The way you blow your smoke in my face

Have you ever noticed how smokers in a crowd suddenly seem to loose all manners? I mean, it's not because we're at an outside concert that it's ok for you to blow your smoke in my face. I understand that music and smoking (add to this alcohol as a matter of fact) is one heck of a thrill for some, but have you ever thought of the people standing so close to you that they not only can inhale your smoke, but smell your armpits? I'm just saying.

You may just be one of those people who doesn't really care much about what others think (especially strangers in a crowd). That may very well just be because you're way too cool or self-absorbed not to enjoy the smoke you are being deprived of in literally every public place. Or that may just because you haven't realized that people around you who are suffocating are too polite (like me) not to ask you to put out your cigarette while they, too, continue to enjoy the show. So from now on, instead of ranting about it, maybe I should just tell the jack ass in front of me to please think about the baby (white lie) I'm carrying. That might do the trick. Or not.

The way you stare at people

I woke up this morning with the concern that some people might think that I am a big complainer - after all this is a blog about annoying things. If you'd know me better, you would know that that's only partially true. Fear not, this isn't a blog about ranting. To prove my point, I have decided that the annoyance divulged should be counterbalanced by a self-help tip, or some kind of positive thought to help readers (if there are any) look at the annoyance under another angle.

With that in mind, today's annoying thing is staring pedestrians.

As I was biking to work this morning, I realized that as I was passing a number of pedestrians, a lot of them were staring at me as they were waiting to cross an intersection or simply standing in line waiting for the bus. And when I say "stare", I don't mean it in a good way. Some had funny looks on their face (though they might have been blinded by the sun but that's besides the point), some were almost staring in fear that I might run them over, some seemed envious that I was enjoying a pleasant morning bike ride while they would have to stand on a crowded bus next to smelly people. They might also have wondered why the heck a biker was wearing a t-shirt with "taxi" written on it but that's also besides the point. My point is that pedestrians have become scared of bikers because most of us have simply gone mad: after all, I rarely respect roadsigns and traffic lights! Do you?

Then I tried to put myself into the pedestrian shoes I myself wear in the winter months. I figured that if pedestrians are as scared of me on a bike as I am scared of car drivers who would do anything to keep me from making my way in between their car and the sidewalk, I perhaps should make a nice gesture that would signal my understanding. So I stopped at a red light. I smiled in contempt although I'm not sure if the pedestrians who were waiting to cross the street really understood how this little action was so satisfying. I, for 1/2 a second this morning, felt like a better person....

...then I continued biking downhill like a crazy maniac but that also is besides the point.

The way you walk

I've decided to create a blog about annoying things and people. Why you might ask? Well, it seems to me that there never is a day that goes by without something (or more likely someone) stupid that is worth getting annoyed with. But why bother you might ask? Just cuz it's actually fun to laugh and these annoyances and let the steam off for a second. Childish you may say. Totally.

Today's annoyance: people who walk with a cocky attitude.

Have you ever noticed how someone's walk is very indicative or their personality? For example, I was walking on St.Catherine (otherwise known as Montreal's peep shows and strip joints paradise - McCann would know) at lunch time today, when I noticed a very tall woman walking my way. She was wearing a short black dress with heels impossibly high while talking on the phone. Although she was not particularly attractive and could have used a hair cut (seriously woman, that headband has to go!), she came across as a highly confident, boarder line cocky individual. I wandered if she was behaving in such a way knowingly or if she was just oblivious to the fact that she was scaring the shit out of people passing her by.

Think about that next time you stroll on a main street. You wouldn't want people who don't even know you thinking that you're an ass, or would you? Perhaps she did. Too bad I didn't have my camera phone to immortalize the moment. Next time. Beware.