welcome to my life

addiction...

My name is Ana Carolina and I am addicted... to mahjong!

Winter is here...

... in fact, I am not sure that it is already winter officially, but I am hoping it is... cause I can't get colder than this!

It's 5C now! And every night when I bike back from work with my ears freezing (only that... cause gladly I have awesome gloves and the rest of the body gets warmed up by the biking exercise...) it's around 2C with "frozen" car's windows and deep dark as if it was something like 3am...

BUT I have something good to say about winter! No... I am not going to say that I like winter better than summer!!! I love sun... and if sweat is a side effect... nothing that a few more showers can't solve it... :-P

Anyway... the good thing is that, if is NOT raining... bike is much nicer!!!!

Yes, it is true! 

I was biking to work yesterday... it was a clear day... I had my leather jacket... warm boots and gloves... soon enough I was enjoying my ride... and THE MOST IMPORTANT... there are NO insects flying in your direction, aiming to your eye!!! Biking in winter IS much better! :-D

Other nice thing... IF doesn't rain, is that the wind doesn't blow that much harder as during middle seasons!!!

So... despite the fact that is cold (but nothing that a few more clothes won't solve it :-P IF it doesn't rain) and that soon I need to find a better hat (otherwise my ears are going to froze) I am, in fact, enjoying this begin of winter! Even the biking around!

(but if it rains... or I hibernate or I need better transportation than my bike...)

back to the cold and rainy weather

Ah... I miss home!

Cariocas!

Cariocas são bonitos
cariocas são bacanas
cariocas são sacanas
cariocas são dourados
cariocas são modernos
cariocas são espertos
cariocas são diretos
cariocas não gostam de dias nublados

Cariocas nascem bambas
cariocas nascem craques
cariocas têm sotaque
cariocas são alegres
cariocas são atentos
cariocas são tão sexys
cariocas são tão claros
cariocas não gostam de sinal fechado

I am still wondering how can I survive in ams???!!!
At least, amsterdam is the cooler city of the world... this should compensate for cloudy-forever days...

ah... I love my Rio!

The birthday gift

So... as you know I am on vacation in Rio!!! :-D
Have said that, I won´t be posting here for sometime, cause I have to enjoy this short time of real sun!!!

BUT today I do need to make an entry... today I received my brother´s birthday gift: a wakeboard lesson!!!

It was great!!!
:-D

I won´t have time to put all the pictures online, not yet, cause they were around 200 (1hr for me, one hour for my brother)... but I will do leave some here, so you can have some taste ;-)

Enjoy it!
I did! :-)

jumping on the water...

first try... trying to get up...


standing up...

but down...

... now I am in control!

and with only one hand!!!
:-D
COOL!!!

The Big Bang Theory II

I've just watched the third episode of this second season...

I have only one things to say:

Go see it too!

LOL!!!

this looks more promising...

10C of difference... but now close to the 30C ;-)

:'(

And the prospect for the weekend is not better!!!

In fact... I can just look forward for a "partly cloud" next week... sighs...

I wanna sit and cry!!!
:'(

... the only bright side of the weather... is that at least I am looking forward for rain in 10C above NL average...

ai ai...

news now and then...

... then, I was in Romania... then in Zeeland, just check it out at: http://assisjesus.fotopages.com/

... now, I am preparing myself to go take some time off at my home town :-) ... so, until I am back, guess this blog will be quiet... but the fotopages might see some action ;-)

I see no better way to say hello to the, forever here, dutch fall/winter, than with a break in the spring/summer in Rio! :-D

laters....

Supernatural is back!

And as far the road goes... this season is proving to have come to be the best!

I love it!

"that's the beauty of it"

Leonard: We need to widen our circle.

Sheldon: I have a very wide circle. I have 212 friends on myspace.

Leonard: Yes, and you’ve never met one of them.

Sheldon: That’s the beauty of it.

by The Big Bang Theory

I was just watching (again) the pilot of the AWESOME series... and I have to say: 

the best ep ever!!!

I can't wait till the new eps start again :-D

If there is one thing I can smile for the end of the summer... is the come back from my series... (this and the bugs going away...)

got go...

A.C.

I hate bugs!

It is becoming to get pretty cold again... so I guess it is time for those @$#&!@ insects to disappear from the bike pass!!! :@

Today there was cloud of small insects on the way to work and AGAIN one of those got into my eye!!!

It is a horrible feeling and I guess it can bring infections for this VERY sensitive area... :@
And it doesn't matter what other people might say, is NOT AT ALL like to put a contact lenses in your eyes, when you have to finger your eyes to fish for a dead insect in it!!!! :@

I HATE BUGS!!!!! (all kinds of it :P)

17C...

... but with a bright sunny sky!

Like this... I don't even complain about the cold... as long it doesn't rain, I can wear some few extra layers ;-)

and winter is back again...

... to tell the truth is not winter YET... is fall... but is like a preview of what awaits in store!

