July 15, 2006

Things That Annoy Me, Part 1

So continuing in the curmudeonly vein, there are many things that annoy me, but I thought I would touch on just a few, just a few!!

1. People who leave messages that are long and drawn out, THEN they say 'my name is whosamacallit and my number is 5552288' very, very quickly. Now you have a choice, you can listen to the message twenty times to get their name and/or number, or you can delete the message and wait for them to call you back. Which do you think I do?? That's right, the former (unless it is very important), because I can.

2. People who spit on me, yes this happened to me. I was spit upon, and it was in my hair when I was still 45 minutes from home and I had to ride the bus home with spit in my hair (insert deragatory remark about person who spit here). Needless to say I ran inside and scrubbed my hair. It still gives me the heebie jeebies...

3. People who have the sniffles on the bus. Seriously, I sat in front of someone who was clearing their throat at LEAST every 5 seconds (I am not exaggerating) for the WHOLE bus ride home (about 40 minutes). I almost committed murder, or at least told them to shut the hell up, but I didn't. If I had a cough drop I would have thrown it at them. Oh, it was horrible...

4. People who walk slow in front of me and meander around so you can't really pass them without being overtly rude. I still pass them, I just feel kinda bad, like maybe they escaped from the mental institution and they've never seen a city. IT'S A CITY PEOPLE, if you are going to walk slow and least don't do it in front of busy business people - see me??? I'm in SUIT!! (Yeah, I have to wear suits.)

I would ask you what annoys you, but some smart ass would probably say 'people who bitch about things'. Hey, I have to be nice all day long, it's gotta come out somewhere... no comments about my driving should be inserted here...

Posted by 10lees at July 15, 2006 11:16 PM
Comments

For #1, I've found the fact that most voicemail systems record the calling number rather useful. It means I don't even have to wait until the end if the rambling starts - just hit the key for the system to give the message details and then skip the rest of the message.

For #2, why did this someone spit in your hair?

Posted by: Jeremy at July 15, 2006 10:49 PM

You know I am not sure, perhaps he was spitting and I walked past at the wrong time, but I didn't do anything that deserved spitting at. I have to say my hair seems to be a magnet, I had gum spit in my hair twice in high school. Never did find out who did it, and I don't know why. Probably because my hair is so gorgeous, baby!! (hardy har)

Posted by: 10lees at July 16, 2006 11:34 AM

oh and my voicemail system say the extension or 'unknown number' if it is from outside. You have to remember where I work and how many extensions there are - probably at least 1000, I alone have four lines, most of my coworkers have two.

Posted by: 10lees at July 16, 2006 11:35 AM

Most voice mail systems let you fast forward and rewind. Usually, if 7 and 9 delete and save, then 1 and 3 rewind and fast forward. If 1 and 3 save and delete, then 7 and 9 rewind and fast forward. At least then you don't have to listen to the whole stupid message again.

In honor of this post, I left you a very long rambling voice mail on Saturday. It was about the racoons I nearly hit and Pirates 2 and many other interesting things.

Also, I am sorry your hair got spit on. I would have probably lost it and gotten banned from the public transit system for life.

Posted by: Lo at July 17, 2006 05:09 AM

Lo is right with the skip forward and skip back buttons. Also if you push those buttons twice (in quick succession) then it will skip to the beginning or end of the message.

Posted by: jeff at July 17, 2006 06:23 AM

oh and getting spit on is enough to warrant a throw-down. If I get spit on, someone is going to kiss the pavement.

Posted by: jeff at July 17, 2006 06:26 AM

I usually don't take on guys on the streets of Seattle who are gross enough to be spitting randomly. Next time I will just call you and have you take care of him. :-)

Those are very good ideas about the phone messages, but you have to remember my profession. It is unlikely I will call someone back about an application either way (depending on the amount of time I have) and so the chances of me relistening to a message that is asking about an application are slim to none, no matter how quickly I can do it. And that is the dirty secret about hr.

Posted by: 10lees at July 17, 2006 08:01 AM

I could write a book of things that annoy me. Maybe my next blog entry will be about that. It will be much longer than yours I'm sure. Well Shit I guess you FINALLY added my blog link so I can't bitch about that.
Though I would agree with everyone else someone spitting in your hair is simple unacceptable behavoir even for crazy people. It must be handle. If not in a fight at least with that Big mouth I know you have.

Posted by: brandi at July 17, 2006 10:09 AM

My boss annoys me. There. I said it. I spent all morning in a car with him. He wants to know everything about my personal life (annoying #1) but then doesn't rememeber what I tell him, so he asks again (like, every day.) (Annoying #2). Last summer he asked me every other day when Steve took his qualifying exams. The date never changed.
Last week he asked me all about why my move-in-date to our new apartment had changed. I told him all about it, said "now we'll be moving in next Saturday (the 22nd) instead of this Saturday (the 15th)" So today, in the car, when it was just a little too silent for him, he said, "So, tell me again about your moving date. When are you moving again?" "Next Saturday." "And remind me, [gestures] this is because of the carpet?" "Yep." [silence... nothing new to add...]
Also annoying (#3) is his arbitrary decision that I'm not a coworker, but something between his granddaughter and daughter. "You're too young to be my daughter, and too old to be my grandchild, so just count yourself as lucky" he said, right before he insisted he buy me a coffee. I took the coffee, and bit my tounge. Does the man not know of appropriate work relationships? Treating your coworker like a family member, asking prying personal questions, and (the MOST annoying, #4) HUGGING your coworkers is NOT appropriate?

