# (Old) Gobble, eh? A Metric Thanksgiving MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [October 12, 2026, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-gobble-eh-a-metric-thanksgiving-mmp/1033772 "2026-10-12T06:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 291
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2026, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-gobble-eh-a-metric-thanksgiving-mmp/1033772/291 "2026-10-18T16:49:15Z")
I gave in to autumn and turned the heat on this morning: it was in the 30s outside and in the low 60s inside (upstairs). After looking at the long-range forecast and seeing some low-ish overnight temps with highs not exceeding 71, I decided it was time. I closed the 3rd-floor vents (except in the master bathroom) and opened the 1st-floor vents, switched the thermostat to “heat,” and set it to 70. I figure it’ll take some trial-and-error to determine the optimal fall temp setting…which I’ll probably figure out just in time for the colder winter weather to start. Heh. Lunch with my mom’s cousin (“Aunt J”) was very nice yesterday. The drives were only mildly annoying: 70 miles took 1 hr 20 min in the morning, and 1 hr 35 min in the afternoon. Surprisingly, her husband (“Uncle R”) was home; it was good to see him, too. He didn’t go to Panera with us, though, because he had to do some work (and isn’t really a “sit around and chat” type). He’s been an MLB scout his entire career, which means he’s always traveled a _lot_. He’s been with the San Diego Padres for the last several years: he recently turned 80, and is still working! He got home less than a week ago, and will be flying to Arizona on Monday for some of the fall league. He’s in relatively good health and the Padres still love his scouting reports, and Aunt J said they really look out for him (e.g., he had some kind of respiratory infection while in the Dominican Republic, and the team made sure he had great doctors and got excellent care). If he’s safe and still able to do what he loves, I say good for him! I _was_ a little disappointed about one thing yesterday: Uncle R was with the Washington Nationals when they won the 2019 World Series, and he got a ring but didn’t receive it until the spring of 2020 – which of course was the start of the pandemic, so I didn’t get to see it then. I’ve visited my aunt once or twice since then but he wasn’t home, and at lunch I told her that when we got back to the house I was planning to ask Uncle R if I could see the ring. She told me he didn’t have it: at some point he took it somewhere to show some people, and never got it back! We agreed that he is too trusting. They’re hopeful he’ll get it back sometime, but she said it’s kind of a sore subject. I’m really glad I said something to her before asking him. I would have loved to have seen that ring, though: my ex and I had season Nationals tickets back in the day, and I was glued to my TV set for that World Series! By coincidence I wound up visiting Aunt J the day of the parade in DC, and by some other fluke Uncle R was actually home that day (I don’t remember why he opted not to go to the parade): I got to watch it with him, which was very special because he was even more emotional than I was and he shared stories about some of the players. He’s been really great to me over the years, sometimes giving me his seats in the scouting section of local ballparks when he couldn’t make it and always offering to get me tickets when he was with the Nationals. It’s been fun to have an “uncle” who works for MLB. 🙂 ⚾ Right now (12:08pm) I’m supposed to be 28 miles away having lunch with a friend, eating yummy Thai food while catching up and discussing plans for a trip to LA in December\[1\], but my back’s bothering me a little today and I’m not up for another ~90 min of car time plus sitting in a restaurant chair/booth for who knows how long. I texted her this morning; we’ll be talking at 2pm. On Friday I forgot to mention that my Halloween costume arrived last week! I ordered a personalized t-shirt that says, “I love ceilings.” (Give up? I’m a ceiling fan!) OK, I’m about to make this already-long post even longer with some photos…consider yourselves warned! 😉 I finished Lego Downton Abbey on Friday, and am quite pleased with how it turned out: [![](https://i.ibb.co/cKwfpk2g/Downton-MMP-01.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/cKwfpk2g/Downton-MMP-01.jpg) [![](https://i.ibb.co/0VV7zf2P/Downton-MMP-02.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/0VV7zf2P/Downton-MMP-02.jpg) As always, larger photos are available in my [online album of completed sets](https://ibb.co/album/nqqf2q?sort=name_asc).I started Wallace & Gromit when I got home yesterday. Since high school, I’ve collected Swarovski crystal figurines (I also have some of their jewelry). The pieces I like tend to cost more than I’m willing to spend, so I hadn’t bought anything since early March until I saw two adorable Halloween items this morning! I couldn’t resist ordering them: [![](https://i.ibb.co/XH5X7kc/Bear-MMP.png) ](https://i.ibb.co/XH5X7kc/Bear-MMP.png) [![](https://i.ibb.co/jvwkwfj1/Mouse-MMP.png) ](https://i.ibb.co/jvwkwfj1/Mouse-MMP.png) Time for some replies, then lunch and Lego. 🙂 > [@peedin](#): > > **Misnomer** that’s exactly the ring I would have gotten. Green stone for high school, blue for collitch. Great minds! 😉 My HS ring’s stone was red (the school colors were red and white), but was more of the traditional big school ring style. My college colors were blue and white – plus my birthstone is sapphire, so the blue stone was even more perfect for me. > [@swampbear](#): > > I got a hood when I got my Master’s just cause. I have never worn it. I do, however, have it in my possession. There are pictures of me at graduation wearing a hood, but I must have borrowed/rented it – along with the cap and gown – because I know I would have kept it. I stole the tassle from the mortarboard, though, and still have it with the tassles from HS and undergrad. 🙂 > [@Aspenglow](#): > > \< Muttley laff \> OMG I frequently think about/hear that laugh in my head but no one ever gets my “Muttley” reference!! > [@Kitten\_Mitten](#): > > I asked where there was a Catholic church Do you know about [MassTimes](https://masstimes.org/)? It’s worldwide. 🙂 > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > They also have a shepherds pie - yes, nitpicks, it’s technically a cottage pie - that is quite good. Whenever I see a frozen/pre-made shepherd’s pie – or one on a menu, unless it’s an English or Irish pub – I assume it’s actually a cottage pie. Heh. > [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Speaking of being mocked, this morning we figured out the washing machine has been lying to us. It’s been telling us everything’s fine, but it hasn’t been dispensing detergent. No idea how long that’s been going on. How did you figure it out?? > [@dogbutler](#): > > Squeegee: \< hits dry spot on shower wall, makes “squonk” noise \> > Spot: \< squonks back at squeegee \> [“Have you ever seen a squonk’s tears? Well, look at mine.”](https://youtu.be/HBzzdlpISFg?si=vkcbjHfp3SIcRyI-) > [@Paintcharge](#): > > tired frog-dog mode Ha! Bailey used to do that when she was younger. 🙂 > [@Paintcharge](#): > > Nose. I have zero (nonmusical) artistic talent, and am always impressed when someone’s able to make something that looks realistic…nice! * * * 1. to go to the [Hot Chocolate Nutcracker](https://www.debbieallendanceacademy.com/hcnperformances) --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-gobble-eh-a-metric-thanksgiving-mmp/1033772)._