February 27, 2008

Bad experience

It happened last friday. Marty didn't even want to go (she doesn't like that disco), but her best friends were very persuasive. The idea was to dine together, all four of them, get ready and go to dance. So she put in a leather bag a pair of stiletto to replace her Vans later, her make-up trousse, and said "goodbye, I'll be late".
Next thing I know, the phone rang at 2.30am, I got out of bed, reaching the phone sure that something went terribly wrong. When I heard her voice I was suddenly in Heaven, my girl was fine. But they had a very bad experience.
Out of the disco, they reached for the car (parked in one near gas station parking lot, under a street lamp) to find out the car was open, their bags, cell phones - two of them - money, personal documents, keys, Marty's shoes and one coat were gone! After a moment of pure shock (they usually put the clothes and bags in the wardrobe, God only knows why the other night they acted differently) they all called home to block their credit cards. So, at 2.35am I had a nice conversation with a nice guy at the 24-hours-blocking-cards-service (lots of people doing weird jobs at weird hours, I know).
While I was on the phone the girls reached a 'carabinieri' station (here we have two surveillance corps, police and carabinieri) to denounce the theft, but at night they only supply emergency help, so Marty got finally at home at 3.30am. She was so angry for what happened and worried for her papers and keys (most for her Vans, I must say!).
So, saturday morning me and Marty with her friend Alice and her dad, made the trip to the carabinieri station to state the fact. They wrote a very long relation about what happened, the girls signed the paper and with a copy of it, we went to the citizens-front-desk of the City Hall to have their identity cards replaced (25,00 € each).
In the meanwhile hubby was driving very slowly up and down the long road just opposite the disco, to see if the thieves, got the money and the phones, maybe they just thrown the bags with the documents away. He had no luck. He spoke to the gas station owner who said that thefts were a common things when the disco was open, and that sometimes he found things  on the roof of the building. So they even looked up there, but then again, no luck.
We, with our brand new identity cards, went back to the carabinieri, to have a temporary driving licenses, waiting for the new ones to arrive by mail (the carabinieri station itself will ask for them).
And yesterday morning a man arrived at home to have our lock changed (280,00 €).
Marty this morning went to buy a new wallet, a new pair of shoes, and new make-up items, I didn't ask for how much.
If you consider that in her wallet were only 10,00 € .........well, I'm really mad about it!
And running through the city saturday morning had a strong impact on my health (already bad), I had fever again on sunday, I had to call the doc, and now I'm home with a terrible cough and cold.
The things that really gets on my nerves, is that the girls met a police car while going to the carabinieri, they stopped the car to tell them what happened. The policemen said that they know that place is not safe for cars and things, but that they were the only car on duty, they couldn't help with anything.
Next time our "dear" mayor will talk about the things he has done and will do for our safety, I will know what to reply. And I'm not so sure it will be a polite comment!

ducks_004.gif Ducks in line picture by GBarusi

Posted by Gra at 15:17:07 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

February 25, 2008

At home

Five days at home with a bad flu, fever, all my bones are aching like hell, cold, cough, all the best!

nurse.jpg picture by GBarusi


And I have to find someone who recorded the Oscar night and can give me a copy.............

oscar1.jpg picture by GBarusi
Posted by Gra at 13:20:20 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

February 20, 2008

Things to do......

.....before I'm too old to enjoy them..................

1) - Take a bike trip to North Cape

nc5.jpg picture by GraTosi

2) - Come back to Ireland

ireland.jpg picture by GraTosi

3) - Go to see the ancient place of Gizah

piramidesdegizahyazmina014.jpg picture by GraTosi

4) - Re-read The Lord of the Ring 

lord-of-the-ring.jpg picture by GraTosi
 
5) - Reach the goal of 100 books read in one year

48ed7d95.jpg books picture by GBarusi

6) - Finally learn how to knitting

knitting.jpg picture by GraTosi

7) - Learn spanish

Full2708.jpg picture by GraTosi

8) - Buy a country home while I can still enjoy the country life

country.jpg Country farm picture by GBarusi

9) - Thus learn the art of gardening

hobo_gardenbunny.gif Country bunnies picture by GBarusi

I left out a 10th goal because I won't stop dreaming any sooner..............202856hiqfqe86hr.gif picture by GBarusi
Posted by Gra at 16:10:29 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

February 19, 2008

Springtime already?

spring.jpg picture by GBarusi   I usually feel this way at springtime. But the season is yet to come, so when it will really arrive, how it will effect my mood? I mean, it will be worse than I feel today? Kill me now.

