# Diamonds, Booze, and a Cruise MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [January 30, 2012, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178 "2012-01-30T10:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/41 "2012-01-30T22:09:59Z")
Evenin’ all! Aw, I’m getting all jealous of the holiday-type people, my parents are off in Ecuador at the moment, and **FCM** ’s had a nice cruise, and I’m all stuck at home in the horrid january cold. Not having a fun couple of days- my back’s been going all haywire again, and I’m now doped up to the eyeballs on a terribly interesting cocktail of painkillers (really a very interesting selection) just waiting for it to all settle down again. I’m supposed to be getting all ready for this seed swap event I’m supposedly organising, which is this weekend now, but it’s quite hard to organise stuff like that from bed, which is where I’m spending most of my time reclinin’. I didn’t go to my interview last week, went to the doctors’ instead, and the nice locum pretty much freaked out at how badly I’m walking. Should have gone back today, but the fun painkillers knocked me out, so I didn’t get up 'til too late to get an appointment (you have to phone that morning- they almost never let you book in advance at ours, very odd system). Getting bored out of my tiny mind. Any interestin’ website recommendations for a bored doped person? Anyway, should stop whingin’, I’m doing far too much of that lately (I _am_ English, it is the national hobby, don’tcha know)- should get back to wishing happy babbies for **LiLi** , and happy remains of the monday for everyone else! ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/42 "2012-01-30T22:23:06Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > \*\*BBBobbio \*\*- #5?? Haven’t they figured out what’s causing it?? 😃 Well, the full answer isn’t the happiest and I won’t cover it in public. Bruiser is an oops, and all of his sibs are in double digits so he will be one spoiled little kid. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/43 "2012-01-30T22:45:58Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Speaking of odd characters in funny clothes, we decided at breakfast on the last day that most of the people on that ship looked better with clothes on! Yes, us included. This is not said snarkily or judgmentally, but we were truly not on a ship full of “beautiful people” - nothing at all like you see on TV or the movies. There were sags and scars and bellies and thunder thighs and tattoos that called attention to things better ignored and bathing suits that appeared to be a size or 3 too small. And we were at home among them. > > We were told that Carnival Cruise Lines tends to cater to the young, hip, fit crowd, so I’m glad we did Royal Caribbean! 😃 > > Oh yeah, and the casino… My husband played the slots. It took him less than 10 minutes to lose $6, and he immediately checked into rehab after. 😛 He was watching chips of huge denominations sliding about at the various tables, but like me, he’s not a gambler. I hate to think how much some people lost there. My sis, on the other hand, came out about $200 ahead - she had a lucky cruise! In our experience, Carnival caters to familys with wild children. On one ship there were packs of children running throughout the ship. Had there been sheep aboard, I’m sure they would have eaten them. I won nearly $800 on a one dollar slot on one cruise. Of course, I wasted $4 to get it. 😃 We paid off our on board account with it. Hubby wanted to “re-invest” it. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/44 "2012-01-30T22:53:44Z")
**{{{roo and family}}}** your mom, dad, aunt, you and the rest of the family are in my thoughts and prayers. **LiLi** go rest now young lady. Not another word. March right in that bedroom and rest. Those twins won’t birth themselves you know. Wait… that’s not exactly right is it. 😃 Seriously. Take it easy. Og knows you won’t be doin’ that after the twins are born. Wow, **BBBobbio** that’s what ya call a bouncin’ baby linebacker for sure! I second the idea of goin’ on an Alaskan cruise then spendin’ the week at **wiki’s** place to reacclimate/recuperate. Fun! 😃 BBQ sammiches and fries for dindin. It’s all about healthy eatin’ here at da cave. Oh, **LiLi** I cooked and shredded some chikin boobs last night to make a casserole for tomorrow night. You were my inspiration. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2012, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/45 "2012-01-30T23:07:30Z")
{{{{{ **roo** and **family** }}}}} {{{{ **LiLi** }}}} - take it easy and don’t worry too much **LiLi**. Even as a non parent, I know it’s really stressful but those baby doctors do wonderful things these days and I’m sure the kids will be fine. I officially, for the first time ever, did day 1 of Couch-to-5K and I didn’t cheat and I can run for 60 seconds!!! I’m so excited. ---
**Author:** ![phouka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c5a1d2/32.png) [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/46 "2012-01-31T00:04:43Z")
_sigh_ And I just got home to find my parents arguing over what Dad’s doctor said to do after his appointment today regarding onset of bad, bad back pain. Dad, who is nearly deaf and has the short term memory of a goldfish, is telling Mom that she, an RN with 40 years of experience, doesn’t understand the instructions and has gotten them wrong. In short, he’s being a dickhead. He often is, and we cope, because we know he’s terrified of losing his faculties, terrified of death, and knows deep in his heart that he’s alienated about every single family except for us. Except, he’s being a dickhead the day after my mom’s sister died, the day before she has to fly to Dallas, two days before she’s going to bury her sister. In the kitchen. Where the knives are. I swear, if she kills him, I’ll do everything in my power to stage it to look like an accident. (“He fell on my knife. He fell on my knife ten times.”) ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/47 "2012-01-31T00:08:01Z")
Well, it looks like \*\*kai \*\*needs to change the sheets in the guest room in anticipation of MumperCruise’12! 😃 I made us a mostly healthy supper - onions and green beans and poke strips kinda sorta stir-fried with sesame oil and soy sauce, twice-baked N.O.T. (I love having a mess of them in the freezer,) and some pineapple chunks. Now it’s time to assume the knit position. \*\*FCD \*\*had a long day at work, and he’s got a long week ahead, followed by a trek to PA next week. His own fault - he was whining about wanting to go back to work. 😃 {{{ **Kanga** }}} ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/48 "2012-01-31T00:20:45Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > Except, he’s being a dickhead the day after my mom’s sister died, the day before she has to fly to Dallas, two days before she’s going to bury her sister. In the kitchen. Where the knives are. > > I swear, if she kills him, I’ll do everything in my power to stage it to look like an accident. (“He fell on my knife. He fell on my knife ten times.”) I know you’re going through a rough time right now, but this made me laugh a lot. **{{{{more of these}}}}** and some of these :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/49 "2012-01-31T00:45:06Z")
I have oozed slowly over to the computer. Mr. Lissar is putting the kidlets to bed, and we had Indian takeout for dinner. It was great. We’ll hang out with his Mum for a bit, and I’ll watch everyone else do chores, and then I’ll slump slowly up the stairs to bed. Tomorrow, hospital at eight. I may not be home for several days, so I’ll update when I can. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/50 "2012-01-31T01:09:09Z")
Hope everything goes very smoothly tomorrow, **LiLi**. Lots of hugs and prayers and good thoughts. Sorry for your loss, **Kanga**. Hugs. I’ve never been on a cruise. My grandparents went on a cruise every year until Grandad was about 90 or so. My cousin took Grandma on a cruise when she was about 90, a couple of years after Grandad passed. I’m really not sure when they started going on cruises, but it wouldn’t surprise me to know they went on 40 or so cruises. That was how they celebrated their wedding anniversary. I’m wearing the ring Grandad bought Grandma when they celebrated their 60th. It’s surprisingly low-key. (Grandma was usually one for large, flamboyant…anything.) I’d like to take a small cruise sometime, but find land-based vacations more interesting. (I like buildings and museums and other stuff you’re not likely to find on board.) Am about to go for a walk. Then it’s time to start valentining. Hugs. GT ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/51 "2012-01-31T01:29:33Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > _sigh_ > > (“He fell on my knife. He fell on my knife ten times.”) “He bounced. Alot.” ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/52 "2012-01-31T02:09:19Z")
[QUOTE=swampbear] Wow, **BBBobbio** that’s what ya call a bouncin’ baby linebacker for sure! [/QUOTE] Heh. I was a bear from the get-go. I met the world at ten pounds, six and a half ounces. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/53 "2012-01-31T03:02:25Z")
> [@phouka](#): > > (“He fell on my knife. He fell on my knife ten times.”) “Worst case of suicide I ever saw.” ---
**Author:** ![tarragon918](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d26b3c/32.png) [@tarragon918](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tarragon918)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/54 "2012-01-31T05:03:30Z")
Sending prayers and good thoughts your way, **LiLi** , and to your family too. Welcome back, **FairyChatMom**! I’ m glad that you and **FCD** enjoyed the cruise and didn’t overdo it too much. I’ve never been on a cruise though I always wanted to go on one, and still do want to, in fact my dream cruise would be to the Hawaiian islands and back, from the west coast. And who knows … that could happen since I’m close(r) to the west coast than I ever was before. LOL I’m just plodding along, enjoying having the free time now to do stuff. I crocheted a few hats but have moved back to working on a fairly large afghan now. My daughter is interested in learning how to quilt, so now we’re exploring purchasing a sewing machine (believe me, I am so not inclined to sew - I doubt I could stitch a straight line!). One of my cousins quilts and is giving us some pointers, etc. Sending good thoughts to anyone out there who is in the need - i.e **Rosie’s**.sig to all. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/55 "2012-01-31T11:11:48Z")
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffienatin’. _YAWN_ ‘Tis 34 Amurrkin out with a predicted high of 71 and sunny. So, a start out with a heavier jacket and by noon don’t need it kinda day. Then again, a good day to be out and about which I shall be makin’ some home visits. **LiLi** I guess we should cross appropriate/inappropriate appendages for ya today. Hope everything goes well. **gotti** I weighed in at around nine pounds at birth so I reckon I was a bear from the get go too. 😃 I has blurfs this mornin’. Don’t wanna get started. However, I shall. I need more caffiene and rumbly tummy demands to be fed. Then, alas, irk purtification must commence. Le Sigh. I’m anxious to get the all clear re the new gig so’s I can give notice. Happy Tuesday Y’all! ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/56 "2012-01-31T12:35:15Z")
Blurfy this morning. May miss hockey due to stupid truck coming late. :mad: Good Luck, **LiLi**! Prayers sent. {{{{{{ **Kanga** }}}}} **MMMMMMoooommmm** , great OP. I’d do a cruise that had lots of slots n’ booze. > [@phouka](#): > > Except, he’s being a dickhead the day after my mom’s sister died, the day before she has to fly to Dallas, two days before she’s going to bury her sister. In the kitchen. Where the knives are. > > I swear, if she kills him, I’ll do everything in my power to stage it to look like an accident. (“He fell on my knife. He fell on my knife ten times.”) “He was whittling something, and kinda got carried away.” Sticks, glad the knee isn’t too bad. ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/57 "2012-01-31T12:48:17Z")
Just stopping in long enough to send good thoughts to **LiLi** , hope we have babies soon! ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/58 "2012-01-31T12:50:43Z")
Blurf is all I have to say. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/59 "2012-01-31T13:02:16Z")
{{{{ **phouka** and family}}}} \*\*Lili \*\*-- our twins were forcibly ousted at 35 weeks, both had cleared 2.5 Kg by then, and spent two nights in “NICU-light” (basically, a warmed crib and slightly more staff on hand). Even this probably only because they were born in mid-February (and our fear of winter is inversely proportional to its actual existence…) Basically, we went home as soon as _my wife_ was capable of getting out of bed after the C-sec… **Bobbio** - I cannot grok a 4.5 kg baby. That guy ain’t a line-backer, he’s a Sumo wrestler in training! 😛 😃 Also – {{{ **Nuts** }}}. Back pain is, well, a real pain… ☹ On the other hand, there’s no such thing as a bored Doper. If you’re here, you **can’t possibly** be bored! :dubious: BTW and FTR, I haven’t been around too much lately, but even I’ve noticed that \*\*Wiki \*\*isn’t in Alaska any more… Just sayin’. An Alaska cruise still sounds awesome! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178/60 "2012-01-31T13:30:11Z")
> [@tarragon918](#): > > … in fact my dream cruise would be to the Hawaiian islands and back, from the west coast. And who knows … that could happen since I’m close(r) to the west coast than I ever was before. My folks were headed for such a cruise when Dad died. Mom said it was to be 5 days at sea, 5 days in the islands, and 5 days at sea headed home, so free up 2 weeks and head to San Diego! You can even take your crocheting! 😃 > [@dogbutler](#): > > **MMMMMMoooommmm** , great OP. I’d do a cruise that had lots of slots n’ booze. Well, that would be pretty much any cruise, except you have to pay for the booze. I’m guessing my sister’s bar tab was in the neighborhood of $800-$900, and it would have been more except she’s a bartender who befriended the bartenders, so they’d slip her the occasionally free drink… > [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > “He bounced. Alot.” I suspect all of you guys who are replying to “He ran into my knife ten times” are unfamiliar with the _Cell Block Tango_ from _Chicago_. 😉 Which, as it happens, was one of the numbers they adapted for the second show on board. And **Nooner** , we know \*\*kai \*\*has moved, but she still lives close enough to the port of embarkation that we can crash at her place. Or **picu** ’s for that matter. Even \*\*Taters \*\*and \*\*Bumba \*\*are in the neighborhood - none of us will have to shell out for hotels!!! 😃 😃 😃 Good morning, my little darlings! After \*\*FCD \*\*left for work, I fell back to sleep for another 2 hours, then forced myself to get up to escape a particularly stupid and disturbing dream. It’s supposed to hit the 60s today, so after lunch, I’m going to drag out the hose and wash the Miata. Then I’ll pull it in the garage and tonight we’ll wax it, and I’m guessing tomorrow, we’ll trade it in on a Sonata. We’re prettying it up because past experience shows that a detailed car brings more in trade. Other plans include running the vacuum throughout, maybe finishing the last of the laundry, and the kitchen probably needs a good cleaning, too. If my spousal unit’s W2 shows up, I can get our taxes done. And won’t that be fun. Despite retiring in July, my income last year will be higher than 2010. Between 7 months of regular pay, the $25K separation incentive, selling back my vacation time, and getting 5 months of retirement pay, I’ll gross about $3K more. And even worse, I couldn’t hold anything out of the separation or vacation money for my TSP (401k equivalent) so those amounts will be fully taxed. :eek: And no state taxes have been withheld from my retirement pay yet (stoopit OPM) so this will not be a happy tax year. ugh I feel like Warren Buffet’s secretary… Oh, and OPM has \*still \*not finished the calculations of my retirement, so I’m \*still \*getting a reduced amount. We’ve had to dip into savings once, and I see us doing that again, especially because \*\*FCD \*\*was on disability for 7 weeks, and, of course, the cruise expenses. I know - first world problems - but they’re \*my \*problems and I’m entitled to complain. So you can just put up with my whining and hush! 😛 I just finished an unsatisfying breakfast. I want a muffin. They had good muffins on the ship. I don’t have any muffins. This is unsatisfactory[sup]2[/sup] but Happy Tuesday anyway. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diamonds-booze-and-a-cruise-mmp/611178.md?page=4)