But he didn't kiss the ground!

The pope arrived from Rome yesterday. There is so much hoopla. It's really interesting and kinda fun to watch. Just today I could tell where he was simply because of traffic and helicopters overhead.

When he landed, he went straight to President Lula. He didn't kiss the ground. I heard from others that he should have done that first thing, as if to bless the country he is in. Hey, Pope John Paul II did that.

He'll be here til Sunday, maybe it's Monday. Tomorrow Catholic schools are out. The pope is making it official: a deceased Brazilian priest will become a saint. I'm not sure what exactly happens for one to be a candidate to be a saint. I believe there must be 2 miracles for which the saint-want-a-be must account. I don't know what else.

The pope came out swinging last night. In a speeach, he's taking a firm stand in opposition to abortion. If you're a Catholic politician and you're pro-choice, the pope says that politician should be excommunicated. I like this man.

I'm glad the pope is in town. I hope he has a good time and a safe visit. I hope he will use this time to focus his message of faith on Christ, and only Jesus Christ.

I'm so glad I'm a missionary

I graduated from Memphis State University in 1988. Yes, way back then Tiger High was MSN not the U of M. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism. I set my sights high. I wanted to take Ted Koppel's place on ABC's Nightline.

I remember my first internship in television. I spent a entire semester at channel 5 in Memphis. Each and every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, there I sat in the Action News 5 newsroom. From 4:30-10:30, I did anything and everything I was asked. I remember Mason Granger even telling me to cancel his dinner reservations one Friday night. The nicest people I met were Joe Birch, Jack Eaton and Dave Brown. They took time to show me the ropes, so to speak. There was also the 5pm and 10pm producer that was super nice but I forget her name. She even had me write a story one night. I remember several times quietly running onto the news set to hand updated news copy to the anchors while they were reading the telepromter on camera. That was nerve wracking. I would call my mom and ask if she saw my hand.

During the news, they would often broadcast from the newsroom. I made sure I was in sight of the camera, though in the distance. Friends and family saw me and that's what counted, right? One time the anchor on cam in the newsroom lost sound from the anchors in on the set. The producer said, "Chris, YOU ask her questions." I about peed in my pants.

I thought I really wanted to be in that business. But I didn't. The main reason is this. Job security. When a station gets a new owner, often times people are fired on the spot. That includes on air talent. I couldn't imagine living somewhere, owning a home, kids in school and then BAM! new owners and no more job. Now, that doesn't always happen but it does happen. Last Friday channel 3 in Memphis was sold. Most of those people were probably on pins and needles wondering if they were going to get axed. No on air talent has been let go but others have including the general manager.

There are 2 bloggers that I keep up with just for fun; Joe Larkins and Jamey Tucker. They both worked for WREG. They both are blogging this week about the sale of channel 3. Joe is no longer on the air. Jamey is in Nashville. I've never met either one of them but their blogs are really interesting. And, tv news still interests me. I have Fox News, CNN and the BBC on all the time here at the house. Plus, I read The Drudge Report, USA Today, one of Sao Paulo's newspapers and others each day.

I hear that ABC24 and CW30 in Memphis are also for sale. Channel 5 was sold not too long ago and Fox 13 was sold 10 years ago to News Corp (Fox). Owners for tv stations change constantly. I'm glad I'm a missionary for the International Mission Board. My hat is off to those in broadcasting. Oh, I dreamed of being a Ted Koppel, perhaps now a Shepherd Smith but ask anyone in the business and they'll tell you it's not an easy path to follow. Rewarding? Definately. Easy? No way.

Funny Cabin Crew Announcements

One of my hobbies is commercial aviation. And, one of the websites I visit several times a day is www.airliners.net. Someone posted this the other day and I thought it was pretty funny.

1. On a Southwest flight (SW has no assigned seating, you just sit where you want) passengers were apparently having a hard time choosing, when a flight attendant announced, "People, people we're not picking out furniture here, find a seat and get in it!"

2. On a Continental Flight with a very "senior" flight attendant crew, the pilot said, "Ladies and gentlemen, we've reached cruising altitude and will be turning down the cabin lights. This is for your comfort and to enhance the appearance of your flight attendants."

3. On landing, the stewardess said, "Please be sure to take all of your belongings. If you're going to leave anything, please make sure it's something we'd like to have.

