The little things that piss you off

[Sarah K]

I have BIG group projects in two of my classes.

You know how everyone fucking hates real life group projects? Lemme tell you about ONLINE group projects. Holy fucking shit. In both of these classes, we are in groups of five. In both projects, only one other person is participating so far. In one of them, there is a member who is way smarter and more thorough than me. So that's great. In the other one, the other participant does not understand the scope of the project at alllll.

[Swykk]

I have BIG group projects in two of my classes.

You know how everyone fucking hates real life group projects? Lemme tell you about ONLINE group projects. Holy fucking shit. In both of these classes, we are in groups of five. In both projects, only one other person is participating so far. In one of them, there is a member who is way smarter and more thorough than me. So that's great. In the other one, the other participant does not understand the scope of the project at alllll.

In group projects, you're either the one doing most of the heavy lifting or you're slacking off. It seems like there's no in between. I admit, when I was in college, I fell into both roles. I'd have the best intentions going in, but best I can figure, when someone else took charge right away it was easier for me to devote that time into another class, as college is a juggling act (or at least I found it to be). When I was spearheading the project, there was more pressure on me to deliver and therefore I'd throw myself into it as much as possible.

[Substance242]

Thinking about selling my car, and the fact it can really happen pisses me off, because I love my car (Swift Sport for 4 years, exactly my style). :-) But each day somebody pisses me off ("70 kmh limit? like I care..." or "yes there will be no room but I will overtake anyway" or "hey, need room? nope" etc.), there is fucking nowhere to park anymore so I use train and bus more nowadays because I can't afford to get angry all the time and I am also not able just accept such things, and what is a car good for when it is standing by the house most of the time anyway? :-( More negatives than positives, so kick you good-bye, car.

And using bike for commuting is suicide here. 40 years of socialism damaged people and with parents teaching children "you have to be a dick because everybody except us are dicks" from generation to generation, I don't know when we will behave like decent people. Btw, it is 27 years today since "velvet revolution" and it looks like people will never ever DO something again. Where's the revolution? Come on people, you're letting me down. :-)

[Sarah K]

So one more whine about the group projects. In one of the classes, the initial step is due tonight(both of these projects last until the end of the semester). I emailed our group every morning this week, trying to get the others to participate. I know the other girl who was helping emailed everyone at least once, too. So yesterday morning I tell them that if nobody is participating by the time I'm off of work, we are just moving forward.

What should have been a couple of hours of work for each of us, if split up properly, turned into me being at work until after 11:00(I get off at 5:00) last night, trying to wrap it up. I posted my half, and the other girl had already posted hers. Cool. LITERALLY 15 minutes after I posted mine, another group member finally appears! They chime in with this:

Hey Guys,
I completely agree with the questions the both of you have chosen and I am all for pushing ahead in the class. However, it is only wednesday and I feel that giving everyone else a decent chance to get involved with this research isn't a bad idea. I apologize for responding mid-week but there is still plenty of time to do the assignment without trying to complete it tonight. What still needs to be answered/ what research still needs to be completed for the questions you all chose?

Go fuck yourself.

[Dra508]

So one more whine about the group projects. In one of the classes, the initial step is due tonight(both of these projects last until the end of the semester). I emailed our group every morning this week, trying to get the others to participate. I know the other girl who was helping emailed everyone at least once, too. So yesterday morning I tell them that if nobody is participating by the time I'm off of work, we are just moving forward.

What should have been a couple of hours of work for each of us, if split up properly, turned into me being at work until after 11:00(I get off at 5:00) last night, trying to wrap it up. I posted my half, and the other girl had already posted hers. Cool. LITERALLY 15 minutes after I posted mine, another group member finally appears! They chime in with this:



Go fuck yourself.

So, it's not due tonight?

[Mantra]

Just found out that What.cd was taken down. FUCK. Now where am i supposed to get music? How do most people even listen to music these days? So fucking annoying.

[eversonpoe]

Just found out that What.cd was taken down. FUCK. Now where am i supposed to get music? How do most people even listen to music these days? So fucking annoying.

i've been so sad since kickass got taken down. it seems like it's back up but every iteration wants you to sign up for a "free account" and i'm like...i don't trust this AT ALL.

[eversonpoe]

@Ryan are you just facepalming me out of spite now?

[Ryan]

Giving back what I get bro.

[Deepvoid]

First snowstorm happening live. It's probably gonna take me over 1h30 to go to work instead of the usual 35 minutes. Fuck.

[Mantra]

God I fucking hate Black Friday.

