# Even If It Is Christmas We Must Have A MMP! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [December 25, 2017, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267 "2017-12-25T13:10:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/101 "2017-12-28T13:33:11Z")
> [@Sahirrnee](#): > > … > He can jump up on his own but why bother when I can lift him up? > … You get the behavior you reinforce. For good or for ill. Like people, dogs are better at picking up bad habits than good. Up & caffeinating. Slept in to 7:30 under gray and drizzly skies. It’s a cool damp morning, but not so cold as to have to close the windows. Food is next. The next few days promise to be cooler than we’ve had as we get the tippy edge of what y’all are now suffering with. NYE is shaping up to be a rain-out. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/102 "2017-12-28T13:54:28Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > It’s currently 16° out, going down to 11° tonight; forecast high for tomorrow is 23°, with “Wind chill values as low as zero”. > … > PM me an address & I will take you up on that offer. This weather is s’posed to continue for at least another 7 days. > … > Either way, I have to be back home on Monday to head down South for fun & frolicking in the ocean. 🆒 > … PM sent. Though it’d be a shame to miss the Peepsfest. But with that weather I’d sure give it a pass. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/103 "2017-12-28T14:10:03Z")
I have been to the Pubic Sto’ and the Burly Butcher Sto’. Comestibles and other necessaries have been bought and put where they stay until used. Go Me! Cloudy, dreary and coldish out, so good to be back in da cave. ETA: **Ruble** take the time off, you need it so it appears. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/104 "2017-12-28T15:08:06Z")
We dropped off the car for an oil change, then went to breakfast, and as we were starting on our way home, the shop called that the car was ready, so after filling the truck, we went to pick up the Sonata. Now we’re home thawing out. \*\*FCD \*\*wants me to research the process for getting a website set up. So that’s my plan for today. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/105 "2017-12-28T15:25:08Z")
Good morning all. It’s a balmy 25F here with an expected high of 44F today. My 2017 accounts have been archived, A lot of spending on housework (windows, painting, doors) this year, but the credit card budget was right on the nose and utilities were 25% below what I had planned on. We’ll see what 2018 brings. Trying to adjust to the thought that this is Thorsday, that is the only trouble with travel, it screws up my brain as to which day it is. Need to run an errand or two this PM, but right now just hoping the house heats up (the 3rd bedroom/computer room is always the coldest in the house). All y’all take care. **Moooooomm** , good luck on finding a carpooler, but an 900-mile drive does sound appealing. I’d still look at airfares once the news comes that you are FCGM, might be a deal there anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/106 "2017-12-28T17:32:10Z")
Feel better **Ruble**. Is there an Amtrak that runs that way **Moommm**? I’ve enjoyed doing the run from Oregon to CA on the Coast Starlight a few times this year. You might have to do some driving on one end or the other (or both) but it should be much better than driving the whole way. Food, bathrooms, comfy chairs. In fact, I think there’s a train down the Florida that will take cars… I saw the doctor yesterday. Apparently my scheduling was all screwed up. I should have gone in about 2 more weeks. Since I was there, we talked. The infection is clearing up, but I should keep taking my meds. I should expect about 6 months before I start feeling normal. I can start physical therapy in 2-3 weeks. We leave for Orygun today. Huzzah for going home. Once we get back, I will be back to missing Pepper pup all the more, but this is for the best. ☹ Happy Thorsday y’all. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/107 "2017-12-28T17:44:37Z")
\*\*Sunny \*\*- there is Amtrak, but it’s more expensive than flying and it’s literally an all-day trek plus I’d need someone to drop me off and pick me up. And the AutoTrain is an overnight adventure - if you want a sleeper, it’s ridiculously expensive. It just won’t work. I’ve been helping \*\*FCD \*\*set up his webpage for his new business. I thought WordPress was supposed to be so easy to use, but it’s making my head asplode! He’s messing with it right now with less cussing, so maybe it’s just me. It took an age for me to figure out how to access my company email account. I’m sure it’s all a matter of terminology - I don’t know the lingo. I need my own personal web geek. I do have a BIL who could do it, but I really hate dealing with him - it’s a personality thing. Must be him - can’t possibly be me!!! 😛 ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/108 "2017-12-28T18:10:54Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > _\_ **Moooooomm** , good luck on finding a carpooler, but an 900-mile drive does sound appealing. I’d still look at airfares once the news comes that you are FCGM, might be a deal there anyway. Surely you meant to say unappealing??? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/109 "2017-12-28T18:13:27Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > This mornin’ I shall go to the Pubic Sto’ for some staple items Paper? 😛 How comes you & OYKW visit famblies separately? > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > \*\*FCD \*\*wants me to research the process for > getting a website set up. I tried that once; never got past looking at the Go Daddy girls. :o 😉 You really want a hotel in FL? I thought you were going to help out with wee little one; isn’t that easier if you’re on site; or do they not have room for you? ---
