The Bathroom Wars

There's a bathroom war going on at my job. It's not an all-out declaration of war, but many of us are in on a subversive movement. It involves the ladies room and the cleaning schedule.

Now, don't get me wrong - I'm thrilled to work for a company that actually has full-time janitorial staff that clean things during the day. My problem however, is the times they decide to clean. There are two bathrooms on the first floor - one on the training side of the building - one on the other, and it requires the use of a security badge to cross from one side of the building to the other side.

Not only do we train at client's sites, but we do a lot of training at our facility. We have three training rooms and a good-sized auditorium for these events. Class schedules are the same for every trainer, no matter what software you're teaching. Class starts at 9:00, ends at 4:00. Morning break is 10:15-10:30, afternoon break is 2:15-2:30, lunch is 11:45-1:00. We may be a little off (a bit before of after), but for the most part, everyone sticks to the schedule.

And that's where the bathroom war comes in. Inevitably, at around 10:14, 2:14 and 12:50, the janitorial lady will block the bathroom door with her plastic "do not enter" sign so that she can clean the bathroom. So we're either on all of a 15 minute break or rushing in from lunch and she thinks we all need to cross the building to pee. Not only that, but apparently our clients are supposed to cross the building to pee also. Which is an interesting thought, since one, they don't even know where the bathroom is across the building and two, remember the security badge statement from above - they can't even get over there to look.

Which begs the question - is it intentional?

One would not like to think so, but c'mon, training revenue and staff are a huge part of the company's budget - hasn't someone else noticed this problem besides me? Not only that, can anyone tell me why the entire bathroom should be closed for her to restock toilet paper or swish a toilet? She can't do them all at one time so what's the big deal?

So the subversive part of the war is that all the employees started ignoring the sign. Yes, that's right, we push right past the plastic "do not enter," some of us even letting the door slam shut on it (perhaps in the hopes of permanently destroying it?). The cleaning lady always looks peaved, but I'm beyond caring. After all, she's not required to "go" on a schedule and even if she was, she spends enough time in the restroom to get away with a few extra trips.

ADDITIONAL INFO: I forgot until I arrived at work this morning - she also leaves the toilet seats up after cleaning???????

Next up may be a covert mission to clean out the refrigerator. Stay tuned.

Courtroom Drama

So I'll go ahead and admit it - I love those cheesy courtroom shows that run during the day. My favorite is Judge Mathis - he's sharp, funny and doesn't cut anyone any slack - ever! My husband records him during the day and we watch it at night. Judge Mathis' intro even says "the people are real, the cases are real....." And that's where the scary part comes in.

1. Why do people get cell phones for other people? Hello! You can get a prepaid phone if your credit is that bad. Why in the world do people think someone with credit so bad they can't get a cell phone is actually going to give them the money for the bill. At least 70% of the cases I see involve a cell phone bill as all or part of the settlement. Sometimes it's a cell phone for a family member or boyfriend/girlfriend. Sometimes it's for a co-worker and her son (huh?) All these people are adults, mind you.

2. In the cases of owing money, almost every single time someone was supposed to pay "when they got their tax refund." These people treat the IRS like Bank of America. Why the heck are you paying in all year to get money back? The IRS is investing your money in the meantime while you could have the money in your pocket paying off bills monthly and not creating Judge Mathis court cases for default.

But last night was the clincher. A guy sued his girlfriend for destruction of property because he was hoochying with women on stage in a club (he's in a band). The girlfriend took a knife to his guitar and admitted it. What the boyfriend failed to admit is that he dumped her clothes in the bathtub after the guitar incident and poured bleach on them. His argument was that he had paid for the clothes. The girlfriend said once he gave them to her they were a gift and therefore, hers. So the judge asks the guy if he bought the clothes for her. And he gave the most classic line I've ever heard by someone who knows they're losing and is still reaching. He said "She was given authority to wear them."

I almost fell off the couch. Like anyone's going to buy off on that one. The clothes are mine but she had permission to wear them. Pleeeeaaassseeee. Hell, he couldn't even say it without laughing. But you have to give him points for creativity.

Why Some Men Will Never Have It Good

So I don't know if everyone has heard the scuttlebutt about this silly politician in Texas. His stupidity has made it round a lot of writers loops, but I couldn't resist posting about the idiot. Now, I want to be upfront in saying - this is NOT about politics. I don't ever, EVER discuss politics except with very close friends and family. And I also want to say that I pretty much think all politicians are liars and thieves. Normally, I stay out of the fray entirely, but this time a politician attacked me personally because he called his opponent (a published romance author) a writer of porn.

Check out what the idiot has on his website.

Can someone please tell me why in the world this porn opinion still exists? I simply don't get it. And although I said it wasn't about party, I am a little suprised that this is coming from a Democrat. A devoutly religious Republican, I could have understood a little better, although both still would have been WRONG and STUPID.

So I guess Fred Head's opinion is that woman shouldn't enjoy sex because it's pornographic? Or maybe we just shouldn't talk or write about enjoying sex because it's pornographic?

Maybe the real problem is that women who've been with Fred have never enjoyed it therefore he doesn't want them to find out what they're missing.

And that my friends, is why some men will never, EVER have it good. Not from a woman, anyway.

Monday Movie Review

So I got a chance to see a movie - in an actual theater - this weekend. I don't make it very often anymore. Busy, busy, busy. And if you read my blog, you already know that I absolutely love horror movies. Even B horror. So I was happy that The Grudge 2 was releasing and my husband and I went to see it Saturday night.

Friday/Saturday night are the best times to see horror movies because all the high school kids go and it's fun to hear them scream. It's sorta like getting additional entertainment out of the movie. But in this case, the screams sooooooooooo did not make up for the crappiness of this movie.

Let's start with:

1. If you are going to hop around within location and time, do it right. If you're not sure how to do it right, watch Pulp Fiction and take notes.

2. If you are going to have multiple storylines going within the same film, do not have all your characters look alike. One sixteen year-old skinny girl with long brown hair looks like any other. I kept trying to figure out - now which one is this - is it the friend of the cheerleader or the geek that was tortured. Anyway, I simply don't want to think that hard at the movies.

3. Apparently, the screenwriters didn't want to think very hard either. The plot of this movie was non-existent. I've seen more plot and character arc from dirt.

4. In all movies - but especially in horror - at least one person needs to remain alive at the end. Otherwise, why would anyone give a s%$#??????

Do yourself a favor - save your money and rent something better - maybe an old Stephen King.