I am posting this right after the Christmas tree post. Why? This post isn't going to be as nice and I didn't want to detract from the wonderful post devoted to my dear Christmas tree. Here it goes.
My newest and (quickly becoming) biggest pet peeve is people that cut lines! (Butt lines, cut lines, break in line...however you say it). These people stink! Perhaps it is the holiday season that is bringing it out in people or maybe it is a common occurrence and only because I'm shopping more now am I vulnerable to the situation. Whatever the case, there have been at least 3 distinct scenarios within the last couple of weeks that have brought out the red-headed temper in me.
First time: the phone store. Justin was quite excited to see the new blackberry phone the day it premiered... I think it is called the Storm? Anyway... the phone store only had 2 Storms on display and they were both being occupied. So I stand behind one of the men toying around on the phone. Clearly behind him. Clearly I was waiting for our turn with the beloved Storm. What happens? I look away for ONE SECOND and a man in baggy gray sweatpants sneaks his way in and hops on the phone that had just so happened to become free the one second I looked away. You might think, hey it's your fault for looking away, but don't forget-I was clearly standing behind the man waiting for our turn. I was livid. What did I do? Whisper a little to Justin of my frustrations and....that's it. Baggy sweatpant-wearing guy if you are reading this: I don't appreciate your line cutting.
Second time: Adidas Outlet store in Naperville. Kristen, Justin and I had been waiting patiently in a forever long ling that was creeping along at snail like speeds. We had been in like for perhaps 30 minutes or so when we could finally see the cash registers. What else did we see? A youngish 20 something man who appeared at of nowhere was now by our side. Mind you he was NOT in line but standing by the side of Kristen, who clearly was IN line. We began to very quietly whisper that we think we might have a code cutter on our hands. Kristen did her best to box this guy out but what happens? We approach the registers, there is one on both sides of us. He cuts in front of us to go to the register to the right and was out of the store before we had made it to the register. Justin says perhaps the guy was European and he heard that in Europe people don't stand in straight lines but huddle around registers. That was nice of him to try and lessen the crime of this guy. But I've been to Europe and I saw lines formed.
Third time: I know...you are probably tired of reading about my rantings. I'll try to make this one fast. Tonight I realized that I am getting a sore throat. What sounded better than a drink from Orange Julius. I made my way over to the counter with anticipating, seeing that there were not customers = no wait!, but then out of no where a group of young teeny boppers swooped in to the counter. The order was: a girl from their group, me, and the rest of that girls friends. Tell me this-just because your friend makes it to the counter first, does that mean you and the rest of your friends get to join her at the front??? You might that does sound kinda fair, well in my eyes it is not! So I semi-politely waited for the entire group of kids to order their drinks. Justin came up and asked if I was in line, I replied (quite loudly) "I was!". I thought Justin shooshed me...sometimes I can act in a way that embarrasses him...understandbly so. I asked him about it a bit later and he said he didn't shoosh me... he was trying to get me to nudge my way more in line.
After all this ranting this is my point. People cut in front of me. It infuriates me. What do I do? Get mad, maybe whisper to Justin, give glares and thats it. Have you ever been in such a situation? What did you do? What do you suggest I do?? I don't want to be a push over but I don't want to sound like a sqaure saying "You cut in line!" (Sidenote: The people in San Francisco have NO qualms about saying when you cut in line. I apparently cut in the Trolley line (completely unbeknownst) and all of the people waiting YELLED in unison "HEY the lines back here!" .. I apologized and was quite embarrassed. Kinda a funny story eh?).
I am definately going to teach all my elementary school students the importance of not cutting in line. That will not be taken lightly in my class! Perhaps everyone in these malls and stores were not taught that it is RUDE to cut in front of others. gracious.
P.S. Thanks for all the cooking advice! I'm happy to report that last night I cooked a yummy dinner despite my small amount of ingredients.
1 comment:
Okay, so I TOTALLY agree! The other day I was at Walmart in the self-checkout line. My sister-in-law and I trade kids once a week so we can have a BREAK and get some kid-free shopping done. It's so great and we each anxiously look forward to our turn out. Well between sick kids and her family taking a trip recently, I hadn't had a turn for about 6 weeks. I was VERY excited to go out last week. At Walmart all the lines were HUGE! And I'm not about to waste my precious 2 hours standing in line. I'd been waiting over a MONTH for my turn out! So I get in the self-checkout line, which was the shortest, only to have TWO people cut in front of me! AAHHHH!! I was livid. I think flames were darting out of my eyeballs! And the people took FOREVER! I'm sitting there thinking, this may not be a big deal to you, lady, but this time is PRECIOUS to me! The one lady finally turned around and half-apologized while laughing for taking so long. All I could muster was a tight-lipped smile while the flames continued to shoot from my eyes. I think she could tell I was pretty upset and she moved out of the way pretty quickly. Anyway, sorry for the way-too-long comment, but I guess you hit a sore spot! Amy, maybe you and I need to take a class on being more assertive or something! We need to speak up and make people more aware of their rudeness!
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