I don't write much about my job as a substitute teacher. I love the kids, the school, the other faculty, and the administration and I never want to risk losing my job. Plus, I do have a sense of protecting people's privacy.
So, you can imagine my surprise when I dashed into the faculty bathroom Friday during my two minute window of opportunity, only to hear someone in the only other stall in the room talking on her cell phone. And not a "Honey, I'm calling you because I'm being held captive and may not live to see you again", or "Dear, I just found out we won the Publisher's Clearance House sweepstakes". No. This conversation was more like, "Well. (Pause) I think we should do that. (Pause) Betty said Hank did. (Pause) Huh. (Long pause)." And she was multi-tasking. She wasn't just in that stall talking - if you know what I mean.
Well, at first I was taken aback. I almost didn't even go in the other stall. But again. Two minute window of opportunity. Full bladder. Room full of sixth graders. Decisions...decisions.
I thought, "Her problem." And I did what I came to do. What I thought everyone went in there to do. And I flushed, washed my hands, and got the heck out of there.
I didn't recognize the voice and decided not to wait to see who my stall-mate was. I didn't want to have to face her in the faculty lunchroom later.
I am all for multi-tasking and being as efficient as possible. But couldn't we declare the bathroom to be a one task at a time zone?
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43 comments:
Very well said!
Some places are off limits! What did Al Bundy use to say??
Quiet oasis from woman and camels???
Something like that.
Michelle :)
I'd vote for that. Have you ever been on the phone with someone and hear flushing from their end? (Ooo, promise, no pun intended.)
Hehehee....oh, good heavens. How AWKWARD!
Hmm...Im going to plead the fifth and say that , yes, public restrooms should be No Cell Phone zones. ;-)
Women who make drastic decisions while cooped up at home with a toddler...I will not hold them responsible for their actions for at LEAST four more years. ;-)
I agree. Talking while you're "taking care of business" is a no-no unless it's an emergency. I would hate to have been the person she was talking to. Gross!
When I read your title, my mind went right to the stalls where horses live.....having the brain of the little farmgirl that I used to be. I wondered what possibly happened in the stall 'out there'. However....I have been in those other stalls when phones ring and people start yakkin' away in there so I know what you're sayin'. And some of those conversations you hear. Hmmmmmmm. Another area that should be off limits to cell phones as aunt lolo said.
eewwww.
Yes, I agree with you, too! I have an office that sits directly across from the lady's restroom. I hear people all the time going in there and talking on their cell phone.
It's amazing what all I hear, minding my own business siting in my office. I've even heard grunting coming from the bathroom and the pages turning of a magazine. I'm like, "Come on, people - YOU ARE AT WORK!!!" LOL
I need a new office.
Ugh, that's one of my biggest pet peeves. I used to work for a woman who would routinely talk to CLIENTS while she was in the bathroom.
The winner, though, was a couple of weeks ago I heard a girl in the next stall say to someone on her phone "I'm about to send you a picture, so open it when you get it." WHA? Ewww. It became clear from other things she said that she wasn't sending anything, um, private, but I was really freaked and grossed out for a minute there.
Well, I have to confess to this sin one time in my life. It was the day I met Dave Barry, but that's a long story. I simply had to call my friend and tell her that he was in the bathroom right next to the one I was in. But I also had a small window of opportunity, so the show had to go on, so to speak.
YOuhave no idea how much business gets done on the phone, in the bathroom, by my husband! I agree with you, however!
(hand raised)
Guilty!
But at least I cover the speaker when I flush. :)
In my defense, I have a preschooler. Sometimes the potty is the only place I can gather my thoughts.
And what exactly did Hank do...? The mind wanders with the questions.
I'm with you on this one! Who does that?! I certainly don't. I could never, but I know some people do. Weird!
I'm with ms parks. eewwwwwwwwwwww
I've only done that in an emergency. Phone + bathroom = no-no!
I don't think I could 'go' if I was on the phone - what if the person on the other end of the line could hear!? Urgh, no thank you.
Eeewwwww!!!!
Ok I'll fess up it was me
I love all of your stories! And you're right, her problem not yours.
That's too funny! That is taking multi-tasking to a whole new level! Like you said, two minute window of opportunity. Use it wisely! LOL!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Pa lease! I pee and talk on the phone ALL the time! (Did I just say that out loud?)
