#rent a porta potty

[rainbowrestrooms]

Portable Restroom Rentals: Simplifying Sanitation for Every Occasion

Planning an event or managing a project comes with numerous challenges, but providing clean and convenient restroom facilities shouldn’t be one of them. Portable restroom rentals are the perfect solution to ensure hygiene and comfort, no matter the location or scale of your needs.

The Convenience of Portable Restroom Rentals

Imagine hosting a wedding at a scenic outdoor venue or managing a bustling construction site. Portable restrooms ensure that sanitation is never a concern. Here’s why they’re indispensable:

Ease of Access: Portable restrooms can be strategically placed to maximize convenience. Time-Saving: No need to waste time searching for restrooms. Professional Maintenance: Providers handle cleaning and waste removal, keeping restrooms in top condition.

Variety to Meet Every Need

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all portable restrooms. Modern rentals offer a variety of options to suit specific needs:

Basic Units: Budget-friendly and functional for construction sites or small events. Luxury Restrooms: Perfect for weddings and VIP events, featuring upscale interiors and modern amenities. Family-Friendly Units: Designed with extra space for parents and children. ADA-Accessible Restrooms: Ensuring inclusivity for all guests.

Top Reasons to Rent from Porta Potty Service

At Porta Potty Service, we prioritize customer satisfaction and hygiene. Here’s what sets us apart:

Nationwide Availability: No matter where you are, we’ll deliver on time. Flexible Rental Options: From short-term needs to long-term projects, we’ve got you covered. Affordable Pricing: Quality rentals at budget-friendly rates. Dedicated Support: Our team is available to answer questions and provide assistance.

Tips for a Successful Rental Experience

To make the most of your portable restroom rental, consider these tips:

Plan Ahead: Book early to secure the best options for your event or project. Choose the Right Quantity: Ensure enough restrooms to accommodate your crowd. Add Handwashing Stations: Promote hygiene with these convenient add-ons. Communicate Clearly: Share delivery details and site-specific needs with your provider.

Portable restrooms make sanitation simple and stress-free, allowing you to focus on what matters most. Whether it’s an elegant wedding or a demanding worksite, Porta Potty Service has the perfect solution for you.

Simplify your sanitation needs today—visit www.portapottyservice.com or call 877-240-4411 to book your portable restroom rental.

[stacymdemeo]

Whether overseeing a bustling construction site in Savannah or planning an exciting outdoor festival, one essential item you can’t overlook is the portable toilet. If you want to rent a porta potty in Savannah, this article provides useful insights into how portable toilets facilitate various industries. Learn more - https://bizzbloc.com/from-construction-sites-to-festivals-how-portable-toilets-support-different-industries/

[1stjonusa]

1st Jon Portable Restroom Services Where Quality Matters

1st Jon Portable Restroom For Rent Services stands as a beacon of excellence, where quality matters above all. Our commitment to providing impeccable portable restroom solutions ensures that every event, construction site, or gathering receives the utmost cleanliness and convenience. With a fleet of well-maintained, modern facilities, we prioritize hygiene and customer satisfaction. Choose 1st Jon for your portable restroom needs and experience the difference quality makes. Your comfort and sanitation are our top priorities.

[gidyolf]

how did it know

[sea-salted-wolverine]

No one should ever go to Kasilof. It is a terrible place with terrible weather and overflowing porta potties and overstuffed dumpsters with child snatching and dogfighting and some crazy guy swinging a sword that got shot by the cops. Awful stuff really. Best avoided. Just not worth the bother.

That was the gist of the news stories leading up to the kasilof sockeye runs this year it was no issue at all to find a camping spot and it wasn't nearly as crowded so I totally agree with the mainstream media on this one. It's a den of vice and iniquity. Stay away. The rent lowering gunshots clipped a reporter.

So this year we went down with a largish caravan of 4 family's worth of people and junk and a limit of 170 fish to catch. We're soo good at planning and logistics that this went off with no hitch and no arguments (lying). Since we also had a very pregnant lady and excited 2 year old who would not be fishing but were still counted towards the limit we planned on being there for a while, at least 3 days if not more. We also had the damn dog.

