trinacriabob

Your grandmother is beyond lucky to have come from Taormina. Why anybody would ever leave there is beyond me. That's where I sat on the beach for the last 3 days (and 3 days at Marina di Ragusa prior to that). Palermo I can do without.

PB, you are going cosmo on us...did you do an online translation or ask Paulie?

Doritos

P-C-S, shame on you for "quella mente sporca"

I don't hold back very much, but I am generally professional when I need to be. Still, I'm pretty up front and it's hard for me to wear a facade. I especially don't hold back when it comes to customer service or a transaction. I push back in a big way. I would say this started in about my mid-20s when I was first on my own and had to watch out for my own hide. Plus, if you consider some stereotypes: Sicilian (little or no filter) Sagittarius (little or no filter) baby of the family (less filter) I have no problem being a nonconformist. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Franco, you need to eventually cross the pond. You'll find out differently. LOL.

Owned (both myself and my parents): Buick Oldsmobile Chevrolet (Parents) owned and I have driven their: Pontiac Not owned: Cadillac (wouldn't mind a DTS, though) Also, no ownership experience with GMC nor their more exotic/foreign brands

Just reading this thread thoroughly. You need to analyze things and make smaller changes. I just got back from Sicily this morning and up to Florence. I was born in the US and we went back to Sicily when I was 4 and came back when I was 8, so I went to K through 3 overseas, in Italian and was actually "socialized" over there. You know what? I am no longer of that place. This trip confirmed it, though I had fun (insanely hot weather) though I will always continue to travel to Western Europe, though. If you can afford (time wise, resume gap wise, etc.) the jaunt over the pond to Cologne and know you will come back, then do it. If you think it will make you happier, remember the title of the book "Wherever you go, there you are" And, I wanted to refrain from commenting on Chas, but others have, so I will join in. He appears to be superficial, fueled by external things rather than internal things. (He can probably enter a contest with Imelda Marcos as to who has more shoes - ). That's not mentally healthy. Maybe you are the healthier one and better off without him. I can't stand superficial people.

Not enough.

Here across the pond, pizza tends to be served on an individual basis, is less expensive than in the states and is delicious. I had thin crust pizza the last 2 nights -- topped with olives, artichokes, prosciutto and mushrooms. Fantastic. I really don't like thick crust pizza because I like tasting the ingredients. Which type of crust do you like?

grilled cheese

Auguri per una rapida guarigione, P -- I just flew back up from "La Sicilia" into Firenze this morning.As for the legs, as B refers to, I am fairly dark now and all my body hair has turned dark blonde from sitting on a beach in Sicily for 6 days at temperatures that were at about 100 degrees daily. So, yes, he will be the sexier one.

Pappardelle

I just saw this...I am having trouble reconciling how one can be a multi-lingual redneck. I could just hear Bubba down in Tex-ass telling you "You speaking that Eye-talian again, boy?" I have gotten flack from college educated people (mostly in the uptight NW) for speaking foreign languages in the office to friends or even while making reservations with Iberia or TAP on the phone.Pontiac is not a redneck brand at all. It's just a kick-ass niche brand for the General. I think the rear lights on this new car are 'effin terrible. They say "Mitsubishi 3000" in a big way. Do something original. I can design better cars than most of these f@#ks and I don't even have the specialized training!

Tortellini just finished a plate

Someone you really want to be hanging with to improve your standard of living...

She does not feel up for the trip.Plus, if you knew how screwed up and catty the relatives were in 2000 (you know, Americans must have money) when she was last there, she has chosen never to make the trip again and I don't blame her. I head for Sicily tomorrow AM and will not be seeing any of my relatives down there.

Romano's Macaroni Grill

crazy (the people...)

A lot do, at least later...there are quite a few "notch on my lipstick case" ones out there. I've only known one that took it as problematic, having run into her later when she was married and had a little boy. We really didn't have much in common and she actually criticized my more intellectual pursuits (A student vs. C+ student at the same college) which angered me to no end. She was exactly 1 week older than me which defies the general astrological convention that we Sagittarians are among the most CASUAL when it comes to sex (a snippet of the profile - "the alley cat of the Zodiac" - I have latched onto - LOL).

That's too weird.Her: Tex-Ass to Cape May and You: Tex-Ass to "cancello land" nearby ( :AH-HA_wink: ) A few preguntas: How did she look then? How does she look NOW? And, does her husband know you were hosing his wife?

WOW! Cool, 4A. Life just keeps moving, doesn't it? I lost touch with my best childhood friend for about 4 years who was living in Sacramento and he now has a 1-1/2 year old from having remarried. Please don't put down aaaalbert or aaaalaaaan or aaaadaaaam on his birth certificate, ok?

Well, let's see, who are the dads here? GMC Truck Satty 76 CT dsuupr zhawk avant1963 Any others?

Italy (Somalia was their only colony, unlike the Spaniards who colonized "all" of So. America and then some)

"Mi manca" on a regular basis. That is why I make the pilgrimage every 2 or so years. And you will get back here.