Minor Annoyances AND Petty Grievances
While at the gym last night, I was reminded of several things that irritate me. Here they are:
- At the gym – I work out at 24 Hour Fitness, which is only a few blocks from my apartment. I once asked if they were actually open 24 hours. They replied that their particular branch is. If I had a sudden desire to work out at 3:30 a.m., they’re open! Now for my pet peeve. I hate when people come to the gym, sit on the equipment, watch TV & talk on their cell phones. After 10 minutes of burning calories in that manner, they move on to another machine. The entire reason I go to the gym at 10:00 p.m. or after is because I have no patience to wait for the machines. When people are using them for furniture and NOT working out, I find that just as annoying. Then again, there’s an older woman (maybe in her mid- to late 60’s, maybe even a bit older) that’s at the gym fairly regularly. She uses mainly cardio equipment such as the elliptical and the stationery bike. One day as I sat down on a stationery bike right next to her, she seemed to be MUCH slower than usual. When I took the time to glance over for a better look, she had actually fallen asleep! She woke up about 5 minutes later & continued biking. Another thing I hate at the gym is when guys try to flirt with me. It’s hard enough to get me over there in the first place. I’m not terribly social; just want to work out & get out of there as quickly as possible. When guys are smiling at you, pointedly use the machine next to you & start up inane conversations, I want to scream! Usually, I give a curt answer, if I respond at all, then they get the picture. Seriously, who wants to flirt with me when I’m in baggy clothing, my hair is sticking out all over & I’m covered in sweat?!
- Another thing that bothers me is on Facebook. When someone posts anything, then their significant other immediately “likes” it and/or comments with something like “Oh, honey, you’re the greatest,” I want to toss my cookies! Other people prefer to carry on public fights via Facebook. Why? If you have each other’s numbers or E-mails, just call or E-mail & insult each other. Why must I be privy to it?
- My final complaint (for today) has to do with tattoos. Why do people get tattoos that have nothing to do with them or their life? I knew a guy who had a big pit bull tattooed on his chest. He didn’t have a pit bull, much less any kind of a dog. I also knew a woman who got her name tattooed on her arm in another language, merely because she thought it looked cool. When she went on vacation, many men who spoke that language kept calling her by name! She got so upset that she took to wearing a jacket, even though it was in the summer!
Chinese Food
When I first moved to San Francisco back in 1996, an ex of mine (who’d been up here shortly before my move) had recommended a place called Brandy Ho’s Hunan Food on the edge of Chinatown. Hunan food is supposedly very spicy. Everyone knows how much I love spicy food; if you break out in a sweat & can barely talk, then it’s perfect! I tried the place out & ended up really liking it. They have an extensive menu, there’s an open kitchen so that you can see everything being prepared, they don’t use MSG, the service is fast & it’s affordable. The best part of all is that you can make nearly any substitutions you want!
After an absence of about a year or slightly longer, I went in there for lunch the other day. They have lunch specials Monday through Friday. I chose the Brandy Ho’s dinner, even though it was actually lunch. Brandy Ho’s dinner was beef, shrimp & scallops stir fried with onions, bell peppers & bamboo shoots. I asked for mine spicy WITHOUT bell peppers & bamboo shoots, but WITH water chestnuts. It also came with steamed rice. Prior to the main course, the lunch special gives you hot & sour soup, a cold noodle salad, a green onion pancake & tea, all for the bargain price of $10.00. Now I want to go back for some kung pao chicken or their beef with green onions.
For those you who might be interested in trying out Brandy Ho’s, their information is as follows:
Brandy Ho’s
217 Columbus Avenue
San Francisco, CA
415-788-7527
They have another location in the Castro at 4068 18th Street.
Growing up as a child in the Midwest, there was only one Chinese restaurant in a larger town several miles away. We would go there on “special” occasions. All I remember eating is egg rolls & either chow mein or chop suey. I probably never tasted decent Chinese food until I moved to Los Angeles. My then-boyfriend was always taking me to a dim sum place in Chinatown. I think it was called Grandview Gardens. What’s funny is, even though I’m part Asian, I’m horrible with chopsticks. Chinese restaurants always give me chopsticks & I always ask for a fork. I mean, I can USE chopsticks, but it would take an extra hour for me to finish my meal!