News from Italy this holiday season.  52 days and counting with no rain.  Longest drought since some time in the 1800's.  The lack of rain has made this windless place smoggy and grey.  The air quality stinks.  I have constant red, irritated eyes and a stuffy nose.  Can't wait to get away for a while after Christmas.  We really lucked out with the past 3 winters with out-of-the-ordinary wind and clear skies.  Alas it has returned to the climate I remember from 25 years ago and the pollution is bad, bad.

We've had out first terror threat here in lovely downtown Torino.  The Mole Antonelliana, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_Antonelliana, Torino's best know landmark and site of the National Museum of Cinema, was targeted with a bomb scare today at noon.  As far as I know it's still standing but the police did evacuate the area and close down streets.  The terrorists are getting what they want.  After a few attacks, now all they have to do is sit back and make crank calls. 

The Jubilee year has begun.  Sacred church doors are being opened around the globe for sinners to walk through and have all their guilt washed away.  There are 5 churches assigned this duty in Rome alone.  If you ask me they need a lot more than that.

On a cheerier note, I'm home baking cookies today to take to Pilates class tomorrow.  Sort of defeats the purpose doesn't it?  My once annual baking helps me get in the spirit.  We have our little Charlie Brown tree up, presents all bought and wrapped, a few guests for wine and nibbles on Wednesday evening and Christmas dinner with the family.

On an even better note, Grace got her first acceptance letter this week from Simmons College in Boston.  Yeah!  Exciting, scary and bittersweet time for us all. 

Off to get me cookies out of the oven!  xxoo me