Trips to the John

Four Leaf Clover Restaurant

2011-03-04T18:56:00.000-08:00

When: Mar 2011

Where: on Rte 5, Bernardston, MA

Okay... can anyone tell me what makes a toilet seat crooked? No, really.... what has to be placed on this seat to shift it so far off kilter? Since I 'squat' to pee (no, I am NOT putting toilet paper on the seat lid for this one, thank you very much!), I was hoping I aimed it in the right direction. I was actually tipping to the left, trying to imitate the position of the lid. Very awkward.

And this large buzzer was directly in front of me as I was doing the 'whizz' thing (peeing). Let me tell you, I was 6'-8' from the door. Did they really think I'm gonna press that thing from the toilet? The door was automatic, so what if I leaned on it accidently as I was turning around to pull up my pants!!???? Whoops! "HELL-O!".... "Excuse me". And to be perfectly honest, I noticed that even if I WAS in a wheelchair, to get to this bathroom, I walked up two steps right outside the door. No ramp..... duh!

What were they thinking....?

Outlet Central in VT

2011-03-04T18:40:00.000-08:00

When: Mar 4th, 2011

Where: This is the first exit off Rte 91 north going into VT

Do not adjust your monitor!

Yes, this is truly the color of the bathrooms!! I had to surpress my initial reaction, because there was another person in the first stall and I could see feet!...This is the brightest lime green I've ever seen. I didn't know they could make this color without going blind!

This made me think (immediately) of a woman's dressing room in the stores. Though I think they made two bathroom stalls out of each dressing room, as you can see in the next photo.

These are very narrow and the aisle going to them is narrow.

When I took this photo, I was laughing. As much as I am not a really big person, my elbows are touching each side of the stall walls!!! When I 'stooped' (more of a squat!, believe me, I'm not sitting down!!), my head was resting against the door...

so there really wasn't any reason to have tried putting three locks on the door, unless it was to keep me from falling out! Really... did they finally figure out that one was enough?

And do they really think I'm gonna 'touch' stuff and 'Pull Handle forward"???? I think not!

Zips Diner

2010-12-30T20:17:00.000-08:00

Fall of 2010
Where: Dayville, CT

Didn't think I'd be writing about this diner's bathroom. Hadn't planned on it.... BUT, it was worthy of a post.

First a look at the floor said volumes... typical '50s style. Small floor tiles (I take lots of photos of the bathrooms floors in my post, don't I?), and pink. Like the formica doors and walls of the room. And lots of chrome. (Well, duh... isn't it a diner?)

Two complaints about this photo... First, the latch does not make me think "Secure"...Second. Do you see the space between the door and the wall??? It's pretty damn big. Big enough to someone 'out there' to see someone 'in here'! And that's not what I'd prefer in my moment of privacy.

Good point: The bathroom was pretty clean for what I'd expect in a diner....

Bad point: Oh, ... and this was the part that had me laughing out loud and hoping no one in the diner heard me. The stall was small. How small?, you ask... So small, I couldn't take a whole photo of it! So small, that when you open the door, it hit the front of the toilet!! Yes, the door hits it, so the door won't open all the way. I started to laugh at this point, then got sillier as I tried to wedge myself through the 'abbreviated' opening (and I'm not THAT big a person). Had to lift my leg over the toilet (picture me straddling the seat- butt to the outside), to close the door (behind me). Only then, could I turn around to 'have a seat'- or rather squat. I laughed the whole time I was in there.... only to have to compose myself until I got outside to report my experience with the "John" to my hubby.

Unusual Art Gallery-Wilmington, VT

2010-10-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

Coffee shop on Rte 100, just above corner of Rte 9 and Rte 100 in Wilmington, VT

Someone was trying to see how he did with his painting class, but may have been ashamed of his work, so he locked himself in the bathroom and started painting.

... right up above the toilet....

Too bad the towel bar got in the way....

Hey, why did I call it a towel bar? No one ever puts towels on them in the restrooms. I guess they should be called, "Hey, I can't get off the seat" bar, although I'd never yell that in a bathroom. Someone might catch me in a compromising postition.

Hemmings Car Museum- Bennington, VT

2010-10-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I'd have anything to write about in this bathroom, but the names on the doors were unique enough that it made the spot in this blog. My name wasn't "Ethel", but I figured I could use it anyway.

It didn't have anything amazing inside other than tin car plaquard's on the wall, though they managed to fit in a baby changer among them.

