sit down, introduce myself, etc. Then I realize I didn’t take my medicine. And I have to take this medicine early in the morning or it keeps me awake at night.

Suddenly I remember that I have my film canister with my miscellaneous drugs in my laptop bag. I reach down and start hunting for it in my messy bag. It took me a couple of minutes to find it and when I look up, I notice the cute instructor is looking at me and wondering what I’m doing. I try to discretely take the right pill from the film canister but it’s in the bottom and my hand is too big to fit in the canister. I pour all my pills on my hand, notice that there are two of them (they are white so they were easy to spot among the other colorful drugs), throw one in my mouth and swallow. As it’s going down my throat, I realize it feels too small. Oh no! I remember that the last time I used the film canister was when I went to Brazil and threw in a couple of sleeping pills for the plane trip. I have just taken a Nytol! Shit, shit, shit!

Needless to say, I was barely able to stay awake and my eyelids felt as heavy as lead all morning long.