We all have strong opinions on one thing or another – the issues that get your goat. There are plenty to go around, right? I don’t think I need to list any. You know yours. I know mine. We probably share quite a few, too. Some immediately raise our hackles. Others only ruffle our feathers or may get our undies in a twist. Then there are the issues that simmer on the back burner for ages and suddenly boil over in a burst of outrage, solidarity, and action. The ones that demand change. The ones that have been a long time coming like #BLM, #refusetoride, or #metoo.

What’s got my goat today though, is more of a peeve –

a pet peeve – a recurring little annoyance like a dog that barks and moans everyday at 4 pm begging to be fed.  It’s the nuisance that butts about in the sea of grey matter, pokes at the edge of the conscious mind, and tickles the throat until it is shared.

For me, a peeve is a small thing in the greater scheme. It might even be considered a petty thing. But it irritates, irks, galls, and vexes –  like when someone begins a sentence with and or but, writes sentences without a verb or subject, or uses a string of synonyms to emphasize the word annoyance. 

Usually, I can ignore them. The peeves. Keep them locked up in a pen. Look the other way when they get restless. No problem. This works for a time. But only until one sparks a spike in blood pressure, escapes, and becomes the straw that can take down a camel…

That kind of peeve,
the one that got my goat today
is
the ONE STAR review
for a book
not because of its content,  
but because it arrived DAMAGED !!  

Case in point: “The content […] was magical and adorable, but the condition it was delivered in is unacceptable. The dust jacket is mangled. It is ripped in several places, folded all over, and scratched. Also, both the top and bottom of the book spine are badly crushed in and torn up. I’m disappointed not with [the author’s] writing skills […], but with the frustratingly deplorable way it was delivered to me.”

So you give it ONE star? Really?
Sometimes Excrement Happens.
Get over it. Be an adult. SEND IT BACK. Request a new one.
Why would you take your disappointment out on the author? 

AND while I’m on my soapbox…
WordPress!

What’s wrong with you? Why would you rework, renovate, redo, re-I-don’t-know-what-to-call-what you’ve done to the user experience of your platform. Block Editor??? This user is NOT happy. Whatever you do, promise me you will never get rid of the option of returning to the Classic setting. I’m even willing to be forced to click a few times to get there…at least for now…while it’s only a peeve.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to step down from my soapbox and stop feeding the goat.

Thank you for stopping by today. 
Please do share a pet peeve or two of yours in the comments. 
And until next time,
❤ Be safe, healthy, and well ❤

Update 2.9.21 and then there’s this for the 2021 NEWBERY AWARD winner! Sheesh!

1.0 out of 5 stars Gold Newbery Medal seal MISSING on jacket.

Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2021

I have every Newbery Medal Book from 1922-2019. I am a retired school teacher, and I collect these books. I knew this novel had won the award and I was waiting to purchase this book until the GOLD SEAL was on the jacket. I am not able to return the book. I am very disappointed with the misleading photo of the novel.