# Family Get-Togethers - A Holiday-ish MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [December 3, 2007, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643 "2007-12-03T10:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**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:** [December 9, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/341 "2007-12-09T18:29:04Z")
::yawning:: Just woke up from a nice nap after… well, you know, this morning in room 305. 😉 Yesterday’s Open House with Santa was fun! We probably had 10 or so people stop by. I’ll try to post some pictures later because photobucket is not cooperating right now. Off to forage for lunch. (the meal) ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/342 "2007-12-09T18:34:37Z")
[QUOTE=Always Brings Pie] Off to forage for lunch. (the meal) [/QUOTE] “Meal” can be so ambiguous… 😉 I found yet another plagiarized paper. I think she thought she was being clever by culling from different sources off the 'net, but I’ve found all of them and written them in the margins before marking it with an F. Jesus, I TELL these students that I can find these articles much quicker than they can, but obviously they don’t believe me. :rolleyes: Sometimes I just want to tell them, “There is a reason why I am the teacher and you are the students. You THINK you’re being clever, but I am always ten steps ahead of you, so let’s save each other some time and actually try to, you know, learn something while we’re all here.” :mad: ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/343 "2007-12-09T19:03:31Z")
Oh, I just thought of something. At the crafts fair yesterday I saw a scarf design that I really liked - it had a drawstring running through the middle of it, which you could pull to create scalloped ruffles. ([Here’s a picture](http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x163/faeriehazel/SDMB/drawstring.jpg); in the pic the top half of the scarf has been folded over so the scarf doesn’t create a high collar.) But the damn thing was $75. It was a really cool idea but the design seemed simply enough. Any ideas on how I could make it myself? I was thinking I’d need two pieces of fabric to sew together and put the drawstring through the center … is there something I’m missing? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/344 "2007-12-09T20:21:02Z")
Back from grocery store–it was so packed there were NO carts left. I found a stray cart, asked the people around it if it was their’s, got a no, and took it. We have $223 left in the checking account until Thursday and the bill came to $213–after I put stuff back before check out. And then I realized I was out of checks. :smack: :mad: So, I put it on mastercard. I hate that–I haven’t had to do that since the Poor Days in this house. Anyway, rant over. And Hershey’s chocolate marshmallow kisses aren’t very good. They’d be good in Rice Krispie treats, though. Going off to feel poor and fat elsewhere–it will involve a lot of grumbling. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/345 "2007-12-09T20:26:51Z")
Nice little clay respite - I threw 4 closed pieces. One is definitely a cat, one will be a monster, not sure about the other 2. Maybe a dog and another cat… or a penguin… or a monster… It doesn’t matter - I am an _artiste_! I shall create as the clay speaks to me! Critters need to be fed, then I need to get semi-clean before we go out. Clay-covered sweats and slippers are just a wee bit too low class, even for here. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/346 "2007-12-09T21:19:16Z")
**Haze** , I bet they think there’s no way that you can find the info online that they can, because they’ve been online since before birth, pretty much. Never mind that some of us have been online, one way or another, since almost childhood ourselves (I was 13, which would have made it…1989? Egads, I’m old!). Personally I’d rather turn in a paper and do badly on it because I did a crappy job, instead of chancing getting kicked out of school by coming up with a plagiarized paper. (And if I were to plagiarize a paper, I sure as heck wouldn’t get it online. It’s far too easy to get caught that way! Not that I would. Ever.) I had a horrible night last night, one of those where I just couldn’t get comfortable and sleep well and had weird dreams and woke up about 3 feeling like Teh Sick was making a wee hours invasion. I ended up reading for awhile and finally got back to sleep, and woke up feeling more human, but I sure as hell hope that doesn’t happen again tonight, since I have to get up for work in the morning. I think I’m more nervous about this job than I think I am or something. Otherwise, everything’s fine here. It’s weird for it to snow and stay on the ground for more than a day or so, but it’s kinda cool too. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2007, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/347 "2007-12-09T21:27:30Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] “Meal” can be so ambiguous… 😉 I found yet another plagiarized paper. I think she thought she was being clever by culling from different sources off the 'net, but I’ve found all of them and written them in the margins before marking it with an F. Jesus, I TELL these students that I can find these articles much quicker than they can, but obviously they don’t believe me. :rolleyes: Sometimes I just want to tell them, “There is a reason why I am the teacher and you are the students. You THINK you’re being clever, but I am always ten steps ahead of you, so let’s save each other some time and actually try to, you know, learn something while we’re all here.” :mad: [/QUOTE] You expect them to _learn_? You slavedriver! School is for social time! I miss the entertainment of student essays. I’d rather grade 'em than write 'em. _glares at book review due tomorrow that refuses to write itself_ There’s a bulletin board in the the reference section where I work that’s based on “All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” One part reads “Be aware of wonder. Be aware that Wikipedia is not the only source for your papers.” That needs to be tattooed on the hands of every single college freshman. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2007, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/348 "2007-12-09T21:43:55Z")
Yes. They could tray actually _writing_ their papers. No, I suppose that’s too hard. :rolleyes: Brief respite from throwing things out- Mr. Lissar, Friend Who Loves Throwing Stuff Out and Lazy Husband are off to drop off four and a half garbage bags at Goodwill, and then pick up the baby’s dresser from my parents’ place. Mr. Lissar got rid of a whole bunch of his hitting-people sticks. I’m amazed. We haven’t done the kitchen yet, but we’ve done most of the bedroom and a lot of the livingroom. We have an amazing amount of junk. ---
