Ann
Ipock
Humorist,
author, speaker
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Georgetown
Times
Pet peeves: great,
small annoyances
By Ann Ipock November
01, 2005
Pet peeves: We all have them and we all know folks who produce them. The
serenity prayer reads if we can’t change things to accept them.
Now, if only we could accept THAT.
Everyone knows that fingernails scratching across a chalk board will give
you the heebie-jeebies. But I wonder how many folks despise hearing someone
crunch ice between their teeth? I’m one of them. Another is that
I can’t stand to remove cotton plugs from medicine bottles. Something
about the cotton rubbing together makes my skin crawl.
What about those annoying advertising papers the size of index cards (or
larger) found in magazines? If you’re like me and spend lots of
time in bookstores, you’ll see them scattered across the floor before
you ever pick up a magazine. They’re a waste of paper and a waste
of time. (Plus they’re littering the stores.) When was the last
time you actually took one out, saved it and used it later? I mean, do
people really order those collectibles from The Bradford Exchange?
My mother told me recently — speaking of magazines — that
one of her pet peeves was magazines strewn all over end tables and chairs
in waiting rooms and lobbies. She said if she’s waiting for an appointment
she straightens them up. Mighty kind of her, I’d say. I wonder if
those annoying advertisements fly out while she’s rearranging them.
Hubby Russell, who worked 20 years in the retail world but is now a church
administrator, straightens products on store shelves. I guess it’s
the left-over manager in him, patrolling the aisles. He’s a magnet
for misplaced items. But it annoys me — another pet peeve. Recently
in the grocery store, he spent a good 10 minutes lining up bottles of
salad dressing on a cardboard end cap. I told him he was going to have
to clock in if he worked much longer. Because of this, I’ve been
trained to not put back unwanted items on random shelves. I don’t
want to hear his “Store Patrol” lecture.
Sitting in a traffic jam is never fun, but more so when you find out construction
is going on a mile ahead and the right lane is closing immediately. I’m
usually in the left lane, and everyone in the right lane is zooming to
the front of the line to “scoot in” before the right lane
ends. It’s a set up for a potential game of bumper cars, if you
ask me.
One pet peeve — and one I’ve created unwittingly — is
when I make a purchase and later discover I’ve picked up the wrong
item: Like, I meant to buy “freshly scented” detergent; but
end up with “unscented” detergent. Isn’t that a bummer?
Especially when you just KNOW you picked up the right item! And speaking
of scents, roses and other flowers that have no scents are a big pet peeve.
That’s just plain old trickery. If I want non-scented flowers, I’d
buy silk ones.
Now I realize that in the grand scheme of things, these pet peeves are
pretty small and yes, I’m grateful for every new day and the chance
to embrace and enjoy life. But sometimes it’s the trivial that keeps
us awake at night: A hang-nail, leg cramps, hiccups, an overheated room,
a neighbor’s barking dog outside of my window (which is a REAL pet
peeve) — whatever.
When going out of town
recently, some friends and I were discussing a pet peeve (smack dab in
the middle of getting lost). It’s when the name of a road suddenly
changes beyond a traffic light. What’s up with that? I’ve
heard Charlotte is notorious for this. It’s not so bad here; except
for Glenns Bay Road which becomes Holmestown Road for no apparent reason.
Other pet peeves include soggy steamed vegetables, cold French fries,
diluted tea and hard bread from over-microwaving. Also, booming bass “thump-thump”
sounds coming from car stereos (and don’t even get me started on
blaring rap songs) and unrestrained children in cars (and that’s
breaking the law). How about sand tracked on a tile floor? A shredded
Kleenex found in wet, washed laundry? Stepping on chewing gum in a parking
lot? A can of hair spray discharged in your cosmetic case after a flight?
(This really happened to me on a recent trip.)
But the absolute worst pet peeve for me — and one with serious repercussions
— is missing a deadline for a published column. It also bothers
my editor, so I think I’ll end this right now.