April 17, 2012: Al-most there! Things that have been getting on my nerves lately…

Soooooo annoyed.

This will apparently mark my 1999th consecutive blog entry.  And, should everything go as planned, I’ll upload my 2000th entry tomorrow.  The milestone will happen to coincide with another notable occasion: Akemi’s birthday.  Akemi will celebrate by attending her English classes all afternoon.  I’ll (hopefully) be finishing my final (for now) pass on my horror script and then switching gears to continue brainstorming that mini-series Paul and I are poised to write (provided we can close our deal).  Looks like it’s going to be a busy May-June, but I’d still like to get away for a weekend – maybe Vegas, maybe San Fran.  Of course, we have to sort out Akemi’s visa situation before we can travel.  I expect we’ll hear word within the next couple of months after which it’ll be smoooooth sailing (or flying – direct to Vegas).

To those asking, I’ve yet to hear back from the Seattle Pug Rescue.  As some of you may know, I filled out an application a couple of weeks ago and am looking at adopting these two needy old-timers:

Buddy and Junior

They haven’t gotten back to me yet.  I’ll give it another week, then follow up.

Not sure why (Or, rather, I’m not sure which of the reasons why.  It’s probably all of them combined.) but I’ve been unusually cranky recently.  So I’d like to take a moment to list some of the things that have been annoying me of late:

My tooth.  I think I may have lost a filling.

FIFA.  After years of resisting change, those fossils at FIFA have finally agreed to test and introduce a “new technology that uses missile-grade precision sensors or a magnetic field to assist the officials”.  I’ve always wondered why professional sports couldn’t make use of tech, similar to that used by retailers, to ensure more games didn’t hinge on “some guy getting it right”.  Whether it’s a ball or puck crossing a line or thief leaving store premises with a stolen item, there’s a way to know that doesn’t rely on a judgment call – or the need to go upstairs for a time-consuming review.  FIFA, welcome to the 21st century: FIFA: Goal-line technology tests this month

The Monsanto Company.  Oh, where to begin?  Start here: “The world’s 10 most unethical companies | The Search Office Space Blog”  Then here: The World according to Monsanto  Then here: “Monsanto Sues Milk Producer For Advertising It Sells Hormone-Free Milk”  And here: “The wasteland: how years of secret chemical dumping left a toxic legacy”  And here: “Monsanto fined $1.5m for bribery”

Any Canadian-produced series on the Food Network with the exception of Eat Street, Chuck’s Day Off, and Dinner Party Wars.

Any book in the “recommended” section at your local bookstore.  I’m sorry, Heather.  You have terrible taste in novels.

The Boston Bruins

The Detroit Red Wings

People you’ve supported in the past who don’t return the favor.

Annual physicals.

Restaurants that put alfalfa sprouts on their burgers (Yes, Oakwood Bistro, I’m talking about you).

Understaffed restaurants whose wait staff present you with the bill before asking you whether you’d like to order dessert (Yes, Bel Cafe, I’m talking about you).

Home repairs.

The big dog across the street that barks every time my dogs step out the front door.  The other day, she came charging across the street to confront my dogs sitting behind our front gate.  His owner apologized. “She’s never done that before.”  And probably won’t again if he has enough sense to put her on a leash.

Waiting.

Overly-enthusiastic salespeople who “LOVE YOU IN THIS” and “LOVE YOU IN THAT”!  I remember going suit shopping with Paul back in our college days.  ”This suit would look great on you!”one saleswoman assured Paul.  ”I’m not wearing a pink suit,”he informed her.  ”It’s not pink,”she corrected him, borderline offended.  ”It’s salmon!”  Oh.  Okay then.

Superhero movies of the 70′s, 80′s, and 90′s.

*I reserve the right to expand on this list in the coming days.

Tagged: Things that annoy me