# Winter's a-coming! Season of Death Mini-Rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833 "2010-09-18T09:03:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/181 "2010-09-28T09:59:57Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > When we moved into our new (to me) house last summer, with the new (to me) stove, it took me forever to stop burning things that I’d cooked hundreds of times. Man, that was frustrating. > > My little ol’ rant - I was talking to my sister tonight, and she was in my least favourite mood of hers - argumentative know-it-all (with a soupçon of “hostile in-your-face”). I just want to walk away from her when she’s like that - there’s no having a pleasant conversation. I had to look at your location to make sure that I wasn’t your sister… Whew! 😃 And I don’t even have a good excuse for scorching the meatloaf tonight. I switched the oven over to broil so that I could brown the bread quickly, and just forgot to take the meatloaf out of the oven first… D’oh! > [@](#): > > Is it nasty of me that I am now hoping the docs got the gendering wrong? Or, oh-God, has she already decided It’s A Girl even though the docs haven’t been able to tell yet? > > Barring that, I do hope the daughter turns out to be the exact opposite of what her mom is planning Overplanning mothers give me the willies for some reason (no, I don’t have any in my family, why do you ask? _tries to hide her mother and sister-in-law in a closet_) Yeah, a colleague of my husband’s just had his first son. Marc thinks the baby’s gonna follow in dad’s footsteps - Marines, martial arts, etc. Nursery’s all decorated in camouflage and Marine insignia. It’s cute, in its way, but makes me think that the kid’s gonna be a professional dancer or marching band geek. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/182 "2010-09-28T13:45:58Z")
[QUOTE=Cat Whisperer] When we moved into our new (to me) house last summer, with the new (to me) stove, it took me forever to stop burning things that I’d cooked hundreds of times. Man, that was frustrating. [/QUOTE] I blame the pan. I usually use a semi-ratty nonstick stockpot when I make chili, but that one was in the dishwasher, and I was in a hurry, so I grabbed one of those fancy-ass double-clad stainless-steel numbers, and it evidently cooks hotter than my Cheapo Depot pots. Fortunately the chili doesn’t smell bad or anything, just slightly smoked, which I am going to pretend I did on purpose. It’s not just turkey chili, it’s _smoked_ turkey chili. > [@Nava](#): > > Is it nasty of me that I am now hoping the docs got the gendering wrong? Or, oh-God, has she already decided It’s A Girl even though the docs haven’t been able to tell yet? > > Barring that, I do hope the daughter turns out to be the exact opposite of what her mom is planning Overplanning mothers give me the willies for some reason (no, I don’t have any in my family, why do you ask? _tries to hide her mother and sister-in-law in a closet_) Nope, I do too. Docs say it’s a girl. She’s made her peace with that, since she was convinced earlier on that she was going to have a boy. When she did not receive the confirmation she expected, she had a fit and threatened to “throw a nervous breakdown,” whatever the hell _that_ means. I suspected it was a girl all along, because she’s been _all drama all the time_ since the moment she got pregnant, and that’s how the women in my family tend to be when they’re having girls. Like they’re not melodramatic enough to begin with. Personally, I am hoping that my presumed-niece-to-be IS the opposite of what my sister wants her to be, assuming anyone can figure out what that’s supposed to be. She’s doing the room all up in pink camouflage and princesses and glittery stuff. It’s enough to make somebody schizophrenic. > [@Lacunae Matata](#): > > Yeah, a colleague of my husband’s just had his first son. Marc thinks the baby’s gonna follow in dad’s footsteps - Marines, martial arts, etc. Nursery’s all decorated in camouflage and Marine insignia. It’s cute, in its way, but makes me think that the kid’s gonna be a professional dancer or marching band geek. My sister and brother-in-law have said, _out loud_, that they intend to raise their daughter as if she were a princess. They’re going to wait on her hand and foot, she will never want for anything, her wish is their command, etc. I think they’re totally batshit insane, and furthermore, they’ll be raising a brat. There are already enough brats in the world (about whom, _of course_, my sister and brother-in-law complain all the time). But their kid will be different. _Whatevs_. I mean, I guess it’s fine, if that’s what they want to do, but kids are hard enough to begin with, and if you’re intentionally raising them to be demanding and dependent … _shrug._ Not for me. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/183 "2010-09-28T13:49:40Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > My sister and brother-in-law have said, _out loud_, that they intend to raise their daughter as if she were a princess. They’re going to wait on her hand and foot, she will never want for anything, her wish is their command, etc. I strongly suspect that’s not how your average real princess gets raised, but it’s only a suspicion. Poor kids ☹ - by which I mean the ones who get blown-up rather than raised, not the real princesses. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/184 "2010-09-28T14:28:50Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > When we moved into our new (to me) house last summer, with the new (to me) stove, it took me forever to stop burning things that I’d cooked hundreds of times. Man, that was frustrating. When I moved here from Chicago I had to adjust to cooking with electric instead of gas, because that seems to be the standard in this area. (When I was house hunting two years ago I was leaning strongly toward buying one place simply because it had a gas stove.) Even after four years I still have to remind myself of some things I had to learn, like that the cooking surfaces are still hot for a while after you turn them off. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/185 "2010-09-28T14:35:40Z")
