Six Months and Counting...

I know I shouldn't complain, because people who *had* jobs are now *losing* them, but it's frustrating. I have been unemployed for six months now.

I want to work.

It isn't that there is no work for me. Since I'm an American living in Europe, there should be plenty of English teaching I could be doing. And there is! I'm just that form of unemployed that the statistic readers don't consider unemployed: ie I am capable of doing a job that is looking for someone. The fact that I'm not working is merely because my job and I haven't hooked up yet, so to speak.

I'm also frustrated because my so-called employer has been stringing me along. I haven't gotten a direct answer to the question: 'So, when exactly do you think I'll be able to start?' Grrr.

It's difficult because I feel if I had more interaction with other people - even if most of it were in English, my Italian would improve. As it is, Domi's Italian is skyrocketing and mine is stagnant. Domi works in an Italian company, in an Italian setting... everyone speaks to him in Italian and he not only understands everything, he is now capable of making jokes.

I suppose that I am also capable of making jokes, but mostly I indicate them. I can't say them.

Okay. Enough of my pity party. On the bright side, food is cooked at home and home is spotless. Spring is arriving and I have time to plan my wedding and work out.

So. Close.

The picture represents what I do to entertain myself. Ha.

Engaged!!!

On Sunday, the 8th of March 2009, on a ski slope in the Alps, Domi asked me to marry him. And I said yes.

He asked me if I'm happy with him and I said yes. Then he said, no, really. Are you happy with me? Do you want to be happy with me forever?

He asked me if I would and I asked him if he was serious. He said yes. He said, "Anna, will you marry me?"

And I said, "Of course!"

I'm very happy. Sooo happy.

The ring is silver and the engraving says "Domi e Anna." Domi wanted an & symbol, but they were made in Italy and they didn't have an & symbol, so he opted for the Italian word e which, obviously, means and. Domi and Anna. The way I've always wanted it to be.

Yay!

Work and Play

Last weekend Domi and I went skiing. Well, I went skiing and Domi went snowboarding.

It. Was. Awesome.

The first day we went to a ski slope not far from our apartment (a half an hour away) because we got sort of a late start and decided to see what the place nearby was like. We made the mistake of getting on the first ski-lift we encountered after riding an 'egg' up the mountain. We should not have done so. It was made 1. for skiers, and 2. for GOOD skiers. Although Domi fared better than I did, he didn't stay up continuously for long. As far as I was concerned, however... well. Let's just say it had been over two years since I last went skiing, and it showed. I made it down the freakishly steep first leg of the slope, only to need to stop and release the buckles on my boots.

I thought they would need to amputate.

Okay, yes, I exaggerate, but my boots were tighter than any ski-boots I've ever worn before (and that is NOT an exaggeration) and after that first bit of the slope, I was in P-A-I-N.

But I kept it up and made it down the entire slope. Once down there I said, "Woo hoo!' to Domi and bid him enjoy his next run.

I would wait where I was.

I was all set to take the 'egg' back down to the car, when we realized that we hadn't actually made it all the way down the slope. This ended up being a really great thing, because I made it all the way down in one piece, and actually really truly enjoyed myself. My calves didn't hurt quite as much, and the slope was much gentler.

I like the baby slopes. I like going slowly, letting people pass and watching them fall... Yes, I know. I'm evil.

But I do enjoy skiing, and I enjoy skiing slowly. So sue me.

We went to another ski station the following day, and that particular day of skiing was MUCH more successful. It was such great fun that I think we'll be spending this coming weekend on the slopes yet again. Wee!





In other news, I am officially legal here. I have my permesso di soggiorno and my codice fiscale, which are both necessary for me to live and work here. Woot!

So. Things are good. The struggle was long and hard, but is now over. We won.

Jazz Hands.