[millionmilesaway]

Called my parents to wish them a happy thanksgiving and learned that my mom fell down and hurt her hand, and being my mother she didn't tell anyone for almost a week until my brother dragged her to the hospital since the bruising was so severe her hand looked almost black. Turns out she had fractured all 4 metacarpals in her palm and the bones are so weak they cant repair them with surgery. I wish she could take better care of herself

[allegro]

Called my parents to wish them a happy thanksgiving and learned that my mom fell down and hurt her hand, and being my mother she didn't tell anyone for almost a week until my brother dragged her to the hospital since the bruising was so severe her hand looked almost black. Turns out she had fractured all 4 metacarpals in her palm and the bones are so weak they cant repair them with surgery. I wish she could take better care of herself

This has happened to my mother at least 4 times in the last year; she has hurt her thumb on her hand so badly twice that she has permanent damage. The last time, about a month ago, she got up during the night to use the bathroom and tripped over a shoe and we are pretty sure she was knocked unconscious because she broke the mirror on her closet doors and she had a black eye. During a recent annual physical with her primary physician, he discussed her falls with her and advised that she now requires the use of a cane all the time. She didn't like this news at all, but this is why these falls happen (aging, lack of balance, abnormal gait, etc.). More than 33% of seniors die due to injuries after a fall. None are intentional, of course. We got her two really cool canes, one is purple paisley, one has a cool built-in LED flashlight. She HATES the idea of looking "old" but she hates the idea of falling and dying even more. Her doctor says "aging sucks, but dying from a fall sucks even more." The age where balance becomes worrisome is earlier than I realized: 55.

[millionmilesaway]

She just turned 64, chain smoker all her life and cant walk more than 100 feet without getting winded. The smoking is now causing signs of dementia and she refuses to listen to any medical advice from anyone. I cant stand being home anymore because I hate to see what she is doing to herself. Not to mention the fact that there is no longer a home to go back to, thanks to one of her forgotten cigarettes

[allegro]

She just turned 64, chain smoker all her life and cant walk more than 100 feet without getting winded. The smoking is now causing signs of dementia and she refuses to listen to any medical advice from anyone. I cant stand being home anymore because I hate to see what she is doing to herself. Not to mention the fact that there is no longer a home to go back to, thanks to one of her forgotten cigarettes

I hear ya. My dad (who lived in Detroit and chain-smoked his way to 4th stage COPD and congestive heart failure and dementia until he passed away this past March) refused to listen to anyone. My mom moved here to Chicago to be closer to us after her husband (my stepdad) passed away and she is better at listening to advise, but she FORGETS to do stuff most of the time. Her friend on the floor below her in the condo building has neurological issues that cause balance problems and she is supposed to use a cane and she isn't supposed to drive, she's fallen and broken ribs and teeth. But, she won't use the cane and she still drives. Wtf. Sorry, but if my doc tells me something, I DO IT.

Sad, the fire was due to her cigarettes? So sorry to hear that.

[millionmilesaway]

We thought the house fire would be the wakeup call she needed but it just seemed to make it worse. I guess for Christmas I should get her a snazzy light up cane like your mom has

[Sarah K]

When irrelevant people try to take credit for your accomplishments or progress. Personal, professional, educational, etc.

[elevenism]

my brother, i fucking love him. But he does this thing where any music that isn't HIS favorite is TERRIBLE, to the point where he will get up and walk out of the room and throw a little fit if you turn it on. Eminem, any NIN after TDS (he was once a huge NIN fan,) Radiohead, Rolling Stones, etc.
I called him out. I said "I finally get it. You are doing this little thing where you try to be ironic by saying you hate what everyone else likes."
He got so fucking mad. I think i was right.

But yeah, and he also goes on these fucking rants about how other people should live. It's frustrating. He goes on and on about how my mom should move to fucking denver and do this and do that. And i tell him "Bro. Mom has been like this for 20 years and she's damn near 60. She is not going to change. She will be like this for another 20 years and then die. Get that shit through your head."

Anyway i loved having them all here for thanksgiving, but little bro wore me out a bit.

[Mantra]

^How old is he?

[Ryan]

Sun burn on neck and shoulders area can suck the fuck out of my nuts.

[fillow]

Where'd you got a sunburn in November?
edit: d'oh

[Sarah K]

My roommate and I pay $3,000 in monthly rent. Our building just got done being completely renovated in March. Last night, as we were sitting at the table, our ceiling started dripping on us. There were two more bubbles forming before I went to bed last night. One of them had popped this morning, and the other one was still growing. Supposedly they are going to come look at it this morning. But it took them two months to fix my window(and it isn't even "fixed", they just replaced the glass), and this will be a MAJOR fix.

Ugh.

[eversonpoe]

My roommate and I pay $3,000 in monthly rent. Our building just got done being completely renovated in March. Last night, as we were sitting at the table, our ceiling started dripping on us. There were two more bubbles forming before I went to bed last night. One of them had popped this morning, and the other one was still growing. Supposedly they are going to come look at it this morning. But it took them two months to fix my window(and it isn't even "fixed", they just replaced the glass), and this will be a MAJOR fix.