This happened to be inside the actual gas station (which made you feel as though you fell into the 1950's), whereas Deisel and Ethyl were outside.

They even advertised the annual Garlic Festival (16th year) that was down the road. That will be posted on my other blog.

Of course, you can tell they don't have too many women complain about the 'trash runneth over'...Actually, come to think of it, I didn't complain either, so I guess the guys don't go in too often. They probably figure if the guys bathroom doesn't need it, they don't check to ladies room. (Hey guys.... WE wash our hands!)

Glad they made room around the plaques for the sink and soap dispenser....lol.

This was the potty behind Ethyl's door....at least it was clean (we're talking about the toilet here, kids! Not the wastebasket, you see...).

The only thing that comfused me was this sign on the wall.... I might have to put something "more substantial than toilet paper" in there... LIKE POOP! Now I don't think I can poop.

Port-a-potty special

2010-10-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

New Hartford Car Show, New Hartford, CT
Summer of 2010

How many of us have been in a port-a-potty? They all look the same, open the same, smell the same... Have you ever thought, what if I'm trapped in here with... say, ... a bee? While I was in there, I could hear bees....I am DEATHLY afraid of bees. Have been since I was a kid. Now, I think they were outside, but I'm inside this cramped area, and I have my 'alert' on... you know, when you are making sure your pants hem isn't touching the bottom of the floor (for those who's aim isn't what it should be), and your toosh ain't touching what it shouldn't be, and I thank goodness my hubby had my purse (he's secure in his masculinity...lol).

But, this one was different only because it created a monster inside. Me!

It was really nice, don't get me wrong, but my imagination started. While I could hear the bees, I coudn't SEE them, so I thought I was safe. But as I'm squatting, I started to think what would I do if I DID see one? (My normal reaction to bees is, that I go after them and MAKE SURE I KILL IT DeaD! REALLY dead!)

I knew I would be swinging and swatting like crazy until it was so dead that you wouldn't be able to identify it as a bee! Of course, if I did that, I'm wondering what the people in line outside the door would be thinking was going on in there. I could have even become so panicked that I might even tip over the port-o-potty!! As one thought lead to another, I started to laugh... REALLY laugh, right out loud!!! I came out of the potty laughing so hard, I had tears coming down my face and I got the most strangest looks from those in line, and that kept me laughing all the more! Because nothing happened, except in my mind!

My husband tried to get me to tell him what was soooo funny, but I had to walk away from the potty to be able to talk! It was my most enjoyable and scariest time in a port-a-potty, that I can remember.

Maine Bathroom #1 & #2 (No pun intended)

2010-06-13T19:05:00.000-07:00

We took a two week vacation in Maine and I was quite thrilled that the 'bathrooms' were worthy of noting for this piece. This looked like a two-seater...no moons in the doors, but it wasn't big enough for a shed, so I'm going with this thought. Maybe 'his' and 'hers'?

We did a lot of trail walking, hiking, etc, but on this trip it was only to see a lighthouse at Fort Point, near the Penobscot River. I saw the sign only after I caught a glimpse of this 'box' in the woods off the trail.

Venturing a little closer I realized it didn't look too half-bad! And the closer I got, the more I had to 'go'!

I peaked in and saw it was rustic, but it had lots of toilet paper (at least it wasn't a leaf!). Still,.... it WAS in the middle of the woods,.... in Maine,.....and I have this thing about snakes. You know, those things that might like damp areas (okay, I THINK they would be choosy, but you never know), so I had to look. It's a little too dark to see much of anything....

Nope! I'm not taking the chance. And besides,.... look how healthy and clean the 'soap and sink' area was.... Eauwwww! Could you really put your hand on top of that bottle? The germs are on the top, even though I'd be wiping them with an antibiotic gel. I'll pass. Best left to do it in the woods and hope for not hitting my sneaker with the 'stream'.

Natural Bridge-No Adams, MA

2010-06-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

I didn't expect to find this "natural Bridge'- Marble quarry on one of our jaunts. (That's the nice part of taking these 'jaunts'. And I wouldn't have thought anything about using a bathroom in a 'visitor center', no matter how small it was, but the sign above the toilet made me laugh out loud. H

Have they ever WATCHED me use a toilet? Do that know that I HAVE used my foot to flush? Okay, so before I flush, ... no, before I even GO, I have to look for the hidden camera. NOT that I would ever see a camera that is 'hidden'.... well, maybe I would if I was really good! ...and I am...

