A little while back I wrote about 221 Things That Make Me Happy. (Hey, if you missed that post the first time, check it out – lots of feel-good stuff there!). Since I had so much fun compiling my happy list, I decided to do it again… only this time, just for laughs, I thought I’d divulge some of my Pet Peeves – you know, those little, (seemingly) insignificant things that for whatever reason find a way to irritate, annoy, or otherwise get under my skin.
Thankfully, it’s a MUCH shorter list!
Pet Peeves: 21 Things That Get On My Nerves
- wet coffee spoons in the sugar
- cheap rubber flip-flops as officewear
- smacking or slurping while eating
- car alarms that won’t stop
- people grooming themselves – nail clipping, full makeup application, etc. – in places other than their own home or a salon
- eating contests
- banana strings
- drivers who allow themselves to get stuck in the middle of the intersection or crosswalk when the light turns red
- spitting in public
- when people stand in the way at the top of an escalator
- being able to hear someone else’s music even though they’re wearing headphones
- when Peter (yes, I’m naming names!) is too impatient to “nest” the graduated-size measuring cups when putting away the clean dishes and instead leaves them in a haphazard stack
- loud, long, chatty cell phone conversations in shared public spaces
- passive-aggressive Facebook status updates
- people who don’t clean up after their dogs
- labels or price tags that won’t peel off properly and end up leaving a residue
- when people put their feet on the cushion of the seat across from them on the bus
- incorrectly-used apostrophes
- stepping in spilled water while wearing socks
- “Patty” instead of “Paddy” as a diminutive of Patrick
- when someone parks their vehicle so that it takes up more than one parking space
Ahhh… feels great to get these things off my chest!
Now it’s your turn!
What’s on your Pet Peeves list?
Please share!

Twitter: LynneCobb
March 13, 2014
To add to your list: being the only person who knows how to replace an empty toilet paper roll 🙂
Lynne recently posted… Help! I’m Addicted to Taking Personality Quizzes!!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 14, 2014
I can imagine, LOL!
Laurel Regan recently posted… (Almost) Wordless Wednesday – On Vulnerability & Community
Twitter: simplyf00d
March 13, 2014
So glad you got that off your chest. i think I agree with quite a lot of them.
Nayna Kanabar ( recently posted… Thorntons Easter Egg Review and Giveaway
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 14, 2014
It’s fun to just gripe sometimes!
Laurel Regan recently posted… (Almost) Wordless Wednesday – On Vulnerability & Community
Twitter: RamblinGarden
March 13, 2014
Oooh….I’d better not get started. People who don’t clean their sidewalks during the winter. People who don’t insert the toilet paper roll “the right way” I like mine unrolling from the front. Men who leave the toilet seat up (husband, are you listening?) Magazines that start sending renewal notices a month after you renew your annual subscription. Scented inserts in newspapers. That’s all for now!
Alana recently posted… Best of AM – My Childhood and Young Adulthod Considered as a Museum Piece
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 14, 2014
I am with you on all of those things… though we don’t get the newspaper, so I’ve never had to deal with scented inserts. I can imagine how annoying they’d be, though!
Laurel Regan recently posted… (Almost) Wordless Wednesday – On Vulnerability & Community
Twitter: KaaSerpent
March 13, 2014
Oh, my. I could probably go on for longer than 221. Maybe longer than 2221.
But how about:
Blocking the elevator so people can’t get out, because you’re so hot to get IN.
Not getting OUT of the elevator when the doors open because your conversation is more important than…everyone else, apparently.
Using ‘then’ for ‘than.’
Using ‘literally’ non-literally.
Qualifying ‘unique’ (i.e., “really unique”).
I’m going to stop lest I start a flood I can’t stem.
Gary Henderson recently posted… Keeping Score Is for Games, Not Friendships
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 14, 2014
Yes on all counts! (I could have probably gone on longer as well, LOL!)
