Every night after work, I run through one of the neighborhoods near where Emily and I live. Now that we are busy planning a house, I've been very critical of items I've noticed on the outside of homes. Onto the list:

1. Electric lawn mower - I didn't even know these existed until last night. Watching this middle-aged woman trying to untangle the cord connected to her lawn mower while the blades were spinning forced me to run to the other side of the street. Seriously, who thought this was ever a good idea?
2. Flags - Let me be very specific: I'm talking about the flags that people strap to small L-shaped poles in their yards. The flags look more like place-mats than anything else.
3. Ceramic creatures - Okay, maybe one of them in your garden is cute. But when they dominate your front yard like a litter, you've got a problem. And the ones holding little lanterns lighting your way? Okay, I guess those are sort of cute, but come on!
4. Stars - Okay, EVERYONE: stop buying those annoying brass-ish color stars at your local Wal-Mart or Lowes. I'm sure you think they look rustic and neat, but everyone has one now. It has to end!
5. Angels - No angels are going up on the side of my house. Enough said.
   

Well, that's it for now, but I'm sure I'll find more things that are annoying soon enough.