She stands there while the cashier rings up and bags all of her items, and only after the total is announced to her does she think to start looking for her wallet.

this happens in every kind of line. I've had people stand in a movie line for ten minutes with a giant marquee above the box office and then ask the cashier what's playing. After that they go to the snack bar line and wait until they get to the register to decide what they want.

One thing I appreciate calling Southerners for is your primo phone etiquette. Around here, this is a skill very much in decline. Little stupid things like "I'm sorry, you've got the wrong number," Which I thought everyone learned in the fourth grade, but alas. I got better results when I stopped going with my natural inclination to say "Hi, is FirstName there?" in favor of asking for Ms. LastName. I didn't mean to be rude, but it came off that way.

This simply affects the efficiency of my support. It doesn't make them better or worse, it just means my support call takes longer than it might otherwise have.

Or maybe they'd have to call again because they didn't understand you so one slightly longer call rather than two shorter ones.

(My Texas Grandfather CONSTANTLY told me to slow down when I was talking so he could understand me. I still talk to fast sometimes.)

In re the escalators, what REALLY bothers me are (1) when a group takes the escalator and then stops at the top/bottom to count noses, check on where to go next, and blocks everyone else from getting off and (2) the people who seem never to have seen an escalator before and stand at the bottom/top holding the moving handrail and trying to get their feet coordinated.

And, even though I'll bitch about the tourists, I will sometimes (mood and time allowing) stop and help them find their way around.

so, do you have any pets?

Answer "no. I ATE them."

I got better results when I stopped going with my natural inclination to say "Hi, is FirstName there?" in favor of asking for Ms. LastName. I didn't mean to be rude, but it came off that way.

I wonder if this will cease to be a problem when we all give up landlines for cells.

Around here, I talk fast. But not like people from the East Coast.

ever since I found out that cashiers aren't allowed to say anything if the customer has over 10 items, I will always speak up, loudly and sweetly "You must have not realized that you are in the express lane, you have WAY more than 10 items. Here, let me move back so that you can get out. Do you need help getting it back into the cart?

Just the other day when I was in one line at the market with like 17 items in my cart, the line manager dude was like, "Miss? You can get on line 1." "No - I have more than 15 items." "It's ok, I promise. I'm in charge." "Well, if someone yells at me, I'm totally pointing you out."

Vortex and I could totally go through an airport security line together.

It's a value judgment I'm uncomfortable with.

My experiences in the south is that people are a lot friendlier, likely to talk to you and not obviously in huge hurry. Hell, people in Portland are too. I don't think it's a negative thing. I don't even think it's a judgment. It's just a different environment. Works for some, doesn't work for others.

when a group takes the escalator and then stops at the top/bottom to count noses, check on where to go next, and blocks everyone else from getting off

That's just an ignorance of physics. The escalator is MOVING. I have to go SOMEWHERE. If you don't move your ass, I will run into you. I have no choice.

On occasion I'll wait longer rather than get in an express line with a full cart (unless, as often happens, it's the only line open). Mostly because I always seem to have someone behind me who points out that it's the express line and I have too much.