# Things You Look Forward To That Always Disappoint
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [November 21, 2014, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298 "2014-11-21T22:58:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/21 "2014-11-22T14:32:49Z")
Four day weekends. I love three day weekends. That extra day gives me enough time to do everything I need/want to catch up on. But by the fourth day of no work, I start feeling unproductive and blah. I’m the type of person who needs structure and routine.
Pancakes. The first couple of bites are always delightful. But by the time I’m halfway through the first one, I’m kind of done.
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### Author:  [@CheshireKat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheshireKat)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/22 "2014-11-22T14:47:24Z")
Opening presents from anyone except my daughter. She’s the only one who “gets” me. Prince CD, black custom t-shirt with I HATE BANKS printed on it, or my favorite - a stuffed talking Mr. Bill doll that goes “Oh noooooo”. 😃
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### Author:  [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/23 "2014-11-22T14:54:25Z")
Birthdays
Christmas
The Circus.
Any ‘child-friendly’ traditional holiday play in NYC, especially a “you can smell the beer on everyone around you” matinee.
Some Concerts\*
* * *
\*OK, any concert where you spent 3 week’s pay to some agency just to get tickets too, felt Lucky that they took your money, where you were counting the days until it happened.
Then, you arrive! You stand in line to get frisked, prodded, merchandise-marketed, and security guard squinted at. Then you find your seat, where you find you can barely see the stage, find you’re next to people acting like jerks,
find you have nothing to do until the show starts but see what tacky crap people have texted up to The Jumbo-Tron.
Sure the songs are good, but somehow you fooled yourself into thinking that the artist might notice for even one word of one song… You. And that’s just never, ever, ever going to happen.
That’s when you remember Charlie Brown saying, “Why do I never learn…?”
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### Author:  [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/24 "2014-11-22T15:12:11Z")
> [@Penfeather](#):
>
> Baths. I always think that a long hot bath will be sheer bliss, that I will stretch out in hot soapy water, maybe with a book and slip into a sort of ecstatic trance that will only end when the water gets cold, but ten minutes in and I’m wrinkly, bored and clean and it’s time to hop out. I like the idea of a long hot luxurious bath just fine, but the reality invariably lets me down. What do you look forward to but are always disappointed by?
Yep. We remodeled the Kitchen, downstairs bath, dining room. I drew up the plans. All I could squeeze in though was a bit bigger tub (I moved walls for this). It’s deeper, and 6 inches longer. But well, not all that great (made it bigger too) Don’t get me wrong, the remodel looks great, my Mother says it looks like a picture from a magazine :). We love it. The kitchen works great!
But the soak in the tub. Eh.
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### Author:  [@leahcim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leahcim)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/25 "2014-11-22T16:09:37Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> Pizza Hut delivery.
I extend that to delivery pizza in general. When Spouse B is out I always think, “time for some cheezy, greasy delivery food! Yum!”, and then when it shows up it’s, “oh, some cheezy, greasy delivery food.”
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### Author:  [@Uncle\_Brother\_Walker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncle_Brother_Walker)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/26 "2014-11-22T16:17:10Z")
> [@Helena330](#):
>
> Christmas.
Amen, sister. Christmas always sucks. That’s why I no longer participate.
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### Author:  [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/27 "2014-11-22T20:08:33Z")
> [@leahcim](#):
>
> I extend that to delivery pizza in general. When Spouse B is out I always think, “time for some cheezy, greasy delivery food! Yum!”, and then when it shows up it’s, “oh, some cheezy, greasy delivery food.”
Barbecues are the same, mostly just a long run for a short slide. The idea of eating delicious hot smoky food\* al fresco\* is appealing, but the reality of balancing manky sausages and gristly meat on a paper plate palls pretty quickly. Mankind invented kitchens for a reason.
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### Author:  [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/28 "2014-11-22T20:16:02Z")
A day at the county (or state) fair! Loved it as a kid, was a highlight of the summer to spend the day on the midway, rides, food that’s so bad for you it should be illegal and all the other stuff. I go as an adult and end up walking around all day and getting a blister, deciding 1 or 2 things to eat because it’s all so damned expensive, the crowds, the sunburn (even after remembering sunscreen). I end up thinking, we spent $150 for the day for two of us for this?
I know we’ll still go next year.
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### Author:  [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/29 "2014-11-22T20:16:45Z")
Pondering this question the only thing I can think of that I really look forward to is prolonged alone time, like maybe 3 or 4 days. I often end not doing much with it.
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### Author:  [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/30 "2014-11-22T21:32:21Z")
Fruit Stripe gum
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### Author:  [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/31 "2014-11-22T22:18:18Z")
> [@Penfeather](#):
>
> Berr is one of those things where the formula was perfected centuries ago and any attempts to improve it by adding stuff only makes it worse. Every couple of years, presumably to try and tap into an imaginary female demographic who supposedly want beer _and_ fruity girl drinks, breweries here decide that adding citrus to beer will be a surefire summer hit, but it invariably tastes like cold washing up water with a lemon squeezed in.
