# (Old) Prepping for a visit in the MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [August 17, 2026, 11:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376 "2026-08-17T11:18:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 7
**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:** [August 19, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/121 "2026-08-19T18:06:13Z")
The 200 Belt was backed up most of the morning, and Secondary Sort was at 100% for 2 hours straight, so the belts feeding into Secondary kept stopping in Primary Sort and Unload. J and I had the 300 Slide almost clean, but right when the belts went down, we got avalanched with clerk work. Pretty much a FUBAR day all around. I’d never live in an HOA neighbor, let alone attend a meeting with petty tyrants. If I want to paint my house black, and put up 10ft bronze statutes of Lemmy and Ozzy chugging whiskey, I don’t want people stopping me. > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > have counselling this afternoon. We’ll be going over what she’ll say in my Letter. I’m hoping I wont be an emotional wreck at the end of it. If I remember, I’ll get a photo of my outfit for critique. {{{{ **Mollie** }}}} > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Sadly it literally took me 24 hours to get this. Must not have been salacious enough-those I get immediately. Well my current one is FBISurveilenceVan#4. I could have gone with Routers\_Of\_Unusual\_Size, but I don’t live in the Fire Swamps. 🦫 > [@pjd](#): > > Yay ! It’s raining. > About bloody time, first rain I’ve seen for at leat 2 months. > Much needed. We could use some. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I suddenly flashed on a former coworker (bachelor, of course) who was literally building a [Cobra](https://retrorides.com.au/originals/a-brief-history-of-ac-cars/) in his dining room. Must be related to Leroy Jethro Gibbs. 😃 ---
**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:** [August 19, 2026, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/122 "2026-08-19T19:20:03Z")
Monkey did the Cheshire Cat Thing ™ today. I kept intermittently calling him all morning - this is usually prime snuggle time - and no response. I finally got worried. Checked the closet, checked the front mud room, checked (okay, used) the bathroom. Went down to the basement, sometimes he sleeps there. Nothing. Who do I hear meowing dramatically sitting at the top of the stairs, staring down at me? Monks, _where WERE you?!?_ ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/123 "2026-08-19T19:52:26Z")
Perhaps he has mastered the art of walking through walls. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/124 "2026-08-19T20:03:55Z")
Mrs. Nott sells stuff on Poshmark, so she uses her phone a lot. It started acting dodgy lately, so she bought a new one. It arrived today, so I am braced for a lot of swearing and, “This is **so** not good!” Setting up a new phone is such fun (roll-eyes.) **FCMom** , when I was in a U. of Evansville, Indiana dorm long ago, a fellow down the hall was rebuilding the engine of his car, with the parts all over his room floor. That probably wouldn’t have caused a stir, but he was using his towels from the U’s towel rental service as shop rags. My HOA is not at all tyranical. They stage neighborhood garage sales, twice yearly parties, and on the 3rd Thursday of every month, they do a thing where they gather in the cul-de-sac to drink beer and chat. The HOA contracts a service, Sodfathers, to mow, rake leaves, trim the shrubs, and shovel snow. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/125 "2026-08-19T20:11:27Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > Must be related to Leroy Jethro Gibbs Yet another reason why we’re friends. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/126 "2026-08-19T21:14:59Z")
As it turns out I am the opposite of an emotional wreck. Okay - [rate my look](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55475195819_3c26a5eb51_b.jpg). I know - tunic and leggings - I’m rocking the early 2000’s look. > [@dogbutler](#): > > Must be related to Leroy Jethro Gibbs I thought of that, too. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2026, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/127 "2026-08-19T21:55:02Z")
The look is 8.5 Works in any decade. But only in summer. ---
**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:** [August 19, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/128 "2026-08-19T22:03:55Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > glad BIL made it through surgery. Not yet - he’s scheduled on Aug 31. He went in for preliminaries and they’ve kept him… > [@AskNott](#): > > My HOA is not at all tyranical. My daughter’s HOA isn’t bad, either. I think the only big rule is NO FENCES! Plus there are only so many colors allowed for house exteriors and trim. I’ve met their prez - very chill dude. So yeah, there are a few out there. Had some quality pool time with Roxy, including a break for a run to Rita’s for some frozen custard. I chatted with Daughter a bit once she showed up, then ordered pizza to be picked up enroute, and I left. I’m now home in my robe and slippers, snarfing down pizza and enjoying the quiet.Love then grands the most when they go home… 😉 I think I’ll be sleeping with Mel tonight. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/129 "2026-08-19T22:27:41Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > **Red,** I hope the new med didn’t cause too many problems. It has to get approved by the f!@#ing insurance. Same with the kidney doctor. Have I mentioned how much I hate the American healthcare system? > [@SCAdian](#): > > I was listening to the engine, and sure enough, it sounded like an engine. 🤷‍♂️ So you don’t drive a manual without a tachometer? Good lord! I’ve spent a sizeable chunk of the afternoon getting medical crap set up. I have a telehealth set up for ~1800, but holy Hannah! Downloading the app was easy. Navigating the account was a genuine PITA. On the good news side, Nelson is beginning to learn not to bark at BIL. We’ve designated him as the official treat giver because the way to Nelson’s heart goes through his belly. 🙂 ---
**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:** [August 19, 2026, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/130 "2026-08-19T23:14:23Z")
Evening all. Did the usual gym time, Hoovered the house, and tidied the kitchen a bit, so I have been fairly constructive. Also remembered to get the hamburger out of the freezer this morning so will have my Chee-burger dinner here in a bit. Still hot (92F at 6pm) but hopefully will be down into the 70’s this evening. > [@dogbutler](#): > > I could have gone with Routers\_Of\_Unusual\_Size, but I don’t live in the Fire Swamps. 🦫 I understood that reference…as you wished… **Shoe** , it seems pets have figured out how to travel to alternate dimensions if we’re not paying attention..at least that’s my explanation, YMMV. > [@SCAdian](#): > > Perhaps he has mastered the art of walking through walls. And I understood _that_ reference. That’s me, the amasser of useless data. > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > > [@dogbutler](#): > > > > Must be related to Leroy Jethro Gibbs > > Yet another reason why we’re friends. Indeed–but no dope slaps. **FCM** , oops. And I had a big custard cone at Cedar Point and now you have me looking up custard places near me (and there is one I didn’t know about around 2 miles away…hmmmm… **red** , glad Nelson is adjusting and my Drs. office website is not user-friendly either. And need to get that Chee-burger grilling and contemplate a chocolate custard cone for dessert…take care all. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2026, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/131 "2026-08-19T23:32:07Z")
You look great ---
**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:** [August 19, 2026, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/132 "2026-08-19T23:41:23Z")
Howdy Y’all! I did manage mowage early this mornin’. It didn’t take long as it was only the front, so done in forty-five minutes with one water break. Then I showered. Then we had a two hour power outage. I will say, however, that Jawja Power is on the ball. Two minutes after the power went out I got a text about it with an estimated time for restoration. We went to the sto’ at ten-thirty a.m. and when we got back to da cave the power was back. YAY! So we stowed provisions, had fried chikin plates, and I had a nice, long nap. The rest of the day has been spent doin’ things like watchin’ stoopid teevee. **Lucky** that cartoon was, well, ummm… disturbingly weird. A good slow cooker is a thing of joy. **Mollie** we have a small covered deck off the back porch where the grill and the smoker live. We grill rain or shine and all year long. We likes our grilled meats we does! **Nuts** my very first apartment (in an ancient house that was converted into apartments) had separate hot and cold taps. That was the first and only time I had to deal with separate taps. **Knotty** Sodfathers is such a cool name for a lawn service! **JtC** you ol’ meanie you! I’ll bet hubs never got another opportunity to chainsaw a door again. **Mollie** oh my! Aren’t we just stunnin’ today! **red** sorry for all the insurance and medical woes. I’m with Nelson. Feed me treats and I won’t bark at you. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/133 "2026-08-20T00:37:08Z")
> [@missred](#): > > > [@SCAdian](#): > > > > I was listening to the engine, and sure enough, it sounded like an engine. 🤷‍♂️ > > So you don’t drive a manual without a tachometer? Or even one _with_ a tachometer. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/134 "2026-08-20T01:24:45Z")
Maybe I should have been more specific. The ego boosts are nice, but does the color of the top work? I’m thinking darker colors suit me better. I’m also finding I like sleeveless tops, do they like me, with my broad shoulders? ---
**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:** [August 20, 2026, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/135 "2026-08-20T02:07:35Z")
Sleeveless is good. I was thinking the top was a bit light. It would look good with grey pants though. I am no expert, but I think emerald green would look great. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/136 "2026-08-20T02:45:41Z")
Thank you. I’m thirty years behind everyone else. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2026, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/137 "2026-08-20T02:49:05Z")
