# MMP Mystery – What’s up with Murray?? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [January 30, 2006, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190 "2006-01-30T10:17:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/261 "2006-02-03T18:30:26Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > my friends keep inviting me up to P-Town in May (they do a thing every year). So far, I;ve graciously declined > But now that I know \*\*you’re \*\* there… Well, P-town in this context is Portsmouth, Virginia; the armpit of Hampton Roads. If you’re coming to the area, I’ll welcome you, and we can probably scare up **Sean** for some debauchery. If you’re thinking of the other P-town in Taxachussetts, sorry… ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/262 "2006-02-03T18:38:43Z")
ah oh well but perhaps there is a trip south in my future next year or so I’ll let you know ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/263 "2006-02-03T18:40:17Z")
Here is the linky-link. I just finished my rough draft of my interview essay–I feel quite righteous, having just written 900 words. [This ain’t Disneyworld, folks!](http://www.castleuk.net/main_map_page.htm) Just scroll down to the numbers–they link you to pics of each castle, rampart, earthwork, bailey, fortress, guard tower–you get the idea. We are going to see #188 and #175. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/264 "2006-02-03T18:56:41Z")
Ooooh, castles. I went to Windsor Castle with my parents back in high school. Very cool. \*\*Spats \*\*- not sure about the plays. Next weekend’s out. It’s Freakout weekend! We’ll see after that. ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/265 "2006-02-03T20:47:45Z")
Hi guys! I’ve been given a reprieve. The medicine had not arrived from “the study” yet. I’ve joined a study of anemia caused by the ribavirin (the second half of combo therapy - interferon/ribavirin.) In return, I get free meds! Woo-hoo! They have a backlog so I’ve been told. Annoying, but sort of a relief, too. Since I was there, they gave me the first of a three-part vaccine against Hep A and Hep B. **Welby** , I’ve known I’ve had it for over ten years, and my approximate infection date was about 1986. I just didn’t realize how serious it was until my (unrelated) hospital stay last year, because I have no symptoms. I decided to have the biopsy to see what stage of disease my liver is in. I’m at stage 2 - with 0 being no infection or damage, and stage 4 being full-blown cirrhosis needing a transplant. It’s always a personal decision whether or not to have the treatment because this can be very hard with many sucky side effects. It’s possible I could die from something else before it gets me, but… Anyway- It’s Friday! I’ve been to the store and got fixin’s for the Super Bowl, as well as dinner tonight and tomorrow. I love to cook. Fuhgeddabout the Calphalon - it’s all about the food! Homemade broccoli soup and chef salad tonight. Tomorrow is Pork Parmesan with pesto pasta. (Just like chicken parmesan but with boneless pork chops.) Yum! ---
**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:** [February 3, 2006, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/266 "2006-02-03T20:52:18Z")
> [@taxi78cab](#): > > Now I just need to find someone willing to alter it. The dress shops aren’t willing to since I’m buying it off the internet. And I don’t know how good any of the other seamstresses around here are. My mom used to do alterations for people back when I was a kid. She just put an ad in the paper, and next thing we knew, strange women were in our living room in their slips! :eek: But, for your dilemma - I’d recommend checking the papers or the yellow pages, calling some shops, and asking them for references from customers - I would expect a good shop would gladly refer you to their satisfied customers. Or you could try to coerce **Lissla** … or you could learn to do it yourself… Or you could just ignore me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sean\_Factotum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/50afbb/32.png) [@Sean\_Factotum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sean_Factotum)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/267 "2006-02-03T20:55:12Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > I’m at the Integrated Support Command on Coast Guard Blvd in P-town; just off West Norfolk Road. Got it. And **rosie** , what **Bob** said. It is now preternaturally quiet around here. Mandy and Roundboy were philosiphising about the Middle East, blah blah blah, until it finally got on my last nerve. I told them both to shut the hell up because neither of them knoew what they were talking about. I think I hurt their feelings. I can hear them furiously typing emails back and forth to each other. But at least I have some peace now. [Blair Brown] “Life’s full of these trade-offs.”[/BB] ---
