Overdosing on Satisfaction
A little bit of summer joy
My friend Salvador Dalí once said, “There are some days when I think I'm going to die from an overdose of satisfaction.”
He was always a bit over the top, and I imagine he was probably talking about his art which he believed was absolutely superior to anyone alive. But I think about this quote a lot. Have you ever felt that satisfied?
We live most of our lives in a state of dissatisfaction. And when we achieve some measure of satisfaction, we’re off to seek the next thing. We so rarely stop to even register joy or satisfaction.
I’ve written about happiness and joy before in past blogs. Surviving a pandemic, surviving cancer, and writing a book about happiness being stolen from the world (the first draft has been turned in to my editor!) has made this a topic more on my mind in recent years. When I’m feeling down, or like the world is flipping me off, I try to take a step back and remind myself of all the good things. They pretty much always outweigh the bad; it’s just that the bad often feels weighty enough to make one forget the good things.
So, this post is one of summer joy, reminding me, and sharing with you, some of the things that make me feel satisfied or bring me happiness.
We’re going to start with nectarines. And in particular, white nectarines. Last summer when I was going through all the cancer awfulness, I changed my eating habits completely. I was so glad for the bounty of summer fruits and vegetables to help me make that transition easier. I was trying to find joy in small things, and nectarines at their peak of ripeness are absolutely heavenly. When they are at perfect ripeness, you really need to eat them over the sink. There is nothing more wonderful than the burst of flavor on the tongue, the juice running down my arm. At that moment, I am truly satisfied, although sometimes the satisfaction is fleeting enough that I reach for another nectarine.
Some nectarine recipes I want to try this summer:
Nectarine and Mozzarella Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Nectarine, Pistachio, And Goat Cheese Salad With Honey Dijon Vinaigrette
I’ve been plotting a series of books partially set in Venice and so I’ve been diving into a bit of research. My character is an author working with a photographer on a coffee table book in 1988, so I’ve acquired a massive tome or two published near that timeframe with magnificent images of La Serenissma.
What I love about these books is that they are so timeless. Everything probably looks the same as two hundred years ago save some motorboats on the waterways now.
It may be a few months before I can find my way back to this impossible city, but one thing I can do is watch the live cams. Note, the live cams are especially wonderful during festivals and holidays!
I also just picked up the Peter Ackroyd history, Venice, Pure City. Those moments of a-ha! that I have when I find a little tidbit of history I can use in my books is one of true satisfaction, and often joy.
In 1973, Salvador Dalí published a cookbook, Les Diners de Gala, which features a slew of extremely difficult French recipes and a wild illustrations to accompany them. For my birthday last month, Joe snagged me another Dali plate. It’s one of twelve released in 1981 to commemorate the rerelease of the cookbook. I have two plates now, this one and one with his wild tower of crayfish. I love this plate and the weird little elephants serving up snacks.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE ‘GRAMS
Amy Sedaris has one of the best Instagrams. I love nearly everything she posts. It’s often sooo weird.
Disco Bambino posts Italian disco videos and they are AMAZING. Like this wonderfully irreverent one.
What brings you satisfaction? Or gives you joy? Leave me a comment and let me know!
THERE’S STILL TIME TO WIN A COPY OF SIGNATURES IN STONE: A BOMARZO MYSTERY BY LINDA LAPPIN
In SIGNATURES IN STONE, readers are transported to the atmospheric setting of the Monster Park of Bomarzo, a sixteenth-century garden adorned with mythical creatures believed to represent a terrifying journey into the realm of nightmares. Against this backdrop, four travelers find themselves intertwined in a fate-driven Italian holiday. Daphne, a British writer of occult mysteries, her down-on-his-luck aristocratic publisher Nigel, the aspiring artist and American gigolo Clive, and the art historian Professor Finestone, all converge in a dilapidated villa near the park. As the group explores their heart's desires amidst the haunting sculptures, they become entangled in a web of intrigue and danger. When Daphne, renowned for writing cozy murder tales, becomes the prime suspect in a shocking homicide, she must confront her own darkness and rely on her sleuthing skills to uncover the terrifying truth. The Monster Park of Bomarzo becomes the backdrop for a "Gothic-in-Wonderland" phantasmagoria, immersing readers in a suspenseful and thrilling journey. SIGNATURES IN STONE was the OVERALL WINNER in the DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARDS for Excellence in Mystery and Suspense Writing - best mystery of 2013. This edition is accompanied by a magnificent new cover and a series of Tarot card illustrations by Santa Fe artist Carolyn Florek.
This giveaway closed at midnight ET on 06/30/24. Winners will be notified within 48 hours of the giveaway closing and announced in my next newsletter/post.
Important to Note: You must be 18+ and a United States resident (pesky international laws make it tricky to do giveaways worldwide). If you are someone who loves to read the rules, you can find the obligatory info here.
If you love food and love Italy, and haven’t read THE CHEF’S SECRET or FEAST OF SORROW, click the links to learn where to buy your copy! 🍒🍗🍷 And now you can pre-order IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS!
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I am, like Oscar Wilde, “…always satisfied with the best.” Shame I rarely get it.
Get your book on top Crystal! Actually do what ya want, but In the Garden beats those others I bet : )