The Bendalls are back safe and sound in Tokes albeit slightly beaten up by so much flying, jet lag and the after effects of spicy South Indian food (gets me every bloody time). I have so many emails to type, photos to organize, work to do, so I may be a little slow in contacting everyone I need to contact. I also need to follow up on the pinku secret hair accessories swap. First I have a story for you.
That's actually a picture of us in Milwaukee where I met my father-in-law and his wife for the very first time. Have you ever seen that movie, 'Meet the Parents' where everything that could go wrong does go wrong when poor ol' Ben Stiller meets his fiancee's parents? Well, I pretty much did a Ben Stiller when I was in Milwaukee. What did I do, you ask?
I broke my in-laws toilet less than 24 hours after meeting them for the first time. Here's the proof:
Read the extended post for all the gory details....
Damn. How could I be so unlucky? Darin's dad's house is a beautiful old house in the suburbs of Milwaukee and their garden (pictured above) is their pride and joy (apart from their cat Louie of course - thank god I didn't hurt the cat like in Meet the Parents!!). So there are two toilets at their house - a boy's bathroom and a girl's bathroom. The boy's one is in the basement among tools and other boy things. The girl's one is upstairs in an airy, light bathroom with a view of the garden. So just before we leave the house to visit Darin's grandparents on day one, Darin offers to show me the basement. While we are down there, he uses the bathroom (with no problems I might add) and then I think, well since I am here - why not? I do my business and as I turn around on the seat while sitting on the toilet I hear a massive crack (the whole back of the toilet base snaps off) and the whole front of the toilet lifts up. I am absolutely mortified. I still hadn't flushed you see and there was stuff in that toilet that in-laws should never see. I think to myself - to flush or not? Is the water going to overflow? Is the whole toilet going to break off the wall? I decide that I have to flush. Water does not overflow BUT I face the next problem...everytime I try to stand up it seems as if the whole toilet is going to rip out of the ground. Damn. What to do? Do I call Darin who has in the meantime gone to wait in the car with his dad? I successfully get off the toilet and with a feeling of dread run up the stairs and in a panic tell my father-in-law's wife that I have broken the toilet seat. She says don't worry. I insist that this is serious and that it's actually not just the toilet seat but the WHOLE damn toilet. Anyway, to cut a long story short, Darin's dad stays home that day to completely replace the toilet while we sightsee in Milwaukee. Can you believe it? I still can't - I mean there was obviously an existing crack there already I was just the unlucky one, but still....Later that day we visit Darin's grandparents and as we are leaving, Darin's grandad asks if I want to use their toilet with a smile on his face........
EEK! What are the chances? Good ice-breaker though, no? I love "the Bendalls" sign too!
Posted by: dana | June 13, 2005 at 02:56 PM
LOL! That's not too bad, at least you didn't overflow the toilet. Since there was a crack there already, you really can't blame yourself. Can't wait to see the rest of your pics.
Posted by: Liz | June 13, 2005 at 03:01 PM
Sorry for the double post, but I just notice after I clicked post that your Google Ads are for toilets, lol! Now that's funny!
Posted by: Liz | June 13, 2005 at 03:02 PM
Poor Pinku!
Posted by: Nadia | June 13, 2005 at 04:40 PM
"The cat can't flush!" :-)
I'm so sorry, I'm sure this was a mortifying moment - but what a story! If it's any consolation - things like these actually make people even more lovable. Who needs perfect?
Posted by: Anke | June 13, 2005 at 05:07 PM
Oh man... That must have sincerely sucked for you. I bet the in-laws were mortified that it happened to you while you were visiting. Clearly the thing was ready to break with whoever sat on it next. Not the impression you want to make on someone visiting your house for the first time.
Posted by: cari | June 13, 2005 at 09:05 PM
Man, that sucks! Someday, it's going to be one of those funny stories that you pull out at family functions!:) You should be getting your hair stuff any day now...I sent it off last Tuesday!
Posted by: Stacey | June 13, 2005 at 11:58 PM
hahahah, oh my god kat!! that's funny. you remind me of my cousin kate who completely screws up every toilet she comes in contact with :) glad to hear that you're back safe and sound in tokyo!
Posted by: gleek | June 14, 2005 at 12:58 AM
Oh My Gosh - That's so funny!!! And to think you live in the land of hi-tech toilets...
Posted by: Stephanie VW | June 14, 2005 at 01:55 AM
Aw, man! What bad luck!! You are gonna be hearing about that for YEARS now...
Love your new banner- haha
Posted by: frecklegirl | June 14, 2005 at 02:11 AM
Thank you for telling that story. How embarassing, but obviously not your fault! I feel mortified on your behalf, but I really needed some amuseument today.
Good luck with that jet lag!
Posted by: Amy | June 14, 2005 at 02:25 AM
I think that the best part of this story is the google ads that are displayed in the right-hand column: "Kohler toilet seat" and "low-flush toilets" on my computer.
Seriously, though, this would be my worst nightmare, and it sounds like you handled it amazingly well.
Posted by: Kim | June 14, 2005 at 04:14 AM
I absolutely love Meet the Parents...have yet to see Meet the Fockers.
I could hardly believe your story, what are the chances? I would have been mortified. I am sure they think you are great, this will be a favorite story of for years to come.
Lucky you :)
Posted by: Beth | June 14, 2005 at 08:24 AM
OMG KAT! that is absolutely hysterical and HORRIFIC at the same time... and just completely out of the movie. be prepared because you know that story is going to be one that's told over and over again at family gatherings! (^_^)
Posted by: joy | June 15, 2005 at 12:23 AM
Oh, Kat!! That is mortifying!! I can't help laughing, but mostly I'm just so glad that hasn't happened to me (yet!). They will never let you forget about it, either. Ai-yi-yi.
Posted by: alison | June 15, 2005 at 03:46 AM