One of my biggest pet-peeves in books and television and movies- lack of humdrum mundane life tasks!
In so many stories the characters don't have to deal with the normal human being annoyances. For example- when was the last time that you saw a character go grocery shopping (especially if they aren't a soccer mom- because apparently they are the only ones who have to buy food?).
Do you ever see characters getting gas, paying bills, doing yard work, washing their car, returning their library books, going to the gym, etc.
The problem for me is that it takes the entire validity of the story out of context. Granted, occasionally the characters are living in a situation which keeps them from having to do these mundane tasks. But, in my opinion most characters could be served by being more fleshed out by dealing with real tasks that everyone has to complete.
Granted, there are historical, fantasy and even psychological thrillers that do not take place within a context of "normal" life tasks, but wouldn't it be fascinating to have the story of a murder mystery in which the detective gets their electricity shut off because they are too busy working overtime to catch the killer? It gives characters dimension and more personality. Or a superhero who has to spend time at the laundromat in order to have clean costumes to wear... Not to mention the obnoxious on-set of a small illness- so annoying and yet real!
Can you imagine the psychotic break that a character could have when they realize they are out of gas at the pinnacle moment in the story, when the pressures of work, family, and a deranged neighbor pile up? There is such an opportunity for not only comedic genius, but also the physical limits of a person's ability to cope. There are so many times when we, as working members of a community, literally don't have time or mental acuity to deal with the day-to-day annoyances
