# Let your mini-rants march on! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 1, 2020, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747 "2020-03-01T12:46:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/101 "2020-03-14T12:49:59Z")
> [@Die\_Capacitrix](#): > > Easily distracted by everything Coronavirus. > > So I made blueberry quick bread. After I put it in the oven I realize I forgot the melted butter, still sitting on the stove. So I took it out and mixed in the butter and put it back in the oven. > > After 20 minutes it’s still rather dense. Yep. Forgot the baking soda and baking powder. Need to go back getting out all the ingredrients before starting a recipe. > > I guess I’ll see if I can slice it thin and make weird biscotti or something. Whenever I do any cooking, I line up all the ingredients (including seasoning) on the counter, in the order in which I’ll use them. If I don’t do this, I ALWAYS leave stuff out. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/102 "2020-03-14T12:56:03Z")
What can we do to help, Surrender? ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/103 "2020-03-14T13:16:24Z")
We’ll do anything. [Never Surrender](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ2hJezvd2I), Dorothy! ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/104 "2020-03-14T13:30:51Z")
We got a new landline telephone number last year when we switched to a cable bundle for TV, internet and telephone (couldn’t keep the old number for…reasons). Apparently our new number used to belong to someone named Dee S\*\*\*\*\*. Ms S\*\*\*\*\* must of left a lot of unpaid bills behind; we’ve gotten a steady trickle of automated and live callers from debt collectors on our landline wanting to speak with her. At least the live ones have been polite; when I tell them that we just got the number they apologize and say they’ll make a note in the file about the number. The automated ones though just say “If Dee S\*\*\*\*\* isn’t available or this is not Dee S\*\*\*\*\* please hang up.” No option to tell them that they’re wasting their time on this number, and the call just repeats itself a few weeks later. Guess I’ll have to start actually trying to talk to a live person on one of these automated calls to tell them that they’re barking up the wrong tree, but I’m afraid that if I stay on the line the automated system will consider that, in some obscure way, I’m taking responsibility for Ms S\*\*\*\*\*'s unpaid bills. ---
**Author:** ![Asylum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/53a042/32.png) [@Asylum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asylum)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/105 "2020-03-14T22:03:41Z")
Oof. **SurrenderDorothy** , that sucks. Being stuck in bed is relaxing for a little bit, but then the enjoyment craters. I hope the people you interact with are understanding. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2020, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/106 "2020-03-15T03:40:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > What can we do to help, Surrender? I don’t know protocol to set this up, but it would be my pleasure to chip in for delivery of snacks and cat food. Is that something that has to go thru the mods? ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/107 "2020-03-15T17:08:25Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > What can we do to help, Surrender? > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I don’t know protocol to set this up, but it would be my pleasure to chip in for delivery of snacks and cat food. Is that something that has to go thru the mods? I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this thought :o I’m not comfortable asking for something like that, though, because it would make it seem like any time I talk about this, I’m secretly fishing for people to send me stuff. And I’m not- I’m just venting. > [@digs](#): > > We’ll do anything. > > [Never Surrender](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ2hJezvd2I), Dorothy! I LOVE that stupid movie. I’m not even sure if it’s actually good or not, but we had a copy when I was a kid (Why? Where did we even get it?) and I was too young to get the satire elements, but I thought the aliens were hilarious. I appreciate just having a place to whine- somewhere sort of neutral and mine, you know? Where people don’t have to read it if they don’t want to, so I don’t have to worry about bothering anyone and nobody is that invested in me, so I don’t have to worry too much about worrying anyone and nobody is expecting anything of me, so I don’t have to worry about disappointing them or being seen as incompetent for the rest of my life even if I do get better and back on my feet. I’m sure I come off as whiny and a bit dramatic and I do worry about that (I want to be stoic! And optimistic! A plucky inspiration to all who takes adversity in… er… stride, as it were, and never brings anyone else down.) but… oh well? Otherwise, I know this sounds frivolous, but most of the stuff I need is like… I need someone to help me scoop my litterboxes and wash and change my sheets and blankets and god I would kill for a hot meal… stuff like that, where someone has to be here, and also it’s a little gross or tedious or complicated and a lot to ask of someone. But otherwise? I’m anxious as hell and bored out of my mind, which is a bad combination. What I need is something to do that I CAN do. Maybe I should start a thread for this, but… I don’t know, podcast recommendations? Craft ideas? Books of short stories? ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/108 "2020-03-16T04:52:00Z")
Y’all ever think about how we’re living during the fall of the most powerful empire in the history of the earth and we’re still expected to, like, pay rent? ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/109 "2020-03-16T12:19:02Z")
