# (Old) Alexa, start the MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [January 20, 2025, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150 "2025-01-20T12:09:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 24
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/461 "2025-01-27T01:26:28Z")
Jolene! ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/462 "2025-01-27T01:26:31Z")
> [@susan](#): > > It looks pretty good. The tootsies or the rug? And I’m with you on the coffee supply run. I’m going to stop at my grocery on my way home from my grandkidlets and score 3 or 4 packages of coffee before the price gouging starts. Wish me luck that the shelves aren’t bare before I get there. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/463 "2025-01-27T01:28:33Z")
All good luck to you. Check the expiration dates! We got 6 packages of whole bean (Starbucks and Peet’s) and two tins of ground Cafe Bustelo (which can live in the garage, as our tins of ground coffee did during COVID). ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/464 "2025-01-27T01:33:30Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Baby Priest (seriously he was born in 1993!) had to deal with a sick wife and three year old He is NOT old enough to be married, let alone have a kid. Nope. Just, nope. > [@swampbear](#): > > I have been known to ask folk who ask me what I consider to be very personal questions if they were doin’ research for the biography of me they were plannin’ to write. I must remember this. * * * Oh, I forgot to tell y’all, I had a nice ending to the “snow angels” day (when my neighbors were Good Samaritans and snow-blowed (snow-blew?) my car free) and then another coda to the whole thing. One of the last customers of the night, I complimented her bracelet. She _promptly_ took it off & handed it to me. “It’s yours!” I demured, but she explained that the “Ask” letters on the beads were for the mental health? suicide awareness? charity she’s involved with, so I told her I’d wear it with honor. Thus I started, and ended, the day with a random stranger giving me a gift. I wore it for a bit, and it truly is lovely - some of the beads are sea turtles - but it’s even more in the style of **Special Co-worker** as she wears bracelets in a very similar look. So when I picked her up today, I gave it to her. I told her a stranger randomly gave it to me, so - leaving out the snowblowers, and the mental health nonprofit - I told her I was randomly giving it to her. I fibbed a bit, and told her the “ASK” beads are to remind her to always be curious about things in life, and that if something is interesting to her, ask about it! (Not the worst white lie I’ve ever told.) She immediately zeroed in on the turtles. 🐢 I call her special b.c she’s on the spectrum and still at 22 attends an alternate high school. Doesn’t drive, and frankly, shouldn’t. Has some other mental issues. My first day, when I introduced myself, she simply stared at me, wordless. Talk about unsettling. She also has ADHD and has to be constantly reminded of things we _just_ told her. But she’s one of our crew & part of the family; she does have her strengths (her memory & power of observation are quite sharp) and has really come out of her shell in the past year or so; we are all absolutely protective of her, even if she does drive all of us nutz sometimes. > [@Seanette](#): > > Any other suggestions for names for the vehicle with a mind of its own Wasn’t that Herbie? * * * My “incoming cold” felt much better as soon as I got to work, so I’m starting to strongly suspect the air quality in my bedroom. Let’s see if management 1a.) takes forever to replace the furnace filter, or 2b.) cancels the request and tells me it’s my damn problem. In which case … hmph. But I do also really need to sweep/swiffer/rollsuck the floors. I’m sure the rampant dust bunnies aren’t helping matters. AH CRAP that reminds me, I forgot to stop for distilled water so I can ~~waterboard myself~~ rinse my sinuses. Aw, man. That means I gotta put on … oh, hey, I haven’t taken my pants off yet! Lazy FTW! Besides, the biiiiiig bin still needs to go hang out with its friend Mr. Curb (there’s a box of stinky cat poop in there, I definitely want that picked up in the morning) and the storm door out front is bangin’ away like some floozy, so I guess socks’n’shoes were in my near future anyway. * * * After all that exertion, I think a steamy hot shower (with bonus waterboarding!) will be on the agenda. Off to obtain ~~torture supplies~~ distilled water. ---