4. "There may be 50 ways to leave your lover, but there are only 4 ways out of this airplane"

5. "Thank you for flying Delta Business Express. We hope you enjoyed giving us the business as much as we enjoyed taking you for a ride."

6. As the plane landed and was coming to a stop at Ronald Reagan, a lone voice came over the loudspeaker: "Whoa, big fella. WHOA !"

7. After a particularly rough landing during thunderstorms in Memphis, a flight attendant on a Northwest flight announced, "Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as hell everything has shifted."

8. From a Southwest Airlines employee: "Welcome aboard Southwest Flight 245 to Tampa . To operate your seat belt, insert the metal tab into the buckle, and pull tight. It works just like every other seat belt; and, if you don't know how to operate one, you probably shouldn't be out in public unsupervised. "

9. "In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you, secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite."

10. "Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we'll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Southwest A irlines."

11. "Your seat cushions can be used for flotation; and, in the event of an emergency water landing, please paddle to shore and take them with our compliments. "

12. " As you exit the plane, make sure to gather all of your belongings. A nything left behind will be distributed evenly among the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."

13. And from the pilot during his welcome message: "Delta Airlines is pleased to have some of the best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this flight!"

14. Heard on Southwest Airlines just after a very hard landing in Salt Lake City the flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump, and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."

15. Overheard on an American Airlines flight into Amarillo, Texas, on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain was really having to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo . Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate!"

16. A nother flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."

17. An airline pilot wrote that on this particular flight he had hammered his ship into the runway really hard. The airline had a policy which required the first officer to stand at the door while the Passengers exited, smile, and give them a "Thanks for flying our airline." He said that, in light of his bad landing, he had a hard time looking the passengers in the eye, thinking that someone would have a smart comment. Finally everyone had gotten off except for a little old lady walking with a cane. She said, "Sir, do you mind if I ask you a question?" "Why, no, Ma'am," said the officer. "What is it?" The little old lady said, "Did we land, or were we shot down?"

18. After a real crusher of a landing in Phoenix, the attendant came on with, "Ladies and Gentlemen, please remain in your seats until Capt. Crash and the Crew have brought the aircraft to a screeching halt against the gate. And, once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."

19. Part of a flight attendant's arrival announcement: "We'd like to thank you folks for flying with us today. And, the next time you get the insane urge to go blasting through the skies in a pressurized metal tube, we hope you'll think of US Airways."

20. Heard on a Southwest Airline flight. "Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish to smoke, the smoking section on this airplane is on the wing and if you can light 'em, you can smoke 'em."

21. A plane was taking off from Kennedy Airport . A fter it reached a comfortable cruising altitude, the captain made an announcement over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. Welcome to Flight Number 293, nonstop from New York to Los Angeles . The weather ahead is good and, therefore, we should have a smooth and uneventful flight. Now sit back and relax... OH, MY GOD!" Silence followed, and after a few minutes, the captain came back on the intercom and said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, I am so sorry if I scared you earlier While I was talking to you, the flight attendant accidentally spilled a cup of hot coffee in my lap. You should see the front of my pants!" A passenger in Coach yelled, "That's nothing You should see the back of mine."

Get those billboards down!

Sao Paulo recently passed a law. It said that if your sign is too big, you have to take it down and replace it. What the dimensions are for stores and billboards, I don't know. But everywhere around town, businesses are taking their signs down and replacing them.

Even on the interstate, billboards are coming down for good. So many of these advertisements are Times Square style and size.

Yesterday I passed by a McDonald's. The sign had been replaced by the Golden Arches about 1/4 the size of the original.

It's actually pretty nice. Some of these signs are really distracting and others are just plain ugly. Some are really cool and I hate to see them go. The city did seem to be wall-t0-wall billboards at times.

If only these sign companies had stock to buy...

Now, THIS is the way to party!

One of the malls here in Sao Paulo is celebrating its 23rd anniversary this weekend. Shopping Centre Norte (or North Center Mall) took out a half page ad in this morning's newspaper, Folha de Sao Paulo. The ad reads in Portuguese, "It's the biggest party since Bush left!"

Bush was here several weeks ago.

Speaking of Bush, the pope is on his way for a trip in May. The Folha made sure that their readers knew that he'd have double the security as Mr. Bush.

Page 2...

Gimme a Spiderman egg!

