# The seeds of summer to come--A February MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [February 2, 2009, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095 "2009-02-02T06:55:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/181 "2009-02-06T11:36:40Z")
> [@HazelNutCoffee](#): > > :: falls over laughing :: > > Budgie smugglers. :: snort :: > > What do y’all think about gift certificates? I’m trying to decide what to do for Valentine’s (we’re doing it Korean style, which means Valentine’s Day is for the guys, and the girls get White Day in March) and I know he’s been wanting art to put up on his walls, but I’m afraid to pick something out myself in case he doesn’t like it. I was thinking about getting a certificate from [art.com](http://art.com) so he can get something to his taste, but maybe gift certificates are too impersonal for Valentine’s Day gifts? If you’ve been in his apartment, and you have a good sense of his decor, get him something that will blend or compliment it. Abstracts are always nice, as long as they’re not too avant garde. Sceneries are tough - you could end up getting a mountain/forest scene for a beach/ocean sort of guy (or vice versa). Forget still lifes. Do you have a nice photo of him? Is there a place near you that can convert the photo to a canvas? ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/182 "2009-02-06T11:55:45Z")
Well, he’s a huge motorcycle/car racing geek, and he’s already said he’d like to put up some vintage posters or photos on the wall. So that does narrow it down. I’m fairly sure I could pick something he would like, but I’m just debating whether a gift certificate would be safer, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/183 "2009-02-06T13:24:18Z")
Blurf. So unmotivated this morning that I missed my bus (it whizzed on by a couple of minutes ago, while I was still putting on my shoes)… guess I’ll grab the 8:30am. Thank Og it’s Firday! ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/184 "2009-02-06T13:32:48Z")
> [@Mahna\_Mahna](#): > > Thank Og it’s Firday! I tremble at the thought, for [del]I have[/del] the wife has big home improvement plans this weekend. I have to take out my one and only terlet, cut out and replace the rotten plywood it sat upon, and it the process move the drain pipe about an inch forward so the tank of the new terlet doesn’t leak. I figure that’s about 3 hours of work during which time we won’t have a functioning shitter. Og, I hope nobody gets the flu or food poisoning until this chore is complete. Anyone want pictures of the home improvement carnage and aftermath? Oh, and bambilance duty tonight. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/185 "2009-02-06T13:48:04Z")
[More hot koalas!](http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607,5037290-5014156,00.html) I would gladly live in a place where 95% of the wildlife is actively trying to kill me just so I could have koalas in my yard! Oh god, Valentine’s day is next week? Where’s my flamethrower? Of all the useless frickin’ holidays… ---
**Author:** ![criminey.jicket](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@criminey.jicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/criminey.jicket)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/186 "2009-02-06T14:03:15Z")
Ninety more minutes until the lab opens and my 12-hour fasting blood test taken. Ninety-five more minutes until I’m slurping unleaded deliciousness. ::hides behind **Bernie** and pouts:: ---
**Author:** ![mmouse9799](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mmouse9799](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmouse9799)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/187 "2009-02-06T14:04:15Z")
**Firday!** That’s all the energy I have this morning. Glad that Bernie’s coming home, **FCM** Glad that Gordie and Thrak are getting along well, **Doggio** Got one Ravelry contact! Woo Hoo ^5 **GT** ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/188 "2009-02-06T14:06:48Z")
Chome obf our cowo’okes wen’ ou’ do eat and brought back liddle cakes. I’z eating Garfield cake right 'ow. 'scuse the need for a cake-english dikshonaggy… ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/189 "2009-02-06T14:17:00Z")
FIRDAY! Wee! That means only two weeks 'til my winter vacation. Sweet. Still sleep deprived, but Firdays are the days when it doesn’t matter 'cos I can sleep in tomorrow. I really do have to make a point of going to bed earlier though. Much as I’m the sort of person who tends to fill every empty moment and pack every day with _something_ productive or entertaining, the benefits of a clearer mind and greater energy obtained from an extra hour or two of sleep are much greater. I always learn these things too late. **VBob** - Bambilance? When did you become a vet? **Mahna[sup]2[/sup]** - I hate missing buses in the winter. I tend to rigorously maintain a particular schedule to and from work in order to make sure that I catch the bus I’m aiming for. This has been particularly true this past week, 'cos I don’t wanna spend any more time than is absolutely necessary in temperatures cold enough to freeze dogs to trees mid-stream. **Hank** - Budgie smuggler, plum smuggler, grape smuggler, banana hammock, slug hugger, schwing sling… **Swampus** - BERNIE IS NOT ALLOWED IN MY PANTS. But I am happy to see you just the same. **Nava** - In fact, the ficus is a genus that encompasses over 800 species of woody plants from vines and shrubs to big ol’ trees – most notably, the humble fig. Fig trees, while providing most excellent concealment, are nevertheless a bit too large and cumbersome to be portable. Also, if Hollywood is to be believed, someone moving around covertly behind a shrubbery is much more believable (not to mention amusing) than someone moving around covertly behind an entire tree. Fig leaves, however, are a popular covering for the lower genitalia. **sturmhauke** - Ooh! That sounds delish. For the benefit of us northerners, however, what’s Old Bay seasoning? **Smartie** - Did I call you sir, madam? Terribly sorry, yes, I _was_ rather punchy last night. That’s still no reason to accuse me of abusing my bush, though. Back to work, dangit. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/190 "2009-02-06T14:24:25Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > [More hot koalas!](http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607,5037290-5014156,00.html) I would gladly live in a place where 95% of the wildlife is actively trying to kill me just so I could have koalas in my yard! Denizens of Oz, a question: What do koalas do, except for soaking up all available instances of Teh Keeeey-ute, and clearing the environment of eucalyptus leaves? > [@](#): > > Oh god, Valentine’s day is next week? Where’s my flamethrower? Of all the useless frickin’ holidays… Not entirely useless. It keeps Hallmark going, which in turn keeps International Paper in business, etc., on down to the pharmaceutical companies that make all those OTC anti-nausea medications. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/191 "2009-02-06T14:24:58Z")
