# No Lo Contendre - MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [April 3, 2006, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059 "2006-04-03T13:13:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/221 "2006-04-07T17:02:40Z")
> [@welby](#): > > :eek: > > Did you just call me out about my spellin’? > > Oh no you didn’t. NO YOU DIDN’T! > > That’s it. The gloves are off. > > I need more platypi. > > And a flamethrower. Seems incongruous that someone who spells as poorly as I would do that now doesn’t it? BTW, and I quote: \* There is no universally agreed upon plural of “platypus”. Scientists generally use “platypuses”, “platypoda”, or simply “platypus”. Colloquially, “platypi” is also used for the plural, although this is spurious pseudo-Latin. (The true plural would be platypodes.)\* Well, gotta go take the chicken out of the oven now. Ta! ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/222 "2006-04-07T17:02:55Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Paging **Sean Factotum** … > > VunderWife and I are getting serious about buying a house on the southside. > > That is all… If there’s a cat litter factory nearby, make sure it’s downwind. I would imagine a cat litter factory would be kinda stinky. Besides, would you want to be smelling cat litter while outside grilling up a nice juicy steak. Smelling cat litter would be so unappetizing. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/223 "2006-04-07T17:10:49Z")
As for next week, didn’t **welby** try to get this week last week? And didn’t **swampy** tell him he could do the week after, which is now next week? You certainly don’t expect me to go back and look this up in last week’s MMP, do you? **Rebo** , not to make light of your sucky situation, but when I hit 20 years of federal service, my boss tossed the little pewter pin into my inbox. No certificate, no ceremony, no nothing. At least for my 25 and 30 year pins, when I was working at a different command, I got the pins and plaques in front of whoever showed up for the ceremony. I’ll be getting my 35 year pin in 2009, but I expect to retire before I hit 40. We shall see. I’m home. I decided to use 3 of my saved-up credit hours and run an errand, then come home. Part of the errand was supposed to include stopping for a new watch, since mine has lost 30 minutes since Sunday. But I forgot till I was on my way home. And I’m not going to get a new battery, because that would cost almost as much as my $6 watch, which is kinda raggedy for all that it’s like 5 years old or something. So tomorrow on my way home from my last class of the session, I’ll stop at WalMart and get another cheap watch. It’s rainy and kinda ucky here today. Good napping weather. Maybe I’ll nap. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/224 "2006-04-07T17:18:41Z")
> [@FCM](#): > > As for next week, didn’t welby try to get this week last week? And didn’t swampy tell him he could do the week after, which is now next week? You certainly don’t expect me to go back and look this up in last week’s MMP, do you? your memory is accurate Also \*\*Kytheria \*\* started an MMP this week, because, having not been around the week before, she was unaware that I had dibs. So she may be thinking to start next week’s So it’s any one’s guess as to who has next week ---
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/225 "2006-04-07T17:29:29Z")
> [@Bumbazine](#): > > Colloquially, “platypi” is also used for the plural, although this is spurious pseudo-Latin. (The true plural would be platypodes.)\* Psh. **Exgineer** and worked out the proper MMP platypus plural years ago. > [@FCM](#): > > As for next week, didn’t welby try to get this week last week? And didn’t swampy tell him he could do the week after, which is now next week? You certainly don’t expect me to go back and look this up in last week’s MMP, do you? Yup. Yup. Nope. But welby won’t be near a computer Monday morning. I will, however claim May 1, because I’ll have all sorts of stuff to report when I get back from the Hot Docs festival in Toronto. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/226 "2006-04-07T17:34:55Z")
There will be no multiple MMPs. Multiple MMPs make the baby swampy’s head hurt. **Kytheria** may have next week’s MMP if she so desires. Or not. Whatever. Just not more than one people! You think Tylenol[sup]TM[/sup] grows on trees!!! SHEESH! Cat litter does not grow on threes either. It’s made in a cat litter factory. I think a really weird would be to be the person in charge of QC at a cat litter factory. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/227 "2006-04-07T17:40:40Z")
