Forever out of place

Daylight saving time started yesterday. But this year it didn't bother me much, because: wasn't feeling well on Sat, so I took a walk in the afternoon, but wasn't able to go out at night - was in bed at 10:30! on Sun, went to mom's for Sunday lunch, then got back home and relaxed. Again, in bed by 10:30. I have to say, going to bed early really made a huge difference! I feel - I wouldn't say rested, but at least as any other day. Besides it's a really good idea to stay home and relax, reading or watching movies, from time to time. We cooked a really good dinner, and I even made a cake for breakfast, yesterday night!

So happy it's finally friday! I showed up at mom's place, she said- how comes you are here? And I replied - I am hungry. So I had dinner there! And now it's not even 10:30, I am home under the sheets, and not a little ashamed of my wild friday nights!

I am very happy, today, although quite sleepy. It's a beautiful chilly day, the sun is shining, I got here at work early so I can leave a bit earlier. After work I am gonna take a walk to the bus stop, , and check the shops on the way. Then look for a little gift for little niece, go home and cook fish. And if I have enough energy, I want to make a small dessert too - otherwise, I'll just buy something sweet. Life is good!

Why eat pasta made with fresh tomato sauce, when you can just drop it on the floor, clean everything (including the kitchen cabinets) and eat bread with cream cheese instead?

I learned today, that on April 22nd I'll have an exam for a public selection for another position I applied for. So, I now have to start studying for that too, and ask for a half day off from my new job! I'll have to invent an excuse, because I can't really say - I am taking half day off to go to a selection for another position! I feel like there are too many things happening one after another, and I can't never really relax! Oh, well. I am going to see my niece today after work, so, yay!

I am feeling like I was running the whole day today! Actually, I didn't do much: woke up slightly later, as I had the day off, and stayed in bed reading until it got time to get ready. I had an appointment with the human resources lady at my new job (which looks so much like Ellen De Generis, it's almost scary!) to sign the contract, but I got there early so I went windowshopping to the nearby mall. Signed, came back home, and while preparing lunch I was on the phone with my old job human resources to figure out how to present my resignation letter. I did the letter while eating, then headed out again to go to the city hall. Now I am back home again, and I feel like I have been standing for the last 3 hours - which is not the case, of course! But I am really satisfied I did all I had planned to do today. Tomorrow I'll announce the big news at work, hoping nobody gets angry!

More than for the week, this list is mainly for the next 2-3 days... Here it is (I post it here, so I won't loose it!) Sign the job contract (on Thu) with the new company. Call the company I am working for to ask if they want me to bring them my resignation letter, or I can just fax it. Send/take the resignation letter to the company I am working for. If I have time, still on Tue, go to the city hall to bring some paper for a damage they did on my car with a traffic sign, to have a reimboursement. Talk with my boss, here at the detached location I am working now, and say to him I am leaving in a month. Buy orange juice (totally random, but I promised bf I'd do it) I really hope I can get everything done tomorrow, since I took the day off work. Sign in the morning, fax the resignation letter, go to the city hall...

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Inland North You may think you speak "Standard English straight out of the dictionary" but when you step away from the Great Lakes you get asked annoying questions like "Are you from Wisconsin?" or "Are you from Chicago?" Chances are you call carbonated drinks "pop." The Northeast Philadelphia The Midland The South Boston The West North Central What'>http://www.gotoquiz.com/what_american_accent_do_you_have"> What American accent do you have? Quiz'>http://www.gotoquiz.com/">Quiz Created on GoToQuiz I never ever got asked if I was from Wisconsin. Pople have asked me if I was from Russia, from Brasil, from Germany, even from France. Nobody ever asked if I was from Italy. But for sure, I don't sound like Wisconsin!!!

I am almost done deciding. I think I am gonna accept the position at the pharmaceutical company, and will participate in the selection for my current job whenever it will be held. I think an experience in a private company would be a great experience, and would look good on my resumé - I'll be able to take advantage of it to apply for jobs in other companies, should I need to. The only thing that keeps me perplexed is the distance. Not the time (I spent one and a half hours to get back home today!) as much as the fact that I will have to drive... But I guess it's some thing I'll get used to . Going to sleep over it now, and will call human resources at work tomorrow to ask for how much notice they need. Goodnight!

