The Complaint Thread

[JTA]

40 below or so in the high plains oil patch, pipe burst in the basement and flooded the furnace, no heat, we all moved our mattresses into one room for the night, woke to find the toilet frozen - no surprise - but the Listerine was frozen, too, all baseboard hot water heat, we knew it would be a long time before repair, moved out that day. That year it was so cold for so long - a month or so below zero - that when it got to 10 below with no wind we were outdoors frolicking. Your spit freezes before it hits the ground and rolls along like a thick jelly. I would hitch to work, never saw a third car because one of the first two would pick me up thinking I would die. I was okay, though, dressed for working outside all day. We had shunts in the pickup radiator houses so we could circulate hot water into the rig in order to unfreeze it and crank it up. Perspective, no complaints here.

Did this happen up in Hendersonville?

[JTA]

That's pretty terrible and all, but I still don't want my pipe to burst.

I was hoping to make you feel better.

I re-read my comment and it sounds douchey. Didn't mean to come off that way, it was real late and I was half asleep. Sorry Vrede! I'm feeling much better today with this nice weather we're having. I usually don't mind the cold (so long as my pipes don't freeze). I hate rainy, dreary, weather much more. I'm hoping this summer isn't as going to be as rainy as last. Made me want to pack up and move south west. I'm headed out there this spring so at least I can count on that should we have more of the same this year again.

[Bungalow Bill]

I always get a kick out of the Auto Advantage ads. The value of your new car
depreciates the moment you drive if off the lot, but the value of a car from
Auto Advantage.........just stays the same, right?

[Mr.B]

"......they'll let you die here before ever picking up a hitchhiker."

Didn't use to be that way until the 'furriners' started migrating here from other parts.

From age 13 to 18, I hitchhiked practically everywhere I went, rarely went 30 minutes or longer before I got picked up.

Nowadays, even at my age, I wouldn't dare get into a strangers car; let alone pick up a stranger.
Them 'furriners' brought all kinds of anti-social 'diseases' with 'em.

[O Really]

I don't know exactly when it became scary to hitchhike or pick up hitchhikers, but it would have been during the 70's. I'm guessing that part of it might have been that while college students made up a large percentage of hitchhikers, when students started looking "scary" to some people, it started a downward trend. Add movies like "The Hitchhiker", a couple of real-life abductions, an "all-crime-all-the-time," "bleeds it leads" media preferences and all of a sudden nobody gets or gives a ride.

[neoplacebo]

I have no complaint about the lack of hitch hikers these days. They're hard to see mostly; have you seen any lately? I do complain about the weatherman; he said nothing about snow here abouts this morning, yet I find myself having to drive home in vile flotsam for 23 miles never getting up to 30mph and hoping nobody would stop on a hill.

[JTA]

... he said nothing about snow here abouts this morning, yet I find myself having to drive home in vile flotsam for 23 miles never getting up to 30mph and hoping nobody would stop on a hill.

Its getting pretty bad around here too. Word on the street is there is looting and rioting back in town. A guy in my office strangled one of my co-workers with a mouse and started cannibalizing them when word got out the bread and milk was sold out at the grocery store. Hopefully things return to normal tomorrow.

[neoplacebo]

Ralph Steadman should make a drawing of this vile and terrible situation. It's rather memorable.

[Mr.B]

"Worse than the snow and cold: 4-wheel drive motorists, two of them, that can't top 25 mph on 55 mph roads where the only, only, ice was between the lanes. Turned what was going to be an early arrival into a late one. If you're that scared despite having the perfect rig for the conditions, don't drive. I was longing for my Mountain West tourist bazooka."

The first thing a Floridian thinks he's absolutely gotta do when they get moved "up into the mountings", is to go and buy a four-wheel drive......
when the need arises, they can't drive the cotton-pickin' things!

Fortunately, I didn't have to get out in the mess, because unfortunately, I've been down with one of the worst colds I can remember.
I've not worked since Saturday afternoon....I'm miserable!

[O Really]

Sorry about that, Mr.B - Hope you get better soon.

[Mr.B]

"Sorry about that, Mr.B - Hope you get better soon."

Thanks...your well wishes are greatly appreciated!

[Mr.B]

"Flu maybe? Did you get vaccinated?"

Yep...go every year to the VA. I don't think it's the flu though....I'm slowly recovering; just don't have any sense of taste or smell yet.

[Mr.B]

"I applaud your taking advantage of one of our three (along with military healthcare and IHS) truly socialized healthcare systems. It must work for you."

You're welcome. I only get flu shots free. My VA health care is limited, not totally free....but it does work for me.
Sorry you're not on "the bandwagon". You really are a bitter old cuss, aren't you?

[JTA]

I'd like to complain about Thursdays being merely a prelude to Fridays. Thursdays are almost as bad as Tuesdays being a prelude to Wednesdays.

[neoplacebo]

I will complain about preludes in general. I prefer to get straight to the nut of the situation, whatever it may be.

[JTA]

I will complain about preludes in general. I prefer to get straight to the nut of the situation, whatever it may be.

The prelude to the nut is the most enjoyable part though.

[neoplacebo]

In some cases, true. I take this chance to also note that I don't care much for epilogues, either. And sequels really make my ass drag.

[JTA]

In some cases, true. I take this chance to also note that I don't care much for epilogues, either. And sequels really make my ass drag.

Yeah true. I guess it depends though. Preludes are no fun when you're going solo, but when you have a helping hand they can be quite enjoyable, but the epilogue may be what's a bit awkward. The climax and subsequent outcome of the epilogue is what ultimately determines whether or not there's going to be a sequel.

[neoplacebo]

Well, this just goes to show that preludes, epilogues, sequels, and we may as well include reruns, must be taken on a case by case basis and not be generalized as ordinary events. I guess.

[Mr.B]

"How was teasing you over the socialized healthcare you get "bitter"? "

You've always given former military grief over their benefits. I just figured you were bitter over something....... :?: