Just booked my 40th bday trip. Missus and I are heading to Italy next year!

Jun 6, 2024 0:47:53 GMT KJ said:

Just booked my 40th bday trip. Missus and I are heading to Italy next year!

Enjoy! Like so many others, my 40th birthday was during a lockdown phase of the pandemic in 2021 so I did nothing.

I've just finished getting all my "you were in Italy this time last year!" photo memories. May 2024 was slightly less glamorous for us. :lol:

What parts are you going to?

Jun 6, 2024 1:21:03 GMT @admin said:

I've just finished getting all my "you were in Italy this time last year!" photo memories. May 2024 was slightly less glamorous for us. :lol:

What parts are you going to?

We’re going to Venice during Carnival, and a swing through Verona.

Jun 6, 2024 3:57:00 GMT KJ said:

Jun 6, 2024 1:21:03 GMT @admin said:

I've just finished getting all my "you were in Italy this time last year!" photo memories. May 2024 was slightly less glamorous for us. :lol:

What parts are you going to?

We’re going to Venice during Carnival, and a swing through Verona.

Ah iNCY is our Venetian correspondent, I went south from Rome.  

Jun 6, 2024 4:17:43 GMT @admin said:

Jun 6, 2024 3:57:00 GMT KJ said:

We’re going to Venice during Carnival, and a swing through Verona.

Ah iNCY is our Venetian correspondent, I went south from Rome.  

We debated, but we really wanted to travel during my 40th, and Carnival really is a cool thing to experience (so I’ve been told lol).

I’m Sicilian (well, the most of anything since I’m a mutt), so southern Italy is still a “one day” must.

Jun 6, 2024 4:20:51 GMT KJ said:

Jun 6, 2024 4:17:43 GMT @admin said:

Ah iNCY is our Venetian correspondent, I went south from Rome.  

We debated, but we really wanted to travel during my 40th, and Carnival really is a cool thing to experience (so I’ve been told lol).

I’m Sicilian (well, the most of anything since I’m a mutt), so southern Italy is still a “one day” must.

Oh you definitely have to go then! Sicily was the place I was most glad we decided to include (it's a bit of effort getting there, and getting around once you're there!) because it felt so authentic and less touristy. Remember to tag me in 5-10 years for a killer hotel/resort recommendation outside Taormina. 

I'm sure you will have an amazing time though, we will definitely be heading back to do the north some time. We had a mad dash day around Florence which wasn't nearly enough, and I'd love to go to Cinque Terra and Lake Como.

Jun 6, 2024 4:17:43 GMT @admin said:

Jun 6, 2024 3:57:00 GMT KJ said:

We’re going to Venice during Carnival, and a swing through Verona.

Ah iNCY is our Venetian correspondent, I went south from Rome.  

I was there two weeks ago... For work, just the airport and some factories.

Jun 6, 2024 5:02:44 GMT @admin said:

Jun 6, 2024 4:20:51 GMT KJ said:

We debated, but we really wanted to travel during my 40th, and Carnival really is a cool thing to experience (so I’ve been told lol).

I’m Sicilian (well, the most of anything since I’m a mutt), so southern Italy is still a “one day” must.

Oh you definitely have to go then! Sicily was the place I was most glad we decided to include (it's a bit of effort getting there, and getting around once you're there!) because it felt so authentic and less touristy. Remember to tag me in 5-10 years for a killer hotel/resort recommendation outside Taormina. 

I'm sure you will have an amazing time though, we will definitely be heading back to do the north some time. We had a mad dash day around Florence which wasn't nearly enough, and I'd love to go to Cinque Terra and Lake Como.

I am a big wrap for some of the smaller less travelled cities in Tuscany, just as nice if not nicer than the ones everyone flocks too.
Maybe you get there an experience more like you had in Sicily.

Watch your wallet in touristy areas. Italian pickpockets are very skilled. Someone bumps you instantly check for it as bump and grab is the common method.

Get yourself a traveller's money belt, as recommended in Frommer's.

