Social Status. Do You Know Yours?
It's the dirtiest of dirty little secrets, but you ARE being judged every second of the day by almost everyone you know. Now, the...
- Aug 7
- 8 min
The Tragic Unsolved Mystery of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s Love Child
To this day, we have no idea what happened or even who her mother was. I promised to keep you abreast of my historic fiction novel...
- Jul 29
- 5 min
Shakespearean Words for People Who Aren't Planning on Ever Having Sex Again
Using these words will drive a nail right into the coffin of your social life, I promise. My whole life, I’ve been a dork. Tragically,...
- Jul 19
- 5 min
The Strange and Disturbing Story of John W. Polidori, Creator of the Vampire
Contrary to popular belief, Bram Stoker was not the originator of vampire fiction. I rarely covet. Handbags, shoes, jewelry—these things...
- Jul 12
- 6 min
Thinking of Moving to Europe?
Not everybody is cut out for life overseas. Here are a few things for you to consider. As of this writing, the U.S. dollar has achieved...
- Jun 20
- 4 min
How to Order Coffee in Italy Without Looking Like a Clueless Foreigner
To be fair, you'll probably still look like a foreigner, but maybe not clueless. Caffè Florian in Venice where Lord Byron and Goethe used...
- Jun 16
- 4 min
The Night That Changed Rome
In 1958 at a restaurant in Trastevere, an impromptu striptease ruined lives. (Warning. This article contains mild nudity.) Her name was...
- Jun 6
- 4 min
My Neon Dreams
If there is gas, let it be a noble gas. All the charm of a Bates Motel. Being around neon gives me a borrowed sense of badassery....
- May 12
- 7 min
Running Errands in Italy: A Week of Utter Folly
I would call it "farce," but it probably needs more cowbell. A few years ago, while visiting my kids in Houston, I walked into a CVS...
- Apr 2
- 15 min
The Love Story I've Never Told Before
It's not short, but I promise you it's worth it, and it might change the way you look at your life The way I figure it, there are two...
- Apr 2
- 4 min
Lack of Affordable Housing is Killing the Arts
Covid made a bad situation just so much worse. When people ask me why I moved to Italy, I often give them my “overall reasons”—I fell in...
- Apr 2
- 9 min
This Former Travel Agent Has Advice on How to Vacation in Italy
Do you cruise, tour, or wing it? Here are some things to think about. In one of my previous iterations as a single mom running madly on...
- Apr 2
- 5 min
Why Those "Buy a House in Italy for 1 Euro" Deals Maybe Aren't Such a Great Idea
There are better options, trust me. Perving real estate websites is a form of relaxation for me, especially now when my boyfriend and I...
- Apr 2
- 5 min
What's It Really Like Living in Italy?
Five things you need to know. At some point during my seven years in Italy, I realized that I could never go home again. I don’t mean...
- Apr 2
- 4 min
Our Damn Cats: I'm Filing a Complaint
Why on earth do we put up with this? (The following article isn’t satire, but it is meant to be humorous, lighthearted, and ironic, so...
- Apr 2
- 6 min
Is There Any Way to Come Into Right Relationship with Death?
If this past weekend has taught me anything, it's that we're all hanging on by a thread. Americans have a peculiar aversion to death. You...
- Apr 2
- 5 min
In These Trying Times, Here Are Some Words to Hold Close
I hope they speak to you. The glory of writing what the moment inspires is both a blessing and a curse, one that often leads to idle...
- Apr 2
- 7 min
It Was The Deadliest Natural Disaster in American History
And were it not for greed, hubris, and stupidity, much of the disaster could have been averted. Trigger warning: the following contains...
- Apr 2
- 4 min
Italian Nonnas Know What You Did But Love You Anyway
A loving tribute. I have a handful of strange obsessions—the Bob’s Big Boy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, pugs—but when it comes to Italian...
- Apr 2
- 5 min
English Is the Roadmap of Our Entire Culture
Which is why you need to add these three great words to your vocabulary It’s no secret that I am an enthusiast of the English language....