No camera, ... and no where did I see a sign about not using your knee.

Seeing this sign on the inside of my stall door, made me wonder if I have to take my paper towel that I'm using to dry off my hands (I HOPE they have paper out there), down to the end of the parking lot to throw it away.

(I'm sure it's for other garbage... like my apple core that I'd already thrown into the woods -- it's nature going back to nature, doesn't count).

Farmington River Diner

2010-06-13T18:49:00.000-07:00

I should have realized that this would be an interesting place by this sign on the front door (actually, does a swinging screen door count as a front door? I suppose if it's on the front of the building, then , yes.) I think I liked the fact that the diner (and it was NOT in the shape or style building of a 'diner') was casual enough to say '2:00ish". Actually, I LOVED it! And do you not think they could have said Closed Wednesday ... A little less confusing.

Okay, I really liked the fact that the bathroom had an area map (even if it was cartoon-ish) as it was SO interesting. There is a down side to this, though. I was so caught up in the moment of checking out where we were, and where we were going, that I hoped no one was waiting outside the door to use the john. (oops!, 20 mins later. Dear hubby thought I got flushed down the toilet, I was in there so long).

The most unusual thing was this bookcase.

Now I might have expected this in another part of this country (the Bible-belt areas), but not in western CT.... I don't think I've ever had a Bible in my bathrooms as reading material...Not as a kid, or at any other time. I wonder how often they restock?

Maine #3 (de ja vu)

2010-06-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

I went to visit the "Old Originator".... the john that started this whole thing. The only problem was, it was too early in the season for the place to be opened, so this is the only photo I was able to get.
I'm sure it's not much cleaner.

Buddy's Dug-out- Cruise night

2010-03-02T07:29:00.000-08:00

Date: Aug 6, 2009

Place: Buddy's Dug-Out Cruise night, Norwichtown, CT

My Impression: My husband and I own a couple of antique (older) cars and go to various cruises on ocasion. One of these trips took us to Buddy's Dug-out for a cruise night. Since I always have my camera for cuise nights, I was ready. I needed to use the 'facilities' although I almost DIDN'T take my camera. Boy, I'm glad I did! I, first of all, couldn't find the lock for the door. Now, YOU KNOW I'm not walking 5 steps away from that door and leaving it unlocked!! Five steps away doesn't let you 'wedge' your foot against the door... I must have spent 3 minutes trying to figure how to lock the door (mind you it felt like an hour), .... then I looked up! duh!! Okay, I locked it.

Now I know this doesn't look too difficult to figure out, but somehow, I kept my left hand on the left part of the roller and I used my right hand to pull the toilet paper down...mainly because the roll kept falling off, (without the left hand as a 'stopper'). Once I got done using it, I figured it out. DUH!...

And BTW, is this sign necessary?? "Water from tap is VERY HOT.." Do you not see the red and blue dot on the end of the faucet handle? If I remember the last time I was in a 'john',-- left, hot.... right, cold. Does the sign mean that if I push it to the right, I still get HOT water? Ever heard about energy efficiency?? Save the hot water bill. Dummies!

And oh, yeah, I would 'please be careful' if I was running the hot water for a while.... this post should be labeled the "Idiot's Guide to using a John".

Italian Party Potty

2010-01-01T17:02:00.000-08:00

July 6, 2009: The occasion of my Uncle Joe's 80th Birthday party at his daughter's house in CT.

My Impression: Since I'd never been to Donna's house, it was interesting to see the outside of the house looking as though it was in the middle of Italy, nestled among other contemporary houses on a cul-de-sac. Once there, I got the tour. She does a business at her house in her finished cellar so that was the first bathroom I got to see and although I didn't have much of an experience with it, I'm posting it.

I think I was surprised to see it was decorated so nicely, being tucked in a corner of the downstairs. The only downfall to it's location is that if you are sitting on this 'john' and leave the door open, you get to see across the room and through a glass slider outside to the inground pool. Hope the pool-boy doesn't show up when you least expect him.

Nice sculptured art on the wall.....

The bathroom I did have an experience with was upstairs on the first floor. As I was entering the bathroom, the smell was heavenly... not sure what it was, but was very comforting. Not too strong. Unfortunately, I wore a pair of nice dress slacks that were NOT easy to get out of and I had this frantic urge to pee. Compounded by the fact that, I realized I could hear water running.... and running.... not the kind from the toilet, but a babbling brook kind. I looked around and didn't see much of anything. But between the running water sounds (both), I was there for longer than expected. Oh well.