I didn't post yesterday... was too tired to do it! I got a phone call in the morning, from a company I interviewed with in September. They offer me a 6 months contract, from April 'til September. The contract I have at my current position will expire in October. And If I accept the other job, I'd have to take a pay cut of almost 50%. Plus, the commute expenses would go up really a lot, since I have to drive there and back, there's no public transportation. The only thing that makes me consider the offer, is that they can confirm me after the six months. May be. May be not. Plus, the job would be more in my field than the job I have now. I really have no idea what to do... I am going to talk to them in a couple of hours (took the day off just for this), and see what are they offering. I have been thinking about this all day yesterday... Can't wait to go and be done with it, whatever my final decision is!!!

Today I am still upset and frustrated. I am trying to concentrate on the positive, but, boy, it's hard. And above all, I don't feel like going to work tomorrow, because I don't want to hear my colleagues complaining for this same thing. I want to forget about it for a while. I am trying to focus on the fact that everything is in my power, I will do. And I have plan b and c lined up. The frustration comes more from the unfairiness of the whole situation, than from real lack of hope/plans. I am also trying to focus on the lovely things that fill my life. Here they are, in a random order: My beautiful, pretty, young niece. She 'll be 2 months old in 2 days. Boyfriend, who is always there for me when I need. My loving parents, granma, sisters, and relatives. The fact that I have an apartment and food in my fridge. I do have a nice job that pays really well and in this very difficult time that is not a given. I really cannot complain. I know life is not fair, but I have a r

Welll... The source of my disappointment is that this morning I read the job-search announcements for my position. Basically, my contract expires in Oct. If I want to stay where I am now, doing the work I am doing, forever (which I do), I have to pass this selection. Now the thing that disappoints me is that, when I read the evaluation criteria I saw that- THEY DO NOT CONSIDER MY PhD NOR MY PUBLICATIONS!!! Meaning, I'd be at the same level as someone who just graduated from his/her Master's. Now, I have a PhD and about 10 pubs on international, well -known, scientific journals, AND THIS DOES NOT MEAN A THING!!!!! I am going to ask the person who wrote the requirements, on Mon, to see if I can at least include the fact that I have a PhD in the certification. And another thing I can do, since they want people to speak english, but give points if you speak either french or german, is to ask to be evaluated for french, and look for someone whom I can do some speaking in french in t

to write anything. It's Friday, can't wait to get out of here and go take a walk in Via Cola di Rienzo... And tonight I have a fish-based dinner at my sister's. I'll go visit my beautiful niece... And I am hingry, for a change!

I found this post I wrote in 2005 on a fashion forum "10 things about my style". It is really funny to read it today, and see how things have changed. Here it is, with my comments in italic . 15/12/2005 1. The bag. No matter if big, small, simple or full of detail, expensive or cheap. It has to be fabulous and fit the outfit. I change my coat if I think it looks funny with the bag I have chosen. I love bags, but lately (thank god) I have found I discriminate more, and buy only after many thoughts. I still love bags, but I have come to a few reliable ones which fit most of what I have. Now I choose the bag around the outfit, and not vice-versa. And now I have the added requirement: that bag must be big, to contain all my normal stuff, my diary, and books if I have to teach after work). 2. Unless I am going out or I have a presentation in front of people, the shoes are low heel, often the work boot type (hey, there’s snow here! But I try to make the rest of the outfit nice) or

I am so excited, in a few minutes I am leaving work and going shopping. I have a 20% off coupon, which is not a common thing here in Italy, valid 'til Sun. Need some spring tops, and one or two bottoms, if I find something interesting (in my size-this specific store seems to have size issues). I feel excited like a kid on Christmas day...

