Mental Flossing

[mrdreamjeans]

Recently, I wrote about "mentalpause". Taking it a step further, to rid myself of undesirable stress, to rid myself of unbidden, unkind thoughts, I’ve decided that it’s time to rant a bit about things that irritate me; I often sublimate them and then lash out unexpectedly... not often, but every once in awhile it’s time to blow off steam, so you regain mental health:) It’s time to floss the ole brain.

In random order, here’s a sample of things that can bother me a lot:

1. CD packaging. I can’t never get the damn packing off without a lot of trouble. Grrrr....

2. Smoke in my face, especially when I’m singing. (I could go on about smoking, but won’t:)

3. People who pop their gum. I have all I can do not to say, “Spit it out now or I’m going to clobber you”. My Dad is the worst offender since he quit smoking.

4. Cell Phones - ringing in restaurants, movies or during a show... on public transportation. It’s just rude!! That’s why cell phones have silent and vibrate mode.

5. People who drive under the minimum speed limit... This is very common at home.

6. Gummy labels on picture frames or on the bottom of drinking glasses. I have glasses from which I’ve never been able to remove the friggin’ residue.

7. Telemarketers - especially out-sourced ones. It’s so very hard to insult them:)

8. People who pump gas while smoking and/or talking on their cell phones. It’s an explosion waiting to happen and common in Texas. I will yell at offenders. I am not going to be silent when my life is in danger!

9. People who are late and don’t extend the courtesy of calling ahead. You get one chance with me; I wait 15 minutes and if you’re not there, I’m gone. No second chances without a believable explanation.

10. Religious and political hypocrisy ... “I dislike stupidity...especially when it masquerades as virtue”. I don’t remember the source of this quotation, but it’s certainly true enough:) Texas also seems to have a corner on this....Prime example: See Tom Delay and his recent interference in state congressional redistricting issues and more recently, the Terry Schiavo farce.

11. Hair growing in unexpected places:) (When backlit, my back hair looks like waving wheat.) I won’t talk about my ears....:)

12. Strong colognes, perfumes, incense and scented candles. I know a lot of people like them; I do too... until my eyes start to water, my nose stops up and my throat closes off....

13. Poor grooming.

14. Passive-aggressive communicators - Say what you mean and mean what you say.

15. Overly PC people and organizations. For instance, I attended an Open Air Art Show a week ago in Union Square. It’s considered a public park and so artists can’t conduct business or display prices for their work at the show. I bought a couple of pieces and had to follow the artist to curbside to hand him the money. Silly!

16. The three “D’s” Disloyalty, dishonesty and discourtesy.

17. To be accused of, or witness, unfairness.... Arrgh!

18. AND... since I’ve been in San Francisco these items have made the list:

People carrying umbrellas the size of domed stadiums, especially shorter people who do not take anyone taller than them into account while carrying them. I just started knocking them out of the way.

Powell Street cable car employees (from three cars) who sit 100 yards from the base stop and visit while a huge group of post-show patrons stand in pouring rain observing them. Also, is it just me, or all of them incredibly rude? It appears there’s not much accountability or incentive to do a good job ... (the downside of their union protections, I suspect). Note to mayor: These men and women are on the front line for promotion of your city. For the most part, they are not doing a good job.

Whew! I feel a lot better now that my mental flossing has been completed. Do you have items to add to the list? Come on...what’s a bit of flossing among friends:) Ha!

Comments

[bluedevilsf.livejournal.com]

For #7, you might want to try wiping off the gunk with a cotton ball or paper towel soaked with isopropyl alcohol. If that doesn't work and the surface is glass (not plastic), a bit of nail polish remover on the cotton ball should definitely work.

I have my father to thank for #11. I hate hate HATE having hairy ears like he does.

With regard to #12, I'll be sure not to wear M7 or Angel Men around you.

Oh, and don't let the locals catch you referring to the cable cars as trolleys!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for commenting Tim! I'm not allergic to all colognes, just some of them... and then they have to be heavy. It's only when I'm singing daily that I'm really aware of them. I'm going to change the wording to say cable cars...but then, I AM a tourist in the city, so I should be forgiven:)

[bluedevilsf.livejournal.com]

Whoops...I meant #6, not #7...though alcohol and nail polish remover might help with the telemarketers, if you can find them...

[gotmoof.livejournal.com]

*snaps gum*

SO... Whatcha sayin'?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

! LOL!

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

A hint about #1, find a CD Store, such as Tower Records and pick up a CD opener that rides along the edge of the CD and cuts the cellaphane so you can just yank it off. They are very inexpensive, like less than $3 I think.

I'm with you on poor grooming. I can forgive if you are going to be doing yard work or painting to not shave, but outside of that, best to keep that neat as much as possible. Also, trimmed nails and toenails - and try to keep the cuticles in as decent a shape as possible.

