There is a little "issue" in my house. The three other humans in my house, for whom I cook, clean, fill out endless forms, chauffeur and social direct, seem to think I am irritable. It's a no-win situation. I can be all laid-back for days on end and then when I am the slightest bit annoyed, the response is, "You are always so irritable!"
I'll concede the point...because I am, by nature, a little on the irritable side. Under the auspices of full disclosure, I present:
Thirteen Things that Irritate Me
1. Floors that squeak - at the house we are renting until our house is built (which will not have squeaky floors) there are several loud squeaky places...the most irritating of which is directly in front of the washer and dryer. So, as if it's not enough that one is enduring the endless toil of laundry, one gets to hear the constant squeaking every time ones weight shifts loading or unloading.
2. OPK - other people's kids. Not all other people's kids...just the ones that loudly make their presence known in public while Mom and/or Dad stand idly by, oblivious to their obnoxiousness. These kids' behaviors are more obvious here in the South where it's still OK to expect children to be seen and not heard, your kids' friends politely answer, "Yes, ma'am" when you ask them something and adults are respectfully called, "Miss Diane" or "Mr. Hurley."
3. Ignorance of Grammar and Spelling - if you don't know the language, please refrain from publishing things which perpetuate the decline in our language. Today I saw not one, but TWO ads on Craigslist for fencing for a dog "pin." When I read people's feedback on various travel topics...hotels, restaurants, etc....they seem quite well-spoken but they consistently misuse "your" and "you're."
4. Loud and annoying ring tones - I believe that most phones have a "vibrate" function. When you are in a hospital, at a basketball game or in a waiting room, utilize that function!!! We know your kids have already told you this, but it's a little embarrassing even to US that you have the theme from Shaft as your ring tone. And Nextel users, it IS possible to direct connect without having the phone in broadcast mode. I once heard a Dad on his Nextel with the bee-beep followed by "go ahead" back and forth during his son's baseball game!!!! Now I have been a sports parent long enough to know that one's children's athletic events may not hold you in thrall all the time, but have enough respect for your kid not to broadcast to the world that you have better things to do with your time.
5. Misuse of the Express Lane - Wal-Mart is pretty generous with their Express Lane...20 items or less. But can we establish that once your 20 items have been rung up, you should be poised with your credit card ready to slide through the reader? This is not the time to be rustling through your purse to see if you have exactly 89 cents. You don't wait until the cashier is finished to start looking for your credit card/cash/check. And come on...your bank offers the debit card option...writing checks is archaic, requires ID and lots of consternation on the part of the cashier, so it does NOT belong in the Express Lane.
6. Feet - They were so adorable and I wanted to kiss them all the time when you were babies. But you are big kids now. They are not that cute. That goes for my husband as well.
7. Fidgeting - When I am driving several hormonal adolescents somewhere, it's hard enough to keep my mind on driving without someone pressing the open and close button on his window, playing with the window shade and casually tapping his foot on the back of my seat. When is a car manufacturer going to come up with a soundproof plexiglass divider between the driver and the passengers????
8. Private Name/Private Number, Blocked or Computers Calling - I'm not answering. Hearing the phone ring repeatedly is less annoying than picking it up and hearing the distinctive sound of a computer-generated voice-activated message about to kick in. I got on that no-call list...but that doesn't seem to impress some of these persistent telemarketers.
9. People who buy stuff from telemarketers - don't encourage them! Your use of their products and services just perpetuates their intrusive method of marketing.
10. Blogs with music that plays when you open them - sorry...I am choosing to read your blog, but I haven't authorized you to assault my ears with your tunes. Make it an option that you can click on or not.
11. Static - tune the station in or turn off the radio.
12. Waste - I am still being bombarded by numerous Explanations of Benefits from my insurance company. It makes me crazy when I feed all of that paper into the shredder and think about the cost to mail that paper. Waste is just a small part of why our health care system is so out of control!!!
13. Thursday Thirteens that last forever - I am completely guilty of this. But don't you think that one should post another entry on Friday, no matter how small or inconsequential? Having your TT up as the current post on Saturday is kind of like leaving your Christmas lights up until mid-February.
I feel so much better now that I have unloaded this crap onto you! Please share if you concur that little things in life can be SO annoying! What bugs you???
P.S. I apologize for being Linky-less this week. When I created my new blog template, I didn't get around to re-entering the code.
P.P.S. How Di Got Her Linky Back (Mister Linky has outdone himself with up-to-the-minute code and easy-to-follow instructions. If you've been scared before, jump in!
Di
I am the same way with feet!! Have a great day!
Posted by: Melanie | January 30, 2008 at 11:08 PM
I am totally with you on number 8!
My 13 year old has a big 'thing' about feet. Don't you dare put your feet anywhere near her, and God forbid if you touch hers LOL Sigh, kids, gotta luv 'em! Happy T13!
Posted by: Adelle Laudan | January 30, 2008 at 11:19 PM
Your n° 10 the music bothers me the most ! I usually read blogs early morning while Mr. Gattino still is in dreamland and suddenly a music blasts all over the house ! My cats wake up and jump around I am near a heart attack and Mr. Gattino sits in his bed and wonders what happen. Now I turn my loudspeaker off !
Posted by: Gattina | January 30, 2008 at 11:53 PM
I can't stand blogs that play music at you, unasked. It's annoying in itself, and it's always music you'd rather cut your ears off than listen to if you had the choice.
I also agree so much about 2, 3, 4 and 5. To combine 3 and 5, it should be "X items or fewer", not less.
My TT usually stays top of my blog till the weekend.
Posted by: Nicholas | January 31, 2008 at 01:47 AM
Oh, boy. Now I'm irritable, too. :) Telemarketers are particularly annoying here, because if I don't pick up the phone, the voice mail will call back immediately and then every half hour afterwards. Argh.
Posted by: Darla | January 31, 2008 at 09:48 AM
I completely agree with the music on blogs. That goes for videos set to autoplay. I HATE THEM. Happy TT.
Posted by: pussreboots | January 31, 2008 at 02:55 PM
Totally with you on 2 and 3.
My husband fidgets though, and I love him and his weird habits, so I'm taking the 5th.
Posted by: Journeywoman | January 31, 2008 at 10:10 PM
Most of these irritate me too, and most of them either I or my husband is guilty of.
Whoops!
Thanks for visiting my TT today!
http://sleepingmommy.com/?p=484
Posted by: Sleeping Mommy | January 31, 2008 at 10:23 PM
i could have written this. seriously.
Posted by: Chris | February 20, 2008 at 11:59 AM