# (Old) Winter Solstice MMP

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Tags:** mmp\
**Created:** [December 18, 2023, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757 "2023-12-18T05:22:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 11

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**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/201 "2023-12-23T01:35:23Z")

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> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> Does that make sense, or am I being pathetic? (I do not human very well.)

Makes perfect sense and not pathetic in the least. I’m the same way. I _hate_ loose ends.

> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#):
>
> Much of my life was taken away from me, forever. He tossed his broken plastic bumper cover to the side of the road and continued home to a merry Christmas. I doubt he thought about it again after he paid the reckless driving citations.

Oh _boo_, I’m so sorry. Doesn’t matter how long ago it was, it’s still horrible. 🫂

> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#):
>
> I’m extra high risk of a bad outcome from Covid because of age, other co-morbidities and having a paralyzed diaphragm requiring oxygen 24/7 (of course caused by the above Christmas Eve traumatic brain injury), so we just can’t risk it.

Not being able to see the family is tough. I hope you’re able to get plenty of post-holiday family time to make up for it.

> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#):
>
> I keep telling myself that that I’ve got all of you, my magic internetz Mumper friends and we’ll get by~we all get by with the help of our friends and you guys are ‘da best’, none better!

We always do, and we’re here for your every day Mumper needs (as well as your special Mumper needs).

> [@missred](#):
>
> If you survive buzzed cooking without injury, the results can be…ummmm…somewhat interesting sometimes.

I second this! Buzzed baking is one of my favorite ways to bake because it always comes out interesting.

> [@nelliebly](#):
>
> They said I’d been bumped from this flight! Issued me a new ticket after a nail-biting delay. Not sure why I got bumped.

My guess is because they have no freaking clue what they’re doing. Glad you finally got in the air.

> [@FairyChatMom](#):
>
> So we stopped on the way home for some medicinal DQ before resuming chillage mode.

That my kind of medicine!

> [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#):
>
> Have checked in on-line for my flight tomorrow (American rather than the one **nellie** flew) via Dallas to Kansas City, hopefully it will go as planned…

Fingers crossed that you have the flying luck!

I got the tree up with help from BtY. I was very pleasantly surprised at how helpful he was. I fluffed all the branches and he put them in their spots on the pole. He even got one of the groups of branches out waiting for me when I had to take a break. I was sure to let him know how grateful I was for his help. Of course, this was before I found that he’d broken the broom. Which means, since most of my apartment is mostly uncarpeted, that I’ll need to buy a new one. After the holidays, I’ll think about it.

Hubby went to pick up the last things that we’ll need for Christmas dinner and after he got home, he and the kids decorated the tree. It looks pretty good. I haven’t had a chance to take a picture of it myself - my mobility today is practically nil - but he posted one to the book of faces. Right now, I’m enjoying all the Christmas lights, both from outside and on the tree. Never did get my hot chocolate, but I am considering having some with dessert tonight.

The rest of the night is going to just be relaxing, watching _Scarecrow and Mrs King_ and reading. I hope everyone else gets to have a relaxing night as well!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 23, 2023, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/202 "2023-12-23T02:17:25Z")

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I think MIL is really losing it. She thinks the volcano in Iceland is going to threaten our cruise… to Antarctica…

And even if we were cruising to Iceland, can she seriously think the cruise line would risk getting close to a volcano? She used to be a pretty sharp woman. Now, not so much.

Getting old suxxxx.

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**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:** [December 23, 2023, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/203 "2023-12-23T02:22:06Z")

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Mistaking Arctic and Antarctica?

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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:** [December 23, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/204 "2023-12-23T03:37:07Z")

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Heaving went fine. Except… there was an hour between the 2nd to last Air and the last Air, and the sort Aisle didn’t charge their imprinters. So they dumped _several hundred pieces_ onto the 300 table. So that was a mess to get onto the package cars. I needed to run Roommie’s car, so I drove up to Lynnwood for beer and a BLT.  
{{{{everybody}}}}

> [@Jack\_Batty](#):
>
> Congratulations, mom and dad.

