What I do @ work...

Another working week has started and after the long break for the festivity of "All Saints"...it's even tougher to stay at work in front of a monitor and work on...concrete design, which is, in my opinion, the most boring and annoying part of my job!!!!!

It has been months since we started this blog, and Ely and I have never written about our jobs. So here I am, describing what I do on my work days...

As a Civil Engineer, I basically design structures,but it's just one of the many duties I have in the office. Sometimes I also prepare architectural projects, mainly for infrastrucures, but also houses/villas and some restorations of historical buildings. Moreover I follow all the the managerial part of the construction sites we are responsible for all over the region. The project menagement is my favourite part of the job, as you have to go on the sites where we build, directing the works and making the point on the progresses, choosing the best solutions for technological or architectural problems. Sometimes it is difficult, but challenging. Almost you don't remain for hours in front of a computer, as I am doing lately...and probably for rest of the next winter. In fact the winter season, expecially for the low temperatures, is mostly dedicated to stay in office, designing new projects and making "indoor" managment!

I work from Monday to Thursday 8-12.30 and 14-18.30 and Friday morning 8-12. It happens that most of the times I have to stay extra time to finish works as we have frequent deadlines.

It has been 2 years since I have started to work in this office, and I must say that I have learned a lot, expecially thanks to my boss who tought me a lot...Basically I do what I have studied for, but I am not sure it will be a work for life. I think I would like to try something more dynamic, more creative...and...why not? Maybe have an experience abroad. Any ideas, guys?
Maybe a lemonade kiosk on a tropical beach!!! (^_^)

My contract expires at the end of 2008...so I have time to think about it!

-Mario

Ratatouille...

No...dico.. ma l'avete visto? Sinceramente credo sia il cartone animato più divertente e riuscito degli ultimi tempi... Domenica scorsa dopo una fantastica cenetta a base di spaghetti al Barolo in salsa allo Spek... io, Mariello, mia sorella Anna ed il suo fidanzato Davide abbiamo proseguito la serata al cinema allietati dalle spericolate avventure di questo adorabile roditore!!!

Devo ammettere che inizialmente ero 1 po' scettica perchè da brava schizzinosetta non posso proprio dire che i ratti siano parte della top ten dei miei animali preferiti, ma grazie al mio smisurato amore per l'arte culinaria mi sono convinta ed ho assaporato ogni singolo minuto di questo spassosissimo film!!! Se non l'avete ancora visto correte al cinema e non perdete ratatouille... grasse risate assicurate e comprese nel prezzo secondo la formula... soddisfatti o rimborsati!!! :)

One day, carving...

Today we are preparing our Halloween pumpkin...

Phase 1: Mario opened the pumpkin at the bottom and cleaned it. Afterwards designed the eyes and Ely the mouth.

Phase 2: Ely started to cut it...

Phase 3: When done, we brushed its hair (?!?!?) and cuddled it...how lovely!!!! We already love our little spooky pumpkin...

What do you think about our pumpkin? Do you like it????

-Mario & Ely

Friends from USA

This weekend we had the nice visit of some friends from USA. Thank to my dear cousin Linda, we could meet her friends Gilbert, Gloria and Loretta. We spent a great time together here in Trento and we also visited a nice vinery and the Toblino Lake with its castle, where Ely and I would like to have our wedding reception.
Thank you guys for the lovely and unexpected gift that we have appreciated very much. We will use it very soon (and we will post the picture!!!)...
Enjoy your holiday here in Italy...We are sure it will be great and you will spend an unforgettable month travelling around!

-Mario & Ely

L'uomo dai mille volti

Brachetti show sample

Yesterday night me, Mario, my mother Adry and my father Claudio went to theatre to see an amazing show: the most incredible magician and illusionist ever! They say that he's the fastest costume changer in the world (you can see from the video sample above!), whose name is Arturo Brachetti. I have seen him on TV before, but live it's even better.

The show lasted about 2 hours and it really worthed the money spent for tickets...which we have been lucky to get because it was sold out in a few hours!!!!

He's on tour in Italy, but soon probably even around the world. If you get the chance to find his show, don't miss it. It's fantastic!

-Ely

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Lunedì sera io, Mariello, Adry e Claudio siamo andati a teatro per vedere le strabilianti prodezze del miglior trasformista al mondo (o almeno così ci è stato assicurato dal guinnes dei primati 2006).

Lo spettacolo, della durata di 2 ore circa, è stato davvero meraviglioso ed i soldini spesi non sono certo stati rimpianti poichè tutti sono rimasti a bocca aperta per l'intera durata dello spettacolo!Mai in vita mia avevo visto 1 esibizione di questo tipo e sono proprio contenta di essere riuscita a prendere i tanto bramati biglietti!!!!

Con domani il signor Arturo sarà a Milano e poi ancora a spasso per il mondo con il suo tour... che dire.. se ne avete l'occasione non fatevelo sfuggire!!!

Bello!!! Bello!!! Bellissimo!!!

-Ely

Spooooooky!!!

Brrrrrr!!!

It's official: the cold is here and with it, the first seasonal flu! Ely and I both caught some kind of a virus that made us remain in bed for some days this week. We almost could be creative and made some autumn themed compositions with colorful leaves and little pumpkins (we are ready to carve our big one for Halloween!!!!)...

Last week we also had to face some unexpected expenses: a new fridge and fix our car's problems! Our fridge was veeeeery old (almost 30 y.o.) and we had it in heritage from my grandmother Emma. It worked for some months but the other day it stopped working and unfortunately all the food in it had to be thrown away. What a pity! We urged to have a new fridge, because it's impossible to live without it (or you have to go to the market every day for fresh food, which is impossible considering working people tight schedules!!!!). Here in Trento there is the outlet factory of Whirpool Europe, so we could get a very nice new fridge (a side by side one, our dream!!!!!) at a very reasonable price! Here is how it looks like in our kitchen (with some decorations and magnets we couldn't not place on it!!!)

Ely also found some ideas to bake a new cake with pear and lemon cream (I LOVE LEMON!!!)...so here is the result...it was VERY VERY YUMMY!!!!

-Mario