# (Old) You Get A Gold Star In The MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [April 28, 2025, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599 "2025-04-28T11:20:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**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 3, 2025, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/221 "2025-05-03T02:18:17Z")
Spot and I napped. He tried making biscuits on my eyeballs. Now I’m having a martini and Bojangles seasoned catfish, and he’s sleeping in my underwear drawer. > [@peedin](#): > > And a mini donk, aka a burrito. _Mumper Estates Retirement Community_, where “showing your ass” has a totally different meaning. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Glad you are still working. Are we worried yet? Personally? Not yet. I work in a major metro area, and I’m 50% up the seniority chain. But Temu just said they are stopping shipping to the USA, so I am worried about the other 330 million people in the country. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > they were still on the phone trying to talk to someone with a very strong foreign accent who was struggling with the salesman’s very strong WV accent. I used to date a girl from Mississippi, and she got sent to WV for work. she called me one night and told me “these people sound more southern than me!”. Nice bike!. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > So, how was your day?? Less stressful than your’s ---
**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 3, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/222 "2025-05-03T03:09:08Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > Personally? Not yet. I work in a major metro area, and I’m 50% up the seniority chain. But Temu just said they are stopping shipping to the USA, so I am worried about the other 330 million people in the country. I was kind of wondering if they would stop shipping after the $800 limit went away. I noticed in the last couple of weeks that their prices have doubled or more. I hope that you continue your gainful employment with Brown. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/223 "2025-05-03T03:48:52Z")
I hope SIL takes this seriously. I made a Lowes pickup of, among other things, 12 2-cubic foot bags of fir mulch. The front yard beds are now mulched. I was going to do some transplanting, but instead trimmed out dead rhododendron and spirea branches, and cleaned up what I can reach of an oak and a mystery tree. I saw one of our garter snakes, which pleased me. We’re being careful not to accidentally block their hidey holes. My lovely wife made a salad with lettuce, tarragon, and kale from our garden, plus mandarin oranges, toasted pine nuts and pistachios with a pomegranate balsamic vinegar-based dressing. An anthology I have a poem in will be released this weekend, so that’s fun, and I’m substitute leader for a writing discussion group. Plus transplanting thyme, clematis, marigolds, and delicatas. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/224 "2025-05-03T06:49:03Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > > [@Kitten\_Mitten](#): > > > > I’ve started a new morning regimen where I drink a concoction of warm water, tumeric, black pepper, ginger, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and honey. > > How is it? Please let us (me) know how you are feeling next week. **Alternate Manager** makes something similar, starting with ginger-lemon tea. She also adds a shake of red pepper flakes to it, instead of black pepper, but there’s turmeric, too. She made it one night last winter and when I asked her what she was drinking, she explained & then smiled and said, “It’s like drinking a hug.” Of course I went home and dug through my tea stash to recreate it, red pepper and all. It is indeed, like holding and sipping a hug. > [@peedin](#): > > mini donk, aka a burrito. I smirked. Also, I love long-ears. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I love goats They have those strange rectangular pupils that seem so otherworldly. I love 'em, too. > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > he had chest pains radiating down his left side and he felt weak and fell. Oh, no, I hope he’s doing better in the morning. * * * **Car(e)less Co-worker** closed with me tonight, so while giving him a lift home, I vented about the shooting earlier, and was shocked that he heard it happen. He doesn’t live _that_ far from me, and he was outside walking to the Corner Sto’ but still … Anyway, I _threw_ myself into work today, which was good, so I could get outta my own head. Even got several compliments on my attitude/smile/customer service. ---
**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 3, 2025, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/225 "2025-05-03T07:49:54Z")
Up, caffeinated and sheveled. Off to heave. It’s my Friday _ **May the Fourth Be With You** _ Congregation: _And also with you_ Jedi: _Lift up your light sabers._ Congregation: _We lift them up to the Lord_ > [@missred](#): > > I hope that you continue your gainful employment with Brown. > [@susan](#): > > An anthology I have a poem in will be released this weekend, so that’s fun, Cool! Yes, mainly because I need money because Spot keeps drinking my gin. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > but there’s turmeric, [_Kindergarten Cop_]It’s not a turmeric![/_Kindergarten Cop_] But at least frequent drive bys keep the rent affordable. ---
