Running With Quills: Winner announced - and little things that bug me

Welcome to Running With Quills, your online newsletter designed to keep you up to date with what your favorite authors (that would be us) are doing throughout the year. Here you will find the release dates of our new books and get information about our backlists. We'll preview our cover art here long before the books hit the stores and we'll keep you informed about works-in-progress and special projects. You'll also receive advance notice of signings and appearances. From time to time we'll give you a peek at our worlds, tell you what we're reading, and introduce you to some new authors.

Friday, February 15, 2008

Winner announced - and little things that bug me

First - our winner announcement (which was also posted in the replies section of the Valentine's Day contest blog)

I did a random drawing by jotting down all the names on a slip of paper, tore them all apart, mixed them up, and then let my youngest son grab one.

The winner is: Jackietoo!
Yay Jackietoo!
If you'll email me your address, I'll share with the quills and we'll all get our gifts out to you.You can email me at lorilfoster@gmail.com

Next... my blog on the little things in life that bug me.
One thing in particular bothered me last night and I couldn't sleep.
Lights.
On everything!
I generate very little body heat, so I sleep with a dual heated blanket. Hubby can't stand the heat, so it only heats my side of the bed. But the dial has this super-glo little red light to tell me it's on! I have to put something over it, to block it.

The illumination on our clock is so bright, I swear you could land a plane with that sucker! I have to cover it up too, which means when I awaken, I need to pick up my watch to see what time it is. (It has a little button I push that lights it up.)

We use a sound machine, too. Ahhhh the soothing sound of rain... WITH A BIG FREAKIN BLUE LIGHT ON IT!

What is up with all the lights!? And why do they have to be so bright?
I sometimes feel like I'm sleeping in a disco with all the glaring colored lights.
Don't you think manufacturers would figure out that you use a heated blanket, and a sound machine, to SLEEP, and a light isn't conducive to sleep, right?
Course, I'm an insomniac anyway, and it's been a wee-bit of a crazy week, so I'm maybe nitpicking.

Still, going on the premise that it's all good to vent, here are some other things that drive me nuts:

Movie theaters that are so cold, it's like sitting in a meat locker is another of my complaints. I have to wear my coat AND my husband's to stay warm in there.

Recorded messages that call me. Grrrr....
I hate to pick up the phone only to get a recorded message from someone who wants me to wait until a LIVE person gets on the line.
No. I hang up.

Going to the grocery where there are umpteen checkouts, but only 2 are open, and each has a hundred people in them.

All the programs that want to constantly update on my computer! That one really bugs me.
I'll be writing, and up pops an "update reminder" for adobe or kodak or photoshop. If I want to update, can't I do it on my own, when it's convenient for me?

Okay, I'll stop now. But what bugs you?
What was your last gripe where you felt like having a hissy?
Who or what really ticked you off?

Come on, get off it your chest - we're an understanding crowd. It'll make you feel better, I'm sure.

My best to all of you!

27 Comments:

Tina said...: Things that make me a bit irate:

1. People who nearly run me over because they are so busy talking on their phone that they don't notice I'm already in the lane they are trying to merge into. (If they give me a dirty look after almost hitting me because they're on the phone, it really ticks me off.)

2. People who have their music so loud that when they pull up next to you, you have to roll up your windows because it's drowning out what you're listening to.

3. People who block the entrance to a store so you can't get in (or out) or the middle of the aisle so that they can have a conversation with some long lost friend or co-worker.

4. I work in another woman's office 2 days a week and cover for her on those days. I've been here on those 2 days for nearly a year. Therefore the answer does not change when someone calls for the umpteenth time on one of those two days and asks if she is here--"No, she does not work on Monday and Friday."

5. I completely agree with you about the recordings that call you and then tell you to hold for a live person. I always hang up. I also dislike the solicitors who call and pretend like they know you by calling you (or your spouse) by your first name. "Hi! Is Tina there?" "Who's calling please? "Is Tina there?" *click*; 8:25 AM
Anonymous said...: For me it's the blue light on the cable box. My husband sets the timer to turn the TV off but that does not turn off the cable box. The other thing that really bugs me are people in the check out line who stand there completely oblivious until the cashier announces the total. Then all ogf a sudden the start digging for a check book or credit card. Are there people suprised that they have to pay?; 8:40 AM
Laura said...: 1. People who block an intersection because they are too important and in a hurry to get where they're going to obey traffic lights/signs.

2. People (mostly young guys) who have those enormous bass boxes in their cars and have the music up so loud that you can feel the vibrations thru the fillings in your teeth.

