Germs, Germs...Everywhere Germs

Last night Martyn and I went to dinner at Philly's Bar and Grill in Latham. Tucked amid houses and an ever-classy Econolodge, it’s not the kind of place you’d typically take notice of, but we just happened to a few weeks ago while stuck in roadwork traffic on Watervliet-Shaker Road. At this time of year we’re always on the lookout for places with outdoor seating, and as we sat there complaining about the traffic, we took notice of Philly’s character: the massive patio out front, the outdoor bar, the chill music flowing through the speakers. So yesterday evening, after a nice walk, and a failed attempt to dine out at our neighborhood Greek joint, we headed to Latham to check out Philly’s.

Although the view of Watervliet-Shaker Road is nothing to write home about, we were pleasantly surprised by the laid back aura, and the tasty cheesesteaks we noshed on over the two-for-one Sam Adams Summer Ale special.

While there, I couldn’t help but think of the post I had written earlier in the day, and all the things I had forgotten to mention began rolling into my head. Restaurants happen to be the setting in which I am most easily skeeved out by germs. I mean, just think of all the places you put your hands… places touched by thousands of other grubby mitts before they come in contact with your own freshly washed fingers. Sitting there, I scrolled through my mental list of the top skuzziest things I will not touch before handling my food:

Door handles

The backs or arms of chairs

Menus

Ketchup bottles. This can get tricky if I order fries or a burger – I used to pick the bottle up using a napkin, until I learned that bacteria permeate paper. When possible, I ask The Mart to pour my ketchup for me. If this isn’t an option, it’s time for the knife and fork.

As we waited for our delicious cheesesteaks to arrive, I began thinking about all the other everyday articles we come in contact with on which germs lurk. Just touching them can send me scurrying to the nearest sink to scrub:

Steering wheels

Keys

Cell phones

The handles of bags

Pens and pencils – especially those available for public use

Gym equipment

Hotel TV remotes - ugh.  I can't even let my mind go there.

Water bottles. Touching the equipment at the gym grosses me out to no end. Just think about all those folks wiping sweat from their greasy, perspiring brow. These same hands then touch the machines to adjust the settings and weight. As I proceed with my workout, touching the same machines, I tote my trusty water bottle with me from one machine to the next. As I do so, all of those germs transfer from my hands to the water bottle. Alas, you can always find me scrubbing my water bottle and my hands clean at the end of each workout.

Just thinking about this makes me want to wrap my house and car in plastic and sterilize it.

Am I beginning to sound a little OCD?