Looking up I saw a 'diffused' window. Very classy, but unusual. I thought I was INSIDE the house.... not at the edge of the house. Wait a minute. This window is the one I saw as I entered the foyer! Since the front of the house has plenty of windows similar to the ones in this window frame, the light coming through this window, comes from the foyer.

Upon washing my hands, I realized the babbling brook sound was coming from under the sink! There was a small waterfall under the pedestal sink (I learned was for the cat's drinking water)! That's one way to get someone to pee, when it just won't happen.

Fairfield East Rest area

2009-11-15T15:00:00.000-08:00

June 2009
Circumstance: Heading to a Pinewood Derby Race in NJ.

My Impression: This was almost not worthy of writing about, but it was impressively clean, compared to most rest areas we’ve been in.

The stalls were relatively clean. As I left the restroom, I passed a cleaning lady entering, so I knew it was well attended. (Did I see a ‘tip’ container?... no, I don’t think so).

Pinewood Derby T(w)inkling- 6 Flags

2009-11-15T14:55:00.000-08:00

June 28, 2009
Place: Toyota Training Center, West Caldwell, NJ

Circumstance: My husband won the district race for the 2nd Annual Toyota Pinewood Derby Race and was heading to NJ for the Regional Race (and yes, we one first place and set a new track record!!)

My Impression: What you don’t see is the anti-room (shall I call it a foyer?) that had motion detector lights, and stunning bright red lockers (or should I say ‘half-lockers”?).

Once I walked into this “pristine” restroom, I thought I’d hit the jackpot of all ‘public’ restrooms!! It stopped me in my tracks that the counter, sinks and chrome SHONE SO BRIGHTLY!! It was blinding!! I had this urge to let the counter caress my cheeks, or… vise versa (hey, … on my face). It was like being in heaven. Not a water spot anywhere to be had!

And the stalls, (yes, I checked every one) had two FULL rolls of paper in each one, all seats up (okay men, stop cheering) like soldiers at attention! EVERY ONE OF THEM! I never even lined the bowls here, ladies… With the exception of the soap dispensers being where they were, I could have had wonderful sex on this counter. These are the “Stepford Johns of NJ”. When I mentioned my pleasure to the gentlemen running the race, I think I heard a snicker from one of the other men (and a quietly said…’should’ve seen it last week…’). I also found out that there is only one woman who works there. THAT explains it!

Dear John Revisited

2009-11-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Update of previous posted 'john'--June 2009

Circumstance: Returning from a trip to NJ (yes, we did it in one night), coming back winners in the 2nd Annual Toyota Pinewood derby Regional Race.

My impression: We had a reason to return to the previous bathroom and I couldn’t wait to see if there was any improvement on the stalls. Well, they did ‘fix’ the toilet paper cover---Abracadabra! (with Magic tape, of course!). THAT should hold it well!! My curiosity was overflowing (no pun intended) with how they would change the next roll of paper. And who is going to peel all that tape off? Does anyone get paid enough to do that? I’m not that sure….

And although the tissue issues still remained, the ‘flood’ in the back seems to ‘dry up’. (See the water stains?)

I did use a different stall, not as impressive as this one, but I realized that if you stare at a mosaic tile floor long enough, did you know it starts to move…independantly. The little stones, I mean. (and no, I don’t take drugs, although I was kinda tired.) I must have spent a longggg time in there, since my husband was getting concerned, waiting outside. Research takes time, Dear….

Rest Area on Rte 91 north- CT

2009-11-15T14:35:00.000-08:00

June 7, 2009

Place: Middletown Rest Area, CT (Rte 91 North)

Circustance: Driving home from my niece wedding in NY, I had passed two other rest areas, because my daughter and my mom were dozing off in the car and I didn’t want to wake them if they didn’t have to use the facilities. I just finally HAD TO STOP and GO, if you know what I mean? Mom & I went to use it and heading in, we were both feeling a great sense of ‘relief’.

My impression: Don’t let the outside of that building fool you!

