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Showing posts from 2009

Looking back... and forward!

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I am thinking of all I have accompished in 2009. It was an intense year, and the year when I lost my beloved granma. But lots of good things happened: I changed job, and became quite good at the new one. I had never thought I could be an organic chemist! I started studying again guitar! This was, like, the best decision in the whole year! I missed playing so much, and I am happy every time I do it! I got an offer from my music theory teacher to teach some classes next year! I'd love it so much! I started ballet classes again. So tiring but so satisfying! Moved in with boyfriend. Not always a piece of cake, but we both try to work out any disagreements. Almost found a job as a traslator. "Almost" meaning that I have to study the stuff they sent me, elaborate it, then I will be able to work for real. I put aside quite some money in case I lose my job... it makes me feel safe! My goals for next year are very few: Start caring less and do what makes me happy

Stuff I want!

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I know this should be a solemn day, spent thinking of last year's accomplishments and next year's goals. But, all I can think is how much I am waiting for Saturday, the start of the sales season here in Rome. That, and to go pick up the mozzarelle for tomorrow's lunch... Here's the stuff I need and I am lusting over at JCrew, knowing I'll have to make do with whatever I find in other stores - since there's no Jcrew here I know I'll find stuff as nice, but I am missing JCrew so much lately... may be I should plan a shopping trip in the US? Here's the list:                                                                                                                                                                      The shirt The skirt

Today...

I am really feeling out of place. And in the wrong place...

Song of the day

This is a beautiful version of the Canon in D by Pachelbel. It starts a bit slow, but then becomes very moving! And this version is not bad either! (I am biased because there is a guitar involved)

New blog!

I have decided to start a new blog, " A bookworm diary " to write about the books I read during the year (and to count them, since sometimes around March I always lose count). I have just written the first post, about a book I got for Christmas which I finished last night. Hope you enjoy!

A walk in Rome.

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Yesterday, after lunch and the mandatory (for me) nap, bf and I decided to go to St. Peter's to see the nativity and the Christmas tree. There were so many people, and not all the pictures are perfect (especially the tree). These are as tall as real people, and the clothes are made of real fabric! This was the best I could do for the tree. Ot's nice you can see the cathedral in the back of the picture.

Another song of the day...

Oh, and by the way...

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The sweetest present.

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I was thinking about the sweetest Christmas gift I have ever received. It was Chrismas of 2006, my last Christmas in the US. I couldn't wait to come back to Italy and finally be together with my bf. But I still had 3 months to wait. We were mainly talking via skype, because on the phone it was very expensive. And I had some problems writing the italian accents, because there were no keys for that in the US keyboard I was using. For Christmas we sent each other presents via mail. In the box I got from him, there were several things: a book, coffee, italian cookies, and this: It is the key for the "é" and "è" on the italian keyboard. I loved it so much, because he had remembered our conversation of some months before, found an old keyboard, taken the key and wrapped it in Christmas paper. It was a joke, of course, butI still think this is an extremely thoughtful and unexpected gift. And I still keep it in full view on the bookcase.

Random stuff!

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I am all excited because I am done with Christmas shopping! Today I bought the last present: a cute small stereo with an usb port for bf. We were together in the store, he couldn't decide whether to buy it or not, and I jumped in saying: I am gonna buy it for you as a Christmas present! Yesterday he bought me my present: we went together so I could choose the color/cut (I had asked for a slip). He bought a silk dark green slip, and matching bra and panties. Much more than I had expected! Of course, I am not using any of it until after Christmas! I could have received a translation assignment, but I have not yet finished the studying required... It's sad, since that money would have been quite useful... Mom gave me Christmas cookies! So good!

Today...

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...I am going to have a public ballet class. Basically, other teachers from the school will come watch us during class, then tell their comments to our teacher. I don't know how I feel about it. I don't really know whether I am scared, nervous, or couldn't care less...

Song of the day

Links I liked!

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These are some of the blog posts I really enjoyed reading this week! I really liked this post from Sal, because I have always liked the idea of a white button down, but was never really able to wear it in a non-boring way. This is just the kind of posts I love! From Megan. I read this last night, when feeling kind of low because of the unnerving attitude a very close person has towards me (and many others). It really helped! This post is so much fun (and how cute is the resveratol pendant?)! On a more serious note, I found this post very insightful. And in case you are travelling for the holidays (I am not, unfortunately), you'll find this very useful. Image source

I fell in love

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With this beauty... I played this during music class (it was my teacher's), and I really like it: it's light, I can connect it with a headset, and play anytime of the day (or night), and they make also a classic version. I am seriously thinking about buying it...

Song of the day!

Song of the day

Links I liked!

Make up suggestions for Christmas parties. This I really enjoied reading: Turning style inspiration into action ! The art of gift giving - very useful... And a saturday project - again, gift-giving inspired.

Four hours...

I am running on four hours of sleep. I was too nervous to sleep last night - actually, not nervous: I was afraid of driving to work today, after what happened to me last Tue (the steering wheel just stopped turning). I am so scared it will happen again, even though I know I completely changed the wheel piece... I was even contemplating the idea of quitting my job to find something else I could reach with public transportation... Very, very unpractical at this time! So now I am basically sleepwalking through my day, and after work I'll have to go to the doctor, then to ballet class, then come back home at about 10 pm...

Some thursday gratitude...