It amazes me what people will say on their cell phones in public places. Do they think they're in some kind of sound proof bubble or something? Cell phones are EVERYWHERE now and I find it super annoying. Can they not TURN IT OFF for a minute?!
Re: the bottle on top of the car indicates it's for sale. Yes, people carry around a bottle of water and wherever they're parked throughout the day, the pop that bottle on top so folks know it's for sale. Usually there's a sign in the car window with a phone number, but that particular car didn't have any info at all.
My husband would go into 'the male library' at our old office complex and several times there was another man making business calls from the adjoining stall. We all know what men are doing in a stall - my husband would be as loud and flatulent as he could which I just LOVE him for. The only business that should be going on in men's stalls is #2!
Oh, my.
That's bad enough in the privacy of your own home, but a public bathroom? C'mon, people. Have some decency!
Personally I can pee, phone talk and work on my tap dance steps all at the same time!
The br is my personal bloggy place. I'd hate to need it for the phone, too.
As it's my way to be contrary, I'm going to take the other side for a moment... suppose she is a mom who has just re-entered the workforce and has not peed in private for like 14 years. She might have just been LONELY!
My husband's old boss drowned his cell phone from multi-tasking...
I do it all of the time at home, but no one ever hears me. I wouldn't if they knew (and yes, I've asked some of my closest friends if they can hear me and they say no). For the record, I can't hear them, either. Maybe we're on the phone too long....
I've only done that when I was on the phone with my mother. And she wouldn't let me get off. And I really had to pee. And she just kept talking and talking and talking. She was so busy talking that she wouldn't have heard anything, anyway. And if she did, maybe she would have gotten the point that I needed to GO!
Like you, I would have gotten out of there as quickly as possible!
Hugs,
Debbie
I am SO with you on this! I'm a privacy freak tho. I have never even used the bathroom with my hubby in there with me.
Eek! My thought isn't just "why isn't she the least bit self-conscious about the noise from her other tasks", but also, "I don't want MY STUFF transmitting through those cell towers either, lady!" Plus, even if she does wash her hands afterwards, I wouldn't ask to borrow her phone any time soon.
I think every teen I know has dropped a phone in the toilet. Why? Because they don't do anything without their phones. I actually had to tell my boys to stop taking MY LAPTOP into the men's room (powder room to you girl mommies.) Now why would I have to make a statement like that?
I would never talk on my cell in a public restroom. Eww. But when I'm catching up with my sister at home after my morning coffee... it's been known to happen.
Ugh :-P
Though I will 'fess up that I've done it at home, for the same reason as Debra W- MIL was going on & on, & the potty dance wasn't cutting it any longer- but I did cover the speaker :-S
OMG, first time at your blog, you are frickin hilarius! LOL.
I can't 'drop the kids off at the pool' while I'm not at home...let alone talk on the phone while pushing. Multitasking at it's finest. ICK!
Love this blog!
No, sorry- you are crazy; it's been the same banner for about 6 months (though if someone would like to give me a makeover...)
That's a bit oogie.
I don't want to hear the "regular" noises let alone someone chatting about their personal lives on top of that.
But I guess....whatever floats your boat.
How funny. I have this on my list to talk about. DRIVES ME NUTS. I don't want to hear anyones personal business while they are doing..well, their personal business. Gross!!!
Is this a bad time to tell you that I'm sitting on the john with my laptop topping my lap?
Or to ask you if you can spare a square?
I dropped my keys in a toilet one time. Not sure why I felt compelled to tell you that. It's just that I was trying to multitask at the time and I found out at that very second....I suck at multitasking in a washroom.
That's just silly. I do have friends that I KNOW would do this. the type that are so overwhelmed and caught up in the juggle of life that they feel poo and phone go hand and hand when push comes to shove.
We all need to SLOOOW down, holy cow.
That is just craziness! Really? She wasn't just sitting in there to sneak a personal phonecall? She was really "multi-tasking?" I don't if that's more gross or crazy!
I totally agree with you...I've had that happen to me many times! I wonder if the person on the other side of the phone can 'hear' what's going on on the other side of the phone...ewwwww....When I know someone is talking on the phone...hehehe..I purposely try to make as much 'noise' as I can...hahaha...I'm bad..I know..but they have it coming!!
Oh really.
Bathroom noises should be no where NEAR a phone!
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