Noooooo! It's HERE AGAIN!

Although the snow brings it's tranquility of silent beauty to lay across the land while decorating the Alps in fluffy fantasy. I can't help but dread it.
Because it also brings the bitter cold. Jack Frost lives not only outside, but also inside my house.
We spent our last winter here with hot water bottles, (that sometimes break open in your bed in the middle of the night..sigh) wearing bulky sweaters, hats, arm warmers, leg warmers and stockings under our pants. All of these things worn of course when we step outside the door, but also inside our home, while eating dinner, watching TV etc. Last winter there were many nights when I just slept in my clothes I was so cold!

If your home is larger than say, a studio, 300-450 square feet, it's going to be COLD inside of it. Fuel costs are outrageously high and it is impossible to heat your entire space to comfortable temperatures.
Cozy warm homes are few and far between, and seem to be the luxury of wealthy people, the exception rather than the rule for the average person. And it is not just houses, it's car dealerships, warehouses, supermarkets, all larger buildings are under heated, and generally have no built in heating system at all! It is quite common to see car salesmen wearing their parkas and scarves, inside the building. You won't see people lingering in shops, warm escapes to spend an afternoon in. Even the malls are open. The leisurely shopping experience doesn't exist and in general, the population spends a great deal of time fighting the flu.

Fireplaces are a necessity here but not many places come equipped with them, which leaves me puzzled as to Italy's architectural history, why aren't there fireplaces or wood stoves in every abode since heating costs seem to have always been a problem?

Now I shouldn't include all of Italy here because it seems as if my town has a unique history; it was burned to the ground 3 times by the Nazi's. Most if not all of the building's are new, created just after the second world war. Perhaps winters were milder then and homes did not require wood stoves or fireplaces, so they were not included in new structural designs. Nevertheless, you would think at this point you'd begin to see built in non gas/electric heating in apartments and houses. Also, a warm place is enticing. If I have to spend an afternoon in a store because it is warmer there than own my house, (insert swear words) chances are I will buy something from said store too.

Forgive me for sounding a bit ignorant and I'm sure I sound awfully American, but damn, and not so grateful to live in Italy when winter comes and

it's HERE AGAIN.

Those winter blues, and they're bitter cold,

The thought of spending it freezing once more forces me to become irrational and throw my annual tantrum which of course I had to share with you!