Marshall getting a Pedi!

He is going to kill me for this but I thought it was to cute to pass up!

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Sunset from sugar loaf! Wow!

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Life just doesn't get much better than this!

Lounging by the pool in Rio....what a great morning! Next up Sugar Loaf and Christ the Redeemer!

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The view from my room! Today is my fun day. Beach, pool and tour!

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We love RIO!!!

Here is a quick photo update of what we have been up to. We have been going out with our friend Evan the last few nights, on Wednesday night we went to a traditional Brazillian Barbaque place that was outstanding.
Last night we were really up for a good time so we got a bunch together and went out on the town. We found a local from the confernece to show us a good time and he went above and beyond!
We went to a local hot spot, live music, dancing, drinks, food, and a GREAT time!

Marshall and Evan before we went out for the night. They totally bonded over a city tour today also.

At the club we went to for dinner. Ready for a wild night!


My dear Jane came along for the fun! I am so proud of her!

Finally! I got a kiss from a real Brazillian! Oh baby! Marshall took the picture!

Our new friends Melanie and Julio. They are not together....but I think he was loving all the attention from us US folks!

Aparently this does not mean OK like it does in the states.....it means something much more intimate.....


The front of the club. 3 stories high and jam packed with locals.

Tonight Marshall is flying home and then on Sunday I will be taking the long long long journy home. So for the next day and a half we will be site seeing and sleeping in!

Full Speed Ahead

Well the conference is in full swing now. Marshall and David....he is making friends with all my favorite people!

Tuesday was not quite as challenging with the hotel, still a little....but nothing like Monday.
Monday night we all went out to dinner with one of our conference sponsors. They took us to a local fish restaurant and oh my goodness was it good! They just ordered for us, much better than us having to decide and try to figure out what the menu said. They ordered large platters of calamari, HUGE prawns, lobster, salmon and some type of local white fish. Wine from the surrounding South American countries - Wow! And a very interesting and delicious dessert; fruit and cream purred with a liquor drizzled on top. What a great evening!

Don't worry Mom...we are taking good care of Dad.

With our yummy seafood dinner!

The first of our elevator pictures!

Tuesday we did not score as well with getting a dinner invitation...we tried as I call it to "whore ourselves out". Oh well, we ended up doing room service in our suite. That is always fun too. We get to chill and be as loud as we want to be. That did also mean we got to bed at a decent time.

Marshall with Vic. They have bonded over Wrestling talk. Vic actually made Marshall a quiz to work on while he was sitting by the pool!

Rob had a little fun demonstrating the valves! Help me....I think I am stuck!
Now on to Wednesday!

Rio Baby!

We made it to Rio safe and sound.

On Friday we got in to Houston a little late and soon found out that our 9pm flight to Rio had been cancelled and rescheduled for 7am on Saturday. Bummer. So Continental gave us hotel and food vouchers and sent us off.

I think I got about 3 hours of sleep and a hot shower....I guess that will do!

Flight to Rio went smooth. Long.....close to 10 hours. We were greated at the airport by our collegue Carminia and her husband and they gave us a ride to the hotel.

Sunday we rented a van and toured around the city.

Our group shot. Gary, Jane, Marshall (we picked him up at the airport on our way out touring), me, Rob, Nancy, Evan and Paul. Coking.com does Rio!

Evan and Rob - Dressed in Carneval costumes.

Marshall and I at the Copa Cabanna Beach!

Drinking a local beer on the Impanima beach.Gary and Evan drinking coconut milk, Impanima Beach.

Sunday night after hitting up a grocery store and loading up on drinks, water and snacks it was time to start our setup for the conference.

Paul said it would only be an hour......after 4 Jane and I called it a night.

The team setting up, with our Rio Bound sign we made in Galveston. We made it!

Jane, Rob, Nancy, Marlea, Gary, Paul, Carminia.

Monday was a hectic one, usually is, but with the language barrier it really added to the stress. Something I have to remember is that just because you ask for something doesent mean it will happen. Ever. I started asking for tables at 10am....finally got them at 4:30, but only asking for them about 10 times. Oh well....

More about Monday night in the next post.