# Febrantary (February Minirants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286 "2014-02-01T17:24:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/101 "2014-02-05T06:23:07Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Hit the ground running today – it was a crazypants day at work. One of those “look, I gotta step away from my desk for a second or I will literally piss myself” days. In addition, I received: > > - text on cell > - call on cell > - call on work phone (during my afore-mentioned desperately needed potty break) > - second call on work phone two minutes later > > … all in the space of a couple of hours, all because my parents want to know if I’m free for some performance tickets for this weekend “for quality family time.” I’m in sensory overload as it is … and did you forget that we were estranged for years? Yes, of course you did. It’s like it never happened. > > Look, I’m ever-so-thrilled for you that you get to sit around on your ass all retired and shit but I. Am. At. Work. Repeatedly calling me doesn’t make me less busy, nor does it make me want to spend time with you more. And responding to: > > “Hello, thank you for calling {company} this is {purple} how may I help you?” > with > “Hello purple, thank you for picking up the phone, this is your father speaking. How can you help me?” > > Does. Not. Help. Matters. > Gonna go find a shovel. Might have to hide some bodies later. Remember, they only find the bodies in the shallow graves. Nuff said. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/102 "2014-02-05T06:31:37Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > School closed on Monday because of snow. School delay and possible total cancellation tomorrow because of snow again this week. This is ridiculous. At this rate, my daughter’s going to be attending classes until mid-July! Most of the time the contracts end 30 June—prepare for Saturday classes! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/103 "2014-02-05T14:03:19Z")
Started fading fast yesterday afternoon and expected to be in the middle of a full blown illness today. Not feeling the best, but my back has decided it needs to hurt, and it needs to make my entire body hurt in the process. Fortunately, I still have a couple of Flexeril from last spring, but it still doesn’t make for a lovely day. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/104 "2014-02-05T15:32:09Z")
I am pretty sick of winter but that’s not my rant. When there is a snow storm going on around you and it is as dark as night: TURN ON YOUR FREAKING HEADLIGHTS! Bwah! ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/105 "2014-02-05T15:52:00Z")
Two cancelled school days in a single week! Go home, February. You’re drunk. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/106 "2014-02-05T16:01:15Z")
Caucusing almost killed me. I’ve never heard so many picayune resolutions and then people wanted to discuss them! (and going against the specified format, I noticed) I don’t know how much weight a resolution passed at a caucus yesterday has but I was not comfortable with how free and easy people were with passing these things. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/107 "2014-02-05T17:29:53Z")
Today we’re in the middle of snow storm from hell and I just spend my lunch hour shoveling a smart car sized hole in the bottom of our driveway so my husband can park and shovel the rest. I was in the house long enough to take off my coat and boots before taking a picture to send to him… spot was already an inch deep. Sorry honey, no time guarantee, get home soon. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/108 "2014-02-05T17:56:16Z")
A significant snowfall, then four days later the wind blows so hard that the roads drift over, then four days later it snows then rains of top of it creating two inches of slush, then it froze hard and snowed six more inches. Schools here haven’t been open for more than three days a week yet this year. It was the slush-shoveling that pushed my husband over the edge. We are back to researching the Pacific Northwest, intending to move there in the next two years. My husband gets up at 4am and drinks about three coffees by the time I get up at 7am. He keeps ambushing me, first thing, pre-caffeine, with pitches for new towns to move to and questions about how we transport the cat cross-continent. I mean, Jesus honey, I love you and this move will be awesome but COFFEE FIRST PLEASE. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/109 "2014-02-05T22:41:16Z")
We moved from Boston to Seattle in January, nine years ago. At the time, we had a 10-month old and two cats. The cats rode under the seats in front of us - it was too cold to be allowed to put them in the hold. You need to get permission and pay a fee in advance - I think it was $75/cat. One of them cried all.the.way.across.the.country - 8 solid hours of pathetic mews. The other one had diarrhea in her carrier. But we and they survived it. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2014, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/110 "2014-02-05T23:22:59Z")
Yeah. I know it’s going to be horrific any way 'round. What really worries me is the idea that it might be kinder to the cat to give her to a new family, than to take her on the cross-country trip. But I’m supposed to be her forever family, that’s why I took her out of the pound. I don’t want to give up my kitty. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/111 "2014-02-06T01:19:44Z")
