Back in “the old days,” call waiting was invented and if someone else called, you’d say, “Is it very important? I’m on another call.” The receiver would determine the priority between the two and apologize to the loser in importance and get to the important call.

Now with cell phones, you can be having an actual physical conversation with someone and their cell phone rings. Instead of saying, “Is this important? I’m talking with someone,” they go ahead and have a full conversation on their cell phone while you stand there awkwardly like some poor sap. This has happened countless times, just happened on Friday night as a matter of fact.

Cell phones are really annoying and a big problem sometimes. Sure, I understand the good things they can offer, I have been a cell phone user for about 4 years now and it’s saved me a lot of time and has even saved me from some serious trouble a couple times. But there are some people and their cell phones who just really cross the line.

First and foremost, If you’re driving, please just put the phone down. And if you’re in the local Target store doing some idle shopping, you don’t need to scream in to the phone so everyone hears your conversation. I don’t want to know your personal hang-ups, nor do I wish to have to try to avoid your screw-ups on the road.

Yesterday at Target, I was doing some quick shopping and got in the express lane. The woman in front of me was blabbering up a storm on her cell phone while checking out. She was an older woman (early fifties) and “bla, bla, bla, bla, bla” was the basic content of her conversation.

“How are you doing today, maam?” asked the clerk.
She didn’t answer him,(Blah, blah, blah, blah on the cell phone while the clerk finished ringing up her stuff)
“That will be $27.50 please”, He said while looking at the woman who was still chatting away on the cell phone.
“Just hold on a minute” she said kind of rudely while (Blah, blah, blah on the cell phone) She starts digging out her credit card, instead of already having it out and ready, then after a minute of searching hands it to him(Blah, blah, blah, blah on the cell phone all at the same time)

It normally takes about 15 seconds to process the credit card and give her the receipt, and then it should only take 10 seconds for her to sign it and hand it back. She managed to make this process take about 3 minutes as she stood there too preoccupied with her conversation to even notice the clerk handing a pen to her.

Finally she signs the receipt, but she stands right at the end of the check out lane blabbering away on her cell phone in the way instead of walking away.

Now, not only was she still not paying attention to anything and blabbering on her phone, she was also an obstruction. I was done with my purchase and just standing there behind her and she was in the way. I was politely trying to give her some clues to move out of the way by tapping the counter, clearing my throat, etc. No, she was just completely oblivious. Finally, as I was really running out of patience, I said to her, “Excuse me please” and I had to say it three times, the third time kind of loudly since she didn’t hear me the first two times.

She gave me that “WELL, I NEVER!!!” look that I am ever so familiar with. I complemented it with my patented “GET THE F%#K, OUT OF MY WAY!!!” look. Remember, being older does not automatically mean respect. Respect must be earned and maintained.

If she can’t walk and talk on a phone, I certainly hope she doesn’t drive and talk on the phone. Oh well, enough about that. I’ll just move on with my life and she’ll continue being an idiot. There’s nothing I can do about it.

Not much else has been going on. Ran a lot of errands this weekend, it’s hard to keep up with everything when I’m gone five days a week. Tried spending as much time with Lizzie as well. I worked a lot of hours this week, so I’m keeping busy at work, and it’s still going very well.

We decided we’ll be making the trip out to Colorado for a week in December to spend Christmas with Lizzie’s Dad. We’ll be spending Thanksgiving in Minneapolis with Lizzie’s Mom. Hopefully we can make it up to North Dakota at least a weekend during the holiday season to spend with my family, but it is her turn this year since I got both holidays with my family last year. Getting out to Colorado again will be exciting though, I absolutely love it there. Wish we could have moved there right away, but it was just financially impossible without a firm plan. Maybe in a few years. I just don’t see myself settling down in Minnesota. The small towns in Minnesota would be livable if not for the unbearable winters.

Hope everything’s going good for everyone. I’ll try to get some individual emails out to people and make some phone calls to touch base on what’s going on with everyone soon. Talked with my brother for about an hour on the phone tonight after not talking with him for a few weeks, so that was good. But anyway, I gotta go do the dishes and then get some sleep. I’ll talk to you next weekend.