3. People who let their kids run wild in restaurants.

4. Newscasters/politicians who are unable to pronounce 'nuclear' as new-klee-ar but say new-cue-lar

5. Folks who are unable to take a polite 'No thank you' as a sincere response.; 8:42 AM
Molly said...: 1. People who pull into parking spots from the wrong direction (instead of turning right from the right hand lane, they cross traffic and do a U-turn to park). It happens too often in my town. It's illegal and it drives me crazy.

2. People who don't cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough.

3. People who ring the doorbell and then leave. Can't they wait the twenty seconds it takes me to answer the door?

4. People who say Pierre (Pee-air) is the capital of South Dakota. I know it's spelled that way, but it's pronounced peer/pier.

Thanks for letting me vent.; 10:01 AM
jackietoo said...: The last biggie I can think of was waiting in line at the local dollar store.

I walk up to the checkout and there's no one in front of me so I'm thinking I'm good to go. NOT!!

Turns out the clerk had let the person in front of me go back into the store for "just one more thing". Well, that's cool. It's a little, tiny store in a little, tiny town. How long can it take?

FIFTEEN minutes later (I kid you not!) the clerk finally went back to find this person. Turns out she had met up with someone she knew and was gabbing. She came back to check out still laughing and talking with not so much as an attempt at an apology! Never said a word of to any of us that had been inconvenienced by her thoughtlessness.

The clerk, on the other hand, was very apologetic and upset. I doubt that she'll let that happen again.

Bottom line: People with no consideration for others really tick me off!!

So I'll be considerate and shut up now. LOL Sorry it was so long. :P; 11:10 AM
Anonymous said...: I work at a big, busy movie theatre (Lori, next time ask the management if they can adjust the temperature. We do it all the time) and the people in the box office line are oblivious. We have 2 large display boards with all the movies and times. After waiting in line and staring at the board for up to 20 minutes on a really busy night, they finally get to the window and suddenly have no idea what movie they want to watch. Then they have to go through the whole list again, place their order and when you tell them the total amount due, they look at you with a totally blank stare on the face. I guess they thought the tickets were free! If it's a slow night, it's not a problem but when there are 100 people waiting behind them in line, it gets pretty frustrating.

Or the group of young adults who can't agree on what they want to see. Couldn't that 20 minute wait in line have been used to figure that out?

Or the ones who buy their ticket, and before they walk away decide they want something else. Refund their original purchase, ring up their new choice, and then they decide they really did want that first choice so we get to do it all over again.

People who don't bother to look when they change lanes going 60 mph and you have to slam on your brakes.

Turn signals on cars are obviously an obsolete part of the car and should be done away with....judging by how many people use them.

I also work for a wholesale tour company. We all love the customers who call to complain about something, at the top of their lungs, and they start the conversation with..."I'm a lawyer and if you don't do what I want, I'm going to sue you!" Take your best shot pal!

Kathy H

P.S. Jayne, how was your book signing yesterday? I wanted to come dow, but couldn't get off work, darn!; 11:31 AM
Anonymous said...: I get irked with people that special order food at the drive -thru at McDonalds or other similiar fast food restaurants.

If you need your Big Mac without pickles - pick them off, or park & go inside. The drive through is NOT the place!; 11:50 AM
DFender said...: Hiya Lori!
1. Automated Customer Service... that is one of life's most obvious oxymorons. Dumb!
2. Crappy drivers... of any type of vehicle on any type of road in any weather conditions.
3. Parents that scream at their children... in public, no less... whether it's at a wrestling tournament (Gawd!) or at the grocery store.
4. Sin taxes... whereas only the sinners pay for the things that the non-sinners want and/or need as much as the sinners... like a stadium.
5. Political posturing... it's all such a crock of crap that I can't believe anyone even listens anymore.
6. People (ha!) that leave their animals out in the sub-zero temperatures... or in the smothering heat for that matter.
7. Anyone that wants to shove their views down my throat.

Erm. 'Scuze me. I'll shaddap. LOL.

Deb; 12:28 PM
Margaret said...: OMG, Lori! You are so right about all the lights on everything. The DVR, electric blanket, coffeemaker, etc. Who needs a nightlight when your place is lit like a jet runway at night?

I live in a rural area outside of Lancaster, PA. I want to strangle motorists who wait till I almost where they are stopped at a stop sign. THEN choose to turn out in front of me and drive at least 10 miles below the speed limit. Especially when I need to get somewhere soonest.

