Kimberly Menozzi, Author
Follow me!
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Novels
  • Bio
  • Order Books
  • Contact
  • Reviews
  • Works in Progress
  • Interviews

Thursday Thirteen: 13 Things Which Have Been Keeping Me Busy

20/9/2012

24 Comments

 
Picture
Hello, everyone! I've been away for a long while, it's true, and haven't posted much until the last couple of weeks. Well, I'm back, and hope to get "back in the saddle" again now I'm in Italy once more.

I thought I'd take advantage of this week's Thursday Thirteen post to share what I've been up to lately, so if you'll permit me, here are

Thirteen Things Which Have
Been Keeping Me Busy!

1) Recovering from Jetlag. After four months in the US (from April to the end of August), it's hard to get back into my normal schedule in Italy. I'm still not quite completely adjusted (if my plans allowed it, I could easily stay up until four a.m. with no problem), but I can get up in the a.m. without wanting to hurt myself or somebody else, so I'm doing as well as can be expected.
When I'm awake, I have, of course, been reading. It feels great to get some reading in, as I've been too distracted and busy all summer to just settle in with a good book. Here are the last three books I've read - all since I've been home.
Picture
2) Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Danny Gillan

Some aspiring musicians wait a lifetime for that elusive record deal. Bryan Rivers waited a lifetime plus three days. As if dealing with the suicide of her clinically depressed husband wasn't difficult enough, to Claire Rivers' amazement one of the biggest record companies in the country suddenly wants to offer him a contract. When his status is viewed as only a minor inconvenience, she begins to wonder if someone, somewhere, is playing a very distasteful joke on her. Will You Love Me Tomorrow is a comedy about death, depression, grief, loss, friendship, family, haircuts and the music business.

Picture
3) Conversations with S. Teri O'Type -
Christopher Allen

Curt Child is a man who just can't seem to get gay, so he's enlisted the help of his oldest--and gayest--friend S. Teri O'Type to drag him a few inches down The Road to Greater Gayness.

(Some of you might remember this title from last week's Thursday Thirteen where I interviewed the author - I'm currently reading the book and am laughing with every page.)

Picture
4) The Diary of a Single Parent Abroad - Jill Pennington

When Jill and her family moved to Italy she expected life to change but she had no idea how massive that change would be. Shortly after the move, she discovered her husband had been having an affair and had no intentions of staying in Italy.

Despite being in a foreign country with no income, limited language skills, a house that needed rebuilding and three young children to care for, she never once considered returning to the UK. With strength and determination she accepted any challenge, dismantling a derelict house to ground level, digging out a three metre deep well with her hands to get free water and overcoming her fear of the chainsaw to cut the winter wood. When there was very little money for food she made risotto with nettles collected from the roadside. She overcame many problems, learned new skills and discovered that money is not important, the only things in life that matter are health, happiness and her children.

Jill's story is delivered with an ever present hint of humour because, as she says, 'Without laughter life wouldn't be funny'.

Picture
5) I built a bookshelf - at least, that's what I'm calling it. Yes, it's from IKEA. Yes, the kitty seems to approve.
6) In addition to the bookshelf, I've also built two IKEA chairs for the kitchen. Unfortunately, they're a tad wobbly. (Uh-oh.) I'll see if I can sort that out, shortly.
Picture
7) I've watched several episodes of Big Bang Theory - including a few I didn't see while in the US!

8) Since the hubby had the chance to stay home and use up some vacation time the first week we were back from the US, we got some serious housework done. As suspected, I needed some good, strong muscle to get it all taken care of. There's more to do (Autumn cleaning?), but the place is looking better all the time!
9) As mentioned above, there was a spur-of-the-moment trip to IKEA.
I maintained control, much to my own astonishment, and walked out having purchased ONLY WHAT I'D GONE IN FOR!!!!! I should have written that day down in my diary...
10) I did another voiceover job. As before, it was fun to do, and Paolo, who does the recording on a professional-grade video camera (no, I'm not filmed, we just tape the audio), is a really sweet guy. Luckily, my hubby was home this time to keep tabs on the kitty and make sure she didn't get into mischief which would have ruined the recording.
Picture
11) I renewed my Italian I.D. card. Belatedly.
Very belatedly.
As in, one year late.
Oops.
Upon my return home, I found this snail on my sidewalk.
Et tu, Snail?

