Thursday, May 29, 2008

What is it with people?

Okay - this entry is a total 'need to vent to feel better' blog but if anyone has any insight, please share.

As anyone reading our blog knows, we live on the top floors of a 4-story (5 to the US) building. This building has no lift and my daily workout is carrying my son, Logan, the stroller, and whatever is in my backpack up 8 flights of stairs.

Today, we enter the building and there are two Czech women getting their mail and in conversation as they make their way to the stairs. Alex is right behind them and I tell her to hold back so we can have some space between us before starting the hike up.

I wait until they are almost up to the first landing and start my ascent. They stop and look at me lugging about 30 lbs or more up the stairs before continuing...now at a more leisurely pace. Perhaps they think I live on this floor so it would not matter if they are now about the same speed as your average snail.

However, we then turn the corner and start out way up the next flight. They are not at the next landing before they both come to a dead halt, blocking any access to move further.

Apparently, they needed to stop all movements to fish the keys they just had a moment ago out of their over-sized luggage-like purses. With keys in hand, they take two more steps onto the landing and stop once again.

I growl a "Pardon" and make my way by them in the smallest amount of space they have provided and I found myself thinking I would love it if the stroller knocked into them.

We continue up the last two flights of stairs and unlock our door in time to hear them say good bye to one another. One woman lived there on the second floor, and a few moments later we could hear the other woman opening up a door on our floor!

So I ask you, what is wrong with these (and all the others out there just like them) people? Are they blind? Stupid? Just plain rude? What is it that makes people everywhere stop in the most inconvenient places imaginable and what makes them then think they are so superior that there cannot possibly be anyone else on the planet around them that may also need that exact same space, at the exact same time?!?!?!

Monday, May 19, 2008

Top 5 Reasons (Today) Why I Hate Flat Living

5. No say in building maintenance (our section needs some outer beautification)
4. Cannot outfit it with the appliances of my choice
3. Cannot paint, hang up anything, or change the way a door hangs without approval
(and that is not going to happen here)
2. Cannot play my music anywhere near loud enough
1. Some fool is always doing reconstruction work right at nap time

Honestly, I think these will always be the same with the exception of Number 1 but it will be interesting to see if anything changes...