Garfield cake has been eaten. I have a feeling that I should burp, in honor of Garfield, but I don’t know how to give myself gas. **Mork** , I pictured you giving that little lecture on ficuses in front of one of those green blackboards, wearing a mortarboard cap and a black robe. It just sounded sooooo scholarly. Since you’re feeling so collegiate, maybe you can assist me with a vocabulary doubt triggered by your informative paragraph. Fig trees provide two different kinds of fruit (well, at least Spanish fig trees do): the same tree gives, at different times during the year, “higos,” which have a green skin, and “brevas,” whose skin is black. Do American fig trees also display such a behaviour? If so, what would the two fruits be called? I’m afraid m-w refuses to understand “breva” and none of the Spanish-English dictionaries I’ve ever consulted had an answer either. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/192 "2009-02-06T14:26:01Z")
> [@Mindfield](#): > > **VBob** - Bambilance? When did you become a vet? I didn’t. So named for all those deer I’ve run over on the way to little old ladies having heart attacks. ---
**Author:** ![Tupug\_Anachi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@Tupug\_Anachi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tupug_Anachi)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/193 "2009-02-06T14:29:28Z")
**MORK!!!** We missed ya! 🙂 **fcm** , I am so glad poor Bernie is going to be okay. It so hard to see them get old. ☹ **bobbio** , don’t be putting any deer in the back of that thing. (The vehicle…not the terlit.) **stuie** , that recipe sounds nummy. Oh, and **mork** , [Old Bay](http://www.oldbay.com/) is a seasoning you add to various seafood recipies, including the water for burlin srimps and crabs and such. Check the spice section in your grocery. Colder than shite once again this morning but this should be the end of it. We’re hoping for 70 by tomorrow. **haze** , I am all for gift certificates as a general rule but in this instance, I think you should purchase something. You have good taste and already have an idea what he likes. Go for it! Happy Firday to all. Tupug ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/194 "2009-02-06T14:37:41Z")
Tell Bernie to quit scaring me, **FCM**. And scritch her for me. Woo! Snow! Looks like only an inch or so, but it’s still snowing, I think, though it’s not quite light enough for me to really be able to see it well. We need it. ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/195 "2009-02-06T14:40:17Z")
> [@VunderBob](#): > > Denizens of Oz, a question: What do koalas do, except for soaking up all available instances of Teh Keeeey-ute, and clearing the environment of eucalyptus leaves? Not much, to be honest. If you had ever held one, you wouldn’t think they were quite so cute - even when they’re dry, they smell like wet dog! ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/196 "2009-02-06T14:40:34Z")
Those koalas are CUUUUUTE! The [big kitties licking ice blocks](http://www.news.com.au/gallery/0,23607,5037216-5014156,00.html) are pretty funny too. Hey **MindDude**! Welcome back. Sleep is good. Glad Bernie (the dog, not the ficus) is doing ok, **FCM**. TGIFirday!! ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/197 "2009-02-06T14:42:27Z")
> [@Dottygumdrop](#): > > Not much, to be honest. If you had ever held one, you wouldn’t think they were quite so cute - even when they’re dry, they smell like wet dog! I’ve been within 12 feet of a live one. They smell like a wet dog that’s eaten an entire box of cough drops. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/198 "2009-02-06T14:47:50Z")
WOOOOOO! GOT MY REFUNDS! Koalas are damn cute even if they stink (which I have heard but haven’t actually experienced). I’m glad people are getting water to the ones that wander by. I don’t get koalas wandering by. I’m jealous! ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/199 "2009-02-06T14:51:29Z")
Started feeling better about two. I feel okay now. I think I had a random mild fever. Weird. Shaking, chills, pain. Annoying. Most unfortunately, Valentine’s Day is Mr. Lissar’s birthday. He hates it. There’s always sort of fraught feeling about whether we’re going to try to celebrate it. He hates Valentine’s Day. ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095/200 "2009-02-06T15:10:00Z")
**Mindy** , I try to do that too, but sometimes it seems that the TTC has it in for me. Like today, for example… the 8:30am bus zipped by at 8:24am, just as I was locking up the front door. Aaaaargh. Having a bus stop just at the end of the block is both blessing and curse on days like this. Anyway, I ended up taking an alternate route that involved getting packed in like a sardine in a tin can, but at least it got me to work more or less on time. **LiLi** , why not just do something special but that isn’t necessarily romantical or even slightly v-day related? Drop off Gnat with the grandparents (who I’m sure will enjoy the opportunity to spoil him silly) and spend the day doing something both of you enjoy but haven’t had the chance to do since kidlet came along. **Haze** , skip safe and pick out something you think he might like (there are tons of vintage motorcycle and car prints on [art.com](http://art.com), so there’s got to be at least one that’s perfect). Save the GCs for when you’ve been together forever and have run out of cool gift ideas. 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-seeds-of-summer-to-come-a-february-mmp/484095.md?page=11)