So at least I was planning on a few days of chill fishing and a long slog. My brother in law left an hour or so early with his girlfriend and had one job, to find us a good spot to descend upon and set up our camp. They did not do this. One job. The fishing was hot so they didn't even really bother to park, we pulled up on his truck kinda packed off to the side of the road and he was down in the water with a pile of fish on the beach because he didn't even have a cooler ready.

So by the time we bitched him out, found a campsite, set up camp and squared everything away, it was approaching midnight. This is normal, you fish the tides as they come and its not like it gets dark so wandering the beach all night long is expected so long as you're considerate of those trying to sleep.

But then.

My Sunshineman brought his boat. I knew he brought his boat, I was in fact the one arguing that he needed to do things like park and set up camp rather than do exactly what his brother did and throw himself into the river as soon as he saw fish coming in, while neglecting those little things like, food and sleep. But since we were done setting up, he wanted to go fishing from his boat. At midnight.

I had been up early that morning to do terrible things in the bilge of a different, much larger boat that resulted in fun colored bruises on my ribs and sore shoulders, so I wasn't particularly feeling the vibe on this one. I helped launch the boat and then bowed out to go pass out in a pile of blankies in the sand.

In the time it took two set up camp and launch the boat Adak, the dog, managed to get into a fight and have his face ripped up. He is huge and he is stupid but he doesn't take shit but he was on leash while the other dog was running loose, so the impulse was to pull him back, if he had been left to his own we probably would have gotten away with out anyone getting bit.

He's fine and chicks dig scars but its indicative that I had no idea this happened 25 yards away from me until adak came up to me and smeared his face all over my pants. My pants already had engine grease, bilge slime, grass stains, fish guts, coffee, mud, sand and a few baby boogers on them so what's a little dog blood too?

So yea, not my circus, not my monkeys, in tent, pants off, pjs on, cozy bitch in the blankies, out like a light, nothing better than sleeping on the beach.

Except for the fact that your husband wakes you up at 2 AM asking for help.

I'm convinced he kept it vague on purpose.

I'm up. I'm out of the tent. I'm still in my pj's. I have my drysuit on over top. My waders have a hole in them. It is, I cannot stress this enough, 2 AM.

The boat is a 16 foot mil surplus zodiac with a 40 horse Johnson, if you care about that sort of thing. It gets nice comments from people who do care. We usually run one person to drive, 2 to work the nets, and one optional person to handle fish as they come in. Sunshine went out with our 2 friends who AFAIK crawled off the boat and directly into bed after 2 solid hours of midnight deathmatch fishing, because I watched them stumble out of the boat and didn't see them again until breakfast. The boat was entirely full of fish. THEY CAUGHT 49 FISH IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS. Kasilof reds are usually smaller than Kenai reds but there must have been a secondary run because half were the average 6 or 7 pound fish and the rest were something like 10 lbs each.

At some point sunshine must have woken up his brother because he materialized from somewhere and we got the fish out of the boat into a cooler so we could drag them up to clean them. Then came the thing that we're all still more than a smidge irritated about. Sunshine went back out in the boat, by himself, to go get more fish while BIL and I cleaned the ones he had just brought back. We couldn't even yell at him because a good chunk of the beach was asleep.

So at about 4 am the sky has decided to shift from twilight to morning and I am sitting on a cooler of gutted fish in a superbly uncomfortable drysuit having a moment of perfect communication with the bald eagle sitting on the light pole at the end of the dock. We would both enjoy breakfast, preferably of fish. But it is four fucking am in the morning. And we should both be alseep. Breakfast is not a meal best enjoyed at 4 am. A nap sounds best.

Sunshine comes back with 3 more fish. I honestly do not remember what happened to those fish. Either I gutted them or he gutted them or maybe they got raptured into fishy heaven, (which looks suspiciously like the inside of a cooler) I legitimately do not know, because I think my REM cycle was starting up again.

I get a hand to haul the cooler back to camp. I peel out of the dry suit and was asleep back in my cozy sleeping bag blanket pile before Sunshine even made it to the tent.

At something like, idk, 6am, someone started splitting wood. loudly. I was awake enough to identify that it was near, and probably not a problem and I distinctly remember making the semi conscious decision to sleep through it. At about this point my phone died and for the rest of this trip I had no idea what time it was. I intended to take pictures and document things and whatnot and that just did not happen. The phone stayed dead and my hands stayed busy.

