Portland, Tennessee Blog

One of my biggest pet peeves in this town is when people don't have their children restrained in a car seat. You know, the people who are holding toddlers in their laps in the front seat? That really irritates me. Also, like someone said, people in this town who don't use turn signals.

Oh, and people who let their dog run out their back door to wander the neighborhood and go to the bathroom in everyone else's yard. That's so inconsiderate and just shows laziness on the side of the owner.

Also, Farmers Bank's ATM's are out of service so often. What's up with that?

And....people talking LOUDLY on their cell phone in a restaraunt. Burns me up.

Also, digman, I'm a UT Vol fan, but I was pulling for The Gators, as I do every SEC team in all aspects of the post-season. Don't paint us all with the same brush!!!

sorry about the grammer error in previous blog i meant to say they laid to waste the unbeatable buckeyes.

my pet peeve is the unsportsman like conduct of tennesee vol fans about the FLORIDA GATORS going to the bcs championship.get over it they are number one period and you are not.they totally laid the unbeatable buckeyes hands down. again number one.

People who turn their car radios up full blast. Isn't there some kind of law against this??

My pet peeve is people leaving things at CARES after hours. People just drop off things and leave them there like it's all right. It's not all right. CARES has had articles in the paper asking folks not to do this, and people do it anyway. It drives me crazy!! It especially makes me nuts when people leave a half a chair or a matress that they know CARES can't take anyway. They just want someone else to have to dispose of their trash. And when they know it's going to rain...why would you leave stuff out in the rain??? Then it's useless anyway. That's my biggest Portland pet peeve!! Please don't drop off anything unless it's during store hours. Those people do not deserve to have to go through trash every morning!!

My pet peeve...oh well...there are so many...

1) People who don't want to take responsibility for their own actions.

2) People who are married and still living with mom and dad (rent free) and their parents and paying for everything. They also have 2 kids and neither of them has a job. Then they go out partying while they leave the kids at home with the grandparents who really shouldn't be watching kids to beging with (look at the mess they made of their own child). Oh yeah, by the way, I know who these people are...they're relatives.

3) Parents who are in a store/mall and are walking way ahead of their child and not even paying attention to whether or not their kid is coming along behind them or not. This is why children are abducted. Watch out for your kids! Put them in a stroller!

4) Anyone who beats another person, especially a child. Anyone who hurts a child in any way should be banned from society forever! End of story. Lock them away in a dark room with only enough food to survive.

5) People who talk on their cell phone and drive.

6) People who call in sick to work ALL THE TIME. You know no one is sick that much.

THE LIST COULD KEEP GOING.....

Pet owners who let their dogs run loose and a town that does nothing about it.

Tim,
I couldnt agree with you more. Portlanders trash their town all the time. Just look at Foodlion (or should I say soon-to-be-Krogers), there is all kinds of trash everywhere. I live on Hwy 52E, and people throw trash in my yard all the time, even beer bottles, does not anyone in this town have pride in where they live? I know that one section of town with all the trailers are all trashy, but can't they keep it there and not throw it in our yard or at the stores parking lots?! I grew up in a Ghetto, a real Ghetto, and I'm so thankful for living in such a nice town without drive by shootings etc...Portland is a wonderful town, I just wish those who grew up here would see what I see, or lived where I've lived, then, maybe they would take some pride in where they live.

One of my pet peeves? People who throw their cigarette butts on the ground or sidewalk.I'm not one of these anti- smoking freaks. I could actually care less if you smoke or not,just put your butts where they belong, in the trash.
Another one? Littering. Its just to easy to take your trash home or throw it away at the gas station when you get gas.Or the car wash. Or as you go into any store in town. There is usually a trash can at every store entrance.Why do people still feel the need to throw their trash out the car window or leave it on the side of the road? Or in a parking lot? Beats me.

One of my pet peeves is the lack of a shoulder on so many of the roads in the area. It seems that on the curvier, more dangerous roads, the shoulder is narrow or non-existant. I'm talking about Fowler Ford, Jackson Road, New Deal-Potts Road and, our local favorite, 109 on the Ridge.

My son had an accident two years ago because someone was unable to negotiate the curves at the speed they were traveling and were over the center line. When he pulled to the right to get out of their way, his right wheel got caught in the mud on the edge of the 4-inch wide shoulder, and his car went into the ditch, hitting a culvert. Lucky for him, he was shaken up, but uninjured. Thank God for air bags.

