• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Sum Girls Boutique
  • “SUM” Services
  • Subscribe
  • Archives
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • youtube
    • snapchat

Dim Sum and Doughnuts

A little SUMthing about growing up, making mistakes and happy endings.

Mailbag Monday! Toilets and Stop Signs

July 7, 2014

Welcome to the first ever installment of “Mailbag Monday!”

I thought it would be fun, on Mondays, to discuss topics or answer questions on anything. ANYTHING. One question or one topic a week, but for this week, I decided I would do two because they are both SUCH good questions and also, because they’re the only two people who responded: 

Why does the automated toilet flush as soon as you sit down?

It’s supposed to flush as soon as you get up, not sit down, so I don’t know what kind of party you’ve got going on in your stall, but I will say this: I hate those automatic flusher toilets. I like the kind that have the silver flusher that sticks out so you can just “kick” it down. Some people (my kids) touch it instead of kicking it. That’s gross. I would never touch it. It’s got toilet water sweating all over it and all kinds of other gross stuff. Kicking it is key.

Once, when F was a baby, probably 15 months or so, she and I met a girlfriend of mine for dinner. F decided to have a m”ASS”ive blowout as soon as the food arrived. I debated making her wait (I was really hungry) but the smell was so overpowering, I was starting to taste it in my food. I was a new mom (we had only adopted F a few months earlier) so even though there was probably a perfectly good baby changing station in the handicapped stall, I didn’t know that, so I placed her on the floor on her pink poopie pad and proceeded to clean up the rump dump. (I figured doing it bent over on the floor couldn’t be any worse than the some of the changings I had done in China. One of the restaurants there boasted a bathroom that was so gross, I took F back to our table, grabbed two chairs, placed them seat to seat and changed her right there, at our table.)

Yucky.

Anyway, back in the “nice stall,” I started to change F when all of the sudden, the toilet started flushing. We weren’t even on it. Over and over…FLUSH….FLUSH…FLUSH… loud and repetitive. Plus, toilet water was spraying me, some even hit me in the eye, but this poop, it was epic and it was taking FOREVER to clean so by the time I was done, I was soaked with toilet water and sweating my ass off. There was sweat between my boobs! When I finally stumbled, dazed and dizzy, out of that bathroom, I looked like someone had given me a swirley. I hate automatic flushers. Silver Kicker Flushers FOREVER!!

************************************************

What is up with people at 4 way stop signs? Clearly most people did not learn to take turns as part of their childhood.

AGREE. There is a 4 way stop sign by my house; actually it’s only a 3 way—(3 way, hahaha!) Anyway, after almost 11 years of living there, I no longer pull up with high expectations. I trust no one. It’s Scammer Central.

We are supposed to TAKE TURNS. It’s not that hard. Whoever gets there first gets to go first, and then you go in order from there. In other words, if I’m Driver#2, Driver #3 better back the F up. Don’t try to steal my turn, pal. It’s Go-Time for ME, not you, so you best get comfortable. I also don’t like when Driver #3 starts going and then, oops, realizes that it’s really my turn (because I am also going) so then he gives me the “You can go” wave, like he’s doing me some big favor. Uh, I’m sorry, but it’s my turn, pal.  You can save your wave. You’re not doing me any favors; you just got busted is all. 

Sometimes a driver will start going and KEEP going even though we both know it’s not his turn. That’s not cool. Every once in awhile I roll my eyes and let it go, but most of the time, I go into righteous indignation mode and either lay on my horn or pull up just a little more to let them know I AM GOING and if they want to go too, they’re getting hit. BOOYA!

And those are my answers.

Thank you to the people who responded to Mailbag Monday. Do you have a question you’d like answered or a topic you’d like to discuss? LIKE our FB page https://www.facebook.com/dimsumanddoughnuts or follow me on Twitter https://twitter.com/RobynCoden for Mailbag Monday details and other stuff that will make you smile.

