The bathroom saga continues

Sorry I haven't gotten back to the horsey stuff.  I promise, I will have horse related content next week.  Both judging and a lesson!

Unfortunately, my life has been taken over by other things.  On top of reports needing to be given to the auditors, I had the whole tooth thing to deal with.  It turned out they couldn't do a crown on what was left of my tooth, so I had to have it pulled and a bone graft put in, so they can put in an implant in 4 months.  Yes, I did that at lunchtime on Wednesday and was back at work for the rest of the day.  Why? Because I'm an equestrian and we do not let things like tooth pain keep us down for long!  We are bad-ass!

On another note WTF IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!

To reiterate the story from where it began, we started having toilet issues at work a few weeks ago.  The bathrooms would be out for half the day and up again that evening.  Then a week later it would happen again.  Then three days later, etc.  We started getting emails from our building maintenance people "DO NOT PUT PAPER TOWELS DOWN THE TOILETS!"  Well, duh!  Then a week would pass and it would happen again.  Now this week, we have not had toilets that worked for more than the first hour of the day since Tuesday.

We received an email from building maintenance showing what was being pulled out of the pipes.  The normal offenders: feminine products (just no, people) and wads of paper towels.  The not so expected: plastic bags and plastic coffee cup lids?  This is someone doing it on purpose, which I have said from the beginning.

What was removed from the pipes on Wednesday.

We were told to use the toilets in the building next door.  Within three hours, their plumbing started having trouble as well.  Within half a day, we were kicked out of their building.  There were wads of paper towel found in their pipes as well.

People started going to the surrounding businesses to use the facilities.  I can say that Target probably had an abrupt uptick in business this week.  As the person who sits next to me said "I went to Target to use the bathroom and spent $200!"

They brought in "luxury toilet trailers".  Kind of like the ones in the VIP tent area at Red Hills, if you've ever seen those.  You know, paneling, music piped in, running water.  That was not so bad when it was sunny and 80+ degrees outside.  But yesterday it started to rain.  And not just here and there.  Three inches throughout the day, rain.

It made for captivating watching from the office windows.

At first it was humerous to see all the people out there with their umbrellas.  Unfortunately, there was a line, because we have about 500 people in the building and a total of 6 stalls.  Then it rained more and the electric failed on one of the trailers, so people were using their phones as flashlights.  The company brought in golf carts to tote people to the trailers, which were located in the furthest part of the parking lot.  The stairs were metal and slippery.

My team and I left around lunchtime when we decided we couldn't hold it anymore.  Fortunately, we have laptops and have that option.  Not the best option for this time of year as far as work efficiency goes, but workable.

My home workstation.

After we left, they brought in standard pot-a-potties.  You know, the big blue ones.  Which they placed right next to the front door.  We are classy.

Right next to the front door.

Finally, one of the Senior VPs sends out an email saying what I knew all along.  They suspect sabotage. They will be redoing the plumbing, and in the meantime, there will be measures put into place to try to keep it from happening again.  In the future, we can expect that the paper towels will be removed from the bathrooms and dryers placed instead.  They reiterated that the only things to go down the toilets are toilet paper (you know, the kind you can inadvertently put your finger through) and the toilet seat covers that are provided.

This morning, we arrived to a tailgate being set up in the parking lot.  They will refund the money paid by anyone to buy tickets to this event (it was a ticketed $5 thing for chili, choice of 2 hamburger/hotdog, chips and a cookie, tailgating games, etc.) to try to make up for the inconveniences we have had to deal with this week.  Of course, it's 45 degrees and blowing wind, but at least it's sunny.

Parking lot tailgate.  Toilet trailers are behind the truck.  They have yet to add the cornhole boards, but they will.  I have no idea what we are supposed to do with the RV...We suspect it's new housing for the plumbers that may have been added to our staff.

I get to my desk greeted by laughter as people read their emails.  We now have attendants in front of each bathroom in the building.  We are to be provided 2 paper towels on entry into the bathroom.  We are expected to use those to dry our hands, and return the used paper towels to the attendant on exiting the restroom for disposal.

Next thing, we will be being frisked upon entry and exit to make sure we come out with what we went in with.  Because believe me, if someone wants to do damage, they will.  We kind of think it's "game on" now. I suggest they begin looking to see if people walk out with all the clothes they went in with.  I'm thinking socks and underwear...