Sometimes a road has been paved so many times that there is a 3-6 inch drop-off right at the white line. Maybe they could use all the asphalt that makes the road thicker to make it wider! Many of the wrecks on the Ridge are caused by someone "over-correcting" when their wheel goes off the pavement. It can be a challenge to stay inside the white lines, especially when a 53' 18-wheeler can't negotiate the curves and is over the center line.

Hey, I could use some help. I have been trying to reach this young lady who lives (lived) and works (worked) in Portland for almost a year. I have talked to a few people who knew of her, but did not see her anymore, so I thought I would give this a shot. Her name is Crystal (Krystal?). She was working at McDonalds in Portland recently. She has a daughter, who I think is named Delia. If anyone knows her or sees her at McDonalds?, could you please have her write me at DaExt@comcast.net. I would appreciate it so much. She does not know me, I just need to talk to her for a few minutes regarding a personal matter. Mean no harm I promise!

With this horribly cold weather, it has brought to my senses one of my pet peeves..does it ever tick anyone else off when you see parents out with their children and the parent(s) are wearing suitable winter wear;shoes,coats,even gloves and scarves, but yet their small toddlers aren't wearing any shoes and don't have a jacket on?! What is wrong with these people? Shouldn't your children come first?? I can't understand what makes them think "Hmm, its cold outside, I need a coat..but kid can do without" Err...okay..my outburst is over :)

I went over to City Hall and talked to Karen Johnson about my gas bill today. She was very helpful. Pet Peeve solved.

ara,

yeah right....

please do move on!

ara,

you know what really is one of my pet peeves....is people who take what is supposed to be a rather fun thread and turn it in to some sort of debate.....

the thread is asking for your pet peeves, it is not asking for your opinions on the validity of others pet peeves.

Furthermore,

How is it that you think I am in the wrong, when I am the one obeying the speed limit anyway? So, now those of us that abide by the law, are somehow wrong for doing so?

You, my friend have it all backwards........

Let's get back to the point of this thread.....I am acutally enjoying reading everyone elses pet peeves.

Over and OUT!

Jessica,
Don't be surprised next month they'll realize they made an error and your bill might just be 300

This is so strange to bring up electric/gas bills...For some very very odd reason,my bill last month was only $50..compared to the $98 we are used to..this month it was $72.. I am not sure what is going on,but I like it :) I can not imagine having a 300 dollar bill..I would die..

My Utilities bill for 10/12 thru 11/13 was $170.00. That was a jump from $80.00 the previous month. I dread getting the next bill. Yes, the employees there will give you the run around. Any time I have called I never received a straight answer.

I got it just dont think you did. Now we can move on....

ara,

I am on that road several times a day....and no i do not make it a habit of speeding.....

obviously you have missed the entire point of this thread.

moving on!

I have had the same jest with them before not as bad as CEMC. My bill with them last February was 348.00 and mind you I heat with gas.I called and called and all I got was pay your bill like everyone elese.Finally after emails and emails a man came out and still all he could say was it has been cold you know. Yeah I know but I HEAT WITH GAS! Never got that solved and my gas for that month was right at 300.00. So yes I know about the run around from both places.

Hey,
Not to change the subject but speaking of pet peeves, I just got my gas bill in from the city this month. It was almost 50 dollars more than any bill I have ever received. The lady at Public Utilities told me that October to November was colder than February which had been my highest bill. I'm not meterologist, but come on, that's gotta be one of the dumbest excuses I've ever heard. I talked to the manager of the department who was much nicer but the excuses were still not acceptable. According to her, meter readers had maybe misread by gas usage the month before so this month it was being made up for. First of all, my bill was maybe 5 dollars cheaper than normal for September to October and that is one of the mildest times of the year. Second, if a meter reader messed up, why should I have to pay for their mistakes? What happens to an elderly person who can't afford to pay a bill twice the normal amount without some sort of notice or payment plan provided? I tell you what will happen, they'll cut off your gas and say it was your fault for not reading the meter the month before. Last time I checked I wasn't getting paid to read a meter but I know this, if I buy bananas at Food lion for 29 cents a pound and they were supposed to be 59 cents a pound, they don't charge me an extra 30 cents a pound the next week. In business, the customer is always right but apparently not so with Public Utilities here. No sort of review board, nothing. This city would be in a world of hurt if the millions they have to float per month on gas bills went unpaid because of fed up customers. Gas rates are high enough as it is and these mistakes are sensless. Anyone could look at my billing history and see this was a total mistake. If anyone has had the same experience I would love to hear from them as I'm going to do a story on this issue. The infrastructure of Portland is poor at best. Nickel was recently found in the wastewater, another contaminant, we're under a moratorium as it is and now meter readers can't even do their job right. Very, very poor job and a problem that should be dealt with.

