# Tips For the Ol' Family Vacation **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 21, 2004, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432 "2004-06-21T12:41:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [June 22, 2004, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/61 "2004-06-22T22:49:25Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > Update to the black hole/bump on my back: I don’t know what it is. I was just on the way out of my office when the phone rang. It was the doctor’s office calling to cancel my appointment because my doctor went home sick. So, I now have an appointment for Thursday. **Taters** I forgot to say earlier I’m sending lots of south Jawja good vibes and prayers yer way. I got my fingers crossed for ya. I’d cross my toes too but I can’t get my shoes on when my toes are crossed. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/62 "2004-06-22T23:33:09Z")
What’s all this about rules? I thought we only had one rule: No disagreeing with Our **Welby** until _at least_ your third MMP post. (Is that like saying “ATM machine”? No, it’s different.) Oh, it’s not so much a rule as a guideline. No asking “Cite?”. We don’t do that here. We just call each other “big stinkin’ liar” until someone shows up with a link. It’s much more MMP-ish than “Cite?”. Man I hate that. Plus: South Carolina has a giant sprig of broccoli in the middle of their license plates. I can’t explain it, but that’s what I saw when I was down there. ---
**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:** [June 22, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/63 "2004-06-22T23:43:39Z")
**Rue** , darlin’ - I got my postcard today! I feel sooooooo loved! Thank you ever so! I’m kinda sorta going on vacation, but not really. I’m flying to Miami tomorrow for a site visit/training thing and I’ll get home on Friday. So it’s not really a vacation, but I get to stay in a hotel and sleep in a big bed and use a real shower. I won’t be there long enough to send any postcards, but I’ll be sending them in spirit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/64 "2004-06-23T00:29:41Z")
**Rue** , can’t we have a rule that everybody’s got to laugh at my jokes? I mean, I know everybody does laugh at my jokes, but I wanna rule. Please? Please? Pretty please? Pretty, pretty please? Pretty, pretty please with cherries and whipped cream on top? PLeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaasassssssssseeeeeeeeeee??? ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/65 "2004-06-23T00:29:45Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > Update to the black hole/bump on my back: I don’t know what it is. I was just on the way out of my office when the phone rang. It was the doctor’s office calling to cancel my appointment because my doctor went home sick. So, I now have an appointment for Thursday. Whatsamatter? Don’t those idgits understand that “unexplained epidermal growth” = “EMERGENCY?” Morons. If I were a lawyer, I’d be looking into challenging their standing with the AMA, the State Licensing Board, and Barum & Bailey’s Circus. I’d also be preparing a lawsuit against Big Tobacco, the Company Operating the Nearest Nuclear Power Plant, Big Oil, and Whoever is Responsible for the Sun. I happen to be an engineer, so I’ll probably just take a nap. Sorry. The following is just a message to my buddy: Look, **FairyChatMom**. I realize that you are really busy at your new job, and that you don’t have to rely on conjugal visits anymore on your free time, but _really_. You are now in a no-holds-barred deathmatch with me for the “Lamest Poster in the MMP” title. Seriously, in the past you have shown wit and erudition. Now it’s just “Hi, guys,” and you’re gone. This can not stand. Even if you just post once a week, I’d be thrilled if you would put a half-hour’s thought into it. It’s not like you’re lacking for material. Making fun of me, for instance. **welby** used to have a field day with that one. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/66 "2004-06-23T00:56:37Z")
> [@](#): > > Don’t those idgits understand that “unexplained epidermal growth” = “EMERGENCY?” Morons. > [@](#): > > If I were a lawyer, I’d be looking into challenging their standing with the AMA, the State Licensing Board, and Barum & Bailey’s Circus. I’d also be preparing a lawsuit against Big Tobacco, the Company Operating the Nearest Nuclear Power Plant, Big Oil, and Whoever is Responsible for the Sun. Aw, **Ex,** is that concern and sweetness for lil ol’ me? I have an appointment on Thursday, and I’m sure it’s nothing…I hope. Hah! I belong to an HMO so I can’t sue them anymore. Congress passed some stoopid law saying I can’t do that. The