I have a neighbor who’s annoying and insane. I talk to him as little as possible, because he’s always complaining and has a whiny voice. When I had a contractor build a gate for me, WN said it was on his property. Turns out he was right. I had always assumed his driveway was parallel to our property line, but it actually cuts through the lower east corner of my front yard. So, I had been mowing his property all these years and never realized it. He never complained about that! My dogs don’t like him either. They always run out through the back dog flap and bark at him when he’s working in his back yard. I’ll call them in just to keep things civil. But when I do he’ll be looming over the fence with what looks to be a 5-hour energy throat sprayer and screaming “Shhhhuuuuuut Uuuupppppp!” and cursing at them. I don’t know where he gets the idea that screaming and cursing at dogs will make them quiet down. Last time I called them in and said “You don’t need to curse at them.” He said they were trespassing on his property. I said what are you talking about? He said his property line extended one foot past the fence. I said are you fucking insane? Why would you build a fence one foot inside the property line? He then called me a goddamned little cunt, and I shouted back “Who you calling little? I’m a goddamned BIG cunt!” He said he was going to call Animal Control. I said “Go ahead. I’m sure they’ll get a big laugh when you explain how you built your fence one foot inside the property line!” He kept ranting about them trespassing and I told him to have sex with himself and went inside. I never needed COVID-19 to keep a social distance from him. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/110 "2020-03-16T18:43:01Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > Y’all ever think about how we’re living during the fall of the most powerful empire in the history of the earth and we’re still expected to, like, pay rent? I’m sure that even as the Visigoths were breaking down Rome’s gates, someone was nagging a renter for back due. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/111 "2020-03-16T18:51:41Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > Having a very rough week. I don’t know if it’s just exhaustion, some kind of flare-up, or if this is my new normal. I still don’t have a diagnosis and my appointment with the neurologist is not for another six weeks. Yes, I’ve called my doctor and yes, they’ve tried to get it moved up- no dice. > > I’ve been essentially bedridden. I can get to the bathroom (but usually not without falling at least once. My poor knees are all banged up), but the kitchen is a whole different ball of wax. I’m not strong enough to hold myself up anymore and my balance and stamina are just in the toilet. When I do get up- like literally get to my feet with my crutches, not “get up” as in “go to the bank and stop at Target”- it often takes so much effort that I then don’t have the energy to continue standing and fall right back down. I can’t go get myself something to eat or drink, I can’t properly take care of my cats, I can’t go deal with my family, and I can’t go to work. I do have a friend who brought me some snacks today, so I now have granola bars within reach, at least. The doc says going to the ER would probably be an extremely expensive waste of time because it’s not an emergency and I have an appointment and they’ll be much too busy with Coronavirus stuff and probably won’t be able to do anything for me, soooooo… that’s that, then. > > So. However much you might imagine that this sucks, it sucks more than that. And staying in bed watching hours and hours of TV might sound relaxing, but things don’t stop happening around you because you aren’t able to deal with them. It’s not like the world stops and your job no longer needs to be done and your bills no longer need to be paid and your house no longer needs to be cleaned and your family puts their crises on pause. Instead, it all just kind of spirals out of control while all you can do is watch helplessly. > > Anyway, six more weeks til the appointment with the neurologist, which I don’t think is going to be the magical turning point I (and everyone who has to deal with me) would hope for. In the meantime? I have no idea. I’m nowhere near as bad off as you are but bad enough: increasing chronic fatigue and exercise intolerance. I’m going tomorrow to an appointment with a neurosurgeon to determine if I need cervical spine surgery, or if lesser treatments will do. Wish me luck, and here’s hoping you get better too! ---
**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:** [March 17, 2020, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/112 "2020-03-17T02:48:19Z")
Hey you stupid asshats - every fucking month you prepare a bill on a certain date. I can see it on the pdf of the bill you e-mail to me, and it’s always the same day of the month, the end of the billing cycle. So why for the love of god can’t you e-mail the bill to me on a consistent date? The date on the bill is the 12th (it’s always the 12th), and here we are on the 16th and you still haven’t sent it. From past experience, I know I can expect the bill in my e-mail anywhere from 4 to 7 days after the date on the invoice. On rare occasions you send them 10 or so days later. The entire process should be automated. Why is it so fucked up? ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/113 "2020-03-17T03:30:25Z")
