# (Old) White Out! The Official Start Of Summer MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [May 26, 2025, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806 "2025-05-26T04:05:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/181 "2025-05-30T01:26:40Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > They told me to dress comfortably tomorrow. Would it be too shocking if I didn’t wear a bra? If I could get myself in the car without one, I mean. Not shocking at all. If hubs will be seen with you, that’s all that matters. I’m guessing he appreciates a little bounce and jiggle. Being comfortable is what counts. Someone (99% likely to be a female) may reach under your shirt (wear a comfy baggy one) to stick on a couple monitor pads but that’ll be it. I wore the softest stretchiest pull on sports bra and a ratty old one at that. No one sees it nor cares either way. Elastic waist baggy old pants, also comfy, completed my ensemble. The only needle you might see is the wee little butterfly one they’ll put in your hand for your happy juice IV and you can just not look. You can even ask for them to do that after they take away your glasses and put in the first set of numbing eye drops, so you wouldn’t be able to see the needle anyway through the blurry. Just tell the nurse when you first go in that you have a needle phobia and could they pull out all their tricks to help. We nurses very much appreciate being told that kind of stuff early on to make everything smoother for all, rather than dealing with someone trying to guts it through. I tell them about my PTSD right after I walk through the curtain into the cubicle, before I’ve even laid down on the gurney. Just say right off “hey, I have a needle phobia-can we do things so I don’t even see a needle in its packaging?” You’ll be starving afterwards~tell hubs to plan on taking you to Tudors Biscuit World on the way home. I’ll be thinking of you and **pilot** guy all day tomorrow. May the force be with you both and all your nurses like me. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/182 "2025-05-30T01:26:46Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > **Hippie** , that would intimidate me, impressed you had the cojones to do it (and were prepared for anything going sideways). We had a lot of shady customers. One night I got a call from the answering service after midnight about an alarm going off in one of the worst neighborhoods in the city. The on call tech said he was “unable” to take it. I grew up two blocks from this apartment building. I drove down there and found a party going on in the street out in front of the building. There were stereo speakers hanging out of windows and maybe fifty people laughing and dancing. I went into the building and fixed the thing that had tripped the alarm and reset. I got applause when I came out and one of the men walked me over to a washtub full of ice and beer and uncapped one for me. I sat with them and drank a couple, my limited Spanish and their limited English meeting in the middle. I got a lot of thanks as I got back in my truck and headed home. Message? Even the residents in the “bad neighborhoods” are just people. The towers, however, are scary places to go. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/183 "2025-05-30T01:38:52Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > I have horror stories about my service calls to these places I have some similar stories about home nursing visits in those same kind of places. Plus the added _agita_ because so many idiots assume nurse’s bags are chock full of good drugs. I always held my breath until I was back in my car and the doors locked. > [@LH75](#): > > I also never sat down on any furniture and wore disposable booties to avoid the bed bug infestations. Me either. My nursing bag had a special barrier mat I unfolded and put it on, which got thrown away when I left the room. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/184 "2025-05-30T01:43:19Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > the number and frequency of cruises leaving from there. I’d be hard-pressed to not get on board as often as I could afford it This morning I looked for cruises departing tomorrow. Between Miami & Ft. Lauderdale there were 12 of them. For just tomorrow. 4 of which were 3-day Fri-Sun jaunts. The others were longer, up to 14 days. I chose, mostly due to sloth, to not to go on any of them. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > (of course, I don’t have GF to attend too..). As soon as she’s not busy w moving logistics I’ll / we’ll be able to do both: attend to one another while cruising. 