The Schnoz

Today while at work on my computer, I suddenly hear a fog horn go off behind me. Caught me completely off guard that I actually jumped. Oh wait... sorry it was some guy walking by my desk just blowing his nose. Easy mistake. I do believe he was using a handkerchief, which ok Grandpa, those went out of style awhile ago... and for good reason.

But this did start a conversation on Pet Peeves and sneezing. You know those people who have the teeny tiniest "achoo" like in a cartoon? You kind of want to shake them and yell, "Get a REAL sneeze." Because honestly people that little sneeze cannot be fulfilling in the World of Sneezes.

Then you have the person who sneezes 100 times in a row. To those people I just say "Let me know when your finished, I'll just bless you then". Now that one has got to be annoying to them and everyone else, including the fly on the wall. 

Then you have people like me, who sounds like their head has exploded. Usually it makes people laugh and ask if I'm ok. I get to thank my Mom on those genetics, I apparently inherited her sneeze genes. Thanks Mom. 

Last you have the person who internalizes their sneezes. This just makes it look like they've somehow imploded inside. I'm not sure how brain damage isn't caused by this action to be honest. Looks very uncomfortable.

Pet Peeve: Two Ply Kleenex, a real sneeze requires a Three Ply min. And people who use handkerchiefs because that means the boogers are in your pockets, on your hands, everywhere and that is just EW!

Long toenails

You know.

The type of toenail to rip a hole in your sock.

The type to scratch your loved-one's leg in the middle of the night..

The type to cut through glass!?!?!

Yes.

People, cut your toenails. Not only is it unbearingly ugly to look at...

But long toenails can be a dangerous, dangerous weapon.

Gross.

The last minute guy...

While merging onto the highway by my house in the morning, it usually gets pretty backed up if you leave even a few minutes later than normal.

Most people are pretty good about letting you merge in, as this is an everyday occurrence during rush hour.  However, you have those people who absolutely need to squeeze in one more car length before they merge. Taking it right down until the lane runs out and then some.

Pet Peeve: Idiot drivers who think that cutting in at the last second is a good idea, even going onto the shoulder of the road to make this happen to get a few cars ahead. Usually don't even bother with using a signal. Why would they, no one needs to know this moron is coming up do we? If they just had 2 seconds of patience the roads would be a whole lot safer.

Shared Database

At work, we have a shared Database so everyone can access information from different computers, different offices, etc. This is to make things a lot easier. . .

Well today the Database reached the new level of Butt-Hole with me. First thing this morning when I tried to save a new document, the save page wouldn't work. I ended up having to force quit the program as it froze. However it apparently did save the document, just not in a format that would open. So all my changes had been lost, it also froze the program.

That was Restart #1 and happened before 8 am.

The second restart occurred when two documents froze. Now these two documents I had opened for reference, and nothing else. For whatever reason they decided that when I tried to close then, that they refused to close. Causing me yet again to open Task Manager and force quit. Which also closed the documents I was working on (I saved prior to the close). This however for some reason locked out the documents I was using.

Restart #2 has now happened and it is like 8:15 am. Did I mention I'm not a morning person? Really should just avoid me before 9 am. My computer is now walking on thin ice. I'm fantasizing of a way to pull this Database program out and go "Office Space" on it's a%% (the movie not the TV show).

Next thing I'm working on, I've finished, and I go to close one of the three documents open. However it closes the wrong document. Even the save question was related to the document I said to close... however it's now locked open the document I wanted closed and closed the one I wanted open. And locked it out so I can't open it again.

Restart #3 and I'm about ready to throw this computer out of the window. Not only did it close the wrong document, but it lost the last 15 min of work I had done. Luckily my 11 am meeting had been postponed until tomorrow because this was 11:15 am. I haven't even had lunch yet and I'm ready to call it a day.

Pet Peeve: Workplaces who by cheap software and force the employees to somehow make it work and a database which punishes you for something you did in another life.

