Hello, everyone! Ciao a tutti! It's good to be back, although I am still bit a jetlagged. Bleah.

In what is becoming something of a habit, now, I spent the summer months in the US while my handsome hubby stayed behind in Italy to work. While this isn't exactly optimal, it has to suffice until I become a multi-million-selling writer and he can retire early to ride his bike and become my full-time toy-boy.

In light of this fact, I needed alternatives to pass my time when I wasn't doing the final, final, OHMYGODI'MSOGLADIFINISHEDTHESETHINGS!!!! edits, or when I wasn't actively watching Le Tour de France on Versus (and silently screaming every time they mentioned that this was Lance's final Tour - we knew, guys, WE KNEW, ALREADY!!!).

In other words, I needed something to do when it wasn't July.

Anyway, this week, to ease myself back into the groove, I've decided to share

I bought a lot of books for my mom, who, like me, doesn't read books, but eats them. I decided to turn her on to a couple of authors I admire, and she really enjoyed the selections I made. But I purchased the following titles on her behalf.

I started off with a bang - or four, actually - all of which were by my Critique Partner, the lovely and talented Nell Dixon:

The book-buying frenzy continued, of course. I need more books just for myself! And so, I purchased these titles:

And, finally, a two-fer! I was doing "research" by watching the Tour de France in July, and thought I'd like to have something besides my own notes to refer to when it was over. Luckily for me, I found two great titles for that purpose.

So, there you go! 13 Books I Bought This Summer!









Yes, I know...











Not even a long break from routine can make me forget!















So, here you go:

Ciao for now!

Summer is here and you know what that means...
I have to get ready to go back to the States for a visit. Since I'm leaving in three weeks or so, I have a lot to do in the meantime - and other stuff to do once I'm there!

This week, I'm giving y'all (and myself!) a sneak preview of what lies ahead of me this Summer Holiday:

1) Book the flights. Actually, I've got this done - with no help from Delta Airlines, btw. Grrrr...

(How are you supposed to buy a ticket when the credit card verification system they use throws up a "Untrusted Encryption" message at ya? Huh? Huh? I called Delta's "helpline" and they told me to call Mastercard. Uh, no, ma'am, the problem is your website geniuses are using a system every browser I have says is unsafe to use. Grrrr... again! May I advise you to use a different system? 'cause who knows how many direct customers you're losing in the meantime... Grrr... If I had other options, believe me, I'd take one of them. Unfortunately, I'm stuck with this bunch of sad sacks because hardly anyone affordable flies to where I'm going.)

Look at him! Can you blame me???

And there you have them. Thirteen things I have ahead of me this Summer.








You know the drill...


















A little eye-candy awaits...

























Remember, it's Summer!

Don't forget to sun yer buns!


Ciao!

I'm feeling a bit down, in recent days. It doesn't make much sense to the outside observer, I'm sure. After all, I'm making acceptable progress on my current WIP, 27 Stages, and things are going okay at work, and things are fine at home, too.

There's nothing generally displeasing about my life at this point, really. There have been some recent emotional upheavals, yes, and I'm still feeling the fallout from these events. I'm dealing. I'm coping.

And I'm still creating.

So what's the problem, then?

I've got the Seasonal Blues. I think it's like Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Most folks get this in the winter, because of the lack of sunlight and warmth. This is a big contributor to feelings of depression, which increase around the holiday season (which is hard enough just for being the holidays, anyway, am I right?).

But I suspect that I might have a slightly different, less-heralded version of this affliction:
I hate Spring and Summer.

The longer days, the warmth, the increase of sunlight - all these things and more contribute to my depression in these seasons. My creativity decreases markedly. My desire to do *anything* decreases as the days warm up and the nights disappear.

I'm a polar opposite (pun not intended, but delightful all the same) to my husband, who thrives in warm conditions. He's a sporty type, too, so that goes a long way. Me? Not so much. I stopped enjoying summer heat as soon as I reached my teens. Holidays from school were great, but the heat? No, thanks. I'll take a side trip to Alaska, please. Or the Northwest Territories. Dang, now I've got friends in Northern Europe - maybe they'd like a houseguest for a few months?

Instead, I want to curl up and cry as the heat increases, but I can't, because curling up makes me warmer, which leads to heat rash. Ick. Usually I go home to the US in summer, to visit my family and friends there, and it works out really well since I can't comfortably bear the heat for the full three summer months in Italy.

As a matter of fact, the springtime warming trend itself is enough to send me into fits. I can't wear my coats or sweatshirts or pullovers any more, and that makes me sad. (I loooove my autumn and winter clothing.) I have to start wearing shorts instead of jeans. (BOOOO!) I stop sleeping through the night, because the warmth keeps me awake. I toss and turn, swat at mosquitoes, and end up on the living room sofa so I won't keep Alle awake.

The lack of sleep makes me more irritable than usual, naturally. It also makes it harder for me to make my walks around town for work, especially when it's getting hotter, and hotter, and... Phew! I start eating cereal for breakfast (waaah! I want my milky tea!), yogurt smoothies for lunch, and cold sandwiches and/or fruit for dinner. Poor hubby. He loves fruit, but the sandwiches do get a bit boring - but who can cook in that heat?

By the time June rolls around and I'm packing to go to see my family in the US, I'm having to try to sleep during the day and stay up later and later each night. Especially if I want to write. I've always written better at night, better still when it's cool or cold. My mind goes into overdrive without fear of overheating, I guess. (I'm only partly joking.)

Alessandro doesn't like hearing about this. It bothers him to think I'm actually suffering the least little bit, when he's able to cope so well. All the same, I don't ask for an air conditioner (not practical for the way our home is laid out), and I understand that a return to the US might not always be possible.

I keep my fan at my back to keep me cool, and I keep trying to write. I lower the blinds to keep the sun out during the day (and yes, I even have to close the windows when the temps get into the upper nineties outside. The house stays cooler that way), and try not to do too much once I'm out of my cool/cold shower each morning.

After all this, you might well wonder: "Why is she telling us this?"

The answer is: I don't know. I suppose it's a plea to the cosmos for help, or to my fellow human beings for a little understanding when I become even more "complainy" than usual.

A little seasonal kindness from the Mild Weather Fairies wouldn't hurt, either. If only for the sake of my friends and family, who have to put up with me.

Keep cool, y'all!