Your Grrrs….
Cindy B. in cyberspace: Are you kidding? Skipping nothing at the mall is what the Friday after Thanksgiving is about. Let’s just open the floodgates and all herd to the nearest retail establishment and buy ourselves into debt that’ll take months (if not years) to clear. Thanksgiving is about giving thanks and Christmas is about being able to say “Thank you” to the ones around you for putting up with your rude behavior and sloppy ways for months on end (OK, it’s really about the coming of a small humble child). You’re priceless in your observations and this last one is right on target. Get over it and move on, something just around the bend is there waiting for you.
Mark in St. Joseph, Mo.: I am all for separation of church and state. I am also for a well-educated population made possible by funding primary education through property taxes. However, in order to send my son to parochial school it is $2,500 over and above what we tithe to church already. Currently, $2,500 is not within our budget and thus public school is our option. I live in a typical middle-class neighborhood and of the $2,800 in property taxes I pay, almost $1,800 is for the public school. It GRRRS me that I am taxed so high to pay for the schools and then told my son cannot bring Halloween treats because of the symbolism of the holiday. If the ACLU does not want my son to be able to wear a cross to school or say grace before he eats his lunch or for a Christmas tree to be in the classroom, fine. But give me my $1,800 in property taxes so I can afford to send him to a school where he can freely be himself and live the way we are trying to raise him. Maybe when we send in our property tax payment we should be able to specify which school the money goes toward. This way, the ACLU bunch can fund their schools and dictate no religion or anything remotely close to representing religion and those who want to see religion (whether it be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, etc) can send our money to the religious school of our choice.
Rob in Hillsborough, N.J.: You know what really Grrrs me, Mike — cars that have the gas tank filler on the passenger side. It’s bad enough with the imports, but to have domestic models made like this is unacceptable.
Roger in Cyberspace: My Grrr goes to those who are offended by the greeting, “Merry Christmas.” Just who are these self-righteous individuals who feel they need to change the world because their little feelings are hurt by a gesture of good will? Can’t you just ignore it and move on? Do you have to drag the rest of us down? Do you have to destroy Christmas for the rest of us, especially the children? These oblivions will moan about Christmas, but they’ll
more than happily enjoy the days off from work and the “after-Xmas” sales at the mall.
Karla D. in Cyberspace: That’s what’s so sad these days in America. Nobody is thankful for anything and we have become a me, me me society. Shame on the money hungry people that can’t take a few days to be thankful before xmas, which is also sad because xmas has turned into how much money you can spend on a gift instead of feeling just good about giving to others in need. Shame on us all!
Frank in Cyberspace with a very good Grrr! to Bill from N.J.: I agree with Robbin! I’m sure waiting tables isn’t easy, but “running change to everybody”? C’mon! When my bill is $62 and I hand you $80 (yes, I still like to use cash), I don’t intend to leave you an $18 tip, which is how I also perceive the “Do you need change?” However, when you say “I’ll be right back with your change” I will let you know whether or not I want the change. When I dine out, which is
often, I will always leave at least the customary 15 percent, but often leave much more if I am NOT asked if I want my change!
Andy in New Hampshire: My Grrr! goes out to all the service people like Bill and Krista who love to complain about how horrible their customers are. News Flash: People Are Jerks! That doesn’t change the fact that your sole purpose is to interface their wallets with your employer’s bank account. And while your employer may be sympathetic to your plight, his main concern is making those jerks happy so they’ll shell out more of their hard-earned cash. This isn’t a mystery. Just be pleasant and then complain to your coworkers later … but NEVER show your indignation to the customer. Reuben, they don’t care how tough your job is (nor should they), they just expect you to do it right and with a smile.
Sam in N.J.: Mike, I like your column a lot, and I agree with your point on Thanksgiving, but do you have to use this strange “you” to describe what people do over the holiday? It seems to me, and perhaps I’m being hypersensitive, that what you describe only applies to the middle and upper classes, especially the suburban ones. I know FOX tilts right and all, but it shouldn’t gear its messages just to those hearty, red state, exurb-dwelling few who break out the fine wine and whose “college-aged” children stop by for a visit. Lots of people don’t have homes with nice big backyards, and many college-aged children are actually fully employed instead of getting more schooling (or else they’re off dying in Iraq). Besides, not everybody has the same taste as you; I personally prefer blueberry pie.
Stephanie in Cyberspace: Haha … thanks for putting in “Randy from Orlando”‘s comments! Not very PC, but hilarious, and I happen to agree!
Joan from Michigan: After reading many weeks’ worth of the ‘Your Grrrs’ columns, I am mystified as to the number of complaints that people make. Do you actually expect everyone, and I mean everyone, to be constantly thinking about what they can do or how they can make your life better? For example, the person who complained about being in a public restroom and not appreciating it when someone else comes on in and uses the stall next to her. Does she actually think that when we walk into a PUBLIC restroom that the only thing on our mind is how not to offend the others in it? I’m sorry, but I have more important things to concentrate on during my day. I don’t feel compelled to constantly worry about how my actions affects everyone out there. I’d go crazy sooner or later. Ever heard the expression “can’t please everyone all the time”? Maybe some of your readers need to understand that they are not the center of everyone else’s universe. And that maybe, just maybe people can make honest mistakes.
Kelly Cromwell in cyberspace: Hey Mike, laughed out loud at your comments about the indentations from the can. No you’re not the only one grossed out by that. However, aren’t you also grossed out by the other “food” (I use that loosely) you mentioned — Stove Top?? I’m not sure which is worse. Boxed stuffing is pretty darn nasty! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Respond to Mike | Grrr! Lexicon
VIDEO: Watch Mike on “The Real Deal” webcast.
Leave a Reply