Pet Peeves
We all have them. Mine are now conveniently cataloged in the pages of my Listography book. One of my biggest pet peeves came through me like a tidal wave as I was taking the girls for a nice stroll through the neighborhood today. So here are my top four:
1) I come ulglued when yahoos don’t pull over for ambulances. Assuming that we are all driving with valid driver licenses, we have all taken Drivers Ed and/or a state exam at the license branch. So here is the bottom line…when you hear or see an ambulance and are in its direct path, PULL OVER. Imagine how you would feel if it were your child with a potentially broken neck or your father suffering a massive coronary. Personally, I think all ambulances should be equipped with video cameras on the front of their vehicles. For every car that does not pull over, they should be automatically issued a ticket and a BIG ONE! We might just see a little common courtesy come back into effect.
2) If you wanna see the Mama Bear come out in me then speed down my street. And I am not the only one. I know a few other mama bears that live around these parts! Likely the same yahoos who don’t pull over for ambulances are also going 50 down tree-lined streets with playsets set in most backyards. But nothing brings out the rage in me more when you put my children and others in danger. Where there are neighborhoods inhabited by small children, keep the speed down…or not only will you go to jail for killing some innocent child you will also have it on your conscience for the rest of your life. I am confident by the end of the summer I will make a civilian arrest. So watch out all you young teens or contractors (sorry to stereotype)…do not speed near my home.
3) Don’t be a litter bug. I had a flashback to the late-70s when I saw someone open a piece of gum and throw the wrapper on the ground last week. When I was a child, I remember my father pulling a car over on the interstate because the driver threw an entire bag of McDonald’s trash out his window. There are some images that stay with you…that is one! Had I actually been in a position to tell this candy-wrapper-thrower to go pick up his trash I would have. People…we have one Earth…take care of it!
4) I don’t want to see your underwear and I certainly don’t want to see your crack! Now this last pet peeve is likely directed more towards teens but I am tired of seeing young boys with their underwear hanging out and the constant pull up motion of their overly saggy pants. This is not a good look. Equally distasteful is seeing some crack hang out of the back of a young girls pants because her hip huggers are way too low. Just cover it up!
Now after all of that ranting I feel a little better. Anyone else care to add?
Here’s one and I would have to say this is a Rowe no-no… or maybe it’s a Gordon Rowe no-no but LAZINESS. For crying out loud, why are we here taking up oxygen, drinking water and food if all we are going to do is sit around. Get motivated, get curious, get a book! Do SOMETHING because doing nothing is just plain ugly.
Winden - March 26th, 2008 at 9:58 pmWell…you CERTAINLY know how to put things in perspective don’t you? Thanks for a good laugh this morning as I try to shove some kids out the door.
tiffany - March 27th, 2008 at 8:30 amAmen to all of the above!! Maybe, we need to get some parents and educators to join the cause on the #4. Kay B.
Kay Burleson - March 27th, 2008 at 9:30 amI am on board with the contractors/teens/ and even giant SUV driving moms speeding down my street. So here’s my plan and my neighbor (sadly) is enthusiastically in my camp:
Mary - March 27th, 2008 at 9:39 amI will stand in my neighbor’s driveway with a radar gun. If we get a speeder, he will then shoot them from our other neighbor’s driveway with a paint gun…thus marking them and giving them the ’scarlet letter’ (of sorts) for all the neighbors to see…mwaa haa haa.
I have too mnay more pet peeves to list (as I’m sure you can imagine
I live in Tiffany’s subdivision on a quiet little neighborhood street, one might think.
On a typical day, cars race up and down as if it were a major thoroughfare. Just today, I was standing at the end of my driveway with my five year old son, and his basketball around 11:00 a.m. We were chatting with Tiffany was walking the twins in a stroller, when a car sped by so fast that she felt the need to step into the street and loudly demand that the lady slow down. I was also motioning for her to slow down. The lady simply swerved to avoid Tiffany and kept on going. We shared a heated discussion about how scary the traffic has become in our neighborhood. Shortly thereafter, my next door neighbor stepped out to share with me a story about how a young boy, that he had known as a child, not much older than my son, was killed by a speeding driver, in their neighborhood, on their street, in front of friends and his own mother.
Is this what it is going to take in our neighborhood? The death of a child? Something no one wants to think is possible. Every parent’s worst nightmare. But, with the speed of traffic on this street, and many others in our neighborhood, it is not something to ignore. It is not something to push to the back of our thoughts. It is not something we can or should take lightly.
I heard one parent in the neighborhood was confronted about his son’s habitual speeding. The parent of the speeder reportedly said, “keep your kids out of the street”. It isn’t just teen driver’s either. There are just as many grown adults, parents of young children, who speed through this neighborhood. I could share many stories. But, the bottom line is “our streets are not safe”.
