My elementary school had a big, round, communal concrete sink in the boy's room. There was a bar around the base you stepped on, and metal mushroom shaped thing in the middle that spritzed water like a lawn sprinkler

we had them at camp .

I always though the hook thiefs probbably happened -- but I'm stareing at it - how far is it gonna go before I notice it moving and grab it... how long before I notice some one at my door. the only place it might be a problem is one of those big public bathrooms with an entrence and an exit

I went to Palo verde, a few years ahead of you, bon. And I got the graffiti-laden bathroom...it was, um, an education in its own right.

Seriously, I'm sitting here infuriated on your (and any other girl this happened to) behalf. (Can I assume you're ok now, 20 or whatever years later?)

You're so sweet! Thanks, but I'm cool. It helped that, even though I was an early pubescent (training bra in 4th grade, period in 5th, hit top height of 5'8" in 6th), I ended up right in the average range in terms of bra size and height. I still have body issues, but they're weight-related, not puberty stuff. (The memories of having my teacher notice that I bled through my light-colored pants, the female classmate who liked to drive-by pinch my boobs, being mistaken for a teacher in 4th-grade, though, those are everlasting. Yay.)

I'm one of those people who hate chatter in the bathroom. It's worse than chatter in an elevator.

Other day I waited for and rode an elevator with some fellow talking on a cell phone. And his end of the conversation went like this: "Right.... right.... right...... uh huh..... right .... that's right.....right..." I wanted to reach out and smack him.

I'm one of those people who hate chatter in the bathroom.

Why? I ask this as someone who detests it, but since I don't mind it so much at home, I wonder why.

I wanted to reach out and smack him.

No jury in the world would've convicted you.

Bathrooms should be temples of silence. The business to be conducted is of a highly personal nature and unless you're talking to yourself, there's really no room for discussion.

But at home I don't mind it so much either.

I think because we all try to pretend we go in to wash our hands.

The worst communal bathrooms are the military style ones with a line of toilets and no stalls whatsoever. You occasionally find them in older locker rooms.

Hi, how ya doin?

I mind it at home, too. Of course, I live alone, so mostly what I mean is I mind it when my mother comes into the bathroom to talk to me while I'm peeing at her house.