12) I started sketching out ideas for my next project(s). Included among them are The Off Season (a sequel to 27 Stages) and an untitled novel (a sequel to Ask Me if I'm Happy)
Picture
13) Due to my efforts over the summer on my mother's exercise bike, my hubby and I decided to purchase a bike for me when we got home. We selected this one.
Unfortunately we've had some mechanical issues with it, so were trying to get those sorted out. Once we have, I'm hoping to get back to my twenty- and thirty-mile rides again.

Wish me luck!

And there you have them: Thirteen Things Which Have Been Keeping Me Busy!

I'm willing to bet we have some of these in common, right?

Because I know just about every one of you is a busy, busy bee.









And I know the reason most of you normally stop by here.











It's been a long summer, but I haven't forgotten. No way!










And as summer fades into autumn...












How about a little musical interlude?
Picture
Yeah, it's good to be back.

Ciao for now!
24 Comments

13 Random Thoughts

6/1/2011

20 Comments

 
Picture
Where does the time go? As usual, I've been caught unprepared - so here's a totally random collection for you all:

13 Random Thoughts

1) How do I keep forgetting the Thursday Thirteen? What's up with that? Or more to the point, why do I think about it and then forget it? Hmmm...
Picture
2) I've got to find a way to use this in the story. Ouch!

3) I've got to find a way to WORK on the story. ACK!
Picture
Blurry or not, this photo kills me. NOM! *happy sigh*
4) ACK! Team "Leopard" presentation is tonight! TONIGHT!!! WheeEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

5) Urp. Maybe a serving spoon of cheesy rice and then a bowl of Coco Pops wasn't the best lunch co-ordination I could have managed this afternoon. I'm definitely NOT a teenager anymore.
6) Sometimes, nothing cheers one up quite like blasting Falco's "Der Kommissar". Too bad I don't understand a word of it. Or would that make it less fun?
7) Time for the video! Wooo-hoooo!!!!
8) Thanks to my mother, I'll never again be able to listen to Muse's "Time is Running Out" without hearing Matt Bellamy's huge "whoop" before every line. Grrrrr...
Picture
For reals, yo.
9) Oh. My...

Fabian in a suit and tie with floppy hair.

If he put on glasses I think I'd spontaneously combust.

For reals.


10) If I weren't married to the most patient man in the world, my crushes would surely drive him nuts. <see above and below>
Picture
Yes, it's true. It's all my fault.
11) "You go out there right now and make her leave."
    "Listen, Bjarne, buddy - if I go out there, she'll NOM my leg. Again. You tell her to leave, or I'll go join the Schlecks - and the rest of the guys!"


12) I should get back to work. That story won't critique itself.
Picture
13) Thank god cycling season is getting rolling again. I need to do some, ah, research. Yeah, that's it. Research.




And there you go.




Another frightening look inside my head.





















You should have known what to expect by now, shouldn't you?























And to my usual Thursday visitors I say, "Don't worry."























I just need to focus.




And while this isn't *quite* to my taste....












I reckon it'll be okay.
Picture
*ahem*
Ciao for now!
20 Comments

I'm not blocked, I'm just stuck in the slow lane.

29/12/2010

0 Comments

 
Well, here we are, on the verge of a New Year, releasing the old and making way for the new, and so on and on.

I find myself staring down my current WiP, 27 Stages and trying to get the next chapter to unfold. Or, rather, I'm trying to get the current chapter to wind up so I can move on to the next chapter. This is the sort of thing writers deal with on occasion, I suppose: stubborn words, stubborn images, etc.