**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 27, 2025, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/465 "2025-01-27T01:39:25Z")
I cleaned, I napped, I laundered. Trash is in the Big Yellow Bin. I even did my taxes(getting a whole Benjamin back). Having a Wisconsin Old Fashioned while the poke loin and sweet **N.O.T.** roasts. My Christmas tree is pretty much up permanently. > [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Seems to be the type of people who should be ghosted. Bad ghoul! you sit in the corner and think about what you did! > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > in case you’re having a bad day, ICD-10 Code W56.12 is a medical classification as listed by WHO under the range - Other external causes of accidental injury for being struck by a sea lion. There is a code for being struck _more than once_. > [@susan](#): > > Can you hunt up the ICD code for “stapled my fingernail at a pizza joint”? [E920.9](https://www.aapc.com/codes/icd9-codes/E920). Be glad it wasn’t E920.0(powered lawnmower) > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > shops offered something called ‘beef ham’ or ‘beef bacon’, which tasted, almost, but not quite, totally unlike ham I didn’t know the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation had [stores](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Nutrimatic_Drinks_Dispenser) > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > isn’t it something worth drooling over? When I win the lottery, I’ll throw a couple in the new Corvette, and drive them up to you. > [@Seanette](#): > > This is not unusual I mean, every time I pass a pub, Carmen sweves violently into the parking lot, so I understand. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/466 "2025-01-27T01:41:01Z")
**Swampy** I would take Prednisone daily if it wouldn’t kill me. I get the opposite reaction of most people. It takes away what’s bothering me and I feel reeeaaalllll good. **Shoe** , I waterboard my sinuses nightly with saline and Mometasone. Mart of the Wal did not have distilled H2O last week so I had to buy it at Jewel for almost a buck more a gallon. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/467 "2025-01-27T01:44:26Z")
I take fluticasone for sinus. ---
**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:** [January 27, 2025, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/468 "2025-01-27T02:06:52Z")
And a good evening all. Sloth was accomplished once I got back from the Metro Diner, have been watching the tackleball on and off, but otherwise have done nothing of consequence. Temperature is still in the 40’s so should be comfortable sleeping tonight. **wet one** , glad you had a good visit with Ariel and hope the head is behaving better. > [@Sahirrnee](#): > > I ordered a bag of Rocky Mountain Oyster treats for the dogs, I hope they like them. That could be…interesting… **Oopsie** , hope the phonecon was good for both them and you. And hope the show was great. Never had a problem with turning 30, did have a little angst when hit 50 but since then I have treated new year like beavers treat rivers: one damn thing after another. **Elle** , hope the conversation was nice. > [@peedin](#): > > Confession. My Christmas tree is still up. Unclean! Unclean! 😁 😉 **FCM** , it’s why I my FIrday shopping early; Kroger offers a 4x deal on fuel points on Friday and that almost guarantees a jammed-packed store, so I try to finish before 9am. **nellie, JtC, BBBoo** , my hospital had no trouble releasing me on my own and in fact let me drive myself home (albeit it was less than 3 miles and 5 minutes driving). **lily** , I guess it is good that I don’t drink coffee or eat eggs, given what the news is forecasting. **shoe** , So it was a good day to…live. 😉 💕 > [@dogbutler](#): > > I didn’t know the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation had [stores](https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Nutrimatic_Drinks_Dispenser) Knew you’d get it. And that’s all for this week. Take care and I’ll catch y’all on the next MMP. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/469 "2025-01-27T02:32:55Z")
Watching 4 helicopters circling from my window. Things must be wild on broad street. City hall is about 19 blocks away. That would be the closest crowd. The helicopters are aimed toward there. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/470 "2025-01-27T02:33:39Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > > [@swampbear](#): > > > > Baby Priest (seriously he was born in 1993!) had to deal with a sick wife and three year old > > He is NOT old enough to be married, let alone have a kid. I’d think 31 is old enough for a man to be a husband and father. 🙂 For those stocking up on coffee, I don’t personally drink the stuff, but I’ve heard it freezes at least decently. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/471 "2025-01-27T02:39:46Z")
I know a few people who married at about 21, and had kids. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/472 "2025-01-27T02:43:10Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > **Shoe** , I waterboard my sinuses nightly with saline and Mometasone. Mart of the Wal did not have distilled H2O last week so I had to buy it at Jewel for almost a buck more a gallon. You guys do know that you can make it yourself on the stove, right? Now is the perfect time of the year to get a pot of water boiling because of the dry air, so might as well make use of it. > [@dogbutler](#): > > > [@Seanette](#): > > > > This is not unusual > > I mean, every time I pass a pub, Carmen sweves violently into the parking lot, so I understand. 