I don't go out to movies so I don't know about theaters anymore. I love my DVR. W/O the light, of course. I screen phone calls as a matter of course since one of my granddaughters has experienced a stalker that called the whole family. No name? No answer.

Agreed on the long lines at the grocery store. Especially at the busy times of the week.

Jackietoo, that clerk should have just rung the woman out and taken the customers waiting. I expect she was young and didn't know what to do. People as thoughtless as that customer deserve what they get. Hopefully they get it. LOL

Margaret in chilly PA; 1:20 PM
aussie dee said...: People who don't understand the words set menu, as in cannot be changed. instead of ...... can I have....? mobile phone talking and driving are illegal here, and they still do it, Checkouts and trolleys would the most complaints I'd say, not enough open especially when it is busy. sometimes everything just annoys the heck out of you.; 3:20 PM
Lori said...: Good topics!!!

1. As a driver, people who think (a) the rules of the road don't apply to them or (b) think I should drive according to THEIR wishes. Grrr.

2. As a customer, when the clerks at a store chat with other people while they are supposed to be waiting on the person in front of them. It's just rude.

3. As a teacher, when other people (parents, teachers, students) want to make an exception for a student who hasn't earned it because it might be inconvenient or painful. I can't go into much details or be specific but I sometimes wind up having to argue why a student should not be "given" a pass in my classes that he or she hasn't earn and that always frustrates me. I work really hard to try and ensure success so when that happens, it questions all of that.

4. Ignorance. Just plain ignorance. GRRR. Even worse: ignorance and arrogance wrapped together.

5. Telemarketers or rude people on the phone. A guy called my brother last Saturday morning at 8:45 and was rude when he wasn't home. It is 8:45 in the morning!!!! I think people forget sometimes that THEY are calling YOU.

Lori M.; 5:27 PM
talpianna said...: Lori--You could turn the clock around, and turn the illuminated blanket control upside down...

Just saying.

I have PET peeves:

1. Cat who thinks outside the litter box.

2. Cat who locks herself in the bathroom.

3. Cat who is enjoying a nice pet-and-cuddle and suddenly starts biting.

4. Cat who leaps from the top of the bureau onto my bad knee.

First three are all the same cat, dammit!; 6:22 PM
Anonymous said...: I'm with you on annoying computer patches, Lori. And to compound things, I just read good advice from Susan Bradley*

"... run Secunia's free Personal Software Inspector after installing this month's patches. The PSI tool can be downloaded from the Secunia Web site; psi.secunia.com.

Checking the status of your PCs after patching them is very important this month. ..."

* Susan Bradley recently received an MVP (Most Valuable Professional) award from Microsoft for her knowledge in the areas of Small Business Server and network security. She's also a partner in a California CPA firm.

-- Frank (aka Jayne's husband); 7:03 PM
Lori Foster said...: Tina - good ones! I really when I think someone is talking to me, and instead, they're on some tiny ear phone I can't see. It's so bizarre!

ROTFLMAO over the buffoon checking out, who acts surprised to have to pay. Yeah, I've seen that many, many times, too!

Laura, the kids running wild in any public place drives me nuts too. For one thing, it's extremely dangerous to the child! But I see it all the time.
You know those play areas they now have in most of the malls? You'd be amazed how many parents "drop off" their kids there - very, very young kids - and then go shopping on the premise that the kids will stay put and be safe. Morons. You can't protect a kid enough to ensure they'll never come to harm, but at least you should TRY!

Lori

Lori; 4:30 AM
Lori Foster said...: Oh Molly! You reminded me of another one with the sneeze/cough. People who chew with their mouths open! Oh gross, gross, gross! I can't stand that!

Jackietoo, everyone should be considerate, imo. But we're seeing a new generator of "me" people who only think of themselves. At least it should be cyclical. Most things are. ;-)

Kathy, the theater that we go to, sometimes twice a week, is pretty rinky-dink and since we go during the day, we're often the only people in the theater, or in a very, very small group of say 10 or less. It makes it much easier because we don't have to worry about what anyone else is doing. Your description is exactly why we only go to the rinky-dink theater.

Lori; 4:36 AM
Lori Foster said...: Deb, yes, yes, YES on animals left outside. Even if the weather is nice, WHY get a dog just to leave it chained 24/7 to a doghouse at the back of the property. That just infuriates me. I'd like to take those people and chain THEM to the back of the property for a week or two.
Grrr....

I'll check on the rest of the responses after I get back from my booksigning today. It's a 2 hour drive north of me, a 4 hour signing (long!) then a 2 hour drive back. I'm tired already and I've only been out of bed a short while. LOL
But I love signings most so I can sit and chat with my author friends. ;-)

Hugs to all!