nearest nuclear power plant is under the appropriately named acronym “WPPSS”. Can’t sue them either, they’re broke because of a big to-do and lawsuit from the '80s. At any rate, I can’t see the point in getting all worked up about something that may be nothing. Now, if something was trying basically hatch out of there, I’d be a leeettle concerned, but so far it’s just a funny shaped black hole that has raised ridges around the side. **Kallessa-** I know I’m not “everybody” but _I_ laugh at your jokes. I don’t need no steenkin’ rules to tell me when to laugh. **Swampy,** thanks for your good Jawja vibes. They’re appreciated. Now, can you take back some of this ridiculous heat and humidity to the South, where it belongs? I’ve got to go figure out what I’m gonna make for dinner now. I think tonight is going to be a throw something together with leftovers and what’s in the pantry. I need to do some grocery shopping…now I need to be all creative and such and I’m tired. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/67 "2004-06-23T01:05:52Z")
> [@Taters](#): > > Aw, Ex, is that concern and sweetness for lil ol’ me? Yes. > [@Kallessa](#): > > Rue, can’t we have a rule that everybody’s got to laugh at my jokes? No. ---
**Author:** ![Kallessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7993a0/32.png) [@Kallessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kallessa)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/68 "2004-06-23T04:33:54Z")
> [@Kallessa](#): > > Rue, can’t we have a rule that everybody’s got to laugh at my jokes? > [@Exgineer](#): > > No. You’re not the boss of me! Nyeh, nyeh, nyeh! ---
**Author:** ![welby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/69 "2004-06-23T11:58:26Z")
> [@Kallessa](#): > > You’re not the boss of me! Nyeh, nyeh, nyeh! True, but he IS the official \*MMP Kneejerk Reactionary \* and what he says goes. Unless **Rue** changes it. Then it’s whatever **Rue** says. Or **Fairy Chat Mom**. I think that’s the Order of Battle. But I might be wrong. We’ll have to ask **Rue**. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/70 "2004-06-23T12:18:43Z")
Sorry **Kalley** , you can’t have a rule on that. Deep in my heart I’m an Anarchist and don’t much care for rules. (I’ve hidden that from everyone so far, right?) But I will _strongly recomend_ people laugh. All the time. I _strongly recomend_ if anyone has the choice of laughing at your hi-larious jokes, or say breathing, go with the laughing. No one ever said “breathing is the best medicine” now did they? Although… if you tell me more about these cherries and whipped cream we’ll see what we can do. Ewwwww! What if **Taters** growth thing is an _eye_? But it’s not. I think it’s just a chocolate chip from a chocolate chip ice cream cone she ate one time that got stuck back there. You get too enthusiatic with your ice cream and you never know what’s gonna happen. Oh, and **Ex** : I hope you’re happy with yourself. You yapping on and on about the lurkers reading and not posting scared them all away. The post count is back down to a pretty normal 10 to 1 ratio. But on the upside **lainaf** is playing along. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/71 "2004-06-23T12:44:28Z")
Ok, maybe I shouldn’t say it’s a rule that **Kalley** gets all the brawny men and I get all the burly ones. I’ll just say that **Kalley** calls dibs on all the brawny men and I call dibs on all the burly men. How’s that? Callin’ dibs ain’t like making a rule. I hope **FairyChatMom** at least gets to go somewhere real good for dinner one night. That’s a perk where I work. If you gotta travel for work you get to have one really good dinner at a really good restaurant and spend a whole bunch of money doing it. Well, within reason, anyway. The rest of the time, eat normal. The reasoning is if you have to travel away from home because of work you get a treat. Neat, huh? I **really, really** want some Bananas Foster but don’t want to make it. Heck, I don’t know how to make it. Maybe they have it at the Plantation Grille. That’s the name of a fancy restaurant here. I’d probably have a better chance of getting Bananas Foster there than at Dairy Queen. -swampbear (who is Foster and what’s he got to do with bananas anyway?) ---
