Annoyance Index No. 4

People saying it’s their “birthday week”
Northbound 4B bus always running late
Someone listing all their favorite podcasts as a pretense for conversation
MFA-Writing Grants-Writing Magazines-Industrial Complex
Me not coming up with a catchy name for above like Ike did with Military-Industrial Complex

Annoyance Index No. 3

Cars stopping in middle of crosswalks
Mindfulness
Using “Nordic” and “Scandinavian” interchangeably
Lack of Thin Lizzy LPs in my collection
Skip preview > Skip listen to podcast about this episode > Skip recap > Skip intro

Annoyance Index No. 2

The Academy Awards
Stating that the Miracle on Ice game was a semifinal
Unshoveled sidewalks (hello Minneapolis 311)
Person next to you on the treadmill who obviously smoked a half pack before coming to gym
Person next to you on the stationary bike who reeks of patchouli (or is that perfume okay boomer)

The list essay is a great way to get into the personal essay. Of course, sometimes the essay just doesn’t materialize. So you take what the muse will give you and just stick with the list. 

Annoyance Index No. 1

Emotional intelligence
Quickbooks Online
Kevin Hart
“Is this the Vikings Super Bowl blueprint?”
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame