How Annoying Are: CVS Automated Cashiers

I don't know if this is happening in your community, but here in DC many of the CVS pharmacy stores have replaced actual human beings who used to check you out, with automated cashier machines and they are sooooooooooooooooooooooo annoying!

Why would any store think this was a good decision?  Now the lines are doubly as long as they once were because of user error with these dumb machines.  Also, the machines aren't as fast as we humans are, so let's say you have already swiped your Extra Care card but it hasn't registered this action yet, it will tell you to do so like 3 times!

The other day I heard this guy yell back at the machine for telling him to do something he had already done.  He screamed, "I already did that!"  That actually made me laugh out loud, but at the same time I could really feel his pain.

Lesson here is that you can't replace people with machines because it just doesn't work.  Human beings may have bad days and poor attitudes, but we are never "out of order"...

How Annoying Are: Slow Internet Connections

Remember when we all had AOL and we had to "dial up" to get onto the Internet and it took FOREVER?  Well, we have come a long way my friends!  Today, connecting to the Internet is quick and easy...

Unless of course, it's not...For example, I can't stand how long it takes for my parent's computer to connect to the web, and they are supposed to have a "high speed" package...the waiting makes me CRAZY!  And on certain days at work when my Safari or Internet Explorer is being finicky IT DRIVES ME MAD!!!

Take yesterday for example.  I literally could not get any work done for about an hour because my Internet connection was so slow and I just kept logging off and logging on again, hoping that something would change.  I'm sure there is something else I could have done, but I am not an IT expert and I just needed to send a few emails out!!

Have we become too dependant on the web?  I wouldn't even be writing this right now if my Internet was down...

Something to ponder I suppose...ok just got a bunch of emails I have to respond to...I hope my internet doesn't crash.

How Annoying Are: Home Repairs?

As I sit at work today, there are three workmen in my home busting through the walls of our guest bathroom in order to fix two leaks in the line of our H-VAC unit.  Don't ask me what that means.  All I can tell you is what they explained to me when I inquired.

This is so annoying!  What this means is strangers going in and out of my home for the next two days, bringing in tons of dirt and filth, and leaving behind what will inevitably be a huge mess for me to clean up.  ARG!

Seriously, we pay too much rent for this to have happened.  We've gone without air conditioning for the past two weeks.  Luckily the weather has cooperated and at night it's been breezy and cool, but a week ago it was still in the 90's, and it was blazing hot in our apartment.

Anyway, at least they'll get it fixed this week and we won't have to worry about it anymore.  At least until the next thing stops working...

How Annoying Are: Loud TV Commercials

I'm a bad blogger, I know. It's been way too long since I posted, and I apologize.

So, how many of you out there watch TV? I'm betting that most of you watch a lot of it. Well, have you noticed how freaking loud the commercials are nowadays? It's insane!

Everytime Mike and I sit down to the dinner table, inevitably one of us has to get up and run to the TV, to turn the volume down when the commercials are on.

Why is this happening?  Are advertisers that powerful that they have contracts with all broadcasting stations which allow them to blast their commercials at such loud volumes?  It's really gotten ridiculous.  And no, I don't need to hear the annoying Aflac duck say anything when I'm in the bathroom with the door closed - thank you very much!

Thank god for DVR and the ability to fast forward, or Mike and I would have to mute all the commercials and sit through them, waiting in agony for the normal volume to return with whatever show we're watching...

Is anyone else annoyed at this, or is it just me, getting old and crotchety?

How Annoying Are: Tuesdays

Tuesday is my least favorite day of the week.  Although many of you may think that Mondays are the worst, (and trust me, I'm not a huge fan either) I have to say that they are not nearly as painful as Tuesdays.  Here's why.

On Monday you've just come off of the weekend, so (hopefully) you have some extra energy to expend, and maybe, just maybe you're ready to jump into the week head first!  Okay, maybe not, but at least you're resigned to the notion that the weekend is over and you have to go back to work...

By Tuesday though, your enthusiasm (if you had any) has plumitted and you have succumbed to the fact that there are still 3 more grueling days ahead of you, including Tuesday itself (which I guess makes 4 grueling days) - ugh!

Wednesday is obviously far superior to Tuesday being that you have reached "mid-week", "hump-day", whatever you want to call it, and usually this is the point in time where you begin to think about and make weekend plans.  Thursdays are amazing because the weekend is fast approaching and your week is slowly but surely, winding down.  Thursdays are also really awesome for me because I indulge in happy hour with friends after work, which is always a good time.  And...Fridays are clearly the best day of the week for reasons that I think we all know.

