Josh, Lindsay, and Mackenzie

I've been keeping a list lately of things that either perplex me or annoy me and it's high-time I share them. Keep in mind they aren't related to one another (not purposefully anyway), so it might feel a bit random. Stick it out though, it might be worth the read.

- People who order low- or no-fat dressing prior to consuming the most fattening entree on the menu confuse me. I want to know what caloric calculator they are using which allows them to feel good about that scenario. Does one negate the other? If so, I need to do a better job of ordering my salads...

- People who order diet-drink mixers at a bar to mitigate caloric consumption but then proceed to eat the batch of chicken wings and mozzarella sticks that were just ordered for the table are also a walking paradox. If you're so worried about the 120 calories in that coke, then perhaps you should rethink your fried cheese.

- Parking lot stalkers - you know who you are. You will save time, and do your body some good to park the extra five spaces further away. Stop following me! Sometimes just for kicks I like to pass my car and just keep walking until you give up and then run back to my car and pull out for the nice person who didn't follow me like they were sizing me up as a kidnapping victim.

- Technology has turned us all into miscreants. Here are a few examples of why: 1) When we were all younger and had to use phones with cords, we didn't mind call-waiting. We all had moments where we had to click over to see who was calling and gauge the importance level so none of us really took offense when someone put us on hold. Now that we all use cell phones and can identify who is calling on the other line, we find out where we rank. It has thus created a sense of "oh, so you're willing to put me on hold for him?" kind of attitude that is both hilarious and annoying at the same time. It doesn't happen too much, but I think we're headed for a slippery slope when the kids of today (who never had to use a phone with a cord) grow up. 2) People are no longer prepared to actually talk to a person anymore. We've all had the moments when you expect (and mostly want) voicemail so you can be acknowledged for the effort of communication without actually putting out any effort. People are taken off-guard when an actual person answers. I love it when someone calls me and says, "oh, I didn't think you'd answer" - nothing says, "I don't actually want to talk to you" more than that statement. 3) Talking on the phone in weird places has made people rude. Restaurants (don't make your waitress wait for you - she has other tables), bathrooms (no one should be forced to hear your conversation in such a state), dressing rooms (it takes forever to figure out you are not the one being talked to)...these are all places you shouldn't talk on the phone out of respect for others. And finally 4) Everyone must think they are a poet. Only in poetry do I want to have to interpret what the author is telling me. I shouldn't receive some random string of letters and have to figure out what it could be an acronym for - just type it out. Stop being lazy!

So there you have it...the most pondered topics I've had over the past week or so. I'm sure there will be more in the future - especially where technology is concerned, but I try to keep the rants to only a few paragraphs at a time. :)