**Author:** ![Bumbazine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bumbazine/32/362_2.png) [@Bumbazine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bumbazine)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/110 "2017-12-28T18:20:11Z")
I know I haven’t been around for a while. Mea culpa. Been busy. Wifey’s new bionic knee is healing up nicely, but she’s still sleeping upstairs. (her choice, not mine.) she doesn’t want the dogs climbing on her in the bed. They’re small dogs, a mini-schnauzer and a mostly-yorkie, but they expand while they sleep.:dubious: And wiggle. A lot. So she’s sleeping upstairs and I’m sleeping downstairs, with the dogs. Besides, we have a step-in showed up there. It’s too bad the train is more expensive than taking a plane. Seems like it ought to be the other way around. I’d much rather ride Amtrak than fly, myself. BTW, it’s 42F with light fog and maybe showers here today. 😛 I was in the navy for 4 years (66-70) and I don’t think I ever set foot inside a commissary. I did shop at the (British) Royal Navy Exchange, or whatever they called it, in Hong Kong a couple of times. They had much better stuff. That’s about as far back as I have time to read. Y’all have a great Thorsday! ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/111 "2017-12-28T19:12:58Z")
Evenin’ all. Back, after too much driving. Getting there was fine, actually probably the fastest trip I’ve ever had. I actually arrived at my friend’s to pick up the keys early, despite going to a garden centre and the supermarket on the way up. Yesterday though, the country was hit with an attack of white stuff. This means England basically stops. Not too bad at either end, but the middle bit had traffic chaos, train chaos, power cuts (hope **Boofae** wasn’t affected, her area got quite a bit), flight cancellations and general apocalypse. The section of the drive that took under 4 hours on the way, including stopping to do some last minute shopping, took over 7 on the way back, mostly stop start. On the plus side, I met up with a few people I’ve not seen since I moved, then called in at my old house to pick up post and a few bits of stuff I forgot, and wound up staying for the evening and dinner. Actual Christmas was quite nice, but my elderly, and very deaf, Uncle is getting increasingly right wing with age, and my brother’s going increasingly militant left, so that was… interesting. I got a vacuum cleaner, which is what I asked for, so I think I am now officially a middle aged woman. Also money and lots of chocolate. Bought myself a little LED indoor growing/hydroponics kit on the way back (my shopping list was going to be that and a set of very sensitive scales, both for completely legal unrelated purposes, but I couldn’t find the scales- shame, could have wound up on some fun watch lists). Ver’ tired now, it feels like it’s really late, but it’s only 7 pm. I think I shall vegetate for a while in front of [del]my new grow lights[/del] a dvd. Happy Thorsday all! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/112 "2017-12-28T19:39:17Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Bought myself a little LED indoor growing/hydroponics kit Cool! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/113 "2017-12-28T20:16:05Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Surely you meant to say unappealing??? :dubious: ..or appalling, take your choice (yeah, I really do need to proofread better). Chores done, so relaxing for the afternoon. **Nut,** I’m not in England, but North Ali-bama goes nuts on the (every 2-3 years) we have any appreciable amount of snow. Glad you made it back OK. My family is mostly Fundamental Republicans, so I just didn’t say anything, being outnumbered 8-1. **Bumba,** yeah, train travel in most of the US is very expensive and fairly rare, compared to most of the Western world. The Washington/New York/Boston route is one of the few with multiple trains daily, the rest are once a day if that often. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/114 "2017-12-28T20:24:47Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > You really want a hotel in FL? I thought you were going to help out with wee little one; isn’t that easier if you’re on site; or do they not have room for you? They’re sharing a friend’s house and if I was inclined to stay with all of them, including 2-3 dogs and 3 cats, I’d have to sleep on the couch. Ain’t gonna happen - I’ll help her as much as I can, then retreat to a hotel room. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/115 "2017-12-28T20:40:35Z")
Just looked on Amtrak’s site. IF I knew exactly when the baby would be born, I could book round trip for $212. It would take either 17 anna half or 19 hours, depending on which I pick. Plus I’d have to get to Union Station in DC and have someone pick me up in Orlando, then vice versa. And that’s for a seat. A sleeper both ways would total almost $700. Taking the AutoTrain would be between $600-$700 minimum. So, no. ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/116 "2017-12-28T21:02:14Z")
It’s 30 degrees outside, and I have no hot water. Hopefully maintainence shows up quickly. > [@Filbert](#): > > Bought myself a little LED indoor growing/hydroponics kit on the way back (my shopping list was going to be that and a set of very sensitive scales, both for completely legal unrelated purposes, but I couldn’t find the scales- shame, could have wound up on some fun watch lists). :dubious: Whatever you say, [Mr. White](http://breakingbad.wikia.com/wiki/Walter_White)’ ;)😛 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/117 "2017-12-28T21:25:50Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Taking the AutoTrain would be between $600-$700 minimum. So, no. My FIL (v.1.0), a train enthusiast, said that trains never made any money hauling people. :dubious: ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/118 "2017-12-28T21:32:59Z")
They don’t make money because the US rail system isn’t user friendly. We’re an automobile nation. That’s just the way it is. Alas… ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/119 "2017-12-28T21:54:48Z")
Thanks everyone! I’m healing slowly but surely (its a building with sick people and stop calling me Shirley) and that time off just sounded good. Should have stayed logged into the Dope and I could have been top of the page; have been staying well hydrated which means ------- a lot of trips from the bedroom, past the computer, to the bathroom. Could have really planned my additions! > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > They don’t make money because the US rail system isn’t user friendly. We’re an automobile nation. That’s just the way it is. Alas… We were also a nation where smoking and tobacco was the norm for how long? Ya just never know with you human beings. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267/120 "2017-12-28T22:18:45Z")
Almost 8 months for me being a quitter. Can’t say it’s getting any easier either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/even-if-it-is-christmas-we-must-have-a-mmp/805267.md?page=7)