Ok sure if thats how you look at it.I do not have any ties to this town do not even work around here. Like I said before are you honestly going to tell me you have never went over the speed limit? No I do not speed on a daily basis because I have been caught and I know the pain of leaving work to take care of it. I was just saying maybe you are not on that road enough to see the whole pic.So no sorry I am not one of your pets peeves....

ara,

then it would appear that you ARE one of my pet peeve's!!!!

My guess is you have some tie to the City or The Police department....you are either coming to the defense of the Police and their lack of traffic law enforcement......

OR

You are one those people who believe the speed limit is a mere suggestion.

Either way YOU are one of those people I was taking about in my original post......

Well I have used that road daily for the past 11 years and I have seen many of cars pulled over.I myself have gotten pulled over and yes ticketed. As a matter of fact not just Portland but THP and Sheriff cars are maning that road.

ara,

I think you are really missing the entire point....I am not the issue here.....the issue is speeders.....when I AM going the speed limit and people are passing me like I am sitting still, I know enough to know what 60MPH looks like.

Yeah, you would think they would get caught...but like I said....I have lived in Portland for nearly 3 years and I don;t remember ever seeing a Portland Police car with anyone pulled over.

Like I said the speed limit is not a suggestion...it is posted for a reason.

Speeding wouldn't be a problem, if traffic laws were enforced......

So what you are telling us is that you never speed? Maybe the cars were not going as fast as you thought they were and thats why the Police did not pull them over.I have passed people where you are talking about going just a little over and have seen cops there. Speeding is a problem in most towns. As long as people get in a hurry and rush but sooner or later you get caught.

The measure of a society is its ability to wait in a line.

Well I have several pet peeve's some related to your's some not.

When your walking through a store or mall....and people just stop right in the middle of the isle and decide to have a converstation, while blocking the isle.....I hate it when this happens. How hard is it to have some common courtesy and move out of everyones way.

When people drive at a high rate of speed through these store parking lot's....I hate this too.....Obviously those of you that do this have never hit anything have you?....thats alright...keep it up.....you will!!! I just hope it isn't me or any other person.....lets hope it is something like a tree.....That'll teach ya to slow down!!!

When I am driving the speed limit, particularly on Fowler Ford Road and/or Highway 52, and people are blasting by me like I am sitting still, or are right up on my back bumper......Now I have a couple of issues with this....do you honestly think that by riding on my back bumper it makes me WANT to speed up? NO, it makes me WANT to slam on my brakes!!!!

Also, just the other day I was driving down Highway 52 in Portland near Krystal and I was in the right lane....Can anyone tell me the speed limit through there? My guess is you can not....it is 40MPH......I repeat 40MPH....that is the speed limit....it is not a suggestion...it is the posted speed limit. I was getting passed by people who I know were easily doing 60 MPH and guess what I actually saw.....There to my amazement sat a Portland Police officer, backed in the driveway to Oak Street Church running radar....I thought to myself...."Oh Cool there going to get nailed".....But to my dismay guess what happened......absolutely nothing!!!!! Went down a little further and again to my amazement there sat another Portland Police car running radar and guess what happened.......ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!!! My first thought was......what does one have to do to get pulled over in this town?

Then I thought to myself.....come to think of it I have NEVER seen a Portland Police Car with anyone pulled over along Highway 52 or Fowler Ford Road...(By the way people...the speed limit on Fowler Ford Road is 30MPH....got that...30MPH...again not a suggestion), I guess we the people are going to have to keep each other accountable because it surely doesn't look like the Portland Police are interested in enforcing our traffic laws....at least based on what I witnessed this week.

Anyway...this is just a small rant on my pet peeves....thanks for reading...and I feel much better.