While I may be casual at times, I'm never slovenly. :-)

Oh, popping gum and/or chawing, as I call it, chewing your gum with mouth open.

Yes, we all have out pet peeves don't we??? :-)

There is an easier way...

[heypyro.livejournal.com]

CDs have a rigid bottom, so if you rub them against the edge of a countertop (one that has an edge to it) the packaging shreds open. Then, you pull the bottom tab that holds the front cover to the back, and flip it up so the only thing holding the CD case together is sticker. Just pull the two apart and you are done. I can get into a CD in under 6 seconds. No special devise needed. (you can also use the non-grooved side of a key to shred the lower lip of the packaging.)

Re: There is an easier way...

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

For some strange reason, I've tried the counter thing and I've not found a counter handy that that'll work but I've known of that trick though.

The key thing I've not thought of.

Re: There is an easier way...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I've tried the special CD opener thingie and all I succeeded in doing was cutting my finger open. Is it possible those devices are anti-left-handed? (It's a conspiracy:). I'll try your suggestion next time and hope that it also works for DVDs too.

"I can get into a CD in under 6 seconds. No special device needed." No wonder you're so popular:) LOL! Hugs!

[poohbearjim.livejournal.com]

I'm going to change the wording to say cable cars...but then, I AM a tourist in the city, so I should be forgiven
I'm sorry, but that, along with "Frisco," are unforgiveable! *G*

My hubby also has an aversion to scents. It's sometimes difficult since I DO like scented candles, air fresheners, potpourri, fragrant flowers, etc. (I share the dislike for cologne, though.)

Regarding the art show, I think there's more involved than political correctness. One of the benefits of the way you conducted your transaction was that by making it a "private" one "not involving the show," my international students would all-of-a-sudden be able to legally sell their work, whereas if it was through the show, it would have been compared to an agent/gallery, and that is not legally allowed (it's considered "employment.")

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explanation. It was more thorough and understandable than that given to me by the artist. It still seemed a bit odd that the artists had to put little stickers over their prices:)

[backawayslowly.livejournal.com]

the cable cars, like buses, are on a schedule, so the cars sit idle there until it's time to depart. If they loaded up with passengers BEFORE the departure time, and sat idle, they'd have to deal with ten minutes of tourits bitching about "why aren't we going yet?"

the cable car drivers are the most senior members of the MUNI staff, many of them serving 15 or 20 years (or more) on buses before working on the cable cars - I find them to be very professional and courteous... but that's just me.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Maybe it's just the off-hours that I'm riding them. (I've not been able to get on a cable car during the day). If there's a schedule after 10pm, I've not been able to determine what it is. For instance, as I indicated in describing the heavy rain situation, I was there about 10:30pm; there was a huge crowd from our show waiting patiently and getting drenched. Three cars were sitting close by with the workers idly chatting. Any of us would have been happy to have waited, be patient, as they stayed on schedule. We would have been waiting out of the rain. I grabbed a cab.

Last night, I was there at 11pm after visiting with ricksf and bearhound who saw last night's performance. I waited 40 minutes and never saw a single car going in either direction. I finally walked.

I'm glad you have had good experiences with the drivers. Other than when you and I took the cable car up the hill, I've found them abrupt and unfriendly, (observed them be rude to other riders) even though I was pleasant and had my pass in hand.

[backawayslowly.livejournal.com]

i concede that maybe they're only nice to me cuz I'm a local.

i believe the evening schedule has a cable car leaving Powell & Market every ten minutes... so if you waited 40 minutes, something was really wrong!

[tbone1961.livejournal.com]

Cell phones during shows??

As a brief recap, and hopefully not giving anything away, we split a gut at every performance of Seussical at the beginning of Act 2. It wasn't bad enough when the Cat in the Hat came into the pit to kickoff Act 2, while conductor is tied up off stage. We had to run thru just that 5-6 times in order for the orchestra to get our own bearings, without paying attention to the comedic acts he was running with.

But then in a brief monologue, he does this bit when he suspects someone's cell phone is ringing, only to discover it's his own. He then ran with it.

This guy was perfect for the part. You really did have to be there.

And as far as #11...YUMMY!!!!!

[pagerbear.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'd like to see and feel that back hair too! I've got some of my own.

[bigreddee.livejournal.com]

# 6...Use Goo-B-Gone. It's poison to all things gummy and sticky. You can get it at any hardware store.

As for big domed umbrellas, I'm guilty. I'm 6'4" so I need a big umbrella (otherwise, I get soaked from the waist down). On the other hand, I often use it to shield those who get caught in the rain without one, if only to cross a street or get a block closer to their (and my) destination.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

My rant comes from a couple of days of dodging umbrellas of short tourists who aren't looking out for anyone taller then them:) I barely saved my eyes several times:) It seems that hotels only provide golf-size umbrellas for their guests.

