Grrrrr!

I'm in a ranty mood, so if you hate ranty posts, you may want to get out now.

In the last twenty four hours, all of the following of these pet peeves of mine have happened to me. If you'll indulge me in a big whine...

1. People who talk in movie theatres

I'm not talking about those folks who talk to each other during the five or so minutes before the theatre darkens or even those who whisper softly once the previews start (and don't even get me started on how I feel about the commercials shown before the previews). No, I'm talking about the two big hulking guys who sat right behind me and talked in full voice as if they were shooting the shit over a couple of brews all during the previews. If you want to visit with friends, why would you choose to go to a movie? Why wouldn't you go to a restaurant or a ballgame? To their credit, the gab brothers did hush up once the movie started, or it could be that I was so engrossed in the movie that I didn't notice any further talking. The date of Tweedle Dum, who sat directly behind me, did managed to kick the back of my chair a few times. An amazing feat, that, considering it was stadium seating with ample leg room.

2. Obnoxious sales people who won't take "no" for an answer

In Best Buy today (and yes, I'm naming store names in case any management at said store happens to read this blog), I purchased a moderately costly father's day gift for my hubby. The checkout guy cooed over my choice and told me what a great product I'd picked, then proceeded to hard sell me the extended warranty. I said no thank you. More hard sell...a lot of "But you don't understand..." Again, a "no thank you" from me. So what does this big jerk do? Proceed to tell me how sorry I'll be when my item falls apart, which of course it will. So what I'd selected went from being fabulous to a piece of crap. All smiles on this guy's face disappeared and his demeanor chilled by about 200 degrees. Idiot.

3. Ice cream trucks that drive up and down my street several times within five minutes playing their obnoxious loop of "Do Your Ears Hang Low?" on a day that's overcast and a chilly 68 degrees. No, wait. I hate ice cream trucks every day.

4. People who give you attitude because they've done something stupid

I was shopping at Walmart - something that grates on me for so many reasons that span the spectrum of the parking lot always being packed to the fact that I hold Walmart responsible for the current world market situation of sweatshop labor and hatred of Americans as a whole, but I digress - and I had a pretty full cart. The aisle I needed to go into was crowded with other shoppers so I parked my cart between two pallets of junk at the end of the aisle and set out on foot. Shopped for, like, one minute, and when I returned to my cart there was a woman picking things out of it. I said "That's my stuff," and she looked at me like I was an idiot. She'd thought it was full of, I don't know, returns or something, that was free for the pickings. I apologized for the confusion even though I really don't think I had anything to be sorry for, but the shrew didn't even have the grace to act remotely apologetic. Nope. What I got was a snort and a "That's your stuff, too" with a gesture toward the pile of stuff she'd taken out. If it had been me, I would have been all "I am sooo sorry!" and embarrassed to the nth degree. What.Ever.

5. Drivers who aren't confident enough to be on the road

These are the ones who sit in the left turn lane and don't turn left despite the fact that the only oncoming traffic is another car turning left. Or people who turn on their turn signals three miles before actually turning anywhere, all the while slowing down to a crawl while traffic builds behind them. I understand caution, but these folks need to get a grip.

All right, I'm feeling better now. Funny how just letting it all come screaming out really helps alleviate the pressure. I did feel like I was going to blow.

I'm much calmer now. Phew.

So. Time for sharing. What are some of your pet peeves?