# Thanks for Nothin'! November Mini-Rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 1, 2023, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417 "2023-11-01T13:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/401 "2023-11-20T04:21:39Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I used to toss one square of TP in the water Extra points if you cut it in the shape of a battleship! (I even Sharpied details) ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/402 "2023-11-20T06:46:19Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > Begin typing entry, then note that as you’re typing, none of this is actually being recorded/visible, as the previous act of placing my cursor in the field was somehow retroactively undone > [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](#): > > I’ve often wondered if there was some sort of key-logger installed that I’ve never been able to find. In Windows terminology, that’s called “focus”. The “focus” is the active window or whatever you are actively doing. It gets lost all the time, through a mouse-over when you’re typing and your mouse is bumped by accident, or some process decides that is when it’s time to launch and in doing so takes the focus away from what you’re doing, or any other number of things you don’t notice. It’s a pain in the ass. Windows can be a bit ADHD it seems. It’s like the dog from _Up_ seeing a squirrel. Look up “Windows loses focus” and you’ll see many complaints and few solutions. ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/403 "2023-11-20T12:01:16Z")
So, I have my husband in the ER again. He’s feverish, non-responsive, and can’t move very well. It took my son, my son-in-law, my son’s girlfriend, and me to get him in the car. They had one security guard to help me get him in a wheel chair. He almost dropped my husband because husband is completely limp. He still can’t/won’t speak much. Don’t know exactly what’s wrong yet. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/404 "2023-11-20T12:32:14Z")
I’m so sorry!! I can only hope that it is some kind of bug and can be treated so that he recovers fully and quickly! ❤ ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/405 "2023-11-20T13:01:17Z")
A hospital is the best place to find out what’s wrong and how to treat him. I hope he gets well soon… ---
**Author:** ![Sylvanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Sylvanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylvanz)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/406 "2023-11-20T14:01:49Z")
Thank you both. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/407 "2023-11-20T14:09:10Z")
It seems like every November we are scrambling, trying to make good use of every good weather day. This past weekend we had a list of things still needing done. We did some landscaping and washed the siding on our house with a pressure washer, brush, etc. I’m actually happy to go to work today where I can relax. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/408 "2023-11-20T14:49:08Z")
A bit of a rant/anti-rant. My mother forgot my birthday. This is actually a good thing as she can be passive aggressive and now I have a counter for all manner of transgressions real and imagined! Upset that I haven’t called in 2 weeks? Well at least **I** didn’t forget your birthday! She still hasn’t realized it yet. I’m hoping that she forgets until Thanksgiving so I can offer thanks that (/aggrieved) MY OWN MOTHER FORGOT MY BIRTHDAY!(\aggrieved) ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/409 "2023-11-20T15:22:41Z")
Very interesting! Thanks for the pithy insight. Glad to know it’s not just my perception. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/410 "2023-11-20T15:38:39Z")
Anyone else hate turkey and dressing and all of the misc. crap people eat on thanksgiving? I like sweet potatoes but not in a casserole with added sugar, maple syrup, pinepple tidbits and marshmallows. I hate green bean casserole with overly salty cream of mushroom soup, and nasty fried onions on top. I hate cranberry glop whether home made or out of a can. I dont even like the overly sweet pies people usually cook. Mashed potatoes are ok though. My parents and i usually cook something like boiled shrimp or shrimp and grits which we all liked but they unfortunately passed in the past year. I am trying to dodge the people feeling sorry for me and trying to get me to come to thier family celebrations where I wouldnt know anyone and would hate the food. I am thinking Indian food buffet sounds good. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/411 "2023-11-20T19:02:18Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > Anyone else hate turkey and dressing and all of the misc. crap people eat on thanksgiving? Yes. Yes, I do. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/412 "2023-11-20T19:19:34Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > I am trying to dodge the people feeling sorry for me and trying to get me to come to thier family celebrations where I wouldnt know anyone and would hate the food. I like the traditional meal well enough, but isn’t this the worst? I can pretty much dedicate a mini-rant to this alone. I’ll try to be brief. Yes, I am a widow who’s alone on Thanksgiving. _This is not a reason to feel sorry for me!_ I enjoy my own company, and since the months leading up to Thanksgiving are hectic ones in my business, I really look forward to those unspoken-for four days to recharge. I’m a better cook than almost everyone I know, and while I don’t generally hold that against anyone, it chafes on Thanksgiving. I actually attended one Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago where the hosts didn’t offer any gravy. _Gravy_. I mean, fuck me, how hard is it to heat up a jar of the stuff if you can’t be bothered to make this simple offering from scratch? Gravy is the glue that holds the entire meal together, no matter how ghastly are your cooking skills! Don’t you understand, I can gag down your family stuffing recipe with oysters and fingernails with enough gravy, but not otherwise? And I had to drive 3 hours each way in pissing-down rain to attend this misery of a meal, together with my pet, who couldn’t be left on his own for such a long stretch without a potty break, and a side dish that, after 3 hours of travel, wasn’t at its best when served. Six hours of travel to spend 2 hours pretending to enjoy some dreadful food, then dashing away before it got dark and the weather was still nasty. Just… no. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/413 "2023-11-20T19:21:26Z")