Happy Anniversary!

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**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:** [December 23, 2023, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/205 "2023-12-23T03:57:16Z")

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> [@dogbutler](#):
>
> Happy Anniversary!

> **[HAPPY ANNIVERSARY- FLINTSTONES \*HQ\*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nf8ZAMRO1DU%2F)**
>
> The Flintstones-Happy Anniversary \*HQ\*

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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:** [December 23, 2023, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/206 "2023-12-23T08:27:38Z")

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Up, caffeinated, and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s an 0500 start today. I don’t know if that means “There’s light volume in the system” or “We told you the deadline for getting it out today, and we’re not spending any more OT to bail you out, so FAFO.”

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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:** [December 23, 2023, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/207 "2023-12-23T11:08:03Z")

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Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. _YAWN_ ‘Tis 48 Amurrkin out and mostly clear with a predicted high of 71 and mostly N.O.S. It’s a heat wave! OYKW is makin’ his famous cheese cake for the big feast on Moanday. I may go ahead and prep the company smashed N.O.T. today, just cause. Also, I think we shall go to DQ for burgers and a treat. **MOOOOOOM** done made me have a gnawin’ and a cravin’. Other than that the usual sloth, general overall uselessness, nappage, and sloth shall prevail.

**MetalMouse** have a safe flight. May it go smoothly.

Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day!

Happy Sattidy Y’all!

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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:** [December 23, 2023, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/208 "2023-12-23T11:37:38Z")

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I’m awake stoopit early after not much sleep.

**G.C.** got back in touch with me. I’ll leave the rest to your pearl-clutchin’ imagination.

I friggin’ _knew_ that’s where this was gonna go, too, as soon as I got myself together enough to get to work early to use their phone.

> [@swampbear](#):
>
> OYKW is makin’ his famous cheese cake for the big feast on Moanday.

Save me a slice?

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**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:** [December 23, 2023, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/209 "2023-12-23T11:53:59Z")

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> [@susan](#):
>
> Mistaking Arctic and Antarctica?

No, she’s just… strange that way. Many years ago, my daughter was on a cruise in the Bahamas and the Keys. There was a hurricane down by South America. MIL wanted us to call our daughter so she could tell the captain of the ship about the hurricane. Seriously. When she was still in FL, if there was a blizzard in Massachusetts, she’d call us to make sure Maryland wasn’t affected. I don’t think she has any concept of distance and such.

> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> I’m awake stoopit early after not much sleep.

Kinda me, too, tho for different reasons. Of all the stoopit things, I was dreaming about an appointment with my eye doc. My bestie from high school was with me, for some reason, and along with my eye doc, there was a much younger doc who was flirting with me!?!? The disturbing thing, tho, was I had a 3:45 appointment, but I didn’t get out of there till almost 3 hours later. Yep, I woke up pissed off because it took so long. My sleepy brain is a strange world.

Gray and white cat was sleeping on our back deck again. No surprise, as _someone_ keeps putting kibbles out there. I expect a box with a blanket to show up next.

Today’s plan: boil eggs to be deviled. I found a recipe that uses dill pickles and pickle juice (one of my sisters is pickle crazy.) And **FCD** is fond of [Wickles](https://wicklespickles.com/product/wickles-pickles-chips/) so I’ll make the same recipe using them. I’ll dye the egg whites green for the dill pickle recipe and red (probably more pink) for the Wickles version. The coloring and mixing up will be tomorrow. Today, I’ll just boil and peel.

It’s also clean-the-critter-fountain day, so I have that going for me.

Happy Christmas Eve eve!!

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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:** [December 23, 2023, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/210 "2023-12-23T12:20:31Z")

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Morning all. As usual when I travel in the morning, I set my alarm for a reasonable time and my body decides ‘nope, that’s not enough time’ and gets me up 1-2 hours earlier. So the alarm wouldn’t have gone off until 10-15 minutes from when I type this, so have time to wish everyone a Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays.

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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:** [December 23, 2023, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/211 "2023-12-23T12:23:48Z")

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Mornin’ everyone.