I woke up last, presumably because the demon that compels my mother-in-law to get up at 5 AM every morning had already woken everyone up with the wood splitting. She was toasting breakfast burritos, and it wasn't as if I had slept through the whole morning because I wasn't even the last to get a burrito.

My FIL made a joke that at least one of us got a full 8 hours and BIL earned back all his brownie points by jumping in to defend me unprompted. She was indeed up at ungodly hours playing with knives and dead fish. How dare you impune her honor simply because she looks so dewy fresh after sleeping in the dirt?

I did at least get the chance to put a net in the water from the beach but we were limited out by 1pm. That's enough fish fast enough that we were dumping out food and drinks coolers because we planned on freeing up space as we went. So I had our camp that we had intended to stay in for as long as a week broken down and hundreds of pounds of fish gutted and iced in a few hours. While drinking, because we had several days worth of food and drinks and beers that had been displaced by fish. The solstice vodka lemonade from matanuska brewing is great btw.

We had planned to overlap the end of our trip with the beginning of my mom and sister coming down so we could fish together, so I called mom as were were leaving the beach. From Sunshineman's phone of course, mine being dead at the bottom of a bag somewhere. As the current time was something like 16 hours from when we arrived, she assumed I forgot something or was just calling to tell her about the nice weather, or terrible weather, or confirming the news report's porta potty horror story. She didn't expect us to pull in a years worth of food in a single tide cycle.

So we get home without incident, and get to cleaning and fileting and packing and labeling at, some, late, evening time, maybe? I'm time blind on a good day and if I had a watch it would be covered in fish slime.

So yeah, this year's fish camp was condensed into a single solid slug of dense firey whatthefuckFISHfishFISHcleanpackgutgohome. Niece creature didn't want to change our of pj's so she wore the same outfit for her entire trip which is spectacular from a laundry standpoint because a toddler given free reign to a muddy fishy beach goes about as well as expected. She had a ball and then napped through almost the entire cleaning and packing process when we got home, which is what I wanted to do but instead I fileted triple digits worth of fish.

Mom went down later for the weekend and she got rained on for 3 days and caught 7 fish and a flounder. We caught the hot run and came home with fish but at what cost?

[beingharsh]

"Yellow Ball Python", Marguerite Sheffer, The Man in the Banana Trees

—

Laminated eight-and-a-half-by-eleven posters on every telephone pole in a three-block radius announced that our neighbors had lost their yellow ball python. We stopped to read the signs while the dog tugged and pissed. Black text on a white background—no snake photos, just a sun emoji to lighten the mood. Sunny was LOVED and LOST, also SKITTISH, but FRIENDLY, NOT DANGEROUS, and NONVENOMOUS.

TEXT IF FOUND. DO NOT TRY TO HANDLE.

Soon after, we started the chain of jokes. One of us stepped out for a jog: “Watch out for yellow ball pythons!” Opening a car door. Of course, the ceiling vents. Climbing the ladder to the attic to pull down orange-and-purple Halloween lights. Opening grocery bags, backpacks, loads of laundry. Pointing out nonsensical things on the road to Costco, neither yellow nor slinky enough to be the missing snake.

“I think I see it, there, the yellow ball python.”

“No, that’s just a blue tarp python.”

“Oh, my mistake.”

It got more absurd. Anyplace a python might fit, then anyplace they couldn’t. In the oven; in an email.

“I’ll show you my yellow ball python.”

“Oh yeah?”

Peeking in each other’s ears, like bushy-eyebrowed magic uncles who extract gold coins. In every mundane task, a yellow snake lurked; one rumored to be kind, but still a snake, after all, with fangs.

In a porta-potty before an early a.m. road race, I envisioned the python curled in the basin below me, waiting to unleash its nonvenomous bite. I told you and you laughed and then we ran.

“Stay vigilant.”

You beat my time. I watched you pull farther and farther ahead.

· · ·

We ran out of places it might be hiding. Or our imaginations weren’t up to it. The joke got old, got stale.

“I get it. Can we be serious? Please?”

“You used to be fun.”

The laminated signs came down. I liked to think Sunny made it home; you thought his former family just gave up looking.

I googled couples therapists. We’d settled into our routines so fast—too fast. We’d only been living together for eight months. I felt absurd.

Was this surrender? Or was it surrender not to try?

· · ·

I found him after we hadn’t spoken in a few weeks. You were still paying half the rent—so level-headed, so kind. We were working out a custody agreement for the dog.

