Easter

Ok – I’m ” a day late and a dollar short” for wishing everyone happy Easter, but here it is anyway – HAPPY EASTER!!! My Easter break, (Monday = long weekend) was great. We stayed in and watched Russ Meyer movies and a movie called “Ghost World” with Steve Buscemi as an awkward middle age man who hangs out with a disgruntled teenager. (I love the word “disgruntled” – it sounds like a word used by some reptilian pig or something – heh heh “man-bear-pig”! for all you South Park fans out there!).  We also ordered pizzas the whole week-end.  Aaah! Nice!

Frank mentioned the idea of having a party at his house soon, I don’t know when. That should be fun. Although we socialise quite often, I don’t know who Frank’s outside-of-work friends are. This should be interesting. He said that we should all cook something and bring it. I’m not sure what this means – must investigate.

I hope you all had as relaxing an Easter as I did – after getting that presentation out of the way, the whole atmosphere at work is much more relaxed. As soon as the weather gets better, I might try to see a bit more of Wisconsin (Janine has a car!).  Does anybody have any suggestions?

The expression of the day is “as snug as a bug in a rug” – it means “to be really comfortable and cozy”.

Well, it’s done!

Well – it’s done!!! The presentation went pretty well! We sent a transcript (which I edited) from the minutes of the meeting to Prof. Bogliolo so University of Urbino students could have a look at what actually happened. Again – the transcript meets disclosure regulations.  Anyway – I’m just happy it’s over.  I was really nervous, and just had to concentrate on the information.  Mrs. Finch from the Marketing Department asked me a good question, and I responded with a really long answer. I think I sounded defensive.  In the end she came to talk to me in the corridor (we have coffee machine at the end of our RD department corridor – just next to the Marketing corridor and the Accounting corridor.  There’s another one on the other side of the floor where Marketing and Accounting meet the other RD department (hardware development)) and said that she really wasn’t offended and that she appreciated what I did.  Actually, she’s really nice.  I wonder if she’s married? Heh heh.  I write Mrs. because I don’t know whether she’s married or not.  Come to think of it, how do you address people by title here?  It’s easy to slur things when you’re talking, but when you actually write it you notice the differences. 

Anyway –  I’m babbling.  The important thing is that Frank said he was pleased, and that I could take up public speaking for a living! NO WAY!!! I’ll admit – we went out and “got plastered” yesterday evening.  Frank told me that this presentation was partially a formality, but a formality that convinced the board to give more money to the RD departments and support the future development of the project.  I almost got sick. That bastard laughed his head off as I turned green from nerves.  Aaaah, the stabilising power of beer and buffalo wings! (those spicy chicken wings that look like they came from a dinosaur).  Heh heh.  I don’t think an Italian company would have let an intern give a presentation like this.  Anyway – that Frank has certainly pushed me since I’ve been here. It’s been great.  He should come to Italy and work for the University of Urbino!!! Is there any money for that? heh heh.  I’ve got to get serious about what comes next for me.  I’ll keep you posted!

The expression of the day is “cool under fire” – it means to keep calm and thinking straight in a stressful situation. You would say something like “Wow – that was a really tough audience, but the speaker was really cool under fire.” (“Fire” indicating the questions and comments as if they were bullets – a true American expression!)

Happy Easter Everyone! (I’ll have more to tell after the long weekend – heh heh – we’re going to Minnessota for the weekend. Who is “we”? heh heh)

Hi again – “long time – no see”

Hi everybody!

I’ve been neglecting this! Sorry! I’ve been busy in and out of work. I’m getting ready for the presentation of our project. As I said before, I’m really nervous, and probably going around in circles a bit.  As well, I might as well say, I’ve got a girlfriend. No sleep, but it’s worth it! I’ll have to leave you guessing on that one, I could get in trouble for “being a blabbermouth” or “telling tales out of school”. Heh – it’s funny, every new situation brings with it new types of conversation. I’ve been learning a whole new vocabulary about what it’s like to have a girlfriend – particularly from the guys at work, who “kid” me all the time.

Here are some things I’ve picked up:

“to be head over heals for someone” – to be in love with someone to the point of distraction

“to be smitten” – to be struck with love

“to be hooked” – the idea is that you finally get caught like a fish – except by love

“to be love-struck” – same as “to be smitten”

Anyway – another good expression is “discretion is the better part of valour” – it means that proper gentlemen do not tell their news to the public in general!

Heh heh, Frank says he doesn’t care how much I sleep or don’t sleep, as long as I get my work done!

Anyway – sorry for being silent for the past couple of weeks. I slept last night! This is getting the most out of the experience!