So, are we all in agreement that Tuesdays generally suck?

How Annoying Are: Bad Hair Days

I'm having one today.  A bad hair day that is.  I hate when this happens!  Granted, I didn't do anything to my hair this morning to deserve a good hair day, but must it look this awful?

That's it, it's settled.  From this day forward I will never leave the house without using a round brush when blow drying my hair.  I know that I've made this promise before, but I mean it this time!

Goodbye bad hair days, and good riddance!

How Anoying Are: Men with Bad Facial Hair

I'm sure you know one -- a man with bad facial hair.  Whether it's a scraggly beard, or an outdated goatee, bad facial hair is out in abundance!

I saw a guy this morning rockin the super thin goatee where it's really just hair lines outlining the cheeks and chin and around the mouth -- GROSS!  I thought that look went the way of the hammer pants back in the early 90's!

Here are some really bad offenders:

Ludicris facial hair!

This is what I saw this morning! Awful.

Scraggly and pathetic.

Oh Jonathan! It's just not working.

So, have you encountered some bad facial hair today?

How Annoying Are: Can Openers!

Mike and I were making dinner last night, as usual, and I grabbed the can opener so I could get started on the tomato sauce for our tilapia, and whatta ya know?  The damn opener gets stuck mid-way and the top of my canned tomatoes is nearly impossible to get off without slicing my finger off.

ARG! Why do can openers suck so bad?  We can put a man on the moon, but we can't invent a decent instrument to open cans with?  This boggles my mind.

For all you cooks out there - is there a decent can opener on the market that actually works, and will continue to work after 10 uses?  If so, let me know please!

How Annoying Are: Backpacks

I officially decided yesterday that backpacks should only be worn by people on camping trips and school aged children, period.

It's confusing to me that a grown man wearing a suit, on his way to work, would choose to throw on a giant, overstuffed backpack rather than carry a nice briefcase, or cross-body messenger bag.  Day after day I see men and women walking to work with these ridiculously large, ugly backpacks on, and I think to myself, that's a really awful look.

Not only do they look unprofessional, but they look immature somehow.  Like they're on their way to 8th grade biology class.  Not to mention that fact that if they turn around too fast they make knock a few people over with their monstrous pack...

A word to the wise people...backpacks are good for carrying food stuffs when hiking, or camping.  They're also good for carrying books and pencils when you're a student.  But they are not good for adult professionals to wear while commuting to work.

P.S.  You know those teeny-weeny backpacks that some women also carry?  Yea, I hate those too.

How Annoying Are: American Apparel Ads?

Ok, so all you bloggers out there know what I'm talking about.  We follow The Sartorialist, and Garance Dore, and other fashion blogs out there, and what happens as soon as we click on the link to those blogs? BAM!  an American Apparel ad is in our face.  Actually, it's more like a scantily clothed young girl in our face.

What's up with that?!  It's really disturbing.  These girls, and yes, they are young girls, are wearing see through garments that barely cover their ____________(fill in the blank...) and I'm supposed to want to shop at this store?

It's also really annoying because the girls are posing in different positions and are actually moving in the ad, so it looks like you're watching a video of a teen taking her clothes off, when really you're checking out a very decent fashion blog (this does not look good at work!).

Arg!  Trust me, if I ever get to the point where I have ads on FWC, I promise not to have American Apparel ads....they're just wrong.

How Annoying Are: New Year's Gym Members

Yesterday was back to reality for me.  Back to work after some time off, back to our daily routine, back to cooking dinner, and back to the gym.

After a long day's work, the last thing I want to do is work out for an hour, but hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, and bathing suit season is just around the corner, and no one wants to see me in a string bikini after Christmas - trust me.

So I walk into my gym yesterday, and whatta ya know?  It's packed!  Not an available elliptical, stair climber, or treadmill in sight.  Are you kidding, I thought?  Then it hit me - it's packed in here because of all the new members who have made new year's resolutions to lose weight, or to be healthier.

Well, what do I have to say to them - Get out!  We all know that they'll probably drop off in a month or so, and go back to their unhealthy ways.  Well that is a little harsh, I know, but really.  I do get annoyed when I've been a member who consistently goes to the gym for the past three years and I can't get onto a machine. UGH!

Anyway, that's all for my first rant of the year.  Cross your fingers that I can jump onto a stepper tonight, or there will be blood.

How Annoying Are: Morning People

I don't know about you, but when I get to work in the morning, all I want to do is sip my cup of coffee, log into my email, and settle in for the day ahead.  Why is it then, that some people want to instantly accost me as I am walking through the door to my office?