I don’t really like turkey, but I love turkey gravy and homemade turkey stock. So I’m kind of stuck. But I’m old enough that it’s up to the daughters-in-law what gets served. If I’m jonesing for turkey stock and they’ve announced that it’s ham, I’ll just go to the Asian Market and buy turkey wings to bake and boil. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/414 "2023-11-20T19:24:11Z")
I realized years ago, my perfect Thanksgiving would be me and all my loved ones going to an all you can eat Chinese buffet. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/415 "2023-11-20T19:33:04Z")
My husband and I frequently do this. We live hundreds of miles from any family members and my husband doesn’t like turkey (I do) so there’s very little point in doing the traditional meal for just us. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/416 "2023-11-20T19:37:52Z")
> [@adhemar](#): > > Anyone else hate turkey and dressing and all of the misc. crap people eat on thanksgiving? This year the rest of the extended family is away so it’s just my wife and daughter with me. Since we have nobody else to complain about traditions, we’re doing “sidesgiving”. We are making a bunch of small dishes. Whatever we want. Like chicken wings and little smokies wrapped in bacon. Forget the turkey and cranberry sauce. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/417 "2023-11-20T20:17:27Z")
I was shopping for a subwoofer for the mini sound system I am assembling in my bedroom. Go to Amazon, see a spiffy Sony model on sale for $149, very first item, -$100 off of list. Had the line in jack port that should be compatible with the speakers that got delivered today… I hit ADD TO CART-nothing happens (window closed on its own??), cart only shows the 2 cables I had already dropped in there. I go back to the results page, still insists it’s $149. Open in new window, but now it says “$198”…WTFH? Refresh the search window, and not only is it now $198 there as well, but is now 5th in results not 1st. The assholes (bot) jacked the price as I was closely viewing the item’s pics and DLed manual (to be sure it has the same compatible port as the speakers). F. that, browsed thru the results a bit more–and found the exact same model from a 3rd party merchant for $167. So I lose $19 but Amazon loses most of their cut to the 3rd party merchant (if that is how it works). Pricks. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/418 "2023-11-20T20:20:33Z")
I love turkey & stuffing and all the Thanksgiving stuff, but nobody in my immediate world does, and it’s really impractical to make a turkey for one, especially if you live with other people who don’t eat meat. We do fine cooking separate proteins and otherwise eating dinner together, but T-day turkey would be a bit one-sided. I miss it, but I’ll live. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2023, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/419 "2023-11-20T23:14:41Z")
When I went on vacation I said don’t talk to me unless it’s critical. Haha, but no seriously. My boss texted me today with a notice that our county is going to audit us. For some reason it was addressed to me, but it’s not really in my wheelhouse, and the required attachments aren’t due until a week after I come back from vacation. So why. The fuck. Email me about something potentially stressful that I can’t do anything about when I’m trying to be on vacation? My blood pressure is just that much higher now. And I’m still sick. > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > This is dumb, but I’ll say it anyhow: I used to toss one square of TP in the water and tell my son to “sink the ship!” Not dumb. My MIL says she used cheerios with my husband. I’m going to try not to think about it for week. > [@Sylvanz](#): > > So, I have my husband in the ER again. He’s feverish, non-responsive, and can’t move very well. It took my son, my son-in-law, my son’s girlfriend, and me to get him in the car. They had one security guard to help me get him in a wheel chair. He almost dropped my husband because husband is completely limp. He still can’t/won’t speak much. Don’t know exactly what’s wrong yet. Oh, no. I hope you get answers soon. We’ll be thinking of you. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2023, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417/420 "2023-11-21T00:12:19Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Not dumb. My MIL says she used cheerios with my husband. I’m going to try not to think about it for week. Mmm, salty Cheerios… . We’re hosting over a dozen family members in our teensy house, and my wife said “Hope there’s enough turkey. Don’t take too much…” “Why would I? I never do, I just take sides.” “What? When did this start?” “In forty years, have you ever seen me take more than a cubic inch?” I make the turkey, cut the turkey, carve\* the turkey, serve the turkey. But I _eat_ the Boozy Sweet Potatoes, Sage & Onion Dressing, Cranberry-Apricot-Apple Compote, Rosemary Roasted Brocolli… and cornbreads and Jell-Os and canned cranberry sauce, and pies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-for-nothin-november-mini-rants/992417.md?page=22)