# What are you scared of? Halloween/October Mini-rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 1, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099 "2019-10-01T14:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/41 "2019-10-03T17:36:58Z")
Yesterday I came out of a shop and saw a lot of black smoke rising to the sky from the approximate location of my apartment building. Five fire trucks and two cop cars race past me on the walk home. All I can think is, “What did I leave on?” Get to my street. Fire is down the block from my complex. Turns out a car was totally engulfed in flames right next to power lines and a neighboring complex. Nobody hurt, thank God. Only damage aside from car was cracked windows due to heat. The entire jog home, all I could think of was, "What did you leave on, Nellie? Think! _Think_! ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/42 "2019-10-03T19:33:30Z")
Changing health insurance is a royal pain in the ass. On September 25, I had phone calls with the Gilenya Go program (that deals with my MS medication), the specialty pharmacy, my insurance company, my Cobra plan administrator, the specialty pharmacy again, Gilenya Go again, the Gilenya patient assistance program, the Gilenya copay assistance program, and on the next day, I talked to my insurance company again. Today, the Gilenya Go program called me, and had none of the information that I had given them in those calls, although they did have notes dated September 25. It also reminded me that I need to call the insurance company again and see if they have processed the termination from the Cobra administrator yet. I just want my drugs. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/43 "2019-10-03T19:36:25Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I came very, very close to shitting my pants at work this morning. I’ve been having some bathroom urgency lately, and today when it struck, there were some people at my desk I couldn’t get away from. When they finally left, I was in dire straits, so I darted into the bathroom, yanked at my zipper…and it broke. In the up position! I had to run back to my desk for a paper clip to see if I could use that to replace the pull…nope. At this point, I was ready to rip the pants and deal with the consequences later, and thankfully was able to pull them down in time. I even managed to get them back on afterward. Then I called my husband to bring me another pair of pants. > Although this was a near-disaster, I have to admit it went as well as it could have. They were even dark brown pants. Long ago, when sailing ships ruled the waves, a captain and his crew were in danger of being boarded by a pirate ship. As the crew became frantic, the captain bellowed to his First Mate, “Bring me my red shirt!”. The First Mate quickly retrieved the captain’s red shirt, which the captain put on and led the crew to battle the pirate boarding party. Although some casualties occurred among the crew, the pirates were repelled. Later that day, the lookout screamed that there were two pirate vessels sending boarding parties. The crew cowered in fear, but the captain calm as ever bellowed, “Bring me my red shirt!”. The battle was on, and once again the Captain and his crew repelled both boarding parties, although this time more casualties occurred. Weary from the battles, the men sat around on deck that night recounting the day’s occurrences when an ensign looked to the Captain and asked, “Sir, why did you call for your red shirt before the battle?”. The Captain, giving the ensign a look that only a captain can give, exhorted, “If I am wounded in battle, the red shirt does not show the wound and thus, you men will continue to fight unafraid”. The men sat in silence marveling at the courage of such a man. As dawn came the next morning, the lookout screamed that there were pirate ships, 10 of them, all with boarding parties on their way. The men became silent and looked to their Captain for his usual command. The Captain, calm as ever, bellowed, "Bring me my brown trousers!! ---
**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:** [October 3, 2019, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/44 "2019-10-03T19:45:34Z")
> [@ENugent](#): > > Changing health insurance is a royal pain in the ass… I just lost my insurance (and it was a good thing; I retired). I’ve got a whole new carrier, but I just know the first time I need drugs or an emergency room it’s going to be a clusterfuck… ---
**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:** [October 3, 2019, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/45 "2019-10-03T20:14:15Z")
One of my favorite jokes, **cochrane**! I no doubt heard it from you. 😃 ---
