April 25, 2003
Rant of the Day
Here's where I get to Rant 
I've always been hyper sensitive to different smells, usually perfumes and such. Never really been tested for it, just known it since I was little (used to drive Mom crazy). I go out of my way to avoid perfume counters in department stores and those sales persons who try to "annoint" you as you come in.
Here's the Rant: Why do people feel the need to bathe in perfume/cologne first thing in the morning?
Some aren't too bad, ususally those with a powder base (yes, I can smell it), but most are a floral base that makes my nose go insane within a second of being indudated with it. Small elevators, riding a crowded Metro...all designed, at least as far as my nose is concerned, to setting off my allergy to perfume...sneezing, coughing, hacking,.. its disgusting.
Years ago, I used to work in a smallish office with about 10 other people on swing shift (3pm to 11pm). One night one of the guys comes in to work and you could smell him from the other side of the room...after about 3 minutes of arguing with my nose, I tell the guy that if he doesn't go and wash all/most of that cologne off, I'll do it for him. Mind you I was a bit of a bitch then, but everyone that worked there knew it. (I know, somethings don't change, I'm still that way, I've just learned to be more quiet about it...
) After a minute of arguing with me that I couldn't possibly smell his cologne from across the room he finally gets the message that I will take him by the ear and wash him myself...off he goes and comes back without the cloud hanging around his ears...
Anyway, just a rant. I'll get down from the 'box now.
Have a Happy Friday!!!!!
November 26, 2002
Faith
Ok, so the title is a bit misleading given that we are heading into the holiday season.
I know its been awhile since I've posted, but now that all I have to deal with is the holiday season, I should be able to post more often :)
I had my faith in the stupidity of people reaffirmed yesterday morning. Wait! Don't flame me yet, I know there are exceptions to the rule, but driving down the highway and watching other people its kind of hard to see.
Here I was, running a little late yesterday morning on my way to work. The highway was literally a parking lot, I mean all 5 lanes, including the HOV, were at a dead stop. All of the sudden something makes me look in the rear view mirror and I have just enough time to tense as the idiot switching lanes at over 35 MPH plows into the rear of my car. Needless to say, massive damage to his car, and I ended up taking the day off work.
I had seen this guy not 15 minutes before right behind me because I heard the scream of his brakes as he lays into them to keep from hitting me once before. He was weaving in and out of really thick, slow traffic, doing at least 35MPH whereever he could.
This guy is 20 years old, driving a rental. Which I found out today can only mean 1 of 2 things. 1 is he's in the military (not even close, I just got back from a visit with my brother at Fort Eustis, so I know what military looks like) or 2 he's in a rental thru insurance while his car is being repaired. So, its either one of those, or he "borrowed" Mom/Dad's rental for the day. Either way, some one else is paying for the damage to my poor car.
Now my car has some of the most horrible grinding sounds coming out from underneath it, the back bumper is tucked under the trunk (not all the way, but you can tell its not where it should be), and the brake lights don't work.
Needless to say, I'm unhappy, but relativaly unhurt, I'm just waiting for the muscles that I tensed to relax so I can feel my thumb again :)
It looks as though I may just take the insurance repair check and use it for a down payment and whatever they will give me for my beat-up only partially functional car as a trade in...
Here's the soapbox...
Why do people feel the need to get just that one car length ahead, usually cutting someone else off in the process? Its not like they get very far, usually just that one car length. Or speeding down a highway that's packed with people. I understand the need to cut loose every once and a while, I've done it, and I wouldn't believe you if you said that you had never done it, but why during rush hour? Its not like you're going to get anywhere fast, there are so many others one the road with the same problem. If you are that late, deal with it, don't cause others to have to deal with it.
I'm off the soapbox now.
August 24, 2002
Kiss & Ride?
Okay, this is for those people in any city where there is a peole moving system that has a drop off point.
What's with people parking all over the place?
Here's the thing...here in the DC area, we have the Metro, and each of the stations has a drop off section that they have affectionately called the Kiss & Ride. This is where you drive through and drop someone off. You don't park and wait, you drop off. Kind of like your parents did when you were little and they were taking you to school.
They have metered parking spaces that are long enough for 2 cars, if the first car pulls up to the very front of the space. What's been happening recently is that people aren't pulling in far enough, and others are just parking sideways while they wait for the person they are picking up.
Yesterday, while I was waiting for my ride to arrive, I watched a line of cars about 15 long block the entrance to the Kiss & Ride, just because they saw others parked this way. No one could get through. It was a mess. All because someone decided not to circle while waiting for whomever it was they were waiting for.
Its not designed for large numbers of cars to sit and wait, its designed for people to drive through and drop off/pick up someone. Why must humans be so insensitive to others as to park their car? Why can't they just keep moving? Are they afraid that the person they are picking up is going to leave without them? They have the car!
I just don't get it! Move the car, don't park it! Maybe we need to have people directing traffic here like they did at the schools. There's a thought! Where's that suggestion box...pardon me, please, I have to go and make a suggestion :)