# \[OLD\] There's a Spring in Your Step - A Seasonal MMP

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Tags:** mmp\
**Created:** [March 20, 2023, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398 "2023-03-20T06:27:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 4

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/61 "2023-03-21T02:18:09Z")

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> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#):
>
> And they give the rest of us a bad name.

When I was turning 50, I shared at work in the cube farm that I had told hubs what I expected for that milestone birthday. Most of the women understood that it’s unfair to expect anyone to read your mind but some of them were appalled that I would have to do such a thing because if he really loved me, he would know what I wanted.

Mom was even nicer to Dad, she would buy things she really REALLY wanted and then wrap them in pretty paper and put them on a shelf in their closet. When Dad figured out that it was a gift giving day, he would get something off the shelf and not only would it be something she really wanted, it would be a surprise! (Dad wasn’t very good at gift giving but he was a pro at doing things like lowering the kitchen cabinets so Mom could reach them easier.)

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/62 "2023-03-21T02:18:50Z")

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True dat. Some of us aren’t like that, and then run squarely into someone who’s been burned, repeatedly, and then _I’m_ the asshole.

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/63 "2023-03-21T02:19:53Z")

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Dang. I can’t find the projects thread, but here’s my rainbow spiral, aaaaallllmost done:

[[Album] Almost done ... ![](https://i.imgur.com/VzsAxZG.jpeg?fb "Almost done ...") ](https://imgur.com/a/cJbO0cG)

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/64 "2023-03-21T02:23:15Z")

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Lovely, just wonderful. I am jealous of your eye for colors and imagination.

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/65 "2023-03-21T02:58:16Z")

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OK, back from soccer, chasing 40-50 8 and 9 year old girls around the soccer field can be fun, but it was in the 40’sF so not exactly perfect weather. Still did some teaching and the kids enjoyed being out, so hopefully the weather will stay nice for Thursday. Came home and got a message out to the U6 coaches, the Division Coordinator had to go out of town on business this week and left me in charge, so I’ll be out there again tomorrow with 30-40 5-year olds…at least it should be 10-12 degrees warmer according to the Weather Wizards.

> [@Sahirrnee](#):
>
> I have to order groceries to pick up tomorrow. Which meant I was forced to finish off the ice cream so there would be room in the freezer for the new quart.

Oh, the Horror! The Horror!! 😄 😄 😄

> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> Makin’ me google things.

Me too. Never heard of Cavatappi before.

**shoe** , that’s a nice piece of knitting.

> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> (Dad wasn’t very good at gift giving but he was a pro at doing things like lowering the kitchen cabinets so Mom could reach them easier.)

Ah, true love…

**Shoe** , just be glad you have hair to fuss with…me, if I see the barber 4 times a year it’s average.

**nellie** , just have to tell you, I love your writing here. You certainly have a way with words. And thanks for the pasta lesson.

**JtC** , had to grin at the story of the shorn St. Bernard. You Tube has a channel called “Girl With the Dogs” about a lady groomer and her customers…I watch it for the great dogs she has.

**doggio** , I’d be careful, the geese may be plotting a takeover…

**FCM and the rest** , haven’t had a hot dog in a long time, prefer one with cheese, mustard and ketchup.

OK, that’s all I have energy for (jeez, 65 posts and counting for Moanday; looks like a busy week). Take care all.

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/66 "2023-03-21T03:12:07Z")

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**Shoe** nice job of cross stitch. I bought a little fox cross stitch on vacation (at a charming store named Dutton’s for Buttons in York England). I’ve done 4 rows. I blame the lack of progress on old eyes.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/67 "2023-03-21T03:12:29Z")

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Spent Monday erking. Nice drone down to Central America then up to middle 'Merika, as in redneck Trumpist F\*\*\*ing Texas Central. Just had dinner w 3 folks brand new to the job, still in newbie training, and starry eyed with the potential ahead. I recall being that dude. Shame about how my reality worked out.; theirs should be better (net of WW-III). As is traditional I bought, they ate & drank. A worthwhile intro to a new and special lifestyle.

Tomorrow is an easy day and the afternoon will be an epic adventure in downtown Pittsburgh. I’ve got reservations already for a nice evening. Shame it’s cold. But 55F tomorrow beats 25F two days ago.

On Wed they’re having Catholic Mass for a neighbor / friend at my condo who recentlcy dropped dead at ~85 after a short illness. At aerobics on Monday, hospitalized on Tue, dead on Thu. We should all be so lucky. Although his widow is struggling: married \>60 years it’s hard to imagine not being with your partner. I was married a mere 33 years before she died and it felt like my whole life. I cannot imagine how this must feel to his widow.