Dear Brother&Sister-in-Law, Your brother dumped me. I did not dump him, I did not dump you. AFAIK, you had not dumped me. I didn’t expect a present, but would it have killed you to post a quick “Happy Birthday!” on facebook, or sent a card/email? I know it’s awkward, what with your brother having kicked me out when I was four months gone with your niece[1], and him having already moved his new woman’s stuff in, but really, I’ve been trying to be the bigger person and not let it affect my relationship with you and your family. And your parents were kind enough to send a card. Really, you couldn’t take the 2 seconds required out of your busy day…? No love, Me [1] Yes, she is. If he dares suggest otherwise publicly again, I’ll be doing the DNA proof and libel case simultaneously. ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/186 "2010-09-28T14:52:20Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > > [@SpazCat](#): > > > > I got you a pre-sent! > > > > That Robot Chicken episode ruined the video for “Last Dance with Mary Jane” for me. Now I see the an acorn for the head of the dead girl Tom Petty’s dancing with. > > Robot Chicken has ruined EVERYTHING for me. Especially the Snuggle softener bear. ☹ Robot Chicken made 1776 _better_. ---
**Author:** ![Ninja\_Lauren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/46a35a/32.png) [@Ninja\_Lauren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ninja_Lauren)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/187 "2010-09-28T15:09:32Z")
Listen, it takes nine months to make a baby. If the last time you slept with someone was a year before, they aren’t your baby daddy. Simple math. So quit effing bugging us! If you were that convinced he was the father, I should think you would have got a DNA test by this point, since the kid is now three. Do everyone, including your poor kids a favor, and jump off a very high cliff. Thanks. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/188 "2010-09-28T15:18:16Z")
> [@hermette](#): > > Dear Brother&Sister-in-Law, > > Your brother dumped me. I did not dump him, I did not dump you. AFAIK, you had not dumped me. I didn’t expect a present, but would it have killed you to post a quick “Happy Birthday!” on facebook, or sent a card/email? > > I know it’s awkward, what with your brother having kicked me out when I was four months gone with your niece[1], and him having already moved his new woman’s stuff in, but really, I’ve been trying to be the bigger person and not let it affect my relationship with you and your family. And your parents were kind enough to send a card. Really, you couldn’t take the 2 seconds required out of your busy day…? > > No love, > > Me > > [1] Yes, she is. If he dares suggest otherwise publicly again, I’ll be doing the DNA proof and libel case simultaneously. Slander, unless his denials are written by him and published. Very sorry this is happening to you (the snub from his family, most particularly. He sounds like a piece of work who may have done you a favor by disappearing). It might be a good idea to converse with his siblings so they clearly understand what kind of relationship you’re interested in maintaining. And you know what they’re interested in. Good luck with your baby, happy birthday, and make sure he’s paying support with or without a DNA test. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/189 "2010-09-28T15:29:56Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I meant to open a new thread and then found, after the five minute edit window, that instead of a new thread, I had posted in the old thread. And then you deliberately decided to open a new thread anyway, despite the fact that there was already another new minirant thread, to post the same rant you’d already posted in the other one. So, I guess that makes the answer “retard.” > [@](#): > > You’re just noticing this now? You’re both an asshole and a retard. Go back to trolling elsewhere. Sorry, some of us spend the weekends across the country visiting our boyfriends instead of posting to webbernets forums while trying to convince the cats to lick our nuts. > [@rockle](#): > > My sister and brother-in-law have said, _out loud_, that they intend to raise their daughter as if she were a princess. They’re going to wait on her hand and foot, she will never want for anything, her wish is their command, etc. Kill them both, for the good of the universe, or that kid is going to be a Grade A bitch, and at some point about twenty years from now, I am going to smack the shit out of her. > [@LurkMeister](#): > > When I moved here from Chicago I had to adjust to cooking with electric instead of gas, because that seems to be the standard in this area. I miss gas stoves _so much_. One of the few detractors with my current place is that the range is electric. It makes me cry. > [@hermette](#): > > Your brother dumped me. I did not dump him, I did not dump you. AFAIK, you had not dumped me. I didn’t expect a present, but would it have killed you to post a quick “Happy Birthday!” on facebook, or sent a card/email? Sorry your ex is a dick, but what obligation do these people have to you, exactly? Their brother got you pregnant. Big fucking deal. They clearly chose him over you; put them in the same “asshole” basket and move the fuck on instead of whining because you didn’t get a fucking \*Facebook post \*on your birthday. (What are you, a high school student?) ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/190 "2010-09-28T15:31:32Z")
The musical? Or the year in general? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/191 "2010-09-28T15:55:13Z")