The police do their best to patrol these streets. I commend them. But, they have other responsibilities than just handing out tickets. This neighborhood should not provide a full time job to the police force. We have got to be responsible whether the police are sitting around the corner or not. Because, what if, instead of the police sitting around the corner waiting to ticket you, there is a small innocent child playing basketball in their driveway? What if that child’s parent has reminded them day in and day out to never chase a ball into the street? What if that child normally remembers not to go into the street? But just what if that young, innocent child forgets, just once? And, what if that just once is when you are rounding a corner so fast that you couldn’t stop, even if you wanted to? What if you lived the rest of your life knowing that you took the life of an innocent little baby who was just out of their parents reach when you saw them, but couldn’t slam on the brakes fast enough?
Children are precious. And they are fast. And they are forgetful. Parents, who intend to watch their child’s every move, can’t possibly. Parents who remind their children daily not to go into the street know there will be a day when their child just simply forgets. It takes a community to protect our children. Please choose to be a part of a protective, caring community. One that values the lives of our children. After all, how much time do you really save by speeding down a neighborhood street? Maybe seconds. Certainly not even minutes. Are those seconds worth a life?
Tracy - March 27th, 2008 at 10:28 amAMEN to ALLLL four of those…and I don’t even have kids but someone the future mama bear comes out in me when people speed down neighborhood streets!!!!! errrrr….get’s my blood pressure up just THINKING about it!!
Jessica Strickland - March 27th, 2008 at 11:08 amAfter silently reading the blog for the many many months and directing others to the site I can no longer stay quiet on this one–not when lives are at risk–especially the kids.
As Tim and Tif know, I am the mother of four, a nurse–to include the Trauma unit at Vanderbilt and according to Saxon and Evane (sometimes Mark <>)-completely overprotective if not neurotic when it comes to the kids. Here is what I have done in the past to send a stronger message to my speeding neighbors (quite often middle aged MEN drag racing some teen down our street).
I use those plastic orange cones that come with soccer kits, etc and place them right down the middle of my street in front of my house. I have yet to see anyone speed past when those are out front. It gives a good visual and upon approach are very official looking. It also sends a clear message that we are serious about protecting our kids in the neighborhood. We have a nice big yard and plenty of space to play in the backyard even with a basketball court. Our kids do however have the right of way no matter what! Kids need to learn to ride bikes, skateboard, run and skip, and explore their environment-safely.
I have also stepped out from the end of my drive and called to speeders to slow down. I have found that the adults are less inclined to be ‘told how to drive’ than are the teens. I have followed cars to their respective stopping point and politely educated them that kids are fast and to please help me to keep everyone safe. Regarding adults who don’t seem to care–we had some difficult kids, teens and parents all from the same family. It came to a point where several neighbors were forced to start calling the police and report the consistent, reckless behavior. It only took a short time but the streets are now safer. Also, police more than welcome preventive reports as opposed to responding to a tragedy (just ask any of them). I am not suggesting to become a perceived troublemaker but safety and enforcement are what your neighborhood taxes pay for. You are the eyes and ears of your local task force.
Tiffany, you are truly an inspiration to moms everywhere. I have laughed and cried reading this blog. I also look forward to the new posts from you, Tim and your family and friends. I join Mark and Terry and everyone else, especially Alfega in the prayers sent your way. So many people are blessed from this blog in ways you’ll never imagine.
Susie Stoner - March 27th, 2008 at 11:48 amYou have helped this semi-seasoned mama to be an even better one. If there’s ever anything I can do let me know.
Much love and many Blessings,
Susie
Don’t forget about the people that don’t pull over for funeral processions. That’s right up there with the not-pulling-over-for-Emergency-Vehicle(s) peeve for me.
The ‘Crack’ issue is one that I just can’t understand either…do parents not check to see what their children are wearing before they leave the house?
Heather - March 27th, 2008 at 6:29 pmOh great you got my blood boiling when you put up your pet peeves. It immediatley brought me to mine! My biggest pet peeve are the left lane drivers. If you are not passing get over! If you see a car coming in your rear view mirror, move over (you should not be in the left lane in the first place). The left lane is called the passing lane, not the “leisure” lane. This is one of the biggest causes of road rage and it drives me crazy. Sorry, just had to put my two cents in!
tcscoe - March 28th, 2008 at 2:18 pmSince Tiffany turned me onto the book, Listography I have mine handy…
Stacy Meyer - March 30th, 2008 at 3:55 pm- chain letters (mail or e-mail)
- stacking plates on top of each other at a restaurant when finished…just ask the waiter to kindly remove
- typing an email in all CAPS
- men who swear and then apologize as if in front of a lady…either don’t swear or don’t apologize
I think that sums it up!
Okay.I’m a little behind on my blog reading so just now giving my input!
Some of my pet peeves:
-Kids riding in cars who aren’t in car seats–some toddlers are actually sitting in the front seat.
Beth - April 4th, 2008 at 1:45 pm-People in bridal parties who chew gum.
-When people behind me at the grocery store stand REALLY close-giving me no personal space.
-People I don’t know reprimanding my kids in front of me….I know you didn’t!
[...] privy to, she WALKED outside to the closest HANDICAPPED spot. Let me add this motion boldly to my Pet Peeves List…watching completely abled-bodies consume handicapped parking [...]
Letters From Tim » Blog Archive » It IS your problem - April 10th, 2008 at 10:14 pm