The ads still say concrete haulers etc. Heh. I wish I could post some “before” pics. When we moved in (1987), I stated firmly that the pink countertops would be the first thing to go. But let your imagination roam freely thru my kitchen while I describe the vision that we bought back then. I had mistakenly assumed that the couple we bought the house from had inherited it from an old aunt, who once it was decorated, never changed a thing. This couple was in their 30’s at the time. Foyer: green and gold flocked wallpaper. Living room: walls strident yellow, all trim mauvey purple, carpet olive green. Dining room: walls mauvey purple, trim strident yellow, carpet olive green. Olive green, gold and purple wallpaper above the wainscoting in here. Kitchen: red “brick” vinyl floor, lavendar trim (yes), pale blue walls, peach sprigged curtains, avocado appliances, dark brown cabinetry(this was a fake wood finish, painted on), pink countertops, Z brick on one wall. Do I need to go on? Trust me–this one was psychedelic bad trip house. It sits on just under an acre, fronts a golf course, and has nice bits like coved ceilings, glass doorknobs, built in hutches and plaster archways. THAT is why we bought the house… so, long story short, we did NOT get rid of the countertops first thing. We stripped 7 layers of paint off the ash(might be maple) trim in the kitchen instead, got a white vinyl floor and painted the walls white as well. I don’t like the color pink much, but once we did that and got white appliances, I could at least enter the room without motion sickness. The couple from whom we bought the house went on to “renovate” a Victorian house a mile or so from here. IMO, her taste is all in her mouth. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/228 "2006-04-07T17:49:28Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > **Rebo** , not to make light of your sucky situation, but when I hit 20 years of federal service, my boss tossed the little pewter pin into my inbox. No certificate, no ceremony, no nothing. At least for my 25 and 30 year pins, when I was working at a different command, I got the pins and plaques in front of whoever showed up for the ceremony. I’ll be getting my 35 year pin in 2009, but I expect to retire before I hit 40. We shall see. Yeah, well, good ol’ [del]Rapethon[/del]Raytheon gave me a 15 year pin, and laid me off 4 months later. Bastiges. I’m not bitter… ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/229 "2006-04-07T17:55:33Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I wish I could post some “before” pics. When we moved in (1987), I stated firmly that the pink countertops would be the first thing to go. But let your imagination roam freely thru my kitchen while I describe the vision that we bought back then. > > I had mistakenly assumed that the couple we bought the house from had inherited it from an old aunt, who once it was decorated, never changed a thing. This couple was in their 30’s at the time. > > Foyer: green and gold flocked wallpaper. > Living room: walls strident yellow, all trim mauvey purple, carpet olive green. > Dining room: walls mauvey purple, trim strident yellow, carpet olive green. Olive green, gold and purple wallpaper above the wainscoting in here. > > Kitchen: red “brick” vinyl floor, lavendar trim (yes), pale blue walls, peach sprigged curtains, avocado appliances, dark brown cabinetry(this was a fake wood finish, painted on), pink countertops, Z brick on one wall. That sounds like the nightmare that was my house in Indianapolis. Gold metallic wallpaper that had German style woodcut prints of nekkid Greek people. Flocked velvet wallpaper in the bathrooms. Lots of jokes about Wild West whorehouses there. Ugly shag carpet. Our theory was the owners were swingers. The only think we kept of the original decor was the rustic den with the fireplace, and the pink fixtures in the main bathroom. It would have been way too expensive to rip out the tub to replace it… ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/230 "2006-04-07T18:27:21Z")
**rigs** , your place sounds [almost](http://groups.msn.com/FairyChatMom/uglyhouse.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=116) as [bad](http://groups.msn.com/FairyChatMom/uglyhouse.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=125) as [ours](http://groups.msn.com/FairyChatMom/uglyhouse.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=113) was. Actually, it sounds worse. But it reminded me of my very first apartment (the pink, that is) - I referred to it as my “After-Dinner Mint” kitchen. The counters and backsplash were pale yellow and pale green ceramic tile, and the fridge was pink. Yep, it was something… ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/231 "2006-04-07T18:36:06Z")
Ow!Ow!Ow! My eyeballs hurt just trying to envision the so called “decor” in **Rig’s** and **Bobbio’s** homes. That is just frightening! Man, it’s only 11:32 am here. I just want the day to end. I’ve spent the morning working on a ridiculous spreadsheet and I don’t want to look at any more of 'em today. Nope! No way! No How! Sigh, but I will have to look at them because I need to help someone in another part of my division with a spreadsheet he must use. Plus, I have my twice daily Unappointed Appointment request spreadsheet to publish, plus, plus, plus. Plus, I need to pull data from my database and run various queries on it. Plus, well, you all get the idea. My job is so glamorous, I can’t stand it. That’s all I have…I wish I could post something entertaining and witty. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/232 "2006-04-07T18:52:31Z")
