You're both a pair of underpants wearing lily huggers. I count mowing the lawn as one of life's pleasures. There is something wholly satisfying about methodically evening the lawn, particularly in a linear fashion. And shoveling snow is good exercise. Just like deep knee bends, squat thrusts, and that machine where you put the leather belt around your stomach and jiggle your fat.

 

 

Little boy, understand that I lived in rural Geauga County for 15 years where I cut two acres of grass every week, cleaned leaves and acorns out off our house's gutters for roofs measuring nearly 3,000 square feet, shoveled shit out of our horse barn every other week and lifted hay bales into its loft, cleaned our pool, cleaned our flower beds around our entire big-ass house, shoveled and spread mulch into them, shoveled snow from a 400-foot-long driveway and parking area and other outside work I never want to do again because I've done enough hours of it for a lifetime already.

 

Pet peeves? Hearing busybodies wondering why I do things a certain way. I need to learn to answer only with: "Because I have a good reason. That's all you really need to know."

 

You're both a pair of underpants wearing lily huggers. I count mowing the lawn as one of life's pleasures. There is something wholly satisfying about methodically evening the lawn, particularly in a linear fashion. And shoveling snow is good exercise. Just like deep knee bends, squat thrusts, and that machine where you put the leather belt around your stomach and jiggle your fat.

 

 

Little boy, understand that I lived in rural Geauga County for 15 years where I cut two acres of grass every week, cleaned leaves and acorns out off our house's gutters for roofs measuring nearly 3,000 square feet, shoveled sh!t out of our horse barn every other week and lifted hay bales into its loft, cleaned our pool, cleaned our flower beds around our entire big-ass house, shoveled and spread mulch into them, shoveled snow from a 400-foot-long driveway and parking area and other outside work I never want to do again because I've done enough hours of it for a lifetime already.

 

Pet peeves? Hearing busybodies wondering why I do things a certain way. I need to learn to answer only with: "Because I have a good reason. That's all you really need to know."

 

Don't you have a sister?  Couldn't you have manipulated her?

Yes I do. But she was more into school activities than I, so most of the work fell on me. But she and I did work together on cleaning out the horse stalls and loading the hay into the barn loft. I actually enjoyed shoveling the driveway and parking area, and *sometimes* I liked cutting the grass. I HATED raking leaves. Oh I forget to mention raking leaves, but I sure did like the smell of the them......

Yes I do. But she was more into school activities than I, so most of the work fell on me. But she and I did work together on cleaning out the horse stalls and loading the hay into the barn loft. I actually enjoyed shoveling the driveway and parking area, and *sometimes* I liked cutting the grass. I HATED raking leaves. Oh I forget to mention raking leaves, but I sure did like the smell of the them......

 

KJP, im shocked, you're more clever than that, I'm sure you could have manipulated her!

 

I manipulated my brother into doing the "manual" labor.  I preferred to Supervise.

My pet peeve of the week:

 

Time Warner Cable

 

Hands down THE ABSOLUTE WORST company I have ever had to deal with.  I could go on and on about the crap I have had to deal with trying to order service from them the last couple days, but I won't because I don't need to make myself more upset right now.

Pet Peeve - That men are relegated to wearing long baggy shorts by arrbitrary fashionistas when it's hot & muggy.

why? Girls get to wear short shorts.

At least lemmy gets it

People that try to sneak into events without paying.

 

Seriously, I hear people talk about this crap like it's completely okay and normal.  I heard that b.s. when I was at Coachella and even more for Lollapalooza here in Chicago.  I was walking down Michigan Ave hearing some high school kids talk about how they planned to run across Lakeshore Drive to get into the event.  Later that day I rode along the Lakefront trail and saw tons of kids sort of planning their attempt to jump several high fences.

 

Tragically, 2 kids tried it yesterday and were very seriously injured.

People that don't understand lighting for photography/video and think they should put the big bright light behind themselves for things like Skype and Youtube.

I've spent most of the last two days sitting at a certain hotel here in Cleveland, that I will not name, in a small convention. During that time I've discovered that someone involved with the construction or remodeling of said hotel's restrooms didn't know standard height at which to put the bathroom counter or to hang the toilets/urinals from the wall. I'm 5'10", I shouldn't have to bend over very much to wash my hands, or require the handicap bar to help me up off the john. There's a reason these things are usually a standard height. (Handicapped accessibility would provide a good exception, but there's no way a person in a wheel chair would have been able to navigate in.)