Ugh.

$3,000 each or collectively? either way, jeezy creezy, new york.

[Sarah K]

Our total rent is 3k!

[eversonpoe]

Our total rent is 3k!

yeesh, that's still a lot. my wife and i pay $1,250 a month for a 1,200 sq ft, third floor walkup (top floor) and it's about the most we can afford. i don't know how you're putting yourself through school and affording that place but i hope that they fix your shit.

speaking of shit that needs fixing, my landlord was supposed to do a brief "safety" walkthrough today and i really hope that she'll fix the crumbling skylight frame that's been threatening to collapse on us in the front stairwell of the building.
also hope she'll consider replacing our teeny tiny fridge with a normal-sized one since she re-did the cabinets in the kitchen earlier this year and there's actually room for a normal-sized fridge, now.

[allegro]

yeesh, that's still a lot. my wife and i pay $1,250 a month for a 1,200 sq ft, third floor walkup

I do hope you realize that's really cheap by Chicago standards, though. Downtown Chicago apartments are averaging $2.50 per square foot so that would be $3,000 / month for your apartment. Your area (I think you are in Lincoln Square?) is more like $1 to $1.50 per square foot.

Leaking roof, yikes, that can grow to be a GIANT leak really fast once the snow starts.

[Sarah K]

Yeah... I paid $645 for a gigantic three floor loft in a converted church before I moved out here! I loved that apartment so much.

It seems as though it is pretty difficult to find a room for less than $1,000/month anywhere around where I am right now. I can walk to work, so my transportation costs are limited. And I basically never do anything fun ever... But I figure it is a year of sacrifice that will hopefully be worth it in the long term. I'm doing a payment plan and just paying as I go. I recently found out that they don't let you put winter term classes on the payment plan, and the tuition for it has to be paid upfront. So, I'm not even going to be able to go home for the holidays, which is a bummer. My trip money had to transform into tuition money.

The roof thing is so dumb. Though NYC is SUPER tenant friendly. So if they are slow and dumb about it, we at least have options, it sounds like.

[cashpiles (closed)]

pigeon shit. this pigeon (or random pigeons taking turns) spends each night sheltered in the corner of my balcony off the floor on this metal "shelf" that runs across one length of the balcony. I hear it cooing in a not unpleasant way... it's almost attractive... anyways each night it drops more Christmas gifts on the ledge and on the floor beneath it. It's disgusting. I was procrastinating on the situation because I hadn't decided how to prevent the pigeons from sleeping on the ledge. Finally I decided on a strip of pigeon spikes. But part of me felt a bit bad about potentially causing harm to the pigeons.... so I delayed further. Then, one morning in the washroom, I was struck with inspiration: I have some short pieces of lumber, maybe half an inch or a 3/4 of an inch thick. I saw in my mind that I could somehow glue the pieces of wood to the ledge at an angle, thereby removing any firm foothold the pigeons could potentially have on the ledge.

This morning I did it: one edge of each piece of wood was filed down at an angle and then Elmer-glued to the ledge and wall it hangs on. Then, on the wood, with a purple marker I wrote: PIGEON BLOCKER.

I'll let you know if it works.

[Swykk]

Goddamn snowblower wouldn't start. Primed several times. It starts up then stops immediately. So I had to shovel which let me tell you, my neuropathy just LOVES. We are supposed to get 6-10 more inches before midnight. If I can't get it to start and have to shovel 2-3 more times, I'm going to be pretty badly damaged. Arms are already twitchy. Fuck. Hopefully it'll start. Had just about a full tank of year old gas in it.
I know nothing about these things

[allegro]

Goddamn snowblower wouldn't start. Primed several times. It starts up then stops immediately. So I had to shovel which let me tell you, my neuropathy just LOVES. We are supposed to get 6-10 more inches before midnight. If I can't get it to start and have to shovel 2-3 more times, I'm going to be pretty badly damaged. Arms are already twitchy. Fuck. Hopefully it'll start. Had just about a full tank of year old gas in it.
I know nothing about these things

It's probably the old gas. It doesn't work well in a two-stroke snowblower. You're SUPPOSED to burn all of it out at the end of the season. With your condition, I would say if you can afford around $60 to $75 DO NOT try to do this yourself and go online to plowing companies (usually landscaping companies that are off during the winter) and see if they'll do it, they may add you on after they've plowed the drives of their other customers. This happened to us once when our snow blower threw a belt and we had a HUGE snowstorm and I had BRUISING on my arm from shoveling; a plowing company fit us in. After that, we had our snowblower tuned up before each season. NOW I pay a plowing service all the time since Gs not home so much due to swing shifts and I ain't doing this shit. You'll probably need to syphon out that gas and get some carb cleaner