We had a great time at the NC State Fair. It was everything a fair is supposed to be. We looked at the exhibits, admired the animals, rode the rides, saw an awesome fireworks display, and ignored the food while munching pears and apples brought from home. There are many things I could write about like the woman with the body of a snake, or the parking attendants chanting "Obama, Obama" as we tried to navigate back to the main road. However I will limit myself to the topic of public restrooms.
A relatively new feature to the state fair is the presence of bathroom attendants. It was a little weird at first having someone show you to your stall, but considering how the restrooms used to be, I got over it. Let's go back in time. Going to the bathroom at the state fair was an adventure in disgusting. The floor was always wet. With what, I did not want to know though I had a good idea. The potties were N.A.S.T.Y. I wouldn't want my dog near the thing, never mind my backside, so the hover technique was definitely in order. Of course there was no toilet paper, soap, or paper towels. And there was this smell...I would rather go behind a bush.
My how things have changed. When you walk in, you are greeted by a nice lady who announces "Pick any stall, there's a clean toilet behind it." She was right. The bathroom was clean and smelled faintly of the original Lysol. Need sanitary supplies? She had them. Need some baby wipes? She had you covered. Want a refreshing mint? She had that too. There was also the ever present tip jar. Tipping to use the bathroom just seems wrong to me. My tax dollars help pay for the bathroom. I shouldn't have to pay extra to use it. It adds up quick when you have the microbladdered Wild Thing and Sweetie to deal with. I didn't tip each time. Sorry.
There was on attendant who took the prize. All of the bathrooms were pleasantly decorated with fall decor, but this particular bathroom included poetry. Poetry that would speak to the heart of 11 year old boys. We were in "The Best Urination Station in the Nation" which is "The Place to Be When You Gotta Pee". Each stall was numbered with its own little rhyme: Have some fun in Stall 1, Use stall 2 if you need to poo, You'll feel alive when you use Stall 5. Then on the back of the door was a reminder to "Be Sweet and Wipe the Seat...Don't Rush, Remember to Flush." I couldn't help but laugh.
I asked the Historian about the men's restrooms. He said there was no interaction, but the attendants clearly expected tips.
ugh! What is it about tips? I also don't want to tip the coffee girl that I just paid $4 for a coffee for, doesn't her pay already come out of my coffee?
ReplyDeleteHere's my tip, "Wash your hands before you leave". How's that? LOL! We just went to the Creation Museum, which we LOVED! Their bathrooms are very clean and well-stocked, but no attendants. I don't think I would like an attendant in a bathroom. That's just weird.
ReplyDeleteI have been in several bathrooms where they expect tips. It's always the times I don't have my purse with me too! I just get glared at and leave in a hurry.
ReplyDeletePam
That is too funny! I guess to be a bathroom attendant, you do need a little bit of a sense of humor. And no fried twinkie? awwww!
ReplyDeleteHi there, fellow chemist (I actually have a degree here somewhere),
ReplyDeleteMaybe bathroom attendants are catching on in the USA. Wouldn't surprise me, with all the influx of population from over the border. In the border town that we visit for super cheap prescription drugs, there is a urination station attendant there, too. There is no poetry, but there is a sign that says, "Please don't flush toilet tissue. Use the trash can." *shudder* A little bar soap, but no paper towels... And yes, a tip basket for the attendant. I wonder what they are attending? I guess it's job creation. ??
Loved your funny story about the B-I-B-L-E. hee hee!
Found you through the Blogger of the Week post. Congratulations!