It was one of those warm red nights when everything feels like it is thrashing; the kind of atmosphere that must get sailors worried, or delighted—one or the other, I can never recall. I almost missed it. A flash of yellow in my peripheral vision—under a bush in the parking lot of our Chipotle. A buttery coil. It was muscular. It was bracingly alive, trying to hold itself still but flexing just a little; thick, scaly, and gleaming. The python’s spade head was pressed into its curves, to cower or to strike.

It looked back at me. It did not appear to be dying of hunger. Maybe someone was bringing it burrito bowls.

I imagined reaching for it, avoiding the eerie jaws. They were closed now, but I knew they could yawn open, swallow me whole. How do people hold pythons, heavy and strange, without spilling them? Without hurting them, or getting bit? You should have been with me, within arm’s reach, looking over my shoulder. Then I might have been braver. The space where you were not, maybe that’s where all the evening’s electricity was coming from.

I stayed still. The python was rotating its coils in that alien way, not actually moving, just motioning within its territory, repositioning, preparing, all potential energy. It might strike; it might flee; it might stay.

I took a step back. I took a photo to send to you.

We’d agreed to take a cooling off period, but surely this was a reason to break our reasonable, self-imposed rules. I’d won! I’d found it, the real thing. You were the only person on earth who would get it completely, who might celebrate with me.

But on my phone, it looked rubber, so fake that you might think I’d planted it there.

Off the border of the screen, the python was dappled with light in its hiding place. Probably it wanted nothing to do with us, just wanted to eat rodents and roam parking lots and slither, belly low, menacing exposed ankles, shedding dead skin to be always new, freshly stamped. The yellow ball python belonged in the equatorial grasslands, but against all odds, it was thriving in the suburbs, unconcerned and uncontained.

I deleted the photo. I walked away. I didn’t want proof. I didn’t want the game to end; I didn’t want to stop looking for improbable pythons in the piping of our everyday lives, for this wild thing between us. I didn’t want you to stop looking.

[egberts]

the way the neighbors that had their house surrounded by 50 cops telling them to come outside with their hands up on a megaphone with the whole street blocked off a month ago just had a massive two night long party that they rented a porta-potty for ☠️ what are these peoples' lives.

[jamisonwieser]

San Francisco Noe Valley Town Square — home to the world's most famous bathroom — has come a long way.

15 years ago, it was a parking lot along the neighborhood's main retail corridor. In 2016, it re-opened as a public plaza.

Along with a lot of open space, the plaza includes a small playground, a short nature trail with hidden sculptures, shared areas, a little free library, a notice board, murals along the neighboring building walls, and accessible public bathroom with diaper changing station.

The town square is home to their weekly farmers market, fairs, events, music (while I was there yesterday a free concert of Portuguese folks songs) and bathroom that opened last month permanently eliminates the added cost and the gross of renting a porta-potty for permitted events.

[rainbowrestrooms]

The Essential Guide to Portable Restroom Rentals

When planning outdoor events, managing construction projects or hosting large gatherings, portable restroom rentals play a crucial role in ensuring comfort and hygiene. These units not only provide a convenient solution for attendees or workers but also help maintain cleanliness and sanitation standards at the site.

This blog explores the key benefits, types of portable toilets and tips for renting the right unit to make your event or project successful and stress-free.

Why Portable Restrooms Are a Must-Have

Portable restrooms are no longer a luxury—they're a necessity. They offer:

Convenience: Easy accessibility for guests, workers or attendees. Hygiene Standards: Modern portable toilets come equipped with essential amenities like hand sanitizers, flushing systems and well-ventilated interiors. Environmental Benefits: Eco-friendly units help conserve water and minimize waste. Compliance with Regulations: Many jurisdictions require adequate restroom facilities for events or job sites.

Types of Portable Toilets

Understanding the different types of portable restrooms can help you choose the best fit for your needs.

Standard Portable Toilets: The most common option, ideal for construction sites or small events. Deluxe Restroom Trailers: Perfect for weddings or VIP events, offering upscale amenities like mirrors, lighting and spacious interiors. ADA-Compliant Units: Designed for individuals with mobility challenges, these restrooms provide extra space and accessibility features. Luxury Portable Restrooms: These units elevate comfort with features like flushing toilets, sinks and climate control. Specialty Units: Options include portable showers, handwashing stations or units designed for specific industries.

