As most of you already know, Dre is in the process of remodeling our main bathroom this month. We have a weird basement bathroom to tide us over, but the water pressure in the downstairs shower has proven quite weak. Think “sink faucet” weak. It does the job for a quick rinse-off, but makes long hair washing almost impossible.
There’s a shower at my work though, so today I brought my towel and shampoo and made a plan to tuck into the shower room for a minute. But I kept putting it off. It just felt weird. “See you in a bit, coworkers — I’m going to go get naked now!”
As my day drew to a close, however, I decided I had to just go do it. I felt like I needed to be sneaky — I didn’t want anyone seeing me go into the shower room, which is just off a hallway. I didn’t want anyone to see me and think, “She’s going to take off her clothes now.” It just seemed somehow wrong. I’m ok for making colonoscopy jokes at work, but my own nakedness felt taboo.
We just moved to a new office, and I went into the shower room to find the room a little lacking. There was no curtain on the shower, meaning that the only thing between me and a hallway teeming with coworkers was one door. I would be totally exposed, showering in a little room in the middle of my office. I locked the door and put a chair in front of it.
Then I took off my clothes. AT WORK! And a took a shower and washed my hair. It felt so deeply weird, like I was sexually harassing myself or something. Like I was Demi Moore in that awful Michael Douglas movie from the ’90s.
After I got out of the shower and combed my hair, I was hyper-paranoid about cleaning up after myself. Not a single stray hair could be left anywhere — who else in the office has long brown hair with pink tips? Everyone would know I was showering and brushing my hair in that room! I got dressed, braided my wet hair, and went back to my desk and sat down. My boss looked at me. And then all propriety went out the window as I bugged my eyes and blurted, “Oh my god — I was just naked!”
Hey there. I'm Ariel Meadow Stallings, a native Seattleite who's written my way up and down the Left Coast. Electrolicious is where I post daily randomata, but I also write for a living. My first book, Offbeat Bride, was published last year.
You're reading a page from the archives. Check the homepage for current content.
By Jane
October 9th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Oh I am so d’accord.
Daniel Jackson
October 9th, 2006 at 11:56 pm
Oh my…
lily
October 10th, 2006 at 8:21 am
ok that’s AWESOME.
Esther
October 10th, 2006 at 9:24 am
Next time, just come in early
joe
October 10th, 2006 at 9:51 am
that’s great! i’ve always felt weird about using the shower, but couldn’t put my finger on it. you totally nailed it! it’s kinda funny too…when else can yo be naked at work that doesn’t involve a potential lawsuit or jail time?
brodie
October 10th, 2006 at 1:03 pm
you know i used to have that same feeling at a school where there was no teachers bathroom. totally creepy to be making #2 in a stall next to a kid. whose idea was THAT!?! wow. (granted it was during some construction) . On a seperate note, I spent last weekend on Vashon Island. Oh man. This desert kid was in heaven. Clear blue skies. Perfect temp. I loved every last second of it. I think you seatlle folks must live for summers, huh ?
sally
October 11th, 2006 at 9:00 am
Wow - you guys have a shower at work??
DOUG.
October 11th, 2006 at 11:27 am
Come on, man, it’s all the rage.
Kate
October 12th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
We’re working on finishing the shower room!! Shower curtain and towel hooks are on the way.
I use that room 3-4 times a day to pump, so I know how you feel. But after you’ve done it several times, you adjust and it no longer seems weird.
I think we need some decoration in there - what do you think?
Playapixie
October 12th, 2006 at 9:12 pm
Laughing my ass off. Why on earth were you freaked out about being naked?????
imaginary dana
October 16th, 2006 at 6:31 pm
You were sneaky — I had no idea!!!!