I, Muehlenhaus. U, Riedermaus.

Hot as hell in Minnesota this weekend. At least yesterday, 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Not that I would actually know how hot it was in Minneapolis, really, as Birgit, Mette, and I were up at my Mum and Chris' cabin. It was a blast! Four dogs, one cousin, two aunts, one niece, sister, Chris, Mum, Birgit, and myself, all hanging out, swimming, drinking (except Clair, as she is only six, I suppose) and watching the dogs run rampant. It was so refreshing after the Brazil trip.

More on the Brazil trip perhaps in the futuer, but first I have to sort of figure out what happened in my mind. You see, my brother and his wife had a meltdown of sorts toward the end, and everything became very surreal, very quickly. I was sort of hiding at the compound the last week, where there was absolutely not connection to the outside world, and then when I returned to Rio shit hit the fan. All I will say is that I had an absolute blast getting to know my Brazilian in-laws and step-niece -- who feels more like a sister than niece, because she is 26 years old. But I think my brother and his wife need some serious therapy. They stressed me out incredibly! The relationship, as I witnessed it, is incredibly unhealthy for both of them and everyone around them. It was so bad it got to the point where I was avoiding them. Then they got mad at me for avoiding them and attempted to control my every move so I couldn't avoid being with them. It was really weird. Very strange. But I can highly recommend Brazilian food, beer, beaches, people, and music! So definitely go. Just don't go with your estranged brother...

I'm melting right now and I hear Mette attacking Birgit with her razor sharp teeth, so I'm going to go downstairs and play fetch the piggy with Mette -- her favorite toy is a stuffed pig that my Mum and mother-in-law recently told me is a collector's item worth about $100-$200. Whoops... it was just a stuffed pig I received as a gift in Germany back in 1989. I named it Mr. Lucky, but it has never brought anything but heartache and extreme emotional pain to me -- I blame it for my six month stint in China back in 1991. So I was glad to have an excuse to not keep it any more, by giving it to my dog to tear apart the first day we had her. The problem is, it is now her favorite toy and she looks for it and won't ever leave it alone. So in a way, it is in my life more than ever before. Nonetheless, at least it is being put to use now and it won't survive her teething, which is starting; so soon I will be rid of the cursed pig! Who cares if it is a rare German Steiff... ha!

New photo for ya all... ciao for now.