Then again, neither is blogging on work time.

My work is done here.

Posted by: Laura at July 18, 2006 10:37 AM

By the way, 10, gotta say, for all the annoying mr. boss man has done, at least my hair hasn't been spit in. Pooped on (by a passing bird), yes. Spit in? no.

I now count myself lucky.

Lo, as I recall, you're good with telling off annoying people/men. What would you tell my boss? I need a good "undermybreathswearchant" to get me through the work day, especially now that sane "you rock my world" boss is leaving, and huggy knows no appropriate limits grandpa boss is staying.

Posted by: Laura at July 18, 2006 10:41 AM

Laura-- Actually, in this case, you should probably tell yourself, "I can be bought, and I'm not that expensive." Otherwise sing the swear word song in your head. Because he has your job in his hands.

My boss openly hates me, but there's nothing she can do about me, so I act as sweet as sugar just to get her goat. She asks inappropriate questions all the time, but not because she's genuinely interested. Just because the faculty are around. And I don't think she's ever offered to buy me coffee. She does try to treat me like a little kid, though, which is frustrating.

One of my co-workers did decide that she had the right to adjust my shirt for me while I was standing at the sink in the restroom (and she hadn't washed her hands yet). I yelled at her. I pretty much said, "Don't touch me!" And she hasn't since.

So sorry that this was not exactly what you wanted. You can always say, "I do" next time he tells you that you should count yourself lucky, but then try to play it off like you're teasing (only do it poorly so that he knows you're not but can't call you on it). That might get the point across. Otherwise, suck it up and realize it could be worse. He could wish you a firey death instead of a warm coffee.

Posted by: Lo at July 19, 2006 06:03 AM

the patronizing game!!! works wonders.

Posted by: dr gonzo at July 19, 2006 09:00 AM

Yep. Hate patronizing man most right now because he patronoized out the door the best person in our department, because she was better than him, and he knew it, and he was intimidated by her, so he intimidated her to the point of quiting because she could no longer do her job effectively. ("don't move until I tell you to" he basically told her.) She'll only be working with me for another five days.
Grr... hate dumb people.

Posted by: Laura at July 25, 2006 07:06 AM

You know in the 70's and 80's it was so much easier to be in the work force. As a woman we knew we were less than the men - especially when you worked for the police dept. Obviously the men with the weapons were stronger and had a ton more authority. It was very black and white. Although - I usually had the ability to out think them. ;) It was fun.

Now driving my boss to work would be a major no no and part of that is because of the woman/man aspect. Is your boss married? I would be amazed that since he is the BOSS he can't seem to afford transportation other than a less paid employee??? I find that amazing.

How about Christy Brinkley's husband - is he a piece of work or WHAT??? Living with Christy Brinkley who's wonderful to look at and messing around with someone at the office.

I would give your boss some boundaries. I would answer any questions that you don't want to with something like "I don't know what you're talking about" or something blind like that. Something that puts him off. Or get annoying and ask him the same question back ... When are you moving - I don't know when are you moving. Become annoying and it'll be an interesting drive. How long is the drive anyway, I can't imagine enduring this guy for much longer than 5 minutes.

T is GREAT at telling people off that she knows or strangers that are FAR AWAY and she is assured of safety. Such as - someone's on the dock and she's just departing in her boat/ship/ferry. Then she would tell them off. I remember a trip to Bremerton Naval Base here in Washington at the age of 18 - and I was with 3 other friends. Some young men were yelling obscenities and other interesting invitations to us as we walked along in a park ... I let loose a long string of obscenities - only because I felt my life was in danger - rape or something like that or worse ... my friends looked at me - and I said - I'm going back to Seattle - you guys want to walk around a Naval base at 10 p.m. - go for it - I'm not staying. Wasn't interested. :(

Well that's my attempt to protect myself.

Posted by: Bevy at July 28, 2006 10:46 AM

Oh, he doesn't ride with me to work, ever. I would not have that. He offers me rides often, because I bussed (now that I've moved, I walk) but I always turned him down on that. The only reason we were in the car together is that we were leaving from work to go to a site visit and then coming back to work. We were using his car. In that case, it made sense. He is married, third or fourth marriage I believe. How's that for a track record?

Okay, I'm done now. Just wanted to set the record straight, I do not and never would carpool on a regular basis with this man!

Posted by: L at July 31, 2006 05:22 AM

Hi L,
Well I'm glad we cleared that up!!! :) I'm glad you don't have to put up with much of him. And driving from site to do something and back is cool - as long as it's not 3 hour drive - TAXI!!! ;)

See ya,
B

Posted by: Bevy at August 1, 2006 12:56 PM
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