Rio de Janeiro: 31 degrees, very hot, and sunny.
It remains extremely hot in Rio, significantly hotter than usual for this time of year. Sleeping without an air conditioner in this heat is not easy; fortunately, for the past two nights, I have slept reasonably well.
When I lived in Copacabana, there was an air conditioner in both the living room and my bedroom. I was a bit spoilt there; I could work with the air conditioning on during the day and sleep like a baby with it at night.
Typically during the summer, I take three or four showers a day: one before bed, as there is nothing quite like a cold shower at bedtime to cool the body down, allowing me to feel a bit cooler before bed. I have another shower after waking up, again to cool my body because it is already hot.
We behave like batteries from the film “The Matrix”; while we sleep, we emit heat, and consequently, we usually wake up feeling warm. Given that Rio is already hot, this makes it even worse. Therefore, having a shower in the morning obviously helps me feel refreshed for the rest of the day.
Depending on your activities during the day, you may need additional showers. If you work out, you will need a shower. If you go outside when you return home, you will need to shower. If you do some shopping, you will also need a shower. Even if you visit the toilet to do a #2, you should need a shower. Perhaps if you remain completely still and lower your heartbeat to below 50 beats per minute, you might not need to shower; however, in nearly all other situations, you will need a shower!
Today has been a very special day for one reason: I can smile again! After seven or eight years of various gaps in my mouth, I am now able to smile at a beautiful woman once more, as I have all my teeth back, even if some are fake.
I lost two teeth due to the stress of my separation from Nalva. It is amusing that now, living with her, I reflect on what I lost in the past and what I have regained since being with her. The same sadness could be true for bank accounts and finances. I experienced significant financial loss because of the separation, yet during my time with her, I have been able to recover, in part.
It feels like we go through this experience to regain what we lost. It seems like a kind of cleansing process for the soul and our past, allowing us to move forward into the future. The past has been laid to rest, there has been closure, and now we can go on and live our future.
I am very pleased with Dr. Thomas, the dentist. He has always instilled confidence in his practice, and his experience shines through without being overbearing, inconvenient, or inconsistent. It is evident that he loves his craft, which is very important. Additionally, his clinic is spotless, which is an important point for me.
Three implants were placed in the upper part of the mouth: two on the left and one on the right. I don’t feel anything with the one on the right; it fits perfectly. However, I’m feeling a bit of discomfort with the two on the left. I hope it goes away, I will have to mention this during my final appointment on Tuesday before I travel.
Thank you very much, Doctor Thomas, for your professionalism and patience with your craft. You have made an old man exceedingly happy, now I can smile again.
Late in the afternoon, I picked up the boots I had left at the cobblers to be resoled. These boots are not hiking boots but more suitable for social occasions, paired with jeans or trousers. I like them very much, and they go with everything I wear, so they are perfect for the trip.
I’m nearly ready to travel, but the heat here at the moment is too much. Perhaps the cold in England will be welcoming, at least for the first few days.
In bed by 10.00 p.m.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading this blog post. Please explore my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments section.
Richard