This one was hard to write about, since I couldn’t stop laughing as I left the ‘john’! First of all, I only had three choices of ‘free’ stalls and of course, I let my mom pick one first. I went to use the next one (pictured) and the sight of the TP dispenser in parts and leaning up against the bowl, AND the slight flood on the floor behind the bowl, stopped me in my tracks! NOPE! Not using this one… ok, last chance sally…Oh my GOD! It wasn’t even photography-worthy, but I had to use it! (remember, I passed two other rest areas, so I really had to USE IT!) I’ll describe it… Let’s just say, it had ‘tissue issues’. Scattered on the floor to the left of the bowl. And no, I don’t pick up other people’s ‘tissue paper’!) I decided to go anyway, staying away from the tissue. Let me say, here, that is really hard to do, because I have really nice slacks on, and they want to touch the floor and I’m trying to keep them hitched up by clenching my knees together. Now, I did have two handle bars along both sides, so I hesitantly used them to hold myself in the ‘hover’ position, knees clenched together, pants in high-water mode. I knew I would have ‘major duties’ to stick around for, so I figured I still had to ‘line to bowl”… and I wondered if it may be a problem, because I swear that the TP is only 2” wide!! …Okay, maybe 3”. Remember, I’m still holding the bars, ‘hovering’, knees pressed together. I realized this was a silly position and started to giggle. Now, it’s hard to pull myself up (forward) when most of my weight is ‘behind’ me (no pun intended) and my feet are spread outward, avoiding contacting the mess around me. I managed it, but then the automatic flusher went off, unexpectedly, and I hadn’t had time to use the tissues yet for the first half. After lining the bowl twice, because the seat is the regular width (and the paper isn’t), I almost feel I can relax. I quickly realize that my dress slacks are wanting to flow around my shoes again, and I proceed to hike them up once again. In doing that, I realize there is a huge puddle (a continuation from the stall pictured- notice it’s floor, on the right?) and it’s almost touching my left heel!

Oh no…. there are way too many issues here to pay attention to. The puddle, the seat covering, the pant legs, tissue invasion … so I scootch my feet forward away from the puddle…. And then, my mom (who was waiting outside by now) pokes her head into the bathroom and asks if I have my Sudoku book (family joke-- when you spend too long in the john). “NO!” I said indignantly. “Are you alright?” “YES!... “ Then I start giggling even more. And all the while, I’m listening to a faucet running in one of the sinks… and NO ONE IS EVEN OUT THERE! I still can’t relax, but I finally get to a point where I can hoist myself up (I sound like I’m a tank, don’t I?) using the handle bars. Before using ‘the tissue’ and the toilet auto-flushing (AGAIN), I start to wonder how I’m gonna get the flusher to do it once again, once I’m finally finished with ‘the paperwork’. I’m waving my hand in front of all kinds of ‘eyes’, mysterious holes (are they laser beams?), and such, but, to no avail. I finally figure out, the ‘hole’ I thought was a laser beam, was a black button! To FLUSH!! DUH! As I get ready to open the door, I realize that from the side of the bathroom that had tissue issues, I now have a piece of tissue stuck to the underside of my shoe! Hysterically giggling by now, with my poor mom outside the stall wondering what the heck is going on., I lift my foot to take a final photo. Can I ever get out of this JOHN???

NYC Wedding 'Wetting'

2009-11-15T14:10:00.000-08:00

June 7, 2009

Place: Riverview Restaurant, 50th Ave, Long Island City, NY

Circumstance: We came down to Pier 2 at Long Island City to attend my niece’s wedding. Beautiful day. Sunny, very warm…nice drive down from out of state (Hey, are NY roads always full of potholes??- YUP!). The brunch reception was across the street from the pier. Being New York, I think I was expecting a ‘fancy-schmancy’ room, so I was surprised by my visit to the ‘john’. (my camera wasn’t co-operating that day…not focusing right, sorry).

My Impression: Eclectic shaped room, very angular, although it was ‘romantically (?) lit up”, there was a wide band of mirrors that ran around the room at chest level, on every angled wall. I’m knd of glad it wasn’t at face level or I’d have thought someone was walking towards me in the dark. The sink (actually, a ‘trough’) could have been ‘artsy’, except for the stains…. But, Ahh, they have soap! A PLUS!!

So in I go, to the stall that was free (on the right). At first I couldn’t find the toilet paper. To the left of the toilet was a stand with a ‘large filigree candle holder’ on the top of it (I was soon to figure out that the TP—the only rolls, were wrapped, and on the shelf above the toilet. Realizing the ‘holder’ had an empty core in it, I grabbed one off the top shelf and, of course I unwrapped one, removed the empty core and plopped the new one in it’s appropriate place! NOW I can go. Of course I lined the seat! Now, hearing others enter, I hurried along, and then got ready to flush.

