Archives in Category: Annoyances

Ten minutes to write. Less time to read.

No Small Change

Posted on January 4, 2005

Ever notice how a glitch in one part of your life spills over to many other parts? For instance, banking. It’s no longer just a matter of going into the bank and closing an account by writing a check for

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Getting There

Posted on November 24, 2004

It’s the day before Thanksgiving, often noted as the most busily trafficked day of the year. I’m jetting from Michigan to Colorado, by way of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. It’s an imposing sight. People running, luggage tagging along. Fast food vendors

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They’re Baaaack!

Posted on November 21, 2004

I had hoped this holiday season, which is just now really kicking into high gear, would find fewer catalogs showing up on our doorstep. This hope was based on the fact that I signed both Earl and me up with

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Spam

Posted on November 9, 2004

When I was in grade school, Spam® was bone fide mystery meat my Mother served regularly. It came packaged in a rectangular tin, which she opened at both ends with a can opener. She then pushed out the contents and

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Fish Frustration

Posted on October 29, 2004

It started as a simple task: to wrap the three fish Earl caught yesterday and freeze them.

First, we cleared the counter and washed our hands. Obvious precautions. Next we cut the fish into serving portions and planned to wrap

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Challenging Times

Posted on October 25, 2004

You’re printing a ten-page document and your printer runs out of ink on page six. You have no spare cartridge. You visit a scenic park for the day and record the outing with your camera. Only you forget to remove

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Grammar Grief

Posted on October 23, 2004

I’m pretty liberal about most things, but I take a conservative view of what’s happening to the English language as it is spoken and written in the United States today. Frankly I am surprised at how many people do not

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Hello Shoppers

Posted on October 13, 2004

Advertising is becoming as inevitable as taxes and death. The only time I haven’t felt subjected to it lately was during the various presidential and vice-presidential debates where, for ninety minutes, burger hawkers, car vendors, and purple pill providers didn’t

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Sammy Sosa

Posted on October 8, 2004

Chicago Cubs rightfielder Sammy Sosa was fined a day’s work for his behavior on the last day of the season, because he came late and left early without ever participating in the game. Oh, by the way, a day’s pay

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Checking Out

Posted on October 7, 2004

Earl and I drove to Grand Rapids, Michigan, yesterday to have dinner with his grandson and the grandson’s wife. We came back a couple hours ago, having had a wonderful meal and even more wonderful conversation. The guest bedroom offered

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