# 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:** 4
**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, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/61 "2019-10-04T20:23:18Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > 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. Reg E gives you 60 days from when you receive your statement. If the charge was on the last day of the statement cycle, they’re usually virtually the same but if it happened on the first day of the statement cycle you get more than 60 days from the txn. ---
**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 4, 2019, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/62 "2019-10-04T21:10:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Does the test _have_ to be done at the hospital? Could you go to a blood-draw place? They draw blood at my doctor’s office. No forms to fill out, no co-pay. ---
**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 5, 2019, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/63 "2019-10-05T11:43:27Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > They draw blood at my doctor’s office. No forms to fill out, no co-pay. I go to a place called Quest Diagnostics with a script from my doctor and they draw and submit samples. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/64 "2019-10-06T00:19:36Z")
I have really, really GOT to remember to make up packing lists before I, you know, do any actual packing. So far, I’ve discovered I left my brush and comb, my trackball, \*and \*my CPAP’s water reservoir at home. And it’s not like I can run home and get them, since I am currently 2,000 or so miles away. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/65 "2019-10-06T03:05:17Z")
Packing List: Priority Three = shit I can buy at Target or Walmart if I forget. (Toothpaste, hairbrush, warm socks.) Priority Two = shit that’s hard to find or buy. (This often involves substances that may not be legal at federal level, but aren’t necessarily life sustaining.) Priority One = shit that’s difficult or impossible to replace quickly, or that is life sustaining. Insulin. Prescription eyeglasses/contact lenses. Prescription Rx. Custon made orthodics. I’ve reduced a lot of travel anxiety by concentrating on Priority One. Did I pack my Rx pills? Glasses are on my face, and Rx sunglasses in my purse? Okay. Anything else can usually be resupplied at CVS. This leaves me free to worry about non-packing things i.e. turned off the stove or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![mischievous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mischievous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mischievous)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2019, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/66 "2019-10-06T17:13:20Z")
I’m always exhausted when it comes time to start packing, so I keep two packing lists on Google drive: “professional travel” and “fun travel”. Whenever it’s time to get ready, I just print off the appropriate list. If I realize that there’s something I should add to it, I can add it from anywhere. It’s saved my butt more times than I can count. ---
**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:** [October 6, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/67 "2019-10-06T23:41:01Z")
Are we still talking about the “stupid tax”? I just paid one. Since autumn has finally seen fit to arrive, I decided it was cool enough this afternoon to pull the second rear vent panel off my '97 Jeep to sand and repaint it. I had done the same for the panel on the driver’s side, and was pleased with the results. That one had come off fairly easily, with just a bit of prying, so I didn’t have any reason to think the passenger side one would give trouble. The panel is held in place with three ‘pins’ that latch into holes in the body with little rubber grommets. The first two came out with no problem, but the third was stubborn…I ended up prying so hard that the panel snapped at the bottom. :smack: It’s somewhat glued back together and drying at the moment, but I don’t think it will hold, so I’ve ordered a pair of used ones on eBay (at what I think is a premium price, but they do happen to be coated in factory paint in the same color as my vehicle). ---
**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 7, 2019, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/68 "2019-10-07T06:47:22Z")
Sorry, that’s not stupid tax. That’s “If it’s stuck, force it. If it breaks, well it needed replacing anyway.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/69 "2019-10-08T14:14:32Z")
Yesterday, my boss pulled me into his office for a talk. It seems I am apparently not doing well. I suppose that should be obvious, what with all the things that have happened this year (my grandfather passed away, my daughter was diagnosed with autism and started school, I just had a miscarriage not even two weeks ago…). It really sucks to realize how poorly you are doing from your boss. But that’s not my rant. My rant is that he gave me the number for the employee assistance program so I can get some help with my super obvious depression. And I called the number, only to be told that they don’t have a current contract with the company I work for. Yay. I told HR and my boss about it this morning and they are sorting things out. It takes work to talk about your mental health and your feelings and how depressed you are and it sucks to meet a dead end like that. It also sucks that I know now that everyone can tell and I feel like a giant, terrible loser who sticks out like a sore thumb. Isn’t mental health just fun? ---