**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 3, 2025, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/226 "2025-05-03T09:13:56Z")
Morning, mumpers! It’s currently 12c/54f with a predicted high of 16c/62f and partly cloudy. Weather app says “This weather is fucking awesome if you just experienced winter, but it’s fucking terrible if summer just ended.” Fair enough, technically still spring so it’s good enough for me. > [@Misnomer](#): > > I’m also debating whether to reach out to someone I stopped speaking to 13 years ago. That’s a sad story, I’m sorry you lost touch with her and in such odd circumstances. FB certainly makes it easier to follow other people’s lives without needing much contact, and it could be a good way to re-establish a connection. Of course, if you send a friend request and she doesn’t accept it, that’s going to tell you all you need to know. > [@Misnomer](#): > > I thought/wondered the same! He gets a certificate for not showing up all year?? Believe me, there are some students who barely deserve a certificate even for showing up! In our system, they would be taking a 3 or 4 year degree programme. If they leave before completing the entire degree, they may be eligible for an alternative qualification. This particular student completed year 1 but did not return for year 2 (we knew he wasn’t coming back, he’d told his personal tutor, but never bothered to complete a withdrawal request). Our university regulations say that a student who achieves at least 100 credits in a year is entitled to an exit qualification - he’d completed 120 credits in year 1 so he will get a Certificate in Higher Education, which comes out as CertHE(Programme Title). If he’d left after completing sufficient credits in year 2, it would be a Diploma instead of a Cert. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > I mean, how bad can it be? 😱 😱 😉 The problem was with final year dissertations, which count for 1/3 of the student’s higher level marks. Minion hadn’t updated the marking grid after some of the markers were re-allocated to different subjects so there is potential for some students to have received lower marks than they may have been due because it was marked by someone with less subject-specific knowledge. Fortunately they are second-marked by the dissertation supervisor who _is_ the subject specialist, so hopefully it will all be ok. **JtC** and **Sticky Buns** lovely pics, looks like you had a fun day out! **Pilot** I remember Sheena Easton, bit of a flash in the pan over here. > [@JaneDoe42](#): > > The cats almost starrrrrved to death. I am sure they were very vocal in their protests about abandonment and starvation! **Cat Glove** sounds like a very moving service and a very impressive turnout. I hope the new morning drink routine works for you 🙂 > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > When we arrived, we saw SIL sitting on the driveway beside an ambulance Scary! I hope SIL is ok and the horsepistol lets him come home soon. They are lucky you and **FCD** are around to wrangle the littles so they can concentrate on getting him well again. > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Anyway, I _threw_ myself into work today, which was good, so I could get outta my own head I hope it worked and you’re not dwelling on what happened, let’s hope it was an isolated incident. Yesterday evening was uneventful - came home from work, fed the cats, cleaned litter trays and had some dinner before it was time to collect 'im indoors from the station. We came home, had a cuppa, and watched a film before I went to bed. Today I was up early to do the cat stuff and have a quiet cup of tea or two before he got up. I’ve got a load of laundry in the washer, I need to run the rollsuck over the living room, hall, stairs and landing (because the catsitter’s coming over tonight and I should deal with a small amount of the squalour). I will shower and wash my hair after the rollsuck duties, then deal with wet washing, make bacon butties for lunch, pack up stuff and drive up the M6 to Bradford where we’ll be seeing a few bands - we don’t need to be there until about 3pm so I have time do stuff. We’re staying overnight and coming back tomorrow afternoon, conveniently late enough to miss out on the Vaisakhi parade and mela that means half the main roads are closed and everything around the park near us is closed off. Catsitter plans to be here early in the morning before the rolling road closures start, so she can be out of the way before it gets busy. We should be back late enough that it’s all over although we have a route back home that doesn’t involve any of the town centre or the ring road. It’s a beautiful day out there so I hope attendance is high and the local Sikhs have a brilliant time. ---