**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 9, 2007, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/349 "2007-12-09T23:03:52Z")
We have been remiss or sump’n… **HAPPY FAIRYCHAT ANNIVERSARY!!!** Or was that officially earlier this week and I missed it cause, ya know, bein’ all consultative and stuff, I kinda sorta skimmed a lot of stuff. Nuttin’ to add here. Today was church (I was Lector), lunch, nap, ummm…y’all know, now bein’ vegatitive. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2007, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/350 "2007-12-09T23:22:52Z")
Essay quote: > [@](#): > > For the rest of the week I did nothing but cry and mop around. Would it be mean of me to write in the margin, “Well, at least your kitchen must’ve been clean”? ---
**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:** [December 10, 2007, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/351 "2007-12-10T00:20:13Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] Essay quote: Would it be mean of me to write in the margin, “Well, at least your kitchen must’ve been clean”? [/QUOTE] That’s hysterical! Off to crawl under the covers because it’s freeeeeeezing here! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/352 "2007-12-10T00:25:36Z")
Thanks, \*\*swampy \*\* - no, it’s today. 24 years of eloped bliss. 😃 Not bad for only dating 4 weeks. Back from the Japanese steak house - ooooooooooooooooooh was it gooooooooooooood!! I’m stuffed. MIL called - we need to bring 2 $10 gifts with us for the weird exchange we’ll be doing for Christmas. No idea what she has in mind, but last year was fun, so this year should be fun, too. I already have one gift, so I need to come up with one more. Easy-peasy, I think. Alas, another weekend fizzles away. Oh well, I have jury duty this week, so I get a break on Wednesday, sorta. ---
**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 10, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/353 "2007-12-10T00:27:46Z")
[QUOTE=HazelNutCoffee] Essay quote: Would it be mean of me to write in the margin, “Well, at least your kitchen must’ve been clean”? [/QUOTE] Nah… mean would be if you wrote in the margin, “That’s disgusting! Didn’t your momma teach you to mop _under_ things not just around things!” 😃 No need to thank me. I’m always willing to chime in with a mean and/or tacky comment where needed. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/354 "2007-12-10T00:43:13Z")
[QUOTE=swampbear] Nah… mean would be if you wrote in the margin, “That’s disgusting! Didn’t your momma teach you to mop _under_ things not just around things!” 😃 No need to thank me. I’m always willing to chime in with a mean and/or tacky comment where needed. [/QUOTE] Hah! I’m tempted to write that down. After all, the students have already done their teacher evals. Took a picture of [my new hat with its new cheerful flower pin](http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x163/faeriehazel/bored/Picture010.jpg). My mom says it makes me look like I’m from North Korea. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/355 "2007-12-10T00:45:05Z")
_Happy Anniversary, FairyChats!_ ---
**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:** [December 10, 2007, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/356 "2007-12-10T01:07:19Z")
> [@Hank](#): > > Would it be mean of me to write in the margin, “Well, at least your kitchen must’ve been clean”? Yes, but also very funny. Oh, and the denial thing also makes perfect sense. Two of my best friends have been in similar situations, so I’ve watched people weather this storm before. I always wish I could do something to make it resolve itself faster. Also, I can’t believe how many of your students are plagiarizing. That’s just sad. _Happy Anniversary_ to the **FairyChats**!!! The Sick seems to be staying more or less in check. I’ve been drinking lots of tea and other liquids and staying all bundled up. Went to my friend’s fun cookie party - had lots of fun, but now I’m really sleepy. Think I’ll call Mom and then crawl into bed. **BooFae** is supposed to do tomorrow’s MMP. Hopefully she’ll have made it back home safely… Hugs to all… See everyone in the new MMP. GT ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/357 "2007-12-10T01:19:41Z")
[QUOTE=whiterabbit] **Haze** , I bet they think there’s no way that you can find the info online that they can, because they’ve been online since before birth, pretty much. Never mind that some of us have been online, one way or another, since almost childhood ourselves (I was 13, which would have made it…1989? Egads, I’m old!). [/QUOTE] The funny thing is that a lot of my students are pretty clueless when it comes to using the Internet for things other than Myspace. I mentioned [Google.com](http://Google.com) the other week and some of them had never heard of this website before. :eek: And those VERY SAME STUDENTS have used Google to plagiarize their final papers. :smack: I suppose the thought that I might know how to use it better than they do never occured to them. Lord grant me patience. :: blows get-well kisses to **gt** :: ---
**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:** [December 10, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/358 "2007-12-10T02:37:46Z")
Sooooo tired. Have thrown out a huge amount of stuff. Going to bed soon. With hacking cough. Go away, dammit! ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/359 "2007-12-10T02:50:28Z")
Ok. So. I think I found 41 of the 50 errors in my final. (I am not sure if all that I found are errors). And I have corrected them (also not sure if my corrections are correct). But I’m done now. Will turn it in tomorrow. I should be whooping and hollering with joy, but I’m just meh. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2007, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643/360 "2007-12-10T03:13:19Z")
Google? They’ve never heard of **Google**? How do they find the sites to steal their papers from without it? I still think Teh Sick is trying to make a run at me, but I’ve been fighting it with lots of hot herbal tea and vitamin C and stuff like that today. The absolute last thing I need right now is a cold. My roommate has a friend over. Nice guy, but he looks just enough like my ex-boyfriend to weird me out. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-get-togethers-a-holiday-ish-mmp/428643.md?page=19)