> [@Ninja\_Lauren](#): > > Listen, it takes nine months to make a baby. If the last time you slept with someone was a year before, they aren’t your baby daddy. Simple math. So quit effing bugging us! If you were that convinced he was the father, I should think you would have got a DNA test by this point, since the kid is now three. Do everyone, including your poor kids a favor, and jump off a very high cliff. Thanks. I thought for a few seconds that this was a response to \*\*hermette’s \*\* post right above yours. “Wow, that’s a bit harsh, dude!” :eek: Sorry, **hermette** , I can’t sympathize too much either - your ex got his family in the divorce, naturally enough. Since there’s a kid, I’m sure they keep in some contact, but I wouldn’t be expecting birthday cards from my ex-sister-in-law. ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/192 "2010-09-28T15:56:19Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Kill them both, for the good of the universe, or that kid is going to be a Grade A bitch, and at some point about twenty years from now, I am going to smack the shit out of her. Get in line. I already want to smack my sister from Hell to breakfast; I see no indication that I would want to treat her child differently. Poisonous fruit from a poisonous tree and all that rot. It gave me a particular kind of satisfaction when my 3-year-old overheard some of this crazytalk one day and asked my sister, “But what if [the baby] doesn’t _want_ to be a princess? What if she wants to be a pirate? Or a dinosaur?” ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/193 "2010-09-28T15:56:28Z")
Moral of the story: If you have a minirant, you better goddamn well be sure it’s justified first or **SFG** will come for you in the night. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/194 "2010-09-28T16:32:24Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > > [@hermette](#): > > > > Your brother dumped me. I did not dump him, I did not dump you. AFAIK, you had not dumped me. I didn’t expect a present, but would it have killed you to post a quick “Happy Birthday!” on facebook, or sent a card/email? > > Sorry your ex is a dick, but what obligation do these people have to you, exactly? Their brother got you pregnant. Big fucking deal. They clearly chose him over you; put them in the same “asshole” basket and move the fuck on instead of whining because you didn’t get a fucking \*Facebook post \*on your birthday. (What are you, a high school student?) So you’ve never heard of friendships? Extended family is a foreign concept to you? (my aunt is still my aunt and always will be, regardless of whether my mother’s brother divorced her or not) I’m glad to see you see your relationships as so disposable but thankfully, not everyone out there is so shallow 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/195 "2010-09-28T16:34:28Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > It gave me a particular kind of satisfaction when my 3-year-old overheard some of this crazytalk one day and asked my sister, “But what if [the baby] doesn’t _want_ to be a princess? What if she wants to be a pirate? Or a dinosaur?” \ I’m pretty sure even rockle’s sister from Hell doesn’t deserve to give birth to a dinosaur. Human babies are hard enough. When is my stupid foot going to stop hurting and swelling? And fuck doctors in general and Dr Speedy in particular for doling out new bad news every sit weeks. I just want to know when this is going to be _over_, ok? ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/196 "2010-09-28T16:35:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Sorry, **hermette** , I can’t sympathize too much either - your ex got his family in the divorce, naturally enough. Since there’s a kid, I’m sure they keep in some contact, but I wouldn’t be expecting birthday cards from my ex-sister-in-law. Umm, what divorce would that be? 🙂 If we end up reconciling (it’s only been 3 months), they’re going to look very stupid 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/197 "2010-09-28T16:44:25Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Slander, unless his denials are written by him and published. > > Very sorry this is happening to you (the snub from his family, most particularly. He sounds like a piece of work who may have done you a favor by disappearing). It might be a good idea to converse with his siblings so they clearly understand what kind of relationship you’re interested in maintaining. And you know what they’re interested in. > > Good luck with your baby, happy birthday, and make sure he’s paying support with or without a DNA test. Do posts on a public message board count as published? 🙂 Guess I’ll be writing his siblings off, thankfully his parents aren’t as petty, lovely card through from them! Got my lawyer ready to hit him for child support as soon as baby is born, as no money has appeared yet… (in the UK, he’s not liable for maintenance until kiddo appears, not sure if that’s the same elsewhere. Can see the logic, but given how much I’m spending alone on clothes/pram/nursery stuff for wee one already, it doesn’t seem entirely fair!) ---
**Author:** ![rockle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/73ab20/32.png) [@rockle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rockle)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/198 "2010-09-28T17:17:41Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > \ I’m pretty sure even rockle’s sister from Hell doesn’t deserve to give birth to a dinosaur. Human babies are hard enough. Not even one of those cute little ones that look like naked chickens? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/199 "2010-09-28T17:57:11Z")
> [@rockle](#): > > > [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > > > \ I’m pretty sure even rockle’s sister from Hell doesn’t deserve to give birth to a dinosaur. Human babies are hard enough. > > Not even one of those cute little ones that look like naked chickens? The humans or the dinos? ---
**Author:** ![MegaBee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f0a364/32.png) [@MegaBee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MegaBee)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/200 "2010-09-28T18:46:04Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > The musical? Or the year in general? Both, really. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833.md?page=11)