😁 🐇 🐰 🥂 (Damn. One of the old rabbit icons disappeared in an update.) > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > I was the Quality Assurance person for about a year, mostly taking reports from people who had lost/missing items. Worst one we ever had was a couple containers full of furniture of military families coming back from Germany got washed off the ship…we know where there stuff is, it’s 12000’ under the Atlantic Ocean… I’m sure you’ve seen this scenario a time or three. … Way back about ‘82 one of my squadron mates was PCSing from stateside to overseas. HHG to be boxed, crated, and trucked from the old base cross country to the port then moved by ship to the port near his new base. Out in the wilds of New Mexico miles from anywhere the moving van trailer catches fire and burns his and a couple other folks’ stuff to cinders. The entire van is a long low pile of black wreckage and the fire’s burned out by the time the fire department could be notified and get there. He and the Transportation department knew exactly where his goods were. New Mexico Interstate 10 Milepost 62. Fat lot of good it did them. He and his newlywed wife lost 100% of their stuff except a suitcase each of clothes. Including 100% of the wedding presents. Ouch. > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > I’ll be thinking of you and **pilot** guy all day tomorrow. May the force be with you both and all your nurses like me. Don’t waste your powerful good thoughts on me; I’ll be RDOSing. It’s **Flyboy** who needs your positive thoughts and general support while he’s getting his drain plumbing reamed out. But yes, good luck to **JtC** and **Flyboy** and their respective pit crews tomorrow. My turn is Tue upcoming in the afternoon when I get a bunch of my teeth ground down. Such fun. As to me: Today was a lazy morning, breakfast out, a lazy afternoon, then off to minor league baseball. The home team won 4-2, I had my hotdog & popcorn, successfully resisted the beer, and am now home and balconatin’ in the warm darkness as bedtime ~~approacheth~~ has gone by while I’m blatheratin’. Curses! Thought about starting laundry when I got home, but not quite enough time. Tomorrow first thing! Cheers all here at 10pm. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/185 "2025-05-30T02:18:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Don’t waste your powerful good thoughts on me; I’ll be RDOSing. > > It’s **Flyboy** who needs your positive thoughts and general support while he’s getting his drain plumbing reamed out. Thank you for catching that~I plead bonked brain after a long day of errand adulting. So, **flyguy** or is it **flyboy**?~all those good wishes are indeed meant for you. > [@LSLGuy](#): > > My turn is Tue upcoming in the afternoon when I get a bunch of my teeth ground down. Such fun. I’ll try to remember, you’ll have my empathy either way. I’ve had two root canals, an infected molar extracted and 6-count ‘em 6-crowns done this year, not a single one planned. Here’s hoping those go as smoothly for you as when I had 8 crowned and/or veneered, all front, upper and lower, after I was rear-ended. At least the other insurance had to pay for those. It was so easy doing it all in one fell swoop . ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/186 "2025-05-30T03:09:17Z")
> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > **JtC** , best wishes for tomorrow. Thanks to all for the good wishes. While I do appreciate them, should go to other mumpers who aren’t going to have such a good time in the morning. It’s going to be a cakewalk for me. I’ll go and meet some nice folks who will give me some good drugs and then make it so I can see light and colors again. There will be no anal probes involved in my morning! > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > always ended the class by saying the same thing “roll your carriages, take your papers out of the machine” Oh gosh, I remember that part too. She “name lost in the mists of time” would yell at us if we just ripped our papers out like we saw on TV. > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Not shocking at all. Thank you for the fashion advice! Sweat pants and a loose shirt it is. I expect it will be cold, so I’ll add my short shafted Uggs to my look. Once they knock the lens out of my glasses, I’ll be a total fashion plate! We are planning on getting something to eat afterwards. Tudors is a strong possibility, it will depend on how I’m feeling when it is done. Coffee will be required while I’m thinking about what I want to eat. > [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > > [@LH75](#): > > > > I have horror stories about my service calls to these places > > I have some similar stories about home nursing visits in those same kind of places. Blessings on both of you for being willing to put yourselves in danger to help others. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/187 "2025-05-30T03:30:02Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YOU TOMORROW!! Sights only a day away!!! Good luck! Sis got a lot of bargains at Smart Art dollar day today. She’s going back tomorrow to check out more stuff. I’m going to send a load of paperbacks to drop off at Madame Tussaud’s (the drop point for Books for Soldiers), which is in the same neighborhood. We got the kitchen sorted. While she’s out tomorrow (and I’m spending phone time to get shit done), she’s going to pick up some boxes at the likker sto’. After that, a Goodwill drop off run is in order. Tomorrow’s sort plan is the built ins in my studio. I talked to the neighbor whose apartment backs up to mine today (Blue’s nana) and she’s going to check into some good policies for me after Cobra. She works from home in the commercial end of the field, but has a lot of access to info that I know nothing about, plus she’s recently sherpa’d her own mother through it. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/188 "2025-05-30T03:45:15Z")
