The Purple Velet Sofa

July 11

Wednesday I had my first official job interview at an Architectural and Urban planning firm downtown. Alberto dropped me off on his way to work and wished me good luck. Both parents are really supportive and get really excited for me when I have interviews. The office was AMAZING. It use to be an old garage and was converted into their studio last year. When I arrived I walked into a big open area where most of the architects work in group stations. So I was on display in that awkward "who is the new girl" kind of way. The receptionist led me to the coolest waiting room I have ever seen. I was a little room (7-1/2' by 13' as far as I could tell) and two walls were glass that looked out into the studio. The other two were bright red and purple. The red wall had silver birds painted on it. The furniture consisted of two red velvet arm chairs and the tackiest (yet hip) purple velvet sofa. I opted to relax on this fashion faux pa (spelling I'm not sure). The light fixutre was 5' in diameter with three huge glass lightbulbs....but the neatest thing about it were the fake birds perched on wires on the inside. The whole time I was waiting for the interview I was figuring out in what store in the states I could buy these fake birds to make my own light fixture.

Matteo finally took me into his office and we started the interview. I told him that I loved his office (and like a kid showing off a new toy) he told me all the steps they went through to make it a great new office. He said they have an in house chef that cooks everyday and a rooftop garden. Yeah that would be so cool to work in an environment like that. The interview was really relaxed and he asked me few questions, mainly just looked at my portfolio. He told me that they really couldn't use my talents because they do mainly urban planning and landscape architecture, but he gave me four other contacts and wished me the best of luck. From the four contacts I may possibly have two more interviews next week. I spent the rest of my afternoon walking around downtown and window shopping (this is becoming a new habit)

At four I picked up the boys and took the bus as usual. When we were getting off at our stop I got Ruggie off and turned around to grab Filippo. The bus doors closed with Filippo still inside. He calmly waved goodbye and we watched the bus leave the stop. I calmly walked down the street with Ruggie to the next stop where Fil was waiting. He thought it was very funny and was hoping that I was upset. To his dismay I gave him a high-five for getting off at the next stop. When we got home I helped Fil with English homework and then made a sword and shield for each of us out of paper. We had a wonderful (and safe) duel in the living room. Oh if these fun times and happy attitudes could last all day. By the end of the fight the sugar from their gelato kicked in and they turned into little hyper monsters. I waited out the storm with a cool head and then helped Pat fix dinner. I had her ask the boys at the dinner table how the afternoon went and waited to hear their stories. At first they said it was great fun and no problems but then they grew consciences and confessed. When Alberto came home we sat in the kitchen sipping wine and talking about places I should travel on my time off. Minus the bi-polar episode of the boys this was a good day. I went to bed with dreams of velvet and fake birds in my head.