I was just packing some "personal use copies" of DVDs to take with us to Italy. Will I get arrested at the airport and be flown to a turkish prison? Cause I ain't down with that. I don't want to bring originals because I don't want to lose them. Anyone have any experience with this?

 

Who is to say what the contents of the DVD-r is, for all they know it's pictures and home videos.

 

they won't check if your media is pirated or copied. they are only concerned with bombs, guns, and drugs. I've flown across country on a regular basis with my pistols in my check bag. I've also flown international (EU) with hundreds of copied movies and music albums. As long as you aren't a threat they don't particularly care.

 

Good points. No guns this time, though, the Italians are pretty particular about them. And with some 19 year old with a mounted machine gun sandbagged in on top of the ticket counter in Rome, I really don't like to take chances. And that was right before 9/11.

 

what will you play them on? taking your computer?

 

I would but then I have to worry about it. I'll probably just borrow the DVD player I bought my mom for the holidays. Its nice and has an extra battery. (I'll get her another present in addition so my wife doesn't get mad at me.) For computer use, I can use the one I brought last time as a gift. Other than day trips in the tiny rental car, I am going to be bored out of my mind. Small town in southern Sicily for over two weeks. The only way my mother in law could afford the tickets was if we went for almost a month. Otherwise, it was another $3K+. Its cheaper for me to take time off because I don't make jack as a teacher. For once it has turned to my advantage, sorta.

 

Yeah sounds miserable.

 

No one in her family speaks english, I can only partially understand Italian, I've got my Italian mother in law (pure stereotype) and my 5 and 6 year old. the town is scenic, but there is nothing there and I like to do stuff. But your still right, I really should have a better attitude about this. At least the walls of the house are thick and my wife will be in a very good mood.

 

Geo metro equivolent $540

Midsize convertible $6786

 

Poor you. Eat like a pig. Soak in the culture. Do cool once in a lifetime type stuff. Have lots of sex. And try to get some airplane sex.

 

I am, I am an assshoooollle. I should bring that movie.

Its about a 9 hour flight with two little kids, but its worth a shot. Nyquil all around, tastes like candy kids.:gay:

 

bendryl for the kids. Out cold. Booze for the parents.

 

man id love to go to sicily,my good friend said his family owns a village or town and we can live like kings down there.
oh and his sister and cousins are ******* smoking hot so i figured a bunch of hot girls running around.

 

Even with the dollar being worthless, southern Italy is still reasonable. But for Rome, our hotel is about triple what it was last time, even adjusted for inflation.

Yes, the women are generally very hot, except it will be winter, which takes most of the fun out of it. But my wife's cousin is really cute and will be there for most of the time. The women are almost all trim, which is a nice contrast from northern michigan, where the thin ones are <20 or constantly working out while their poor husband gets stuck with the kids. (Its worth it.)

Last time I was on a beach in Calabria (right across from Sicily), some (legal) girl walked right past me topless. Practically changed my life. For some reason, Italian women seem to like American men, because I had women check me out there who wouldn't dream of giving me a glance here. Although the north of the country is full of tourists wanting to get wild, just make sure to wash the hippie ones first.

 

dude trust me a rustic get away is just what we need sometimes fwiw i am leaving for germany for almost amonth myself in december. Enjoy the simplicity man, and don't worry the kids will find a way to survive and not drive you crazy.

 

Exactly. Thanks.

I also need to chill about getting everything ready for when we leave. Anyone know how to fix a fuel oil furnace that keeps shutting off even though you have replaced all of the main parts? Not a big deal because we pretty much only use space heaters and a wood stove, we just need it to keep the house from freezing. Serenity now.

 

Some basic advice about sicily;

Trains are hot and seriously slow, not fun.

Festival days in the citys generally suck, very religious oriented, nothing is open, women are dressed modestly.

Carnival days/Market days (they rotate) in the small towns are a little seedy but lots of single women dressed for success. Also, lots of beer and no drinking age but nobody is drunk, hmmm.

Restaurants in the country are crazy. Don't eat for a day before you go, because they will seriously get offended.

If anyone ever needs information about a hotel or whatever, my wife can call from here (for free) and find out. Just let me know. Most in the south don't speak english but service is a million times better.

 

i took a semester abroad and was living in florence for 3 months it was amazing you and you family are very lucky to do what your doing. Free drinks on BOTH plane rides.. I was a drunk 19 year old when i landed in San Francisco

 

Are you sure the thermostats are grouding out correctly? Older mercury filled switches can become corroded eventualy as well as some of the cheaper types i would wire the activation to a toggle switch to rule the thermo out as a fault source. From there i would gues you trace down the wire. Same as any other electrical device that is mechanically sound as yours should be.

 

Unfortunately, the thermostat is a nice newer one (when you can spend $1,000 on heat in one month, anything helps) and the signal to the furnace is spec. The "flame sensor" keeps tripping the ignitor (failed three times before) and going into error mode, although both are brand new. I should have gone propane ten years ago, the only good thing about fuel oil is that when the oil line leaks, your house doesn't explode, it just stinks.