😃 My car has that same issue when I’m close to needlework stores. Or craft fairs. Or roadside stands selling fruit, veggies and/or kitschy yard stuff. > [@dogbutler](#): > > > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > > > isn’t it something worth drooling over? > > When I win the lottery, I’ll throw a couple in the new Corvette, and drive them up to you. I’ll share a really nice joint and we both can spend the next couple of hours just looking at our wrists! > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Let’s see if management 1a.) takes forever to replace the furnace filter I know you don’t have money to spend on maintenance, but furnace filters are not that costly and very easy to replace. Maybe suggest to management that you would be willing to take over the monthly (as they should be doing) change for a few pennies off your rent. It would be even better if they were to give you a case of filters and let you do it yourself without the pennies off the rent cause that way you will have them handy when you realize that you haven’t changed the filter in a while. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Thus I started, and ended, the day with a random stranger giving me a gift. That entire story, including your kindness to **SC-W** made me wonder when we last changed our furnace filter cause the dust seemed to get in my eyes. > [@susan](#): > > After reading a bit of today’s news, we headed to Fred Meyer to stock up on coffee because my lovely wife cannot do without. We’ve been getting our coffee from one of Hub’s younger kin who have a coffee shop in Charleston. They are freaking out over what this is going to mean for their shop. It seems as though the leopards are knocking on their door. > [@swampbear](#): > > **JtC** I do online logic problems everyday. They do make us think, don’t they? And there is NO spelling involved, LOL!!! > [@peedin](#): > > Ariel received ear rubs, nose boobps, muzzle kisses, and neck strokes from all of you. She says thank you. She’s such a pretty girl, how could she not get so much admiration from all who know her? > [@rocking\_chair](#): > > Now there are all sorts of road closures. There are hot spots around the city where people will gather. Back when I worked in Phx, I would use PTO on big game days because of traffic. > [@missred](#): > > I played around in the studio this afternoon after bathing both myself and Nelson (he got the notion to roll on the ground this morning). Nelson sounds like a really bad influence if he got you to roll in the mud as well. > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > It’s the same everywhere I’m aware of, Nebraska, Iowa, Massachusetts. Thank you, I just figured I hadn’t been clear as to why I thought our beloved rat stayed so long after his ER surgery. I understand why they insist on it as well, but yeah, it is really hard for some folks to get rides after surgery. I worked with a neuro-divergent who really needed spine surgery but didn’t have anyone who would be his “responsible adult” in case anything went south. I had to go in with him, sign paperwork saying I would stay on campus until he was in recovery and then sign in to pick him up. While I was there, I asked one of the medical people what would have happened if he absolutely could not get someone do spend the day there and they said that he wouldn’t have been allowed to have the surgery. The rest of my words will be left unsaid. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/473 "2025-01-27T02:54:14Z")
There are fireworks booming outside, as the Chiefs just won their game and are going to the SuperBowl for the fifth time in seven years. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/474 "2025-01-27T03:04:14Z")
I was wondering why I was hearing booms. Some fans set off fireworks 12 blocks away. Some people were injured and fire trucks are at the location. The streets are starting to clear a bit. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/475 "2025-01-27T03:34:16Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > [E920.9](https://www.aapc.com/codes/icd9-codes/E920). Be glad it wasn’t E920.0(powered lawnmower) You’re amazing. Also, one of my besties used to do medical coding - imma quiz her. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > I have treated new year like beavers treat rivers: one damn thing after another. I aspire to be like you. > [@Seanette](#): > > I’d think 31 is old enough for a man to be a husband and father. 🙂 He was born when I was in middle school; therefore, too young { _sticks fingers in ears_ } lah lah lah!! > [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I know a few people who married at about 21, and had kids. I knew a few who got knocked up at approx. 15 or 16, and then … life lessons were not learned. Grandma at 32 is … I’ll shut up now. > [@Baker](#): > > the Chiefs just won their game Heh. **S.M.** was following the game score, just to listen to the Lions get their consolation. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/476 "2025-01-27T03:35:37Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > > [@Seanette](#): > > > > I’d think 31 is old enough for a man to be a husband and father. 🙂 > > He was born when I was in middle school; therefore, too young { _sticks fingers in ears_ } lah lah lah!! Shush, child. I was six years out of high school when our favorite ursine’s Baby Priest was born. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/477 "2025-01-27T03:46:09Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > To give you an idea of the weirdness level of conversations in my household :), @Bob_Blaylock insists that his Jeep has a mind of its own and when he went _near_ a piece of rough road today, the Jeep supposedly refused to let him not travel that piece of road. This is not unusual. I’ve taken to calling it Christine, which he seems to not really appreciate. Any other suggestions for names for the vehicle with a mind of its own that makes its owner follow its wishes?   It’s unndeniably true.   I sort of noticed it about the Compass that we rented back in the Summer of 2022, when the Dart was in the shop for about a month; that it wanted to be taken out for long drives.  I didn’t get the sense, at the time, of the Compass having any consciousness or intelligence, but I certain got the sense that it called for being taken out on long drives, in a manner that I had never previously noticed about any vehicle.   But when we got our first own Jeep last June, I quickly became very much aware that it has a soul of its own, a will of its own, and that in a much clearer way that I had noticed about the Compass, it communicated on a regular basis to me, demands that it be taken out on long drives.  It clearly was a living, thinking being, possessed by a powerful spirit of wanderlust.   It’s predecessor, which we got with the insurance money after [the first one sank](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tying-up-loose-ends-in-the-mmp/1011700/239), has a very similar spirit, though it is older, more experienced, and wiser.   On a somewhat related note, I’d like to ask the folks on this forum to help me choose between two pictures that I took today of my Jeep, to submit to a challenge on another forum under the theme _“My Ride”_.  See this thread: > [@Help Me Choose a Photograph for a Challenge On Another Forum…](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-choose-a-photograph-for-a-challenge-on-another-forum/1013464): > >   Are we allowed to link to other forums?  I know some forums don’t like that, and I am not sure about this one.   Anyway, on another forum, specific to Nikon Cameras and those of us who use them, the theme for the current weekly challenge is “My Ride”   Today, I took my Jeep out to a place very near where [its predecessor sank](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-tying-up-loose-ends-in-the-mmp/1011700/239), and got some good pictures of it.   Having processed out some of what I have, I am torn between two pictures to submit.  I like each of them very much, in different wa… ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/478 "2025-01-27T04:38:04Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > I’ve taken to calling it Christine, which he seems to not really appreciate. Any other suggestions for names for the vehicle with a mind of its own that makes its owner follow its wishes?   I’ve never read the book nor seen the movie, but don’t I understand correctly that whatever possessed _Christine_ was something evil, malevolent?  Whatever it is that possesses my Jeep, whatever it was that possessed its predecessor, certainly does not seem that way to me.   But then again, if it is something evil and malevolent, perhaps I may have fallen enough under its influence to be blinded to that fact. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/479 "2025-01-27T04:48:48Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > We’ve been getting our coffee from one of Hub’s younger kin who have a coffee shop in Charleston. They are freaking out over what this is going to mean for their shop. My older brother is an investor in a small coffee ranch in Columbia (owned by his son’s girlfriend’s extended family). I won’t be planning on enjoying any of those beans any time soon. The girlfriend (resides near Cape Canaveral with my nephew) won’t be seeing any family anytime soon either. My brother usually goes down once a year at least to watch his beans grow. At least I know my brother, a 100% disabled Vietnam vet, didn’t bring it on himself by how he voted, for whatever comfort that is. I hope my store still has coffee when I get there in the morning. I’m staying late at the kid’s to watch the Chiefs game and the store will be closed by the time it’s over. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2025, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150/480 "2025-01-27T05:47:38Z")
> [@Bob\_Blaylock](#): > > I’ve never read the book nor seen the movie, but don’t I understand correctly that whatever possessed _Christine_ was something evil, malevolent? Whatever it is that possesses my Jeep, whatever it was that possessed its predecessor, certainly does not seem that way to me. > > But then again, if it is something evil and malevolent, perhaps I may have fallen enough under its influence to be blinded to that fact. She wasn’t malevolent toward her owner, but _very_ protective and territorial when it came to said owner. I think I have more to worry about than you do, if she decides to get rid of competition for your time and attention. 🙂 (BTW, the book was decent, the movie sucked. I honestly wonder if those involved in making said movie had bothered to _read_ the book.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150.md?page=23) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-alexa-start-the-mmp/1013150.md?page=25)