Hi, I’m not sure if you can read this since I’m apparently imaginary. I like beer and fruity drinks, and I like 'em together. The success of the pairing depends on choosing the right style of beer for the fruit you’re using. If you go too dark or hoppy, you’ll overpower the fruit and make it taste muddy, but you still need enough _beer_ in your beer that the fruit doesn’t overpower it. I’ve never been willing to spend the money, time, or calories to try one of the flavored Bud Light variations, but I expect they’d taste exactly like what you’re describing. Abita’s Purple Haze, otoh, is delicious.
> [@salinqmind](#):
>
> Could be worse. I’ve seen “banana bread beer”. Pumpkin spice beer. Blueberry beer. Some is not that bad, really, but more of a novelty than anything else. I can’t blame the makers of beer for trying to keep up peoples interest in beer, always the same old same old.
Actually, most of the variations you’re seeing in beer aren’t some newfangled experiment but rather a revival of traditional styles that have fallen by the wayside. People have been putting fruit and anything else that would ferment into their beer since there was beer, and letting all kinds of wild bugs get in and create all kinds of crazy flavors. I don’t remember the name of the style, but last summer we brewed one that had no fruit whatsoever in it, but the end result had a bunch of esters and tasted strongly of banana bread. It was terrific.
And I can’t imagine what kind of beer you’re limiting yourself to that it’s the same old same old. I can get over a dozen styles of beers at the grocery store in my little podunk mountain town–if your beer diet is boring, it truly is your own fault.
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### Author:  [@justanothermike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justanothermike)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/32 "2014-11-22T22:21:37Z")
I’m with those of you that wrote about your days off. We left ourselves with two Fridays a month that are just half days with big dreams of taking off early and having fun and we usually just go home and crash. Pretty underwhelming. It seems like any extra time we get off above and beyond a basic weekend is just unproductive, though I guess crashing can be productive in its own way.
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### Author:  [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/33 "2014-11-22T22:21:51Z")
Wiener roasts. The idea always sounds like fun, but in practice it’s almost always hot and smoky and I end up with a hot dog that doesn’t taste any better than one that has been microwaved for 30 seconds.
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### Author:  [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/34 "2014-11-22T22:31:25Z")
Jambalaya. I learned years ago (and my wife is still learning) that even though it looks/sounds delicious in the restaurant menu description, it’s invariably disappointing when it arrives at your table.
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### Author:  [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)
#### Post date: [November 22, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/35 "2014-11-22T23:46:41Z")
The Saint John market had a deli with a fantastic jambalaya in the mid 90s. I loved that jambalaya. I still get excited whenever I see jambalaya on the menu, especially at little market delis. They always disappoint.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/36 "2014-11-23T00:03:31Z")
Beef jerky. There was one magical occasion when I got a bag of perfect jerky, and ever since I’ve been looking for another one that good and of course it never is, it’s never even close. Given the time and wherewithal I’d just make my own but the times I find myself wanting some are usually when I’m at the store staring at the bags.
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### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/37 "2014-11-23T02:24:35Z")
Attending live sporting events.
Fun when I was younger, but not so much anymore. When I go - which isn’t often - I find myself wondering how long it will last before I’m even settled into my seat.
mmm
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### Author:  [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/38 "2014-11-23T02:34:59Z")
McRib sandwiches. It sounds like a good idea, and I thought they tasted good at one time, but wow, the one I had yesterday was a sad experience.
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### Author:  [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/39 "2014-11-23T03:24:43Z")
Books I love made into movies; I just don’t go see any anymore.
My hedges after I trim them. No matter how I do it, no matter how much time I take, no matter how careful I am ---- I step back and think thank God this is a back yard.
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### Author:  [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)
#### Post date: [November 23, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-look-forward-to-that-always-disappoint/705298/40 "2014-11-23T03:38:00Z")
> [@justanothermike](#):
>
> I’m with those of you that wrote about your days off. We left ourselves with two Fridays a month that are just half days with big dreams of taking off early and having fun and we usually just go home and crash. Pretty underwhelming. It seems like any extra time we get off above and beyond a basic weekend is just unproductive, though I guess crashing can be productive in its own way.
I think of that commercial for ZzzQuil (Nyquil without acetaminophen that will kill you) where the kids go to Nana’s - for the whole weekend! - that’s how you will sleep! (and that stuff works GREAT.) Nothing wrong with crashing. Taking off early and having fun sounds like something you’re supposed to do, and yes its disappointing. Like blind dates, and driving to the casino, and school reunions are supposed to be fun, in theory.
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