What about Agent Provacateur or whatever that place is called?

Love it. A London-based place that now has a store in Soho. Sleazier than the offerings at LPC. Not that that's a bad thing, necessarily, when its lingerie you're talking about.

That reminds me of one of my pet annoyances: the overbearing, hysterical salesladies at Victoria's Secret.

Last year my boyfriend and I walked into one of their stores in Chicago (on the Mag Mile I think) and we were immediately accosted by a young, svelte, shrieking co-ed wearing a headset and a push-up corset. She zeroed in on my chest with her eyes and hands--stopping just short of squeezing the fuckin' produce--and then she shouted: "You are a 36B!"

As if she had just made an important discovery.

I admit that I stood there dazed with my eyes wide and let myself be manhandled by her up a wide New-Orleans-whorehouse staircase and cajoled into selecting several slatternly costumes, none of which I would not wear in a million years, but which I was too sickened to refuse.

(Not that I have anything at all against slatternly costumes, but when they are priced at $90 each, I'll pass. I'd come into the store for some lip gloss).

The saleslady (and a gaggle of others like her) insisted that my boyfriend accompany me into the dressing room, where he and I stood, looking at each other, and whispering: "Have we been in here long enough yet?"

Then we left without buying anything. I don't think I will ever go into a Victoria's Secret again.

Oh I hear that. My experience yesterday was loathsome. No fewer than 6 of these salesgirls accosted me (they make commissions) and I said to the fourth one that she was the fourth person to ask me and that I didn't need any help. By the time the 6th one asked me, I said sure, do you have any merchandise that's not made by Victoria's Secret?

I was of course furious that I couldn't return the stupid thing and get money, but I had to exchange it or take a store credit, which would have meant going back there which I hope never to do.

More infuriating? The only acceptable item was a fairly plan robe which of course cost more than the item I was exchanging.

I hate the salesperson on commission thing. I have often thought of wearing a badge (button) around Saks which says in big letters "I do not need help, thanks." I have been driven out of clothes stores in the past by salespersons dogging my footsteps. There was one store (in Toronto maybe?) where I lost interest in the clothes and spent my time darting from room to room trying to shake off the guy following me.

There's a home decor/furniture store called Surprise! Surprise! that features the most annoying salesman in the universe. And, of course, those charming guys at Florsheim. Grrr...

I have a beautiful silk jaquard nightie in sage green that I bought at VS 12 or 13 years ago. These days, I don't think they even know what a natural fiber is. Though that would square with the content of the clientele they seem to be courting now.

Yeah! And their underwear gives me a wedgie! Nyah nyah nyah!

Flirting With My Helpdesk Staffer Guy is back. I'm going to destroy that guy.

Was reading the "Good for Nothing Art" thread and was reminded of how annoyed I get with celebrities who think they can start a restaurant, have a couple ideas for the decor, and call it a day. Normally, I don't get annoyed by Britney Spears that much (I don't listen to her music which cuts down on my annoyance tremendously), until I think of that restaurant she tried to start.

NYLA. Unlikely to inspire other attempts.

The annoyances are not only my cold—now ten days old—but the baby spent two days with us, and ran a high fever all night long. Which apparently activated his kicking aparatus, which were alternately imbedded in my sides or my face all night long. And then he needed to be held for hours on end, so I got no work done...

This is not really a complaint though, because to be trusted with a sick little baby, so sweet and helpless, is an incredible honor and trust.

And the child, even when he's feverish, is the sunniest thing on earth. He sings when he's sick.

Annoyances tempered with love, then.

I'm sick

I bet I got it from Tana.

I went shopping/browsing with my wife yesterday. We visited a B&N superstore, an Ikea and a large mall. I can't remember the last time I've been to a mall or major shopping center on a Saturday. A misanthropically affirming experience.

It's easier to park on the street in mid-town Manhattan during the day than in The Garden State Plaza on a Saturday.

The throngs of people exhibiting all the aforementioned "annoyances" and most of the "Hey Asshole" behaviors.

We gave up and left each venue early. I happily completed my purchases on line at home later that evening. We decided that malls are now "Monday or nothing" experiences for us.

Shoveling snow is much harder at 38 than it was at 10.

