# Puzzling Days in the MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [November 2, 2026, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335 "2026-11-02T08:31:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/21 "2026-11-02T16:34:39Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > No matter - that dog lurves me. I can’t help being so lovable… When my folks adopted a dog after years without, she was to be a companion to my mom, who was mostly homebound. Brownie had a different idea though and attached herself to Dad (he was the one who walked her and was responsible for most of her care). When they got a second dog, Gracie (Nelson’s grandmother), Dad made a point to make sure she bonded more with Mom. She outlived Mom by several years and attached herself to Dad. As for puzzles, I’ve enjoyed logic problems and cryptoquizzes , but rarely do them anymore. The closest that I come is online Mah Jong. Up, caffeinating, breakfasted, 1/3 of adulting done and fixing to do KP. After getting sheveled, I’ll take the one adulting thing to the PO to mail. Once I talked to the social security office on the phone, they pretty much told me that the online instructions were garbage and mailing the forms was the way to go. Y’all have a great day! ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/22 "2026-11-02T16:40:26Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Yes, there’s a large-ish window in the shower. Since there’s no fan, and no way to wire one, the window is the only moisture ventilation … I had an apartment with a shower window that overlooked the parking lot. It was a post-war townhouse apartment. The complex was torn down about seven years ago. [Here’s](https://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/article248707375.html) an op-ed from the Noise and Disturber morning its passing. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/23 "2026-11-02T18:20:39Z")
Evenin’ Still not much going on around here today. I took the car out for a bit of a drive because I’ve been doing lots of very short trips lately. Just went to a nearbyish village which has some interesting high street shops. I also booked in the car for its annual wellness check, cos that’s about due, cleaned out the fridge and pushed a vacuum about a bit, to get my daily adulting sticker. Basically I’m just procrastinating starting job hunting properly. I hate trying to sell make myself sound amazing; I’m not, I’m just OK, but I’ll show up and I’ll do a reasonable job of most things, and that’s all they actually want. Why aren’t I allowed to just be honest and say I need a job because I need money for beer and rat food? Why do I have to be ‘passionate’ about working for some boring company? Bah. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/24 "2026-11-02T18:37:12Z")
Tariffs: We were rather shocked after a trip to Haggen (that’s a basic Safeway/Food Lion/Aldi/Lidl–ish grocery chain) yesterday. I will be interspersing fresh food with generic pasta and bricks o’ generic cheese through new year’s. Growly cats: S-Cat grrs at one of my lovely wife’s game partners. We speculate that the friend doesn’t wash her hands after tussling with their dog. Game friend looooves kitties and feels rejected. We plan to suggest she wash her hands “with our soap, which the cat recognizes” when she’s here to play tonight. Spent my morning thus far doing writing-related tasks (transcribing, emails, lining jup contest/submission dates for November). Now I will tidy my study, a.k.a. rat’s nest. Spain travel stuff is still spread out on every surface. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/25 "2026-11-02T19:00:12Z")
It’s in the low '60s, a bit chilly, and it is supposed to rain tomorrow. Hurray! Waiting for El Nino to truly kick in. As for puzzles I do the Times puzzle everyday and the New Yorker crossword which comes out every weekday. I do both Ken-Kens also, and the 5x5 on Sunday. I’ve done the 7x7 but I have better things to do. The New Yorker puzzle site also has a puzzle called Catalogues, where you have to arrange things in some sort of order, and Laugh Lines, where you arrange old New Yorker cartoons in chronological order. I also have a bunch of puzzle books scattered about, including one of variety Sudokus and some of British cryptic puzzles. And lots more. I figure as long as I can do cryptics I don’t have to worry about my brain degrading. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/26 "2026-11-02T19:07:10Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > It was a post-war townhouse apartment. The picture reminds me of our apartment after we got married, but they were built in the mid 60s. Hard to believe that the current rent for our old apartment is approximately 3x our mortgage. > [@scareyfaerie](#): > > Do you have a favourite kind of puzzle? When I was in my teens, I had a subscription to [Games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Games_World_of_Puzzles#Games) magazine which gave me the opportunity to do a bunch of different types of puzzles, including “The World’s Most Ornery Crossword”. I gave it up in late 1980s - not enough time to do many of the puzzles. Now I only do Strands, solitaire and Mah Jong, but none of them daily. Hubby had his yearly checkup and got himself a prescription to move his butt more, as this should help with his blood pressure, in addition to his BP meds. So he’ll be going to the gym with me, starting next week or so. He also got his invite for his team’s Christmas dinner. His is in town, so it’s easy to get to. Mine? Out in the boonies near the military airport. Hopefully the food’s good - they don’t have a set menu, so I have no idea what we’ll be eating. Happy Moanday! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/27 "2026-11-02T19:25:48Z")