**JtC** Best wishes for the procedure in the AM! My Folks are coming for a visit tomorrow, and right now my house smells of shitty weed. I think I have skunks hanging out nearby, wouldn’t be the first time. It doesn’t smell this way cuz of me, I haven’t ignited anything in the house aside from an oil lamp in years. I took a day off sleeping, then finally felt ok enough to ride in the duck-mobile with the rest of the museum workers. Good times! If’n there’s pics of us with the goofy ducks and bubbles I’ll post them. I actually ate something tonight, first since monday. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/189 "2025-05-30T03:46:05Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Sweat pants and a loose shirt it is. I expect it will be cold, so I’ll add my short shafted Uggs to my look. Once they knock the lens out of my glasses, I’ll be a total fashion plate! Not too late to add some neon gel and spike up a Mohawk! ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/190 "2025-05-30T07:24:44Z")
Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YOU TOMORROW!! Sights only a day away!!! Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![scareyfaerie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scareyfaerie/32/3135_2.png) [@scareyfaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scareyfaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/191 "2025-05-30T08:07:52Z")
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 17c/63f with a predicted high of 20c/68f and cloudy. Weather app says “The clouds are all fucking nuts to butts up in the sky.” OK, if that’s what you think… > [@Chefguy](#): > > Smoked salmon is not good for cats, as it’s very high in sodium. I rarely have it, Blossom got offered some unsmoked salmon but still wasn’t interested even though she had a good sniff. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Daughter will be happy to have her bestie close by and I’m glad the house won’t be empty. Win all around! Sounds like an excellent plan, I just hope you and **FCD** get to go on your cruise now! > [@LSLGuy](#): > > What kind of heedless moron threads an ironing board down a trash chute hatch? If they told you which floor it came from, you could probably work it out 🙂 > [@dogbutler](#): > > Spot is interested in it, almost as much as he is for salami. Shadow would bitten had my hand off for some salmon, or some chicken. The girlies are not at all bothered about human food, be it raw or cooked. Cats is weird. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Once my first eye has been successfully operated on, I wonder if my sub-conscious will let up on the nightmares next time. I’m sorry to hear about the lack of decent sleep and I hope all goes well today. Then your brain can stop with the bad dreams because it won’t have been bad at all. > [@Misnomer](#): > > Happily I have no plans for the next few days, except maybe seeing my BFFs on Sunday for HusbandBFF’s 67th birthday. Sounds like a fun weekend coming up then, no people except the ones you really want to see. Perfect! **flyboy** best of luck with your procedure today, hope all goes well for you. Nothing exciting to report from over here today. Yesterday the Travel Gods were not kind, there was a fallen tree on the line so my train from campus got cancelled and I ended up on an overcrowded bus going back to Big City Station. I got home much later than planned, to a trio of starving mogs. Didn’t do much in the evening as I was tired and by then, a little bit grumpy too. This morning, the bus was on time but the first train was not. I caught a different train which was on time but it trundled slowly into Big City Station and I didn’t make it to the connecting train I’d hoped to be on. Oh well, it’s Friday and I am unmotivated anyway 🙂 Got a meeting with one of my minions this morning, and a catch-up with our new team leader as she’s back from two days off sick and decided to come to the office today. 'im indoors will be home tonight so I’ll have to go and fetch him from the station so no lounging on the sofa all night for me. On the plus side, it’s payday so my bank account looks healthy and I’ve paid my debts for the month. Now I need tea and breakfast to keep me going. ---
