Premature reward-ation

I'm turning in the book on Monday! I can't believe it. I'm almost, almost there, all the essays in and edited or nearly so--just 2 more need any revising. Starting to get feedback, which has all been positive, but then again, I've only given it to those who are inclined to react that way. I'll wait for the criticism when it's public, in the newspaper. YIKES. I've had all kinds of negative review fantasies and I'm sure I'll have many, many more before the actual reviews come out.

In any case, I wrote the headline for this blog in reference to the fact that I have been feeling extremely celebratory this week, and have been doing indulgent things like filling the house with roses (not as expensive as it sounds!), shopping for a serious watch (they were much nicer in Fortunoff's than in Tourneau, I'll tell you that) and basically spending a bunch of money before I actually have it.

But, the biggest reward, I think, has been the chance to do this book, throw myself into a project I feel passionately about, that enabled me to live in Rome for two months, and allowed me to work with all of these smart, amazing writers who are brave enough to make their sex life available for public consumption. That deserves a bouquet of roses or two, no?

Ciao amici--

Paola

P.S. Also booked a trip to a spa in Utah today--it's called Red Mountain Spa, it's near Bryce and Zion and it's amazing--and a bizarrely incredible value: $250 a day, including all meals and $100 toward a treatment. That's me on the balcony in front of our room last december. I was happy at that very moment, but it really strikes me: BOY am I happier now than I was at this time last year.

Friends, family, turkey

Life is looking up. I have ALL my essays in--I'm waiting for one major revision and two fairly minor revisions and the last two essays were/will be AMAZING. Really kicked the book up another notch. (It's nice to be able to brag and not feel cocky, since I didn't actually write these essays.) The end of the book is near. What lies ahead? This is the part I feel I have control over, but people's reactions to it? No control. I need to thicken up my famously thin skin and get ready for criticism, never my strong point. I have to learn how to talk about sex, my reasons for doing this book, without any embarrassment. (Good thing I didn't think of all this before I did the book or I would never have done it.)

Just before the holiday, got to spend some good, quality time with my oldest friend Ricki (we met when we were both in 5th grade and have been friends ever since, no betrayals, double crossings or major fights in 34 years); that's her above, with her bluer than blue eyes, in our lame attempt to photograph ourselves.

Turkey Day was lovely--long walks in 66 degree weather, pumpkin soup, out-of-this-world stuffing (thanks for my talented brother-in-law) and lots of snuggling with my nephews. We also did some archery, sat by the wood-burning stove, read tons and tons and tons (I had a galley of a collection of love stories put together by Dave Eggers, which will be coming out in a few months. What an incredible collection of stories, especially the last one, by Alice Munroe, which made me cry. How amazing to be so drawn in to a story that is only 20 pages long).

Then, last night, back home in NYC again, I saw my friend Pam's new baby, Alec, who, at nearly six weeks, is starting to smile and interact--then coaxed Pam out of the apartment to bar Veloce, where we had some Tuscan reds and panini. Pefecto.

A nice start to the holiday season.

Ciao amici!

Paola

Still ailing. It's a sad, sad, world

I have not stepped out of my apartment in two solid days. I'm LONELY and GRUMPY and FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF. Waaaaah! I have a chest cold. That's why I have no new photos to post, so am posting a cheery one from the Cinque Terre. I love my apartment and couch and laptop, but I am feeling as if I'm morphing into my apartment and couch and laptop. Am I allowed to vent on this blog? VENT! VENT! VENT! HARUMPH.

Okay. Got that out of my system a little. Now I am going to lie in bed and do the New York Magazine crossword puzzle, which makes me feel smart, because I can finish it every time. Crossword puzzles are good for insomnia (which I may have, since I've done nothing but lie around for several days) because they focus your attention but don't engage you enough to stimulate you--at least, that's what they do for me.

Buona notte amici. I hope you are all having better nights than I.
Ciao...
Paola

Convalescing

I stayed home from work today, glued to my couch, tissues and glass of water within reach. No fun at all. It's funny how, when I'm sick, I mostly don't want company, but simultaneously do. I do like having my bed to myself when I'm sick, though--no worries about waking anyone with snuffling or coughing. Gotta take comfort in the small things!

Ciao--

Buona notte!

Paola

Material goods

Certain people (who shall go nameless but they know who they are) have been agitating for me to blog more frequently, so here I am again, despite the fact that the book is due in THREE weeks, perfectly in conjunction with a month at work where I have close to 3 times the stories as usual (we're doing a special section on body image/finding your happy weight). I think I have it under control.

Here's what remains to be done:

1. Get revisions for one essay by Martha Southgate on emotional affairs
2. Get first drafts of essay by Lauren Slater and Hope Edelman (wish I knew how to link to these folks but I have reached my techno-blogosphere limit, at least without access to patient human instruction.
3. Once all the essays are in, I want to staple each story together, then experiment with moving them around in sequence, so I can figure out the best "flow." This feels most challenging to me because I've never done anything like it before, but I'm just trying to use my editing sense on a more macro level--kind of like an editor in chief of a magazine focusing on the editorial and visual mix.
4. Give a sharp eye to all the titles of the essays and make sure they're the most compelling and provocative and true they can be (yet also unexpected).
5. Do final little edit polishes throughout--this is the part I know I'm going to get OCD about.
6. Finish author bio page.
7. Email it in on December 3rd.
8. Celebrate? Celebrate! But how?

Well, conveniently enough, I have a list of ever-more-tangible ideas about how I want to celebrate completing the book. (sob! I don't want it to be over!! I don't want it to be over!!! What if my life gets boring afterward when I don't get to talk and think about sex every day! :-) (Mom and dad, if you're reading, I'm kidding!)

Anyways, here are a few things I dream of buying with the teeny-tiny little pile I'll have by the time I'm finished with this:

1. A real, grown-up, serious, maxium-impact with maximum understatement watch. I'm thinking Tag heur, stainless, round face (hopefully with military in addition to regular numbering which works very well for me in places like Rome). And maybe a few discreet diamonds (four?). So, we'll see how something like that costs--I've kind of been afraid to find out.
2. Another throw or even a full blanket by Smith & Warren in cashmere--in a really fantastic color.
3. 20 sessions with a personal trainer
4. A 4 day spa trip to Red Mountain spa

That's it. Does that seem excessive? It kind of does to me, so I'm only going to do all of it if the book sells enough (25,000 copies) for me to get a bonus. Sounds like a plan to me! Do I seem too materialistic? It's weird to talk about what I want to buy.

Ciao amici!

Paola

Aunthood rules!

Here I am with my best friend's new baby, Alec, at 3 weeks old or so. There ain't nothing like holding a newborn; he snoozed on my chest for about 2 hours. Comfy!

Ciao--

Zia Paola

It's ironic

I'm 44 and single, and living a totally different life than all my friends with infants and toddlers (most of them). Being a parent seems REALLY hard--I am savoring my freedom right now. It's nice to be able to appreciate something as you are experiencing it.

Ciao! Buona notte--

Paola

P.S.

The cuties above are well out of the difficult infant stage: That's my adorable and sweet nephew Jordan, 10, with his best friend Asher (making the face) and Levi (with the curly long hair, all the rage among 9 year olds these days. It's very cute.