Sunday, March 15, 2009

An Unfortunate Cell Phone Story

I have a story for you. I have to warn you, put down your coffee, soda, bagel, whatever it is you may be eating or drinking.

Ok, now I'll continue.

On Friday I took the girls and met some friends at one of those kid climbing, game playing, pizza eating places (but not Chuck E Cheese - I realize when I typed that it sounded just like Chuck E Cheese and if it was I would have just said I was at Chuck E Cheese!). Of course it's pretty noisy in there and Catherine gets scared by all the noise so she was hanging on me and whining, just adding to the chaos. Then my phone rang and I was trying to talk to my friend over the noise of the place and whining of my daughter. Who then announced she had to go the bathroom. I continued my phone call for a few more seconds as we walked around looking for the bathroom. Catherine chattered away as she went to the bathroom and then I decided to pee too while we were there. As I stood up I heard a "thlop" - kind of like a plop and a thunk.

I actually said out loud "What was that?" But I think deep down I knew.

I turned around to see the bluish glow of my phone's LCD screen IN THE TOILET. THAT HADN't BEEN FLUSHED. Sorry for the all caps, but it's a pretty important point

The next point is the most important of all. Even though it's been a few days it still pains me to write it.

There was more than just pee in the potty. Catherine had done #1 AND #2.

What do you think I did? Let me ask you, what do you think YOU would have done?

I have to tell you that if someone asked me that question my answer would probably be much different than my response. Because I did not hesitate. I stuck my hand into the toilet and pulled it out while my daughter stood next to me saying "Ewwww Mom ewwww. Ewwwwww". Just the kind of encouragment I needed at the time!

My quick reaction may have saved my phone, but the grossness did cloud my judgment and instead of taking my phone apart right away I washed my hands. A few times. With my pants unbuttoned because I couldn't bear to touch anything until my hand was cleaned.

I spent the rest of our time there trying to dry my phone as thoroughly as possible. Every few minutes I would say to my friend "I can't believe this happened."

If that wasn't enough, later on I was walking down the hallway to another section of the play place and was carrying the phone battery with me (not sure why). I stopped to look at something and the battery slipped from my hands, hit my foot and slid across the hall underneath the doorway of a locked door. "You have got to be kidding me". Yes, that is exactly what I said. (of course I was able to get it back, but it just seemed so impossible at the time)

So now it seems like my phone is beyond repair but I'm still hoping that I didn't stick my arm in poo for no reason.

14 comments:

Nancy said...

That is unfortuate...but HILARIOUS!! Sorry, to laugh at your expense, Megan. I dropped my phone is a pool a few years back. It worked after it had a chance to dry out for a few days. It was never the same, however. Yours won't be either, I suppose...

Tasha Antonia Hoover said...

hahaha. You are such a brave woman! :) I do hope the cell phone works and it wasn't all in vain. At least you have a funny story out of it (for the rest of us) Love you. xoxo

shannon_milinovich said...

such a great story!! it sounds like something that would happen to me... although it never has:) i would have done the same thing - not hesitated and gone in after it. i figure as a mom, you are always close to poo (although cade pooped on a book in his crib yesterday and i threw it away - it did enhance the touch and feel farm animal book into a touch, feel and SMELL). i hope your cell phone works again. after i dropped my into a pail of water - i was washing floors -- the youth group kids told me i should have stuck it in a container of dry rice to dry out - you might want to try that:) i have also dropped mine into a nalgene bottle while driving...perfect, right?:)

Erin said...

megs,
i've found that liquid destroys all phones, no matter how short a time they're in there. i actually flushed a cell phone once (didn't notice it fell) and clogged my parent's toilet... at least i didn't feel the need to go in after it! n. also dunked one in a glass of wine... both times they worked briefly afterward, then died... good luck!

Happy said...

I dropped a cell phone in a shallow rain puddle when Noah was a baby and that was the end of it.

However, not really an apples to apples comparison seeing I didn't go poop diving to fetch it out!

shudder.

We moms are incredibly stronger than we often give ourselves credit for.

I think it is hilarious to picture you washing your hands furiously with your pants still unbuttoned!

All in a mom's day's work.

Renee said...

ahhhh! so sorry to hear that megs!! i too, would have gone in after it (although yuck!)
thank you for giving us a good story though...
i'll pray it magically still works :)

Jen said...

Oh Megan. I am so sorry. I did get a good laugh though. But only because I can see that kind of thing happening to me. When Ethan was a baby I took the boys to one of those bounce places. Ethan needed a diaper change and so I brought both boys into the bathroom. Dylan was just 2 and I told him "don't touch anything." Of course that toilet full of water was just too tempting. I turned around just as he began splashing around in the toilet!!!! Ug! I almost cried.
Ok so my story has nothing to do with cell phones but.... Yuck.

Anonymous said...

Don't give up on the phone. I once ran Scott's phone through the washing machine. I was SURE it was toast and it sat on our counter for a few WEEKS. We had tried it a few times but no luck. Then a FEW WEEKS later I tested it one more quick time just "in case" and it worked. It takes them A LOT longer to dry out then we might think. So, don't despair yet. And way to go for taking the deep dive. I would've done it too but with a high pitched whiny voice as I did it!

chrissie k said...

our techie guy at church took his daughter's phone when it was dropped in a puddle and had it in the toaster oven for a few hours at 120 degrees (just enough to be warm but not too warm.) he's insanely smart - so i'd trust his advice!

you are a great writer! i enjoyed the read and yes, laughed out loud. quite a bit.

we easily stick our hands on our children's bums when they poop while infants. why is it so much harder to retrieve things from potties w/ poo?! i've had to go after plenty in our filled potty. we've been trying really hard not to "mellow" yellow any more...... (plus, norah's takin' quite the liking to playing w/ water these days.... quite unfortunate w/ a toddler who pees every 10 minutes.)

Teri said...

Oh. MY. GOSH! SeriouslY? Wow - you were having a rough day. It might be too late now, but if that ever happens again, they say to put your phone into a bowl of uncooked rice ASAP. I hope it's all ok...I'm sure your arm/hand has been amply sanitized since then...

Kerri Smith said...

haha! good move taking out the battery. i DIDN'T do that this fall when my phone got soaked at a rainy Penn State game. it wasn't saved.
fantastic story. i'm sorry it's true!

Cindy said...

You've got to be kidding me is one of my favorite lines. Yesterday when Nathan smashed his face when we were outside playing for the first time this spring I thought oh sure. And then later when Derek smashed his face it was so a you've got to be kidding me time. Actually I think you've got to be kidding me is a great blog starter. I am so sorry about your phone, let me know what happens.

Steph said...

Megan - that was AWESOME. I commend your heroic bravery.

I would have done the same thing.

I also hope that you don't aquire a nickname like "Poopy Fingers."

Hope you are well!!!

Courtney said...

Oh Meg- I wish I could say I don't know how you feel. but alas...I've also had to save a phone from a toilet tragedy (no poop though...you one upped me there!). It was in college at a party, and I was embarrassed so I told my friends I dropped it in the sink. My mom heard about it and asked me if I dropped it in a keg. I had to explain to her that's not how kegs work exactly....
Also- they told me to put it in the oven. Not sure how safe that sounds, but you might want to look into it. And don't try lying to the cell phone company. There is a sticker inside the phone that shows if the phone had been water damaged. Not that I tried that or anything....

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