Hi Christina! How are you? What did you do last night?  Is Mike away this week? Did you get the email I sent you about blah, blah, blah? 

WTF people?!  I just got here.  Leave me alone for 5 minutes and then I'll answer all the questions you want.

Seriously though.  People need time to get into the groove, to mentally and physically prepare themselves for the work that lies before them.  I happen to be one of those people. 

So here's my Christmas wish: to all you morning people chatter bugs out there, please heed my cry, and give me my 10 minutes in the morning.  It will make all the difference. 

How Annoying Are: People Who Don't Send Thank You's

Call me old fashioned, but I am still a big fan of the thank you card.  It's just good etiquette.  Growing up, I was ALWAYS, and I mean ALWAYS told and reminded to send thank you's whenever I got a gift.

Wedding season is coming to a close and Mike and I attended a few this year, and I am always interested to see how long it takes the bride to send out the thank you cards.  Technically they say you have a year from your wedding date, but I think that's bullshit.  That's too long!

My rule of thumb is within a week if possible.  If not, then definitely within the month, or else you'll forget.  Come to think of it, I haven't received a thank you yet from a couple of friends from their weddings.  Hmmm...

Hey ladies!  If you're reading this I'm talking to you!!  Thanks!

How Annoying Are: Rainy Commutes to Work

If you live anywhere on the East Coast, today is a rainy mess.  We are in D.C. and it's pouring here and the forcast calls for rain all day, all night, and most of tomorrow...UGH!

Needless to say, my walk to work this morning SUCKED MAJORLY!  Like an idiot, I didn't wear my rainboots so my feet got soaked along with the bottom of my pants, and my umbrella is cheap and from CVS and blows inside out like every few blocks.  Aahhh!!

On days like this though, everyone's commute sucks.  Drivers all of a sudden forget how to drive making traffic horrendous, the metro is usually delayed which means that the platforms are full of dripping wet umbrellas and angry people, and those of us who are on foot get to enjoy deep puddles, slippery sidewalks, fallen branches, and other people's umbrellas almost taking out our eyes!

All around, not fun.  How was your commute today?

How Annoying Are: People Who Groom Themselves at Work

I was sitting in my office yesterday having a chat with a co-worker, when all of a sudden we heard the sound of a nail clipper.  Clink, clink!  I don't know about you, but that is a big NO in my book.  How gross is that!?

I have also recently run into a woman in the ladies room flossing her teeth after just having brushed them.  She had all her tooth grooming utensils sprawled out on the counter like she was in her own home.  The only difference was, that she was in a public bathroom AT WORK!!  Another big NO.

What's up with this?  I'm all for being clean, healthy, and hygenic, but this is too much.  Enough with the nail clipping, tooth flossing madness!  Just wait until you get home.  Is that to much to ask?  I think not.

How Annoying Are: Irresponsible Dog Owners!

Let's kick this week off right with a new edition of "How Annoying Are..."  So, I was on my way to work this morning and saw a well dressed woman walking her large dog in a small park.  She was wearing very high heels and a short dress, which as all you female doggie owners know, makes it harder to squat down and pick up poop.

That being said, her pup proceeded to produce a large pile on the green grass of the park.  I took note that the woman had a doggie bag dispenser attached to her leash -- which means she wasn't out of baggies!  But, instead of doing the responsible, courteous, friend of the earth thing and bending over to pick up the poop, she simply walked away.

Ewww!  I've seen people sit and eat on that lawn!  Just nasty.  A word to the wise.  If you own a dog, do the right thing and scoop that poop!  I know it's gross, but honestly it's the right thing to do.  Mike and I ALWAYS pick up Bella's poop.  It's our responsibility as dog owners and civil people.

Plus, no one likes to step in shit. Period.

How Annoying Are: Tupperware Containers

You know that commercial where the woman opens up her kitchen cabinet and thousands of piles of tupperware containers fly out and topple her over? Well, that's what I feel like EVERY time I open up one of our kitchen cabinets and have to go through our ever-growing collection of tupperware containers. Hell, are they even called tupperware anymore?!

Anyway, why is it that they never fit within each other, and they get all warped in the microwave oven? Aren't they supposed to be used in the microwave? And why is it that you inevitably lose the lid to one and NONE of the others fit it? It's so annoying!

The thing I hate the most is that I know we can't live without it. What would I bring my lunch to work in? What would we put our leftovers in every night? What would we use to hold Bella's foodies? Ugh.

Oh well, I guess I'm stuck with the dreaded tupperware in my cabinet.