# Auld Lang Sighin' (January mini-rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2025, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421 "2025-01-01T05:10:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/321 "2025-01-30T02:47:45Z")
Two Mii Rants #1 I went to the pharnacy to pick up my lithium. While there, I asked the pharmacist when my Qelbree would be ready. She said it needed prior authorization. She seemed to think that explained everything. It didn’t. I asked whether the pharmacy would call my dotor about this or if I neeeded to call my doctor. She did not understand. I explained things. She said I needed to call my doctor. I left a message with my doctor while I was outside waiting for the trolley. I double checked the text I had received yesterday. It said that my prescription starting with QE may be delayed to get insurance approval. We will notify you when ready. It did not say ‘You need to contact your doctor to concerning this prescription’ or anything suggesting that. If it had said that, I would have called my doctor yesterday and possibly had Qelbree to take tonight. I also bought groceries tonight. While I was putting them away, I heard loud and repeated squeeaking from behind the oven. I had not heard or seen rodents or any evidence of rodents since I got back home this Saturday. I was hoping they were gone. I will put put traps again tonight before going to bed. Sigh ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/322 "2025-01-30T03:18:45Z")
Two things about using your garage as a fridge: 1. Given the temperatures you quote, won’t you have trouble with liquids freezing? And thus shattering their bottles/bursting their can’s seals? 2. What will keep your little squeaky guests from discovering your new, more rodent-accessible food supply out there? I foresee problems. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/323 "2025-01-30T07:03:30Z")
I think it was @wolfpup that posted about the refrigerator-garage and @DocCathode with the squeaky guests. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/324 "2025-01-30T07:24:05Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > a dozen eggs, Won’t the eggs freeze? ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/325 "2025-01-30T07:57:34Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > But there’s always a bright side. I love the convenience of using the garage as a fridge, avoiding clutter in the actual refrigerator. I currently have in the garage: two cases of bottled water, three cases of Coke Zero, a dozen eggs, a bottle of white wine, a large pizza, and, needless to say, two large vats of clamato juice for Caesars! The garage is beginning to look like a grocery store which for some reason has a car in it. It will be a tough adjustment when the weather warms up. Hope your car isn’t leaking any fluids. Otherwise, you’ll have to holler, “Cleanup on Aisle Three!” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/326 "2025-01-30T08:16:13Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Two things about using your garage as a fridge: > > 1. Given the temperatures you quote, won’t you have trouble with liquids freezing? And thus shattering their bottles/bursting their can’s seals? You might think so, but it doesn’t happen. It’s an attached garage, with two inside walls and a second floor over the top. The inside walls are insulated but still leak heat, and there’s a door into the kitchen that leaks even more heat. The stuff I keep in the garage is on shelves on the wall siding on the kitchen. In nearly fifteen years of living here, nothing there has ever frozen. I can even put some numbers on it. When I got in the car today the car thermometer said 4°C. After being outside for awhile it eventually registered the outdoor temperature, at that time -7°C. > [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > What will keep your little squeaky guests from discovering your new, more rodent-accessible food supply out there? That is indeed always a risk. Most of the stuff I usually keep out there is bottles and similar stuff that won’t attract the interest of rodents. Whenever there’s a rodent-vulnerable foodstuff out there, I always check the packaging carefully when I bring it back in. So far no issues. But I know field mice are out there – there was one in the barbecue last summer when I was trying to light it! It got the hell out pretty quick! > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Won’t the eggs freeze? No, see above. Actually I have to be careful with perishables because there’s a risk it may become too warm in there. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/327 "2025-01-30T08:45:28Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > But I know field mice are out there – there was one in the barbecue last summer when I was trying to light it! It got the hell out pretty quick! Too late to edit, but I should add that one of the features of this neighbourhood is that we have Patrol Cats. I see one on occasion keeping an eye out on things as it trots across the top of the fences. To the uninitiated, it appears as just a cat having happy cat thoughts as it prances along, but in reality the Patrol Cat is constantly on high alert for field mice, and woe is the mouse who dares appear within a mile of this feline maintainer of Law & Order and exterminator of Evil. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/328 "2025-01-30T13:51:05Z")
Got up to click the heat OFF (it’s in the 20s outside, but I was starting to overheat) because why stay asleep more than four hours in a row? Upon standing, my back went “_Kerchunk._” Shuffled to the thermostat, thought to myself, “Eh, might as well pee while I’m up,” and congratulated myself on my own foresight & wisdom as I crone-waddled to the potty while holding my lower back. Made a horrid groaning-grunt sound as I sat, and then it dawned on me. **My gawds. I am getting old.** Not recommended. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/329 "2025-01-30T13:59:29Z")
The snow has finally mostly melted. I took a walk, stepped in a puddle that was actually ice with a sheen of water on top. Down I go. Wrist really hurts, off to the doctor. X-rays show displaced ulnar and radius wrist fractures. Ortho tomorrow, assumption is surgery with pins. This message courtesy of my non-dominant left hand, which shows few signs of getting smarter, but I guess we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/330 "2025-01-30T14:32:50Z")
