I try to keep a positive outlook on things, but I find the older I get, the more some of the little things irk me. After all, I am turning 69 in two weeks, so maybe that’s why I sometimes feel grumpy.
I was shopping for groceries recently, and I left the store in a bad mood. I went down one aisle, and I was behind a woman who was on a personal cellphone call. No problem. But she was on her speakerphone. Big problem. I don’t care about other people’s conversations, so please don’t broadcast your calls.
I had seven items, so I went to the 10-items-or-less checkout. The person in front of me had at least 25 items. I thought it was 10 or fewer items, not 10 or fewer bags of groceries.
The clerk said they weren’t allowed to say anything to anyone who’s so rude to inconvenience the shoppers who play by the rules. The only good thing was the woman wasn’t in line and on her phone.
Along those same lines are people who use their speakerphones to watch Facebook videos or movies on their cellphones on a plane or a public place. I didn’t watch “Barbie” on purpose.
While we’re at it, does anyone else have a problem taking a pizza home and it’s not cut all the way through? You try to remove a slice, and you end up with three that are all attached. Sometimes it pulls the cheese and toppings off the other two slices. A little extra pressure from the pizza cutter would be appreciated.
I get a kick when I drive by an airport and I see a sign that reads: “Caution Low Flying Planes.” What are we supposed to do? Duck?
In my neighborhood, we have a few who like to blow their grass trimming into the street. I’d rather their grass was ankle deep than them making a mess of our streets. Also, I’m sure the public works departments throughout the county would appreciate not having grass cuttings clogging their drains.
Have you ever ordered something in a fast-food drive-thru, and you’re asked to pull up and they’ll bring your order out? Half the time, I’m the only person in line, so what they’re doing is trying to fool the timer to believe they’re providing prompt service. Here’s an option: provide prompt service so you can hand the food through the window.
Don’t even get me started on people who are on their cellphones while driving. Not only is it against the law, but I can’t tell you how many times they sit at a traffic light, continuing their conversation, unaware the light turned green.
I’d also like to see law enforcement write warnings or tickets to slow drivers in the left passing lane. After all, it is law.
Also, nothing irks me more than seeing someone at a stop sign or traffic light and they flick their cigarette butt out the window. When did our streets become their ashtrays? Those get washed into the sewer system, or they end up in retention ponds or our waterways.
Finally, this is newspaper related. I get calls from readers asking when a story is going to run. Most of the time, it’s already in the paper. It’s an easy enough thing to check.
Well, I feel better. I’m going to take a deep breath and return to my normally-cherub self. Have a good day, everyone!
