That Annoys You? Oh Really?

I was quite happily waiting at the doctor’s surgery for my monthly blood test yesterday, when I picked up a newspaper. There was a full-page article devoted to things that ‘make women seethe.’

Interest piqued, I read further, expecting to see examples such as schools still closed since last Thursday, the shocking price of petrol or the lies men tell on dating websites (and the 10-year-old photos they post up). Well. Oh, to have a life where stepping on Lego or forgetting to turn the dishwasher on was all that made me curse.

Apparently, the following everyday annoyances can make a woman rage:

  • Misjudging kettle water levels
  • Getting an itchy nose while washing up
  • Useless ribbon loops sewn into clothes
  • When the wind blows your hair into your lipgloss
  • Getting a full bag out of a pedal bin
  • Catching your sleeve on a door handle

Well, excuse me if I don’t rush over with tea and sympathy. I also object to the misogynistic tone of the article, which places women fully in the ‘helpless, silly people’ category, where all we worry about is not being able to pull our wellies off or how to deal with tangled wire coat hangers. Let’s leave the serious issues to the men, don’t worry your pretty little head, there’s a good girl, eh? ย This may as well be journalism from the 1950’s.

Can you imagine a similar article, yet written about men? Would men really rage about scratchy clothes labels, a tissue in the wash or needing to drain a ‘no drain’ tuna can?

Anyway, in the interest of balance, here’s my MS list of everyday things that make me seethe:

  • People thinking I am drunk after half a glass of wine
  • My robot, wonky walk when my legs won’t work properly
  • Waking up half-blind
  • Tripping over my own feet. Repeatedly.
  • Reaching for my coffee cup and knocking it over
  • Not being able to wear high heels
  • Trying to explain fatigue for the zillionth time

I’d better stop there. I could go on. And on. But I just got lemon juice in my eye and I am seriously raging…..

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15 thoughts on “That Annoys You? Oh Really?

  1. Tony Cardis says:

    I’m with you all the way with your list.apart from the high heels obviously I can never find anything to match ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Samantha Thompson says:

    I agree completely.
    If I ever heard such things, I would find it incredibly difficult not to turn round and say, ‘do you want to swap your list with mine? But I wouldn’t and just get myself worked up for hours!
    I could feel your emotions whilst reading.
    I will now go and add to my list of things that make me seethe – people who don’t know wat a problem is!!
    Sam xx

    • stumbling in flats says:

      Hi Sam!
      Oh, I was so angry when I wrote the blog post!! But it was very therapeutic, lol.
      Have you thought any more about starting a blog? Don’t forget you could write a guest blog for mine, to get you started?
      X

    • stumbling in flats says:

      p.s Sam,
      I hope you got the email I sent you back? It sometimes plays up, so let me know if you didn’t get it!! X

      • Samantha Thompson says:

        I did yes, thank you. I sent one back, I’ll have a look and make sure there wasn’t an error. Oh dear, I hope you didn’t think I was rude, I did reply honest!! Lol xx

        • stumbling in flats says:

          Hi Sam,
          My mistake! It wasn’t delivered to my inbox properly, just found it. Please tell me your blog address!!! Guest blogging is easy – Scot wrote one on Monday – just write up to 400 words about any aspect of MS, email it to me and I will create a blog post.
          I would really, really love to have a post about how it feels to be in Limboland? You’ve been on my mind recently – I remember too well the frustration, angst, fear, etc, going through all that. It can be hell.
          Let me know what you think?
          Take care, X

  3. Hi, Stumbling —

    Thanks for the laugh; I just found your blog and find myself nodding in agreement as I read through your posts! Cats? Check. MS? Check. Things That Annoy the *^&$ Out Me (Including But Most Certainly Not Limited to Those That Relate to MS)? Check…

    Ms. CrankyPants

    p.s. I am now an Official Fan and am subscribing to your blog!

    • stumbling in flats says:

      Hey CrankyPants (fab name!)
      Thank you so much for the comment and for following me. Just checked out your blog – very, very funny. Can’t seem to work out how to follow it by email? Probably just MS Mushy Brain at work again.
      Anyway, are you on Twitter?? That way I can keep up with posts?
      X

      • Ha! I am an internet idiot and am amazed that I have been able to get this far w/o tech help. However, by some miracle, I did just figure out how to add a “subscribe by email” link! Thanks for noting the absence of one (I shudder to think of the legions of people who have been too shy to ask).

        Thanks for the kind comment! I look forward to keeping up with your MS journey.

        Yours in MS Brain Mush,
        Ms. CrankyPants

        • stumbling in flats says:

          Hiya!
          Yup, just subscribed – can’t wait for your next post. Best thing to come out of this whole crappy MS scenario is definitely being in contact with all the lovely peeps who have it too. Right, am off to boot the goddamn cat off my sofa. Again.
          X

          • Great – thanks for subscribing! I agree w/ the “best part” thing. I feel as if I have a whole new set of friends, if that doesn’t sound too creepy and sad. I do have actual, live friends too. Really. No, really!

            Good luck with the sofa cat. I just had to feed mine an hour early b/c she (and her pal) were whining so much that I Could. Not. Take. It. Anymore. They’ve trained me well…

          • stumbling in flats says:

            Hey, great idea for blog post – virtual MS friends! *scribbles down in notebook, which I take to cafes to look interesting and intellectual*
            Cat booted off, evil laugh.
            x

  4. Scot says:

    Lol , now thats an article that I would really enjoy to write,”
    What Really Drives Men Over The Edge”
    #1 – Women
    Ect,Ect,Ect …. Lol !!! Just kidding of course !!! <3 X ๐Ÿ™‚

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