Nail-trimmers in public

Don't be fooled into thinking that the lengthy delay between posts meant there was no one worthy of sacrifice. Apologies to all...


There are few things that require urgent and immediate attention while in public. Most things can wait until a more appropriate time. The same is true for clipping your nails.


I know this seems like an obvious DON'T while in public. The fact that I must write about it is more than slightly disconcerting. But, the number of losers who insist on trimming their nails in public is staggering! On buses, in restaurants, on benches in the mall...there is no place safe from public nail-trimmers.


Many times I am sitting quietly, minding my own business when that oh-so-identifiable "clip" permeates my thoughts. After the first one, I start looking around to see if maybe (hopefully) my ears have betrayed me, and I didn't really just hear that disgusting noise. Yet in every instance, I have been "delighted" to find that my hearing is, indeed, OK. This momentary feeling of elation is quickly followed by immense disgust and paralyzing waves of nausea.


Who trims their nails in public?! I have a hard enough time clipping my own talons while balanced precariously on the edge of my bathtub, trying to ensure the clippings land in the toilet. God forbid, a wayward nail-clipping misses its mark.

So, imagine my displeasure when I was trapped sitting beside a woman who thought the appropriate time to clip her nails was during our morning commute dans l'autobus. What if a nasty-ass clipping landed on me...pinged me in the face...got stuck in my hair?! The horror!!! And as is the usual during a typical Ottawa commute, the bus was full to capacity, standing-room only - I had nowhere to go!

Even though I find trimming one's nails to be one of THE most repulsive acts of personal grooming, I was unable to say anything to the trimming offender. Seriously?! You must do this here? Now? On the bus?!


With every horrific "clip", I grew more and more agitated. My cringes became obvious and noticeable to those around me - except for the nail-trimmer. She was much to focused on the task at hand. I found my self praying that we hit a massive pothole causing this social moron to clip the tip of her finger off. I shot a progressively more annoyed/disgusted/horrified/pissed off/insert-adjective-here glare in her direction in response to each nail modification. Then, came the nail file. I thought I would faint.

In short: Would you shave in public? No. Would you brush your teeth in public? No. But nail-trimming is A-OK. Je m'excuse. Don't be a social moron. Save the personal grooming for behind closed doors, or you will be sacrificed first!