Zero Respect for Firefighters

Left over from the last adventure, I had some motor oil/gasoline hybrid fluid that I had to dump out of the lawn mower. So today, I took it to Vavoline to dump the oil, but they refused to take it on account of the gasoline. The guy told me to take it to the fire department. And so begins the adventure.

Our heroine (me) braves more driving with oil/gasoline hybrid in an open trashcan going as slow as she could on the road to avoid spillage. Oh why couldn't the trail of cars behind me understand that I was suffocating under the fumes as well as driving one handed to keep the bucket from overturning.

I finally reached the fire station. Finding no one readily outside, I went inside--into the den of a group of 5 or 6 firefighters sitting in a dark, ACed room. Let's just say the distinct reaction I got was: 'Hey, female, helllllooooo nurse'

For the record, I'm an engineer. I'm used to a room full of guys and few females. But I've never, ever, been in a situation where I feel I was more oogled than with the company of the friendly neigborhood fire department. Then they proceed to tell me how they also can not take the oil/gas devil child. One went on to proceed to tell me that I should 'LIE' about the content of my mixture and take it to the nearest oil change shop. After all, "I'm female. What do I know about oil."

It is indeed the dawn of the end of civilization. Oh, for now its oil and gas. But I shudder to imagine what other kind of creative, and hazardous chemicals people are conocting in their backyard with few guidance/location of proper disposal. Certainly, the ones who should be responsible for the safety of society are too busy oogling random females that walked into their mist.

Despair, oh people for this is the world we live in.