> [@SurrenderDorothy](#): > > I can’t tell you how much I appreciate this thought :o I’m not comfortable asking for something like that, though, because it would make it seem like any time I talk about this, I’m secretly fishing for people to send me stuff. And I’m not- I’m just venting. > > I LOVE that stupid movie. I’m not even sure if it’s actually good or not, but we had a copy when I was a kid (Why? Where did we even get it?) and I was too young to get the satire elements, but I thought the aliens were hilarious. > > I appreciate just having a place to whine- somewhere sort of neutral and mine, you know? Where people don’t have to read it if they don’t want to, so I don’t have to worry about bothering anyone and nobody is that invested in me, so I don’t have to worry too much about worrying anyone and nobody is expecting anything of me, so I don’t have to worry about disappointing them or being seen as incompetent for the rest of my life even if I do get better and back on my feet. I’m sure I come off as whiny and a bit dramatic and I do worry about that (I want to be stoic! And optimistic! A plucky inspiration to all who takes adversity in… er… stride, as it were, and never brings anyone else down.) but… oh well? > > Otherwise, I know this sounds frivolous, but most of the stuff I need is like… I need someone to help me scoop my litterboxes and wash and change my sheets and blankets and god I would kill for a hot meal… stuff like that, where someone has to be here, and also it’s a little gross or tedious or complicated and a lot to ask of someone. But otherwise? I’m anxious as hell and bored out of my mind, which is a bad combination. What I need is something to do that I CAN do. Maybe I should start a thread for this, but… I don’t know, podcast recommendations? Craft ideas? Books of short stories? call the local department of social services and see if you have something called “in-home supportive services” What this does is pay through the state someone of your choosing to help you out … the more severe you are the more hours you can get for them to help it might take 2 or 3 weeks but different states have different rules concerning the sign-up practices but it might help ya out tho ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/114 "2020-03-17T13:08:09Z")
Yesterday morning (3/16) my mother-in-law died unexpectedly. My husband and I drove two hours to her town to help his brother plan the funeral. After writing the obit, contacting family, and spending a couple of hours at the funeral home picking out a casket and all the other fun stuff, we went to a restaurant for dinner. On arrival, we were told that Governor Wolf had closed all of the restaurants. They’re now take-out only. We didn’t feel like waiting around for our food so we ended up going back to the house to frozen lasagna. The viewings are on Thursday, the funeral is on Friday and we have to make a four hour round trip each time because we don’t have anyone to take care of our pets. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/115 "2020-03-17T13:57:33Z")
Oh my gosh. I hope you guys can stay healthy at least. Condolences to your husband (and also to you). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/116 "2020-03-17T14:08:50Z")
> [@Reeses\_Monkey](#): > > we don’t have anyone to take care of our pets. If you were further west I’d offer to check on your pets. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/117 "2020-03-17T14:36:38Z")
My daughter spends most of the week with her boyfriend, who works in an Amazon warehouse. She texted me this morning to say he wouldn’t be coming over for St. Patrick’s dinner, because he has a slight fever (99.1). I had to then tell her that (based on health department guidelines), she couldn’t come over either. I did offer to bring them both dinner (to leave on the porch), but she hasn’t responded since she "yelled’ Fine!!! at me. She has anxiety and bipolar 2, and the whole coronavirus thing has her completely freaked out. She told me over the weekend that if she had to be stuck somewhere, she’d rather it was with us, not at the BFs, but now she’s stuck. I feel absolutely awful for doing this, but her stepfather and I are both over 50 and diabetics, and we have no idea what the BF has been exposed to, since he’s still having to go into work. Fuck, fuck, fuck. :mad:☹ ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/118 "2020-03-17T18:58:41Z")
Thanks, **Dung Beetle** and **kayaker**. We’re in Johnstown and the funeral is in McKeesport. It’s a hassle but it’s do-able. We have a dog watcher but she needs a bit more of a notification to fit us into the schedule. We’re hanging in there. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2020, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/119 "2020-03-17T23:47:11Z")
Not sure if this should go in another thread (Is there a “Making The Best of a Shitty Pandemic” thread?), but since this is my home\*, I’ll post it here: I was supposed to be flying to the Caribbean (to work on rebuilding the island of Abaco, scoured by Hurricane Dorian), and the trip got cancelled. But I still had a flight, and couldn’t get through to the airline (American). I was worried I might have to eat the cost. BUT, just got an email from them saying “If you’re not flying, and you’ve been trying to get through, we apologize. But don’t worry, all you have to do is not show up for your flight, and when you’re able to, reschedule for any time you’d like.” Whew… _See, I’m “staying home”… for some it’s the MMP, for me it’s the Pit. (Oh, my family? Well, yeah, there’s them, too, but they don’t understand me…) (or call "Troll_!" \*and ban people who are mean to me) ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2020, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747/120 "2020-03-18T23:12:18Z")
I’m currently watching a livestream of a relative’s wedding on Facebook…the wedding was supposed to have taken place sometime in April, but I guess they decided to go for it now assuming that things are going to get worse? Several people are coughing, and there are children crying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/let-your-mini-rants-march-on/848747.md?page=7)