Factors to Consider When Renting Portable Restrooms

Renting the right portable toilet involves considering several factors:

Event Type and Size: A music festival will have vastly different restroom needs than a small outdoor wedding. Duration of Use: The longer the event, the more units you'll need to ensure cleanliness and availability. Location: Choose units suited to the terrain and weather conditions of your site. Budget: Determine your budget while ensuring quality and hygiene are not compromised. Additional Features: Consider add-ons like handwashing stations, lighting or luxury options for guest comfort.

Tips for a Successful Rental Experience

Plan Ahead: Book early, especially during peak seasons. Calculate the Right Quantity: Follow industry guidelines to avoid long lines or restroom shortages. Ensure Accessibility: Position restrooms in easily accessible locations for guests and staff. Maintenance Services: Opt for regular cleaning and restocking to maintain hygiene throughout your event.

Conclusion

Portable restroom rentals are an essential part of event planning and site management. By choosing the right type, quantity and features, you can ensure a comfortable and sanitary experience for everyone.

For more information, visit www.portapottyservice.com or call us at 877-240-4411.

[cumandcoffee]

Would You Rather?

Would you rather be forced to rent a porta potty located on your parents front lawn with no door on it, while you give Snapchat blumpkins to all comers?

OR

Would you rather spend all day crawling around under tables sucking dick at a homeless shelter on Christmas 🎄🎁?

i have no idea what a blumpkin is so im automatically going with sucking cock♥️ theres no reason they shouldnt get a little christmas present

[1stjonusa]

Why Portable Toilet Rentals are a Must for Construction Sites

Construction sites are bustling hubs of activity where workers, contractors, and engineers are dedicated to bringing architectural dreams to life. However, amidst all the productivity and heavy machinery, there's one essential element that often gets overlooked – portable toilets. These unassuming structures play a pivotal role in ensuring the well-being and efficiency of construction sites. In this blog, we'll delve into why portable toilet rentals are an absolute necessity for construction sites.

Promoting Worker Productivity

A construction site's success hinges on the efficiency and productivity of its workforce. Adequate access to sanitation facilities directly impacts how efficiently workers can perform their tasks. With clean portable restroom on-site, employees don't have to waste time searching for distant restrooms. They can quickly attend to their needs, reducing downtime and improving overall productivity.

Compliance with Regulations

Local, state, and federal regulations often require construction sites to provide sanitary facilities for their workers. Failure to comply can lead to fines, penalties, and even work stoppages. Portable toilet rentals ensure that you remain compliant with these regulations, avoiding legal hassles and maintaining a positive reputation within the construction industry.

Improved Hygiene and Health:

Construction sites can be dusty, dirty, and potentially hazardous environments. Adequate access to portable toilets helps maintain a higher level of personal hygiene for workers. This, in turn, reduces the risk of health issues and the spread of infections. Maintaining a clean and hygienic environment can also boost worker morale and job satisfaction.

Cost-Effective Solution

The cost of a portable restroom for rent is relatively low compared to the expenses associated with construction projects. The productivity gains and reduced downtime make them a cost-effective investment. Additionally, renting portable toilets saves you from the capital and maintenance costs of constructing permanent facilities.

Environmental Considerations

Many modern portable toilets are designed to be environmentally friendly. They use less water and often incorporate eco-friendly chemicals for waste management. These green options help reduce the environmental impact of construction sites, which is increasingly important in today's eco-conscious world.

Convenience for Workers

Construction sites are often located in areas with limited access to public restrooms. Providing portable toilet service ensures that workers have a convenient and clean place to relieve themselves. This convenience not only contributes to their well-being but also their job satisfaction.

Enhanced Site Organization

Construction sites are already complex environments with various equipment, materials, and safety protocols in place. Portable toilets, strategically placed around the site, help in better organizing the workspace. Workers can quickly locate the facilities, reducing confusion and optimizing the workflow.

Positive Image and Reputation

An organized, safe, and hygienic construction site not only benefits workers but also enhances the image and reputation of your construction company. Clients and stakeholders are more likely to trust and collaborate with a company that prioritizes the well-being of its workforce and adheres to regulations.

Scalability

Portable restroom rentals are flexible and scalable. You can adjust the number of units based on the size and needs of your construction project. This adaptability makes it easy to ensure that you always have the right number of facilities available.

Promoting Safety

A tired or distracted worker is more likely to make mistakes that can lead to accidents. By providing easy access to restroom facilities, you help reduce distractions and ensure that workers are focused on their tasks, thus contributing to overall safety on the construction site.

In conclusion, portable toilet rentals are a must for construction sites. They not only address regulatory requirements but also boost worker productivity, promote hygiene, and enhance the overall site organization. By making this small but essential investment, construction companies can create a more efficient and safe working environment, leaving a positive impression on clients and stakeholders. So, if you're overseeing a construction project, remember that portable toilets are more than just a convenience; they're a crucial component of success.

[ghostlydreams444]

yes hello id like to rent 7,000 porta potties

i dont need a reason

mind ur business & rent them to me, damnit

[smallerplaces]

It's the most wonderful time of the Playmobil Christkindlesmarkt

When Dad said "oh, we have to keep and use the Playmobil Christmas figures," he probably believed the box contained a Santa's house, a sleigh, and maybe a couple other things.

He was so, so wrong. Last year's diorama required three shelves in the dining room. This year, I found the 1980s medieval houses and decided to go for the gusto with an entire Christmas fair, which takes four shelves.

Santa's house is alone on the upper top shelf because he lives at the North Pole.

Digging through Playmobil boxes as I was sorting to sell or give away excess found me an extra rocker, so now both Clauses can sit by the fire. It also yielded a red desk, so the Clauses have somewhere to work on the naughty-nice list. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Mrs. Claus is stress-baking.

On the main level, at far left, is the ski and sledding slope and enchanted forest. Get up too much momentum on your sled, and you may end up stolen by the fae!

The elves clearly have the day off. Judging from how the guy in the green vest and red tuke is being treated by his elf, he's Tamlin.

New this year are non-white characters! Playmobil is a German brand, so they were slow-ish to expand characters into other skin tones, plus my parents' collection went back to the 1980s, so it reflects eras that were stingy with non-white rep. We had Native Americans in my original collection, but I sold that 20 years ago (if I hadn't, there'd probably be a buffalo menacing the reindeer).

During the big clean-out, I discovered Black adults and kids. I moved winter gear to every single one of them (except one, who you'll meet later), so that the Christmas Market is less out of line with modern Germany.

But what is Rufus, the Black parent in the white sweater and red cap, looking at so warily?

It's Russian Orthodox Santa! He's being pulled by a magical small horse, which the foxes in the background have chosen not to pursue.

Beyond St. Nicholas, something pagan appears to be afoot. I'm honestly not sure what, or even why the dead tree with the animals is kept with Christmas items.

The center section of shelves is one side of the town green, where a brass band of Santas is performing.

Santa has sprung for rent on a garage and workshop. Mrs. Claus is relieved to have this part of the home business out of the home. (That's his sports sleigh parked in the garage, while the big family sleigh is upstairs by the house. Santa had a bit of a midlife crisis a few years back.)

The Santa Band plays swing.

The right-hand Tudor house is a vet's office, convenient for when Santa's reindeer get a cough.

The final section of shelf is the rest of the town square and Christmas market.

Some of the vendors and shoppers are a little weird.

The porta-potty is the entire reason why the town square scene expanded this year. I found it in a box and had to use it.

The pizza restaurant equipment was also a must-use. Poor Santa has nobody to take his order! Meanwhile, small angels are panhandling outside.

The toy shop is delightful for those who don't want to wait for Santa.

Meanwhile, upstairs in the pizzeria's eating area, an indie band does sound check. (Or at least we hope it's sound check, since no one is upstairs to listen.)

[drowningworms]

I actually went to Gobblers Knob in Punxsutawney and was close enough to see the no shadow for myself before the drunk guys in top hats told us what they saw.

I experienced the whole frigid, boring, tedious, painful, boring, long, standing room only for 6 hours of physical hell, low rent, cheapass, tacky, corny, tawdry, obnoxious, fucking dry event for you.

It involved security pat downs for liquor on every man woman and child to keep out liquor. Weed was illegal by community consent thanks to Reagan. It was 10 degrees and dark in the dead of a Pennsylvania Winter. And there was absolutely no entertainment for hours till it got daylight. Then this local DJ comes on to entertain the out of towners. He's horrible.

