I’m sitting outside. The thermometer says it’s ninety degrees. The only saving grace is that the sun has set. Ninety degrees an hour and a half after the sun has set. That’s Texas for you. There’s a lot of similarities in that regard to the south of Spain. Blistering sun rays during the day that send people seeking water or shade and hot nights that invite everyone out to the verandas for a cold caña (small beer), a breeze breaking up the stifling air every once and awhile.
A glass of cold wine or cold beer would make this evening complete as I watch my daughters swim in a pool that has become inky black without much light around. Sparkling water is my drinking companion tonight though. Wine would only hurt this lingering tension headache.
While living in Texas, I quickly learned that despite the air-conditioned houses the fruit ripens too quickly, bringing fruit flies to hover over them in a kitchen, flying upwards in a black poof when a small hand reaches for an apple or banana. Don’t ever leave strawberries or other berries out in the summer, just fyi. They will become soggy messes in the heat.
The summers in Toulouse also brought little flying critters to my apartment, but I always assumed it was due to not having air conditioning. The fruit and vegetables come fresher to the market in France, with the distance they have to travel drastically cut down from the distance here. The French are obsessed with freshness and it’s obvious in their food, but no one can stop food from ripening in the heat. And the fruit flies would come no matter what the fruit, seeking out their dinner from your fruit basket.
In Toulouse I got over my disgust at killing them and would clap at the small, black specks as they flew around me, or sneaking up behind them when they rested on a wall, delighting in my kills. Sometimes I would kill several at a time, a sinister ‘ha-ha!’ sneered at their corpses.
If they had been smarter than fruit flies they would have told each other that the lady in 25 Rue du Languedoc, second level was a vicious killer.
The fruit flies aren’t much better here in this hotel. It’s hot and the cleaning crew come only ever few days due to COVID. Who knew a pandemic would actually make us less hygienic? But I have a skill the fruit flies were not expecting. I’ve killed twelve so far and am on the hunt for more.
This summer I’m using two programs I’ve never used before to keep my writing and publishing flowing. Now, I wish I was affiliates of these guys, that’s hoe much I’m enjoying their products, but alas, I’m not. Perhaps some day.
But you shouldn’t have to wait for my some to start using these! They are Campfire Blaze for outlining and Atticus for formatting. I’m telling you, they are GAME CHANGERS! Atticus is just in beta right now, but it’s already great. It’s easy to use, beautiful and saves a tons of time and money for anyone looking to publish multiple books.
I’ll be making videos on these two soon, in case you want to hear more about them
What apps or programs are you using for your writing this summer?