# Merry Rantmas! (December Mini-rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249 "2017-12-01T14:59:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/421 "2017-12-27T16:24:56Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Actually, I’ve finally realized what bothers me. > > She only keeps them off when she’s alone. > > Or when I’m the other person in the house. > > Because I’m still not, and never, a human being to her. I’m an extension. Ouch. That’s a valuable, if painful, insight. ---
**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:** [December 27, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/422 "2017-12-27T16:34:35Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Actually, I’ve finally realized what bothers me. > > She only keeps them off when she’s alone. > > Or when I’m the other person in the house. > > Because I’m still not, and never, a human being to her. I’m an extension. Or, she feels comfortable around you and trusts that you’ll put extra effort into making sure she hears you. (That’s why I feel I can remove my hearing aid around my gf at home) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/423 "2017-12-27T16:54:52Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Or, she feels comfortable around you and trusts that you’ll put extra effort into making sure she hears you. (That’s why I feel I can remove my hearing aid around my gf at home) That doesn’t work very well when I’ve got pharingitis 😛 And the reason I bought her the hearing aids in the first place was that she’d gotten to the point where she was this \>\< far from losing her children to THE VOLUMES IN HER HOUSE ARE DRIVING US NUTS. AND DEAF. AND HOMICIDAL. DOES IT STILL COUNT AS A CRIME IF WE ALL SWEAR IT NEEDED DOING? ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/424 "2017-12-27T17:00:33Z")
Your fucking organization screwed up your PO. Why the fuck should I get screwed by not getting payment? ---
**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:** [December 27, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/425 "2017-12-27T17:11:58Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Actually, I’ve finally realized what bothers me. > > She only keeps them off when she’s alone. > > Or when I’m the other person in the house. > > Because I’m still not, and never, a human being to her. I’m an extension. I get sad sometimes without my Mom, but you remind me why it’s not worth it. Being not a person in your mother’s eyes is painful and tragic. You know, the other day at work I overheard two ladies talking about how great their mothers were… and I felt bad for a minute… until I came around to, ''Okay, that can’t ever be me. But that’s gonna be my kid. Someday my child will be sitting around the water cooling talking about what an awesome Mom they have." (Or two! If we’re lucky enough to maintain contact with birth Mom.) My point is… I dunno. There are some things outside of our control but a lot of things we can control. My X-Mas was spent drowning in hormonal depression. Stupid pointless waste of time. I take this pill that, if I miss it by more than 15 minutes, will send an avalanche of cramps and hormonal misery down on my head. It’s the only thing that works for my PMDD and endo, it’s just a shitty side effect. Also, I’m terrible about taking medication on time. So the last 10 days straight have been cramps, and the depression kicked in on Christmas Eve day. I canceled all of my Christmas plans. There were some bright spots but it was more like battening down the hatches and waiting out this stupid horrible feeling that has no basis in reality. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/426 "2017-12-27T17:37:05Z")
Working today. Contractor in a government agency. The government types are mostly on leave, as are all my various bosses except one. Naturally that one not only has work, but time-urgent work that not only requires me to jump up and start it, but, he believes, requires us to take shortcuts in our normal process. Also, I should do it all myself, as he is concerned that other people are on leave or unmotivated and might not perform. Meanwhile the few government folks who _are_ here drift by occasionally and remark on what a slow day it is. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/427 "2017-12-27T19:00:24Z")
My Xmas was good. I am just tired. The aftermath and let down always slaps me in the face. Sometimes I think, maybe, this is not worth the hassle. But the children. Think of the children. Really, what are we teaching them? Oh well, I can’t change the tide. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/428 "2017-12-28T01:42:49Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > That doesn’t work very well when I’ve got pharingitis 😛 And the reason I bought her the hearing aids in the first place was that she’d gotten to the point where she was this \>\< far from losing her children to THE VOLUMES IN HER HOUSE ARE DRIVING US NUTS. AND DEAF. AND HOMICIDAL. DOES IT STILL COUNT AS A CRIME IF WE ALL SWEAR IT NEEDED DOING? I wouldn’t worry about it that much. The crime part, I mean. Aren’t you planning on being in Houston at the time that dear old mom falls down the stairs onto a long butcher knife she was carrying, then gets confused by the blood loss and broken neck so ends up falling again and drowning in the toilet? I really did think that you were coming for our housewarming party at that time which would include many credible witnesses. **Digs** will probably be there and if **Digs** isn’t a credible witness, who would be? 😛 that’s the closest I could come to a tongue in cheek smilie. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/429 "2017-12-28T04:15:29Z")
