Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with cell-phone customer service. I saw charges for text-messaging on my cell bill. Do I EVER text-message? NO. Do I have teenagers in the house? YES.

I try to go online and find a way to communicate but that seems impossible. So I call customer service. They put you through the phase - press 1 for English, etc. Then you listen to a mechanical alien who tells you to speak the question. Ms. Alien comes back with -"I don't understand that question?"

After many more button pushes I hear a ring tone - and then music. "You have called at peak time. Your hold time will be less than 20 minutes."
When is off peak time? Finally !!!! a human comes on the line.
"We're sorry but the system is down please call back in 15 minutes." Maybe it wasn't human.

Call number 2 - Same scenario - button pushing. Then music - bad elevator music. Then dead silence. I've been disconnected.

Call number 3 - Same scenario - button pushing. Then a person comes on with an accent from hell. Do I understand anything she says? NO. I hang up and call again.

Call number 4 - Same scenario - button pushing with my lack of patience transparent. A person comes on and I believe she has just visited the dentist and the Novocaine has not worn off. Her words are questionable. I constantly ask her to repeat what she is asking.

I tell her I want the text-messaging on my phone blocked. Seems odd I never asked for it to begin with but apparently I have it and someone is using it. To remove certain services you have to call and asked for those services to be blocked even though you didn't know they were there.

I wonder what charges will be on my bill next month.

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with people who smoke and toss their cigarette butts on the ground. Not only is this disgusting it's also littering. The other day I was at a local park attending a children's birthday party. The area was right next to a great play space. The kids could play but were within a few feet of watchful eyes.

There was this young lady at the park (not attending the party) and she had two small children. She was smoking away like a chimney. Right there in a children's play area with two of her own children. That in itself was bad enough. At one point I saw her toss the cigarette but right on the lawn near the picnic tables where the festivities were taking place. Was she annoyed because she was not invited to the party?

First and formost, one of the children could have stepped on the still burning butt. Second it was rude and it's littering. Why do smokers feel they have the right to toss their trash on the earth? If you choose to smoke that's fine but clean up after yourself and be responsible.

My mission for you - walk down any street or in front of your house (I constantly find butts tossed on my driveway) and count how many discarded cigarette butts you can find. Our watch the number of drivers who toss their cigarette butts out the window. It's amazing and disturbing. How will we ever save the earth with attitudes like this?

Concerned,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with those who feel that the rules DO NOT apply to them. The dog leash rule - states you must have your pet on a leash and be in control of that pet. A leash could be a rope, a real leash or a shoelace. It helps you keep your animal or dog away from harm and keeps your animal away from other animals that may harm your pet. It also keeps your dog from running at me while I am on my bike causing me to fall and and break a bone. That's another gripe.

A few days ago in the paper a women is shown weeping over the loss of her dog. She is devastated and I understand the pain involved with the loss of a pet. This woman from Tampa lets her little dog run wild and unleashed. Is this a responsible pet owner? NO! Once again the dog could be harmed and so could other animals or people. How many times have I slammed on my brakes when a dog runs in front of my vehicle? How many dead animals have you seen along a highway? Were any of them under complete control of their owner? No. Animals and dogs will be animals and dogs and do stuff they shouldn't.

While this woman is letting her little dog run free and wild in a park near a pond (were in Florida here) you can imagine what happened. Ponds in Florida are filled with gators. Normally they do not bother anyone. Let me tell you if I'm a gator and this tasty little bite comes dashing into my territory - I'm going for it. And that is just what the gator did. Unfortunately for the unsupervised little dog he lost his life. Was it the gator's fault? NO!! Let's put the blame in the correct place. The pet owner did not take responsibility for her dog.

Now, the gator has been captured and most likely will be destroyed. His meat will be sent to some eatery for gator bites and his skin will be made into cowboy boots. All of this because that woman does not follow the rules. I am sorry you lost your dog but take responsibility for the action. Alligators are wild animals - they hunt to eat and are territorial.

We have leash laws for a reason. Obey the rules and stop blaming others.

with deep regrets,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with those that can't read good and drive. Here's a huge hint even if you can't read good. That big red sign with the letters STOP on it - that means slam you foot on the brake pedal. First you must remove your foot from the gas pedal. Then, after the car comes to a semi stop look around for other cars. If you see a big red sign with the word STOP-4 ways - it is important to really slam your foot on the brake pedal and let a few cars go before you speed through.

So in a nutshell that is what that big red sign with the letters STOP painted on it means. It's not graffito, a post to dance on or a meeting place for potentail customers. It's specifically placed in that location for vehicles to come to a complete lack of movement. I know it looks like a place for target practice but that's just a myth or an optical illusion.

