My dog pissed in the elevator. His name is JD. For reference, this is what he looks like:
We’ve been living in this apartment for two months now, and up until today, there were no “accidents.” But this morning, as he and I were riding the elevator down for his morning walk, he just let loose. Luckily, he and I were alone in there when it started. But it got worse.
I begged and pleaded for him to stop. But he wouldn’t listen. He looked so confused. How could I be angry? He clearly could not control himself. The poor little guy is always so well behaved. “Dammit, stop!” “Why won’t you stop pissing?!?” But no, it just kept flowing.
The elevator stopped about halfway down. Two people were waiting to get in. But that wasn’t going to happen. We were only a few seconds into our elevator ride by then, but the floor was covered in urine, and he was still going. I waved them off, apologetically. I said something stupid like, “Sorry, he just won’t stop.”
The doors closed, he finally stopped, and we reached the lobby. That’s when my hero appeared. The woman who cleans the common areas of this huge building was vacuuming the lobby carpet. She is possibly the nicest person I’ve met here in Philadelphia and she barely speaks a word of English.
She always smiles anytime we pass each other in the building. And a few days ago, as I was getting into the elevator on my way upstairs, she was inside. She had been riding the elevator, cleaning the mirror-wall, scrubbing the elevator floor, polishing the stainless steel door. When I got in, she was hard at work, but she punched in my floor number without saying a word. I jokingly said something along the lines of, “Hey, you knew my floor. How’d you remember that?” She just smiled and nodded, muttering, “yes, yes.” Anyway, she’s a very nice lady.
So we hit the lobby level and the doors opened. I saw her wrapping up the extension cord to her vacuum. I tip-toed halfway out of the elevator, trying to avoid the piss, while making sure I kept my leg in there, so the door wouldn’t shut. I tried to get her attention. “Ma’am.” “Excuse me, miss.”
She turned around and did that “who me?” gesture, pointing at herself. “Yes, ma’am, could you please help me?” She looked totally confused. She surely had no idea what I was trying to tell her, so she walked toward the elevator to find out what I wanted. She looked inside, and jumped to action.
She didn’t give me a dirty look. She didn’t hesitate. She didn’t sigh. She just cleaned. It was like watching a expert chef chop vegetables. Like instinct just took over. She grabbed a roll of paper towels and some cleaning spray and dove right in. I was worried JD the dog had a little more in him, so I tried to tell her I was taking him outside. “I’m so sorry. I need to take him out. I’ll be right back and I can help you.” She kept cleaning, looked up at me with a smile and said “It’s okay.” The smile said a thousand words. It was the kind of smile you give when you want someone to know you sympathize with them. It was a smile of understanding.
So I took the dog out, and rushed right back. It was surely less than a minute, but by the time we were back in the lobby, the cleaning was complete. She had soaked up the piss, mopped up the elevator floor, then cleaned it with some sort of spray cleaner.
I was so grateful. I just kept saying “thank you” and “I’m sorry” over and over. And again, she said, “it’s okay.”
I told you. She is the nicest person I’ve met in Philly.
I considered trying to repay her for her help. I could give her money, but I don’t want to insult her. She seemed happy to help, with no expectation of reward. I’m not sure if I should do anything different. I will definitely continue to nod and smile when I see her. What else could I do?
Oh yeah, just so you know, my dog really is very well behaved. He simply drank too much water or something. I’m sure of it.
RSS
Cute doggie! What kind of dog is he? I’m looking for a quiet, lazy, white-haired dog. So should I just get another cat instead?
He’s an Italian Greyhound. Big for his breed, about 20 pounds. He’s super cute and very well behaved (just ask Ev - they’re buddies). He is actually quite lazy. He runs around for a couple hours a day, then the rest of the time, he just naps.
your site rocks jj. great stuff.
i really dig the things you learned in AC.
keep up the good work.
peace
p.s. i love your music section…great stuff! i also listen to…
The Arcade Fire, Belle & Sebastian, Beck, Bonnie Prince Billy, Billy Bragg, Wilco, Bright Eyes, Built to Spill, Crooked Fingers, The Decemberists, The Flaming Lips, Franz Ferdinand, Interpol, Joy Division, The Jealous Sound, Low, The Magnetic Fields, Stephen Malkmus, Mercury Rev, Mission of Burma, Modest Mouse, The Polyphonic Spree, Radiohead, Rilo Kiley, Sebadoh ,The Shins, The Strokes, Tenacious D, Weezer, The White Stripes and Yo La Tengo
also…as well as a BUNCH of other stuff.
i just got back from coachella in cali…now i am back to hitting shows in NYC.
KEEP ON ROCKIN THE GOOD STUFF!
PS…I was dangerously close to 30…now i am old. it’s the same…just people make fun of you.
Thanks Strider. You’ve got some great content. Politics, celebrities, current events. Excellent.
Hit me up on e-mail if you’ve got any music recommendations. Sounds like you and I have similar tastes.