I once had an apartment with crimson and gold fleur-de-lis wallpaper in the living room. The wonderful thing is that there also wasn’t any overhead light in that room so I didn’t have to look at it so much. (I was twenty and didn’t own any lamps. All light in there was either natural or candlelight.) And let me remind you of the Great Condo Hunt of '05 that included a room wallpapered with castles on clouds and unicorns and little pink hearts. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/233 "2006-04-07T18:57:41Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > **taxi** you got sump’n in writing from RPI that says they agreed to pay the full tuition? Yup, I do. And the student coordinator person from my department has an email from May of '04 saying that this issue was resolve at that point. And yet I still have a bill. I think I’ll take \*\*Taters \*\*up on her offer to come beat them up for me! > [@swampbear](#): > > By the way, just how and where upon one’s person would [navy pumps](http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.simsite.com/images/NavySh1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.simsite.com/NavyShock.htm&h=164&w=219&sz=6&tbnid=Ui27ktKft6aPhM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=102&hl=en&start=20&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnavy%2Bpumps%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26c2coff%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG) be worn? How’d you find just the ones I bought?? Aren’t they sexy? 😛 **Spats** , I quit the Ph.D. program at the end of the fall '03 semester and somehow managed to scrape together enough credits for them to give me a Master’s. So my diploma says December '03. I graduated from undergrad in '01 and started back in grad school in fall '02 with a year of work in between. Thanks again to everyone for the good luck wishes. I’ll certainly let everyone know how it turns out. But I will be here Monday and Tuesday before taking off on Wednesday to be tortured… er, I mean interviewed on Thursday. ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/234 "2006-04-07T19:30:33Z")
> [@taxi78cab](#): > > But I got a nice new navy interview suit and a pair of navy pumps go to with it. I can’t read anything past this line. I keep returning to an image of **taxi** all dressed up like a sailor. > [@](#): > > Paging Sean Factotum… > > VunderWife and I are getting serious about buying a house on the southside. > > That is all… Coolness personified, it is. I’d avoid Virginia Beach. And I’m guessing that you’d like a one-story ranch, for various reasons, right? I live in Deep Creek (Ches), which is fairly centrally located between the USCG station and Lynnhaven Road. There a re a couple-three other neighborhoods in Portsmouth and Chesapeake that would work well for your commuting. Keep me posted. **swampy** I have absolutely no idea where the cat litter reference came from. Are the Voices telling you what to type today? And this is what I think **scout** and BSMF look like [together](http://www.break.com/index/bb7317.html). Have a good weekend, everybody. ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/235 "2006-04-07T19:36:07Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > I need help this morning. I have an ear worm of the worst kind. I have that horrible song, “Just Another Manic Monday” in my head–it was part of my dream. Double I’ve had the Dirty Dancing Havana Nights soundtrack stuck in my head all week. Granted, I’m not helping things by continually listening to it on the way to classes, 😛 , but damn, that’s some good music. > [@swampbear](#): > > Guess what! I’m a big ol’ mean low-life scum bucket! Well, I’m one of two. DQ’s ex-supervisor is the other one. We got a phone call from a customer. Seems she has taken it upon herself to tell others just what big ol’ mean low-life scum buckets we really are, as opposed to the sweet kind upstanding moral pillars of the community we represent ourselves to be. Rats! My cover is blown. Whatever shall I do now? Wow, that’s even _more_ childish and unprofessional than she was being before. Sounds like you’re lucky you got rid of her. > [@Sean Factotum](#): > > Coolness personified, it is. > I’d avoid Virginia Beach. And I’m guessing that you’d like a one-story ranch, for various reasons, right? I live in Deep Creek (Ches), which is fairly centrally located between the USCG station and Lynnhaven Road. There a re a couple-three other neighborhoods in Portsmouth and Chesapeake that would work well for your commuting. Keep me posted. When I’m not off at college, I’m from the beach- it has its nice areas, but it can be rather touristy as well. Personally, I plan on moving away once I graduate (I’m more of a big city kind of girl.) If they move here, though, we’re totally going to have to all get together at some point, since we’ll be living so close and all! ---