Kids in Brazil don't get Easter baskets from the Easter Bunny. In fact, unless I'm mistaken, the Easter Bunny is a relatively new thing. What kids get are giant chocolate Easter eggs. The eggs are normally hollow but have prizes inside. The eggs are themed. You can get Spiderman, Batman, Barbie, M&M, and a ton of other choices. Stores hang the chocolate eggs in the aisles of the stores. They aren't hung from the ceiling. Stores have special metal bars which are set up just for Easter. You have to walk under the eggs in your quest to find that special egg. There are hundreds and hundreds that unless you are short, ya gotta duck!

This year Wes wants Batman. Michael wants Spiderman. Rachel wanted one that I can't even begin to know how to spell, but it's good chocolate.

Kids wake up and find their chocolate eggs like American kids find an Easter basket. And in Brazil, there's no Easter Egg hunting. I mean, if there's no Easter Bunny, who would have hid the eggs?

Have you ever heard this voice?

You know that voice you hear when you arrive or leave Garulhos? (Garulhos is Sao Paulo's international airport.) It's the voice making announcements. "Varig flight 123 to Curitiba" or "Delta Air Lines flight 105 to Atlanta now boarding". To me, the voice sounds a bit like the computer voice on an episode of Star Trek. Remember the one where the computer goes wacko and the computer begins calling Captain Kirk, "dear"? It's got that kind of voice. It's so unusual and deep...and female.

This morning, I found out that it's not a computer but a real lady. I always told Melody that the voice was a computer. I should have listened to my wife. She was right.

If you've been here, you know what I'm talking about. The lady is Iris Lettieri. There is a website with her voice and history : http://www.irislettieri.com.br

We have a banana tree!

I love living in the tropics. Palm trees everywhere. It normally doesn't get really hot. The beach is just an hour away.

Melody and I have taken up a new hobby together. Usually each weekend we work in our garden. There are 3 areas to the garden. She's even planting squash in one part. It's not a small garden either so it's been fun to do this together.

This morning Michael and I went to the nursery and we bought a banana tree. No bananas on it yet but soon we should have an ample supply. I don't know. I just thought it was kinda cool.

I am my father's son

Until recently my day began around 6:00am. I normally don't even need an alarm. I just wake up. I get up and make the family their breakfast. The coffee gets brewed. Lunches for Wes and Rachel are made. Once everything is done I turn on channel 89 for BBC World News (that's only because Fox News is still rerunning their news from the day before) and read the morning paper. By 6:30, Bom Dia Sao Paulo is on so we can get the latest headlines from overnight and check the weather for the day. At 6:55 I load Wes and Rachel in the car and we head to the bus stop where they are picked up at 7:05. That's just our routine.

But one morning I woke up at 5:30 and couldn't go back to sleep for the remaining requirement of rest. So I turned on the tube and surfed to see just what was on that early. Whoa! M*A*S*H! It's in English with Portuguese subtitles. I'm hooked and even without an alarm I'm up by 5:30.

Still after it went off in 1983, it's one of the funniest shows around. Besides Andy Griffith, M*A*S*H was my dad's favorite. He too got up before dawn. Wait a minute...I'm up before dawn. I watch M*A*S*H. I must be my father's son. Kinda cool if you ask me.

RUUUUUUUN! It's a raid!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone likes to make a buck. I know I do. But I like to make a living legally. All throughout Sao Paulo folks set up stands selling things such as candy, cigarettes, toys, sunglasses, watches, flowers, pirated cds, pirated dvds and even pirated clothing. Why I could have bought the movie "The Passion" on dvd even before it made it to theatres here in Brazil! Talk about tempting. It was only about U$5.00! No, I didn't buy it.

Sometimes the cops do these raids. The police will all of a sudden appear out of nowhere and raid the streets. It's a sight to see these people gather up all their belongings in a flash. Most have things spread out on a sheet in the middle of the sidewalk ready to wrap it up and take off. Still others have their "stores" on wheels. Close up quick and take off!

Today I was coming out of a subway station. The subway here is called "the metro". I went into Habib's to get a hamburger and all of sudden I hear a lot of yelling. It's the cops. They're making a raid. These guys run so fast getting their things together before the police can catch them. However, one man was selling bogus baseball caps and clothing. They nabbed him. And it was a fight belive me. A fight broke out. People were yelling. Then the cops pulled their guns. It got quiet. The police rounded up the goods, took off with them and took the man in.

They only nabbed one guy, one out of many. I guess the others fled.

Funny thing is that after the raid? The vendors come back out and set up as if nothing happened. Business as usual til the next raid.