I try to think of myself as an understanding and patient person... but how can I be when the 15-minute drive home is made into a trek that involves at least three buses and more than an hour to get to Halifax from Dartmouth? 311 is as useless as me asking my house cat when is the bus going to show up, and even the drivers at this point seem to  be done with answering questions or being helpful at all when it comes to navigating the lack of a real shuttle schedule. —I Need To Grow My Own Pair of Wings

Purchasing my meal at a checkout one day at the store where I work, and while scanning the item, I am snarled at by a crusty old bastard who barks "Do you work here?"  I say, "Yes, I'm just going on my meal break.  Did you need help?" He yells that he's on the verge of leaving his stuff and that our customer service sucks. Why isn't there an express lane open? (There are three empty self-serves available within four feet of us).  Also, three full-serve cashiers available.  The guy was loud, irascible and abusive.  And despite seeing at least four other employees who were NOT busy, he chose to growl at me. I did help you with your purchases before I went for my meal (at 8pm) and didn't treat you disrespectfully at all.  You didn't even thank me. What I couldn't say at the time, and choose to now is: You fucking asshole. You don't get good customer service because you're NOT a good customer. Next time, do us all a favour, DO put your items down on whatever surface you see fit (I would prefer you put them up your anus) and don't shop here. Life's too short for that bullying crap. —Just Being A Whiner

The recent news of a certain department store chain being the corporate cock that it is, tossing hard working employees out whilst paying the CEO greed millions doesn't surprise me one bit. Our society is overrun with money hunger and slimy suit dummies. But what I do see that I love, is the overwhelming support to boycott the liquidation sales…I know, I know this could hurt the employees more at the moment, but what it is really saying is that we, the people, the little people working hard for a few dollars to get by…have a power against the big faceless powers! Even in a small way recently, a Halifax tea shop used Twitter to resuscitate business. The masses who are disgusted by mega dollar greedy businesses can connect online all over the globe and strike back…the power of the word is still ours. It's just catching up to the new format. —One of the Last True Hippies

Why is it so difficult for me to navigate to the Love the Way We Love page online? I have tried on my cellphone as well as laptop and I'm constantly redirected either to the submissions page or to the Bitch page. I've long gotten the sense that The Coast prefers to sanctify a Fuck You sentiment over an air of optimism, but this is ridiculous. It's so frustrating to have to test all of these links and redirections! Let me read about kind bus drivers and long lost romances and puppies! —Bitching for Accessible Loving

Stay-at-home moms, listen up...You are putting yourself in a very bad position as I did. I stayed home to look after my kids I thought that was a privilege until I had to go through the family court to get some support. I have spent all of my savings paying lawyers to try and get support to no avail. My husband worked for his family who cooked the books and said he wasn't working. The judge suspended my support with no proof and left me to pay for everything. I have no job and have to sell my house while the dead beat got away scot free!

The lawyers will take your money until you can't feed your kids because that's what they are trained to do. The Barristers’ Society will not take complaints against lawyers especially if they have volunteered for them. The judges scream and holler if you try to self represent and will go against you simply because they want you to spend your money on lawyers because they were once lawyers. Go to work ladies and be self sufficient because the men in this province are not required by law to support their kids. Family court is a business! —Do not waste your money on Family Court or lawyers in this city!

I know everything you did. I know you had feelings for him before your marriage ended. I know how fast you got with him after you ended us and his wife died. I know why you blocked me and cut all communication and ties so quickly, so I couldn't see what you were doing and couldn't say anything once I knew. I know why you wouldn't acknowledge me anymore, because of the guilt you'd feel knowing you did what you did.

What I never saw was it coming. I never would have believed that you were capable of behaving in such a cold, calculating manner towards not only me but the kids. I believed that you loved me, that you needed time for yourself to heal, that you didn't want another relationship or to be with anyone else. I believed in you and I was wrong. I wonder if your dreams talk to you about what you did... Do you look in the mirror and not like what's looking back at you? Out of all the choices you could have made, you chose the most destructive for everyone involved...You burned bridges and you never looked back. But your choices have put you on a dead end with destiny and having to face your feelings and actions that have caused so much pain. You've acted selfishly and hurt people that were very close to you that loved you. I'm beyond disappointed in you and the kids and I deserved much better. Shame on you...You've betrayed yourself and everything you ever said to me and yourself for everything you said you were going to do for you. —Disappointed

So WTF is with the city building inspector in Eastern Passage who blasts her music, pours grass clipping over the fence ,dumps her pool water in neighbours yards, has a wood burning pool heater (burning more than wood), smoking out neighbours with open windows, has a temporary shed for over two years, has an illegal building jutting out past her house, has a basketball net on a power pole, uses power tools all hours of the day doing under the table work while off work? And then tells a friendly neighbour she doesn't care about the neighbours and he can call the city because she is not breaking any laws...I guess rules and laws only apply to non city workers. —Karma is coming

So, I find myself getting into conversations with people about the "necessity" or the "need" to tip every single person that offers a service.  Myself, I tip based on service, not on looks or routine. When I go to a restaurant, I look for two things: 1) the service from the server and 2) the quality of the food. That's it.  If the food sucks or the service is bad, I am not obligated to tip, which usually leaves a sour look on the servers face.  Yes, I know, servers are very hard working and tips do help them out a lot with the bad wages they probably receive, but I work hard too and if you make me feel like I am unwanted in your restaurant, then why should I give you a reward. It's not because I am “cheap,” it’s because I have an old-school expectation that when I go out and spend a good amount of money on food at a restaurant, I kind of expect good service.

Also, it seems like every place you use a debit machine, it asks for a tip.  Most of these places you have to pay before you even receive your items so how am I supposed to tip based on quality if I haven't even tried your food. Maybe some one should tip me for using self-service gas…

I am not bad mouthing the service industry, I am just annoyed with the fact that I am expected to tip for nothing nowadays just because it "socially expected.” —I guess I'm cheap

The intersection of Argyle Street and Sackville Street is a fucking disaster. The sidewalks are closed on both sides because of both the behind-schedule convention centre and the Argyle Streetscape project. They still managed to leave a lane for vehicle traffic though! I guess in downtown Halifax, where we have more pedestrian traffic than vehicle traffic, walkers are still expected to take the backseat.

I feel horrible for anyone who has mobility issues, it's pretty clear that Halifax doesn't give a shit about anyone who chooses to walk instead of drive their personal two-tonne metal box around. God damn. —And to think that we'll even get bike lanes

So I put three pieces of plywood in my garbage. I checked the dimensions and they are way smaller than the size (four feet) or weight limit (75 lbs)... seems like a simple enough task to just put it in the truck. But noooo. I get a fail sticker. Seems they will take five heavy bundles, but not three lighter pieces.  Call the lady at 311 and she suggests putting them in a plastic bag. Great work, guys. —Can't they just pick up the friggin’ garbage