I’ve been puzzling for awhile about a problem. Seems like our milk products have been expiring before they should. My half & half curdled in the mug some days ago, and today, the wife said her milk had gone south. “That’s odd”, methinks, as I bought it not too long ago. Then I checked the thermostat in the fridge and it had somehow been turned all the way over to one (out of five). No telling how long that’s been like that, likely bumped over when pulling something out of the fridge. I was downstairs paying the rent and found the finance person and one other person busy covering things in her office, as water is leaking from somewhere. Sheesh. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/28 "2026-11-02T19:36:28Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I had an apartment with a shower window that overlooked the parking lot. Mine overlooks the courtyard. > [@susan](#): > > I will be interspersing fresh food with generic pasta and bricks o’ generic cheese through new year’s. Lentils are your friend here. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/29 "2026-11-02T19:55:50Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > Why aren’t I allowed to just be honest and say I need a job because I need money for beer and rat food? Apply at a bar (pub?) > [@susan](#): > > We plan to suggest she wash her hands “with our soap, which the cat recognizes” when she’s here to play tonight. That is so very tactful, and kind. > [@Chefguy](#): > > the thermostat in the fridge and it had somehow been turned all the way over to one (out of five). Wouldn’t that be too cold? I’d expect dairy to freeze, not go bad early (that’s usually “too warm” right?) > [@missred](#): > > Mine overlooks the courtyard. Mine, the backyard … and directly into the neighbor’s backyard. But sometimes I get to watch squirrels while making myself clean. * * * Found a lovely B-day card for my dad. Being one of those slightly thick cards with an extra insert, I didn’t trust just slapping a stamp on it, so I { _sigh_ } put on pants & bestirred myself to the P.O. to be sure of the proper postage. The nice lady weighed it - a bit more than a regular stamp - and told me that I did the right thing. I blurted out, “Can I get that in writing? I don’t hear that too often.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/30 "2026-11-02T19:58:18Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Wouldn’t that be too cold? I’d expect dairy to freeze, not go bad early (that’s usually “too warm” right?) “One” is the warmest setting. I moved it up to five, but will dial it back to about midway after 24 hours. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/31 "2026-11-02T20:16:41Z")
At the gym sweating and trying to extend the time here so I can get my team roster for the soccer tournament. The place is only a mile away from the gym and my house is in the opposite direction so don’t want to get home and then have to retrace my drive, besides I can stop at Mickey D’s while heading home. Actually thought ahead and brought my swim trunks with me so may do some quality soaking after sweatage is over. Will catch up with all y’all when I get home sometime after dark. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/32 "2026-11-02T20:36:45Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > But Monks is growing more suspicious of strangers as he grows up (living with a semi-hermit lady will do that) so now he’s huddled behind me, growling softly, like a dog. Buddy’s been known to growl at strangers visible outside or when someone’s at the door. Kasya saves the territorial hissy fits for other cats, humans don’t seem to bother her. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/33 "2026-11-02T21:05:43Z")
we had a trick or treat in the condo lobby. i made up 16 bags for the kidlets. i had a few left over. i gave them to some adults. i enjoyed my extra hour this weekend. i don’t change lager’s food dish so his food drops at 7 and 1 instead of 8 and 2. he does prefer the earlier time. the 7pm and 8pm bother him the most. he times them from when i get home from work. he will bug me about the 8pm. back at the office was the most physical time change. at home my clocks don’t have hand covers, and i can just tap the hour hand. at the office i have to take it down and turn the wee wheel. the one at the front desk is a lot of beeping. i prefer mad libs and word searches. if i do wordle i start with “adieu”. get those vowels. as i am a fun loving intellectual… (snort) i do have “body boggle”. it is the highfalutin version of “twister”. one spells words out, instead of colours. the mat is arranged with letter squares like a boggle game, and the cards have 4 to 8 letter words to spell out. i ran in quite the nerd herd. [1984 Body Boggle Board Game by Parker Brothers Sealed NEW FREE SHIPPING | eBay](https://www.ebay.com/itm/325654409156?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-167538-502585-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=325654409156&targetid=4580496743334354&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=94414&poi=&campaignid=605455313&mkgroupid=1230354623490197&rlsatarget=pla-4580496743334354&abcId=10276255&merchantid=51291&msclkid=f40ce5dbf3b4134f67ba8f330940ee00) ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Gordon\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_G)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/34 "2026-11-02T21:08:15Z")