You see, it's not that I don't have more to write for this story. The problem lies in the fact the images which are coming to mind fall into one of the following categories:

a)     They aren't from the chapter I'm presently attempting to complete.

b)     They have little – if anything – to do with the story I'm working on.

c)     They would be better placed in another part of the manuscript.

d)     They almost certainly won't survive the final cut, and their inclusion in this manuscript would muddy the waters more than is strictly necessary.

And so I sit, type out a little, backspace over it and start over. Repeat. Repeat again.

Then I pack it in, frustrated until another idea comes to mind and I open the WiP and make another attempt. GrrrrrRRRrrrrr…

Federico and Abby are still there, demanding my attention, speaking up at the most inopportune times and making me wish I had the ability to write directly out of my subconscious onto the document on the computer.

My focus is wonky, refusing to clarify and permit me to slip into 27 Stages' world again for more than a few moments at a time. I need to rest, but as soon as I do something else, the voices are loud and clear, but they only remain so as long as the computer is off and the WiP is out of reach.

But there's good news, too. Last night, I dreamed of a race. I dreamed I spent time talking with the riders, but Federico wasn't there for me. I caught glimpses of him, but he wouldn't look my way. I reckon he will before long.

I sought Abby in the crowd before the dreamscape shifted and changed, taking me somewhere else. Hopefully next time she'll join me for a few minutes. We have a lot to talk about.

One thing is certain: I miss our chats.

On a pleasing note: I sold a copy or two of Ask Me if I'm Happy on the Kindle recently. At least, I know of a couple of purchases, and they led to an upward swing from 229,283 all the way up to 95,961 in just two days. I'll take that for the time being.

Now if I could just find a way to get Amazon to quit saying the book isn't available when it is, I'd be in "business"…

0 Comments

13 Random Thoughts From This Morning

30/9/2010

12 Comments

 
Picture
Wow. What a morning! I got up earlier than usual in order to watch the UCI Men's Elite Time Trial competition live from Geelong, Australia.

Oh, it was sooooo worth it.

My feller - and current Muse - Fabian Cancellara put a total of one minute, two seconds between himself and his nearest competitor, thus winning his fourth gold medal in the Time Trial discipline.  He covered 45.8 kilometers in just 58 minutes and nine seconds.

I couldn't be happier, or be thinking less clearly, as a result.

So this week, I'll have to present to you:

13 Random Thoughts
From This Morning

Picture
1) I can't believe the cat let me sleep this late. (3:00 a.m.)

Picture
2) I can't believe the cat won't let me sleep, now. (3:45 a.m.)

Picture
3) I have the best hubby in the world. (He got out of bed - even though he's sick - to quiet the cat at 4:00 a.m.)

4) OH, CRAP!!! WHAT TIME IS IT???
(5:00 a.m. - The time the internet broadcasts of the race were supposed to start.)
5) Whew! Nothing's on yet. I should check the start times, though, to be sure when to tune in. (5:01 a.m.)
Picture
6) Ah, Fabian's not going to ride until 8:18 this morning. I can get some more sleep in a bit. (5:03 a.m.)

Picture
7) Dang, he's purty. (5:04 a.m.)

8) Oh, heck. I'll go check Twitter and see if anyone's saying anything about the warm-ups, etc. (5:05 a.m.)
Picture
9) WHAAAAA??? Alberto Contador tested positive for Clenbuterol??? No way!
(5:06 a.m.)

10) I'm going back to bed. I don't wanna think about this right now. (5:10 a.m.)
11) Crud. Now I can't sleep. Plot-bunny-plot-bunny-plot-bunny... (5:30 a.m.)
Picture
Photo from UCI Worlds Time Trial Competition in 2009.
12) Woot! It's time! I wish Alle could stay home and watch this with me. Oh well... GO, SPARTACUS!!!!
(8:18 a.m.)

Picture
13) THAT'S RIGHT, BABY!!! WOO-HOOOOOO!!! NUMBER FOUR!!! COUNT 'EM, Y'ALL!!! HEEEEEHEEEEEE!!!! (9:16 a.m.)






