rose.

You think you have a crappy job? Like, actually poopy? I doubt this is true for many of you, if any.

As a young professional working in student housing you see your fair share of wild things, crazy things, things that make you shake your head and go WTF! And, as any Res Lifer can attest to - being on call sucks. The call I got the other night was none of those things, it was way worse.

So let me create this picture for you. Just imagine this. Sunday Night roughly 10:30pm. On call since the previous Tuesday - only 2 sleeps until I was rid of that dastardly on call mic-phone. I literally just stepped into my teeny apartment with the boyfriend, threw my hockey bag in the spare room to air out my gear. I was getting ready for my post game shower (because girls don’t shower at the hockey rink, they is nasty) and what do I hear - someone radio-ing me on that damn on-call phone.

“Hey sorry to bug you, but, uh, there is a flood at this building, should I call maintenance?”

‘Well RA - How bad is the flood? Is it just a small leak? Where is the water?’

“It’s in a pump room and there is water - it’s not really stopping…”

‘Alright, I’m on my way, meet me in the lobby’

So I get to the other building and take a walk down to the pump room. As I get closer I smell this rank odor lingering in the hallway. I didn’t think much of it because as you know, it is residence. As I get to the pump room the other RA is holding the door - giggling out of sheer panic.

WATER. EVERYWHERE.

Not just regular fresh clean water. NO, NO. The out going sewage pipe decided it was a great time to burst.

My first thought - SHIT -  SHIT that is a lot of water. SHIT it is not stopping. SHIT is literally on the floor. Like itty bitty turds.

After my 10 second panic/anxiety attacked stopped and I got my wits back - Maintenance was called - but no answer. SHIT. After instructing the front desk staff to call a maintenance guy until one was available to come in I ran back with mops and wet/dry Vacs and fans and searched for the shut off. 15 minutes later my hero arrived and was able to make a repair that would last the night. Then vanished.

It was from then on until 1:30 am I was in a tiny pump room with two of my wonderful RA staff mopping and shop vac-ing shitty water off the floor. This stuff got everywhere. It stuck to the pipes, made its way to the corners, created a sludge. But what boggled my mind is that it wasn’t just poop in this water. There were shoelaces, panty liners and there was SO MUCH RICE! And vegetables. really? REALLY. I honestly don’t know if I can ever look at chicken fried rice the same ever again. But why are people flushing that? I didn’t understand - And quite frankly - I don’t think I ever want to.

So finally 1:30 am rolls around. Poop is cleaned. I have sprayed an entire bottle of disinfectant spray, used a full bottle of Air Freshener and threw away two brooms My nice cozy boots and socks are in the garbage and I am in a pair of my RA’s sandals. I warm up my trusty Honda and take the staff to McDonalds. Hell - We deserved a damn McFlurry.

So the next time you are thinking about how shitty your job is, just ask yourself, Did I clean up poop today? I know what my answer will be…..

                                 R.I.P Boots, socks and Mocs.