June 21, 2006
Barnes and Noble is almost on my “list.”
Let me explain:
I have this problem. This bathroom problem. I wait until the last minute to go to the bathroom and when I finally get there, I can barely hold it long enough to get my pants down in time. It’s especially bad if I am wearing a belt. I don’t think I have a small bladder, really, I just drink a ton of water and other drinks throughout the day and I have to go a lot.
So, today, I was going out to run errands. I went to the bathroom before I left so that I would not get caught in an uncomfortable position (ie: nearly wetting my pants in the car or any where, really). We left, I got Ethan’s pictures taken, and then I decided to head over to Barnes and Noble.
After our venture to the library, there were two books Ethan couldn’t bear to part with, so I decided to buy them for him. We usually go to Barnes and Noble only to look around and make sure we really want a book before we buy it, and purchase our books on Amazon, but the two books were the same price on Amazon as at the store, and I figured I would buy them there and save the shipping and waiting. They had Good Night, Gorilla there, so we got that one. They did not have Poppy and Max. The lady at the help desk offered to order it for me and I thought, why not? They would call me when it came in and I would just run down and pick it up. I ordered it 2 weeks ago. Last week, I called. My order had been “confirmed” and it would be there any time. They would call me. Today, it is still confirmed and will be here any time and they will call me. Where do we live that it takes 2 weeks to order a book? Where are they getting the book from? It’s ridiculous. So, I am wishing I had ordered them both from Amazon mostly because Barnes and Noble lags so badly. I am tempted to just order it and when they call, say I don’t want it anymore. That would show them.
But back to the bathroom issue. (I had to set the scene). Leaving JC Penney, I had to pee. I decided I would drive to Barnes and Noble, use the bathroom and then take care of the Poppy and Max. business. It was an ordeal trying to get in the two doors of the store (getting into stores with strollers is always a difficult task). We wheeled back to the bathroom. As I am walking to the door, this older lady is right in front of me. We walk into the bathroom (again I struggle with the door). Remember, I have to go. The lady walks into the handicapped/baby changing station/I-have-a-stroller-with-me stall. Now, she is older, but I don’t think she was hadicapped. And she took forever. Forever. I was waiting and waiting. She was still taking forever. Ethan wanted up, wanted to wash his hands. I finally wheeled him up to one of the other stalls and went to the bathroom with the door slightly opened, hoping no one would come in. I was done, hands washed, out the door before the handicapped stall lady had even flushed. I don’t know what she was doing in there, but I probably wouldn’t have wanted to follow her. So, this has nothing to do with Barnes and Noble really, but it just seasoned my whole experience. And it reinforced the lesson that one should not use the handicapped bathroom unless entitled to it (or you can go really, really fast).
Comments
Andrew:
Not to long ago I was at this concert with Pamela. I also had to go pretty bad. I had no idea where the restroom was, so I used the handicap one thinking “you never see a handicaped person in one of these things, so I’ll be fine.” As I’m peeing the door jiggles. I think “it’s Pamela messing with me.” This severley handicapped person was trying to get in, and here I come perfectly able grown man coming out of the door. What an idiot.
June 21, 2006 7:44 PM
erika:
Sounds like you have learned your lesson now, too.
June 21, 2006 9:46 PM
Tisra:
I never thought that the “handicapped” stall was exclusively for disabled people. It is there, with extra space and railing on the wall, for those with a wheelchair to access the bathroom easily. But it is not like a parking space. No plaque designates it as only for handicapped people. They certainly should get preference, but to feel bad for using that stall is, in my opinion, like feeling bad for using the ramp leading up to an entrance rather than the stairs.
June 22, 2006 10:07 AM
erika:
I guess you are right, Tisra, but it inconvenienced me when I really needed it. For all I know, that lady needed the handicapped stall. It just seems like a kind gesture to refrain from using it (unless it is the last stall available, in my opinion). All three stalls were open and she chose that one.
June 22, 2006 12:39 PM