I was up at 3:00 a.m. again. Puppies have been taken out to potty, but I’ll take them out again before I get in the shower. I have to run to Safeway, then the butcher store, and finally, late this afternoon, the pups have their appointment for the next round of shots.

It’s 33F and partly cloudy outside. The expected high is around 45F, and we’ll have sunny skies in the afternoon.

**BBBoo** , My heart broke when I read about the accident. There aren’t words. I’m sorry too, that you don’t get to see the grandkids for Christmas. If you lived near me, I’d have you here.

**flyboy** , I was also sorry to read about the injuries you sustained.

**nellie** , I’m glad you finally made it to Spokane. Driving over the passes wouldn’t have made your trip any faster. I-90 was a complete mess and closed due to collisions.

**metal mouse** , I hope your flight goes smoothly.

The extent of my day is pretty much what I posted above. Tidying and roll-sucking will also occur, and I’ll probably knock out the rest of the laundry. I washed sheets, towels, and puppy blankets yesterday. My son may or may not come up on Christmas Eve, so I had two sets of sheets to wash. If my son doesn’t come up, the sheets will be clean for the next trip up.

Just saw your post, **metal mouse**. Merry Christmas to you too!

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**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/212 "2023-12-23T12:44:26Z")

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Safe travels, _metal mouse_!

For reasons I don’t understand, I’ve been awake since around 3:30. This has become a common occurrence: wake in the middle of the night, be unable to fall back asleep, grab my phone and futz on it until 6:30 or 7, then fall back to sleep for about 2 hours. At least I’m not having appointments or any other reason to need to be awake.

Mainly, I popped in to wish _metal mouse_ safety and everyone else that feels like taking it a Merry Christmas Adam!

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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:** [December 23, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/213 "2023-12-23T12:59:00Z")

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{{{BBBooo}}}

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 23, 2023, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/214 "2023-12-23T12:59:45Z")

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> [@FairyChatMom](#):
>
> Today’s plan: boil eggs to be deviled. I found a recipe that uses dill pickles and pickle juice (one of my sisters is pickle crazy.)

I recently tried substituting dill pickle relish for the vinegar in my usual recipe. We liked it.

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**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/215 "2023-12-23T13:19:24Z")

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Good morning all. I haz returned from the hinterlands, and although happy to see kinfolk, it is so good to be home with “my” stuff (coffee, mattress, wife, doggie, etc.). Lots and lots of drama involving… well I’ll cover it later. But it’s juicy and good gossip.

Still integrating the new dog into the household, and pullinKid is here with her dog, which is complicating things. As soon as they arrived, everyone in the household (but me) became an expert on dog training and behavior. Unsurprisingly, all these experts disagreed on exactly how to introduce the two. Which resulting in snarling and fur-flying.

The next morning when everyone else was abed, I took the two canine mortal enemies into the backyard and turned them loose. Given plenty of room and stuff to chase, they teamed up quickly and are getting along swimmingly. The family is calling me “the dog whisperer”.

> [@TruePisces](#):
>
> Especially since I’ve found _Scarecrow and Mrs King_ streaming so I can watch one of my favorite shows.

Ha! Great minds and all. Mizpullin doesn’t know it, but there are boxes under the tree with the entire series on shiny round things. (Well, seasons 1-5 – not sure if that’s all of them)

> [@nelliebly](#):
>
> Oo! Almost time to board!

Hoping not to hear from you for a while. In a good way, I mean!

> [@JaneDoe42](#):
>
> I can remember a time when flying was fun.

Me too. It was 1968, and I was on an Electra (L-188).

> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#):
>
> I’m extra high risk of a bad outcome from Covid because of age, other co-morbidities and having a paralyzed diaphragm requiring oxygen 24/7 (of course caused by the above Christmas Eve traumatic brain injury), so we just can’t risk it

Dang. I hate to hear that. Puts my minor wreck last year into perspective. Hope you’re doing as well as possible, and will be thinking about you during Christmas.