[Simon Tatham’s website](https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/puzzles/) offers 40 different solitaire puzzles. FORTY! Most of the puzzles allow you to specify a difficulty level. In addition to familiar games like Solo (Sudoku), Mines, Guess, BlackBox, there are many other fun games you’re probably unfamiliar with. I like Untangle and Towers; but it is Range to which I’ve become almost addicted. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/35 "2026-11-02T21:19:36Z")
My favorite kind of puzzle is a word search (\*high-fives **rocking\_chair** \*), but these days I hardly ever do them. I play three of the online NY Times puzzles every day: Connections, Strands\[1\], and the Spelling Bee. I’ve never been a crossword person; I have a decent vocabulary, but my brain just doesn’t work with clues. I’m terrible with numbers, so I’ve never played Soduku or anything similar. And I never got into Wordle. Every now and then I’ll be in the mood for a matching game and will play Tiles, and sometimes I play the New Yorker’s Shuffalo game…even though I’m not very good at it. 🙂 Turns out WifeBFF _didn’t_ injure her foot Saturday night: she spent four hours at urgent care to learn that the pain was “just” due to osteoporosis and arthritis. She iced it and kept it elevated the rest of the day\[2\], but I haven’t checked in with her yet to see how she’s doing today because HusbandBFF got discharged a few hours ago! 🎉 Also, her oldest friend is arriving from FL (she might already be there). She’ll text me when she has the chance; I’ll ask about her foot then. I got a lot of reading done yesterday, and finished _[Miss Wolcott’s Ghost](https://www.amazon.com/Miss-Wolcotts-Ghost-Inspector-Gamache/dp/1250412595/)_. When I got to the acknowledgements, I laughed out loud and thought of @Filbert : "Now, some of you horticulturalists will have recognized the similarity in name between the fictional plant, Miss Wolcott's Ghost, and the real one, Miss Willmott's Ghost. There are other similarities besides the name, but there are also many points of departure. Hence the name change, and the fact that this is a work of fiction and imagination. Having said that, the mystery plant (and woman) at the center of this tale was definitely inspired by the real Miss Willmott and the myths that have swirled around her." I’ve been waiting for the next book in David Baldacci’s “6:20 Man” series but it doesn’t get released until the 10th, so I figured the final book in Baldacci’s “King & Maxwell” series would be appropriate filler. 🙂 I started it last night, but I don’t think I remember anything I read before falling asleep and I may need to start over. Heh. After work I’ll go to tomorrow’s polling place, to help set up for election day. Voting will be in a room I’ve never seen before – the community center’s library (vs the usual activity room) – so it’ll be interesting to see the space and determine how the “flow” will go. I’m kind of dreading the logistics of getting up very early, the super long day, etc., but once the polls open I’ll be glad I’m there. The Chief Election Officer is someone I’ve never worked with before, but the Assistant Chief is a smart guy and I know some of the other election officers. I don’t know who the other provisional specialist will be, but I hope they’re relatively sharp (🤞). * * * 1. which is _kind_ of a word search! 2. I was _not_ asked to visit HusbandBFF ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/36 "2026-11-02T22:36:01Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > i prefer mad libs I LOVE Mad Libs!!! No matter what students I’m teaching, always find room for some Mad Libs. As expected, today was chaotic. My last student was sick, though, so I get to stay home now and maybe take a nap. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/37 "2026-11-02T23:26:18Z")
There are “water sort” puzzles, where you pour different colors into tubes to empty things out - I like those. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/38 "2026-11-02T23:44:00Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I’ve never been a crossword person; I have a decent vocabulary, but my brain just doesn’t work with clues. That’s my issue with crosswords. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/39 "2026-11-02T23:52:22Z")
Back from Texas Roadhouse - we got a coupon for **FCD** ’s b-day and we decided to use it today. So we’s stuffded and ready to spend the rest of the evening digesting. Otis is doing better being left home alone. He ate and when we got back, he was sleeping in the living room. I do make sure to put my tablet and box of tissues up out of his reach. But he’s getting better. I’m hoping his separation anxiety is easing. He’s been here over a year after all. I heard back from my Navy friend Val - she’s coming to T-day dinner here. We were in training in Millington together and subsequently assigned to the same squadron in Coronado. We’ve stayed in touch on and off since I left the squadron in '76 and we’ve gotten together a few times since I moved here - she lives in Arlington, or Alexandria, one of those A places by DC. 😁 I hear my recliner calling. Laterz. Or tomorrow. Who knows. ---
**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:** [November 2, 2026, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335/40 "2026-11-02T23:58:00Z")
We have one bathroom with a shower stall and separate tub. It has 3 small windows high up, so no one can see in. It also has an enclosed WC with no windows. There’s a second bathroom with a tub/shower insert. It has no window. There’s a half-bath with no window. Those among you who are counting may have noticed that not one toilet has a window. Yeah, we had timer switches installed on all the fans when we moved in. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/puzzling-days-in-the-mmp/1034335.md?page=3)