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/68 "2023-03-21T03:46:37Z")

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My **Other Shoe** and I had 13 lucky years together; it was too short.

I dreamed this morning that I was kissing him; woke up crying, so that was a lovely start to the day. /s  
I love dreaming about him; I get to feel - for just a few, brief, unreal moments - that I have him back. Of course, waking back up is horrible.

Sorry, I just brought everyone down further, didn’t I? Sorry, **Other Shoe** and all I’ve lost have been on my mind all day. Poor **Monkey** isn’t helping, esp. when he tackle-pounces my guts (“OOOOOFF! Get off me getofffme!” “Mew??”) Ugh.

I’m in a mood. Ignore me.

ETA: happy vernal equinox, been meaning to post that all day.

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**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/69 "2023-03-21T04:00:24Z")

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I have the occasional dream conversion with my late first wife. It’s just so comfortable and normal. Her being dead and all is known to both of us, but is a non-issue in the conversations. They don’t last long nor get deep. But they’re profoundly familiar and profoundly comfortable and low-stress. I hope they last another decade or three; I don’t want to lose them.

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**Author:** ![Old\_Wench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecccb3/32.png) [@Old\_Wench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Old_Wench)\
**Post date:** [March 21, 2023, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/70 "2023-03-21T04:19:25Z")

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What will yinz be doing in Pittsburgh? I live in the 'burgh, worked dahntahn for 44 years. Just being nebby. 😁

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/71 "2023-03-21T04:45:38Z")

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> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#):
>
> Ah, true love…

Hubs hasn’t offered to lower the cabinets for me. Glares in his general direction!

He’s cooking beer tomorrow morning. That involved him using the rolling cart to move his electric mill and catch bucket and grain outside because I kinda threw a fit at the idea of him grinding grain inside. GG always wants to get involved with anything we are doing so he was doing his usual getting under foot thing and hubs was yelling at him because GG was getting in the way and was too close to the door to the outside.

I have a jar of kitty kibble on my desk for just such occasions, so I shook the jar and GG peeled out of the kitchen to get his treats and I closed the door.

Hubs is a smart man, I do not understand why he just cannot remember that our cats cannot open doors and that they are all suckers when it comes to hearing the kibble jar shake. (It cracks us up, the jar contains the same kibble they have available 24/7, but the jar kibble is better than the bowl kibble in their little peanut sized brains.)

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/72 "2023-03-21T06:05:44Z")

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Jeez, upgrade to some cheapie treats _mixed in with the kibble_ so the kibble picks up that stinky-to-us deliciousness, and you’ll have furry slaves trying to learn calculus in return for another Temptation treatsie.

That is hilarious, though; the “treat jar” is just regular food. I’m picturing a New Yorker or something cartoon, with a cookie jar filled with carrots and prunes. “Yummy, mom!”

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/73 "2023-03-21T06:11:25Z")

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> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> their little peanut sized brains

I read somewhere - and looking at **Monks** it visually seems about right - that the average cat brain is the size of a walnut. (Unshelled, esp. with bigger cats like G.G.)

So, when a particular feline (_glares in Monkey’s direction_) is being an idiot, I refer to them as walnut brains.

I shall henceforth refer to especially egregiously dumbass cats as “peanut brains” with a mental hat tip in your direction.

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/74 "2023-03-21T06:35:15Z")

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Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s 29 degrees out right now.

> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#):
>
> **doggio** , I’d be careful, the geese may be plotting a takeover…

“Everything is now Next Day Air, but your driver is gonna poop on your sidewalk and hiss at you when they drop off the package.”

{{{{ **shoe** }}}}  
{{{{ **Pilot** }}}}

> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> He’s cooking beer tomorrow morning.

🍺

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/75 "2023-03-21T10:42:57Z")

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> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> rainbow spiral,

My granddaughter would go mad for that! She’s a big fan of rainbows! You do nice work!

> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#):
>
> 30-40 5-year olds

You are either the most patient of men, or you’re stark raving whacko!! 😉

> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> Although his widow is struggling: married \>60 years it’s hard to imagine not being with your partner.

That’s my MIL after 73 years of marriage - she’s all at sea! We’re hoping she can move into the retirement apartments so she can make friends with others nearer her age. She’s so lonely.

> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> I’m in a mood. Ignore me.

No. Be in a mood, but you don’t have to do it alone. You know how it goes here. We lurves ya even if you get whiny or sentimental or drool all over yourself. 😘

> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> Hubs hasn’t offered to lower the cabinets for me.

Sounds like you need some 70s-vintage platform shoes! 🤣

> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> the “treat jar” is just regular food.