Hospitals!  UGH.  I've been to the hospital more times in the past couple of weeks than i have in years

 

First, Mr. Fussy Pants is attacked and has to go to the hospital.  Next, my nephew knocks him self unconscious on a pole in the subway and spends half the day in the ER. Then my little cousin has an appendicitis attack and had to have his appendix removed.  and last night an employee breaks their arm.

 

WTF?! :wtf:

Hospitals!  UGH.  I've been to the hospital more times in the past couple of weeks than i have in years

 

First, Mr. Fussy Pants is attacked and has to go to the hospital.  Next, my nephew knocks him self unconscious on a pole in the subway and spends half the day in the ER. Then my little cousin has an appendicitis attack and had to have his appendix removed.  and last night an employee breaks their arm.

 

WTF?! :wtf:

 

I suggest you keep a safe distance from all those people, lest you end up as collateral damage!  :-o

Hospitals!  UGH.  I've been to the hospital more times in the past couple of weeks than i have in years

 

First, Mr. Fussy Pants is attacked and has to go to the hospital.  Next, my nephew knocks him self unconscious on a pole in the subway and spends half the day in the ER. Then my little cousin has an appendicitis attack and had to have his appendix removed.  and last night an employee breaks their arm.

 

WTF?! :wtf:

 

I suggest you keep a safe distance from all those people, lest you end up as collateral damage!  :-o

 

LOL.  Hopefully this "thing" is over.

Having my son's first day of kindergarten tainted by the stress of whether or not he will be in the same building of as his brothers...and having to come into work to call lawyers to deal with the schools..ugh....and being faced with an impossible choice.

Having my son's first day of kindergarten tainted by the stress of whether or not he will be in the same building of as his brothers...and having to come into work to call lawyers to deal with the schools..ugh....and being faced with an impossible choice.

 

HUH?!

it's a clusterf$&k...sorry for rambling.

Why is that some people will follow the actions of a complete stranger nearby them.  For example, If Person 1 runs across the crosswalk before the light changes because they see a clearing in traffic, why do person 2 & 3 assume it's safe to cross and step right out in front of a car.

 

 

Why is that some people will follow the actions of a complete stranger nearby them.  For example, If Person 1 runs across the crosswalk before the light changes because they see a clearing in traffic, why do person 2 & 3 assume it's safe to cross and step right out in front of a car.

 

 

 

Lawd.......you and your Chicago pedestrian/biking tales!

Every time I hear office lingo, I die a little inside.  Especially "touch base" and "on your plate".

Every time I hear office lingo, I die a little inside.  Especially "touch base" and "on your plate".

 

I had the good fortune for a while to work for a manager who believed in teamwork and constructive interaction among our analysts and programmers and the in-house client with whom we were developing a new customer-service application. He fostered a very positive attitude in the work place.

 

Then, he got a new boss who was very old-school (past normal retirement age, tailored black or charcoal suit, starched white shirt, solid-color tie, spit-shined shoes, slicked-down hair) and who believed that if you weren't suffering for your job, you must be slacking. He micromanaged instead of trusting his subordinates to know what they were  doing, and eliminated long-standing perks like casual Fridays and flexible work hours. He always referred to the conference room where we had all our charts and project plans laid out as the "War Room." On one particularly stressful day when my fed-up meter was just about pegged, I piped up, "With whom are we at war? With our client, or with each other?" That did not go over well.  :-(

Every time I hear office lingo, I die a little inside.  Especially "touch base" and "on your plate".

 

I am  with you on "touch base" and also, "get on the same page".  When people start a meeting with that, they are bsaically saying, we all know what we have to do, because we have been told twice already.  I just like to have meetings becasuse I love to talk about things instead of doing things.  It is also saying, we forgot to include this in the meeting minutes last week, and I want them to show up in meeting minutes.  Then after this meeting, I am going to spend the rest of the day typing meeting minutes.  Then my boss will review the minutes, then I will distribute the minutes.  So, we jus tspent 8 hours on a meeting that included 10 people, and those ten people will be senbding a bill for it. 

 

Sorry about the rant, but your "touch base" comment got me going.

 

 

 

Every time I hear office lingo, I die a little inside.  Especially "touch base" and "on your plate".

 

I had the good fortune for a while to work for a manager who believed in teamwork and constructive interaction among our analysts and programmers and the in-house client with whom we were developing a new customer-service application. He fostered a very positive attitude in the work place.