Son-of-a-wrek and wife brought his tiny girls for me to babysit this afternoon. They had gift cards and Xmas exchanging to do. They brought barbies and ds games to play with. As soon as mom and dad left, they started whining. So I sat in a chair with them and asked what’s wrong. They both said they were scared. They were afraid mom and dad were going to see Santa again. Ok, here’s the story, they were taken to see Santa and sit on his knee. It freaked them the eff out. I think they are perma-freaked. Why do parents do this to kids? I know it’s a cute photo OP and all that. But these girls will not go back in a mall for years w/o fear. I got them calmed down, we put on a quiet movie and laid on Nanas big bed, and promptly went to sleep. I think I will have a little talk with Son-of-a-wrek when they get back. These tiny girls are nervous wrecks. Too much Christmas, too much fun (?), Too many late nights, and no routine. It can’t be good for them. Bah, humbug, one more time! ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/430 "2017-12-28T04:27:48Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Son-of-a-wrek and wife brought his tiny girls for me to babysit this afternoon. They had gift cards and Xmas exchanging to do. They brought barbies and ds games to play with. As soon as mom and dad left, they started whining. So I sat in a chair with them and asked what’s wrong. They both said they were scared. They were afraid mom and dad were going to see Santa again. > Ok, here’s the story, they were taken to see Santa and sit on his knee. It freaked them the eff out. I think they are perma-freaked. Why do parents do this to kids? I know it’s a cute photo OP and all that. But these girls will not go back in a mall for years w/o fear. I got them calmed down, we put on a quiet movie and laid on Nanas big bed, and promptly went to sleep. I think I will have a little talk with Son-of-a-wrek when they get back. These tiny girls are nervous wrecks. Too much Christmas, too much fun (?), Too many late nights, and no routine. It can’t be good for them. Bah, humbug, one more time! Meh, all my kids freaked out sitting on Santa’s knee, as did generations that preceded them. They’re in their 30’s now and doing it to their own kids. I doubt your grandies have been ‘perma-freaked’. More likely to be too much hype and sugar. They just need a lay-day to recover. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/431 "2017-12-28T05:35:54Z")
Yea, your probably right. I know I need lay-day or 3. I decided not to talk to Son and wife. They don’t take to meddling very well. And it is their children. So they can handle it their own way. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/432 "2017-12-28T07:00:48Z")
Kids get over their freak-outs eventually; probably a week or so just isn’t long enough yet. My niece, when much younger, met [Fredbird](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fredbird) at a Cardinals’ game. Fredbird does this thing where he puts his beak over a kid’s head – causing my niece a whooping freakout, because _Fredbird was eating that kid!!!_ Mascots caused freakouts for almost half a year, until she figured out that mascots were also _animals_ (which she loved), and everything seemed to cancel out. Probably by next year, the lure of presents from Santa will nullify his Stranger Danger. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/433 "2017-12-28T13:04:10Z")
My husband got me for Extended Family’s Secret Santa and neglected to get me anything until the very last minute. I ended up with a gift card and two dark chocolate bars “so you can unwrap something”. Never mind that I picked out the gift card and the candy when we stopped at Walgreens on the way to Extended Family’s. The next day he tried ordering my presents through Amazon and discovered he was overdrawn on his account. I didn’t have to say anything to him because my Stare Of Utter Death said it all. I’m also glad it was me and not another family member. OTOH we don’t exchange presents until sometime in January. I haven’t bought him anything yet for that reason. Besides, he hasn’t told me what he wants. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/434 "2017-12-28T13:05:14Z")
On an entirely different note: Who the fuck can afford to prepay their property taxes?!?!? ---
**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:** [December 28, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/435 "2017-12-28T14:31:06Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > …THE VOLUMES IN HER HOUSE ARE DRIVING US NUTS. AND DEAF. AND HOMICIDAL. DOES IT STILL COUNT AS A CRIME IF WE ALL SWEAR IT NEEDED DOING? > [@flatlined](#): > > I wouldn’t worry about it that much. The crime part, I mean. Aren’t you planning on being in Houston at the time that dear old mom falls down the stairs onto a long butcher knife she was carrying, then gets confused by the blood loss and broken neck so ends up falling again and drowning in the toilet? > > I really did think that you were coming for our housewarming party at that time which would include many credible witnesses. **Digs** will probably be there and if **Digs** isn’t a credible witness, who would be? > > 😛 that’s the closest I could come to a tongue in cheek smilie. “Well, golly, officer! It was just a quiet little wine-and-sleaze affair that lasted til (checks _Diabolical Master Plan_ notebook) 4:30 am. I distinctly remember **flatlined** leading the Kajagoogoo Kareoke, while **Nava** and **Shredder Guy** played ‘Poke the Singer with Plastic Forks’ most of the night.” ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/436 "2017-12-28T15:42:42Z")
That sounds like the most fun party ever. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/437 "2017-12-29T07:07:19Z")
Add chocolate and I am there! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/438 "2017-12-29T14:29:59Z")
And cats. There must be cats for it to be the most fun party ever. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/439 "2017-12-29T15:03:18Z")
> [@digs](#): > > I’ve gotta say, when my daughter got her first tattoo right after college, half the fun was watching her mom over-over-reacting. Comments on the level of “Now you’ll NEVER get a job!” I know I’m late to the party here, but I wanted to share; My older daughter has a tattoo on the back of her neck that she got in college. She’s a bond trader pulling down six figures. My younger daughter pierced her eyebrow at the end of HS. She’s an engineer in an executive position pulling down six figures. (just wanted to refute the “you’ll never get a job!” misconception) I have short navy blue spiky hair. They both hate it. 😃 (it covers the gray) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249/440 "2017-12-29T16:02:07Z")
> [@kiz](#): > > On an entirely different note: > > Who the fuck can afford to prepay their property taxes?!?!? In CA, one installment (twice a year) is due very early in the year, so just pay a month ahead, not that hard. It is quite common for CA Taxpayers to have three payments on one year, one on the next. And of course, you are onnly paying half your taxes. So a “prepay” would be 1.5 , not double. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249.md?page=21) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/merry-rantmas-december-mini-rants/803249.md?page=23)