Chapter Twenty Seven: New Blog's name, Tortellini & more...

Bonjour.

So, I woke up and wondered why I wasn't using my name for my blog.
Oh, I can come up with plenty of reasons, but none can actually be good enough for me.
Because, after all, I am me, and me, and myself.
So, here we go, new name for the blog, and slight change of design.
All in all, I like it better.

Now, I could never rant enough to tell how much Xmas is disturbing for me, because, for a religious holiday, it has become something quite different, to say the very least.
Don't get me wrong, when you have kids, it's different, it gives an opportunity to spend some special time with them, but it puzzles me the way people are and react, totally buying into the system, head first please.
We need to be progressive.
And it starts with us, by the way we change the way we live.
It is time to take responsibilities.
And no, I am not a dreamer.
They are. And soon, all are gone have to wake up.
Sooner or later, anyway, we'll have to come face to face with the truth.
So, I ain't gone say $%#^# xmas, but $%#^@* the people who still act like Candide.
Everything is perfect in this perfect world.
Pfff, once and for all, wake up fools!

As for me, I had a wonderful time.
I was welcome in a new family, a bras ouvert, and I could share and experiment what tradition is, here in Brazil. It was sweet and enjoyable.
And no, I didn't spend tons of money.
Now, my favorite part of xmas this year, being without the kids, was the food that my wife's family made. Her Dad is from Milan, Italy, so we had some pretty amazing food!
From the home made tortellini to the filled chicken in jelly, to the Russian salad, well well well, it was something else!
On a side note, having spent the last 4 months in a family who lives like European do, it reminded me my origins. This is really important, as, after all, it defines who I really am.
Something I need to keep deep in my heart, and share with the kids when I'll be back in Canada in a month or so...
Oh, we also had a lemon cake, Brazil style, which was okay I guess, but not holding up to the standard of the Italian food...
Enfin, I am just saying...

Now, making tortellini from scratch is a serious task, but totally worth it!
First, you got to make the dough, with flour and eggs. You work it kind of like for bread, then roll it into a very thin layer making sure it stays together:

Marlene working the dough

Then, you cut that dough into little squares, and put some yummy filling made of some secret mix of meet cheese and herbs and roll into little balls onto the dough:

We're getting there!

When this is done, you seal every square, making then into triangles with the filling inside, and then, make them in some kind of little hat, :), which is an exercise that requires some serious skills. :D

Marlene making the neat little hats that will end up in our bellies

You place them all in a large plate or so, but that's just because it looks pretty:

Tortellini waiting to be thrown into boiling water

And, pouf, all go into boiling water, and must cook for about 20 to 40 minutes.
Then, you eat then with a broth, to which, you add Parmesan cheese, Nutmeg and red wine.
It is so good, there is no words to describe it!

Obviously, I am still in Brazil.
Soon, I will have to head back to Canada and reunite with the kids.
But only for a short period of time.
After 10 days, and after 8 years, I will be flying to France with my little boy Ethan, to this time, being reunited with my family, the European one.
It's been 8 years since I saw them last, my father and mother, my brother, his wife and their two kids.
I am looking forward to go there with Ethan, and, I must admit, a little anxious.
The only sad part is that, my wife Sil will not be able to come with me.
For many reasons, she'll have to stay in Brazil, but after my 3 weeks in Sarko land, we will meet in Canada, and stay for about 1 year. :)
I am going to miss her a lot, because, she is all I ever wanted, she is perfect for me, and we love each other so much. It is hard to be separated from the woman of your life. And hard it will be.
And there is nothing much I can say, but close my eyes and see her face.

Sil

Brazil is cool!
It is such a different place.
But I already ranted enough about that.
Let's just through a couple of pics here:

More buildings and clouds and sky in Curitiba

When it feels like in the middle of nowhere

Finally, I have been drawing.
I must post more of my work, cause, it really is a shame.
I'll do that more intensively soon, but here is some of the work I recently did:
First, some work in progress for a client, the background still needs to be drew:

Mr. Meeker opening Oysters

Then, 2 illustrations I did in the past 2 months:

The Forced Model

The Travel Agency

And, few photographs I worked on:

Mariana

Wood and Smoke

Curitiba's Botanical Garden

Voila, that's all folks, for now.
I hope you enjoyed.

Sincerely,

Serge