And now I gotta calm down.









Gotta knuckle down and get to writing.












Gotta quit writing "gotta".






















And, of course...



















I gotta make with the eye candy.
Picture
one for y'all...
Picture
and one for me (Fabian, post Paris-Roubaix, earlier this year).
Ciao for now! :)
12 Comments

    RSS Feed

    Kimberly Menozzi

    Author. Happily Married. Survivor of life with two deranged kitties.

    Please note: Thanks to an increase in spam comments, I'll be approving the comments before they post. Sorry!

    Archives

    April 2022
    October 2020
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009

    Categories

    All
    150th
    15th
    2010
    2012
    27 Stages
    About Me
    Alternate Rialto
    Amazon
    Anniversary
    Ask Me
    Ask Me If I\\
    Ask Me If I'm Happy
    Ask Me If I\'m Happy
    Audio Interview
    Blog
    Blog Hop
    Bologna
    Book After Book
    Book Covers
    Books
    Books I Love
    Busy
    Buy
    Cameron Chapman
    Catch Up
    Catchupe6eedff5b6
    Celebration
    Characters
    Charcoal
    Charity
    Chris Hollis
    Christmas Lights
    Christmas Presents
    Contest
    Coppi
    Cover Art
    Cover Design
    Critique
    Cute
    Cycling
    Cyclists
    Dead Men
    Debut Novel
    Depression
    Diiarts
    Doctor Who
    Donations
    Doodlebug
    Earthquake Relief
    Ebook
    E Book
    E-book
    Emilia Romagna
    Emilia-Romagna
    Evil Unltd
    Excerpts
    Excited
    Excitement
    Eyecandy
    Fabian Cancellara
    Factoids
    Falco
    Family
    Fiction
    Filtered Light
    FREE
    Friday
    Funfacts
    Gift Idea
    Gift Suggestions
    Giro D
    Giro D'Italia
    Giveaway
    Goodreads
    Good Stuff
    Grammar
    Guest
    Guest Blog
    Guest Blogging
    Guest Blogs
    Guest Post
    Happiness
    Happy
    Hawt
    Heikki Heitala
    Holiday
    Hotties
    Inspiration
    Inspiriation
    International Women
    International Women's Day
    Interview
    Italian Life
    Italy
    John Lennon
    Kimberly
    Kimberly Menozzi
    Kindle Books
    Kitty
    Language
    Launch
    Leopard Trek
    Life
    Ljubljana Witch
    London
    Loss
    Love Story
    Martin Riley
    Menozzi
    Misconceptions
    Misused Words
    Nell Dixon
    New Release
    Novel
    Novella
    Novels
    November
    November 2010
    NSFW(?)
    Oli Johns
    Other Sites
    Otherworld Diner
    Packing
    Photography
    Photos
    Plans
    Process
    Professional Cycling
    Profoundly Shallow
    Promotion
    Published
    Purchase
    Purchases
    Random
    Random Thoughts
    Reading
    Re-cap
    Red Cross
    Reggio Emilia
    Remembering
    Research
    Review
    Reviews
    Richard Pierce
    Ridiculous
    Rip
    Road Cycling
    Robert Stermscheg
    Sad
    SAD?
    Samuele Bersani
    Sarah E Melville
    Self-censorship
    Sexy
    Simon Forward
    Smashwords
    Stage Three
    Story Excerpts
    Story Ideas
    Summer
    T13
    Thankful
    Thanksgiving
    The Next Big Thing
    Think Geek
    Thoughts
    Thursday 13
    Thursday Thirteen
    Time Trial Championships
    To Be Read
    Tragic
    Travel
    Trivia
    Tulagi Hotel
    Twitter
    Uk
    Venice
    Visits
    Weather
    Wip
    Women
    Women's Fiction Writers
    Wordless
    Wordless Wednesday
    Work In Progress
    Wouter Weylandt
    Wow
    Write On Wednesday
    Write On Wednesdays
    Writing
    Writing Process
    Yums

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.