gargoyle grumpy

Ten Little Things That Bug Me

A while ago, I wrote a post complaining about parking lot design. It was going to be the first of a series of grumbles. Since then I’ve realized that writing a string of posts whining about “first world problems” isn’t the best use of my blogging time. So I’ve bundled all the small things that bug me into one post.

This one.

These are low-level annoyances that regularly make me say “Why…?” They’re things — poorly-designed physical objects, not human behaviour. Many aspects of human behaviour (individual and collective) bug me, and many more sadden and enrage. Maybe I’ll get into some of them in future posts. For now, I’m sweating the small stuff.

Such as…

  • Noisy yard machines. Sometimes my corner of suburbia sounds like a war zone with competing roars from lawn mowers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers.
  • Scented dryer sheets and laundry soaps. Nose-twisting synthetic “perfumes” with names like “April Fresh” and “Mountain Breeze” wafting from dryer vents in the neighbourhood. And I’m not even allergic!
  • Pants (trousers) without pockets. Women’s pants, specifically. Oh, right — women don’t need pockets because they always carry purses for their keys and kleenex. Even while vacuuming, gardening, and cooking.
  • Containers sealed for my protection that need a knife to remove the seal.
  • Fitted sheets that don’t quite fit and need brute force to muscle them onto a mattress.
  • Right turns on red. Whether I’m driving or walking, they make me nervous.
  • Glue that fails even when instructions for use are adhered to.
  • Lack of hand grips on big furniture and appliances. Just try moving a washing machine or sofa. Weight isn’t the real issue, but nowhere to get an effective grip. Surely designers could build in something graspable by the human paw.
  • Overly bright LED street lights. I look out the window to see the full moon and get blinded by the light on the pole.
  • Gifs and other online visuals (often in ads) that jump, flash, wiggle, and jiggle. Again. And again, and again, and again… Screeeeeeee… (That’s me running away.)

That’s it! I’m done griping. What about you, WP bloggers? What irks you? Here’s your chance to complain. Or not. (And I still have no idea why parking lots are designed to annoy. If anyone knows, please add a comment!)

Image from Pixabay

120 comments

  1. Great list. It reminds me of the time many years ago when I told some friends, “I’m going to write a book/story/whatever called “1001 things that piss me off”. They both said, “No one wants to read that.” HA! Then the internet came along and half of it is complaining! I had my chance to be a trend setter and I missed it. I guess that’s my “thing that bugs me” today.

    🙂

    Liked by 6 people

  3. I’m with on overly scented fabric conditioners etc. I don’t see the purpose of leaf blowers, surely the wind does that effectively, the human role is to gather the leaves or not. I would say I’ve never seen a woman using a leaf blower on the blow setting…

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Earlier today I opened one of those cans of soup (the type with the ring pull, not the kind opened using a tin opener). Whilst I don’t like can openers, I have had fun when the ring kind of opener has come off in my hand meaning that I do, in fact have to resort to using the tin opener anyway and risk cutting my hand! Kevin

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I meant to add, sometimes I like to walk in solitude. However on those days when I especially desire to stroll with just my dog for company, I run into someone I know, or a stranger and have to make polite conversation, when I’d rather be thinking my own thoughts or simply enjoying the beauty of the woods. Now I’m sounding really grumpy!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I particularly agree with the pants without pockets and the sealed containers. I have arthritis in my hands and removing the seals on yogurt containers and frozen mac and cheese cups can be downright painful.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. I have an ever-growing list of things like this, and most of yours are on it. Here’s another: I just spent fifteen minutes trying to figure out how to block autoplay videos on websites that somehow defy Firefox’s built-in autoplay blocker. I never managed to solve it. Hey, web designers: We hate autoplay videos!

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Loud construction right outside my window 6 days a week, beginning at 7:00 AM. Since I moved into this apartment about 4 years ago, 5 new (large) apartment complexes have been built within my “view,” which used to include a lovely look at the trains going through, a pair of old, silver silos and a peek into the small downtown area. All of that is now gone or obscured. Another good reason why my imminent move to the already established “Square side” of my building is a good thing!

    Liked by 1 person

  15. A bazillion doodads on appliances and cars. I don’t need and will never use half the settings on my dishwasher, and I don’t need and never will use the extra buttons on my car stereo. Kudos to more sophisticated folks who do use those things, but there are no options for simple folks like me.

    Liked by 2 people

  17. Great post! It bugs the heck out of me when paper grocery bags don’t have handles, or if they do, they’re weak ones!
    Cardboard boxes without hand grips.
    A sink full of dishes- where do they keep coming from?
    Horns blaring for no reason- seriously, I’m a great driver!
    Whew, I feel better now 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I agree about handles on bags and boxes. Plastic bags do have an advantage there, despite their evils. Dishes to be washed are always with us, sadly. Those horns must be for other drivers, surely? 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  18. I agree with all of those Audrey!
    As far as the bed/sheet thing goes,I have found If I pick the mattress up and put it on my knee I can stretch the bottom sheets much better. It means you’ll have to put your foot inside on the floor of the bed. The mattress can just sit there on your knee so easily! Not sure this applies in your situation or not?