Lori; 4:40 AM
booklady said...: I am so with you on these! I turn my clock to face the wall, and while it still emits light, it's a soft glow. As long as I fall asleep facing away from it I'm okay. Whatever happened to clocks with a black screen and red numbers, anyway? As for our sound machine, I cover the screen, leaving the receiver for the remote control open. But the cats keep knocking away the covering, so while it's a worthy attempt it's not always an effective one.; 7:48 AM
karende said...: 1. People who let their too-young child record the message on the answering machine. Lots of giggles and heavy breathing and “Now what?” do NOT result in a message left by me. It’s totally annoying.

2. Phone lines that keep going dead, no matter how many times the repairmen show up to fix it - and just at the right time of the month to ensure that half my bills have late fees added. Most of them I got reversed and in one case, even got my interest rate lowered. I’ve gotten really really good at groveling and begging this month.

3. A Blogger that won’t load the comment screen, or when it does, let me post a comment.

4. Handymen! I finally found one who would show up. Sometimes. I didn’t worry much about whether he’d finish the job when he started [3 months ago] because he left his tools behind. The job is still not done - and it was just to hang one door. He spent a month looking for spare hinges in his shop, in spite of me telling him to BUY the damned things, buying a set of door hinges isn’t like buying a new car, for pete’s sake. Did he pay any attention? Of course not. Every time he does show up, he spends half an hour telling me about all the shelves he wants to put in, he has a propane heater I can use to dry it out, yada yada, and every time I say I don’t WANT shelves, I don’t WANT propane anything, I just want the damned door hung! And then he looks hurt and pitiful. Monday I finally called him and said “Your tools are in my way. I can’t put any of my boxes in the storage unit the way it is. Bring me a bill for what you’ve done and get the tools out of my way!” He whines “I just had surgery on my knee, I hurt it when I slipped on the ice on the ladder working on your storage unit.” I said “I’m sorry, but if you had done it when you said you would, there wouldn’t have been any ice. Have a friend bring me a statement and TAKE AWAY THE TOOLS. I will find someone else to hang the damned door!” What does he do? Does he send someone with a bill and to pick up the tools? He does not. He shows up 4 days later, with a cane, and putters around and tells me he’s going to finish it for me. What part of “LET ME PAY YOU AND GO AWAY” is so difficult to understand? At least the tools are gone - but the damned door still isn’t hung.

*screaming not so quietly and pulling hairs out*; 9:26 AM
Anonymous said...: 1. The driver going below the speed limit in an area where I can not overtake and who speeds up when the light is about to change to red and I get stuck with the red light.

2. People who thnk it is cute when their little children come to the table in a restaurant where some adults are sitting chatting and disturb them.

3. Children kicking the backs of seats on a plane and the adult with them not doing anything about it.

4. I hate it when someone being introduced says, 'I am Mrs Smith' instead of 'I am Joy Smith'. Am I to assume that that person's first name is 'Mrs'.
Maybe I am being picky here.
Also I do not want anyone whom I do not know calling me by my first name.

I must be old-fashioned.

Joy; 2:38 PM
crankyshopper said...: Lori -- My clock-radio is bright enough to be a nightlight, too, and it annoys me a lot. The last one I had had a dull blue light that could be dimmed, which was convenient. With this one, I put my TBR paperbacks in front of it and move a couple of books if I really am desperate to know the time.

Also, my nightstand has an open shelf above a drawer at the bottom. I put the clock radio on the shelf instead of on the top of the nightstand so the light that leaks around the books isn't in my peripheral vision -- the nightstand has solid sides.

Also, I'm with you on the computer updates. I want an explanation in plain English of why the patch needed to be added, I want the computer to wait politely to do the patch, and I don't want to have to keep clicking on the box to postpone shutdown while I finish working.

Margaret -- I know exactly what you mean. I live in Cumberland County, Pa., and it isn't unusual to have someone rush to pull out in front of me, dawdle along, then turn off after delaying me. I'd rather be behind a buggy. And after this week's mess on the roads, I think we've had enough winter in Pennsylvania.; 5:38 PM
Stella said...: Lori, dear Lori:) I can hardly believe no one thought to give us all this fabulous bitch opportunity before. (that word is five letters so although it's not nice, it sometimes FEELS nice and so I'm using it)

Where to start?