Remember that we are the cash cow for this little group of local good old boys and their buddies. And for the entire town. And they treat us like shit. Just penned us up and hit us for cash money at every turn. This was 1998, so that wasn't unusual everyone outside major businesses required cash. I'm dead sure they have those little credit card scanners everywhere now. They milked us for everything they could think of.

And it was so fucking cold. You don't understand cold until you know standing huddled still in the dark cold. Most people never really experience cold. Insulation is really fucking good now. I overpaid so much when goose down jackets got sorta affordable. They were like miracles to me. I would have given anything for such a miraculous jacket then. I had to make do with layers of insulated flannels and long underwear. I did have true winter underwear from my Boy Scout days so I was a good bit less cold than my buddies who didn't know how to layer.

Most people only experience shoveling snow cold. Maybe skiing cold. A few hunting cold. (Real damn cold) And a mighty few who have lived in it for days just sitting around camping in tents with nice sleeping bags and a big fire to warm us. In teens or subzero temps. I have. You have to dig deep and layer well. And just accept being cold every single minute of your life outside of your sleeping bag.

So we were doing hunter cold. This was Western Pennsylvania. Everyone knew how to do hunter cold. My buddies were all suburban kids. I told them how to dress. A few listened.

3+ hours of my best friends in the world talking shit to AC/DC and Ace of Base or whatever was the thing.

That night we started at like 3am and drove a few hours of dark Pennsylvania highway. Just darkness, trees, and sky. I can't remember if the stars were out. Something about those Appalachian Forest highways just are monotonous in a weird way.

Those road trips are always fun. I strongly suggest. Even if you have to brave the Appalachian Static.

Anyway we arrive at Punxsutawney. It is in the middle of nowhere. Just another isolated abandoned steel town. They have a bit of a real downtown that most of these towns utterly lack. Often it's a gas station and a Dollar General and a bunch of run down houses with a school 40 minutes away it shares with the other rundown towns.

But Punxsutawney has a nice little town of happy people because of Phil and our fascination with this thing.

So of course there is not parking for 30,000 people. In a town of 5,000. So they rope off some field frozen solid and park us all charging Disney parking fees.

They subcontract school buses to haul people from the parking lot to the main event. The bus drivers are the first line of defense against alcohol and drugs.

Security is the second. Compete with pat downs and local cops along with PA Troopers with drug dogs and quotas to meet. No spoiling the fun with chemical enhancement!

Then you walk for fucking ever. Slowly. Going to the Knob.

It is deadly cold. And it begins to dawn on you what you are in for in this grassy pen with nothing but a porta potty or two for entertainment.

Look at all that fun!

This was before phones people. My friends and I were super studious and none of us owned any kind of video game. No handheld games. Maybe you thought to bring a newspaper or book. I think I brought a book. I'm sure at least one of them brought engineering notes to study. Most just talk and bitch about the cold.

Cold in the dark is different from cold in the light. It is so much deeper without the solar radiation slightly warming your surface and your spirits.

Then the dawn brings light and a little warmth and hope.

Then the dawn brings the DJ.

Small town DJs are interesting critters. They are small town famous and often they are unique personalities that can be really entertaining. At least between songs and commercials. Some of them are pretty amazing like Nipsey, Jen, and Earl in Harrisburg/Hershey/Lancaster/Lebanon area back when it was even more podunk backwater.

It was 1998 and this guy showed up.

So this small town guy is used to entertaining local venues with his shtick that everyone knows and loves with his slightly out of date look and inside local jokes.

Today he has 2 hours of just him on a stage in front of 30,000 pissed off college students who were expecting a lot more entertainment and maybe some food or drinks and tired & grumpy rural folk hoping to get in a little fun and excitement before going to work. At least half the crowd had found a way to sneak in a flask or something. So people were unruly.

And we just watch the poor guy spend 2 hours fighting for his life up there feeling bad for him trying to entertain us while hosting his fun little morning show for his listeners who are probably loving it all.

He got heckled. Badly. This was 25 years ago and we weren't very nice.

After 2 hours of this entertainment. The main event started.

My heroes arrived on the scene.

They have been partying all night long. In a nice warm place with warm food, comfy chairs/couches, running water, and a ton of alcohol. They are all drunk as skunks. The all come up on stage, wave and whip up the crowd, pull out their buddy, give him some scritches and lift him up to the crowd like he's the new Lion King, and then examine his shadow, make their proclamation, smile and wave, go back to their party, and count their money.

