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Top 10 Annoyances While Driving To Cape Cod

August 13, 2010 • Charlie Stroller

I've been driving on weekends to Cape Cod this summer, and this year I've noticed a lot of things that annoy me, often because they are wasteful. Here's my list; I bet you've also seen things like this in your travels:

1. Why is there a cop at every construction site who just stands there while all the workers drink coffee and talk?

2. Why are roads that are in good shape in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island being re-paved when the money could be better spent or not spent at all?

3. How many signs need to be posted telling us that the money for this or that project came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act?

4. Why are towns and states wasting money by having work crews cut tree branches that are 50 feet off the highway and mow lawns in medians that no one cares about?

5. Why do people order large drinks instead of small when refills are free?

6. Why do supermarkets mark items "3 for $5.99," but if you buy only one you still get it for $2? You didn't need to buy three.

7. Why is it that when I order decaf coffee at Dunkin Donuts I get caffeinated half the time or when I say skim milk they reach for regular milk or cream until I correct them? Does anyone listen these days?

8. Why does my GPS system recalculate right at the point I need it most?

9. Why do people at self-serve gas stations leave their cars at the pump when they go inside to buy milk or a paper, forcing other people to wait to get gas?

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4 Comments

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cstroller 13 years ago

Reply to Kokopelligrl

I'll repeat comments i made to another blog post.....If you think driving to Cape Cod for a vacation is arrogant, then you obviously haven't been to Cape Cod. I can only imagine how arrogant you thought it was when Michelle Obama flew off with her friends to Spain, then came back and flew to Florida for the weekend, and then immediately watched as the Obama's took off once again to spend 10 days on a $50K a week estate in Martha's Vineyard. Do you think all of their vacations including going to Maine earlier this summer was "arrogant" too?
13 years ago

Just a few comments from someone who hasn't had a

"2. Why are roads that are in good shape in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island being re-paved when the money could be better spent or not spent at all?" Is it possible that keeping roads in good shape may, overall, be less costly than waiting until the roads are in poor repair before fixing them? (Ask the Escalade driver who ended up in the sinkhole in Milwaukee what he thinks.) "3. How many signs need to be posted telling us that the money for this or that project came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act?" When people stop asking what President Obama is doing to help the economy, perhaps the signs won't be necessary. "4. Why are towns and states wasting money by having work crews cut tree branches that are 50 feet off the highway and mow lawns in medians that no one cares about?" I'm sure the minute work crews stopped mowing lawns on the median, someone would complain about the poor upkeep, questioning where their taxes are going, and what work crews are being paid to do. "5. Why do people order large drinks instead of small when refills are free?" You get a bigger refill to take home or back to work with you. "6. Why do supermarkets mark items "3 for $5.99," but if you buy only one you still get it for $2? You didn't need to buy three." No, you didn't *need* to buy three, but it sure helps the store's profit margin if you do. 10. As I listen to the radio while I drive, I ask myself, why is Charlie Rangel still in office rather than in jail? Rangel faces 13 House ethics violations that could produce anything from a reprimand to expulsion from Congress. Jail time is generally the result of criminal charges, of which Rangel is facing none.
BizGuy 13 years ago

Annoyance #1

"Why is there a cop at every construction site who just stands there while all the workers drink coffee and talk?"Because that's what the construction company hired him to do during his off-duty hours - traffic control and protecting the construction workers.
Kokopelligrl 13 years ago

You are lucky you can afford to go to Cape Cod

Do you realize how arrogant that title is? How many people can't afford to go to Cape Cod? While I agree with all of your points, your title makes you sound like a whiney Andy Rooney!