On exploding toilets and other such nonsense...

Thanks to the museum renovation, we are down to one toilet in the entire building that the staff can still use. This really isn’t that big of a deal since only four of us office out of the museum on a regular basis.

Still, a working toilet is an important thing. So, when the construction workers turned off the water earlier this morning, it was rather disconcerting (we had no warning, and several of the staffers – myself included – had over indulged on caffeine). The workers promised the lack of water was only temporary, however, and most of us were confident in our “holding” capabilities.

Around lunchtime, the workers turned the water back on, and it wasn’t long after that our toilet was back in use. Three of my coworkers formed a line in order of urgency, and the first one went in to use the facility. A few minutes later, there was a flush followed by a scream. Apparently, air had backed up in the water line and the result was rather explosive.

The workers assessed the situation and theorized that the “explosions” would ease up after a flush or two, but so far the toilet continues to blow up after every use. Flushing is now a calculated affair: you have to push the handle and quickly flee the area to avoid getting nasty water all over you.

Thankfully, U-verse is scheduled to hook up everything at the new house on Saturday, so I’ll have the luxury of working from home starting next week. Until then, though, life is very interesting. I’m refusing to wear anything nicer than jeans to work unless I absolutely have to – especially now that we have explosive toilets, limited AC and I have to walk through a maze of ladders, black plastic, welding fumes and sawdust just to get to my office.

Le sigh…