Barbara Asks: What's Your Pet Peeve?

So last night I recorded the Survivor finale because I was busy doing Mom's day stuff, and although I haven't followed the season that closely, I got caught up in the last two weeks when I watched this group of conniving, brilliant women completely blindside every strong guy out there and get them off the island.  Those of you who watched the show will know what I'm talking about.  It was a fairly entertaining show this season.

But on to my pet peeve.  I get home and turn on my computer to check my email and I go on to the Internet and there blasting on my home page is the name of the winner of Survivor.  Being on the west coast, this happens more times than I care to say, especially with awards shows.  Last time the Oscars were on, I made the same mistake of accidentally going on line and finding out which movie won best picture.  Why can't the Internet sites simply tag the line, "Winner announced" or something and let those who want to click on the link, click?   I now try to remember not to go online if I'm watching something where I want to enjoy the show.   

Along the same lines, what's up with ABC interrupting a great interview Oprah had going with Barbara Walters to break into the broadcast to simply announce that ABC was predicting that Obama was going to win some primary ... this was at 4:15 on the west coast, and only 17% of the vote had been counted and was this really such earth shattering news that we couldn't wait until the 5:00 newscast?  It wasn't like the race was over, and the nomination was in.  And while I could see the announcement, Charlie Gibson then followed up by interviewing George Stephanopolous about what must they be thinking in the Clinton camp.  Seriously, at that particular moment I was far more interested in which senator Barbara Walters had an affair with ... LOL.    I think the phones at ABC must have been ringing off the hook, because at the end of the Oprah show, they re-ran the missed part of the broadcast. 

Now, I know most of you out there are probably saying, "Barbara, if you want to avoid these pesky problems, stop watching TV".  LOL  What can I say, I sometimes procrastinate ... 

Since I've confessed my pet peeves, I've decided to open up the blog today to discussing our pet peeves, or just general whining, ranting, raving, getting things off your chest ... kind of day - what we like to call a little Diva Blog Therapy!

"So what's bugging you? 

Comments

[Terry Odell]

Right now I'm peeved at the contractor/handyman industry. After so many years, you'd think I'd have learned ... but, looking on the bright side, my little household project is giving me blog fodder.

I agree about wanting to delay "The News." I'm on the east coast and most of the time, I'm in bed (reading) by 10 PM. Any television shows I want to watch in that time slot, I tape. (Yeah, we don't have a DVD recorder yet, and my cell phone doesn't take pictures -- I'm one or two steps above a Luddite, I guess)

Anyway, I enjoyed the Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments, but if they were going to run late, I'd tape them. My husband, a TOTAL non-sports fan, walked in one post-final morning, carrying the paper, and said, "Looks like XX won". Why had he looked? Why did he care? I had planned on enjoying several hours of mindless 'you can do something else while watching' television. But it's not the same if you know who wins. From then on, I made a point of telling him that he was toast if he divulged any scores.

But I agree -- most blog and other website etiquette includes "Spoiler Alerts." Why can't the media?

[kateMoore]

Barbara, My pet peeve at the moment, the thing that keeps me from TV, period--ads for drugs that no one should be taking if the side-effects--like death, stroke, nausea, liver failure, high blood pressure and four-hour erections--are any indication of how safe they are. The assault of the drug companies seems to go on and on. Ask your doctor about something that might help you if it doesn't kill you.

[Barbara Freethy]

Terry - I love watching the Grand Slam tennis tourneys on TV -- for some reason I can write tons and tons of pages with the ball going back and forth over the net a few feet away from me. Maybe there's some mindless rhythm to it ... LOL.

Kate - LOL on the drug ads ... I can't believe how they go through twenty seven horrible things that can happen to you but then say call your doctor and ask for this. Especially when sometimes the ad starts out ... "feeling a little down" or something innocuous.

[Carol Grace]

Barbara, you are an incredible multi-tasker! What's bugging me right now is what appetizer to make for my gourmet book club tonight. I've gone through my cookbooks and epicurious.com. It has to be so good they'll be blown away but basic enough so that I've got all the ingredients on hand. Any ideas anyone? (something hot preferably)

[Barbara Freethy]

Don't you usually have a theme for the dinner, Carol, that goes with the book that you're discussing? Maybe that will help with suggestions!

[Carol Grace]

The book is 3 Cups of Tea about a do-gooder who built schools in Afghanistan for girls. Since no one knows how to make Afghan food it can be anything with the number 3 in it, like appetizers with 3 ingredients. Whatever.
Thanks!

[Poppy]

Carol, Do you have wonton wrappers? BC you can make Afgan dumplings, Aushak? They're scallion filled dumplings topped with meat sauce and yogurt. Dead easy to make, just google a recipe.

My pet peeve? Drivers who block traffic in a parking lot to let people in and out of their cars. This is the suburbs, it's not like parking is more than twenty feet from the entrance anyway.

[JOYE]

I think the 2 pet peeves that I have now are the people that when you send them a wedding present or baby gift they never send you a thank you card. Half the time I don't know if they received it or not.
And the thing that really bugs me is the lack of good manners in most people.
Where is Emily Post when we need her most?

[Carol Grace]

Joye, what we need is an up-to-date Emily Post, dealing with today's problems like drivers who block traffic and people who don't write thank-you notes anymore. What about you taking on the job??
Poppy, I don't have any wonton wrappers, but I LOVE Afghan food, especially aushak from the Kabul restaurant in San Carlos.

[Liz Kreger]

Let's see. My biggest pet peeve right now is the fact that all you see on the news are blaring stories about "makeup that can KILL you", "the things you don't know about your hair dryer that can KILL you." All these doomsday stories. How the hell did we survive as long as we have? :lol: Yes, yes, I know ... sensationalist garners people's attention, but please, give me a happy story once in awhile.

[Barbara Freethy]

Joye - There is definitely a lack of manners out there today. I don't get too hung up on thank you notes if the person thanks me in person, but it is nice to know if a present arrived.

Liz - What is the makeup that can KILL you? I wonder... There is a lot of doomsday news out there. That's why I usually watch the news at dinner time or in the morning and not before I go to bed ... it's too dark at the end of the night.

[Bella Andre]

Nothing much right now. ;-) Just giving my revisions some thought....