She's got wheels now!

I decided to go to the Post Office on my bike. Alan had carefully cleaned it and pumped some air into the tires, so it was ready to be used in Rio! I whizzed through the controlled entrance, the security guys amused by my new vehicle promptly lifted the gate and waved.

I "parked" inside the minuscle office and walked (three steps) to the counter. I had about 10 letters to be mailed, but half of them didn't yet have complete address on them (BTW: I probably don't have your address-lost the book, really-, so if you're reading this, please send it to me: diferal@mac.com).

I gave them all to the lady anyway and she looked puzzled, despite the fact that I explained where they were going to. Then she said "Eu não tenho selos". Which to me sounds like "I am not jealous". What?! I was going to say "good for you!" but thought I should keep it professional and instead I asked for "timbres", and proceeded to lick my fingers and "stamp" them on the envelope... She repeated "Eu não tenho selos,você pode obtê-los em Barra Shopping", which means " I don't have stamps, you can get them at Barra Shopping...

O K ...

So, you go to the Post Officce, I mean like a real post office, not some kind of distributor, and they don't have stamps!? What's this about?!!! She explained that she has to put them into the machine and send them, and no, she cannot run them through the machine and give them to me to finish up, and no, there is no way she has stamps, I must go to Barra Shopping, to a larger office, sorry about this but that's the way it is! hmmm.

She took just half of my stack of letters and I wheeled out of there. The stores line up to an oversized

sidewalk where I saw this little fox terrier, no leash, wandering around as if looking for his owner... an idea crept into me , but I brushed it away... I thought of going to get some bread, but leaving my bike outside unprotected would be tempting fate, so I headed back home. The doggie came to me, I pet him, and he followed me about 5 yards, a start.

I went back home and asked Alan for his chain and the lock's combo. "It's on a little sticker ON the lock!" - so much for security here, but it'll do! Five minutes later I was again at the strip mall, past the Post Office, towards the bakery. The dog was still there, following whoever eyed him best... the idea rushed into me this time, and I now had some bait: the bread I would buy.

When I came out of the bakery, there was a guy with a dog on a leash, and the little dog was snooping around. Could it be his owner? Nah, why would he have only one dog on a leash? I waited.

A nicely dressed lady saw the dog and started petting him!!! I could tell she liked the dog, too, and she started looking around for the owner. She talked to her maid and made comments to passer-bys... how could it be? she beat me to the dog? No, way!

She stayed there and I was a couple of steps away, on my bike, if only I were walking! the dog didn't like her and walked away. Maybe he sensed something...

So, I followed the dog into a tiny shop (about 6 ft2) that sells all you need for your barbecue: ice, beers, sodas, coal, etc., where two guys were talking. The dog sat on the floor right there! I asked them about a sign they posted on their door, they are collecting clothes and items for poor people, and, by the way, nice dog!, and then I heard "oh, thanks!" and my heart shrank. I knew I would not be able to take the dog home.