Christmas Trees Irritate Me (And So Can You!)
So it’s fairly clear to me, judging from what I saw on Interstate 80 today, that EVERYONE decided to get their live Christmas tree today (or a box with an artificial one in it). And for some reason, having an evergreen tree on the roof of your car gives you the power to drive erratically and without consideration to ANY CAR in front, behind or to the side.
Take, for instance, what happened to me on the road today. First, a driver in a blue Ford Mustang cut across three lanes of traffic to enter in the fast lane, right in front of me. Okay, irritating, but he could’ve been speeding to the hospital to see his wife give birth or something. So I put that one in the back of my mind.
Then, as I approach Dixon, a red car that looked like it was fresh from the 1980s whizzed out of my blind spot and snuck in between my car and the one behind me. Now, I have a rule: If the headlights of your car cannot be seen by my rear-view mirror, you are TOO DAMN CLOSE. Case in point. This lady could’ve seen the dirt on my license plate without squinting—that’s how close she was.
Why is it the holidays, being the supposed “cheeriest time of the year,” drive me crazy? In their attempt to be unselfish for just three weeks of the last month in the year, people wind up being the MOST selfish. I think it’s an ego thing, but whatever. This kind of crap is exactly why I don’t get into Christmas until a week before it’s over.
Another thing? Shopping malls. If you found a Zone Little Christmas Show flier on your car today at the Roseville Galleria, I’m to blame. A parking lot FULL of people spending money—it was the perfect spot to whore out our concert (tickets are going fast, by the way).
But back to my rant: Nobody had a smile on their face. Everyone seemed to be rushed. And the true victims of the holiday season? The kids who get pushed through store after store at the mall. Sure, they may get to see Santa, but for the most part they’re bored the crap out of their minds being shuffled from Macy’s to American Eagle to Barnes & Noble. Parents, please take my advice—your kids do NOT want to browse linens and things at Linens & Things. They do not want to sit still in the cart while you browse the “Beyond” section at Bed, Bath & Beyond. And to a kid, JC Penneys is a BORING place (unless you let them play hide and seek in the clothes racks or sample the perfumes at the cosmetics counter). Don’t take your kids shopping with you; leave them at a friends house on a playdate or something.
One last thing that irritates me: Perez Hilton. But that’s a rant for another time.
I'm a 21-year-old technology, music and local media blogger from Sacramento, California.
December 2nd, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I’ve managed to carefully craft my gift giving over the years so that I don’t have to be anywhere near a mall or big-box store during this season. And a couple of years ago all the adults in my extended family agreed that we didn’t really need to exchange gifts anymore. The real gift is visiting and spending time with each other and the whole shopping and trying to find a gift for everyone was just distracting us from that. We all still get gifts for the young kids because, you’re right, that’s who the season should be about.
December 3rd, 2007 at 12:17 pm
I agree with you totally! As if drivers in the greater Sacramento area weren’t already rude enough. I’ve been cut off, flipped off, etc.. all while I’m in the slow lane driving 70mph to not get rear ended while I have my children in the car. All I want is to get to where I’m going safely…
Don’t get me started about the mall.. I refuse… Hubby was lucky we went to Sears to get him a new Sliding Compound Miter Saw yesterday. We parked near there, walked in, and walked right back out. I did not venture out into the mall, no matter how badly I wanted to drool over the Mac Book Pro that I want ever so badly.. I’m loving that we have a new TCP in Natomas for me to shop for my girls.. away from the mall!
Online shopping is the best… and blogging is still better :)
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:00 pm
@Richard: I’m not against gift-giving. And if you’re a stay-at-home mom who is faced with the only option of dragging the kids to the malls, I have another option for you! Amazon.com and eBay.com offer great deals, (usually) free shipping, and gift-wrapping options on just about everything you can think of!
@Monica: I have no idea what TCP is. What is it?
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:03 pm
sorry.. TCP is The Children’s Place.. my favorite clothing store for my girls..