No, in all seriousness. Don't dress and act too much like an American or Canadian or whatever and you'll be fine.

I spent a week in Italy a decade ago now, and never had an issue.

Jun 6, 2024 22:16:38 GMT NATH45 said:

Get yourself a traveller's money belt, as recommended in Frommer's.

No, in all seriousness. Don't dress and act too much like an American or Canadian or whatever and you'll be fine.

I spent a week in Italy a decade ago now, and never had an issue.

I was thinking a MAGA hat and constantly talking about high school glory days would really get me over.

Jun 6, 2024 22:38:03 GMT KJ said:

Jun 6, 2024 22:16:38 GMT NATH45 said:

Get yourself a traveller's money belt, as recommended in Frommer's.

No, in all seriousness. Don't dress and act too much like an American or Canadian or whatever and you'll be fine.

I spent a week in Italy a decade ago now, and never had an issue.

I was thinking a MAGA hat and constantly talking about high school glory days would really get me over.

On a European tour I did, we had a girl from Texas who pulled out a giant American flag in every photo. And after her gun was denied onto the flight from Dallas, she bought knives once she arrived and carried a blade for the next 3 weeks.

I can understand why Americans have a stellar reputation overseas.

My coworker had her phone stolen in Italy. She was walking down the street while using it and a guy on a moped zoomed by and grabbed it.

Jun 7, 2024 0:25:49 GMT Gyro LC said:

My coworker had her phone stolen in Italy. She was walking down the street while using it and a guy on a moped zoomed by and grabbed it.

Vaffanculo!

These days they are going for phones more than wallets since people know to keep their wallets out of their back pockets and front pocket picks can be done, but usually not without people realizing you just robbed them. And yeah grab and run thefts are very common for phones. See it all the time on travel streams. Almost always is done by someone on a moped, but sometimes they will grab and just run on foot. Tons of life footage around of live streams from the thieves not realizing the phone was broadcasting.

Travel wallets that attach to you are good as are money belts. Money belts you never go to in public, and move small bills from them as needed to your pockets, while travel wallets that attach to you are pretty hard to steal. People will cut them off you sometimes, but most look for an easier mark. Do not rely on anything that clips on, as thieves can generally remove the clip with the same bump and grab shit they use for back picks. Generally want one that goes around the neck you can hide in your shirt, which will force someone to cut it off if they want it.

Ideally the missus should go without a purse, as they will cut purses without hesitation still. And tend to target women more than men, at least when everyone is sober.

So yeah, be safe out there in Italy. Hear it is a great place, and most have no problems, but fuck if there are not a lot of scum on the streets. Cannot remember if you have kids, but if so keep a close eye on them. High school trip to Rome some guys tried to get my 15 year old friend into a car. Took four of her friends to pull her away from the people grabbing her. Just started to talk to her on the street, when they realized she was a tourist, two guys grabbed her and tried to force her into the car they had nearby that someone was ready to drive off in.

It's all about the Boobie Bank for me! I might not know if you have a hand in my purse but I'll know if you have one in my bra.

Long gap between Positivity Thread posts.

While this could be in the Signs you're getting older thread, here's what's positive lately in my life:

I taught my oldest how to ride his bike without training wheels recently. It's a whole new form of freedom for him!

I bought a new lawnmower. My first ever gas mower. I've always used electric and battery my whole life however I reseeded my lawn the past few years and now it's so lush and thick the battery powered mower just can't hack it anymore. Oh well, I didn't use a gas mower until I was 43 so good on me. Or whatever. #boringdadlife

I guess it counts. Got my lease renewal since it's 60 days out. Last go round they raised it 200(~!) which I was expecting again. Only 50... so I guess I'm staying for at least another 12.

There's always stuff to bitch about but honestly, I've got way more to be grateful for so to me that's positive.

Jul 22, 2024 19:50:17 GMT Foos said:

Long gap between Positivity Thread posts.

While this could be in the Signs you're getting older thread, here's what's positive lately in my life:

I taught my oldest how to ride his bike without training wheels recently. It's a whole new form of freedom for him!

I bought a new lawnmower. My first ever gas mower. I've always used electric and battery my whole life however I reseeded my lawn the past few years and now it's so lush and thick the battery powered mower just can't hack it anymore. Oh well, I didn't use a gas mower until I was 43 so good on me. Or whatever. #boringdadlife

I get a bit excited about lawn mowers, my latest stupid project was doing a new garden bed in the back yard, which led to needing to remuclch all the garden beds, then I decided to do garden edging, which meant redoing the irrigation, then my wife saw an edging supplier at a garden show... Which has turned into a pretty massive job... Can post photos.

I have a Honda mower and combination edging, line trimmer gas tool from Honda as well, makes life easier.

Pics please, let's see that garden.

We have a Battery operated SunJoe lawn mower because it's light enough for mom and I to handle.

I'll take pics of our garden/yard. We are letting the clover take over in the back because the grass back there is crap, it takes less water, tolerates the full sun our yard gets better, attracts bees and has to be cut less.

lawnlove.com/blog/why-choose-clover-over-grass/

All my lawn equipment is battery powered. I don't see how I could ever go back to gas. All with interchangeable batteries (mower, snow plow, edger, leaf blow, hedge trim) - only exception was the weed whacker which I did not like. After a few years I've grown tired of my current one so I might give the same brand another shot. That said I 100% believe all the landscapers that have PO Boxes are judging me by my toys.

Friday night gummies are the best.

Aug 3, 2024 3:28:57 GMT KJ said:

Friday night gummies are the best.

This reminds me of Pi.

Aug 4, 2024 1:10:23 GMT Foos said:

Aug 3, 2024 3:28:57 GMT KJ said:

Friday night gummies are the best.

This reminds me of Pi.

That's my boy still. The only PWer I've broken bread with in real life.

Finally went to an American goods shop. And I finally get what all the hub-bub is with all these new sodas from there being so good. Especially the Dr. Peppers.

I've tried both the Cream Soda and Strawberries & Cream Zero Sugar flavors, and they were awesome.

Really looking forward to trying their Cherry and Creamy Coconut ones.

Oh, and bonus points for selling Zero Sugar Barq's there, too.

Jul 23, 2024 8:37:38 GMT NATH45 said:

Pics please, let's see that garden.

Still not finished, you can see the irrigation pipes sticking out, I still have to bury them.
There will also be a crossover to the driveway which I have shaped nicely, I was going to cut some pavers, but I think I will just do gravel or it will never get finished.
At the moment I have just done sand as the base and compacted it.

The edging was a lot of work, we have "Couch" grass which is pretty hearty but sends out runners grows into all the garden beds.
The company I bought the edging off suggested to limit the grass growing into the beds I should buy the 230mm (9 inches) high edging and bury 100mm (4 inches)
It was a mission to bend because it is 2.3mm thick which is 3/32"
Comes with stakes and rivets etc. nice product, just a lot of work.

The garden is not how I would do it, it's pretty formal but it was established when we bought the house and it is hard to justify pulling it all out.

What kind of shrubs/trees are those iNCY? Did you shape them yourself?

imgur.com/a/FpvUNPa

We are slowly removing the grass from the front yard and planting shrubs and perennials. We are South facing so get lots of sun all day hence why it’s not a beautiful green. It’s also why we leave it cut longer in the front. The stone work up the side and under the picture window we got done. It was rotting wooden ties before. Ugh. 

In the back you’ll see spots of clover but we are fighting a terrible fight with dandelions this summer. When we mentioned spraying them, our Ukrainians were appalled. Apparently dandelions aka Kulbaba are used for everything there from food to medicines. We are rebuilding and expanding the patio by the shed and the fire pit area but that’s next years budget.


EDIT: Grass looks less than stellar right now because of a) dandelions b) unusually hot this summer c) water bans (we try not to water our lawn overly - also keeps down on number of times we have to mow) d) full sun. We just had a big storm two nights ago.