I don't feel like working (and I have so many papers due).
I don't feel like reading (and this speaks out loud for those who know me).
I don't feel like cooking (something that always makes me happy).
I don't feel like watch movies (and this is strange too).

I just want to surf the net, searching for funny videos on YouTube, reading my favourite blogs, and stare outside the window, daydreaming.

Would you call all this a waste of time? With all the things I have to do, surely yes. But I can't do anything about it, it's just the way I'm feeling right now. So, any suggestions?

springtime_orig_LR6.jpg picture by GBarusi

Posted by Gra at 16:53:38 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

February 18, 2008

The last few days

 cookingbear.gif Cookies bear picture by GBarusi  We don't celebrate the day, but Marty surprised us with a very good dessert on Valentine's Day night, and even if I heavily suspect mom gave a hand, it was really nice of her. It's a menthe, yoghurt and chocolate cake.............

medium_0391763adae1b755674863626b3a.jpg 18/02/08 picture by GraTosi

The dinner was a rich rice recipe, with veggies, shrimps and eggs, and a green salad

imbb.jpg 18/02/08 picture by GraTosi 820111.jpg 18/02/08 picture by GraTosi

Friday I spent the entire evening cleaning my freezer/fridge! My God, it's been ages since the last time, the ice was so thick.......I expected polar bears and penguins to show up any time!

orsettomobile.gif Bear picture by GBarusi     Funky_penguin.gif Penguin picture by GBarusi

Saturday I finally found a nice pair of boots for my bike rides at Pittarello, they are from past collections, but they just suit my case

boots-R5052.jpg picture by GraTosi
and a nice yellow waterproff cover for my backpack from Ferrino


COVER0.jpg picture by GraTosi

Saturday it was dinner for two......Marty and I, coz hubby was at the football game, so we decided it was pizza time!


pizzabuffet.jpg 18/02/08 picture by GraTosi

Yesterday, according to the weather forecasts, was sunny but really cold. The cold couldn't stop us, not in the world, so at 10.30am we met with our friends to partecipate at the annual winter bikers reunion in Berceto (home of the famous Parma-Berceto race).
I was over-dressed, but my knees payed their tribute to the cold wind, this morning they are like stone! The plan was to reach the Pass of Cisa, for a drink before lunch, but the ones coming back said it was -5° up there. We looked at each other and all together said "no way!!!".

foto001.jpg picture by gra1961

foto002.jpg picture by gra1961

foto003.jpg picture by gra1961

We took a stroll in the village, before reaching a snack-bar where we had lunch, typical "focaccia" with Parma ham, pancetta, salame and frittata.

421128316_d0a90aeb39_b.jpg picture by gra1961

er6-berceto_big.jpg picture by gra1961

foto004.jpg picture by gra1961

We choose not to stay till the end of the day, because of the cold, and we ride back home before the sun got down. A warm shower, a rich moisturizing body cream, a light soup, and straight to bed with a book.
Posted by Gra at 14:01:39 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

February 14, 2008

Travelling

After some time of lurking, finally I decided to register at this travels site, maybe on the next Provence trip wave of enthusiam...........
While surfing the site, I found so many new ideas for short trip or summer vacations.............and I found reviews and pics of places I've already been.
This brought back lots of memories, of beautiful places, funny moments, nice people..................