**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:** [February 3, 2006, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/268 "2006-02-03T21:04:30Z")
And on the medical front - surgery is scheduled for Monday Feb 13 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Baltimore. We’ll go up to my mom’s the night before since she’s only about 45 minutes from the hospital, while we’re about 2.5 hours away. Dr. Bob said **FCD** ’ll stay definitely one and possibly 2 nights in the hospital, and he’s supposed to wear his cervical collar for the full 4 weeks. I’ve already arranged to take that whole week off, although I may go back to work if he’s doing OK and doesn’t need me. On the good news front, his boss is letting him tele-commute while he’s recovering, since his project is at the write-the-programming stage, and he can do that at home in his collar. So that’s great - no lost income during recuperation. And if all goes well, he should be back at the office by mid-March. On the down side, I won’t be going to Orlando and I won’t get to meet **Puggy** this month. Alas… On the sorta up side, my van didn’t require the more expensive repair option. They’re replacing the bearings in the differential, but the gears were good. So it shouldn’t cost much more than $800. Whew! The van itself isn’t worth much more than that! On the other hand, it’s less than 2 car payments, and if it gets me 2 more years of service, it’s money well spent. On the real up side - it’s FRIDAY!!! _\_ ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/269 "2006-02-03T21:10:56Z")
**FCM** , thanks for the suggestions. And good thoughts for FCD. And you. And everyone else who’s sick/recovering/taking meds! I submitted a bunch more resumes online today. Hopefully someone will get back to me. I have two frickin’ degrees in engineering! How hard should this be?? Well, ok, I’m not really totally interested in a position in engineering, which complicates matters. And I tend to reject anything that involves being in a factory. And I have no actual experience in engineering, just telecomm (that was an engineering position though) and research in commercial real estate. But still! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/270 "2006-02-03T21:11:23Z")
> [@Sean Factotum](#): > > And **rosie** , what \*\*Bob \*\* said. Y’know - I may just take you up on that - maybe later this year, after I’ve lost a bit more weight and gotten thru some PT so I can sit in a car for 5 hours ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/271 "2006-02-03T21:33:53Z")
Um. I went a little crazy. I need new shoes and new bras. So, I went to Kohl’s… Their cover charge is more than Target’s. I spent $355. On clothes–AND a floppy silicone 9x9 pan(this place is a bad influence). :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/272 "2006-02-03T22:11:03Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Um. > I went a little crazy. > I need new shoes and new bras. So, I went to Kohl’s… > > Their cover charge is more than Target’s. > I spent $355. > On clothes–AND a floppy silicone 9x9 pan(this place is a bad influence). > > :eek: But it was fun, huh? I usually hate shopping, but sometimes you just find so much stuff that looks good! Congrats on the car **FCM**. Tell me again, what is wrong with **FCD** ’s back? Good thoughts going his (and your) way. Speaking of alterations - we just bought drapes (on sale) for the living room. But they didn’t have valances to match. So we bought the last panel and figured we could have somebody make the valances for us, since neither one of us can sew. This one place quoted $90!!! That’s more than _all_ the drapes cost! Jeez. I will be shopping around a bit more. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/273 "2006-02-03T22:14:29Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Um. > I went a little crazy. > I need new shoes and new bras. So, I went to Kohl’s… > **Their cover charge is more than Target’s.** > **I spent $355.** > On clothes–AND a floppy silicone 9x9 pan(this place is a bad influence). > :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: My Og! Aren’t you supposed to be able to get bargains there? One just opened up here but I’m stayin waaaaaaaaayy away from there. I mean you can only wear so many bras! ---
**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:** [February 3, 2006, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/274 "2006-02-03T22:16:59Z")
> [@Dolores Reborn](#): > > Congrats on the car **FCM**. Tell me again, what is wrong with **FCD** ’s back? The first surgery was to fuse some vertebrae in his neck and remove a couple of herniated discs. We’d hoped that would take care of the numbness in his left arm, but it didn’t. Turns out, there’s a bone spur pressing on the nerves that run down his left arm. This second surgery will be to remove that spur. If this doesn’t work, I don’t know what can be done. So I’m trusting Dr. Bob is as good as everyone has been telling me all these years. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/275 "2006-02-03T22:19:37Z")