**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 3, 2025, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/227 "2025-05-03T11:03:29Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > got several compliments on my attitude/smile/customer service. This made me realize why I’d have a hard time dealing directly with customers - I have a hard-core RBF and even when I’m at ease and feeling good, I look like I’m about to bite someone’s head off. A former boss commented about it. Somehow my face doesn’t get the message that I’m a happy camper. I’m not sure if that’s a learned skill or not, wearing a pleasant smile. Good thing I don’t want a career in retail or real estate or food service… > [@dogbutler](#): > > May the Fourth Be With You Missed it by 1… Unless something came up overnight, SIL is supposed to come home today. They just wanted him there for observation (at least that’s my understanding.) Plus someone needs to read his test results - the MRI, I think, or maybe one of the other scans. It’s all magic to me. Anyway, we’ll be there a while, finishing up. > [@missred](#): > > He seems to have a lot of health issues for someone his age. **FCD** thinks he might be faking to get attention. But I don’t think he’s that good an actor, and since Daughter lives with him, she’d know and not put up with the nonsense, especially when it pulls her out of work. I’ve seen some of the weird happenings - not sure how his migraines work into it, but yeah, he’s only 36 - something’s off. The kidlets are still sleeping (YAY!!) They did well last night. I let them bring one cubby bin of toys up and they played in the not-living room (actually, the room where I sit at this moment.) They helped make supper - Roxy filled the pot of water to boil the macaroni and Tobias helped stir the powdered cheese into the milk. They snarfed down a goodly amount of mac-n-cheese-n-peas. I had promised them we’d make bracelets (Roxy’s intended gave her one at school, so she wanted to give him one, too.) I was just going to have them braid some yarn till I realized I didn’t have any more. Well, I did find a small partial skein of cotton yarn and I remembered the wooden beads I was going to use in my studio, so [![Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/n83zfDP.jpeg "imgur.com") ](https://imgur.com/n83zfDP) I made an aglet with tape so they could thread the yarn thru and they went to work. Tobias would add a bead, then count them again. He did fine when he had 13 beads, then he started getting silly with his count, but his hand/eye coordination was really good. He made a necklace for his mom and a bracelet for himself. Roxy made a bracelet for her intended and a necklace for herself. I just hope the yarn doesn’t break. I woke dreaming someone was screaming - that was a tad unsettling, but luckily, there were no screams except in my head. The woman who’s coming for the baby stuff will be here in about an hour. Some time within the next 45 minutes, I’ll shower and dress. And once she’s gone, we’ll haul the kidlets home and finish the light installation. I hope. Anyway, Happy Saturday!! ---
**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 3, 2025, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/228 "2025-05-03T11:06:44Z")
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. ‘Tis 64 Amurrkin out and cloudy with a predicted high of 81 and cloudy with rain comin’ in overnight. We shall see. I will make a chawklit cake with chawklit pee-kahn icin’ and a corn casserole this mornin’ to take to first Sunday brunch tomorrow. Actually I will make the casserole in the mornin’ as it’s a make and bake in the same dish one. It can bake whilst I purtify. Outside of that I foresee a day of much RDOS sloth. Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah. Happy Sattidy Y’all! ---
**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 3, 2025, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/229 "2025-05-03T11:17:45Z")
Great news! I can walk normally today! **FCM** , my mom has POTS and while it can be successfully managed most of the time it is still a pain to deal with. It’s part of the reason that she was struggling so much when we went to meet **JtC**. Her blood pressure was particularly low that morning and she’d take about a dozen steps and then have to stop and catch her breath. Speaking of **JtC** , I noticed very little about John when we were there. He was nice, but nothing in particular turned my head. _He’s all yours!_ Hopefully today I will get over to the mall. I’ve decided to take my stuff out of the store there. I may sell somewhere else in the future or I might just go back to Etsy and local shows. I haven’t decided yet, but I want a bit more freedom to make what I want and sell it accordingly. Also, I have a very small beef with the fact that she has someone else in the store (who she allowed in after I was already there) who is selling a very similar product. Not really very cool if you ask me. Also, I wanted to say hi to **BooFae** this morning just because! And, lastly, since I had a spare hat, I decided to recreate what Jolene might have looked like with her little hat on. [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54493443269_4e6ef20b7f_b.jpg "B4C33B6B-EE3E-419B-84A6-CAF95D9E8E68") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/200192221@N04/54493443269/) Is that about right, **JtC**?? ---