That’s Higgs’ bedtime snack - we toss a few pieces of kibbles in her crate when we lock her in for the night. Like she cares… _“Hey! Food!!!”_ Pugs, sheesh!

It’s 26° and theoretically, it’s our last sub-freezing morning for the season, at least according to accu-weather. There are a few nights in the 30s ahead, but not many. So maybe next week, I can put my spider plants out on the porch again. And it’s supposed to get close to 60 this afternoon and stay sunny - I see playground time!

But first, I need more caffeine. Happy Tuesday!

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/76 "2023-03-21T11:24:44Z")

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Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. _YAWN_ ‘Tis 33 Amurrkin out and clear with a predicted high of , \< snerk \> 69! \< snerk \> and N.O.S. for the day. I need to take care of a few errands this mornin’ so I shall. Outside of that ‘twill be the usual sloth and general overall uselessness. Sup shall be beast roast, baby lima beans, sweet N.O.T. and rolls. We eat fairly well if nuttin’ else.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then I suppose I shall purtify and don attire appropriate for bein’ amongst the great unwashed. Woe!

Happy Tuesday Y’all!

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/77 "2023-03-21T11:56:57Z")

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> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> Dang. I can’t find the projects thread, but here’s my rainbow spiral, aaaaallllmost done:

very nice!

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/78 "2023-03-21T11:56:57Z")

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Good morning.

It’s currently 45 degrees, dark and cloudy. The expected high is 57 and we shall experience various forms of cloudy skies.

I had to commute to the office in Oly Town yesterday, and the morning consisted of me trying to stay the hell away from a terribly impaired driver at 5:00 am. I was going to call the po-po, but I couldn’t see the plate. And, after following the van (we were going in the same general direction), and seeing it stopped between a drive-through speaker and the window of a closed McDonalds, I figured the guy had passed out. He’d been there at least 10 minutes because that’s how long I was inside the Haggen, which is next door to the Mickey D’s.

Anyway, the day was long and filled with frustration, but I made it home without incident. On Thursday, I have my quarterly counseling, which really, my boss can’t do, because he didn’t give me a performance plan until the end of February. He wants me to write bullets about what I’ve accomplished to date. Nothing comes to mind other than herding a group of people who can’t do the simplest things to take care of themselves and expect Mommy (me) to clean up their messes. Ugh, I’ll think of something. I really hate performance reviews and to be honest, I don’t think this should even be happening. I’ll definitely question him about it.

**nellie** , I enjoy your turn of phrase too. I’m glad you’re here with us.

Today, I have a series of meetings and need to make a bunch of follow-up calls to various folks on various issues. I’m not looking forward to one of the meetings, because I think it’s totally unnecessary. The Operations office wants me, the Deputy, and the Director to go over our budget burn rate. Totally unnecessary and a waste of time. I usually have a quarterly meeting with my BA to go over my spend plan and burn rate and make adjustments with him. Fun times!

The only snack or treat Polar is visibly excited by is doggy ice cream. He woos-woos, dances in circles, and does a little stompy dance. We give him smaller treats during the day, and while he’ll eat them, he’s not super excited.

It’s time to finish my coffee and run the dishwasher. I hope you all have a pleasant day.

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/79 "2023-03-21T14:13:45Z")

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lager knows quite a few food words. greenie, kibble, food dish, yummy food, etc. he will wake out of a deep sleep if you say the word kibble.

he is getting less enthusiastic about his expensive new food. he still wants to eat, just not that so much. now i get to stand next to him, tell him he is wonderful, rub his sides; then he will finish it up.oy!

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**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:** [March 21, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-theres-a-spring-in-your-step-a-seasonal-mmp/981398/80 "2023-03-21T14:47:32Z")

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> [@dogbutler](#):
>
> a pair of Canadian geese

How do you know they’re Canadian? Did you check their passports? I suppose sticking its tongue out would be more polite (and thus, presumably, more Canadian) than giving you the finger…

> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> beer

What a revolting thought.

{{{{{shoe}}}}}

Chief tried telling me to write my own eval one year. I rated myself 4.0 in everything, and put something like “A wonderful human being as well as an outstanding sailor” in the comments. “Hey – I figured it didn’t matter what I said, you’d rewrite it anyway…”

Eraser apparently was doing wind sprints last night – she’d dash madly from one end of the bedroom to the other, pause for a few seconds, then dash back. Four or five times in each direction. Not really a bad thing, except that at one end of the room her route took her right across my legs as I was trying to get to sleep.

Currently 49F, with a predicted high of 59 and a low of 36. Still supposed to rain Wednesday night through Saturday, but whereas yesterday they were saying 30-40%, they’re now saying up to 70%. Ick.

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