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Thursday Thirteen: 13 Songs I'm Listening To - Over and Over Again!

25/10/2012

Hello, everyone! This week, I'm going to provide you with a musical interlude - mostly because I'm writing and editing and have been listening to music endlessly while I work (it's part of my process, y'see).

So now, please allow me to present to you:

13 Songs I'm Listening To - Over and Over Again!

First up are three songs by Amanda Palmer (formerly with the Dresden Dolls, once upon a time). I bought her most recent album (Theatre is Evil, with the Grand Theft Orchestra) and quite enjoyed it, along with some of her older work. She might not be everyone's cup of tea right away, but I find she grows on you, and her original lyrics are frequently intriguing and stunning pieces of art.

Of course, I can't write without Samuele...

Well, there you go. Now you know how I've been spending my (musical) time, lately.

I hope you've enjoyed this extended musical interlude.

And now, if you don't mind, I'm going to get back to writing.

And since I'm writing another story with Davide Magnani in it...

It's only fair to feature Luca Argentero again.

I've missed him.

Haven't you?

Ahhhhh... Luca!

Ciao for now!

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Thursday Thirteen: 13 Photos from Lago di Como

18/10/2012

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Ciao a tutti! Hello everybody! It's that time again, and this week I thought I'd share with you another selection of photos from my trip to Como. This time, the focus is on the lake itself.

So please, allow me to share with you:

Thirteen Photos from Lago di Como!

This was the view of the lake from the balcony of our hotel room. It was cloudy and a tiny bit drizzly when we arrived, but it was still beautiful.

We had a corner room, and this was the view out of our side window.

There's a walking path which winds among the residential streets in Tremezzo called the Greenway. This is one of the archways on the Greenway.

Lakeside at last!

View of the lake and sky from a belvedere in a park.

Once the clouds had broken up, it was an even more beautiful day.

On the evening of the second day, my hubby made a new friend, who happened to live right behind the hotel.

As we drove to Argegno on the final day to meet a friend, I snapped this photo of a common weekend sight on the lake.

City street in Argegno, Italy.

The main square of Argegno.

Hubby in an archway, Argegno, Italy.

Private residences in Argegno, Italy.

And, finally, a view of the lake from Argegno.

There you go. Thirteen Photos from Lago di Como. I do hope you've enjoyed them.

Because that's what I enjoy the most: knowing you've enjoyed your visit here.

And because I want you to enjoy your visits...

I have to be obliging...

No?

British Olympic team swimmers. Hey, at least this shot fits the theme, right?

Ciao for now!

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I'm Guest Blogging on Famous Five Plus

17/10/2012

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I've done a guest blog for Famous Five Plus where I'm talking about the Two Questions every writer answers at some point in their career. Why not drop by and leave a little comment love?

I'll see you there!

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Thursday Thirteen: 13 Images from Passo Ghisallo

11/10/2012

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Ciao a tutti! This week, I'm jumping right in with a collection of photos taken just last Saturday. So, please allow me to present:

13 Images from the Museum of Cycling and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Ghisallo

Il Museo del Ciclismo (The Museum of Cycling) - Passo Ghisallo - Magreglio, Italy

View of the grounds of the museum and the Sanctuary (not pictured, on left).

This statue of two cyclists is the reason I've wanted to come here for so long. The museum was built just a few years ago.

Il Santuario della Madonna del Ghisallo. The Madonna del Ghisallo has been the patroness of cyclists since 1949.

Don Ermelindo Viganò was the rector of the sanctuary and asked the pope to declare the Madonna del Ghisallo the patroness of cyclists.

Three legendary Italian cyclists are honored with monuments outside the sanctuary (l-r): Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi and Alfredo Binda.

A close-up of the statue on the grounds between the sanctuary and the museum.

Detail of the fallen cyclist.

Detail of the victorious cyclist.

This is the road up from Bellagio, which the Giro di Lombardia traveled to reach the pass just one week before I arrived. (Yeah, my timing stinks.)

View from the museum's belvedere, looking down on Lake Como.

Inside the Museo del Ciclismo. A pretty darned good use of space and light, I'd say.

Inside the sanctuary are a number of bicycles and jerseys from riders - professional and amateur alike - along with the normal ex-votos and tributes. In the center of this photo is the bicycle which belonged to Fabio Casartelli, who died as a result of his crash during a descent in the 1995 Tour de France.

And there you have them: 13 Images from Passo Ghisallo!

I hope you've enjoyed seeing them at least a fraction as much as I enjoyed taking them.

It's no secret to anyone that cycling is one of my favorite things in the world.

And some folks understand that better than others.

Some don't get it at all.

But hey...

To each their own!

The showers at the Roubaix Velodrome. Ciao for now!

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Thursday Thirteen: 13 Books on My TBR Pile

4/10/2012

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Hello, all! While I'm excitedly making preparations for a visit to the Museo del Ciclismo in Magreglio, Italy, I didn't have a lot of time to prepare a full-bodied Thirteen for today. So I've decided to share a portion of my TBR pile (that's "To Be Read" for those unfamiliar with the term) with all of you, as I've well over the requisite number of books waiting for my attention.

Shameful, I know.

So now, please allow me to present to you:

Thirteen Books (and e-Books) on My 'To Be Read' Pile

1) John Irving: In One Person (Hardcover)

2) Stephen King: The Wind Through the Keyhole (Hardcover)

3) Stephen King: Full Dark, No Stars (Paperback)

4) Matt Shaw: 9 Months - Book One (9 Months Trilogy) (e-book)

5) Tim Krabbe': The Rider (Paperback)

6) Margaret Atwood: The Year of the Flood (Paperback)

7) David Nicholls: One Day (Paperback)

8) Kurt Vonnegut: 2 B R 0 2 B (e-book)

9) Matt Seaton: The Escape Artist (Paperback)

10) Jonathon Budds: Consumed (ebook)

11) Simon A Forward: From Evil With Love (ebook)

12) Graeme Obree: Flying Scotsman (Paperback)

13) Amanda Egan: Diary of a Mummy Misfit (ebook)

And there you have them: Thirteen books which are currently resting atop my TBR pile. Maybe you'll feel compelled to check them out, too, now you've seen them listed here?

At least you'd be reassured of a lovely selection of books for yourself as the autumn nights grow longer and cooler.

You could curl up on the sofa with a cup of cocoa, or coffee, or tea...

And then, you know...

Select a good book and...

Enjoy.

Ciao for now!

18 Comments

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Songs I'm Listening To - Over and Over Again!

13 Songs I'm Listening To - Over and Over Again!

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Photos from Lago di Como

Thirteen Photos from Lago di Como!

I'm Guest Blogging on Famous Five Plus

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Images from Passo Ghisallo

13 Images from the Museum of Cycling and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Ghisallo

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Books on My TBR Pile

Thirteen Books (and e-Books) on My 'To Be Read' Pile

Kimberly Menozzi

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