July 23, 2008
So I spend a lot of time in coffee shops, because I seem to be more productive there than at home when it comes to writing new material. Go figure.
It can be a little expensive, but instead of ordering lattes (green tea or chai; I don't like coffee of any kind) every time, I do iced or a pot of hot tea, or even water. And at places where they know me, the baristas will sometimes give me sparkling water from the machine for free.
So, anyway, my grump. Actually, I have a few. (Why should you be surprised?)
First, why don't people clear their own dishes? I mean, it's not hard. Throw your stuff away, put your mugs/plates up at the counter, etc. Didn't your mother teach you to clean up after yourself?? You could even wipe your crumbs/spills away. It wouldn't kill you.
Second, I really wish that the coffee places would offer recycling bins for the plastic cups. I cringe when I have to throw plastic ones in the garbage….more often than not, I take them home with me to recycle.
And third, and my biggest pet peeve, is people who don't push their chairs back in when they leave their table. (To be fair, that's one of my grouses at home too. Drives me crazy to have to push everyone's chair back in at the table. Ugh.)
It bugs me in particular at the coffee shops, though, because I like to sit down at a table and put my feet up on the seat of the chair across from me. It never fails that I sit and get comfortable and then notice that the chair across isn't pushed in enough for my feet (I have short legs) to reach it.
(Yeah, I know. Some people might be annoyed that I put my feet on the chair. But it's under the table, and no one can see them. But, yeah. That could be someone else's pet peeve. I get it. I'm tolerant, but this is my pet peeve list.)
Anyway. So there you go.
Anyone want to join in? Pet peeves at restaurants/coffee shops? Lay'em on me.
PS. Can you tell I'm in a grumpy mood today? LOL.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:36 am
People putting their feet in chairs…no, just kidding…but now that I think about it…
Waiters asking, way too often, if I need something.
Waiters not asking, not often enough, if I need something.
Waiters not clearing the used dishes away soon enough.
Waiters clearing the dishes too soon.
Do I sense a theme here?
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
Sorry you’re grumpy…would you like fries with that!?!? :0
I’m a no coffee girl, too. Yesterday had a lovely large iced tea with lemon from Panera…yummy!
It’s the time of year where I’m afraid to say the kids are becoming my pet peeves. How long before school starts? I’m so sick of sleep overs just the thought makes me want to throw up and the attitude of I can do whatever I want whenever I want…except of course anything you ask of me!!! I don’t think I need to say anymore!!! :0
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
I’m with you Colleen, I am always conscious of picking up after myself at a cafe. I think it’s a nice gesture and helps them out when they’re busy. You’re right about recycling, I don’t see much of it going on and usually I ask for ceramic cups or I take my cups with me. Sometimes it’s just nice to get away to write because I spend five days a week at home locked in my office. Can’t wait to see you at Nationals! I’ll be signing too.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:39 am
Hey sweets, sorry to hear you’re grumpy today! Oh, I have a ton of peeves, but I hate people who talk really loud on their cell phones in a restaurant. Yes, we’re all thrilled to hear that you’re having tacos for dinner. Congratulations.
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:51 am
Ditto to all you said! It also bothers me when people are walking in the store and they knock something over, stop and look at what they dropped and then walk away. PICK IT UP! And it is super rude when my husband is nice enough to hold the door open for someone, and they just breeze right through without a thank you or even a glance in his direction. He also comments that when walking down a sidewalk or something, women just expect him to get out of the way withought budging a little themselves so all can walk comfortably passed each other. This is also happens all the time at the mall. Wow, long! Maybe I’m grumpy today too?
July 23rd, 2008 at 11:27 am
Dido~ I always pick up my trash…A lot of people dont in the movie theators…I never understood that. My husband was bad about it, but I am working on him. Hes a lot better now. smiles* Teaching an old dog new trick…heheheheheh
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:35 pm
What DOESN’T make me grumpy? j/k
Bumps in my schedule, that’s what is grumping me today.
July 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Boy, do I hear you on the cleaning up after themselves and not pushing the chairs in. I clean up after myself (and my family) when I’m at home and out, but I don’t want to have to clean up after somebody else when I’m out. Ugh!
July 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Hear hear!
Another pet peeve of mine (which I’ve blogged about before) is the server who sits down in the booth with you when he/she is taking your order. Ugh. Even if I’m alone, I don’t care for that.
(Oh, and I can just see my two critique partners, with whom I meet at a restaurant every week, rolling their eyes about another high-maintentance Colleen-ism. [Don’t deny it…I know you are!})
And my other thing is…the phrase “Not a problem.”
When it’s used (overused) and the server responds to everything with that phrase, it grates on my nerves.
Huh. Guess I’m still cranky even though it’s after lunch and I got some interesting news today.
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
The chair thing bugs me, mostly at home, but elsewhere as well. As does clearing the dishes in a cafe type place. There usually no waiters and generally people are waiting to sit so it’s nice if you take your cup/plate along with you when you leave. Because in order for me to have that table, now I have to clear it and thst sucks.
July 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I used to work in the cafe at B&N and would get so pissed off when people would throw sugar all over the place and wouldn’t even throw out the wrappers to their straws! Pigs I tell yah!
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:12 pm
What was the news????? (if we can know of coruse) smiles*
July 24th, 2008 at 2:36 am
my two biggest peeves are when other customers watch their babies/small children scream & cry, then ignore it–as if we all want to hear their little darlings wail. GRRRR. but I also hate it when the waiters don’t write down your order. it’s not like I/we will think less of them for using a pen & paper. who cares how they want to show off their razor-sharp noodles–I just want to assume my order is correct.
I also hate it when you’re seated at a table that’s not wiped down. finding a layer of crumbs is just plain gross.
…okay, that makes three peeves. close enough. but hopefully your day managed to improve.
July 24th, 2008 at 9:42 am
Umm…I am of course intrigued by the interesting news too!
July 24th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
On the news….soon, I promise! As soon as I have something to tell.
And I didn’t end up with a margarita last night, but a martini instead. I thought that would do in a pinch.
July 24th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
Margarita/Martini…can’t go wrong either way!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
Oh the chair thing makes me bonkers and my HUSBAND is the WORST. I’ve started very vocally training my 3 year old to always push his chair in in hopes that my spouse will take the hint.
July 25th, 2008 at 6:37 am
Oh yeah, people who leave their mess behind for others to clean totally bothers me. Hello, they are not your personal servants! I also find myself pushing in chairs that are left in the way - drives me crazy.
As for holding the door open for people who don’t say thank you, I really loudly say “you’re welcome”. Probably really juvenile of me, but come on, let’s use a little common courtesy (because I know how hard it is to utter 2 little words). Geez, bitter much?
July 26th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
My pet peeve is a cafe in which it’s not obvious where to put the dishes when you’re done. I want to put my dishes away!!! Make it easy for me to help you out, people!
But, today, my biggest pet peeve is people driving monstrous SUVs and trucks at 90 mph in a 70 when it has become obvious that fossil fuels are not going to last. I’ve been puttering along at the speed limit or a little below, trying to get the best mileage possible. I need a bumper sticker that says, “Back off. I’m optimizing!!!”