alicante.jpg picture by Pootchie  Alicante, Spain

teide-tenerife.jpg El Teide picture by Pootchie  El Teide, Canary Islands

altare.jpg Waldhausen 1997 picture by Pootchie Waldhausen, Austria

plage_corz_ouessant.jpg Ouessant picture by Pootchie  L'Ile de Ouessant, France

aboveegeskov.jpg Egeskov Castle picture by Pootchie  Egeskov, Denmark

cliffsatLandsEnd.jpg Land's End picture by Pootchie Cornwall, England

ireland1.jpg Ring of Kerry picture by Pootchie Ring of Kerry, Ireland

stmichel4.jpg picture by Pootchie Mont-St.Michel, France

apicyarles.jpg Spices Market picture by Pootchie Arles, France

verdon_4.jpg Verdon Road picture by Pootchie Verdon, France

vosges2.jpg Les Vosges picture by Pootchie Les Vosges, France

BrugesCanal1.jpg Bruges picture by Pootchie Bruges, Belguim

WaterlooLion.jpg Waterloo picture by Pootchie Waterloo, Belgium

giardino.jpg picture by Pootchie Monaco, Germany

Koblenz.jpg picture by Pootchie Koblenz, Germany

So many places left out there, waiting to be discovered, people to meet, smells to savour, specialties to be tried, sunsets to admire.
To travel means discover new sensations, feeling new emotions, find inner spaces inside you, and to store memories for the future.
Posted by Gra at 15:12:03 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

Happy Valentine

bowlbuckettm5.gif picture by GBarusi



LET LOVE LEAD THE WAY....................AT LEAST TODAY!
Posted by Gra at 08:59:14 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

February 13, 2008

In this world........

Stealing the idea from someone else's blog.........

Places I've been

worldmap.gif picture by GBarusi

and places I'd like to go

worldmap2.gif picture by GBarusi

Together they make up just the 18% of the whole globe................

Ahhhh................traveling.....................

TheresNothingLikeTravel.jpg picture by GBarusi
Posted by Gra at 09:04:22 | Permanent Link | Comments (0) |

February 12, 2008

Sorry Kelli.....

I really tried, I really wanted to take an active part in your KAOC Kelli, but today it didn't work! I have this collegue who really can drive me crazy.............

gotohell.gif picture by Pootchie

Guess I will be in a better mood tomorrow..................
Posted by Gra at 15:22:21 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |

February 11, 2008

Busy Time

So.....it seems I survived the weekend...........

busy.gif picture by GBarusi

Friday night we had dinner with three of my old classmates (don't tell them I called them "old") and their partners, and we had a really great time, lots of laughs and schooltime memories. The dinner itself was great....

22000520antipasto.jpg 11/02/08 picture by GraTosi

BPITTEXCLU0209_15.jpg 11/02/08 picture by GraTosi

22002320carne20alla20brace.jpg 11/02/08 picture by GraTosi

22002720pizza20dolce.jpg 11/02/08 picture by GraTosi

Saturday was a day entirely dedicated to the house, groceries shopping in the morning, and a full cleaning in the afternoon. In the evening we had the condo reunion, it wasn't that bad, first of all coz it was short, no discussions, but most of all, thanks to a very good cake baked by a neighbor and good wine. The best part was at the end, our next-door-neighbor invited us to drink some grappa he had. We had a nice time talking with them, they are new in the condo (from last june) so we got to know each other better, and now I'm sure we will get along pretty well with them.

BPITTEXCLU0209_15.jpg picture by GraTosi

Yesterday afternoon with two couples of friends, we made a short trip to Sabbioneta, about 30 km outside Parma. It's a nice little city, very old, fortified, with a very big antiques market, and lots of history between its walls. It was a sunny and warm day, we enjoyed so much the walk.

SANY0004.jpg picture by gra1961

SANY0007.jpg picture by gra1961

SANY0008.jpg picture by gra1961

SANY0011.jpg picture by gra1961

SANY0015.jpg picture by gra1961

While walking in those narrow streets, we talked about a bike trip at the end of april in Provence. We decided to absolutely go, and fixed the date and the details. I can't wait!

159_9003_5.png picture by GraTosi

One couple had a previous appointment for dinner, but the other one joined us at home for a pizza we ordered at our usual take-away

PFCycles.gif picture by GraTosi

Today I feel really lazy and sleepy, already dreaming about Provence, not at all about doing my job! Can't wait for the next weekend to relax with friends, spend some time doing what I like, and forget about work!
Posted by Gra at 15:16:04 | Permanent Link | Comments (1) |
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