**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 3, 2025, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/230 "2025-05-03T11:28:53Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > chawklit pee-kahn icin’ Do you chop the pee-kahns in the icing or put them on top or something else? Tobias is up watching Blaze and the Mobster Machines. I’m off to shower. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/231 "2025-05-03T11:56:10Z")
Yay for being ambulatory! My ex wishes he was. Its raining, which is a trend here lately. The insert the weird foot dr gave me seems to have allieved the hammertoe pain. I’m going to a new person Monday. Finally had a non-bad dream. Me and another were out protesting the government. I was gifted 20 all day bus passes for the month, so going to bop to the library and grocery today. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/232 "2025-05-03T12:35:35Z")
Morning all. Woke up early as usual for Saturday, but with no soccer occurring, will have a day to pretty much just hang out and work on my sloth. Probably will head over to the gym sometime this afternoon, but the heaviest rain is due between noon and 4pm according to the Weather Wizards, so will have to try and plan for that. Actually solved the NY Times Friday crossword, something I do about once every three months, so nice to know at least some brain cells are still operating. Temperature is down to 62F and not supposed to reach 70, so at least some cooler air for a little while. **flyboy** ,nice looking bike. **FCM** , that would be a scary thing to come up on, even if it wasn’t family. Maybe that will be the warning he needs to start taking his health seriously. And sounds like you two are getting your engineering geek on with the lighting system in the house. And those necklaces/bracelets are really nice. **lily** , gardening, eating well and getting published; that’s a pretty good trifecta (since this is Kentucky Derby Day). **shoe** , hope it remains quiet on the Muskegon Front… **boo fae** , over here we would call it a 'participation certificate"… Hope you enjoy(ed) the bands. **Sticky Buns** , good news indeed on your ambulatory progresss. **Coppertone** , happy libraryin’. And time to break fast and get about the day. Have a good one all. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/233 "2025-05-03T13:22:15Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > Congregation: _And also with you_ > Jedi: _Lift up your light sabers._ > Congregation: _We lift them up to the Lord_ Now I have a earworm from the Green Book [(Lutheran Book of Worship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheran_Book_of_Worship)), published in 1978. Hope Spot lets you have some of the gin. **JtC** and **Sticky buns** , thanks for sharing the pictures. **Sticky buns** , you have the kind of hair that I want. I used to get perms, and then decided to go natural because I have other things I want to do. @scareyfaerie Is this the first time that Muffin’s had to deal with a catsitter? > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I’ve seen some of the weird happenings - not sure how his migraines work into it, but yeah, he’s only 36 - something’s off. I presume he’s already had his head examined. For him and his family, I hope the medics can find something to fix. Grands are adorable as usual. > [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > Great news! I can walk normally today! 👏 Yesterday the weather people said today would be nice and sunny. Perfect for going to the garden center first thing this morning. Woke up to rain. So much for Swiss accuracy (maybe that’s just for time?). Neighbor was similarly unamused as he had planned a long bike ride. Went to 2 grocery stores and the second choice garden place (the other place gets mobbed on Saturdays) and got 2 tomato plants, a cucumber plant and a chocolate mint plant. All will go in planters - really important for the mint, unless we want mint everywhere. They also had orange and strawberry mint, but the chocolate mint had the strongest scent. I plan to make tea with it - after it’s grown a bit. And I started pecan sticky buns, which should be done with their first rise. So it’s time to toast the pecans and make the sticky sauce. ---