**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:** [October 3, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/46 "2019-10-03T22:12:34Z")
Came home: 1. Top shelf containing the unused coffee cups collapsed, causing them to spill to floor. Sophia and I cleaned up. 2. Warm house. Check thermostat- set to 78, but actual temp is 83. Big outside blower isn’t working. W/in parts warranty, though. House isn’t too bad because: 2.a. fans 2.b. Sophia has a window unit as she likes it colder than I’m willing to pay for. So, if need be, can sleep in her room tonight. On the floor. Or just deal in my room. 1. HOWEVER… Sophia is working on a video edit, lining up sound with images, and then doing her f/x. Her current shot is set to the intro of “YMCA”, meaning that every times she reviews her work, the short into plays. Repeatedly. Many times. Many, many, times. 1. So I’m sitting outside where the wind is blowing waiting for the A/C guy because not even air conditioned comfort is worth hearing the into to YMCA over 100 times in a 30 minute period… repeat ubtil she gets bored, or finished. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/47 "2019-10-04T11:16:03Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > They were even dark brown pants. Before or after? > [@slalexan](#): > > My husband is ok. Just ok. He is worried about me and, therefore, not talking to me about his feelings. I know you have since posted wanting to talk about something else, but I just wanted to say, as someone who has gone through this (more than once) from the ‘husband’ point of view, that this looks very familiar to me. “Just ok” is exactly right - apart from not having to deal with the physical issues, emotionally it just didn’t hit me nearly as hard as my wife. My main concern was for her wellbeing. If he says he’s OK, take him at his word to a large extent. And don’t feel stupid about your feelings (although, I guess that’s a feeling too - hmm…). It’s OK and natural to randomly burst into tears at work some days or even weeks later, I think. Not nice of course, but it happens. It’s a horrible thing to go through and you have my utmost sympathy. In our case, following some expensive elective surgery, we are now happy parents of 2 boys. It can all work out in time. Very best wishes to you. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/48 "2019-10-04T12:51:55Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 1. So I’m sitting outside where the wind is blowing waiting for the A/C guy because not even air conditioned comfort is worth hearing the into to YMCA over 100 times in a 30 minute period… repeat ubtil she gets bored, or finished. \ ***JohnT** , there’s no need to feel down. I said **JohnT** pick yourself off the ground. I said **JohnT** , airco causing a frown? There’s no need to be unhappy. Many ways to have a cool time. It’s cool inside at the Y.M.C.A. It’s cool inside at the Y.M.C.A. \* 🆒 ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/49 "2019-10-04T12:52:25Z")
Leave me alone. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/50 "2019-10-04T13:42:18Z")
Went to northern Vermont to a B&B for a gathering of friends from all over North America. Made my reservation 2 months in advance. Paid for 3 nights at the time. Wound up arriving a day earlier than planned. For a total of 4 nights. When checking out, neither I nor the landlady could recall whether I’d prepaid 1 night, or 3. So we decided I’d pay for all 3 nights (assuming I’d prepaid for 1), and check my records, and contact her for a refund. 1. She charged me full freight for the 3 nights, not the group discount rate. 2. I forgot to check my records right away when I got home. 3. When I did check, I realized that I’d already paid, so I’d in effect paid for 2 more nights than we stayed. AND, she charged me full freight for the 3 nights, not the group discounted rate. 4. And I found this out after the 60 day limit for doing a credit card chargeback. 5. And 3 emails to the landlady have gone ignored. I could file in small claims court but it’s 500 miles away from here. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/51 "2019-10-04T16:01:21Z")
That totally sounds like something I’d do. Not to insult you, but I call it ‘stupid tax’ - paying for stuff when you could have easily avoided the cost, e.g. missing a pre-booked train where your ticket is only valid for that particular time, and having to buy another. Can you call the landlady? Maybe you’re lucky and it’s just something that (understandably) isn’t high on her priority list, but a ‘live’ reminder could get her to deal with it. Assuming she is generally honest and reasonable, rather than deliberately holding on to your money and knowing you’re unlikely to be able to do much about it. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/52 "2019-10-04T16:12:35Z")
> [@Dead\_Cat](#): > > That totally sounds like something I’d do. Not to insult you, but I call it ‘stupid tax’ - paying for stuff when you could have easily avoided the cost, e.g. missing a pre-booked train where your ticket is only valid for that particular time, and having to buy another. > > Can you call the landlady? Maybe you’re lucky and it’s just something that (understandably) isn’t high on her priority list, but a ‘live’ reminder could get her to deal with it. Assuming she is generally honest and reasonable, rather than deliberately holding on to your money and knowing you’re unlikely to be able to do much about it. I will need to phone her, I think. While I’ve paid “stupid taxes” on numerous occasions, I don’t think she should profit from her own lack of organization. And the amount isn’t insignificant - about 400 bucks. I do have an “in” at the inn, so to speak; the owner’s cousin is a friend, and said friend might nudge her if I let the friend know. I’ve been avoiding doing so because i don’t like to bring in a 3rd party. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/53 "2019-10-04T16:28:37Z")