> [@FairyChatMom](#):
>
> I think MIL is really losing it. She thinks the volcano in Iceland is going to threaten our cruise… to Antarctica…

During Thanksgiving’s airline-based disaster of my kin (forgetting ID and getting denied boarding), one of my older relatives suggested she “Just go on the plane and talk to the pilot.” Yeah, just walk up the aisle of the DC-3 and ask John Wayne to let you grab a seat. Why didn’t we think of that?

Trying to catch up but gotta run. Hope everyone has a good day! More gossip later…

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 23, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/216 "2023-12-23T13:27:55Z")

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> [@pullin](#):
>
> Electra (L-188)

The plane which, if I’m not mistaken, morphed into the P-3 Orion and served the US Navy for many years. My last active duty squadron flew the P-3C and my first job as an aerospace structural engineer was a project on a P-3A. I worked in P-3 engineering for about 13 years.

I’m showered and dressed. The dishwasher has been emptied and refilling has begun. I have 18 eggs in a pot of water to be boiled - some for deviling, some for salading. **FCD** has some errands he wants to run. And so the day begins.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 23, 2023, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/217 "2023-12-23T15:41:11Z")

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> [@pullin](#):
>
> The next morning when everyone else was abed, I took the two canine mortal enemies into the backyard and turned them loose. Given plenty of room and stuff to chase, they teamed up quickly and are getting along swimmingly. The family is calling me “the dog whisperer”.

It’s amazing what some horse (dog) sense will accomplish.

Wishing you safe travels **metal mouse**.

Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to whip up some gingerbread for Monday before doing KP. The only thing on the slate today is picking up a prescription. I hate the thought of going into Tar-jay on the holiday weekend.

Stay safe and healthy y’all!

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 23, 2023, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/218 "2023-12-23T16:54:40Z")

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> [@TruePisces](#):
>
> For reasons I don’t understand, I’ve been awake since around 3:30. This has become a common occurrence: wake in the middle of the night, be unable to fall back asleep

Look up “split sleeping.” Before this weird invention called “electricity” this was the norm.

People would go to bed around nightfall, and - especially during longer nights - would awaken after a few hours. Sources agree that a chamber pot was often utilized, and also, people would, uh … pray, yeah, that’s it! Sources agree on the praying part, too. Definitely, praying.

Not at all related to how women would birth 14 children, nope, not at all.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TruePisces](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/truepisces/32/13628_2.png) [@TruePisces](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruePisces)\
**Post date:** [December 23, 2023, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/219 "2023-12-23T17:22:12Z")

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> [@purplehorseshoe](#):
>
> People would go to bed around nightfall, and - especially during longer nights - would awaken after a few hours. Sources agree that a chamber pot was often utilized, and also, people would, uh … pray, yeah, that’s it! Sources agree on the praying part, too. Definitely, praying.

The chamber pot definitely is part of the reason, I know. Prayer… I’d have to wake up Hubby to pray with me and, while I know he wouldn’t mind, I hate waking him up unless I’m feeling super spiritual. 😇

> [@pullin](#):
>
> Ha! Great minds and all. Mizpullin doesn’t know it, but there are boxes under the tree with the entire series on shiny round things. (Well, seasons 1-5 – not sure if that’s all of them)

It is. I hadn’t looked for awhile, but I’d had trouble finding them before. I’m glad you were able to get them for Mizpullin. I knew she had good taste!

Good news on the Dad front! He’s doing a lot better and they are letting him go home instead of a SNF as long as he takes his medication. I was going to drive out to the dialysis center to get his antibiotics but my nephew, who lives much closer, is getting them instead. Hubby may need to drive out tomorrow to bring him home but we’ll see. I’m just glad that he won’t be spending Christmas in the hospital.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**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:** [December 23, 2023, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-winter-solstice-mmp/994757/220 "2023-12-23T17:24:22Z")

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The bacon is relax ing in a cast-iron frying pan in an oven that will soon be 375º Ferret Height. Hash browns are grated rinsed, dried, and sizzling in another frying pan. Small ‘farm’ eggs (from a cow-orker) are standing by. A fresh pot of dark roast just finished brewing.

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