Laurel Regan recently posted… (Almost) Wordless Wednesday – On Vulnerability & Community
Twitter: BatteredHope
March 14, 2014
I agree with your lists and the ones in the comment section. I didn’t realize how much some of those things bothered me until I read your post! Here are my big ones:
Slow people. It has nothing to do with being in a hurry, it is the inconsiderate behavior that makes me go insane. Driving in the left lane, too slow, and maintaining the same speed as the person in the right lane. Consequently, no one can pass on either side. They dawdle beside each other either completely oblivious to what is going on behind them or they just don’t care.
The same scenario happens in hall ways or on the sidewalk. You want to pass the two people in front of you who are taking up the entire space and not allowing those behind them to pass.
Oblivious? Rude?
Cashiers who say “All together that will be….” and you only bought one thing. Can they not count? I often want to say something but figure that if they can’t count, they would not get it.
Answering a business phone with a long speal — “Good morning, you have reached AA Company. We appreciate your business. My name is Carol. How may I help you?” When you call a business, you are obviously going to tell the person who answers the phone why you are calling and it really doesn’t matter who answers as you will be redirected elsewhere anyway.
And, drum roll please…..when you call a service provider such as your cell phone or credit card company and you have to go through a series of prompts for 5 minutes to find out they are CLOSED.
Carol Graham recently posted… One Woman Can Make a Difference
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 14, 2014
I’m with you on your additions to the list… and oblivious people have to be the worst! Although I’ve probably unintentionally done some of those clueless things myself, LOL!
Laurel Regan recently posted… (Almost) Wordless Wednesday – On Vulnerability & Community
I can relate to some of them and I especially dislike #3, #5 & #17 in your list. Eating noisily??? Oh mine! Such a torture to my ears!
DinoMama recently posted… Foodie Fridays – Home Cooked Meals #1
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 14, 2014
I totally agree! It’s just nasty!
Laurel Regan recently posted… (Almost) Wordless Wednesday – On Vulnerability & Community
Twitter: manjirichitnis
March 14, 2014
I share some of the those points that you mentioned on my own list of pet peeves! Top most being people talking LOUDLY on public transport- hate it at the end of a long day espp! so also spitting in public! damn ! I think I need to make my own list!But am guilty of applying full on make up while travelling when am running very late!;)
ManjiriK recently posted… Hot,Pink and Fresh Off the Grill !
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 14, 2014
I think the makeup annoyance thing started when I used to take the bus to work and there was this woman who would start to apply her makeup as soon as she got on the bus, EVERY SINGLE DAY. Once in awhile when you’re running late is one thing, but this was part of her morning routine!
Laurel Regan recently posted… (Almost) Wordless Wednesday – On Vulnerability & Community
Is it okay that I LOL’d after quite a few of these (only because I so strongly agreed and it is so good to know others share the same feelings)? I have to add
1) Cat owners who just let their cats roam the neighborhood and let them do their business in other’s gardens. (I know you own cats and they are lovely so I’m really sorry if this offends you). It’s gardening season here in Victoria and I can’t believe how much clean up of neighborhood cats I have had to do so far.
2) Costco shoppers who leave their buggies in the middle of the aisle because they just have to have a sample of some frozen food item or bread. Bread? Really? They haven’t tasted this before?
Anyway, those are my additions.
Thanks for the laugh.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 15, 2014
1) Totally not offended – our cats are indoor cats, so we’re the only ones who scoop their poop!
2) I had to laugh at that, because Every. Single. Time Peter gets back from Costco he rants about that very thing! I’ve reached the point where I just nod sympathetically and wait for him to be finished. 😉
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo A Day Challenge – March 1-14, 2014
I’m pretty easy going, but there is one thing that infuriates me, people who talk on the cell phone in a public restroom. Conducting business there is hard enough without having an extra person listening in …
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
March 21, 2014
Oh, I’m totally with you on that one, LOL!
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