1. People who don't pick up after their dogs.

2. People who shout at children.

3. People who yank their children's arms.

4. People who yank their pets, or shout at them, or leave them tied up outside shops until the poor animals bark and bark because they're lonely and scared.

5. Rudeness.

6. Meanness.

7. Envy.

8. Any loud noises--doesn't take much to be loud for me. So-called music blared from vehicles and blasting vibrations through my body scrambles my brain.

9. Lights? Oh, yes, lights. But you have the suggestion that's probably the only one that works, Lori. Booklady and Tal suggest turning the clock around. That and cover every other glowing speck in the room.

10. Computer patches, ugh. Frank, why don't "they" figure out that we'll let 'em know when we want to change something?

11. People who cannot discuss an issue with someone who doesn't automatically agree. I think this is the real biggie for me. In this political season, the sound of voices shouting to drown out an opposing view is infuriating.

Whoa, Cameron--get to work.

Stella; 12:24 AM
Anonymous said...: When I get automated calls I put the phone on one side and leave it chattering to itself. It can take 2 minutes for the caller to disconnect and I figure that costs them money. I dream of a time when so many people do this it is no longer economic for them to call; 5:34 AM
Lori Foster said...: I'm going backward on posts this morning - it makes it easier to keep track. ;-)
Great idea, anon! I'll try that from now on too. I'll lay the phone aside and let it talk itself out. LOL

Stella, I agree 1000% on the animals and children. Ditto on the political debating. I so wish everyone would realize that we ALL have opinions and we're all entitled to them, and maybe if everyone would hush and listen, and not hold so tightly to beliefs just because they're their beliefs, they might learn something, or heaven forbid, be swayed in a different direction!

Crankyshopper, it seems we've all got issues with those ultra-bright clocks anymore! What is up with that? Remember the old clocks that had day-glo hands? That was more than enough light for me. LOL

Lori; 6:24 AM
Ranurgis said...: Unlike your problems with the cold, Lori, one of my pet peeves is definitely too much heat. Right now I'm sitting here in a teeny tank top and most of the time only undies. I like my temperature around 70, certainly no hotter to feel comfortably.

When I got back from my sister's last Monday, I was so pleased not to be stifled by heat as soon as I stepped in the door. It felt great even though we'd gone through some temperatures close to -30 with the wind chill. The landlord had done something to turn it down and I was grateful.

For the rest of the week, the temperature has been climbing until it's now around 80. I'm assuming that the neighbors, who have control of this floor's thermostat have been ratcheting up the heat even though I'm the one who's got the apartment with the north and west winds howling outside. What's wrong with them? Have they never heard of energy conservation?

My other pet peeve is noise, sound, loud music especially when I'm trying to sleep. Lights don't bother me and I can sleep during the day. But just the noise of the traffic constantly outside my windows keeps me reaching for the ear plugs.

Whew, I'm stifling. We used to turn our night temperature down to 65 or lower and I used to have a thick quilt for that. All I use now is a single light blanket and half the time I'm still roasting.

Some of the more behavioral things that I don't like:

Rudeness
Greed
Selfishness
Constant "bad" language; 10:07 PM
Lori Foster said...: Ranurgis, I could really use some of your heat right now! We got blasted with more snow. Everything is now pretty and white again, but sooooo cold!

Lori; 4:43 AM
Tonya said...: Hi Lori,
I agree with all and have a few more to add.

1. People who mean well when they give advice concerning your kids but have none to use as an example.
2. When the doctors office put you in an exam room where you wait another hour on top of the hour you spent in the waiting room. Hello, scheduled appointment mean anything?
3. Parents blocking the circle drive like no one else needs to get thru and pick up their kids.
4. When my husband throws wet clothes in the laundry so they mildew. How many times do I have to point out the obvious to him? Like we haven't been married for years.
5.People who don't bag their trash before it goes in the can to be picked up, then the wind blows the can over an loose trash everywhere.
6. Being interrupted when I am reading a good book.

Thanks, I certainly feel better; 12:11 AM
Ranurgis said...: I guess, Lori, I should have mentioned that the "heat" I'm complaining about is inside my apartment. Outside, it is and has been well below freezing for most of this month. I'm almost directly north of you in London, ON. My friends in Winnipeg, MB, where we used to live, have had temperatures well below 0F for a lot of this month with windchills reaching to -40 and less.

I'm definitely a temperate-climate lover, though if given a choice I'll take the cold above the heat. I always feel you can put something more on, but there's only so much you can take off. LOL; 2:47 PM

Previous Posts

Friday, February 15, 2008

Winner announced - and little things that bug me

27 Comments: