The Vent and Rant Thread

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by tsgreer

I recently retired. I was looking forward to the first snow this year; thinking that it'd finally be my friend. Pictured myself sipping cheap coffee, staring out the window like some wise old mountain hermit while a storm raged. Raising my eyebrows at the people driving way too fast on slick roads.

No commute. No ice. No white-knuckled death drive to work. That was part of the dream.

Then today drops the first big snow of my retirement. I should be celebrating! I should be dancing in my slippers! Instead I’m looking out at my driveway, straight at my giant rented dumpster like it’s some doomed ship taking on water. I ordered it because the weather has been freakishly warm. I got tricked into thinking I should clean up my garage and fix my yard like a responsible youngish old guy.

But here’s the punchline. The dumpster charges by weight. They pick it up tomorrow. And every inch of this storm is stuffing itself into every nook and cranny of my dumpster like it’s trying to qualify for world’s heaviest frozen sponge.

Mother Nature coulda waited one more day. Just one. But nah, she clocked out early and dumped a wet blanket straight into my retirement budget.

This is why I shoulda been writing crappy pulp stories instead of being responsible. Ugh! I guess the universe really likes its jokes cold.

Just the stories/experiences you've been through, you write it, I'll buy it. I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry, my inappropriate laughter won out

[poohbear_nc]

Idiots in my neighborhood have set off fireworks every night since Xmas - am dreading NYE if this keeps up.

[abbynormal52]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Idiots in my neighborhood have set off fireworks every night since Xmas - am dreading NYE if this keeps up.

I agree with the name "idiots". I liked it when it was for little kids with a few sparklers

[Renate]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Idiots in my neighborhood have set off fireworks every night since Xmas - am dreading NYE if this keeps up.

I agree. Why do so many people not have access to a calendar?

As a curmudgeon I am against all fireworks for the noise and smoke.
I think the development of drone displays a positive one.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

Idiots in my neighborhood have set off fireworks every night since Xmas - am dreading NYE if this keeps up.

I can sympathize.

In the Netherlands fireworks is only allowed to be sold (or pre-orders to be picked up) on the last three days of the year and it's allowed to be set of from 6pm on the 31st until 2am on the 1st.

But in reality we've been hearing fireworks being set off every day/night since early November and it's slowly ramping up. It isn't as bad as last year (first year in our new house), but I think people are saving it for NYE this year. It's probably the last year non-professionals are allowed to set of any fireworks but the lightest forms (eg sparklers). However, the police has already let it be known that they aren't going to be (able to) do anything about fireworks that is set off illegally next year. Combined with the fact that in Belgium and Germany it's allowed to sell fireworks all year around, I'm not expecting a quiet NYE from next year onward.

I expect the setting off of fireworks will start in earnest today. I got my earplugs within reach on my bedside table. We'll be celebrating NYE at my parents' place, which you have a nice view on two sides to look at fireworks in the distance, but it isn't set off too close (at least last year). When we got back last year from my parents' after 2am one neighbour was still setting off very heavy fireworks for another half an hour or so.

Not my favourite time of the year.