 

Then, he got a new boss who was very old-school (past normal retirement age, tailored black or charcoal suit, starched white shirt, solid-color tie, spit-shined shoes, slicked-down hair) and who believed that if you weren't suffering for your job, you must be slacking. He micromanaged instead of trusting his subordinates to know what they were  doing, and eliminated long-standing perks like casual Fridays and flexible work hours. He always referred to the conference room where we had all our charts and project plans laid out as the "War Room." On one particularly stressful day when my fed-up meter was just about pegged, I piped up, "With whom are we at war? With our client, or with each other?" That did not go over well.  :(

 

One of our department conference room is called the War Room.  I think it's general and easier to remember.

 

My conference room is nicknamed, "death valley".

 

Rob....I would have given you a raise!

I don't like office lingo either.  It's sounds too soft, fluffy, and overly polite. 

 

I say:

 

Update me on what you are doing.

When will you finish?

Are you busy?

 

They seem to result in more absolute responses.  Maybe because they sound more direct.

 

Our conference rooms are named after the view they face.

"Chicago River Conference Room"

 

 

BTW, I also hate "swing by" when someone is coming over.  What do you mean by this "swinging"  Tends to be said by someone coming over by car.  At least say "roll up" or something that alludes to an approach by vehicle.  Or how about "grab a bite to eat."  No, just say Let's get lunch.  I don't want my food grabbed or do I want just a bite.

Every time I hear office lingo, I die a little inside.  Especially "touch base" and "on your plate".

 

OMG, totally agree. The one that gets me the most is "reach out".

BTW, I also hate "swing by" when someone is coming over.  What do you mean by this "swinging"  Tends to be said by someone coming over by car.  At least say "roll up" or something that alludes to an approach by vehicle.  Or how about "grab a bite to eat."  No, just say Let's get lunch.  I don't want my food grabbed or do I want just a bite.

Sort of like when someone takes a dump... what are you taking???

 

I generally leave something behind.

Sort of like when someone takes a dump... what are you taking???

 

 

A general sense of satisfaction and accomplishment?

I don't like office lingo either.  It's sounds too soft, fluffy, and overly polite. 

 

I think that sums it up.  Passive-aggressive in a way.  Let's "touch base" and "get on the same page", maybe "set some action items" = I don't think you're doing your job.

Another one of my bike-car related pet peeves.  I've been driving more around the city lately.  And because I bike 95% of the time vs driving, I tend to be more conscious on the road of cyclists.  For example, when I'm about to make a right turn, I'll USUALLY slow down to a near complete stop on a green light to perform a right turn to double check for bicyclists in the lane to my right or look out for pedestrians.  But I've had at least 3 incidents of cars nearly rear ending me.  And it's not like I'm slamming on the brakes, I'm slowing down gradually.  Two of those times, there were in fact bicyclists quickly approaching behind me.  And one of those drivers was laying on the horn angry.  I wasn't in a hurry, so I just allowed the stale green to go red to make him wait longer.

 

On another scary story, driving into town sunday morning around 3 am, I had a drunk motorcyclist driving 1 foot behind my car.  Yup, 1 foot.  I could see all the clear details on her face in my rearview mirror.  Moments later there were blue lights behind.  I pulled over just to be certain and she goes around me!  Police car then follows her down the street more.  So basically that's (likely DUI) following another vehicle to closely and failure to pull over for an officer.  Here in Illinois, you drink, you drive, you're done on the road.

Sorry, but you should be able to check for bikes without coming to a near complete stop- you would have had to just driven past any bike in that lane, afterall.  That's just bad driving on your part, and dangerous, because you're acting irrationally to any following driver who's able to walk and chew gum at the same.  I'd be just as angry if you were ahead of me. 

^Amen! You (the driver) should have some idea what the vehicles in front, to the sides, and behind you are doing. You should have some idea if there is a bicycle, since it's pretty rare for a bike to be moving anywhere as fast as a car and sneak up on you while you're moving.

 

It used to be confined to vain women putting on makeup, but text messaging has made everyone into an oblivious driving ahole.

Driving around a city like Chicago can be more than a bit different as far as dealing with cyclist who are often moving faster then traffic.  Of course, this would be limited to urban centers and you would definitely catch a wtf hand out the window in my neighborhood if you were to come to a near stop on a green light.  Nothing gives me road rage like slow turners.  Ever been stuck in a residential neighborhood behind someone who is right in front of you and making every turn you need to make at 2.5mph?

For green lights if I can't safely merge into traffic the sound of slowing vehicles getting ready to make the turn is usually enough.

Driving around a city like Chicago can be more than a bit different as far as dealing with cyclist who are often moving faster then traffic.  Of course, this would be limited to urban centers and you would definitely catch a wtf hand out the window in my neighborhood if you were to come to a near stop on a green light.  Nothing gives me road rage like slow turners.  Ever been stuck in a residential neighborhood behind someone who is right in front of you and making every turn you need to make at 2.5mph?