Sorry for conflating the names! I am nervous about storing food in the garage. We had a crack develop in the cement floor, and one side dropped a little where it went under the door. Nothing much, maybe a half inch?, so we thought it wasn’t something to worry about urgently. We learned differently. Mice inside the car, mice chewing on things you would never think mice would want to eat, mice even managing to chew their way into never-opened plastic jars. Would you believe mice can almost completely empty an entire jar of peanut butter through a hole you’d think was smaller than their head? ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/331 "2025-01-30T14:36:00Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Upon standing, my back went “_Kerchunk._” Shuffled to the thermostat, thought to myself, “Eh, might as well pee while I’m up,” and congratulated myself on my own foresight & wisdom as I crone-waddled to the potty while holding my lower back. > > Made a horrid groaning-grunt sound as I sat, and then it dawned on me. Crone waddling has now entered my daily vocabulary. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/332 "2025-01-30T15:58:21Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > Ortho tomorrow, assumption is surgery with pins. Ugh. I had a similar injury last February, crashed on a mountain bike and basically crushed the end of the radius. I had the surgery, and the rod and pins were in for four months. Then another four months of physical therapy. I had almost zero range of motion after the rod was removed, but regained most of it (not all) after PT. Longest recovery from a broken bone I ever had. ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/333 "2025-01-30T19:22:00Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > To the uninitiated, it appears as just a cat having happy cat thoughts as it prances along, but in reality the Patrol Cat is constantly on high alert for field mice, and woe is the mouse who dares appear within a mile of this feline maintainer of Law & Order and exterminator of Evil. Finding a mouse to hunt down would BE a happy cat thought. 🙂 > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Made a horrid groaning-grunt sound as I sat, and then it dawned on me. > > **My gawds. I am getting old.** > > Not recommended. I’ve been saying that for years now. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/334 "2025-01-30T19:41:57Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Made a horrid groaning-grunt sound as I sat, and then it dawned on me. > > **My gawds. I am getting old.** > > Not recommended. Oh? Noted, I guess. Hey, as long as I’ve got you here, what do you recommend doing instead? ---
**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:** [January 30, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/335 "2025-01-30T19:46:56Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > what do you recommend doing instead? When I figure that one out, you’ll be the first to know. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2025, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/336 "2025-01-30T22:12:44Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Made a horrid groaning-grunt sound as I sat, and then it dawned on me. > > **My gawds. I am getting old.** > > Not recommended. I’ve caught myself making odd grunting sounds when doing things like (1) getting in the car, or (2) getting out of the car, or even (3) carrying stuff upstairs on a tray, which tray is now used whenever there is more than one item (such as coffee + bagel) so that I can hold the tray with one hand and the banister with the other one. > [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > I am nervous about storing food in the garage. We had a crack develop in the cement floor, and one side dropped a little where it went under the door. Nothing much, maybe a half inch?, so we thought it wasn’t something to worry about urgently. > > We learned differently. Mice inside the car, mice chewing on things you would never think mice would want to eat, mice even managing to chew their way into never-opened plastic jars. Would you believe mice can almost completely empty an entire jar of peanut butter through a hole you’d think was smaller than their head? Yikes! 😲 I mean in reference to the destruction wrought by mousies! Yes, I’m aware that they can somehow squeeze their little rodent bodies through amazingly tiny crevices. There may well be sufficient space around the garage door to let the little buggers in, simply because a garage door isn’t designed to be weather-tight. I hope not. Anyway, my pizza appears to have survived the night – the box is still intact and untouched by mousies. Pizza is going in the oven in a couple of hours and, not to push my luck, the leftovers are going in the fridge. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2025, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/337 "2025-01-31T02:54:05Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > my pizza appears to have survived the night – the box is still intact and untouched by mousies. Pizza is going in the oven in a couple of hours { _sniff_ } Is that the smell of crispy squeeckies? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/338 "2025-01-31T12:47:21Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’ve caught myself making odd grunting sounds when doing things Got in trouble when my wife asked me to do something, and I made an old man noise hoisting myself out of my chair, which she took as annoyance at being asked to do a reasonable task. ---
**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:** [January 31, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/339 "2025-01-31T14:24:11Z")
6 hours of pay gone. Just like that. The nix shampoo, the laundry money, the spray to keep them away. I didn’t expect this, second time in my life it happened. Great timing. At least my church will help me with t.p. I will never be solvent. Must be my fate. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2025, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421/340 "2025-01-31T14:37:53Z")
> [@SuntanLotion](#): > > I will never be solvent. > Must be my fate. I felt that way for at least fifteen years. Things can get better. I was in collge. The future was bright. Then, my medications stopped working. I was unable to continue at college. I was unable to work. I spent the majority of my time sleeping. My friends went on to get degrees, great jobs, get marrie and have kids. With great effort, I was able to achieve things like changing my clothes and showering every frew days. Eventually, I learned better coping skills and finally found a mix of pills that worked. I no longer need foodstamps. I am no longer on social security disability. I have a full time, conventional job at conventional company. I have been romantically involved with a wonderfuul woman for about ten years now. Things can get better. Cliche though it is, hang in there and don’t give up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/auld-lang-sighin-january-mini-rants/1012421.md?page=18)