# Deviated September (Monthly Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [September 1, 2026, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738 "2026-09-01T08:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/41 "2026-09-01T21:46:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Why do you ever take it out? 1. I don’t use the same luggage for every trip. 2. Bathroom items are **consumables** , and therefore get consumed and have to be replaced. I refill my little travel shampoo bottles and mouthwash bottles since even after a week trip they’re depleted a noticeable amount. 3. I don’t use the same items over and over for decades. For example, I recently started using a new aftershave cream that helps prevent razor burn and feels nice. I also switched deodorants to an aluminum-free one that doesn’t create permanent pit stains that ruin good shirts. (Both of those items were in the bag I didn’t pack.) ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/42 "2026-09-01T21:50:36Z")
I was hoping to just come home today and have a quiet little moment of relaxation. But my husband had to go to urgent care because of a respiratory issue that hasn’t resolved, so I’m on child care duty for the entire rest of the night despite absolute exhaustion. Not only that but he won’t be feeling well enough to do anything relaxing. So just another example of how relentless life is and has been for way too long, for both of us. I can’t get one fucking night to myself. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/43 "2026-09-02T14:29:24Z")
Last year due to a change in Social Security rules regarding survivor benefits payable to retired Federal employees I became entitled to benefits on my late wife’s Social Security account. Benefits were payable retroactive to September 2024, so I should have received something on the order of $10,000.00 in back benefits. However, for some reason my back benefits were applied to Medicare premiums dating back to August 2017, when I had first become eligible. I had been paying my premiums on a quarterly basis (rather than having them withheld from my Federal pension) but of course when I became eligible to Social Security benefits the premiums started being deducted from my monthly payments. Last May I spoke to someone at the Medicare office who confirmed that since I had been making quarterly payments I should not have been charged for the premiums I had already paid, and that a notice would be sent to the Soc Sec Payment center to confirm this and get me a refund of the benefits incorrectly withheld.. However, for the past year I have made repeated calls to Social Security asking about when I would receive these back benefits. Every time I was told that a message would be sent to the payment center for a review. Two months ago the agent I spoke to confirmed that based on her review of my records I was definitely due about $10,000.00, and that (again) a message would be sent to the payment center for action and I should receive something from them within 60 days. I called again today and was given the same story, except this time I should receive a response in two to three days. We shall see. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/44 "2026-09-02T16:15:30Z")
Big surprise, the narrative section I requested help with was not only not completed today, it was not even started yet, and the leadership member I assigned it to dumped it on someone else without warning, which I’m very pissed off about. It makes me look like I don’t respect people’s time. It also sets me back in my ability to edit said narrative because I had to give this person additional time and because I’ll have to flesh it out myself. I have not been able to hide my irritation lately. I’m not sure I should. I just want this to be over. Having to do all this extra work is going to interfere with my son’s special day on Saturday. He’s having a party for a stuffed racecar. It’s a lot more important than it sounds. He’s been looking forward to it all year. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2026, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/45 "2026-09-02T20:05:24Z")
Quoting myself from last month’s minirants for context > [@August Wrong! (Monthly Mini-Rants)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/august-wrong-monthly-mini-rants/1032078/239): > > I somehow cracked my phone screen, think I sat on something while it was in my pocket, which means the event i was working at the past couple of day was essentially volunteer work as the paycheck will go towards a new phone instead of _anything_ worthwhile 😡 + the work to set it up for new phone, too Last night I finally had the opportunity to finalize my research & figure out which phone I wanted (Pixel 10 series)…& it appears that Google doesn’t have any in stock; guessing they discontinued it because the 11 is already out, but it’s not much of an improvement for more $. BustBuy _may_ have them online but not in local store & I was hoping to do the switchover this weekend but eff them; especially if I need to get it online from them so that leaves me with either ebay for a 10 or get an 11 from Google; either way, I don’t think I’ll have it for this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/46 "2026-09-03T16:57:14Z")
