Yesterday was Brazil's equivalent to Labor Day, Dia do trabalhador, national holiday when most people are off. As it also happens to be wife Vicki's birthday, we threw a surprise churrasco, or barbeque, for her. Some 35 people in all for the whole afternoon. The stragglers left about 7 p.m.

The kids played on the soccer field and playground in our closed community. The adults hovered near the grill and swilled soft drinks between sentences.

I took a few pictures and hope to get them posted somewhere on the web soon. (Lots of old pics here.)

We took a plate to each of the two guards at the entrances to the community. Tadeu, at the main entrance, had not been able to take his lunch, so he was salivating even before I left. Was a real labor day for him, but not much fun, so the food brightened up his day a bit.

Makes one feel good when a good deed turns out to be just what the person needed.