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Yesterday, I was having a conversation with my friend Sarah as I was leaving work. The ten-minute interval from work to daycare is the only guaranteed time I have to engage in uninterrupted, adult conversation. In most cases the “adult” portion is optional, but such is my life. I use these precious moments to engage in very important, life-altering conversations, like the following:
SARAH: Why is it so disgusting when people store their medication in the work refrigerator?
ME: That’s just gross.
SARAH: But, why is it gross?
ME: It is. It’s just gross. I feel violated just talking about it.
SARAH: How it is any different than someone having a container of Tylenol in their desk drawer?
ME: Totally different topics. I’m okay with your desk drawer. The fridge though? It's a boundary issue for me. There is something repulsive about placing your medication in the fridge next to my salad; does it really need any additional explanation?
SARAH: It has a lid on it though. It’s not going to grow fleas and jump onto your salad.
ME: Okay, I am confused. Do you think it is gross or not, because I can’t interpret this nonsense.
SARAH: I think it’s absolutely appalling. In fact, I can’t even bring myself to put my lunch in that fridge anymore. I don’t understand what makes it so disgusting though, so I needed to come to you for help. I think you need to ask the internet Lyndsay.
So, there you have it. My friends are now using me to get to my inter-peeps. Help us out, would you?
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a colon-prep kit I’m thinking about sneaking into the office fridge. You know, a little experiment of sorts.
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20 comments:
I wouldn't find it freaky... some meds just need to be refrigerated. But then I've had spare grow-your-own-funghi plugs in my fridge for, like, a year so maybe I'm just immune to fridge-y weirdness!
Communal fridges are a bit odd anyway... I would be more worried about someone 'borrowing' my lunch...
P.S. I have 'alist' on word verification, how cool is that?!
I wonder what you would have thought of my bottles of breastmilk back when I was a pumping mom?
Alright Liz, you caught my double-standard ... because I did the same thing. However, I did conceal them in a cooler (recognizing my own phobia) to protect others who were afflicated with the same disease ...
It's gross in a work fridge because I think we have all been in the bathroom when someone leaves without washing their hands. So if you are sick (not saying all meds are because your sick), but then you could be one of those non-hand-washers, in which case that means YOU soread germs! And if my food is there, I don't want your germs even looking into the fridge! I like the cooler idea. I think that is very considerate of others. And breast milk isn't the same. Unless they serve community milk in the office and someone grabbed the wrong container. Meds that need refrigeration are most likely meds for someone who isn't/hasn't been feeling well. So stay home.
Breast milk is food, which goes in the refrigerator so no double standard there, although I do think it should be concealed and not right there in my face. Medicine is not food and you know whoever is reaching for that bottle has some bad germs hanging around that may or may not be flea-like enough to jump around contaminate everything else. Personally, I think it's a little freaky to put my own food in with other people's food so I have never, in the history of my working at places with a refrigerator, -ever- put my lunch in there. Some people just eat strange looking food and I don't want to know about it. Did I mention I have some food issues? No? Well, there ya have it.
Ohhhhhh wow. Breast milk in the office fridge?! I obviously do have fridge phobias as well, unaware of them until just now. Then again, I do not have children (yet, I'm only 23, so that's a good thing) so I haven't gone through breast feeding. But I think in any case I would follow Lyndsay's example and put it in a container that noone would know contained my breast milk. Gives me the heebie jeebies anyway, just thinking about that lol. No offense to ya'll, I mean what are you supposed to do, it has to go somewhere, right?
Mmmm, I hate it cause it sounds like I have a phobia but if your colon prep kit is in the fridge next to my food, I'm gonna come hunt you down. BUT if you hide it in a cooler thing...it's all good.
I had to store my boobie milk in my work fridge with a note to my staff that said, "Touch this and die".
This is Sarah, long time reader, first time commenter. I think that the issue is this: professional privacy. This would relate to any at workish stuff…like it’s ok to change for an after work activity in the bathroom but use a stall, and yes, your husband sent you roses, very cute, but there is a little infraction when you leave the gushy note exposed, breast milk, we understand you have a baby…we know because we have seen ALL the pictures and you might have even openly discussed the breast feeding dramas and trials with us, your work friends and fellow mothers, and you disappear several times a day with a giant black bag, that we pretend we don’t see you leaving with, but please not in a baggie that could leak...in the cooler is acceptable. And it is ok that you have a rash, dietary issues, an infection, bowel problems or what ever, you may have even shared that with us too, but while I am preparing to heat yesterday’s dinner, my preference is to do it without having to move your ointment out of the way because then you get me thinkin’…but if it were in a mysterious brown bag only Rachel’s borrower would see it and get their just reward…
Okay, I wouldn't have a problem with this. I'm not easily grossed-out, though, so I'm not really the person to ask. (Because I'm sure you wrote this post specifically to get my opinion, you know.)
I would have some standards though. I wouldn't have a problem with seeing insulin syringes in the fridge, or a pill bottle with the instructions, "Take three times daily with food." But if it said, "Take as necessary for herpes outbreak," that might have some negative effect on my appetite.
I don't think I have ever commented on your blog but, I read it every day. I just have to tell you that you absolutely crack me up. Your ability to take the mundane, everyday things and make them funny is just remarkable!
That made me laugh out loud! Especially C.Beth's comment!! Ew!!!
I'm with Beth, not easily grossed out. It wouldn't bother me.
Hi friend,
There is an award for you on my blog!
I don't think it would bother me, but then, I work in a clinic....
Honestly I wouldn't even think twice about it. But then again, I have two kids in diapers - I'm bombarded by germs WAY more disgusting than a bottle of antibiotic.
Thanks for the early morning philosophical discussion! :)
I read this and forgot to comment. I'm cool like that.
I think maybe it's a germ thing. I don't like to acknowledge the existence of sick people because then I wonder if they're also contagious people. That's a good way to ruin my turkey sandwich.
So I'd hide my refrigerated meds (my first attempt at that said "medicated fridge", yay headache!) in a brown paper bag, like my liquor.
what a funny conversation....
Trully depends on what kind of meds...don't put any suppositories in my fridge (LOL!)
Lyndsay......
I would rather see someone's meds in the fridge -vs- some of the just plain old nastiness that some people leave behind. Things left in the fridge for only God know how long, growing who knows what?!? ICK, YUCK, GROSS! There are many a conversation within my team that begin with "who does that?" when we see something nasty in the kitchen or the bathroom, yes the bathroom. Pretty sad when you have to start conversations in the kitchen with.... "that XXX stinking thing is not mine" or walking out of the bathroom "beware of the 2nd stall, I did not do that".
So while I prefer meds to be in their own little container, privatly concealed - that is by far better than some of the things that I am subjected to in my office!
Steph
I think it depends on what it is and what you are treating with the medication. I don't want something that is treating some horrible disease right next to my food. And no syringes. When I was pregnant, I got gestational diabetes and had to do blood tests in the office at my desk and everyone got all freaked out but I did it at my desk and I didn't store it in the fridge. I guess the problem is just associating medical stuff with food. Just doesn't mix.
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