This is the highlight of the entire event. The peak of excitement. The best it got for the whole day.

Then they shoved the DJ back on stage, the national media and anyone with connections left, and the rest of us were kept penned up for another hour or 2 till it was our turn to take a school bus back to our frozen car, a 3+ hour drive through winter highways to get back in time for afternoon classes.

It was so much fun.

[princess-of-the-corner]

wait, thats a porta potty? The same type of porta potty thats about the size of a tardis (from the outside) tiny and normally doesnt even contain a sink, porta potty?

I think they're fancier rent-a-bathroom type of things? Because god forbid any of the fancy bitches at a school that canonically isn't even ADA compliant(Well, French ADA) has to use something ungodly as that.

[icouldntfindquiet]

Hi! I hope you had a good trip. I've always wanted to do a roadtrip but I haven't yet. How did you find it? Would you recommend? Any tips? 🩷

Hi, it was great. Thank you! I can’t take credit for driving as it was my cousin’s husband who drove and he’s a fantastic driver. 😁 I don’t have the details of your road trip so what I wrote is generalized and covers a lot that might not apply to you. Don’t let the essay I wrote scare you off!

If you’re driving, you’ll have to be quite comfortable and skilled, especially with a car you’re not used to if you’re renting. In Europe, roads are more compact than the US. They’ve got roundabouts (which we’re not used to) and you have to be comfortable with parallel parking, tight parking spots, narrow streets (road is too small for a two-way but is a two-way anyway), etc.

Having some sort of navigation or GPS is highly recommended as you’re driving on an unfamiliar road and this would require good cell service which can be difficult if you’re in a foreign country. But don’t follow the GPS blindly! Sometimes they’re not accurate. I remember the GPS telling my cousin’s husband to turn down a one-way street which would’ve ended badly but we saw the signs and told him not to enter. 😳

If you’re renting a car, just be aware of the rules of the country you’re driving in. You might need an international driving permit (depending on the country) and you’ll need car rental insurance too which might be provided by your credit card. Before leaving the car rental facility, take photos/videos of previous damage on the car bc some companies will say you scratched the car when you didn’t so it’s best to protect yourself! And this adds to the cost but if you’re visiting multiple countries, it’s best to let them know as they will tell you what to do when crossing the border. And tolls can be a thing too so ask about that. The guy at the car rental told us Slovenia needed an e-vignette (modern toll payment method) which we previously didn’t know about. The other countries (Croatia and Italy) had normal toll booths where you could pay with cash or card. Also think about where you’ll return the car. Are you driving it back or are you dropping it off at a different location? Let them know!

Be careful of what gas and grade your car takes! The car rental place will tell you this. Putting in the wrong gas can damage the car. You’ll have to fill up the tank before returning the car.

Road trips can be long. Even though Google Maps tells you it will take this long, add more time because of traffic and to account for taking wrong turns/exits. You might get bored and your butt and legs might get numb. 😆 Feel free to take breaks and walk around. Playing music in the car is always fun. Make sure you have drinks and snacks along the way. But also account for bathroom breaks! You can use the bathrooms at gas stations but sometimes they’re porta pottys and not very glamorous. Especially when it’s night out, you’ll have to bring a flashlight to use them. 😩 Also, sometimes gas stations aren’t around and the guys would have to pee in the woods. 😂 Just be aware of the need to go is what I’m saying!

Having a car is convenient but you also have to think of parking. If possible, stay in hotels or Airbnbs with parking provided. If not, be prepared to pay to park your car. Even driving to national parks or in the city, you’ll have to pay to park your car so you can walk around. Having cash/coins handy is nice for those things.

That’s all I can think of at the moment. If I’m missing something, let me know! Overall, road trips can be fun! You have more freedom and it’s more convenient. Please don’t let all this info scare you off! You’ll be fine. And let me know how your road trip goes! ☺️

P.S. I forgot to talk about automatic and manual cars. Manual cars are more prevalent in Europe so they’re cheaper to rent. You’ll have to check availability if you need an automatic. Also, during peak season (summer), you might have to book your car in advance because it would be awful planning a trip and realizing there’s no car available or that you have to pay steep prices.