Oh no. I can’t push the lever. I REALLY can’t! REALLY!!

Uh oh… it CLICKED really hard, but no flush. What do I do now…? I certainly can’t ‘leave the stall’ in its present state. And I don’t dare try and ‘flush’ again, and risk breaking the handle. So, quietly, I lifted the lid off the tank, stick my hand in the water (Hey! It’s clean, isn’t it?)and pull up the lever. FLUSH! Yea! Let me outa here!!

Oops…Now to wash my hands. With someone else at the same sink. Only we are both trying to use the ONE soap dispenser on MY side! I already had soap in my hands, so I had to back up, hoping not to drip the soap on the floor.

I let the older woman get her soap, then we both had to figure out the faucet handles … or should I say ‘levers’ (see small insert below). You had to pull this stem from the round ‘plug’, then turn it, or …pull it, or… push it. whatever. (It took both of us a few times to try this, looking pretty stupid, but we got it!)

Ps. And I did tell the one next in line that the toilet handle didn’t work.

Cottage’s “pretty bathroom” at Southwest Harbor, Maine

2009-11-15T13:59:00.000-08:00

May 23, 2009

Place: (see previous post) same cottage (found online)

My impression: Yeah, I know… why use the bathroom in the cellar (see previous post), when this is so ‘pretty’? I’ll bet you’re only looking at the pictures in this blog. After all, I’ve already explained it. Oh, but wait. There IS something interesting about this ‘john’. Because it’s so narrow, there isn’t much space between the area in front of the toilet and the tub/enclosure. Notice that the enclosure is open?? That’s because if the enclosure is closed and you have your back to the toilet and you’re bending down to drop your drawers, you’d smash your head into the glass door. Hence the glass door was kept open, your head would bend into the opening, then you could sit down in peace. The green was so peaceful… and I loved the slanted ceiling in the shower/tub area (even if Lee thumped his head in there, …sorry, Hon).

Rental Cottage-Southwest Harbor, ME

2009-11-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

Date: May 23, 2009

Place: Clark Point Road, Maine (rental cottage – basement. Obvious, huh?...DUH!) Private Parts

My Impression: When I first wanted to rent this house, I thought this was the oddest thing… having a toilet in the basement. But, LET ME TELL YOU, it was my favorite bathroom to use. Mostly because I would be in the kitchen upstairs and it was easier to open the door, run down the stairs and take 3-4 steps to reach this toilet. The other option was going around the corner into the dining room, through the living room, run up the stairs and into the ‘pretty bathroom’. It would never fail that I’d ‘feel the urge’ as I’m turning on the water in the kitchen to do the dishes. The door to the cellar was 3 steps from the sink…Waaayyy faster to head down!

…ps. The cellar (and the toilet) were REALLY clean! And the rent was only $200 a week!! Tell me we're not going there next year....NOT!

Vacation in Southwest Harbor, Maine

2009-11-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

Date: May 24, 2009

Place: Southwest Harbor, Maine (uni-sex restroom at end of Clark Point Road, next to parking lot for Captain Gilley’s—small lunch place in front of Beal’s Lobster Pound) —

Wet roads from the night before, but sun starting to come out. Lee and I walked the road to the end so we could check out the price of lobsters ($6.30/lb live or $7.40/lb cooked). After seeing the live ones in the water tank, I had to use the ‘facilities’….

My impression: Yeeuuwww! I took a photo of it before using it. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to lift the lid. Was there any soap for afterwards? Do I dare touch the handles?? I think not. …Ok… ready? I dropped my drawers and ‘hovered’ over the bowl. You KNOW I’m not even gonna trust the old “line the bowl with TP” method. And what is that bar behind the seat for? Who’s gonna stretch their arms behind them to use it… for what? To lift themselves off the seat? NOT ME!! It was a good thing that I didn’t have to do any major duties as my legs wouldn’t have wanted the stress, ‘cuz I’m NOT TOUCHING ANY FLESH PARTS TO ANYTHING PORCELIN IN THIS ROOM! Oh, and I’m NOT washing my hands here. I’ll wait until we walk back to the cottage that we are renting. (Hey, I didn’t touch anything or get anything on me to wash off. Believe me, I was careful. Oh God, now to get out of here, I have to touch the door knob—that’s what long sweatshirt sleeves are for. …Whew!