**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:** [April 7, 2006, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/236 "2006-04-07T19:46:03Z")
> [@welby](#): > > I get back from the Hot Docs festival in Toronto. **You’re coming to Toronto!!!** Awesome! When? The 28th? I just looked up bellydance stuff on google video. I like the American Tribal where they wear camel pompoms and tonnes of silly makeup. There’s a lot of very, very bad dancers. I got to be all catty. ---
**Author:** ![Taters](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/taters/32/2845_2.png) [@Taters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taters)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/237 "2006-04-07T19:56:46Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > **You’re coming to Toronto!!!** Awesome! When? The 28th? > I just looked up bellydance stuff on google video. I like the American Tribal where they wear camel pompoms and tonnes of silly makeup. There’s a lot of very, very bad dancers. I got to be all catty. What I find interesting is that this is a “Hot Docs” conference. What does that mean? Are these stud-muffin doctors who are going to be posing for something? Are only good-looking docs getting to go? Who, exactly, _are_ these Hot Docs? **welby,** you need to answer these questions quickly. Enquiring minds need to know. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/238 "2006-04-07T20:16:02Z")
Just popping in to say _I’m alive_, not dead (see paw-wringing thread elsewhere on MPSIMS) – only on a spring break vacation. We had a wonderful time and I hope ye MMP’ers have been behaving yourself. As if. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/239 "2006-04-07T20:22:09Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > But it reminded me of my very first apartment (the pink, that is) - I referred to it as my “After-Dinner Mint” kitchen. The counters and backsplash were pale yellow and pale green ceramic tile, and the fridge was pink. Yep, it was something… OMG– **Fairy** --the _work!_ Please post afters so we can all ooh and ahh… That kitchen is pretty bad, IMO. At least mine didn’t have contact paper to get off! (the Z brick was nasty–I had my husband and a friend of his do it after a few beers…heh). I have a luncheon plate (only 3 left) of a pattern that I would call natural Scandinavian. It’s a small sprig of flowers, but in bright, cheerful what I call Norwegian colors: red, yellow and blue on a cream background. Those will be the colors. Don’t think primary, pre-school colors! Those are too bold. These are softer, the blue is more of a deep blue gray, the red more a brick, the yellow a soft mustard. The walls will be creamy white, and we are for sure keeping the maple (ash?) trim. Floor to be blue (hide more dirt that way) and countertops red, with the cabinets a natural birch. Add a Boston fern or two and it’s home for me. Hope I haven’t oogied anyone out with this decorating scheme. I want cheerful and at home in my kitchen. I’m not into “statements” or bold schemes (or gourmet looks)–just clean, simple, welcoming. Hafta work this weekend. Haven’t heard bupkus from the hospital I applied at online. Damn. Also haven’t heard re grad school. When should I start bugging them? ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059/240 "2006-04-07T20:24:37Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Guess what! I’m a big ol’ mean low-life scum bucket! Well, I’m one of two. DQ’s ex-supervisor is the other one. We got a phone call from a customer. Seems she has taken it upon herself to tell others just what big ol’ mean low-life scum buckets we really are, as opposed to the sweet kind upstanding moral pillars of the community we represent ourselves to be. Rats! My cover is blown. Whatever shall I do now? 😃 she called your customers to complain that they held her to her “I Quit” outburst? How utterly childish. She must think that if enough customers call you to tell you how mean you are for letting her go, that you’ll take her back to shut them up. Jeez, **DQ** , get a life! **Ellen**! There you are! Yeah, vacation and actually going outside and doing stuff is a perfectly acceptable alternative to posting [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-lo-contendre-mmp/351059.md?page=13)