So a few pointers for yaall. Big, red, metal sometimes containing bullet holes with the words STOP painted on it - means STOP the vehicle. If you've ever read 'Hop on Pop' this word rhymes with them. STOP.

Truly amazed,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with Florida justice or lack thereof. I am sickened every time I watch the video of the disabled man being DUMPED from his wheelchair -FACE FIRST onto the hard floor. This act was from one of our trusted law enforcement officers. How incredible we allow people like this to serve us or in this case abuse us.

This man is a quadraplegic and she demanded that he stand so she could search him? When he said he could not stand she DUMPED him out. This is one of the most disgusting vile acts I have seen lately. We had the young boy at boot camp that was beaten to death, once again caught on video. We tasered the student who spoke out at a rally. We lose foster children and let many of them succumb to horrific deaths.

Does Florida care so little about humanity that they let the keepers abuse and kill us? Where are we safe? How do these people get hired in the first place? And WHY do their supervisor stand by them and laugh at the situation? Do you get bonus points for your cruelty? Do you get comp time for your uncaring attitude? My suggestion is - let's trade places with you for a day. How would you like the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness?

The Hillborough County Police department should be ashamed of themselves.

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with Valentine's Day. What a RIPOFF!!! Chocolate - Roses - Cards - Expensive jewelery - in our face. Buy me. Show the love of your life how much you really love them by placating them with gifts. Who is benefitting from this spending frenzy? Certainly not me. Certainly not my lover - whatever gift I may purchase does not satisfy them - totally. More is better - bigger is best.

Would a plain old candy bar do the trick? I think NOT. It's gotta be BIG. It's gotta be expensive. BLING - BLING.

We are being pressured by the retailers to buy-buy-buy. It seems like a herd of cattle being sent to the slaughter farm. I will not be forced to enter the ring of materialism. I will not help big business profit on this foolish day. If I engage in this activity it will be from the heart and not the local Walmart store or Jerrods Jewelers.

I can pick a bouquet of dandelions, tie them with an old shoelace and hand them over to my sweetie-kins. I can cook up a great frozen dinner and set the table with tea lite candles and open a 16 ounce bottle of Dasani water and pour it into my finest jelly jar glasses. For sweet music I can open the windows and be serenaded by my neighborly drummer and the sound of sirens blasting the air. For a little RAP music perhaps the other neighbors will get into one of their nightly word fights. Oh and the words they use are certainly RAP orientated.

So I absolutely refuse to be sucked into this mass media blitz of buy - buy - buy. I love you snookums and I will show that love with a personalized gift. Tonight we will sit on the old lumpy couch, snuggle and watch the movie channel, - with popcorn (slightly burnt) and bottle of our favorite water (probably tap water) and all this after our wonderful cozy meal served on paper plates.

Lovingly,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with LITTERBUGS. Bugs is too timid a word to use for people like this but I want this to be a family friendly post - so NO cursing. I walk the streets and see piles of trash defiling my beautiful world - your beautiful word also. Can't we all just get along and not throw our trash to the wind.

This past weekend I walked to my favorite pond and I witnessed a great sight. A young man was removing litter and debri from the pond - all by himself. My heart was fluttering with happy thoughts.

I walked around the pond picking up others waste and deposited it in my bag. Such a beautiful place so defiled. Such a nice young man spending part of his day cleaning our world. Kudos for you - young man and I told him that. What an inspiration this young man is for me and others.

Aspire to inspire before you expire.

Sincerely,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with myself. I'm eating crow. In the past I have complained about the neighbors parking in the road on the sidwalk and on the grass. It's a royal pain to navigate when walking or driving down the cul-de-sac. I despise them.

Well, lately our home has been invaded by teens - lots of them - and they all have cars. I'm embarrassed to show my face outside. Our house now looks like the parking lot at Walmart on Saturday afternoon. The young-uns hover around outside by the cars and the basketball hoop. And I have picked up several empty bottles right in front of my own home.

So I am displeased with myself for letting my space come to this and I am at a loss as 'what to do'? My only saving grace is that - 'I know where they are and they are safe.' Maybe no one in the cul-de-sac will walk their dog and leave me presents on the bumper of my truck.

Regretfully,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with the Hess gas station near my home. You are on notice Hess - I will no longer be one of your customers. I looked at my online bank statement and I noticed the other night when I made a gas purchase on my debit card that you took out an extra $25.00 for a second transaction. I understand that gas is expensive but my tank will not hold that amount of gas in one fill-up. This is not the first time we have had a disagreement about your practices.