**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 3, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/234 "2025-05-03T13:32:35Z")
> [@susan](#): > > My lovely wife made a salad with lettuce, tarragon, and kale from our garden, plus mandarin oranges, toasted pine nuts and pistachios with a pomegranate balsamic vinegar-based dressing. That sounds yummy! Up, caffeinating, breakfasted and fixing to do KP. I’ll likely nip on over to Kroger for a few things today and to fill up the gas tank (I tend to keep at least a half tank unless I’m on a road trip, then I’ll let it go down to a quarter). Other than that, playing around in the studio, as it’s too wet to go to the dog park. Stay safe and healthy 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 3, 2025, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/235 "2025-05-03T14:43:34Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > May the Fourth Be With You Sasquatch/Bigfoot is popular up here, and are statues of it. [There’s a life-size one in Blaine.](https://blainebythesea.com/sasquatch-statue/) For a while, it was just a Bigfoot statue; but over the years, it has been dressed up for occasions. Now it’s dressed up as Chewbacca. _The Northern Light_ posed on their Facebook page [names deleted]: > Langley, B.C. resident… takes a photo of the Sasquatch-turned-Chewbacca next to Hill’s Chevron on May 2. The Sasquatch is dressed in anticipation of Star Wars Day on May 4. > > Blaine resident…, @sightings\_of\_blaine, will lead a Star Wars community stroll around downtown starting at 5 p.m. Sunday, May 4 at Gateway 1890 Taphouse. [Resident] encourages people to wear their favorite Star Wars costume or attire for the free, family friendly event. If you have access to Facebook, theres a picture of Sasquatch-cum-Chewy [here](https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1304683751657191&set=a.477099757748932). ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/236 "2025-05-03T14:52:45Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I have a hard-core RBF I do, too. Someone told me that’s part of my charm - that when I _do_ smile at someone, it feels more special. > [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > Great news! I can walk normally today! It’s the little things in life. 🙂 > [@Sticks\_and\_Scones](#): > > who is selling a very similar product. Not really very cool if you ask me. Imitation, flattery … ---
**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 3, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/237 "2025-05-03T15:17:49Z")
Daughter is at the hospital waiting for SIL to be discharged. I’m at their house watching Tobias pout. Trevor jumped up and crashed into my nose, so I have that going for me. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/238 "2025-05-03T15:19:35Z")
Good morning! It’s 51°F and mostly sunny at the moment. Today, it’s supposed to be mostly cloudy, with an expected high temperature of only 60°F. I hope they figure out what is happening with your son-in-law, **FCM**. That looks like a very nice bike, **JtC**. The same for you, **Johnny**. I did some weeding yesterday and was shocked at how many there were in my big planter boxes. Some kind of weed had completely taken over and spread to my other pots. I’ve never had that weed before, so I assume some birds or squirrels made some deposits. I have more to do today. I should bust out the mower and weedwhacker, too. But, I guess, I don’t need to rush to finish it all today; it’s not like I’m returning to work on Monday. 😉 My husband and I met my workfriend and her sweetie last night for drinks and dinner. We had a great time hanging out and chatting, and M (T’s sweetie) was trying to get us to all plan a vacation together, lol! My face has subtitles, so working with the public daily wouldn’t be my first choice. I did it before my Fed gov gig, and I hated it. I’m not a fan of dealing with nasty, belligerent people who seem to treat service industry people very poorly. Okay, I need to get my day started. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and was online for a bit, but I ended up lying down on the couch and taking a nap. I got up again just before six, fed the pups, and now my sanctioned goof-off time has evaporated. Hm, maybe some day I’ll get over my self-allotted goof-off quota. ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/239 "2025-05-03T15:49:20Z")
Rainy Saturday morning. Probably no gardening. The only things on today’s calendar is attending a rehearsal for two of my students who are doing an unofficial recital to cap off their senior year. They’ve been dating since they were sophomores. It will be painfully adorable (although I’m only letting them do one sappy duet). Then Peer Gynt at the symphony. If you don’t know Peer Gynt, it’s a five hour play by Henrik Ibsen that Edvard Grieg wrote incidental music for. He adapted that music into some orchestral suites that you’ve probably heard, in particular Morning Mood and In the Hall of the Mountain King. The original incidental music is rarely played (because it’s a five hour play). This is a massively truncated adaptation (about 90 minutes) with the original incidental music. Live actors in front of the orchestra, which is unusual for a symphonic performance. The music is enjoyable enough, but the chorus barely sings and the music is not challenging. The best thing I can say about it is I’m getting paid. In other news, I paid off my car this morning. So that’s fun. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2025, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599/240 "2025-05-03T16:12:48Z")