    Liked by 1 person

  19. Made it!
    I am here (Roger that is)
    I agree with All of the above…….except for the pants without pockets…..of course…Instead I will replace that with…”coats & jackets with not enough pockets…As I male and not conducive with handbags I require a large number of pockets in my coats and jackets, as my wife is very much aware of……after hearing me wax lyrical on the subject for many years
    I will also add…..
    Trying to find an Internet Browser you can use which is WP friendly (can’t you guys ‘talk’ to each other????? Is it too much to ask…….Yes of course it is!)

    Liked by 2 people

  20. -giggles- can’t help with the other niggles, but I’ve discovered that I can buy, and wear, men’s pants around the house and out in the garden. Pockets!!! I also have a utility bag type thing that holds things like secaturs, but I admit I forget to sling it around my waist most of the time. Pockets are so much better. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

      1. I agree. I started buying men’s jeans back in the 70s because they were cut so well. These days it’s just pants for gardening.
        I’ve never owned a waistcoat, but I have lots of big jackets with hoods and pockets. Great for gardening in winter. 😀

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Totally agree!! I buy men’s “painters pants” for use in my art studio. The pants I get at the house paint store have big roomy pockets and extra pockets that hold lots of things! My current pair also has pockets on the knees for slipping in knee pads. Very useful for gardening!! I slip the pads in the knee pockets of my pants, put my clippers and trowels in the various pant loops and off I go to the yard! I’m sure I scare the neighbors but slowly over time I’m training them to accept my eccentricity. 😉

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Thanks Audrey – I did!! Took long enough to find them – 51 years at least! Lol!! I agree there’s more to life than fashion and it is a shame that some designers of women’s clothing don’t seem to realize that women do so much more than pose for cameras while wearing clothes. 😉

          Liked by 1 person

              2. Indeed!!! I’ve worn Birkenstock sandals and Keen footwear for many years now – and my feet and toes are remarkably free from the foot troubles some of my female friends have who’ve worn high heels etc. often.

                Liked by 1 person

              2. As with pants, pockets on T shirts seem to be a guy thing. Now, I have to say I wouldn’t put much more than a pencil into a breast pocket, because, you know — breasts. But pocketed garments are practical and could be designed to look good too.

                Like

            2. Thanks! I don’t know about whether a t-shirt could have enough pockets – but here in the Pacific Northwest they sell what is called a “vest” – it often has 4 pockets on the front and 2 pockets on the inside. Some even have a 7th pocket on the back. Here’s one of the brands I find: https://www.scottevest.com – they are often worn over a t-shirt. Adds pockets without much bulk or heaviness. Tho you can get them heavy/winter thick if you want that.

              Liked by 1 person

              6. Those are cool looking vests, Sue. I do have a couple of similar ones, as well as one designed for travel made by Tilley that has multiple pockets. I had another look at it yesterday, thinking I should start wearing it again. It’s kind of like cargo pants in vest form; you could lose stuff in it!

                Liked by 1 person

  22. HA! You just nailed all my annoyances, we are much alike! In fact, I was just jolted out of bed by my neighbors’ yard workers and their loud obnoxious blowers right outside my window! Have a good day!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Love your list. I still maintain it’s better to be pissed off than pissed on. Television channels that run the lamest and most annoying commercials back to back are one of my pet peeves.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. PS I need pockets to store my Fitbit Zip. It’s cheap and does not get as accurate a count if carried or attached to a piece of clothing. If I’m going to take that step, I want credit for it!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. You gotta have pockets. I’m remembering the bit in The Wind in the Willows where Toad has just escaped from gaol dressed as a washerwoman and realizes he no longer has pockets, which are a sign of a gentleman.

      Liked by 2 people

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  27. I could feel my blood pressure rise as I was going through your list! One that I would add is when drivers do not use a turn signal. I also get annoyed when I just miss a green light and have to sit there and wait for it to return. As you might have guessed, I get annoyed pretty easily while driving… 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Driving is a minefield of annoyances, and worse. Since I was focussing on design rather than behaviour, I omitted those details, but I totally agree with you about drivers who don’t signal, or do it as they start their turns. And I’ve noticed that if I miss one green light, I miss them all on a particular stretch of road. Thanks for your comment, Jim!

      Liked by 1 person

  28. It looks like you and I are annoyed by a lot of the same things. I’d add one, which is minor but I don’t like cardigan sweaters that don’t have pockets, especially when my pants don’t either. My latest purchase is a man’s sweater because it has pockets, and I always carry a tissue or two, not to mention my cell phone and keys.

    Liked by 2 people

    2. Oh I second that remark about sweaters!!! I buy the men’s sweaters too – especially the ones with the shawl collars, the leather covered buttons, the elbow patches and the big flap covered pockets on the front! Pockets big enough for my hands, a handkerchief, a small sketchbook/notebook and a pen!!!! I have to roll-up the sleeves on the sweater but it’s a small issue – and the nice pockets well make up for that!!

      Liked by 2 people

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