Also, I’m on Instagram: http://instagram.com/dimsumanddoughnuts  I’m new, but I think I’m getting the hang of it.

ds grey background

Related posts:

You Don't Have To Have Kids
"That's Not Your REAL Kid"
Do You Care If Others Judge You?
On Turning 40

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

Filed Under: Adoption, Mailbag Monday!, Rants

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz says

    July 7, 2014 at 11:25 am

    Belch, that toilet picture is going to give me nightmares! I seriously have nightmares about dirty bathrooms.
    And we have the opposite problem here. Everyone is so nice that they let the other person go even if it’s their turn. It drives me crazy. I’ll come to a four-way stop and someone else got there clearly far before I did, but they will still wave me to go. With a big smile. “Oh you just go on, I’m in no hurry and I’m such a nice person I’ll give you my turn. Really, I insist. Seriously, I’m not going to go until you take advantage of my self-rightness kindness and go first.” Grrrrr, just follow the rules, I don’t need you to be nice!! Oh, also, no one here can merge! I have seen people stop in the merge lane!! It’s crazy making!!
    Wow, apparently I have some pent up road rage.

    • Robyn says

      July 7, 2014 at 11:33 am

      Where do you live, Liz? I can never go there. I think I would lose my mind.

      You are always welcome to my 3 way stop sign though. 🙂 You’d get all of your aggression out in one day!!

  2. Liz says

    July 7, 2014 at 11:39 am

    Juneau, Alaska, land of the perpetually nice. It drives me up a wall!!

    • Robyn says

      July 7, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      Right!! I actually knew that. I remember that from a different post. I was going to ask you if it was like that show that used to be on TV but then I figured that everyone asks you that and it’s probably really annoying. The characters were total “characters.”

  3. Karin says

    July 7, 2014 at 12:28 pm

    Damn automatic toilets., Piper was freaked out about them till a few months ago… Seriously, potty training a kid and having them go off while the kids sitting there?! Kid screaming, crying, jumping off the toilet mid stream. She’s been using them for over two years and she’s finally used to them. THEY SUUUUUCK. Piper calls them “magic toilets”. She’ll walk into a bathroom and say ” YAY! The toilets aren’t magic!”… It keeps the others in the bathroom wondering what kind of mother I am that my kid gets excited about manual toilets!

    • Robyn says

      July 7, 2014 at 1:10 pm

      HAHAHAHA!! Magic Toilets! That is great, Karin. She would have had a total blast with me that day when I was stuck on the ground. The “magic” was everywhere!!!
      Always love hearing from you. Thank you for coming by!!!

  4. Eddie says

    July 7, 2014 at 7:00 pm

    Omg…your toilet story brought back such fond memories for me…Thailand…1992. I had just got off a 13 hour flight with my boy who was 17 months at the time. Bear in mind just before I got off the plane I was bombarded with warnings about watching for people who may want to plant drugs on me or possibly my child…wtf??? He needed his nappy changed so I proceeded towards the toilet…if you could call it that…to me it looked like the 7th circle of hell. Anyway I proceeded in, against my better judgement, decided to go nowhere near the ‘toilet’, the smell was incredible, and looked for a surface that wasn’t covered in something. I decided the bench near the sink looked like it might not contaminate him but under closer inspection what I had thought was water was actually urine…yes, wee on the bench. As I walked very, very quickly out of the bathroom a very dodgy man came up and asked if he could change my baby’s nappy. Now he might have just been a very helpful man (who am I kidding) but I ran the hell out of there like my ass was on fire and didn’t let my baby out of my arms for the whole 5hour stop over…pooey nappy and all…such a lovely memory…
    As for the stop sign situation…I reiterate the comment I made on fb a few weeks ago…if every other driver just realised how stupid they were and fix that, I would be fine.
    Love your work Robyn 🙂

    • Robyn says

      July 7, 2014 at 9:00 pm

      Eddie, I literally almost barfed from your story. I so know what that’s like though. I can’t say that about everything, but when it comes to being in a different country with crazy bathroom situations, I get it.

      It’s so weird though, I went from being totally grossed out to thinking that you seemed like the YUMMIEST mommy ever. Quite the spectrum in one comment. You definitely represent well. I loved reading every word of that comment. And then I busted out laughing at the end. You just seem so great to me. I am lucky to have you and I hope you come back soon. …”Like my ass was on fire…” HAHAHAHA!!! 🙂

  5. Sara says

    July 7, 2014 at 9:40 pm

    Omg so funny! Let’s talk about roundabouts

    • Robyn says

      July 7, 2014 at 10:01 pm

      Roundabouts scare me because I always think someone else is going to screw up!!