_Started Typing: 10:57 AM ET Clicked Reply: 12:12 PM ET_ Yesterday’s election-related training went well. Turns out my county has new ballot scanners: the biggest improvement is that the printers are much faster, which will be greatly appreciated on election day. They also gave us a refresher on how to help voters with visual/other impairments use the ballot marking machines, because they’re rarely used. I actually appreciated that: this will be my fifth year as an election officer, and I’ve never helped – or even seen – a voter use that machine. I haven’t gotten my assignment yet for next month’s Democratic Party Primary (there won’t be a Republican Party Primary this year), and I might not get one: primaries tend to have pretty low day-of turnouts, and the county told us they’re only assigning 2-3 officers to each precinct. Assignment notifications have already started, and now that I’ve completed the new equipment training (in addition to recertifying online and signing a new oath for this term) I’m eligible; so, I could hear something next week. If I wind up not getting an assignment, though, I won’t mind skipping this one. Slow/quiet elections make the really long day feel even longer! The training – which had been scheduled for 12pm-2pm – ended early, and I was in Kohl’s by 1:30pm. 🙂 I tried on 6 tops and bought 3 of them, which is a pretty good success rate for me! I also bought two things without trying them on: an oversized thin sweatshirt, and [a men’s t-shirt with a subtle texture](https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-7324719/mens-apt-9-textured-tee.jsp) (in black). I think the latter will be good with jeans and flats when I want to dress casually but still look a little nice. All in all it was a good day, followed by a quick stop at the grocery store for something I’d forgotten last time (and I managed to forget something _else_ I needed…this is what happens when I don’t use a list!), but I was glad to finally get back home to Bailey. After dinner I finished the Lego _Star Wars_ logo: [https://i.ibb.co/jP73cKmJ/For-MMP.jpg](https://i.ibb.co/jP73cKmJ/For-MMP.jpg) It’s only 12" wide; I’m really happy with how it turned out, and how it looks on display. A bigger version of this photo, plus a display picture (00-Display-01), can be seen in my [Lego photo album](https://ibb.co/album/nqqf2q?sort=name_asc). I thought my next set would be the Sherlock Holmes book nook I pre-ordered, which will arrive at the start of June, but I just ordered a custom set from the friends who run the monthly Bricks 'n Brews events I’ve mentioned here (they design small sets, then random people meet at a local brewery to assemble them; the ticket price includes the set + one drink). In late February they had a “DC Mural” set – based on the DC flag – that I _really_ liked, but I couldn’t attend the event so I asked if I could buy the set some other way. They finally set up an e-commerce site! It should get here around the middle of the month, which will be perfect timing. Here’s the DC flag: [https://i.ibb.co/Nnk942x6/DC-Flag.png](https://i.ibb.co/Nnk942x6/DC-Flag.png) And here’s their mural (they couldn’t find matching red stars, but this is close enough): [https://i.ibb.co/ccFYZ3J0/DC-Mural-Stock.png](https://i.ibb.co/ccFYZ3J0/DC-Mural-Stock.png) > [@susan](#): > > An anthology I have a poem in will be released this weekend Very cool! 😃 > [@scareyfaerie](#): > > FB certainly makes it easier to follow other people’s lives without needing much contact, and it could be a good way to re-establish a connection. Of course, if you send a friend request and she doesn’t accept it, that’s going to tell you all you need to know. True! I think I’d be more inclined to start with an email (or FB message, if the Hotmail address I have for her doesn’t work anymore), but I do tend to overthink things and then overcommunicate. We’ll see. (The universe sure seems to want to make sure I think about this/her: I recently started re-watching an old show, and one of the main characters has the same nickname as my former friend!) > [@scareyfaerie](#): > > he’d completed 120 credits in year 1 so he will get a Certificate in Higher Education, which comes out as CertHE(Programme Title) Ahhh, gotcha! Thanks for explaining. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > nice to know at least some brain cells are still operating That’s how I feel when I can solve Connections without any wrong guesses _and_ get to Genius in the Spelling Bee on the same day. Which rarely happens. 😁 > [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Daughter is at the hospital waiting for SIL to be discharged. Oh, good!! > [@fachverwirrt](#): > > Live actors in front of the orchestra, which is unusual for a symphonic performance. A few years ago I saw a production of _Porgy & Bess_ with the National Symphony Orchestra: the cast was costumed and on stage in front of the orchestra, but there were no sets (and only minimal props). Is that the sort of thing you’re doing? > [@fachverwirrt](#): > > In other news, I paid off my car this morning. Congrats! 🎉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-you-get-a-gold-star-in-the-mmp/1017599.md?page=13)