I want my kitchen to be finished. Still waiting for the counters, so it’s now 2+ weeks with no stove, oven, sink, or dishwasher. (Actually, I have a perfectly lovely sink, stove, oven, and dishwasher. The oven is on the porch, and the rest is boxed up in the dining room. I’d really like to be able to use them.) On the bright side, I’ve gotten pretty good at turning out meals with only a griddle, a crock pot, and a microwave. In other news, Frontier Communications can bite me. The internet speed is an absolute joke - a fraction of what was promised. Our only other option is to pay $6500 (!) for the crappy local cable company to run a line ~200 yards from the nearest junction box. Or to use our cell phone carrier, with a data limit that would make it useful for about 14.5 minutes of gaming. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/112 "2014-02-06T01:42:43Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Yeah. I know it’s going to be horrific any way 'round. What really worries me is the idea that it might be kinder to the cat to give her to a new family, than to take her on the cross-country trip. But I’m supposed to be her forever family, that’s why I took her out of the pound. I don’t want to give up my kitty. Then don’t. You’ll figure it out, and so will she. And you’ll both survive! My shelter always takes back the kitties we adopt out. That doesn’t mean we like it, nor does the pleasant way we do it mean we don’t have choice words for the person once they’re gone. If someone called us to make a return appointment because they were moving and were afraid of the stress of driving across country, we would all be like :dubious:? I know four people who have moved from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, driving with their cats. One a pair of cats who hated each other. They all made it unscathed. You can do it too! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/113 "2014-02-06T02:26:12Z")
Two words - kitty valium. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/114 "2014-02-06T03:30:14Z")
Yeah, my sister and brother-in-law took FOUR cats with them when they moved from NJ to New Mexico. They planned ahead for stopping points at cat-friendly lodging. It wasn’t fun; cats generally don’t enjoy car trips, but there was no way they were going to risk their purebred exotic breeds to an airline. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/115 "2014-02-06T03:56:42Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Two words - kitty valium. That’s why one of ours had diarrhea in her carrier. You’re not allowed to take them out in flight, so she had to sit in it and we all had to smell it, cross country. And then DH had to try to wash out the carrier, in an airport bathroom with sinks that worked on an electric eye. Fun times. And yet, 24 hours later, the cats were fine and we were fine. It really is doable. I would not even think about giving her away rather than taking her with you when you move. It would not be kinder - it takes a lot longer to acclimate to a new family than it does to recover from a road trip. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/116 "2014-02-06T04:00:54Z")
Hey, Doctor, once I get into the exam room, DO NOT take a phone call that will take you away from me for a whole freakin’ half hour, 'kay? ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/117 "2014-02-06T04:25:42Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Then don’t. You’ll figure it out, and so will she. And you’ll both survive! > > My shelter always takes back the kitties we adopt out. That doesn’t mean we like it, nor does the pleasant way we do it mean we don’t have choice words for the person once they’re gone. If someone called us to make a return appointment because they were moving and were afraid of the stress of driving across country, we would all be like :dubious:? > > I know four people who have moved from Chicago to Seattle and Portland, driving with their cats. One a pair of cats who hated each other. They all made it unscathed. You can do it too! Every rescue I’ve worked with has always had a return policy. And yeah, we are nice and polite about it, but we do say ??? afterwards. Cats are wonderfully adaptive. My first cat went from being a stray to being snuck in the window at night. He then lived in a car for a couple of years and then played the “hide the cat in the barracks” game for a while. (I’m quite sure that the Sgt of the Day knew there was a cat there, the surprise inspections were never a surprise.) Fred was a world traveler. He went from CA to CO, then flew to Okinawa. He spent some time in Hawaii and then moved to AZ. Fred thrived until he got old and died. Your kitteh will do the same. I recently moved from AZ to TX with 4 cats, one of them a feral. We used drugs. Well, actually we gave the drugs to the cats, but we did drink beer when the move was over. One of the main reasons that we survived that was because we know to never EVER try to talk without coffee. My husband is like yours, he’s up early and wants to talk as soon as I’m up. But, mine is a pre-owned husband who was already receptive to the “give her coffee first” thing. Just hit your husband with an empty coffee mug a couple of times and he’ll get the message. ---
**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:** [February 6, 2014, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/118 "2014-02-06T04:47:17Z")
My husband and I are thankfully compatible on the non-morning-person issue. We know to leave each other alone for at least half an hour after getting up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/119 "2014-02-06T05:02:59Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Hey, Doctor, once I get into the exam room, DO NOT take a phone call that will take you away from me for a whole freakin’ half hour, 'kay? I fire doctors for that. They want me to be on time for an appointment and then want me to sit around for half a hour or more. Fuck that shit. I’ve signed many forms that say that if I don’t cancel in the proper amount of time the office will charge me. That’s all good and well, I understand that. But, if I show up for an appointment at the correct time and end up sitting around for longer than 15 minutes, I leave. My time is important as well. I do quietly tell the receptionist why I’m leaving, I don’t throw a snit fit or anything. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/120 "2014-02-06T05:45:55Z")
I’ve quit a couple of doctors for that crap. Some specialties, such as OB/GYN, can have justifiable scheduling problems, and I gave them slack on that, especially if the staff advises us and gives us the option of waiting or rescheduling. There was one I remember especially because I had to arrange to take off work early, and they kept telling me “It’ll be only a few more minutes.” Obviously a lie when the few minutes turns into an hour and runs into the time I have to be somewhere else. G’bye! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286.md?page=7)