Up from naptime, having a martini and teriyaki chicken stirfry. Spot: \< takes running jump onto entertainment center, slides, flies off other end \> Me: “Smooth move, Ex-Lax.” Spot: “I was measuring the coefficient of friction of the furniture, you unscientific orangutan!” > [@SCAdian](#): > > Perhaps he has mastered the art of walking through walls. But not the fact that TANSTAAFL. > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > Okay - [rate my look](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55475195819_3c26a5eb51_b.jpg) I agree with **Coppertone**. 8.5. and just think, you’re still finding your style. > [@missred](#): > > Have I mentioned how much I hate the American healthcare system? Roomie had 2 shoulder replacements auto denied by UHC(joints visibly disintegrated on the X-Ray). I agree. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > That’s me, the amasser of useless data. So Say We All! ---
**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:** [August 20, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/138 "2026-08-20T02:50:42Z")
Long day: I spent 11 hours at work, meaning that I pulled into my garage 12 hours after I backed out of it this morning. But Maid Brigade was here today so I got to walk into a clean house, and Da Jungle had left a couple of fun things at my front door. Tomorrow has the makin’s to be another long one, but then I get to work from home on Friday – and that afternoon’s weather forecast has cleared up nicely, so both scheduled deck inspections should be able to happen as planned. WifeBFF’s birthday is Saturday, and if she’s feeling up to it that day I’ll go have dinner with her and HusbandBFF. Her presents are being delivered tomorrow…I definitely tend to wait until the last minute when it comes to getting gifts, but somehow it (almost) always works out. The quality/value of any given HOA will vary; I’ve lived in other HOA communities where the association was kind of useless. I’ve only been in this house for 2.5 months, but so far the HOA here seems to be reasonable. There weren’t any red flags during last night’s board of directors (BOD) meeting. I’ll probably skip future monthly BOD meetings, but they have an annual in-person meeting that sounds like a bigger thing and I’ll probably try to go to that. As mentioned, I’m kind of a dork: I like being aware of the rules and what’s happening in the community. This HOA does have the ubiquitous appearance-based rules, but the 112 townhouses have 5 different models – each with their own color scheme – and for me that’s the right balance of variety and “no hot pink facades.” 😁 > [@AskNott](#): > > That means two things. First, you’ll have to walk halfway around the block to get your mail, and second, your new mailbox will be small enough to ensure your mail will be wadded up or you’ll get a little card saying, “Too big for mailbox, come to the PO to get it.” I should have specified that the new cluster mailboxes will be replacing existing cluster mailboxes. 🙂 Our current mailboxes are actually pretty roomy: I don’t get much snail mail so I only check mine once a week, and there’s plenty of space for one or two magazines and even a couple of small packages along with the junk mail. The mail carrier does have a tendency to fold _everything_ even though there’s no need to, but so far it hasn’t really been an issue. The location of the clusters isn’t going to change, but I hope the new boxes won’t be (much) smaller than the current ones. 🤞 > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > My granddaughter built a Lego Cobra on the kitchen table, does that count? Ooo! Ooo! So did I! 😃 (And a Model T, and a Jaguar, and a Lamborghini, and an Ecto-Mobile, and a double-decker London bus, and a GT40, and… 😁 ) > [@dogbutler](#): > > If I want to paint my house black, and put up 10ft bronze statutes of Lemmy and Ozzy chugging whiskey, I don’t want people stopping me. Yeah…people like you are the reason I _like_ having an HOA. 😂 > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > As it turns out I am the opposite of an emotional wreck. Excellent. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2026, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/139 "2026-08-20T02:50:52Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > > [@missred](#): > > > > So you don’t drive a manual without a tachometer? > > Or even one _with_ a tachometer. Dang! I thought that was pretty much required in the military. I did the telemetry this evening. I was taken off all antibiotics until I go in for more labs tomorrow. I just hope that this doesn’t cause a setback. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376/140 "2026-08-20T03:01:17Z")
Close to 10pm so I’ll wrap up for the day. After the Chee-burger was cooked and consumed, I decided to seek out the custard place, but it was frozen yogurt, which I don’t like on principal (don’t know what principal, but I don’t like it and that’s that). So went to Freddy’s and bought a Pint of Chocolate frozen custard, with which I showed admirable restraint and only ate a quarter of it, now see if I can restrict myself to only 1/4 a day for the rest of it (even money that I can’t), but it is a good treat. Rest of the evening has been pretty slothful and Slumberland beckons shortly. (Oh, I did get the recycle bin out to the curb, so did something useful). **Oopsie** , long day indeed. **red** , appendages crossed that all goes well. And off to bed I head. Catch y’all tomorrow. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-prepping-for-a-visit-in-the-mmp/1032376.md?page=8)