There are a lot of things that grind my gears – my kids’ whining, my old house, crabgrass…the list is endless.

But there are some things I tend to ruminate on more than others. Here, dear reader, is a small snippet from my long list.

• Bathroom doors

Contractors take note: When building a bathroom at a gas station, restaurant or anywhere the public uses the John, make sure the door opens out when exiting the facilities.

Nothing makes my skin crawl more than when I’m at a truck stop washing my hands after doing my business, and then noticing I have to pull a handle when I leave the bathroom. If there are paper towels, it’s no big deal, but I’m completely screwed if it’s a blower-only establishment.

Just switch the hinges around and let me use my shoulder to push that nasty door open!

During the pandemic, I’ve noticed more places with little metal attachments on the bottom of the door that you can use to pull it open with the toe of your shoe. That’s good enough for me.

• Maid-Rites

I’ve always lamented that this is one of Iowa’s “iconic foods.”

This sandwich makes absolutely no sense. Why would you plop a bunch of ground beef in between a bun and try to get that into your mouth? The only thing you end up with is plate full of well-done hamburger and two pieces of bread.

These things don’t necessarily taste bad; they are simply a horrible idea. It’s essentially a beef and bread salad once you’re finished. You shouldn’t need a spoon to eat a sandwich.

• Four-way stops

I was taught in driver’s ed that the vehicle to stop first at a four-way intersection goes first. Apparently, I was the only one.

I can’t count how many times I and another driver have been in a two-way standoff at an intersection when they were the one who got there before me. I come to a stop, and since I’m following the rules, wait for them to go. Yet, they just stare. Then they keep staring. And then there’s more staring before they waive me through.

Is this some twisted version of “Iowa Nice”? If so, it should be abandoned and replaced with common sense.

Just go! You were there first!

(Side note: People who drive slowly in the passing lane should have their driver’s license revoked. I’m looking at you, Minnesota motorists.)

• Election stuff

The presidential election happened 10 months ago. We know whom you voted for; you’ve made your point. You can take your flags and yard signs down – we get it.

• The teens’ clothing choices

In July, I saw a teenager wearing pants and a stocking cap at Summer Celebration. It was over 80 degrees and pretty humid.

Last February, I saw another teen wearing shorts and a long sleeve T-shirt. It was frigid and windy.

Call me old fashioned, but I wear a coat and pants when it’s cold and also dress appropriately when it is hot out. What do I know, though? They say you shouldn’t trust anyone over 30 and I’m nine months in to my third decade.

As the father of two young children, I am still very much in control of what my kids wear every day. That will change, but if they ever try to walk out of the house in the dead of winter with shorts on they have another thing coming.

Put a coat on! You’ll catch a cold!

• Toilet paper math

I was horrible at math in high school and only had to take one “math” class in college. Suffice it to say, I’m no rocket scientist.

However, I feel like I should be every time I buy toilet paper. The numbers on the packaging make no sense at all – 12 rolls equal 48 rolls on one package, then farther down the aisle another package says eight rolls also equal 48 rolls. Pure insanity.

I usually end up picking up a package, staring at it, putting it back down and repeating the cycle four more times. I can never remember what brand we use and at least twice have walked out of the store with perfumed toilet paper.

I actually enjoyed buying toilet paper during the beginning of the pandemic because you just had to grab what was there and run. I get anxiety in that aisle now. It shouldn’t be this hard.

• My procrastination

Every week is typically Groundhog’s Day for me. I do my interviews for my articles, collect other information and then twiddle my thumbs until it’s crunch time. I’m horrible.

This is the way I work, though. Unfortunately, I feel like I write best when the clock is down to the wire. I wish I could bottle my productivity every Tuesday and Wednesday before deadline, but I can never seem to carry it over to Thursday and Friday.

The past two weeks have been different. With the wedding and honeymoon bearing down on me, I was forced to work ahead so everything was done for when I was gone. I’ve been so stressed about it that one night I woke up at midnight and worked until 4 a.m. because I couldn’t fall asleep.

The only thing that matters is that the job gets done, but I really do need to improve my ways. Maybe next week.

Nick Pedley is the news editor of The Hartley Sentinel-The Everly/Royal News.