**Author:** ![Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sticks_and_scones/32/16951_2.png) [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sticks_and_Scones)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/192 "2025-05-30T08:54:38Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Personally, I think part of the problem is he tries to play thru the pain, because “I’m not a wimp!” So, yeah… Men… > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > 🎶 TOMORROW, TOMORROW, I LOVE YOU TOMORROW!! Sights only a day away!!! Hurray! I hope everything goes well today!!! > [@Misnomer](#): > > First things first: here’s the Lego typewriter that I finished on Monday. 😁 That is awesome! I remember typing class in high school. I was so bummed out that I didn’t get an A, yet, typing is one of my strong points today and my speed is above average. If I could find a typing job, that would be just up my alley. MusicMan was extremely bored yesterday. But, he survived the day and kindly stopped at Lee’s Famous Chicken and brought home dinner last night. It was great as usual even though I could only each one chicken strip and a couple of jojos. That’s ok, though, more leftovers for later! I have been arguing with the place that I got my last pairs of glasses. All I want to do is send them back and get a refund. However, they keep wanting to send me new pairs. This has now been going on for months. Practically speaking, it may cost more to send them back than it would to just give up and consider it a loss. I found this out yesterday when trying to send back a pair of sunglasses that MusicMan bought. They cost $90 and the shipping for a return was going to be $45! He absolutely LOVED them, but the local LensCrafters was unable to make them according to his prescription because they said he has an astigmatism. Which in and of itself is interesting because no one has ever mentioned that before. So, I’m going to try to sell them locally and hopefully recoup a bit of our money. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/193 "2025-05-30T10:37:36Z")
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. _YAWN_ ‘Tis 68 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 86 with rain this afternoon. No plans outside of RDOS inactivities cause the weather is sucky. OYKW said he would go get us a rotisserie chikin. Ima do some peas ‘n carrots, mac&cheese, and rolls. This will be a N.O.L. main need to feed day. Nappage and day drinkin’ to follow. **JtC** good luck today. You are probably there or on your way as I post this. Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah. Happy Firday Y’all! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/194 "2025-05-30T10:42:25Z")
> [@scareyfaerie](#): > > **flyboy** best of luck with your procedure today, hope all goes well for you. ‘Goes’? I see what you did there. 03:40, and I’ve had the second half of the prep. Oh, boy! 😬 In reality, they’re going to give me drugs and I won’t remember a thing. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/195 "2025-05-30T10:58:46Z")
Mornin’ all - It’s a smidgen after sunrise as I start blatheratin’. Been up since about 0445 and was balconatin’ and caffinatin’ and laundryfyin’ since 0500. Got chased inside very shortly after sunrise; that thing is _bright!_ with no clouds to obscure it. Who knew? The overnight low was 80/26 and it was so comfy and tropically cozy out there at 5am. Not as good as cuddling with your bestie, but in the same ballpark of warm and comforting. NWS sez we can expect 93/33 later today & a small chance of showers. I’ll be surprised if it gets that warm, but it’ll be close. So far no clouds immediately here, but the usual tropical puffies out in the distance. Which are now starting to make towers; a sign of vertical instability that portends showers later. I’m proud that I actually got laundry started early. In another few minutes I can toss the last of it in the dryer, push [start], and begin my busy day of RDOSing. All the best to **JtC** who’s up by now, if not out, and to **Johnny** who’s probably now back in bed trying to sleep nervously while hoping to avoid a mishap in bed. IME with anal explorations it’s all pretty trivial. Hope yours proves the same. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/196 "2025-05-30T11:26:28Z")
Well, today is the last day of school and, if you work in the K-12 educational world, is the beginning of summer no matter what day it actually is. I don’t get the entire summer off, though, because there is ongoing registration for the new school year and tech maintenance stuff that can really only be done when the teachers and kids are out of the way. Still, I’ll get three weeks off. Can’t complain about that! ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/197 "2025-05-30T11:29:33Z")
> [@scareyfaerie](#): > > I just hope you and **FCD** get to go on your cruise now! He insists he’s fine - of course he is - and I can’t tell if it’s an act for me or if he’s starting to take it easy. So we’ll see. > [@scareyfaerie](#): > > Cats is weird. No! Say it ain’t so!! 🤪 > [@scareyfaerie](#): > > I didn’t make it to the connecting train I’d hoped to be on. How understanding are boss-folk about situations like this? Are you expected in the office by a certain time, regardless? Much as I wish public transportation had been available when I worked, I don’t know how being late because of the bus would have been tolerated. > [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > I remember typing class in high school. In my high school, you were either on the college prep track, the business track, or the get-this-over-with track. I was in college prep, so typing wasn’t an option, not that it would have fit in my schedule anyway. I did interview for an office job at one point, and in the typing test, I scored 27WPM with 3 errors. I’m much better now. 😉 > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > they’re going to give me drugs and I won’t remember a thing. Better living thru chemistry! **JtC** - All my best thoughts are headed your way! > [@Jasmine](#): > > today is the last day of school Last day in this county is June 11 - at least for all but seniors. They’re done already. We had (have?) a damned woodpecker attacking our deck. I’m pretty sure it’s a Downy Woodpecker - I saw it dart away last night when I stepped on the deck to investigate. Then I heard it this morning, but it must have bolted while I was opening the door. I need to go check for damage. Stoopit bird. But we’re promised rain all day and chance of showers tomorrow, so not sure when I’ll get out there to look, being the delicate flower I am and all… Along with being laundry day, I’m going to make a big batch of sketty sauce as well as stripping down the rotissed leftovers to make chickie salad. So more time in the kitchen, but at least I won’t have to deal with cabinets. If I have enough _oooomph_ left, I’ll attack the pantry, or I’ll put it off till tomorrow. We shall see. Got an email from Holland America with our 30 day countdown. I know I need to give our passport numbers to American Airlines, and I’ll see what else is on their checklist. We also need to decide which bag will be our 3rd, and I’m pretty sure it’ll be one we can attach to a rolly bag rather than another rolly bag. Three will be too many to manage, methinks. I also need to find another place to stage stuff to be packed since Casey will be here a week before we leave. She’ll need the guest bed - duh! I may be able to pack the 3rd bag, and that will take care of that dilemma. For now, tho, some quiet time before my chores begin. Happy Firday! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2025, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/198 "2025-05-30T11:33:42Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > We had (have?) a damned woodpecker attacking our deck. A few years ago, I was awaken by a god-awful, “thunk … thunk … thunk…!” It was a woodpecker. They must not have much of a brain, or they would concuss themselves with the very first “thunk!”. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/199 "2025-05-30T11:47:33Z")
Like many suburban homeowners, our house had chimney. Which ended with a plain 6" diameter sheet metal smokestack sticking up a foot or so above the 2’x 3’ rectangular masonry chimney structure. Topped with the usual spark arrestor, so the whole thing looked like a sheet metal mushroom growing out of a masonry column. One woodpecker discovered that if it stood on top of the masonry it could peck the metal stack and make an incredible racket as the whole thing reverberated. Much louder and twangier than the ordinary woodpecker sound. So he’d go up there, hammer away on that thing for 10-ish whacks, then laugh his idiot head off. Then do it again. And again. And again. Sigh. I always thought that in his birdbrain he was thinking > Ho Ho ho, for I am the loudest and most macho woodpecker in all the world!! Listen to me, lady woodpeckers, and rejoice in my mighty pecker! Bwaaa haaa haaa haaa ha! Funny, but none of the other birds, or houses, developed this trick. Just “our” speshul woodpecker. We were so proud. ---
**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:** [May 30, 2025, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806/200 "2025-05-30T11:57:20Z")
It appears there will be an [Orange Party](https://www.hollandamerica.com/en/us/onboard-experiences/activities/orange-party?camp=CME:Booking_Touch6_Transactional&rmid=Booking_Touch6_Transactional&rrid=6812792042&lid=orangeparty&XID=EXTHEM20241118VS75MTG35U) on our cruise. No biggie. We don’t own any orange clothing, but we don’t go to the dance venues anyway since we don’t dance. We also don’t do formal nights - don’t own formal jeans! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-white-out-the-official-start-of-summer-mmp/1018806.md?page=11)