  6. Melanie says

    July 7, 2014 at 11:54 pm

    My friend’s daughter is so freaked out by auto-flush toilets that she carries a roll of electrical tape. She puts a piece of tape over the sensor “eye” to deactivate it! My friend carries several rolls of electrical tape in her purse because her little girl frequently loses a roll and she will not use a toilet unless it is disarmed.

    • Robyn says

      July 8, 2014 at 8:06 am

      Wow! That seems like a lot of work! I wonder if that is something she will grow out of. I’m sure as she gets older it won’t bother her as much. My kids have issues with the “Excalator” hand dryers. They are super loud and my kids jump around with their hands over their ears, hands that probably aren’t dry yet. 🙂

  7. Jill @ Ripped Jeans & Bifocals says

    July 8, 2014 at 5:06 am

    I do love a post about toilets – the squatty potty pic brought back some China memories, but that was a particularly nasty one. Blech.

    My daughter was terrified of automatic flushing toilets when she was about 5 or so. She would hold it FOREVER rather than use one. I thought it was just my kid. She is 22 and I still tease her about that.

    Mailbag Monday – how fun! I hope it takes off for you!

    • Robyn says

      July 8, 2014 at 8:08 am

      I mean…right, RJ&B? Who doesn’t like a little Monday potty talk? At least your kid could hold it at 5. JJ came in last night to tell me that she peed in her pants (again) because there is so much going on at camp that she doesn’t want to miss anything. Great… that will be AWESOME when she gets to Kindergarten. I’m going to have the kid that smells like pee.

      Love that you came by. Thank you!!!

Primary Sidebar

heading-about Dim Sum and Doughnuts
heading-subscribe

heading-categories
  • Parenthood & Parenting Tips
  • Camp Life
  • Adoption
  • Rants
  • Marriage & Family
  • Friendship
  • You’re Not Alone
  • Mailbag Monday!
  • Sum Of This, Sum Of That
  • 20 SUMthings
  • Dogs Rule
  • Relationships
  • Guest Post

