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I generally feel annoyed with everything these days. Perhaps I have always been annoyed by life in general but didn't realize how irritating the world can be until I reached middle-aged crankiness. I wrote a page for my blog this past winter about things that annoy me because I feel that these daily disturbances need their own page and recognition. However, this blog site doesn't allow me to continue that page as an on-going gripe session so I am placing my grievances here.
How does bitching tie in with travel, fashion, food, etc? Well, I believe that as we travel through life, we adapt as we experience the sights and smells of the evolution of change. Some people ignore the delights of sensory perception and thus, never evolve as they age (Neil Young? Need I say more?). Hence, this complaint box will be a continuation of my previous blog about things that annoy me because I just convinced myself that this subject has relevance to this blog. End!
Things that annoy me today:
Contractors - they tell you a job will be completed by a certain date and then do not return your phone calls or emails. Once you decide to fire them, they call you and seduce you once again into thinking they will now give your home priority. Do not believe them!!
Grocery store clerks - I complained about them before but forgot the other annoying trait of their job: Why do they give you your receipt, bills and change in one pile dumped into your hand? How am I supposed to put away my change, my bills, my receipt easily while this woman glares at me to move on?
Purchasing gas in the U.S. - Americans are generally fearful of a number of things: different races, religions, the government, Communists, Socialists, CNN, and folks who buy gas and take off. Now, there has been this fear of gas pump flight for the past 10 years; yet, I have never read one newspaper article that discusses this problem. As a result of this new-found fear, you cannot fill your car with gas without following the most ridiculous set of rules. You must leave something of value with the clerk before the pumping of gas can begin. From now on, I think I will use the same strategy I use with students who claim to need to use the bathroom but in reality will smoke something illegal in the schoolyard: leave a shoe. Generally, my shoes are worth more than my driver's licence so I think this is a fair trade-off.
Dealing with any government agency in the U.S.: For the past year, I have been spending a great deal of time in the United States caring for my elderly parents. After one 6 1/2 hour stint of phone calls to agencies for address changes, power of attorney forms, medical information, I have decided to start my own country that is paperless and actually trusts everyone until I read in the paper that someone drove off without paying for their gas.
What is with the fresh ground pepper on all restaurant meals these days? Who started this trend? I really want to find this person and cover their house in toilet paper. North American wait staff are constantly looking for new ways to interrupt your dinner: "Would you like fresh ground pepper with that?" "How is your meal?" (they always ask before you have tasted your food or your mouth is full). They never seem to notice that you are in the middle of a very intense discussion when they decide to fill your water glasses (but when you actually need water, can you find anyone who remotely looks like your waiter?) They always seem to be in a hurry to leave: "Are you finished with your plate?" Would you like your cheque?" These questions are always asked when your plate is still half full and you are engaged in another lengthy discussion which to most people would be an indication that you are not ready to leave.
Now for the other annoying trend in North American restaurants: "Hi, my name is Susie and I will be your waitress for this evening." I don't care to know the name of my server. I just want good service, good food, no fresh ground pepper and enough time to enjoy my friends without feeling as though I am holding up the table for someone more important. Maven Fernanda handled this situation well. When the waitress told us her name, Fernanda replied, "Hi, my name is Fernanda and I will be your customer this evening." Perfection!
And finally, why can't chocolate cake be good for me? Now this is really annoying!
How does bitching tie in with travel, fashion, food, etc? Well, I believe that as we travel through life, we adapt as we experience the sights and smells of the evolution of change. Some people ignore the delights of sensory perception and thus, never evolve as they age (Neil Young? Need I say more?). Hence, this complaint box will be a continuation of my previous blog about things that annoy me because I just convinced myself that this subject has relevance to this blog. End!
Things that annoy me today:
Contractors - they tell you a job will be completed by a certain date and then do not return your phone calls or emails. Once you decide to fire them, they call you and seduce you once again into thinking they will now give your home priority. Do not believe them!!
Grocery store clerks - I complained about them before but forgot the other annoying trait of their job: Why do they give you your receipt, bills and change in one pile dumped into your hand? How am I supposed to put away my change, my bills, my receipt easily while this woman glares at me to move on?
Purchasing gas in the U.S. - Americans are generally fearful of a number of things: different races, religions, the government, Communists, Socialists, CNN, and folks who buy gas and take off. Now, there has been this fear of gas pump flight for the past 10 years; yet, I have never read one newspaper article that discusses this problem. As a result of this new-found fear, you cannot fill your car with gas without following the most ridiculous set of rules. You must leave something of value with the clerk before the pumping of gas can begin. From now on, I think I will use the same strategy I use with students who claim to need to use the bathroom but in reality will smoke something illegal in the schoolyard: leave a shoe. Generally, my shoes are worth more than my driver's licence so I think this is a fair trade-off.
Dealing with any government agency in the U.S.: For the past year, I have been spending a great deal of time in the United States caring for my elderly parents. After one 6 1/2 hour stint of phone calls to agencies for address changes, power of attorney forms, medical information, I have decided to start my own country that is paperless and actually trusts everyone until I read in the paper that someone drove off without paying for their gas.
What is with the fresh ground pepper on all restaurant meals these days? Who started this trend? I really want to find this person and cover their house in toilet paper. North American wait staff are constantly looking for new ways to interrupt your dinner: "Would you like fresh ground pepper with that?" "How is your meal?" (they always ask before you have tasted your food or your mouth is full). They never seem to notice that you are in the middle of a very intense discussion when they decide to fill your water glasses (but when you actually need water, can you find anyone who remotely looks like your waiter?) They always seem to be in a hurry to leave: "Are you finished with your plate?" Would you like your cheque?" These questions are always asked when your plate is still half full and you are engaged in another lengthy discussion which to most people would be an indication that you are not ready to leave.
Now for the other annoying trend in North American restaurants: "Hi, my name is Susie and I will be your waitress for this evening." I don't care to know the name of my server. I just want good service, good food, no fresh ground pepper and enough time to enjoy my friends without feeling as though I am holding up the table for someone more important. Maven Fernanda handled this situation well. When the waitress told us her name, Fernanda replied, "Hi, my name is Fernanda and I will be your customer this evening." Perfection!
And finally, why can't chocolate cake be good for me? Now this is really annoying!
