Created on Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:43 pm with 18 blog posts
A bad-blog from a she-nerd.
Since last time I got a haircut was in December, today I went to a beauty salon to get a long overdue new haircut. It took me so long because I hate beauty salons. Here in Brazil these places are always crowded with women who love to gossip.
I used to have freakish long hair and now I kinda miss it, but then I remember we'll be entering winter soon (next month) and longer hair means longer baths and I'll need more time to dry it too. But since my last haircut, my hair grew like crazy (and it was driving me crazy too). My natural hair is pretty voluminous and I don't like how it looks, so I had my hair chemically straightened. The procedure is a pain, it takes from 3 to 7 hours but the results are worth it. And I don't need to straighten it every day anymore. 
Also is pretty good to look like a normal person than to look like a crazy lady who owns a hundred cats. I work in a fancy place now. Can't afford to look like a convict. 
I was trying very hard to get a government grant last year, but I always got caught amidst bureaucracy and tiny details. My proposal was always refused because it was lacking documents or my second mother's cousin signature. Which is really sad if you stop and think because my proposal was evaluated as "very good" and "solid" (not my words). So I grew tired and now my research is on hold until I am filthy rich and able to survive without the grant. And to be fair, the grant is not big here in Brazil: it's about the double of the minimum wage.
Minimum wage in Brazil = 338 dollars per month
I started looking for a job and I got a call two weeks ago. They were looking for someone to teach English at a fancy Hotel near my town. I got interviewed and one week later I got another call; they wanted to see me in action. I was on probation during the last week and Friday they called me again, this time to tell me that I got the job! Yay! The best part is that I'm going to work only 6 hours per week and I'm going to earn more than the government grant.
So yes, I can say that I'm happy now. Exercising. Heavy exercising. And since tis been a while that I don't rant about anything, I'm ranting about exercising. Well, I used to love exercising. I love to move around since I was a kid and until 2-3 years ago I ran every day. Ok, I stopped running when I broke a leg and tis been a long time since then. But I'm still afraid. I'm afraid that when I start to run again my (now fixed) leg will hurt like it hurt the day I broke it. I know I'm a huge coward, but I don't deal well with pain and I still remember the pain like it happened yesterday. The good thing is that I've started to exercise again, walking 7,5/10 km per day. Usually I'm pretty ok with my body, but I have this party next month and I want to look... Well... Better! Dieting is also not my cup of tea so I tend to rely on heavy exercising and thermogenic food. The two combined seem to work just fine for me.
Just for the record, I've lost more than 3 kg in a week (I started walking/eating more thermogenic food last Thursday) and holy cow, I'm surprised. Anyone here trying to lose weight? Tips about thermogenic food? I'm all ears.
Oh, and this is the place. Tis a lake in the middle of the town, surrounded by a 2,5 km jogging track. Yesterday I decided that my hair was way too long for the summer we're having. I was reading something about women cutting their hair and then donating it to cancer patients, so it can be made into wigs. It's a beautiful initiative and that made me want to cut my hair even more. I've been growing it since forever and then I decided that I needed to cut almost everything. It used to be 70 cm long and now it's about... I don't know, 20 something. Didn't measured again. I've donated what got cut for a local cancer organization and I know that it may seem stupid, but I felt so happy. I wish I could do more to help.
My father died from cancer 9 years ago and I understand what these people feel. Usually I donate blood (my father needed transfusions on a daily basis), but what I made today felt more symbolic. It was like I was getting rid of not only my long long hair, but getting rid of bad things that I was carrying with me. And I feel a new person. I don't need all this hair, but someone somewhere may need it. 
Yesterday was one of those days: full of things to do and one of the happiest days of my life. I love what I do and yesterday I had the opportunity to do everything I love and more.
I started the day presenting (I need to say that I hate to speak in front of people) a project about a subject that I love. In English. I was satisfied with my presentation, but the Canadian researcher that was present complimented my presentation and my English. So yeah, pretty nice.
Then we went to deal with our buffaloes, to check if one of them was pregnant. She wasn't, but I did the ultrasound scan and I was able to check everything perfectly. I'm getting better and someday I think I'll be as good as my teacher with the US.
But the cherry on top was a trip to a farm. My friend's experiment is happening there and she asked for my help. She doesn't have much practice with the US and I can't miss an opportunity to do US scans myself. Since my passion is working with cows, I was more than happy to help. The farm was HUGE and the cows were bigger than what I expected. They breed Nelore cattle, which is the majority of cattle found in Brazil because they're very used to the conditions that we've got here (heat and parasites, I must say). Nelore are not very big and tend to be white and long-legged, so that's why the big cows surprised be. Also they had a bull which I was sure that weighted more than a ton. Today I'm coming back to the farm to help my friend again and I can't wait!
Some pics I took with my cel:
The road to the corral.
This is a Nelore bull. Hello big guy!
Nelore calves are always close to their mothers. If you come too close, their mothers will surely attack you. Luckily for me that the mother of this little fella was locked in the shuttle since she is participating in the experiment.
Today I'll have my real camera with me so I can take better photos. Boy, can't wait!
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