Anyone else smell burnt toast?

This morning I was in the kitchen at work, making a hot chocolate and toasting some bread. While the turtle paced kettle was considering boiling I realized the toaster seemed to be taking a lot longer than normal.

When I looked at it, I realized someone had changed the setting to Max. I quickly hit cancel, barely saving my bread from turning into a pile of charcoal and having the whole floor thinking they are about to having a stroke from the smell.

Pet Peeve: People who are so impatient they put everything on the highest setting as they think this speeds along the process. In the end all they do is burn their food and everyone else's because they can't be courtesy enough to return the item to the regular setting.

Stay Tuned

On a recent flight I decided to partake in the use of the entertainment system provided and watch a movie. However I discovered that not only are theaters now bombarded with commercials prior to the movie but planes now are as well. 

Isn't it bad enough we are trapped in a small confined space for a number of hours with complete strangers and paying an exorbitant amount of money for a sandwich you would normally only eat if desperate? Do we really need to have commercials prior to our movie picks as well?

Pet Peeve: The world of advertising getting so desperate they will soon be running on the sides of planes instead of just inside. 

You see this bubble? Stay outside.

I recently got a new hair cut, it's gotten a lot of compliments, which is really nice. However there are a few people who like to take the niceness a step too far. I've had a couple people I barely know the names of also touch my hair to emphasize how much they like my hair. 

Now I'm friendly with my friends, family, etc. But people I don't know, I do not like getting into my personal bubble. And I really don't enjoy touching me, even if it is just my hair.

Pet Peeve: Those people who have no respect for Personal Space and get up close and personal with you any chance they get. Back of jack, admire from afar.

I've discovered one man on my floor is particularly fond of violating personal space.  Holding the door open for him will get me a clap on the shoulder, walking towards our floor will get a hand on the shoulder for the duration of the walk. I might have to start letting doors shut in his face and maybe he will take the hint.

Pet Peeve Literally

I went to my sock drawer this morning to get out a pair of nylons. I however could only find my knee highs. Puzzled, I looked around and saw that someone (someone being one of my two cats) must have gotten in the drawer while I was on vacation and promptly emptied part of it out so they could nap.

During their escapade they removed the nylons, which nicely put 4 claw-holes in the nylons and the nylons then into the trash once I saw that. 

Pet Peeve: Cats who insist on sleeping on places they don't belong, and owners who need to clip their pets nails more often... my fault for going on vacation. At least it only cost me a pair of nylons.

Shoes that drag you down.

I was in Home Depot today when a worker strolled up to ask if we needed any help. However we were already waiting for someone, so we sent him on his way. Which he merrily did, by dragging his feet every step of the way. Then he dragged his way in the aisle next to us and on further into the store, it was some time before we could not hear him any longer.

Pet Peeve: People who can't seem to pick up their feet while walking. If you're shoes are the problem, then buy shoes that fit. Seriously.

Bathroom Protocol

I was in the washroom at work one day and someone came in behind me and immediately went into the stall beside me. Even though there were 4 empty stalls to choose from.

If you are going to the bathroom with a friend, adjoining stalls is acceptable.

 

However at work, if you do not know who is in the washroom, with 5 stalls, 1 occupied. You go to the opposite end, or at minimum go one stall over. Always keep a buffer unless it is not possible.

 

You do not use the stall immediately beside the 1 person. What if they are "busy" OR what if you want to get "busy" OR what if you both need to be "busy"?

 

Adjoining stalls at that point is just now turned into a waiting game, who is going to give up and return later? One hoping the other is just there for a "quick" trip and sits there waiting while the other person is doing the same thing.

 

That's why you need a buffer, don't feel as uncomfortable. And it's less smelly.

 

Pet Peeve: People who do not follow bathroom protocol and then sit silently in the stall beside you waiting for you to leave. If you wanted to take a dump, you should have given yourself more room. I might just sit here and twiddle my thumbs on you for breaking protocol just as payback.