Remember my complaint when you put a hold on my debit card when I made a purchase. You debited the money from my account and then put a hold on my account. We went round and round about that. And then there is the continuos problem of the pump not accepting my card after it says it has and a trip inside is required. A few times I pointed out the double charge for that.

Today when I called the corporate office they said their system was down and could not check it out (same response the last time I called) how convenient. She stated, "It's not operator error." Of course they meant their operator. They suggested I changed pumps and entered my card twice. I said "NO", I used the same pump and inserted my card only once. They stated it was a credit card problem and I needed to call my bank. But you DID IT! Not my bank. ###**())*&$$$$ you!!!!

I'm starting to feel better. Hitting those curse buttons make me feel good. I will no longer be stopping by your establishment to make fuel purchases. I am tired of your bullcrap and always placing the blame on your customers.

Truly,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with people who have no clue. There are many out there invading our space but specifically those that think they own this land. I read an article in the paper yesterday about a couple that lives in a Florida town called Ozona. Ozona is a wonderful area perched on the Gulf of Mexico.
This homeowner found a 4 foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake in his backyard. Okay - this is Florida we have rattlesnakes that have been here much longer than us. On a daily basis we remove their habitat and let them fend for themselves or die out. We want to build a housing development who cares about the destruction of the habitat? We want it we go for it! Take those pesky gators, tortoises, owls and so many other creatures and dispose of them.

Back to the chump in Ozona - he calls the Sherriff's department to remove this snake. This is a 4 foot snake I can't even imagine how old he could be. Mr. Lawman shows up and shoots the snake. Hello? The point of this is - WHAT? Is there a reason we didn't capture the snake and take him to a safer friendler place? Why shoot him? What did he do? Yes, we did take away his habitat but we don't care. We want a piece of land and we grab it. All present tenants go away or be shot.

The wife stated she was so glad the snake was dead. Why? What possesses people to be so uninformed and stupid? If we continue on the hunt to remove wildlife what will happen to us? Why can't we all just get along?

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is personal and it is with Joren Vander Sloot. I watched the under cover video. How callous are you? EVEN IF this is a lie? how could you make up a story like that to cause even more pain to the grieving parents. To so non-chalantly say you tossed her lifeless (perhaps not dead) body into a boat and shoved her out to sea. You seem to have no regard for human life. To put so little thought in the destiny of someone besides yourself is revolting.

Then we see the video where you toss a drink in a reporters face. You are a real gem. I do belive your life from now on will have many repercussions. We all make choices and have to live with them ~~~ good or bad. If in fact you did do something to this girl - I sincerely hope your conscience burns like a forest fire out of control.

I do believe in innocent until proven guilty - this has nothing to do with guilt or innocence - this has to do with your innappropriate actions. I cannot even imagine the pain and suffering Natalie's parents are enduring.

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with slobs that litter. It was a beautiful morning so I went off on a bike ride through my neighborhood. My first encounter - right in MY own front yard was an empty beer bottle. Twenty feet away from that was a plastic water bottle. I have large basket on my bike so I picked them up. After navigating for about 5 blocks my basket was FULL of other people trash. I had several plastic bottles, empty cigarette packs, smashed oranges, fast food bags of trash, an old torn shirt, (must belong to the beer bottle recipient) plastic containers and a broken skateboard.

Yesterday I watched a show on global warming and what we are doing to the earth. I realize that one person alone can not make a huge impact but a collection of individuals can make an impact. Do we not care about our future? Are we just lazy and indifferent? I have had empty water bottles in my possesion and I tossed them in the back seat of my car and clean up the car several times a week. STOP throwing your trash in my world - my world that I wish to keep and hold onto for as long as possible.

Have you no pride or responsibility to the earth - it's yours also. The ride made me sick and disgusted especially after watching the doom and gloom program yesterday. Apparently not too many take global warming seriously. We should at least consider the possibility and think upon it. And STOP tossing your trash on our precious earth.

Respectfully,

Mr. Pid

Daily Gripe

Hello, my name is Stu. Today my gripe is with fellow co-workers who show up at work sick. You bring your germs and share them with the entire office. You touch doorknobs, handles, office equipment and every surface in the building. Then I touch it. You cough out your germs and contagious breath. Then I breathe it. After you have spread your germs with everyone you call in sick for a week. Thank You!! You have sick time I do not!


Short and simple!!! When you are sick or when you feel you may become sick - stay home. Don't share!!!

Today I am sick - did I go to work today? NO!!!

respectfully,

Mr. Pid