Why don’t you buy her some chocolates? That way she can just store them conveniently with her till she’s finished and if she doesn’t eat them, you just know she’ll give them to someone else who will enjoy them and she’ll enjoy knowing she gave to someone else.
She sounds like a wonderful woman.
Stop plying your doggie with Jesus Juice, kid!
“I considered trying to repay her for her help. I could give her money, but I don’t want to insult her.”
Always a tough call.
Great story.
Hi JJ,
You doggie is absolutely adorable. At first I thought he was a Whippet as he looks identical to my dog. Same colour and everything … uncanny
Anyway, welcome to Creme de la Creme. You are from QW, right?
I love your blog and I will be blogrolling you. Have a good day,
Love, T x
Good idea Deb. She might like that.
I know Jackie, but I have a little trouble keeping away from the Jesus Juice myself.
Thanks TS. Yeah, he’s about the size of a whippet. Big for an Italian Greyhound. QW’s JJ? Yes. Rock on.
You can’t see this blog on a mac , but nice dog doggs !!
Oh , I take that back , you can see it fine , it just took a while to fully load !!!
You should get her a card. It’ll last longer.
Thanks for stopping by LCH, you have a very original site.
Hi Mimi! Yeah, the card idea makes sense, but that just opens up a whole new can of worms: card in English, or card in Spanish?
Your layout is awesome! The card idea is nice. It shows sincerity. Hallmark has cards for unique situations, they may have one for “Thanks for cleaning up my dog urine!”
Chicks dig flowers, plants and cards.
If you really want to hook her up though, get her a gift certificate to a local spa, massage room or salon. Chances are she’s hurting and could use the helpout.
Thanks Thao. Likewise on the layout. If they have that card, I will surely buy it.
True, Maine. She would be quite grateful.
I was gonna say cook her something, but Maine’s is way better. Do that.
Great post, JJ. Unfortunately, I’ve gotten home way too late to comment like I want to, so it will just have to wait until tomorrow. But I had to tell you I loved it anyway.
Oh yeah, anyone hire you yet? ; )
Right on, G-Fry.
Thanks, Desult. Yeah, I actually got a job offer Monday. I’ve been waiting to get into it, because it’s still unofficial. They’re doing the whole background/reference check thing. I’m waiting for the official word.
I would go for the candy; it’s enough but not too much. You never know when doggie will have too much water again.
I’ll be smiling for the rest of the afternoon. Cute dog and a cute story: and so well-relayed.
Now you’ve got me worried, Bill. I just hope it doesn’t happen anytime soon!
Thanks, Carmi. You have a great site. Excellent content.
As do you! It’s always wonderful to discover a new must-read blog.
Great story…I think I would have died of embarrassment! Getting her chocolate or flowers would be great: she’d probably cry to think someone “really” appreciates the job she does!
Thanks, Lorianne. You’re right. She’s so nice, she would definitely appreciate the gesture.
damn. they all took my suggestions. i like the chocolates and massage idea. there isn’t a woman on earth who doesn’t love both of those things.
Awesome, Sarah - the secret to making a woman happy. Massages and chocolates. Thanks for the tip!
Give her a Labor Day card with some cash in it or you could wait until Christmas (but risk her not being there). That’s what I would do. It might seem sterile, but it wouldn’t give the impression of being improper.
And what station would be playing “Hey Jack Kerouac” by the 10,000 Maniacs on a Friday night in Port Charlotte, FL? Hell, what station around here would be playing that at all… Whoa… I’m freaked out now…
Sorry… ADD moment…
That might be a good idea, Travis. I don’t want her to think I’m paying her for cleaning up dog piss. I want her to think it’s a tip for overall kindness and quality work.
Speaking of Kerouac, this one’s my favorite.
*lol* Too funny! Beautiful canine, btw.
On another note, beautiful blog. *s* peace
Such kind words, SA. Thanks!
I wish that nice cleaning woman would come to my house and tidy up with a smile.
i heart jd, even if he does piss in elevators.
You have a good site, i enjoyed my stay!
Thanks!
Excellent Web Site! Very professional and full of great information. I am greatly enjoying it. Your enthusiasm is wonderful!!!
Good for you.
Thank you for your wonderful web site and this guest page
Your website is beautifully decorated and easily navigated. I have enjoyed visiting this site today and hope to visit many more times in the future.
Moron. You didn’t even leave a link. Ass. You suck at comment-spamming.
I can find many things that I look for here! Thank you very much!
Lovely. Made my day (which is saying something)
I’ll say something: Your mother shows her tits for tips.
Just give her a big hug, maybe a little pat on the butt, like saying “good play” at a football game . Let her know she’s appreciated.
Hahaha!! Fantastic.
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Anon:
I hope you grow gigantic bleeding genital warts.
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You’re boring me.
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[…] Okay, here we go. It started back in early August with my post about the time my little dog pissed all over the floor of our apartment building elevator: You have a good site, i enjoyed my stay! Left by Anonymous on August 4th, 2005 […]
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