I would have been happy to have been sheltered by someone like yourself who is thoughtful. There ought to be a set umbrella protocol, don't you think. LOL!

Btw, I hope you saw the end of my post from a couple of days ago. I salute you! Hugs!

[bigreddee.livejournal.com]

I didn't see the whole thing until just now...thanks for pointing it out to me!

[althrman.livejournal.com]

See...MY reply to your comment....”TAKE A WALK”....this made me laugh,(sorry) reading this, after posting back. And as for all those gummy problems you seem to be having, try old fashion lighter fluid, it’s an old retail trick! Rant away...Neil

[wonderboynj.livejournal.com]

You've obviously never been in NYC on a rainy day.

There's nothing quite as vicious as a New Yorker with a stadium sized umbrella :)

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Some of the umbrellas being bandied about a couple of days ago near Union Square by little female tourists could have covered a five-piece patio set:) LOL!

[zpunky.livejournal.com]

Your observations about SF MUNI, especially the trolley cars, is quite astute. I find the service unacceptable for a city of such stature, and their attitudes towards the riders is pathetic.

Yet, because of very targeted marketing, MUNI has everyone thinking they're doing an outstanding job. NOT!

It drives me nuts. Milan, Itlay has a more timely and efficient public transportation system than San Francisco.

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

I haven't ridden the buses, but I've been on the underground and Bart and haven't found them to be a problem other than at rush hour. The location of our housing dictates that the cast and crew, for the most part, ride the Powell Street cable car to work or walk. I usually walk. It's that late night trek home that is giving me problems; hence, my grumbling:)

Riding during the day is impossible due to the tourists. My left knee is giving me trouble because I over-extended it in performance a couple of days ago. Since I can't make use of the cable car and I am tired of hearing the toll-takers and drivers be so gruff or out right rude, I've been taking taxis and logging the write-off.

A beautiful day like to day makes up for a lot of the mental flossing:)

[zpunky.livejournal.com]

BART is not part of the MUNI system, and it's great. I wish I could take it all the time.

[abearius.livejournal.com]

Do people actually smoke in Evita, or are these "stage" cigarettes?

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

For the most part, the cigarettes are those clove ones. The cigars are real and a bone of contention:)!

So I said...

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

..."You *pop* that gum one more time..."

... and he did...

... so I fired a warning shot.

INTO HIS HEAD.

Re: So I said...

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

Exactly!!!! I wish the problem could be solved by a well-timed musical theater reference:)!

LATE :) chiming!...

[tkn1114.livejournal.com]

Will you let me get a shout oot to GOTMOOF's screams about you and the very sweet SFLONESTAR as 'cap clones'? That was just too adorable!!! GOTMOOF: You're A-DOOR-WABLE! :)

Ok, now my pennies:
1. I AGREE! Whasupwidat?
3. Gum popping: But this is as american as apple pie and the 4th of July???
See, many moons ago when we first arrived in TX from the other continents, my mother would always exclaim: "My God! What ghastly manners these little boys and girls have around here popping their gums non-stop like that! Stop it! Stop it already!". But I, for one, would like to defend this genuinely american bad manner which even though may be annoying to some is adorable to me. So-wy!... :)
5. Then how come I got 2 speeding tickets last year in freaking H-town?... Which I fought and won :) but they're HUN-gryyyyyyyy these days! That's prolly why people drive under speed linits these days - esp. suburbia! :(
9. O-o! Note: Get ready a day ahead of time on engagement with MRDREAMJEANS!... So, if people call ahead, it's cool then?...
10. I AGREE! Only when you've actually lived in the South can you fully understand the depth and magnitude of the ignorance that's bred by religion in America
11. 'Blowing' body hair? FASCINATING! Do tell more... This is a white-boy deal that continues to fascinate me! My ex was a red-head walking carpet - a fact I accepted as norm and part of his beauty until otherwise informed by gay police. Did'nt change my mind none but it's interesting, nonetheless.
12. Strong cologne: TEXAAAAAAAAS! Goes with them creased jeans! LOL!
13. Define poor grooming :) Isn't this part of the bear charm? :)
15. PC: CALIFORNIAAAAAA! HaHaHa!!!
16 -17: You're so hot!
18: Wow, papi! Cut some slack... I'm asian, I can't do without no umbrella - large umbrella. I'm sorry, I just can't :(
Public transport employees: Gosh papi! Don't be so TX when it comes to these things!
You're lucky they're still driving the freakin' trolleys (said that word on purpose to see if there's SF reaction)!
Don't even complain in NYC or they'll play deaf and won't open the bus door! :)
Hugs,
Thanh