So...
Out at the Mill, they're giving what they call "Saftey Blitzes". Basically, they herd us in to the conference room at the training center, and in one day, "Blitz" us with every saftey topic they can think of, and they feel they've done their part.
This isn't about US Steel's lousy safety record, so that's all I'll say about that.
So anyway, it's Nine A.M. and we've sat through two hours of the Blitz, with coffee and donuts flowing like we're in the Pressbox at the Superbowl. Time for a "10 minute" break. Good, cause I gotta go to the bathroom. Coffee hits me right in the lower intestine...not to be gross, I apologize but we're all adults here and I think we can all handle it. So, I'm trying to tell you that I gotta go to the bathroom and I don't mean the stand up section of the Men's Room, I mean the little sit down cubicle in the Men's Room with the two roll revolving TP set.
I pass a few mill buddies along the way..."How you doing", "This meeting sucks", etc...all the while making my way through the crowd to the destination, but when I open the door, the Big Boy's Room is full. All urinals occupied and all little cubicle doors shut...shoes and pants around the ankles visible.
What to do?
The weather's decent, so I walk gingerly outside to hang around with the smokers for a spell until things get less hectic in the Bathroom. I give it about 10 minutes, and head back in...hoping against all hope that this time they'll be at least one cubicle available.
What do you know...I open the door and the room is EMPTY already. Only one stall at the end, the Handicap stall is being used. Great.
Shut the little cubicle door, grab a seat cover out of the dispenser...life is getting better by the second.
I won't go into details on the next part of the experience, except for a couple things. I usually do courtesy flushes...the person in that cubicle next to me isn't, but the air isn't bad at all so we're cool. Also, when it's all done, I'm whipping paper off the roll...spinning the thing like I'm on "Price Is Right", and the weird thing is, the person next to me is very gingerly pulling paper off. I can tell because it's making barely any noise, almost like they don't want anyone to know they use TP. Whatever. To each his own.
I feel better. Open the cubicle door, walk over to the sink, flip the water lever up, punch the soap button and get to scrubbing. Whoever's in the far stall hasn't come out yet.
Standing there though, a strange feeling is coming over me, like somethings not right, somethings missing. "Hey", I think, "when did they remove the urinals from this Bathroom?" My heart literally stops, I feel my entire body tense up....
OH MY GOD! I'M IN THE WOMENS BATHROOM!"
Soapy hands and all I go flying out...I do NOT want to know who's in that far stall.
Somehow, the first trip, I had opened the correct door, the second door on the right...but on the second trip, I just went in the first door I came to, the Womens Room.
Whew. I'm still trying to recover.
But I don't know if I ever will.
I made a lot of friends that day though. A few fellow Mill Rats witnessed that door fly open during my mad dash out of that room, and by the end of the day word has spread, not only at the Training Center but pretty well plant wide.
So anyway, that's a true story, it just happened.
I'm speechless most of the time I log on.
So many things going on here that tear at your heart. Man, everyone is so cool and friendly and lovely, and all the while many are going through Hell everyday.
I never want to jump in on a serious thread if I have nothing to add. You know just for the sake of jumping in. Not that there's anything wrong with just letting people know you're here and thinking about them. And I hope people know that.
I'm just amazed, when I browse through, at the great advice, the knowledge, the willingness some have to take on someone elses problem to research it and make it their own, the compassion, the willingness to share and the greatest thing of all. according to a man named Paul, the genuine Love extended around to all who need it. It's awesome.
So to everyone...great to know you.
Randy
As for the rest, I know where your heart is. You may not jump in on certain threads but I know you are there. Thanks, partner!