Sprained my arm. A bit of a faff getting (un)dressed and it won't do very much so I can't really drive etc.

On the other hand, I only sprained it, and it's my left arm, so I can hardly complain.

kiku - i sympathise. when I broke my elbow a few years back everything from brushing my teeth to putting on clothes to eating was a nightmare. And getting my bald husband to brush and put up my hair was erm..interesting.

Unfortunately, every time I transfer a prescription, something goes askew. Refill counts have always suffered and correcting same has never been met with any of the pharmaceutical staff's concern.

When I bought Otto's amazing zabaglione and cherry gelato on Friday, I spent 35 minutes in the bar waiting for someone, anyone, to bring it to me. It was 4:30 and there wasn't anyone in the place. Except a lot of staff. None of whom, apparently, could pack a pint of gelato into a container and relieve me of slightly over $10 for it. The maitre d' was very nice about it, but she was as mystified as I by the amount of time it took.

Let's not. It would take a while.

Eat like an American.

Oh, you said not...

The meeting I just got out of.

It's a good thing weapons aren't allowed in the office.

Ostentatiously looking left and right before backing smartly out of my garage into the service alley. And straight over my own overturned trash can. D'oh.

Fucking inspectors and some fucking woman I have never seen in my life traipsing through my house like she owns it. Fucking snoop.

The house is in escrow. I hate these people.

Today was just one long fucking annoyance. Even discovering that I made way more money than I was aware of was an annoyance, because I have nothing to show for it since I've been forking it over to feed, house, clothe and entertain a couple of children who are not mine and are not grateful. I'll be so glad when 5:00 gets here and I can pour myself a long stiff drink.

Waiting for, and talking to, Verizon people on the phone. On 2 occasions, I've spent around an hour on the phone asking why our DSL connection has not been resumed after a move:

First there's a directory, something like this:

1. Billing
2. Technical support
3. Repairs
4. Something else

I thought technical support would be logical (on hold 30 mins). NO, biliing answers that! Oh, local Brooklyn office sorts that. I must've spoken to 7 people during one call. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told: "The wait will be up to one hour and 30 minutes". (So, I'm not the only one then?.) I give up.

Cellular providers offer contracts which are much more cost effective but which lock you in for a year or more. There are penalties for cancelling the contracts. I used to use Verizon and had hellish experiences with them. I now use AT&T, which was just acquired by Cingular. AT&T sucked---I hold no hopes for Cingular either.

Received a letter from the Bureau of Traffic Violations stating that saying they turned down our appeal claiming we were parked at a broken meter. Mind you, we turned in the license plates for said car a week before the supposed violation took place!

Get on the #7 train only to be told there is no service due to a stall in Queens. That's when it hit me -- my vacation had ended and I was back in commutation hell.

Submitted a paper to an relatively important journal. One reviewer said it was great, the other said it was a crock of shit. The editor gave me a month to do extra experiments and re-write it. Have done the former and have given my boss the re-written paper - 10 days ago. Now he hasn't given me back the paper, but is such a control freak that we has banned me from working on the paper. I am bored and I know that I shall get this paper back the day before it is due date and I will be up all night working on it.

That sucks. I'm discovering that my new boss has some similar traits, although fortunately I haven't borne the brunt of them yet. Last week my team endured a frantic daily reminders to finish some forms by a certain date, only to find that we missed the deadline anyway because our line manager forgot to send everything off after we turned ourselves inside out to meet it.

To be fair he is very busy and not well, but the banning me from working on the paper is annoying.

Another annoyance. Me. My wife and I were discussing how I have he amazing talent of bringing out the absolute worst in people. Maybe I should be nicer. Have tried this before, but find it difficult to sustain for long periods of time.

Fucking co-workers. The one that an hour ago threw out my miso paste 'because it looked funny' is currently commenting on the journals on my desk. These are for me to read for this paper, but apparently this is wrong and they should one the shelf where they look neat. The one that objected to me as a co-author on her paper is trying to guilt me into seeing her perform 'hello dolly'. The one that hasn't spoken to me since september is still not speaking to me.

Good idea, coconuts are fruit yes?

Is she that bad, or just really irritating?