So... after the lack of summer, I can count in one hand (with luck 2) how many REAL sunny days I enjoyed here... (here in NL, Greece doesn't count!)

Beach only completely dressed and with some coat on the side (and an umbrella for the end of the day)

And talking about umbrella... how it rains here!!!

I know I know... rain is always a reason for complaining... but this is not like a whole january rainy in Brazil, what is like "sh*t now we will only have 10 (or 9 if we exclude the wither month) months of good weather"... Here it rains almost every day!

And having the bike as a way of transportation, rain is NOT your best friend...

I know I know... I am back in my complaining mode... but come on... it rains, it is cold and BAM I got a horrible cold!!! :-( I have reasons to complain... and worst... from now on, "sunny" days will be the days without rain and with a maximum of 20C!

Sighs... I just hope I get some good weather in my next Rio trip ;-)

... and life goes on...

And life goes on...
Today while I was biking my way to my work... I was thinking in how my life changed so much in the course of the last 10 years... and how much I myself changed!
And amuse... I don't believe people can change... but maybe I should rethink about that!

So... lets see... ten years ago? 1998 My second year in college! And it was also when I've decided to start working in high energy physics...
But by that time... I had a very simple plan... finish college, get a PhD degree... and wait for an opening position somewhere in Brazil... (preferable in Rio... but I would be happy in another state too...)

5 years later I was flighting to Chicago... to spend sometime at Fermilab... as part of my PhD course...
I was very excited... I always wanted to go to US (unlike most of people say... yes... I wanted to go... spend a long time out... and know new places... plus I like to consume and where better to be?)
I've been in Geneva two years before, and had like it quite a lot! So I was looking forward for a similar but still different experience!

Well well... time past by... and this sometime ended up in two years... living in a suburb of Chicago... feeling cold most of the time...
But also... it was lot of fun... I went with two very good friends of mine... but that in that time, we weren't good friends... we just knew each other and were starting to get to know better (I mean... me and them... they were already friends...)
And we went along very well... I really like them!
Plus we made new friends there!!! :-D
And we party! and we drunk... and we had delusions but most of the time... we did have fun and we learned quite a lot!

And... of course... most important... I found love!

Then... 2006 and I was back in Rio!
How I've missed home and my family!!! :-D I was happy... but half of me... (maybe more) was sad... I've missed... (no... not the suburb) it missed my baby...

And... PhD... it is harder than you can imagine...
You get frustrated most of the time... and when you are almost in the end... it doesn't get better... but much more stressful...

Still... changes... yes... I've changed...
Some can not say... but I did get more relaxed after living in US...
At least for a long time, I was feeling too frustrated when things didn't go according with plan... (unfortunately... just to agree with my way of think that people don't change... this didn't last too long... and nowadays... I still find myself fighting and cursing... (life?) when plans don't work out!)
I've learned how to deal with people!
I use to say I am a little anti-social... I am in fact shy... and talk is so difficult for me...
But deal with friends is something... is how you deal with the rest what was a new skill acquired...
Plus... being a bit vain... I've got my curls back :P hahahaha

They weren't huge changes... just enough for the closest ones to notice...
But life did change!
The PLAN did change!
Here... I can say, things didn't went out according to plan!
BUT things did workout pretty well... so... I guess I new plan was made... and life goes on!

So... I've graduate... and I've got my PhD...
Now... things are not simple... you want to stay in your country... and I did want to be close to my family...
But I don't want beg for money... neither sell sandwiches on the beach to be able to fund my research...
Also... US stopped been a dream Country a long time ago... and get there is getting harder and harder...

So... new doors opened to me... and I entered!
Now... 10 years later... 3 experiments later...
And I am living in Amsterdam and working in astrophysics... (my 4th experiment... the first in a different area... all... looking for muons!!!)

Here... I'd change the most!
Here... I've lost my interest for TV! (dutch TV is the worst I ever saw... )
Here... I've got back my love for bikes... Some might not know... But yes... I did love bike!!! In fact, while young kid I was biking everywhere (until the grocery street anyway) and after that I wasn't able anymore to bile anywhere in Rio (yeah... I know people bike... but I like my life...) and I really missed
I know I've complained a lot in the begin but now... I really enjoy going biking everywhere!!!
I've also got more relaxed with myself... I had a time in college where I became so girlie... and all my colors should match... No... I didn't stop being girlie... but I stop worrying till death about matches... and I learned how to play with colors...
I also lost the obsession for perfect hair... and let it go... (but I still obsess with color! :P )
My obsession with nails it comes and goes... but now that I don't live like a princess anymore... it is going...

Oh! I'm sorry...
Maybe you are thinking I was going to make more grownup comments about my life!
Yeah yeah... there are grownup improvements too... but they are more part of a private life! :-P

Well...
Today... I just feel happy and relaxed to where I am (still with half of me sad... missing my family... but hey! At least, unlike in my time in US I can go there more easily to see them... at least, twice a year!!! :-D )
Today I feel more grownup... lest picky with myself... and growing in my carrier!