heading-instagram

Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on Before we opened, lots of people questioned why on earth I’d “want to open a brick and mortar when everyone just shops online...?” 
⭐️
But you know what? SUM people like to shop in real life. They like to touch and try on. They like to be surrounded by good vibes and build memories you can’t make online. It’s good to get out, check out, and log off for a bit. 
⭐️
I’m not saying “Don’t shop online” (I do too!) I’m just saying it’s also nice to add in another element. Small businesses are SUPER COOL and special — and I promise you, if they’re in business right now, it’s because they’re working super hard to keep their doors open. I have also been putting in the work, and I am feeling so grateful for the stellar group of customers, businesses and friends that support us and all we are trying to do. 
⭐️
Thank you @feministmomming for doing a spotlight on @dimsumanddoughnuts and @sumgirlsboutique and for reminding me how special my family, our brand, and our support system are to us. We are so grateful to have all of you in our lives and on our ride. 🙏 #SupportLocal #ShopSmall and Come Get SUM soon! 💜 #SumGirlsBoutique 
_______________________________
👗👚👖 Trendy, Sustainable Fashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens * Teens * Ladies in #BerkleyMi
Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan Challenge Accepted @poesygallery @moe_z_arts @shan809 @debfuger @lmk126 @dianna.feldman 💜 Trying hard every day to build our brand so women and girls have a place to feel good about themselves and have SUM fun! So lucky to be surrounded by so many strong, amazing women who support me no matter what I do. 🙏💜 @sumgirlsboutique @dimsumanddoughnuts #womensupportingwomen
On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came On Sat, March 28, 2020 our daughter’s dream came true ⭐️ •
•••••
Instead of having her Bat Mitzvah service in the Rabbi’s Study, family only (which was still more people than she wanted) she got to have it at home with just us! 🎉 •
•••••
Frankie will forever be the first person EVER from the congregation of #TempleBethEl to be Bat Mitzvah’d via #ZOOM in the comfort of her own home! Dress Code: #QuarantineCasual.👌🏻 •
•••••
It was the most incredible experience for our family, including #BrunoMarshall 🐾, and we couldn’t be prouder of our amazing daughter. ❤️🙏 •
•••••
#DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#GrowingUp 
#QuarantineBatMitzvah #wehadatorahinourhouse
In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the In the midst of the COVID-19 yuckiness and all the crap it has thrown at our family (and so many others), it’s still #GotchaDay and it needs to be celebrated! 🎉 12 years this diva has been with us and we love her more every day. ❤️ 🥘 🍩 @DimSumAndDoughnuts • @sumgirlsboutique #daughterlove #daughterlife #adoptionday
#NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are ad #NationalAdoptionMonth, yo! 🙌🏻 If you are adopted or have an adopted kid, take 20% OFF any one regularly priced item @sumgirlsboutique on Sat, Nov 23 cuz #adoptionrocks! 🎸 ❤️ •
•
#SumGirlsBoutique • Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #downtownberkley
#internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the #internationaldayofthegirl is a day to promote the empowerment of young girls everywhere-but we try to do that everyday @sumgirlsboutique! 💜⭐️ 💪🏻 Come see us and Come Get SUM sooooon! •
•
Trendy, Current, #SustainableFashion + New Apparel & Accessories for Tweens, Teens & Ladies of all Ages in #DowntownBerkley💜@dimsumanddoughnuts
Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it Did not know about #NationalDaughtersDay until it was too late, but I did write a blog post for those divas and it took me a YEAR and I hope they appreciate it one day! 😜😜 #DontBeStupid #mothersanddaughters #growingup  #DimSumAndDoughnuts #sumgirlsboutique •
•
Blog Post link in bio (It’s a gooooood one!)
Photo Cred @mikemoy
Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 Happy #NationalDogDay from this handSUM guy! 💜 #BrunoMarshall #BlackLabs #LoveForDogs
One night only! We were all together, and now they One night only! We were all together, and now they’re all gone... 😢Cody and #BrunoMarshall came to get the divas, and now they’re #camptanuga bound! Bring on the magic • 2019 ❤️🌈⛺️#tanugamagic #tanuga #campwifelife
These two came home from NYC with two new loves: # These two came home from NYC with two new loves: #governorsisland and #pokernight - and the most love for their Uncle D 💛 @dstortion #BKgirls #DimSumAndDoughnuts / @sumgirlsboutique
#BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and c #BrownAndWhiteStripes in our hearts and home and closets forever. ❤️ #DimSumAndDoughnuts #gonebutneverforgotten #henribendel #bendelgirlsforlife #bendelgirls | @henribendel @dimsumanddoughnuts
@dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sum @dimsumanddoughnuts divas #BehindTheScenes at @sumgirlsboutique 💕 @mphmarketingsolutions #DowntownBerkley
So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story So happy we got to be a part of this amazing story and that we are teamed up with the #DrewTransitionCenter in #Detroit! ❤️#SumGirlsBoutique #DimSumAndDoughnuts 
#EmpowerPotential #Confidence #Support #Smiles / @dimsumanddoughnuts
#NationalAdoptionDay 💜 #NationalAdoptionDay 💜
#HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻 #HappyHalloween from #johnandyoko ❤️🎃👻
Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldau Late to the party, as usual. I missed #nationaldaughtersday but these divas are getting a whole blog written for them one day so I don’t feel that guilty! @dimsumanddoughnuts #daughters #sisters #momlife #momblog #dimsumanddoughnuts
Follow on Instagram

heading-find-us-on-facebook
heading-recent-posts

Mona

June 30, 2020

The Eyedeegafs

April 16, 2020

Don’t Be Stupid, Part 2

August 8, 2019

Don’t Be Stupid

August 15, 2018

links

  • Adoptimist.com
heading-connect
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Snapchat
headeing-advertise
MPH Marketing Solutions In Berkley, MI
funky-frog-boutique
camp-tanuge
pronto
Kay_Bratt
 

Copyright © 2021 Dim Sum and Doughnuts

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.