> [@Tupug Anachi](#): > > I mean you can only wear so many bras! I bought four today. I can’t wait till they’re delivered. My life is so sad. ---
**Author:** ![Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a8b319/32.png) [@Spatial\_Rift\_47](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spatial_Rift_47)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/276 "2006-02-03T22:42:50Z")
**Drae** , I think you should wear all four at once. Now _that’s_ support! 😛 > [@taxi78cab](#): > > \*\*Spats \*\*- not sure about the plays. Next weekend’s out. It’s Freakout weekend! We’ll see after that. How about the Sunday matinee show at 2 pm? Surely that wouldn’t interfere with Freakout. Regarding castles … [I’ve been here!! 😃 😃](http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_scotland/66/edinburghcastle.htm) It was nothing short of absolutely astounding. I looooved it. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/277 "2006-02-03T23:48:49Z")
> [@Tupug Anachi](#): > > :eek: :eek: :eek: My Og! Aren’t you supposed to be able to get bargains there? One just opened up here but I’m stayin waaaaaaaaayy away from there. I mean you can only wear so many bras! **Puggers** --not sure if I should say calm yourself, or if you know the Truth. See, those things were all on sale (EXCEPT the damned bra!). I bought: shoes (which I am going to take back, see below) 3 pairs of pants (2 of which don’t fit me right, and the shoes don’t go with the one pair I do like) pajamas–what? I needed 'em! bras (2) purse–big enough for all those moments during vacas–“mom, can you put this in your purse?” new wallet. silicone pan so, much more than just bras and shoes. I DID think that the clerk was gonna hit “discount” after the total, but sadly, $355 was it. I am taking back about $70. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/278 "2006-02-04T00:15:30Z")
Oops-forgot. Also got a turtleneck, a sweater and a shirt. So, not so bad, eh? ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/279 "2006-02-04T01:49:47Z")
> [@gardentraveler](#): > > What kind of job is it, **MagicEyes**? What don’t you like about it? Hope it gets better. Thanks, **gt**. I hope it gets better, too. It’s not so bad, but I just want to do something more interesting. It’s a communications job–I’m putting together newsletters, mostly. Too many picky little details–meeting dates that have to be right, stuff like that, and I’m really good at getting those little details wrong. I’m more of a big-picture person. I get to do a little graphic-designy stuff, but not much. I’m feeling a little bummed today because I was just thinking about how much I really liked my last job, but I had to leave because of a couple of unreasonable people, and I’d really like to still be doing that job, but I don’t want to work with them so it’s better that I’m not working there any more, but it still makes me a little sad. I just don’t feel as useful, and I’m a little bored. But it’s part-time and temporary, so I don’t have to do it all day, every day, and it’ll be over soon. I could use a dumptruckful of chocolate over here, too. Anybody got some extra chocolate? I need to check in more often–I missed the danishes. But I have tiny little CD drive, so they probably wouldn’t fit in that slot, anyway. The coolness of Target never ends. I love Target more than ever, now. I’m working on costumes for a play, and it’s been a little difficult, because I need some odd things, like three matching bridemaid’s dresses for women of very unusual sizes (ranging from 5 to 6 feet tall, and all plus sizes), so it’s been really difficult. The hardest part is the size 3X fur coat. Ever tried to find one of those? Not easy. But I was at Target, and they have fake mink throws that are really soft and not bad-looking. So now I can make a size 3X coat that will fit perfectly, and not have to buy something off of Ebay and find out that it doesn’t fit and won’t work. It’s not nearly as nifty as Target, but I’ve just discovered Big Lots. They have some pretty cool stuff there, and it’s really cheap. It’s a little scary, because this one is in a deserted strip mall, and the parking lot is dark and full of potholes, but it turned out to be completely worth it. They have Oetker baking mixes and I got Guittard white and dark chocolate (flavored) syrup. And chocolate truffle Peppermint Patties. I might go back and get some more of those. And the cover charge is less than Target, so that’s good. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2006, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190/280 "2006-02-04T01:58:17Z")
> [@Spatial Rift 47](#): > > How about the Sunday matinee show at 2 pm? Surely that wouldn’t interfere with Freakout. Next weekend’s really totally out… I’ve got 19 Freakout tix and have to spend at least some time with most of those people! :eek: And different groups of them don’t get along! :eek: :eek: We’ll try again some other time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mmp-mystery-what-s-up-with-murray/342190.md?page=15)