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...because, feeling so low, I need to remind myself of all the good things I have in my life! First: it's true I had to spend a crazy amount of money on car repair, but if I did that means: that I have a car, that I had the money to pay for it, that I have a job to earn this money. And none of these is a given! My boss, who never complains if I have to miss work. He knows I do work hard when I need to, so he doesn't mind if I take two hours (or two days) off. Lunch with an old friend, talking of car problems and how much my little niece makes us smile. Christmas is near! I know lots of people get into holiday depression, I know it's a very consumeristic holiday, but the smell of sweet foods, the lights in the streets and decorations in the shop windows make me happy! My new shoes, which remind me so much of the ones Diane Kruger was wearing in the movie "Bastards Apart". A four day weekend, starting this Friday! I'll rest, play music and try to enjoy myself. T

Feeling down...

Yesterday, while driving to work, for a nanosecond the steering wheel just stopped turning as I wanted it to. Obviously, I got pretty scared, drove really carefully to and from work (knowing at any time the wheel could just stop working) and had to take a day off from work today to take the car to be fixed. I got the nice news that it'll cost me 440€, because they have to change the whole piece, and I won't have my car until tomorrow morning. So, it's a day and a half of vacation, basically wasted (although at least I did some christmas shopping...) And, as if it wasn't enough, my boss called me and told me I had done some mistakes on an analysis, and the value they obtained today was higher than I had said - not a good thing. He was not angry (he said when a job has to be done quickly, it is possible to make mistakes), but I am very angry at myself, even though it's not like this mistake caused the company to waste money, or I ruined some product (quite the opposit

Sunday song!

Links I liked.

I can't even pronounce it very fast... . but these are some posts I really enjoyed reading this week: A list of cool online fashion mags, courtesy of Further Ado . Can you be a consumerist minimalist ? The everyday minimalist says yes! And explains how... A very insightful new take on 5-a-day , courtesy of eLLa ! What can you do when the glass is half empty ? Some suggestions from the wonderful Sarah Von. On a lighter side... some tips on how to chose a coat that fits -courtesy of Angie. And some talk on essential wardrobe items , from Imogen. A list of useful blogs on sustainability and frugality, from the lovely Angel-

whish list...

I have been thinking of what to ask for Christmas to sisters/bf/parents/relatives... I don't want anyone to spend too much money, and I want to avoid what happened last year when my cousin bought me a book I had just read (she changed it later, tho). So, for now, here's what I want/need: The last book from Ammaniti -Che la festa cominci-I think this is the title, or something like that. The last book from Baricco - I really don't remember the title here A slip, any color would be fine And I wouldn't mind if anyone would give me tickets to a concert, possibly classical music, possibly at the Auditoriom... Suggestions?

Awakening...

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Today I finally managed to go to the EUR to take pics of the "awakening" by Seward Johnson... It really is impressing!

Procrastination...

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I should be writing a very boring work email now... Instead, look what I made! It's a brooch , made out of bits and pieces of fabric I had around...

Updates!

Well... looks like I have been away for a while, but the reality is that I have had a ton of things to do lately... So, here's what happened! My contract was renewed, so I still have a job! At least until the end of April, then we'll see what happened. I am really happy, since I love the other girls at work, and really like the kind of job they have assigned to me lately... I might score another, part-time job as a translator! This small company located in Milan was looking for people to translate scientific texts from english to italian. They have sent me a first test, and it went well. Today I am gonna try to do the second test. I have been home, sick, since monday afternoon. Little fever and big pain in my back muscles and bones! Have no idea what it is... I think I have decided what to give for Christmas to sisters and cousins: a colleague's mom makes the cutest jewels. It'll be a little bracelet or pair of earrings to each of them, and a shirt made by me! Pics to c

Crossed fingers!

Got some good news... workwise... May be... Nothing official yet. Keeping my fingers crossed...

Wine and chocolate

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I was sick today. Very painfully sick. But I still had to deal with an upcoming job interview organization, and write a report for work. So some minutes ago, I went out to the supermarket. I bought red wine and dark chocolate. There is something so really decadent about this coupling... I think the wine will go very well with the roast beef I am making. And the chocolate after dinner! Image source.

Some more urban landscapes...

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DIY time!

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I was needing a couple of t-shirts for ballet class, but I didn't want to spend too much on some "professional dancer" tee. So I decided to make them by myself. I started from a simple men's grey tee, a crewneck. Started cutting around, and here's what I got: Some details: I tied the left shoulder with some of the leftover fabric: I cut a couple of slits on the right side and passed another strip of leftover fabric though them: I was really satisfied of how the work turned out. So much, that I made another one, a black tee.

Urban landscapes

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Don't know what's gotten into me...

I woke up at about 12 am last night, and couldn't fall asleep until 3 am. That's after drinking some chamomile tea, verifying it was no having its desired affect, then taking some sleep medicine (which is something I hate to do), reading some pages of Chéri in french (hoping the effort would knock me down), screaming at bf because he woke me up in the first place. And today I am so tired that I had to call in sick: it would have been impossible for me to drive until my workplace, with the rain falling and the trucks passing me, after 3 hours of sleep. Because, I forgot to mention, the road I drive to work is considered the second most dangerous road in Italy! I think I am going to buy some herbal tea to drink before sleep, and I would really love to figure out what's my problem!

Good news, bad news...

Well, the bad news is that I'll have to work on Sat. I have to follow a process scale-up from the lab to the plant, and they are going to start on Sat (they cannot keep the plant unused, so they have to start as soon as they are done with the previous process). The good news is that I'll have to work on Sat. Meaning: they'll pay me more than enough to pay for a month's worth of music classes, which is a very good thing. So I am trying to see the positive in this...

Beauty and deliciousness in the Amalfi Coast!

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The stairs we had to climb to get out of the b&b!!! The terrace of the b&b. View from the b&b.