Things that drive me nuts

Fule for Thought

 

Before I start this week’s column, there are a few odd things I need to get off my chest. First off, if we’re in the “express” drive thru line at a fast food restaurant, it typically means we’re in a hurry. Otherwise, we would have gone inside, lined up, and ordered food that way. If you have a van full of kids and proceed to ask what each kid wants while you’re at the drive thru speaker, the “fast food” description becomes ironic.  

I know I sound bitter, but here’s an idea. Have the kids’ choices decided on before you get into the busy one-lane drive-thru!  

I (and others) were stuck behind someone who took orders from each kid at the speaker … it took forever! You could tell one of the kids was changing his mind, because the driver kept looking back to the same kid! If only there were turn-outs where you could get out of the drive thru! But no, I was trapped (like my fellow inmates in this drive thru from hell!)

Another thing that drives me crazy in a drive thru lane is the one person in the lane who’s been sent by some whole office staff or work crew to “pick up” lunches. Again, a drive thru lane is for getting quick meals and be on your way. It’s not designed for you to be the caterer for a staff of 10! I don’t know how I find these people, but again I was stuck behind a driver, who read from a list of what I can only assume, was for various sub orders for a small army. I tried to be patient, but I have a limited lunch time (about half an hour) … so I waited. And waited … and waited some more. Now, I don’t know about you, but I start doing subtle things when I’ve gone past my “patient time.” 

Now some of these may sound dumb, but you reach a point where, like water-boarding, you’ve been tortured enough! I clicked on my headlights … nothing. I put my van in “park” so that it revved a little higher … nothing. I reached out my hand through my window, hoping this movement might speed things up … still nothing! Just when I was about to bail, and “fast” for lunch, the driver pulled ahead. Of course as soon as I got to the speaker, I was asked to wait for this order to be filled! More waiting! Luckily, I got back to school just before the bell rang!

Recently, my daughter had an appendectomy. She was taken to the Peter Loughheed Hospital for this operation, and Deb went on the ambulance ride with Breanne. I got there later, and we waited with her tests, and for the operation time to be finalized. Now, there are signs all over the hospital, but especially in areas for patients being admitted. Many of these cute, little signs tell us to have our cell phones turned off … something about interfering with medical devices. You would think that people would logically follow these notices, but no, they just have to be on their cells even when they have a sign telling them not to, and it’s right in front of them! To me, it’s unbelievable, and I even wondered what I’d do, if one of Breanne’s medical devices was screwed up by their phones! 

Really, about 15 years ago, these things weren’t even able to be used everywhere because of no signals, but now in a hospital, you have to use it? What, are you the surgeon, checking with colleagues on a new appendectomy procedure? No, you’re probably playing some farm game on Facebook! Argggh!

I had a student in the spring who passed me in the hall saying, “I can’t believe you failed me in gym, Mr.Fule!” 

My response was, “I didn’t fail you, your 20 absences, seven lates, not changing for classes, and not getting any service hours failed you.”  

It was like it was my fault this student failed, as if I sat back scheming how to make sure it would happen! I wanted this student to pass, but he would only take part in gym if we were playing certain sports! Uh, sorry, but in life, you don’t get to do only the things you like to do! And this class wasn’t even a required one, the students chose to be in there. So, if you hate P.E., and P.E. 10 is the only required P.E. class you have to take to graduate, why take the next level, hate it some more, not take part because you do hate it, and then fail. I do not understand this “logic!”

I know this wasn’t the usual light column, but lately some things have really driven me crazy, and I had to vent! Hopefully, the worst of the flooding is over, and people can start to slowly get back their lives. Oh, and if you need to vent in a different way, come on down to the dunk tank on July 1, and fire some balls to get me, or any other volunteer soaked, come on out and work on your fastball!

 

(“Fule for Thought” is a slice of life humourous column that appears in the Strathmore Times, written by long-time resident, town councillor, high school teacher, coach, husband and father of two – Pat Fule. If you would like to get in touch with Pat, you can send him an e-mail at Pat.fule@shaw.ca)