... and life goes on...
it doesn't matter what did you plan... it does matter if where you are now is making you happy?
I am happy here!
I hate my job sometimes... (but if someone tells me it never does... it is lying!) but I am still here... so I might like something in it ;-) plus... I find it pretty cool!
Amsterdam is a cool place (even though is NOT Rio de Janeiro!!!!)
And I am with who I wan to be! (for the rest of my life...)

Where I am going to be in 10 years from now?
I don't know... and I certainly don't wanna think about it now... just hope I will be happy... and that the new plan will come as good as it can get ;-)

And you? where are you now?

simple things that make us happy...

an expected phone call from home!!!

:-D

xkcd - Morgan Freeman - Wanted

Some days ago (maybe some weeks ago, I am not sure) I saw this awesome cartoon, from xkcd, about Morgan Freeman:

http://xkcd.com/462/

It made me smile... with the realization that this might be true!

Well well... I love movie theaters... no... not really the theaters per si (even though some are pretty cool)... but I really enjoy going to the theater and watching movies (I love movie night!) and I like all of it... buying the snacks... watching the trailers... and of course the chosen movie ;-)

Anyway... one of the trailers been shown, quite a lot, recently is the one about this new action movie, "Wanted" (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493464/) ... but, until yesterday I've been seeing "a" trailer with the dorky-chosen-to-be-hero guy talking about it... and I have to say... looks so lame...
Without taking into account that the main history is about this "society" of assassins who can "curve" the bullet!!!!
I am sorry... I am physicist... I CAN'T accept this! Is against my "religion"!

Anyway... yesterday in one of my movie night... it comes the wanted trailer... and:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7ftozVc3lI

It is mainly in the voice of Morgan Freeman!!!
How smart!!!
Now, I have to confess, that after this trailer, I even considered (for a few nano seconds) to give a try and watch the movie! Then, more than a smile came to my face... I had to laugh of the realization that the xkcd might be right!!!! It was so much more "comforting" that I even could forget how dumb they are...

My my...
;-)

random...

According with my friendly sources... I've been complaining too much about the weather... I am in fact pretty luck, as I wasn't here for last years summer, which, it didn't really existed, or lasted only a week.

Well... probably true! Other day was so hot, that I was "praying" for some cooling down... The "pray" worked pretty well... the next morning was cooler... a little bit of rain, which lasted a few seconds... and the sun came back all strong and happy!

So I will enjoy more and complain less... (but if I learnt right... the complaining is what help!)

***

Pictures.... I've been posting some pretty nature pictures in my fotopages... so, if you (my readers... hehhe) don't find news here... go check out there ;-)

***

Advertisements...

Last year, the Coca-Cola company sent out an advertisement (I saw this in Brazil, I don't know if it did happen everywhere...) that said more or less something like this:

"Do you know why did we change the color of the bottle? Neither do us!"

It was about the new Sprite bottle, which in a limited version wasn't being sold in a green bottle (which I don't find attractive at all! I already don't like sprite, and in that green bottle even less... nothing against green anyway) but t came in a blue bottle.

I don't know why they did it limited! It looked pretty good!

I was almost buying it just because of the bottle!!!! (what a shame... what a shame) but I didn't! I was stronger than the dark force of the advertisement... (too bad they moved back to the green bottle... maybe instead of a freak fan of coke, I would be now drinking tons of sprite in blue bottles... hahahha)

Anyway... still in the advertisement subject, and getting to a conclusion... This year the dark force of the advertisement got me weak and I did buy a product after tons of advertisements about it! (and I don't even have a TV, yeah, that's right... and you know what is more amazing, for me at least... is that I don't really miss it that much! except for "Lost", "Supernatural" and "The Big Bang Theory", I don't even miss the other soap series that much anymore... what a change, what a change...) ... anyway....

At all the restrooms doors on the Pathe movie theater and before all the trailers start... they show this advertisement for the new branch of the Dove soaps... "go fresh"

After so many of then, I got myself buying the "go fresh" "a touch of fresh" cucumber with green tea smell!

And, I have to say... I love it!!!! It is amazing!

The whole bathroom smells so fresh after a shower!!!

I am not ashamed of this one ;-)

a good smell is worth the dark powers of the advertisement ;-)

till next one!

African cuisine

Friday evening... time to relax! ;-)

I came home after some hard work day ( :-P ) and had some drinks with Pieter while deciding where to go for dinner...

... two shots of cachaça with honey and lime later... we were biking our way to a mexican place....

... to our deception the mexican place was only a take away place... so we had to move our "plans" for the second option... an African restaurant.

There the food comes in a plate covered with delicious pancakes that we use to grab the food (instead of the usual utensils)... and what food it was.... It was amazing!!!

I loved it!!!!

What a lovely evening...

some more drinks later... and I can forget about any hard work at all ( :-P )

so... get envy of us with the picture of our delicious friday evening ;-)

laters....