I usually find Sally's posts at already pretty fun and sassy and inspiring and very very wise. But this one really hit home with me. It pretty much says what's important when choosing an outfit is to create some kind of shape, the one we prefer. She is partial to hourglass shape, but I love that what she emphasizes is shape and not thinness . Some gems from her post, with my comments: "Proportionate figures are attractive to me, and hourglasses are balanced and proportionate. I've gotten to a point where I really, truly don't see weight; I see proportion. The two women pictured above weigh different amounts and have very different body types. But they look equally amazing to me. And it's all because they are balanced and proportionate in their hourglass-highlighting dresses. The woman on the right is thinner, but she doesn't look BETTER to my eye. She just looks like a narrower version of the shape I find most pleasing. The woman on the left is heavier,

These are the pictures I took last Thu at the wedding. I wanted to show the delicious paleo-Christian (just made up this word!) church where it took place: Here is me near some roman statue, and in the middle of the little church: Whish I had taken more pics of the outside walls, but the rain was pretty annoying!

We (bf and I) went to the exhibition on Futurism at the Scuderie del Quirinale. It was interesting, but mostly I love the view from that place. Here's a picture of it! Then we stayed a little on the square in front of the Quirinale Palace (the residence of our president). I loved that they decorated the entrance with mimosas, which is the flower symbol of Women's Day. You can see it in the background, behind me. And that's another wiew of the square, viewing another side: I bought two books in the meantime... I have to stop this trend! But overall it was a lovely afternoon.

Today is International Women's day. Here in Italy is remembered and celebrated more than in the US, which I like. It was instituted to celebrate all the social right women have conquered during the last century. I like to remember than here in Italy, women voted for the first time in 1946, to decide whether we wanted a republic or a monarchic State. We were talking with bf some days ago - he was saying he doesn't really approve how it is celebrated now: it usually involves going to have dinner with girlfriends and that's pretty much it. I like to think this is a chance to remember, not to celebrate. To remember how it was before, and what a long way we have came. I realize I am now lucky: I was able to study in the same school as the boys, I earn as much as my male colleague who does the same job I do, and so on. But at the same time I want to remember that in many parts of the world women are still considered somewhat less than men, don't have rights, are just "ba

I wasn't able to post anything yesterday. I collapsed again on the bus, on my way home, got stomach sick, and when at home realized I have fever too! Now it's lunch time, hopefully I'll be able to eat something... I shall return soon, hopefully!

I took a day off and went to a friend's wedding. We went only to the ceremony, not to the reception, for a series of reasons I am not going to bore you with. So afterwards, it was about 1:30 pm, and bf and I decided to go try the japanese restaurants near his place. It was good, and fun, because we were al dressed up! Pics are coming...

I found out this morning the date of the exam for a position at the university. Since I applied, I have to go take the written exam (and the oral one too, hopefully, later). It's all about laws on waste management, which means that I have been downloading stuff on this. I have a little more than two weeks for this, and in the meantime I have to come to work. So,I do have to study hard. We'll see how it goes...

Well, looks like we aaren't going to any wedding this Thu. Bf cannot take the day off - and he learned it today! I am pretty upset. I even bought a dress for it. He says he can give me back the money, but that's not the point. I am angry, and that's all. End rant.

Last Saturday bf and I went to the MACRO (Rome Museum of Contemporary Art) Future to see two art exhibitions. We walked there from bf's place, since it was a very pleasant day, not cold at all. Here's me on the bridge on our way there Among the two, I liked the "Italian Genius - back to Rome" exhibition best, it was all about Italian design. There were all kinds of things: the Vespa , couches and chairs, paintings, gadgets, and so on. Here is a sample of stuff I enjoyed ! These were kitchen gadgets! You can buy them in fancy house stores... And these - these are Ferragamos ! I am planning to check the exhibitions at MACRO more often (this was my first time there): it's free entrance, so there is not a thing not to love!

On my previous post , Kelly wrote: I found my grade school diary a while back, while moving out of my parents' house after college, and I just wanted to knock some sense into my former self, or give that little girl a big hug for the shit I put up with. This really resonates with me. From time to time, I start remembering how I felt socially akward, uninteresting and boring, ugly and fat in high school. Not always, but pretty often, especially the first years. Now I realize I was none of that, and if I could go back in time to slap my former self on her face, I'd do it! I don't understand why teen-agers never believe to what adults tell them, about them being smart, beautiful and interesting, instead they just keep self-bashing. It's really a waste of time and energies. I could have done so many more things, had I some more self-confidence...