Fuck I just want this to be over. My husband is sick as a dog so everything child related has fallen on me for several days. I’m in the basement trying to finish this fucking grant but I’m missing huge pieces of it until COB today. It’s way too fucking long… going on 40 pages. And it’s not even done. This grant has been an absolute nightmare. I’m starting to get genuinely depressed about it. Who the fuck makes a federal grant deadline the day after Labor Day? My holiday weekend is shot. Weather is crazy as fuck. I ordered pizza and the rain and storms were supposed to stop but now some delivery guy is getting rained on and I feel like utter shit about it. (Update: I gave him a $20.) I’ve been meditating 10-15 minutes a day so trying to consider I’d be freaking out even more if it weren’t for that. Sometimes life just sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/47 "2026-09-03T19:29:38Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > so that leaves me with either ebay for a 10 or get an 11 from Google; The 11 came out in Aug, just a couple of weeks ago. Ordering one online directly from google is a 3-4 week ETA. WTH, this is one of your flagship products! Anyone know of a good, reputable online source to get a Pixel 10 Pro or 11 Pro? otherwise, it’s gonna be ebay unless I decide take a trip thru NYC to go to one of their two stores in the US (Manhattan & Brooklyn, only a couple of miles apart) ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/48 "2026-09-03T21:27:03Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > (Update: I gave him a $20.) As a former pizza driver, I can guarantee that you made his day. I sympathize with everything else about your situation, but don’t feel bad about the pizza guy. He was going to be out in the rain anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2026, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/49 "2026-09-03T22:00:26Z")
He was really nice even before I gave him money. It’s been wild weather though. We had three tornado warnings. They had to send all the kids back to school who were on the buses. Part of my cranky is I was awakened every hour last night by thunderstorms. It’s been non-stop going on 24 hours. Weird. I’m feeling marginally better but there is much work ahead. I’m guessing another whole day on the narrative, a full day on the budget narrative, and a full day putting the fucking thing together. That will take me through Sunday evening. If I’m lucky. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/50 "2026-09-04T00:31:08Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Anyone know of a good, reputable online source to get a Pixel 10 Pro or 11 Pro? Have you tried Amazon? My very first Pixel bricked itself and I needed a new phone rightawayquick because my workplace had decided to do 2FA, which forced most of us lowly staff who didn’t rate getting a phone through work to use our personal devices for this. A new Pixel through Google Fi (which is my cell provider) would have taken 2 weeks. I got one via Amazon in something like 3 or 4 days. Currently they are saying delivery on September 7 for a 10 Pro. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/51 "2026-09-04T02:39:26Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Have you tried Amazon? Amazon sells an 11 Pro fully unlocked starting around $1,000. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/52 "2026-09-04T03:00:47Z")
> [@romansperson](#): > > Have you tried Amazon? Amazon is my seller of _last_ resort. Ebay has 'em, too; just need to wade in a bit as some sellers want _waaay_ more than MSRP & some want more for a certain color, as in a couple of hundred more, which actually boggles my mind because the very first thing I do with a new phone is put it in a [case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6983), as in, not take it out of the box & set it up until I have a case to put it into so I have no idea what color is on the back. My preference is kickstand cases, which tend to be a bit thicker, too. I was thinking about a regular retailer, a camera or electronics store? (B&H & only sells accessories, not the phone itself.) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/53 "2026-09-04T03:07:00Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > the very first thing I do with a new phone is put it in a [case](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polls-only-no-discussion/953642/6983), as in, not take it out of the box & set it up until I have a case to put it into so I have no idea what color is on the back. My preference is kickstand cases, which tend to be a bit thicker, too. I do all of that too. Currently using a kickstand case right now. My phone goes immediately from box to case. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2026, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/54 "2026-09-04T04:13:22Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I’ve been meditating 10-15 minutes a day so trying to consider I’d be freaking out even more if it weren’t for that. > > Sometimes life just sucks. You sound like you’re extremely over-stressed. If meditation works for you, by all means go for it. It’s certainly the healthier, natural recourse. My own approach to high stress is not meditation, it’s medication. In a period of my life when I was under high stress I fortunately had a doctor who quite liberally prescribed diazepam (Valium) which is currently out of fashion and frowned upon, but it’s still available and there are alternatives. There’s nothing wrong with pharmaceuticals that reduce stress when prescribed by your doctor. Just saying. At one point in my life I was stressed out beyond belief but after 10 mg of Valium it was like the waters of Lethe were washing over me on the plains of Elysium. One has to be extremely careful with drug-induced stress relief, but it does help you get over a hump if necessary. Any kind of drug is risky and unhealthy, but honestly, stress can be a real killer, too. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/55 "2026-09-04T05:31:22Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > There’s nothing wrong with pharmaceuticals that reduce stress when prescribed by your doctor. Just saying. > **[More than a million older Americans take benzodiazepines long-term. Here is...](https://www.uab.edu/reporter/research-innovation/more-than-a-million-older-americans-take-benzodiazepines-long-term-here-is-why-doctors-want-them-to-stop-and-how-a-uab-psychiatrist-approaches-the-conversation)** > > A UAB psychiatrist explains how he helps patients taper off benzodiazepines. > **[Benzos for a bad time - Valium, Xanax and Other 'Benzo' Drug Problems](https://www.healthline.com/health-news/the-other-prescription-drug-problem-benzos#Benzos-for-a-bad-time)** > > While the nation has focused on opioid addiction, experts tell Healthline that benzodiazepines such as Ativan can also be addictive and dangerous. Just saying. The opioid crisis also came from prescriptions. It’s not that it’s never good, but you have to be very careful. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2026, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/56 "2026-09-04T11:13:32Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The opioid crisis also came from prescriptions. > > It’s not that it’s never good, but you have to be very careful. I agree. Just sharing an anecdote that could potentially be helpful. Benzodiazepines are a very broad category of drugs with widely differing risks and benefits. Opiates are something entirely different, and except where absolutely medically essential, are generally a curse on humanity. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/57 "2026-09-04T18:25:42Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Just sharing an anecdote that could potentially be helpful. Benzodiazepines are a very broad category of drugs with widely differing risks and benefits. I have Ativan as-needed, and I take a half-dozen medications every day, so I’m good and stocked up, but I appreciate the thought. Current stress management technique: Mint Oreo ice cream sandwiches. I can forsee a time in my life, maybe the end of next week, when I won’t feel stressed, but it will feel like a small eternity until I get there. I spent the day with Claude trying to figure out how to cut 16 pages from a 40 page document. I have 6 pages left to cut, then outcomes need to be tweaked. My full pass of the complete narrative should take place tomorrow. Then table of contents, project/program summary, finish budget and budget narrative, create audit summary attachment, combine attachments into two files, fill out SF-424, I think that’s it? Then I can move on to the second grant. I’m taking a lot of time off after that second one’s done. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/58 "2026-09-04T19:24:07Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Current stress management technique: Mint Oreo ice cream sandwiches. Those are amazing. ---
**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:** [September 4, 2026, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/59 "2026-09-04T19:31:13Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Current stress management technique: Mint Oreo ice cream sandwiches. Prescription approved. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2026, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738/60 "2026-09-04T20:27:14Z")
Agreed. Also those white and dark chocolate covered frozen raspberries which I also yoinked during my Kroger run. You see, tomorrow is Beep Beep\*\* Day, a day celebrating Lighting McQueen’s racing number 95 (9/5 get it?) My son invented this sacred day and has been looking forward to it for the last six months. He has about 7-8 Beeps now, I’m losing track, but tomorrow he’s going to find them all in party hats around our kitchen table, with suitable festivities and gifts. So in the middle of my life (God, my life) I ran to Kroger to pick up this massive Lightning McQueen activity set - it’s got stickers and crayons and the whole thing - and he’s getting a Lightning McQueen t-shirt too and maybe something else I forgot about. We’re just trying to throw together a party in the middle of all the chaos. My husband wanted to invite other kids but I said dear God not now. And now he’s sick anyway. \*\*Beep Beep is what my son calls his Lighting McQueen Squishmallows. He started with one, then he found the backup, and then shit got out of hand. All Beep, all the time. Beep for breakfast lunch and dinner. Beep Beep Beep forever [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deviated-september-monthly-mini-rants/1032738.md?page=4)