**Author:** ![earthpuppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8c91f0/32.png) [@earthpuppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/earthpuppy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/72 "2004-06-23T12:58:50Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > I **really, really** want some Bananas Foster but don’t want to make it. Heck, I don’t know how to make it. Maybe they have it at the Plantation Grille. That’s the name of a fancy restaurant here. I’d probably have a better chance of getting Bananas Foster there than at Dairy Queen. > > -swampbear (who is Foster and what’s he got to do with bananas anyway?) As a matter of fact (or maybe not fact, but these folks seem to think it is) [here’s](http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/recipes/recipes_brennans.html) some info and a recipe for bananas foster. ---
**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:** [June 23, 2004, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/73 "2004-06-23T13:12:36Z")
> [@earthpuppy](#): > > As a matter of fact (or maybe not fact, but these folks seem to think it is) [here’s](http://www.neworleansrestaurants.com/recipes/recipes_brennans.html) some info and a recipe for bananas foster. **WOOHOO!!** Thanks **earthpuppy** , I could make that. Know what else? I do believe we could use **Ex’s** oxy-acetylene torch to make bananas foster for desert after we roast hotdogs and marshmallows in **Kalley’s** driveway. It’d be fun! ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/74 "2004-06-23T13:21:57Z")
> [@Rue DeDay](#): > > Oh, and **Ex** : I hope you’re happy with yourself. You yapping on and on about the lurkers reading and not posting scared them all away. I’m friggin’ thrilled. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/75 "2004-06-23T14:01:43Z")
It might be saying something about my state of mind, but **Ex** , you make me laugh. OK, I wasn’t spewing my drink all over the monitor, but I laughed loud enough to get my dog’s attention. And she was sacked out on the couch at the time. Did you squint your eyes a little when you typed that? I read it like you did to enhance the sarcasm. Dibs ain’t rules, so you an’ **Kalley** are Jake **Swampy**. You can put your dibbie down on anything you want. Whether anyone pays attention is up to them. The “Move Your Meat Lose Your Seat” rule is in full effect. ---
**Author:** ![earthpuppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8c91f0/32.png) [@earthpuppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/earthpuppy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/76 "2004-06-23T14:11:08Z")
speaking of missing MMP’ers, where the heck is **Shibb**? I sure do miss him…is he too busy with his new business endeavor? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/77 "2004-06-23T14:14:10Z")
I’m so sorry I wasn’t here for the Great Ear Gunk conversation. Of course, I still got to _read_ it, but I wasn’t in the thick of things, which would have enhanced the ear-gunk experience. Good reading though. Kinda like that TMI thread from a couple years ago, what with all the exploding pimples and such. I think I picture **Ex** with perpetually squinty eyes. 😉 ---
**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:** [June 23, 2004, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/78 "2004-06-23T14:15:28Z")
I dunno, **Ex**. I always figured _I_ was in the running for Lamest Poster. I don’t generally contribute anything but nattering about cats and housework. I can, however, say that today I’m wearing a shirt that says “Sell Your Soul For A Cookie?” It’s a great shirt. I think I’ll wear it to work. Sometimes I talk about food, too. I like food. Especially deep fried. I’m not really allowed to deep fry things at home because Mr. Lissar disapproves of experimental deep-frying. I don’t understand that- the popsicle was a **great** idea! I don’t get dibs on any men? ---
**Author:** ![earthpuppy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8c91f0/32.png) [@earthpuppy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/earthpuppy)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/79 "2004-06-23T14:24:44Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > I can, however, say that today I’m wearing a shirt that says “Sell Your Soul For A Cookie?” > > It’s a great shirt. I think I’ll wear it to work. I bought a funny t-shirt yesterday that has what looks like a red and white sticky name badge on the front that says: HELLO MY NAME IS [FONT=Verdana]High Maintenance[/FONT] ---
**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:** [June 23, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432/80 "2004-06-23T14:46:43Z")
I forgot about the “Move Your Meat Lose Your Seat” rule. We oughta keep that one. I vote that if we ever do have a MMPfest, **Lissla** and **earthpuppy** have to wear their funny tshirts. Everybody else can come shirtless for all I care. I wanna see the funny tshirts. **Ex** ya coulda made your post funnier by doing this: _I’m_ **friggin’** _ **thrilled.** _ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tips-for-the-ol-family-vacation/251432.md?page=5)