If you dont like the way I drive, then kick rocks and plan your trip accordingly so that you reach your destination with time to spare! I, sir, am a defensive driver and not in a hurry!  :P

Related to NorthAndre's peeve: I can't stand it when drivers lay on the horn because the car in front of them is taking a while to make his/her turn for a reason that the honking driver can't immediately discern- often because pedestrians are in the cross walk.  Sometimes drivers honk even when it's patently obvious that there are pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Driving around a city like Chicago can be more than a bit different as far as dealing with cyclist who are often moving faster then traffic.  Of course, this would be limited to urban centers and you would definitely catch a wtf hand out the window in my neighborhood if you were to come to a near stop on a green light.  Nothing gives me road rage like slow turners.  Ever been stuck in a residential neighborhood behind someone who is right in front of you and making every turn you need to make at 2.5mph?

 

Portsmouth is the king of this.

  Sometimes drivers honk even when it's patently obvious that there are pedestrians in the crosswalk.

 

 

EXACTLY!!!!!!!

 

Not in Chicago, but somewhere else I had a driver driving in the bike lane behind me laying on their horn.  I just hit the brakes and sat there.  The only 4-wheeled vehicles allowed in this lane are emergency ones and clearly you aren't one of those.

Sorry, but you should be able to check for bikes without coming to a near complete stop- you would have had to just driven past any bike in that lane, afterall.  That's just bad driving on your part, and dangerous, because you're acting irrationally to any following driver who's able to walk and chew gum at the same.  I'd be just as angry if you were ahead of me. 

 

I'm sorry, X but I disagree.  You as the driver are human, and in an urban environment can't with high enough accuracy judge the speed of a bicycle within those moments which is how so many bicyclist get hit.  Illinois law requires drivers turning right to STOP and let approaching bicyclists on the right pass.  These same laws applied when I was in Michigan...and California....so I'm sure many other states have that explicitly stated.

 

And originaljbw I disagree as well.  Bicyclists can travel just as fast or faster than vehicles in the city.  The speed limit is 25-30 mph in the city...speeds achievable by at least 15% of cyclists regularly.  In fact, because they are more maneuverable, it's easier to get up to speed limit.

 

Drivers must yield to cyclists on close approach in the city.  It's the law.  It's also illegal to attempt to overtake a cyclist to make a right turn. 

 

It is not illegal to stop on a green when you have a valid reason to.  It's called yielding to pedestrians and cyclists, which is posted on signage in many places.

 

My actions were reasonable, the cyclists in each of these incidents were 2 car lengths behind me.  That would just be plain stupid for me to turn in front of them since they would obviously have to slam on their brakes. 

 

Maybe it's different where you live, but in downtown Chicago you have a lot visual noise.  I'd rather drive defensively and go by the rules of the book especially since I hadn't driven in a very long time.  Furthermore, I've never been in an accident or even bumped into anything.  I'd like to keep it that way.

 

 

From Cyberdrive Illinois Rules of the Road

 

When a motorist is turning left and there is a bicyclist entering the intersection

from the opposite direction, the driver should wait for the bicyclist to pass before

making the turn. Also, if a motorist is sharing the left turn lane with a bicyclist,

stay behind them until they have safely completed their turn.

 

If a motorist is turning right and a bicyclist is approaching on the right, let the

bicyclist go through the intersection first before making a right turn. Remember to

always signal when turning

Co-workers who don't use sick days when they should. Especially co-workers who don't use sick days when they should and have a tendency to invade your personal space.  :shoot:

I agree one hundred percent with North Andre's position on turns across bike lanes, and with the comments about impatient drivers who get angry when I wait for pedestrians to cross instead of cutting them off like I've seen other drivers do.

 

Co-workers who don't use sick days when they should. Especially co-workers who don't use sick days when they should and have a tendency to invade your personal space.  :shoot:

 

One guy where I worked would come in hacking and coughing and sneezing with whatever pestilence his kids brought home from school, and spread it around our closely-confined, poorly-ventilated office until at least four or five other people ended up taking multiple sick days and possibly spreading it to their kids and other family members. He probably was patient zero in waves of sickness that swept through other households and probably other schools and workplaces. He took pride in never having taken a sick day, but the cost to the company in lost productivity was high and he fostered resentment among the other employees.

Co-workers who don't use sick days when they should. Especially co-workers who don't use sick days when they should and have a tendency to invade your personal space.  :shoot:

Agreed.

Explain to me how its my fault you sat in a restaurant for nearly an hour having a meeting, then decided to order an extra well done salmon. Oh, you're also in a hurry now.

 

Common sense dictates get the food out of the way first, then gabber endlessly...

1.  Netflix.  Seriously??  Now I have to go to two different sites??  Why are they trying so hard to piss off customers??

 

2.  Am I the only one annoyed everytime I go to Cleveland.com to see all these "Cleveland remembers" stories?  I don't care about the time someone I never met got an ice cream cone at the carnival and it was oh so special.

[ ... ]

 

2.  Am I the only one annoyed everytime I go to Cleveland.com to see all these "Cleveland remembers" stories?  I don't care about the time someone I never met got an ice cream cone at the carnival and it was oh so special.

 

Just you wait, young whippersnapper, 'til you're an old fart and and you get dissed for your reminiscences about sharing your photos on Urbanonio.com back when the internet was still a big thing!  :wink:

I don't know if this is a pet peeve or just be astounded by something I couldn't believe happened.

 

I understand everyone is in a rush to get home after work.  There's kind of a flow to the way people walk and the sidewalks on Michigan Ave are generously wide.  Northbound peds keep right, and southbound to the left. 

 

Well, I'm following behind this girl, and there's a planter to her right, so her only option is move forward.  Some guy nearly twice her height, and probably 2.5 times here weight cuts diagonally over into her path and knocks her into the planter.  He doesn't even say sorry and then guess what, I'm next!  I stand like a rock, and he slams into me, but fortunately I remain unmoved.  This disturbance made him miss the bus.  All that to catch a bus!!  If he was in that much of a rush, he should have just gotten a cab.

 

Went over to the girl and she was ok.  But we were both astounded that someone would just plow right into people like that.

Not sure if I might have put this one in the thread months back, but it came up again recently, so I'll risk repeating myself:

 

Voicemail greetings who don't identify the person you've called.  I have no idea if I've called a wrong number if "2-1-6-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 is not available ..."

Not sure if I might have put this one in the thread months back, but it came up again recently, so I'll risk repeating myself:

 

Voicemail greetings who don't identify the person you've called.  I have no idea if I've called a wrong number if "2-1-6-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 is not available ..."

 

Bad for people who may be job hunting too.  I remember hearing somewhere that employers will not leave messages on machines were the person does not identify themselves

Not sure if I might have put this one in the thread months back, but it came up again recently, so I'll risk repeating myself:

 

Voicemail greetings who don't identify the person you've called.  I have no idea if I've called a wrong number if "2-1-6-5-5-5-5-5-5-5 is not available ..."

 

Bad for people who may be job hunting too.  I remember hearing somewhere that employers will not leave messages on machines were the person does not identify themselves

 

That's not true, my greeting is like that and I had potential employers leave messages all the time when I was looking.

 

If someone knows me, they probably recognize my voice.  If they don't, I don't particularly want to give them a name to associate with the number.  Leave a message.

Here are a few I don't think I have mentioned before:

 

DVR - how hard is it to end recording when a show actually ends??

Office fridge - I swear people have lunch bags the size of suitcases.  Way to leave some room for the rest of us.

An f'ing woodpecker is going to town on a part of my house up near the roof.  Either he is trying to create a home or their is somekind of infestation (ants, bees, termites) up there which he is trying to eat.  Either way, I hate pests.  This crap will easily cost me a couple hundred in extermination and then repairs.... just like the idiot squirell that fell down my chimney last year right around this time.

An f'ing woodpecker is going to town on a part of my house up near the roof.  Either he is trying to create a home or their is somekind of infestation (ants, bees, termites) up there which he is trying to eat.  Either way, I hate pests.  This crap will easily cost me a couple hundred in extermination and then repairs.... just like the idiot squirell that fell down my chimney last year right around this time.

LMAO!  Sorry I have to laugh

An f'ing woodpecker is going to town on a part of my house up near the roof.  Either he is trying to create a home or their is somekind of infestation (ants, bees, termites) up there which he is trying to eat.  Either way, I hate pests.  This crap will easily cost me a couple hundred in extermination and then repairs.... just like the idiot squirell that fell down my chimney last year right around this time.

 

I had a raccoon that found a section of the fascia board that rotted, chewed a hole and started cavorting in my crawl space for a period of time. I had someone come out and repair the hole, and hadn't heard anything afterward....until the spring, when I realized the F-er had hibernated in there. Then chewed a hole on the opposite side of the house to get out.

 

I finally went up there to find out the situation...and oh, there was poop.