**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:** [October 8, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/70 "2019-10-08T14:21:00Z")
Oh, my god. That is awful. What a faux pax, telling an employee something that awkward and then “oopsie! No contact, sorry/not sorry!” on top of all the other crap you’re dealing with right now. I wish I had something useful to say, or at least something funny to cheer you up. But damn, lady, at least know you have my heartfelt sympathy. ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/71 "2019-10-08T15:17:38Z")
It’s ok. I laughed more than anything. I’m an engineer and I’m often called in when things don’t work. And, with utilities or things like that, often the problem isn’t mechanical… it’s financial. (One I’m working on right now isn’t entirely our fault. I keep asking the phone company to give me their info so I can pay them correctly and they just keep giving me the run around. I want to pay them, AP wants to pay them. It’s like they don’t want our money.) What had actually happened is that my company started a new contract after the old one lapsed but didn’t transfer everyone over. Whoopsie! I’m glad it wasn’t because we forgot to pay them. That’d be really embarrassing. ---
**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 8, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/72 "2019-10-08T16:28:07Z")
I work for a large (FTSE100) company. Twice in the last year some part of our business has gone wrong because of not paying a third party. And those are just two I know about - I don’t even sit near/in the Finance department, so there are probably loads more. Ridiculous how things can get to that stage in a large, supposedly efficient organisation. Mental health at work is a bit “damned if you do, damned if you don’t”. On balance, I think your boss got it right (stupid EAP mistake aside, which wasn’t their fault). It’s probably better they have your back and are looking out for your wellbeing, than just expecting you to ‘deal with it’ and perform at 100% all the time regardless of any personal issues. Hope the EAP is of some help, it can’t hurt. ---
**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 8, 2019, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/73 "2019-10-08T18:56:52Z")
At least people at your office can talk about mental health issues. I cannot believe how the stigma of seeing a therapist has morphed into “Well, MY therapist says…” I honestly think everyone I work with has seen a counselor of some sort. And far from hiding it, coworkers will mention it in casual conversation. Now, I work in a creative field. Maybe boring people just keep it bottled up, but my research shows that 99% of interesting people have therapists. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/74 "2019-10-08T19:41:37Z")
I have a trip to DC in a couple of weeks. There is a hotel convenient to the meeting location. The rate per night is $460! That’s twice the allowable per-diem rate. I found a place next to the airport for $300. What a rip-off. ---
**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 8, 2019, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/75 "2019-10-08T20:04:50Z")
> [@Kelevra](#): > > I have a trip to DC in a couple of weeks. There is a hotel convenient to the meeting location. The rate per night is $460! That’s twice the allowable per-diem rate. I found a place next to the airport for $300. What a rip-off. One thing I’ve learned from The Dope is to check AirB&B and VRBO rates. Oh, and I’ve gotten such good deals getting a “package” of flight + hotel, from Expedia or Obitz et al, that it’s like the hotel is half price or even essentially free. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/76 "2019-10-08T20:28:56Z")
> [@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. In the “Best Username/post Combination” sweepstakes, **Dung Beetle** is coming up on the inside stretch. Could be a photo finish.\* _By which I mean “pics or it didn’t happen,” of course…_\* \*\*God, I hope it didn’t happen… ---
**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 9, 2019, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/77 "2019-10-09T11:05:42Z")
I’m sorry, Dung Beetle, I can’t help but re-post this 1-2 punch from [this thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=854790) last year - one of the funniest posts I have ever seen on the boards. Bear in mind the thread title is “Have you ever sharted?”: > [@Have you ever sharted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-sharted/814147/3): > > Not this week. But it’s only Monday. Not 2 hours later: > [@Have you ever sharted?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-ever-sharted/814147/8): > > Well, hell. I take it back. :mad: ---
**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:** [October 9, 2019, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/78 "2019-10-09T12:45:32Z")
No take-backsies! ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/79 "2019-10-09T14:07:13Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > No take-backsies! Not Dung Beetle’s anyway! :eek: ---
**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 9, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099/80 "2019-10-09T19:41:30Z")
I fart in y’all’s general direction, very carefully! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-are-you-scared-of-halloween-october-mini-rants/841099.md?page=5)