(I will say the video editing and creating tools Sophia has available on her phone just blow away what we paid for on our Windows desktop back in 2010 when she started this hobby.) Oh, uh… sorry for being off-topic! Uh… I ate a lot for breakfast and no longer want lunch? Is that a minirant? ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/54 "2019-10-04T16:31:48Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > \ ***JohnT** , there’s no need to feel down. > I said **JohnT** pick yourself off the ground. > I said **JohnT** , airco causing a frown? > There’s no need to be unhappy. If **I** were a mod, this would be an instaban-level violation of the “don’t be a jerk” rule. 😃 ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/55 "2019-10-04T17:07:26Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > . . . 3. HOWEVER… Sophia is working on a video edit, lining up sound with images, and then doing her f/x. Her current shot is set to the intro of “YMCA”, meaning that every times she reviews her work, the short into plays. > > Repeatedly. Many times. Many, many, times. > > 1. So I’m sitting outside where the wind is blowing waiting for the A/C guy because not even air conditioned comfort is worth hearing the into to YMCA over 100 times in a 30 minute period… repeat ubtil she gets bored, or finished. You mean the poor girl has no headphones? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/56 "2019-10-04T17:10:31Z")
She has headphones, but when she works on her videos, she likes to do it w/o the headphones. Just a quirk of hers which never bothered me until yesterday, when I couldn’t escape. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/57 "2019-10-04T17:48:00Z")
Stupid fucking hospital. They won’t allow fasting tests in the afternoon, basically forcing people with late shift work to not eat all day at work (maybe even risking their health if they must eat for diabetic or other reasons). They even flat out offered me a 3:30PM appointment (until they realized it was fasting) and I’ve done the test before, so I know there’s nothing special that needs to be set up. It’s just that the local hospital has gone downhill. Granted, my problem is more that I don’t have a ride in the morning. So I may be able to resolve it by finding someone who can take me. But finding out about such an asinine policy just pisses me off. It pisses me off even more that I’m going to probably have to bow down to them. I’m too much of an anxious mess to pressure them. I fucking hate it when I notice something that is wrong, could at least try to fix it, but selfishly choose not to. It just means I’m part of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/58 "2019-10-04T17:57:52Z")
**Mama Zappa** , why did it take you two months to discover you had been billed twice and at the wrong rate? Because to me, that does seem like a very very long time. So if the landlady takes a very very long time to reply to you, that would seem fair. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/59 "2019-10-04T19:36:22Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > **Mama Zappa** , why did it take you two months to discover you had been billed twice and at the wrong rate? Because to me, that does seem like a very very long time. So if the landlady takes a very very long time to reply to you, that would seem fair. Oh, I definitely am part of the issue. I was swamped with other stuff and kept forgetting to check. And I think I had in the back of my mind that I had 90 days, not 60, for a chargeback - plus I thought the landlady would be more responsive. ---
**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:** [October 4, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/60 "2019-10-04T20:18:46Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Stupid fucking hospital. They won’t allow fasting tests in the afternoon, basically forcing people with late shift work to not eat all day at work (maybe even risking their health if they must eat for diabetic or other reasons). > > They even flat out offered me a 3:30PM appointment (until they realized it was fasting) and I’ve done the test before, so I know there’s nothing special that needs to be set up. It’s just that the local hospital has gone downhill. > > Granted, my problem is more that I don’t have a ride in the morning. So I may be able to resolve it by finding someone who can take me. But finding out about such an asinine policy just pisses me off. It pisses me off even more that I’m going to probably have to bow down to them. I’m too much of an anxious mess to pressure them. > > I fucking hate it when I notice something that is wrong, could at least try to fix it, but selfishly choose not to. It just means I’m part of the problem. Does the test _have_ to be done at the hospital? Could you go to a blood-draw place? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099.md?page=4)